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http://www.technorati.com/profile/911review</a>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-46172071374899203792011-10-05T17:10:00.004-05:002011-10-05T17:29:19.296-05:00Its MY Fault !The Tea Party blames the Democrats and liberal policies for our troubles.<br />The Wall Street protesters blame the republicans and conservative policies.<br />Some people blame BOTH the Democrats and the Republicans.<br />I blame myself.<br /><br />BLAME ME. Its my fault.<br />I could have done more<br /><br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have protested more than (just twice) as i did against the wars.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have showed up at my representatives office, not just email him.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have voted more, i missed a few elections in the last few years.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have learned more about the issues.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have talked to freinds and relatives about current issues.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have run for office.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have donated more money.<br />ITS MY FAULT<br />I could have started my own petition, or website, or party, to address the issues.<br /><br />Now, after you are done blaming ME, <br />now you can start to figure out what YOU can do<br />to make this country better.<br /><br />Its up to all of US.<br /><br /> - Brad M.<br /><br /><br /><br /><!-- Begin: adBrite, Generated: 2011-08-12 10:25:47 --><style type="text/css"> .adHeadline {font: bold 10pt Arial; text-decoration: underline; color: #E1771E;} .adText {font: normal 10pt Arial; text-decoration: none; color: #0000FF;}</style><script type="text/javascript">try{var AdBrite_Iframe=window.top!=window.self?2:1;var AdBrite_Referrer=document.referrer==''?document.location:document.referrer;AdBrite_Referrer=encodeURIComponent(AdBrite_Referrer);}catch(e){var AdBrite_Iframe='';var AdBrite_Referrer='';}document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,83,67,82,73,80,84));document.write(' src="http://ads.adbrite.com/mb/text_group.php?sid=32798&br=1&col=3&ifr='+AdBrite_Iframe+'&ref='+AdBrite_Referrer+'" type="text/javascript">');document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,47,83,67,82,73,80,84,62));</script><div><a class="adHeadline" target="_top" href="http://www.adbrite.com/mb/commerce/purchase_form.php?opid=32798&afsid=1">Your Ad Here</a></div><!-- End: adBrite --><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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2012, Earth will experience some of the worst solar storms seen in decades.<br /><br />Solar winds—charged particles from the <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space/solar-system/sun-article.html">sun</a>—help create auroras, the brightly colored lights that sometimes appear above the Earth's poles.<br /><br />But the winds also trigger storms that can interfere with satellites' power sources, endanger spacewalkers, and even knock out power grids on Earth.<br /><br />"The sequence we're expecting … is just right to put particles in and energize them to create the biggest geomagnetic storms, the brightest auroras, the biggest disturbances in Earth's radiation belts," said David Sibeck, a space-weather expert at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.<br /><br />"So if all of this is true, it should be that we're in for a tough time in the next 11 years."<br /><br />(Related: <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/09/080924-solar-wind.html">"Sun's Power Hits New Low, May Endanger Earth?"</a> [September 24, 2008].)<br /><br /><b>Into the Breach</b><br /><br />Data from NASA's THEMIS satellite showed that a 4,000-mile-thick (6,437-kilometer-thick) layer of solar particles has gathered and is rapidly growing within the outermost part of the magnetosphere, a protective bubble created by Earth's magnetic field.<br /><br />Normally the magnetosphere blocks most of the solar wind, flowing outward from the sun at about a million miles (1.6 million kilometers) an hour.<br /><br />"The solar wind is constantly changing, and the Earth's magnetic field is buffeted like a wind sock in gale-force winds, fluttering back and forth in response to the solar wind," Sibeck said this week during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco.<br /><br />Earth's magnetic field lines align themselves in different directions over various regions of the planet.<br /><br />Near Earth's Equator, where solar winds press against the magnetosphere, the field lines point north.<br /><br />Solar winds also carry magnetic field lines toward Earth, and those solar field lines point in different directions during the sun's 11-year cycle of activity.<br /><br />Conventional thinking had suggested that north-pointing field lines would act like reinforcements to Earth's northward field, causing the planet to "raise shields" against solar winds.