Peer reviewed research

Research Blogging helps you locate and share academic blog posts about peer-reviewed research.

Because we need to bring the knowledge down and into the streets and out of the locked away Ivory tower.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 26 2008 9:12 utc | 4

Completely selfish Q:
I have a large Word / pdf document of text, photos, maps. Can anyone tell me how to upload (and to where) and create a clickable link so that others can access it?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
More generally, this might be interesting – I’ve only glanced at it for now.

Waving Goodbye to Hegemony By PARAG KHANNA
Parag Khanna is a senior research fellow in the American Strategy Program of the New America Foundation. This essay is adapted from his book, “The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order,” to be published by Random House in March.
[snip]
It is 2016, and the Hillary Clinton or John McCain or Barack Obama administration is nearing the end of its second term. America has pulled out of Iraq but has about 20,000 troops in the independent state of Kurdistan, as well as warships anchored at Bahrain and an Air Force presence in Qatar. Afghanistan is stable; Iran is nuclear. China has absorbed Taiwan and is steadily increasing its naval presence around the Pacific Rim and, from the Pakistani port of Gwadar, on the Arabian Sea. The European Union has expanded to well over 30 members and has secure oil and gas flows from North Africa, Russia and the Caspian Sea, as well as substantial nuclear energy. America’s standing in the world remains in steady decline.
…
That new global order has arrived, and there is precious little Clinton or McCain or Obama could do to resist its growth.

Is someone looking for a position in the next admin?

Posted by: Hamburger | Jan 26 2008 11:46 utc | 6

Hamburger,
I found a very useful site to transport documents and photos that is absolutely free and works. Of course if it is sensitive information you may want to password protect or encrypt but simply point your browser to http://www.senduit.com and upload your files. you can choose how long you want the files to be available for downloading, then you simply copy and paste the url you are presented into an email and send it to family and friends.
enjoy

Posted by: dan of steele | Jan 26 2008 15:15 utc | 8

Dan #8,
Haven’t tried it yet but that looks like just the ticket! Thanks for that!
Have been out of the loop all day re news and views.
Thanks MoA and safe travel b.

Posted by: Hamburger | Jan 26 2008 21:51 utc | 10

Chavez Urges Latin American Allies to Begin Withdrawing Billions of Dollars From U.S. Banks

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez urged his Latin American allies on Saturday to begin withdrawing billions of dollars in international reserves from U.S. banks, warning of a looming U.S. economic crisis.
Chavez made the suggestion as he hosted a summit aimed at boosting Latin American integration and rolling back U.S. influence.
“We should start to bring our reserves here,” Chavez said. “Why does that money have to be in the north? … You can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
(snip)
Chavez warned that U.S. “imperialism is entering into a crisis that can affect all of us” and said Latin America “will save itself alone.”
To help pool resources within the region, Chavez and other leaders were setting up a new development bank at the summit of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Nations of Our America, or ALBA.
The left-leaning regional trade alliance first proposed by Chavez is intended to offer an alternative, socialist path to integration while snubbing U.S.-backed free-trade deals.

The piece goes on to say,

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega joined Chavez in his criticism of U.S.-style capitalism, saying “the dictatorship of global capitalism … has lost control.” Three days earlier, Ortega had shouted “Long live the U.S. government” as he inaugurated an American-financed section of highway in his country.

I am thinking nobody, not even a puppet thorough and thorough like, say, Maliki, would shout “long live the US government”. Or any other government. You praise the country, or the nation. Not the government… Is the AP misreading a burst of sarcasm here?

Posted by: Alamet | Jan 27 2008 0:05 utc | 12

Here’s all you need to know about S.C. primary – Don’t believe any of the results – Paper Ballots are Illegal – Electronic Voting Only

Posted by: jj | Jan 27 2008 2:34 utc | 14

Indonesia’s former President Mohammed Suharto who towered over Indonesian politics for 32 years, has died in hospital aged 86
Former Indonesian president Suharto dies

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 27 2008 9:23 utc | 16

The last bubbling in the Sibel Edmonds’ cauldron has already been noted here and is discussed here by Luke Ryland. There is also a provocative comment following Ryland’s discussion of the matter. However that link leads to what I fear is a poisoned well (the Riconosciuto-Casalaro story again rears it’s head).
Better informed readers than I will have to decide what’s believable and what’s not, and also whether or not the well exists for any other reason than to be poisonous. Here more than ever, caveat lector ,
and beware of allowing the Edmonds’ case to be reduced to marginal status by association with “discredited sources”.

Posted by: Hannah K. O’Luthon | Jan 27 2008 10:39 utc | 18

rememberinggiap, here’s an article that mentions it. Apparently there are so many of these attacks that they just aren’t ‘news’ anymore.
http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=20238
.

Posted by: Ensley | Jan 27 2008 15:10 utc | 20

b
seems as if there is some mildly good news in german electoral politics

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 27 2008 18:43 utc | 22

just a paranthesis – but here in france there is not one day that goes by where there isn’t a new slander against either venezuela or of her leader, hugo chavez
i mean it covers the waterfront – every possible slander is permissible & every possible permutation of those slanders are repeated not only on the right but also on the left – even when the attacks are at their very basis – contradictory – that is he does nothing for the poor or that he does too much for the poor
the attack on chavez is being done with great premeditation & i fear for the logical result of that premeditation – a course unhappily familiar for the people of latin america

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 27 2008 20:24 utc | 24

sunday morning reads . . .
Michael Mukasey, Robert Jackson and George Orwell, by Marty Lederman
Bulletins from the Ministry for Torture, by Scott Horton
UK Sunday Times: State Dept. Official (Marc Grossman) Outed Plame’s ‘Brewster Jennings’ to Turkish Agents in 2001, According to Sibel Edmonds, via The BradBlog

Posted by: manonfyre | Jan 27 2008 20:46 utc | 26

John McCain should be the poster ‘child’ for chronic PTSD. If he isn’t the #1 prime example of what post-traumatic stress disorder is here in the United States, I’ll kiss your butt. The man is batshit crazy!
Up here in the Florida panhandle, Huckabee signs are first going up this weekend in preparation for Tuesday’s primary. The phone has been ringing off the hook with robocalls all week. This part of Florida is heavy bible belt and any warmonger who hypocritically calls himself a Christian will win. I have seen a handful of McCain signs. Ron Paul signs are everywhere and have been for months and months. Guiliani is a goner; even Ron Paul has beaten him 4 out of 5 primaries.
I am so disgusted and discouraged that come November, for the first time in 40 years of voting, I just may stay home.

Posted by: Ensley | Jan 27 2008 22:19 utc | 28

This long NYT piece on the decay of the U.S. empire and the rise of three world power centers, China-EU-US and midle powers inbetween, has a lot of vison in it.
Waving Goodbye to Hegemony
Recommended reading ….
Can someone get me the book by that writer early? Parag Khanna is a senior research fellow in the American Strategy Program of the New America Foundation. This essay is adapted from his book, “The Second World: Empires and Influence in the New Global Order,” to be published by Random House in March.

Posted by: b | Jan 27 2008 22:45 utc | 30

b#,3
I found it interesting that Khanna, concludes the piece by proclaiming the U.S.’s best hope is its ability to reassert its exceptionalism. As its tool of hegemonic differential, with respect to the Euro/Asian alternatives. Seems that bridge has been long burned down and why we’re standing on the other bank looking back.

Posted by: anna missed | Jan 27 2008 23:13 utc | 32

@b: Can someone get me the book by that writer early?
I’d be glad to do that as a small thanks for your efforts here. Plase send me the address to send it to.

Posted by: mats | Jan 28 2008 0:01 utc | 34

@R’Giap, could you give us a bit more info. on Ownership of French Press. You used to have a fantastic diverse press representing the full politcal spectrum. But then I don’t know that you have a very full political spectrum anymore anyway. I ask ‘cuz I thght. I heard someone say that Sarkozy was a variant of Italy’s Berlusconi w/heavy ownership of Fr. Press. Is that so? Has Rupie made inroads in your land as well? Is the rest of the spectrum convulsed, or some might say coalesced, around the Predators Are God ideology, or “neo-liberalism” as they like to mis-represent themselves?
For those who didn’t/haven’t read Michael Hudson’s, Kucinich’s Chief Economic Adviser, Jan. interview on his site – link in Acres Magazine, at the end he gives us more info showing that Margaret Thatcher Clinton & Barack Obamination are the evil twins. Rahm Emmanuel was the Clinton White House Chief of Staff, etc. who was sent to Congress to run things there for the Clintons. He’s in charge of the money & works like hell to be sure no one who isn’t a Wall St. Militarist gets elected. Hudson tells us in that article that Emmanuel’s brother is Obamination’s adviser – just as Robt. Rubin has representatives in his camp. Same shit, different gift wrapping – so do you prefer a Narcissist, kiddies – you’re effed either way…
In Op-Ed today – prob. in NYT but I haven’t checked – Caroline Kennedy, who was 6 when they bumped off her father – came out in favor of Narcissists. She said she never understood why the masses were so smitten w/her father. Now she does. (Uncle Teddy is an Obamination guy.)

Posted by: jj | Jan 28 2008 0:51 utc | 36

Palestinians Bid Farewell to Al-Hakeem, Dr. George Habash

(snip)
“Unlike others, Al-Hakeem never saluted a Zionist, never “negotiated” under the Israeli flag, never traded kisses with our people’s killers, never knelt before a king, and never stretched a hand in beggary. He remained true to his belief, never oscillating from one political camp to the next in search of a seat of power. Abu Maysa lived and died never distinguishing along religious lines. He was deeply entrenched in the cumulative totality of our Arab history from the Gulf to the Ocean. And while the wretched of our people searched for meager pieces of bread and drops of clean water throughout the Gaza Strip and the camps of exile, he did not reside in a palace, nor did he enjoy pay-offs of treason.” Free Palestine Alliance
(snip)

Posted by: Alamet | Jan 28 2008 1:17 utc | 38

jj
yes, once it had a prestigious press. today, for all intents & purposes it does not exist at all. the dominant discourse which is essentially neoliberal & clanish is the one that is overwhelming & you are right – i feel the france of today is very close to that of berlusconi which is itself a criminal formation
but what you have here & also in italy are functionaries – public servants – who while overwhelmingly victims or perpetrators of the dominant discourse – there are sufficient number who are honorable in the face of the neoliberal onslaught & who at this moment are not without power
we have municipal elections in the next 2 months which are extremely important – they are local but i am hoping they reflect the disenchantement with the comedie sarkozienne but i am not particularly hopeful
i respect b’s steadfastness – because i feel overwhelmed by the darkness we are living through. it is as if we are in the darkes part of the 18th century where poverty is absolute & criminality dressed itself up in topcoats & fine language
what was always there but has become appalling apparent for one & all is the elite’s hatred of us. the mass. their hatred & contempt for us is enunciated directly & indirectly through the tall tales of this or that rogue broker, or this & that corruption – while we know at every level it is not only corrup – it is rotten. in essence – it is falling apart. that is why the fascism of blair is articulated in the ejaculation of empire but as a vassal in iraq & things like the anti social orders that would shame any society that was decent
but like thatcher sd – there is no society – so not only is their no decency, absolutely no morality – there is fuck all humanism except at the crudest level & that is articulated in the worst extremes of popular culture
working as i do – i have to believe – but i have to do an enormous work against my disgust for the world we are trying to live in
murdoch has revealed for us nakedly exactly what the elites think of us & it is repeated ad nauseum – & their victory is repeated ad nauseum – tho our eys & hearts see only neglect & collapse

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 28 2008 1:34 utc | 40

Brilliant 6 page article that exposes how the US government has made up most of the terror alert threats, and moreover has staged all of the post 9/11
“al qaeda terror plots”
Rolling Stone Magazine Exposes FBI Staged Terror Plots
The sad thing is, the Miami 7-Sears Tower plot, the Fort Dix plot, and the JFK airport plots are all proven in the mainstream to be US government engineered through FBI provocatuers, assets and informants
We know this is precisely how World Trade Center 1993 and Oklahoma City 1995 was staged and carried out…through “Sting operations” gone “bad”.
And according to Zacharius Moussaoui and others, the FBI was once again provocatuering him and some of the 9/11 hijackers in Norman Oklahoma.
So how come the mainstream, let alone the “anti bush left” doesn’t seem to put two and two together? They dont see that maybe its been more than a POST 9/11 tactic. There’s no “conspiracy theory” here…
the US government provocatuers terror plots.
People may say “Well, ok…so the Anthrax came from the government, so all these terror plots are staged and the terror alerts are fake…and the government lies to go to war”
…but, the majority of people including America’s liberals insist that there is nothing suspicious about what we’ve been told about 9/11, and that Afghanistan is a “justified” war.
Now that’s what I call conditioning and brainwashing.
As many “truthers” continue to insist al Qaeda doesnt exist, one keeps coming upon the fact that it’s not that Islamic terrorism is “False flagged”…but that Western and other intelligences are able to get would be jihadists to blow themselves up.

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 28 2008 11:52 utc | 42

video:Mosul explosion done by the American military
roadstoiraq translation
Eyewitness: they took the weapons only [not the explosions] and put it in their vehicles, they timed the explosion and runaway to the nearby streets, my family asked the American:
It will be a big explosion, it is better if we leave our houses.
He answered:
No, it is not a big explosion, just leave the windows open and sit beside the walls, it will be alright.
Later the houses fell on our heads

Posted by: annie | Jan 28 2008 13:38 utc | 44

not really any new information in this article, though it is noteworthy since it’s the financial times pointing it out
The new scramble for Africa’s resources

In the past decade, Africa has seen an unprecedented boom in oil and gas investment.
With big companies shut out, or deterred from investing in the Middle East, Africa has by contrast offered multinationals relatively lenient terms and extensive access to its oilfields in the past 15 years. The continent has been able to attract money from the biggest supermajors, from ExxonMobil to Shell, looking to exploit its prolific and relatively untapped geology, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea and North Africa.
It also has the world’s highest ratio of “light” and “sweet” crude oil, preferred by refiners in big consuming countries, and 83 per cent of its oil resources comes from fields yielding more than 100m barrels.
In 2006, US President George W Bush laid out a strategy of reducing oil imports from the Middle East – a policy that is likely to result in greater strategic importance for Africa. “The rise of Africa as an energy region is not a short-term trend,” says Robert Gillon of John S. Herold, the industry consultancy.
…
Research by John S Herold estimates that, between 2002 and 2006, publicly-listed oil companies tripled their spending in Africa, a rate that was 20 per cent more than their spending across the world during the same period.
Yet the effect of increased corporate interest has not always translated to economic well-being for African countries.
…
Much of the capacity being added on the continent may be too far offshore to be affected by the kind of militancy seen in the delta. But US policymakers nevertheless remain deeply concerned about stability in oil-producing zones. In response to this concern, President Bush last year ordered the creation of Africom, a dedicated US military command centre for Africa which is expected to be situated in a yet-to-be chosen country on the continent.
The US military has recently started focusing on West Africa, with a $500m plan to help Saharan states eradicate Islamist cells linked to al-Qaeda that could otherwise threaten stability in oil-producing countries in the region, particularly Nigeria. The co-operation has drawn criticism from human rights groups which say the US is repeating its Middle East mistakes by cosying up to despotic and corrupt regimes on the continent.
…
Africa’s share of oil production is expected to grow to up to 30 per cent of the world total, from roughly 12 per cent in 2006. By 2012, energy consultant IHS expects liquids production to have reached a plateau of about 16m b/d.
Throw into this equation the rising interest of China, other Asian countries and state-owned oil companies from emerging markets, and one has the recipe for a new scramble for Africa – most recently typified by talk of an impending gas mega-deal between Russia’s Gazprom and Nigeria.
…
But China’s flourishing relationship with Africa looks unstoppable. In 2006, Angola, the fastest-growing oil producer on the continent in recent years, became China’s top supplier of oil, notwithstanding the billions of dollars invested by western multinationals in the country’s deep offshore sector. Chinese and other Asian companies have begun featuring more prominently in new oil and gas licensing auctions in Africa and there are even signs that Asian companies are ready to start competing with western companies for control of African oil.
Despite Eni, the Italian major, beating Korea’s state oil company for control of Burren Energy, the UK listed company with assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is now being courted by two Indian companies.
Where Africa’s resources are becoming hot property, big energy producing countries are beginning to push for greater control of their own oil and gas industries, much to the chagrin of the traditional oil majors.
…
“We are not seeing the sort of irrational exuberance of five years ago. The Chavez effect is half-cooked in Africa, but it is there and people are thinking about it,” says Jon Marks, editorial director of the specialist newsletter, Africa Energy.

Posted by: b real | Jan 28 2008 15:47 utc | 46

For those who live in the US and are concerned about the situation in Gaza, here is something concrete to do:
Send Messages of Support to 11 Reps Who Put Themselves on the Line to Demand end to Blockade
The 11 reps:
* Neil Abercrombie (HI)
* John Conyers, Jr. (MI)
* Danny Davis (IL)
* Sam Farr (CA)
* Raul Grijalva (AZ)
* Maurice Hinchey (NY)
* Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX)
* Dennis Kucinich (OH)
* Betty McCollum (MN)
* Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
* James Oberstar (MN)
Please forward this link to anyone whom you think might be interested.

Posted by: Bea | Jan 28 2008 21:35 utc | 48

just watched the gruesome golem senator liebermann – where the fuck does he come from – parliamentary politicians take on treason like a topcoat but this fellow is in a subspecies of his own

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 28 2008 22:54 utc | 50

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) – A year after President George W. Bush approved its creation, the new U.S. military command for Africa is finding its feet but has quietly dropped talk of basing itself on the African continent.
Largely carved out of U.S. European Command, based in Stuttgart, Germany, the new Africa Command (Africom) will stay there for now as its leaders try to switch the debate away from the controversial headquarters issue and on to the “added value” it aims to bring to Africa.
U.S. defers sensitive Africa HQ decision for now

Posted by: Sam | Jan 29 2008 7:09 utc | 52

Now that we all have filled our barf bags from Obamination’s bullshit about how he’s for change, I’ve finally discovered what that means. It means vote for me, throw out the Clintons… It sure as hell does NOT refer to economic policy, one of the most important aspect of this election as our country is on the lip of the abyss…I finally dug up info. on Economic Advisers of Elite Approved Candidates. Obamination’s boy is – Surprise Surprise – a Chicago Economist… Barf Away Barflies

Posted by: jj | Jan 29 2008 9:54 utc | 54

CDC Suppressed Toxic Trailer Warnings

CBS News has learned that the Centers for Disease Control, the nation’s top public health agency, suppressed repeated warnings from one of its top scientists, raising questions about whether the CDC bowed to pressure from FEMA to conceal the long-term health risks of formaldehyde in the trailers it distributed to hurricane victims – health risks like cancer and birth defects, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

Years later and these poor people are still being fucked over…

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 29 2008 10:36 utc | 56

Yes Uncle, I printed it and took it with me to an appointment yesterday. I considered leaving it for someone else but wanted to share it with someone at home first.
Thank you always.
Love, beq

Posted by: beq | Jan 29 2008 12:02 utc | 58

yes, Uncle $cam. It dovetails nicely with this:
“Organizers of the protests at the North American leaders’ summit in Montebello, Que., say they have video that shows police disguised as masked demonstrators tried to incite violence on Monday.”
and several other examples that are floating vaguely aboot my noggin (examples that were likely very graciously posted by yourself)
Quelle surprise?
It’s the same as it ever was
been takin a break from all this crap lately

Posted by: jcairo | Jan 29 2008 13:08 utc | 60

re #59, blank for me too. Will mention R. Stone article online on local radio show that actually doesn’t cut me off, also the Wolfowitz West Point speech in previous OT. Thanks Uncle.
Took a sip of spirits every time Bush said “empower” in the ist half (domestic policy) of Fake of the Union speech last night, and each time the opposition party joined the standing ovation to a lie in the second half (imperial margarine). Professional wrestling is bad for my health.

Posted by: plushtown | Jan 29 2008 13:14 utc | 62

OK am I crazy or does this read the way I am reading it:
Haaretz – Israeli Official: Bolton Said Rice Caved on True Terms to End Lebanon War
~Snip (sorry for the long excerpt but the context is necessary to appreciate the full impact of the point, which appears at the end in bold):

The letter is entitled “Security Council discussions – the conversation between Gillerman and Bolton,” detailing a discussion between Bolton and Daniel Gillerman, Israel’s ambassador to the UN.
In the letter, Carmon emphasized that Rice had agreed that the draft cease-fire resolution would stipulate that the international peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon would operate under Chapter VI of the UN charter, which would give it observer status only.
She also agreed that the disputed Shaba Farms, the border area claimed by Hezbollah as Lebanese territory but internationally recognized as Syrian, would be mentioned in the resolution. Israel opposed both clauses.
Carmon also wrote in the letter that Bolton said that “only a conversation between Olmert and [U.S. President George] Bush can save this situation.”
The letter also states that, “Bolton said tonight in a conversation with Gillerman that the secretary of state took the task of negotiations [over the resolution] upon herself, and she is personally involved in all of its details.”
“Rice is the one who agreed to the last two changes that were discussed in talks tonight between [former undersecretary of state Nick] Burns and Jerusalem – Chapter VI and Shaba Farms.” [Those are the two strongly opposed by Israel as noted above.]
“The actions of the secretary of state stem from her determination to bring the decision up for a vote tomorrow, Friday. For that purpose she will arrive here tomorrow at 10 A.M., and will intensify the process… Bolton described with sorrow a situation in which the French surrendered to all of the Arab demands and the United States [as personified, in Bolton’s view, by Rice here, despite the fact that Bolton was ostensibly representing the US at the UN] isn’t prepared to give up on the ‘holy alliance’ with the Europeans.”
“[Bolton] promised to try in a meeting tomorrow with the French ambassador to take Shaba Farms out [of the draft]… but he doubts it will help. In his opinion, the French man won’t make an effort in that direction. In response to Gillerman’s question about what can be done, Bolton responded that only a conversation between Olmert and President Bush can, if at all, change the face of things and rescue the situation.”

Now here is the question: Am I reading this right??? Did Our Man at the UN Bolton clearly and indisputably state that Israel’s interests are far more important to him than the position adopted by his own Secretary of State, and did he suggest that the only way to ensure that Israel’s interests could be met at this time was to engineer an intervention by Olmert to sway Bush to intervene to pressure Rice?
How much clearer a testimony of divided loyalties does one need, honestly?? I mean this is completely outrageous!

Posted by: Bea | Jan 29 2008 14:57 utc | 64

@ Uncle $cam
I read all your posts, or most of them, and I definitely earmarked the Rolling Stone article as one I plan to read and send around, I just haven’t had time yet to do so.
Thank you for all that you contribute here.

Posted by: Bea | Jan 29 2008 15:12 utc | 66

hannah 47, thanks. i signed up for lukery’s updates and s/he interviewed sibel again .
Uncle, i think the most amazing thing about the rollingstone article is it was published in the rollingstone! which is a very good thing. to be honest, i read about 1/2 of the 6 page story simply because my plate has been a little full lately. i do appreciate you posting it.
aside from annie whom disagreed with the choice of words used in comment.
i didn’t disagree w/your choice of words. you ask a question, the basics of which i questioned.
So how come the mainstream, let alone the “anti bush left” doesn’t seem to put two and two together? They dont see that maybe its been more than a POST 9/11 tactic. There’s no “conspiracy theory” here…
the US government provocatuers terror plots.
People may say “Well, ok…so the Anthrax came from the government, so all these terror plots are staged and the terror alerts are fake…and the government lies to go to war”
…but, the majority of people including America’s liberals insist that there is nothing suspicious about what we’ve been told about 9/11, and that Afghanistan is a “justified” war.
first off i think we all know why the msm doesn’t ‘put 2 and 2 together’ the same reason they aren’t reporting sibel’s case. it would cause an explosion.
the idea of yours i disagreed with was the presumption one has to make to answer the other part of your question. this is not an isolated case of me ‘defending’ the american left. this is not the first time i have parted ways w/other posters here on this site about the condition of the american left. i simply do not agree the majority of America’s liberals insist that there is nothing suspicious about what we’ve been told about 9/11. and it extends beyond 9/11 and beyond liberals. i think the majority of americans don’t trust their government anymore. at least from my vantage point.
my original answer to you was brief because i don’t want to have another argument where i have to explain to people why i they are drinking koolaid if they believe we are some fringe element out there in america that grasps corruption in high places. do you think there is something in our dna that prevents us from producing thinking beings as opposed to say…europeans? the people i talk to, especially young people, they read the internet. the ptb want us to believe we are a small fringe minority. do you believe them? there are many reasons why people do things like ..vote for a candidate they actually believe in…than because they ‘believe in the system’. i don’t vote because i believe in the system, i vote because there is an election. there is a vast difference in numbers between those who distrust the government and those who comprehend how many of us there are. that factor prevents people from action. as long as the ptb can keep us from believing in ourselves, they can prevent us from being powerful. so far it seems to be working. when a truly compelling story emerges, like sibel’s, it confirms peoples suspicions more than it creates suspicion. the suspicion is already there for the majority imho.

Posted by: annie | Jan 29 2008 15:40 utc | 68

$cam
everything is read
always

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 29 2008 16:53 utc | 70

for those of you still interested in the Minot (or Wilmot if your tin foil hat is on too tight) cruise missile story, you might want to take a look at this site. A lot of people are being punished and for good reason. As I maintained from the beginning, this was not an elaborate scam to get missiles to the middle-east….it was simply a monumental fvckup

Posted by: dan of steele | Jan 29 2008 17:38 utc | 72

“…they have studiously avoided the the few avenues open to them that would unmask and destroy the official tale. Instantly.”
Like? (she asks, sincerely)

Posted by: beq | Jan 29 2008 18:01 utc | 74

Upon review, thanks guys sometimes it just seems like one is speaking into a void here lately.. da bar has been kinda lonely feelin lately…
Or perhaps, I’m taking things to serious. As serious as your life?
Need to relax…lol

Posted by: Uncle $cam | Jan 29 2008 18:56 utc | 76

rick
perhaps in this year the johnny come latelies to the truth in ‘journalism’ will pompously pump out their ‘truths’ as if they knew all along & they did
but ‘journalism’ has thankfully been revealed for what they are since the invasion of iraq – no one ‘reads’ them – their lies have become unstomachable for the vast majority of people – murdoch has made them all – from left to right – all the same

Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 29 2008 19:34 utc | 78

garowe online: Ethiopian generals complain about Somalia’s new PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia Jan 29 (Garowe Online) – Ethiopia’s top military commanders serving in Somalia have dispatched a letter to the country’s interim president, Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, expressing their dissatisfaction with the policies of new Prime Minister Nur “Adde” Hassan Hussein, confidential sources tell Garowe Online.
The exact contents of the letter have not been independently verified yet, but government sources in Mogadishu and Baidoa privately confirmed the existence of the letter.
The Ethiopian generals expressed their displeasure with the way Prime Minister Nur Adde is running his new government, said reliable sources with first-hand knowledge of the letter.
…
The generals’ central argument in the letter is that the Prime Minister makes decisions without consulting Ethiopian army commanders based in the capital Mogadishu, the sources said.

heh. they must be taking some heat from their bosses

Posted by: b real | Jan 30 2008 5:54 utc | 80

Three excerpts from Jonathan Steel’s book “DEFEAT – Why they lost Iraq”
Guys, I’m afraid we haven’t got a clue …

George Joffe, an Arabist from Cambridge University, and Charles Tripp and Toby Dodge, who had both written books on Iraq’s history, made opening statements of about five minutes each. They decided not to alienate the prime minister by discussing whether an invasion was sensible or necessary, but only what its consequences might be.
“We all pretty much said the same thing,” Joffe recalls. “Iraq is a very complicated country, there are tremendous intercommunal resentments, and don’t imagine you’ll be welcomed.” He remembers how Blair reacted. “He looked at me and said, ‘But the man’s uniquely evil, isn’t he?’ I was a bit nonplussed. It didn’t seem to be very relevant.” Recovering, Joffe went on to argue that Saddam was constrained by various factors, to which Blair merely repeated his first point: “He can make choices, can’t he?” As Joffe puts it, “He meant he can choose to be good or evil, I suppose.”
Joffe got the impression of “someone with a very shallow mind, who’s not interested in issues other than the personalities of the top people, no interest in social forces, political trends, etc”.

‘We had no idea we were not wanted’

During the Gulf war against Saddam the town’s two bridges over the Euphrates were destroyed from the air, and in 1991 the town suffered a severe atrocity, when British planes dropped several bombs on the main market, killing 276 civilians. So, although the bombing that Falluja suffered in the 2003 war was less heavy, memories of earlier encounters with the British and Americans were not likely to make the city greet the 82nd Airborne Division with delight. Before they reached Falluja, US troops – and their neo-con masters in Washington – would have benefited from knowing a little of the city’s nationalist history and Islamist traditions. I asked Lt Col Nantz whether he had ever considered keeping his troops on the edge of Falluja rather than occupying a school in a suburb. “No, I never considered that at all,” he replied. “This is the place where you need to be engaged. We want the Iraqis to build themselves up and you can’t help them do that if you’re sitting outside. Our way is to be inside and help them build a police force and so on. We had no idea we weren’t wanted.”

The farce of sovereignty

Inside, almost like a hostage, Jaafari was being harangued by secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw. The two had decided only one day earlier to make the trip to Baghdad, exasperated that the prime minister was continuing to resist a steady flow of hints from the US ambassador that it was time to go. All kinds of arguments were trotted out. Iraq needed a leader who could unify the country. The government must clamp down on Shia militias. The cabinet had to be led by a man who could command support across the spectrum, including from Kurds and Sunni Arabs.
Jaafari did not listen, or at least he did not obey. Not even a phone call from Bush in the White House had done the trick. Now he was being given his marching orders by Rice and Straw in person.

Posted by: b | Jan 30 2008 14:07 utc | 82

stars and stripes: AFRICOM staff to grow to 1,300 as it takes over military activities

STUTTGART, Germany — By the time it becomes fully operational on Oct. 1, the U.S. Africa Command will be home to about 1,300 Defense Department personnel: 500 more than originally estimated, a top command official said Monday.
The military’s newest headquarters command — made up largely of planners, logisticians and analysts — also will be staying in Stuttgart for the foreseeable future, said Vice Adm. Robert T. Moeller, deputy to the commander for military operations, in an interview Monday at AFRICOM headquarters.
“From here we can do all the activities we need to do with our African partners,” Moeller said.
The eventual staff of 1,300 does not include people coming from other agencies. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development will place staff at AFRICOM. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps also are forming small component commands to address needs in Africa that are specific to those service branches, he said.
Other U.S. agencies, such as the departments of Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Agriculture, are being examined for ways to contribute to the command.

the original estimates were 600-700 staff for the HQ itself. it is also expected that each of five regional subcommands (RIT hubs) will consist of roughly 20 full-time staff each. there is also a JIOC – joint intel op cmd – dedicated for AFRICOM for which another estimated 600-700 personnel will be employed.
and as scope creep kicks in, expect those figures to increase. no signs yet of where the funding is going to come from. oil revenues, perhaps?

Posted by: b real | Jan 30 2008 17:01 utc | 84

robert perry : CBS Falsifies Iraq War History
what a trip. 60 minutes…

Posted by: annie | Jan 30 2008 18:15 utc | 86

preview at washington decoded of a book coming out next week detailing zelikow’s role on the 911 commission

In a revelation bound to cast a pall over the 9/11 Commission, Philip Shenon will report in a forthcoming book that the panel’s executive director, Philip Zelikow, engaged in “surreptitious” communications with presidential adviser Karl Rove and other Bush administration officials during the commission’s 20-month investigation into the 9/11 attacks.
…
In what’s termed an “investigation of the investigation,” Shenon purports to tell the story of the commission from start to finish. The book’s critical revelations, however, revolve almost entirely around the figure of Philip Zelikow, a University of Virginia professor and director of the Miller Center of Public Affairs prior to his service as the commission’s executive director. Shenon delivers a blistering account of Zelikow’s role and leadership, and an implicit criticism of the commissioners for appointing Zelikow in the first place—and then allowing him to stay on after his myriad conflicts-of-interest were revealed under oath.
Shenon’s narrative is built from extensive interviews with staff members and several, if not all, the commissioners. He depicts Zelikow as exploiting his central position to negate or neutralize criticism of the Bush administration so that the White House would not bear, in November 2004, the political burden of failing to prevent the attacks.
The Commission includes these specific revelations:
…

Posted by: b real | Jan 30 2008 20:43 utc | 88

current u.s. efforts to bamboozle nigerians
sun news online: No plans to invade N’Delta, US tells Reps

Fear of possible invasion of the Niger Delta to stem the activities of militants in the creeks was allayed yesterday by the United States government, when it declared that it has no plans to invade the troubled region of the country through the establishment of the United States African Command (AFRICOM).
…
Geoffrey Martineau told the House that US was not planning to locate the headquarters of AFRICOM in Africa stating that for the meantime, AFRICOM will operate out of Kelly Barracks in Stuttgart, but would have bases in several African countries.
Contrary to insinuations that AFRICOM was part of the U.S. plan to re-colonize Africa, he made it clear that there was nothing nefarious about the establishment of AFRICOM.
“The point I wish to make is that AFRICOM’s goal is simply to enhance and improve our partnership with Africa, we want to do what we already do more efficiently, and free up more money on [out of] the ground to help Africans.
“It is simply what we decided to reorganize our military in a way that will simply make more sense in cooperating with African nations, and in the end, it will strengthen African sovereignty by strengthening African governments,” he stated.

wondering if he also spoke real slow and deliberately as he reeled off three simply’s in two sentences. just so they could understand him, ya know…

..he described AFRICOM as a packaged programme for Africa by US military command, designed to work with African partners to enhance their own sovereignty and security.

that’s a good one – the DoD is going to enhance your sovereignty.

“The great work we do together with our friends on the continent will not be diminished in any way. In fact, we hope and believe it that under AFRICOM, it will be more effective than ever.“
“It is my hope that at the end of our time together, you will agree with me that through AFRICOM Nigeria and the continent as a whole will continue to enjoy a mutually beneficial partnership with the United States Government’’, he further explained.
…
He explained that US military policy remains predominantly oriented towards non-military objectives…

this day: US: No Plan for Military Base in Nigeria
AFRICOM misunderstood

The United States yesterday clarified its African Command (AFRICOM) project, maintaining that there was no plan to establish a military base in Nigeria.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos at the end of a listening tour she undertook across four states in the country, the new US ambassador, Robin Sanders, also outlined a policy plan tagged “Vision for 2008” with which the American embassy aims to help Nigerians achieve their socio-economic and political objectives in the new year.
“I have listened and watched with interest the dialogue played out in the Nigerian press on what AFRICOM is or is not, and what its relationship is or is not with Nigeria. Let me state clearly and categorically that the only thing new about AFRICOM is the name AFRICOM.
“It is unfortunate that there is a perception that our efforts to better respond to our African partners have been viewed here in Nigeria as nefarious. Why would we do such a thing to a strategic friend and partner such as Nigeria? There is not and has never been any desire by my government to have a military base in Nigeria or to militarise Africa or the sub-region.
…
She further explained that the AFRICOM project was a plan to better co-ordinate the humanitarian, disaster and technical assistance which the US had always given Africa by putting the resources in one location, that is in Stuttgart, Germany, instead of the three locations where the facilities were housed before. She said the plan was based on requests from African nations.
Describing herself as “Sister to Nigerians”, Sanders, an African-American, said her government saw Nigeria as her “most strategic partner” in Africa “on a number of political, regional and economic issues” and that she was determined to strengthen the relationship.
…
She said the US embassy’s Vision for 2008 was a “framework for partnership” involving four policy pillars which are governing justly, transparently and democratically; investing in people; peace and security; and enhancing business and economic ties.

c’mon bro – help a sister out here, ya know what i’m sayin’
this day: We’ve No Plan to Invade N’Delta, Says US

United States Government yesterday told the House of Representatives in Abuja, that it has no plans to invade the Niger Delta or create military bases throughout Africa.
Geoffrey Martineau, an officer with the United States Mission to Nigeria, explained that though the US department of defence engagement in Africa is transitiing to a new command, United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), “is a new US Military headquarters devoted solely to Africa and its sole reason for existence is to better enable the Department of Defence and other elements of the US governments to work in concert with our African partners to achieve a more stable environment in which political and economic growth can take place.”

improving the import/export infrastructure in africa’s oil-producing regions will make exploitation more predictable. by reducing perceived risks and calming investor fears, AFRICOM, empire’s latest military command, hopes to spur more outside investment in increasing africa’s production capacities in order to meet anticipated global demand for crude. that this program has failed, so far, in the persian gulf, hardly registers. or matters.

Posted by: b real | Jan 31 2008 4:03 utc | 90

American Oil companies offered five million dollars to each Iraqi MP to pass the Oil law

Reported today on Akhbar Alkhaleej newspaper
An Iraqi MP preferred to remain anonymous told the newspaper that highly confidential negotiations took place by representatives from American oil companies, offering $5 million to each MP who votes in favor of the Oil and Gas law.
The amount that could be paid to pass the votes do not exceed $150 million dollars in the case of $5 million to each MP, pointing out that the Oil law requires 138 votes to pass, which the Americans want to guarantee in many ways, including vote-buying, intimidation and threats!
Focusing on the heads of parliamentary blocs and influential figures in the parliament to ensure the votes, the Americans guaranteed the Kurdish votes in advance but they are seeking enough votes to pass and approve the law as soon as possible.

150 million for oil worth trillions, shameless.

Posted by: anna missed | Jan 31 2008 7:00 utc | 92

And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the new signing statement:
One such provision sets up a commission to probe contracting fraud in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another expands protections for whistleblowers who work for government contractors. A third requires that U.S. intelligence agencies promptly respond to congressional requests for documents. And a fourth bars funding for permanent bases in Iraq and for any action that exercises U.S. control over Iraq’s oil money.

Posted by: anna missed | Jan 31 2008 7:11 utc | 94

crone,
Here’s one source. I also saw it here at Azzaman (in English), the Iraqi paper – but it seems scrubbed from there now.

Posted by: anna missed | Feb 1 2008 0:08 utc | 96