<br /><br />The idea is based, in part, on the fact that auroras are brighter and space-weather hazards increase when solar winds carry southward-pointing field lines, Sibeck said.<br /><br />"So it's reasonable to think that during periods when the sun's magnetic field lines point south, that's when the most particles get into Earth's magnetosphere."<br /><br />THEMIS, however, showed that the opposite is true.<br /><br />The satellite system "found the solar particle layer is much thicker when the two fields are pointing in the same direction," said Marit Øieroset, a THEMIS scientist based at the University of California, Berkeley, who first saw the effect.<br /><br />In fact, 20 times more particles get through Earth's magnetic shield when the field lines are aligned than when they are opposed, she said.<br /><br /><b>Model Behavior</b><br /><br />To find the mechanism behind this discovery, Oieroset and Sibeck turned to computer models that could simulate the conditions observed by THEMIS.<br /><br />The models showed that the likely driver is north-facing field lines connecting with Earth's magnetosphere, said Jimmy Raeder, a physicist at the University of New Hampshire in Durham who helped build the simulations.<br /><br />As a field line approaches, it latches onto the poles and wraps around the planet like an octopus using a tentacle to snare its prey, he said.<br /><br />The latching, known as magnetic reconnection, tears huge cracks in the magnetosphere and allows solar plasma to leak in.<br /><br />"We have other observations from other satellites that this reconnection process happens over the poles at times, but we had never appreciated what it actually does," Raeder said.<br /><br />A thicker layer of solar particles, however, isn't enough by itself to create geomagnetic troubles for Earth.<br /><br />Right now the planet is enjoying a period of low activity called solar minimum. But particles have been building up inside the magnetosphere as the solar wind carries northward-facing field lines to Earth.<br /><br />During the next solar cycle, the winds are expected to carry southward-facing field lines, which connect with the magnetosphere in such a way that they provide extra charge to any plasma inside the shield.<br /><br />"You can sort of compare [the situation] to a gas stove," Raeder said.<br /><br />"If you turn on the gas and you light it right away, nothing will happen—the gas stove will go on and there will be a flame.<br /><br />"But if you turn on a gas stove and you don't do anything for a while and then you throw in a match, what will happen? It will say, Boom!" </td> </tr> <tr> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, State Department Legal Adviser John Bellinger, and documents from 2003 and 2004 provide further evidence that the White House endorsed the use of torture. The Department of Justice, Department of Defense, Department of State, Intelligence, and other leadership have all been complicit. Congressional leadership has been far too passive and encouraged these acts. These are bipartisan crimes. They are crimes against the United States and the world community.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">As usual, we read in the press that no one will prosecute these crimes. They will if we insist.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">We need to criminally prosecute the perpetrators. We must prosecute them because low-level soldiers ordered to do their bidding have been prosecuted. Soldiers who served at Bagram and Abu Ghraib have been court-martialed for the heinous acts they were ordered to and urged to perform on detainees. These soldiers, sons and daughters from decent, ordinary American families, are serving life sentences for betraying their oath. It is time that their leaders who ordered them to betray their oath face the music. No one gets a pass just because they are high up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">These leaders not only consider themselves above the law, but above the United States. We need to prosecute them to reaffirm who we are as Americans. We are not vicious torturers. These people have no place in our city on the hill.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">In September, the Massachusetts School of Law hosted a conference that resulted in ordinary American citizens coming together and forming a Steering Committee to develop the political will and the actual prosecution of these high-level civilians and military leaders. We ask all persons of goodwill to join us in this effort.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">The range of actions we encourage are:</span></p> <blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">1) impeaching President George Bush before he leaves office particularly if prior to leaving office he tries to pardon himself and those who have done his bidding in violation of United States law. In the absence of that impeachment and consistent with precedent we should impeach him after he leaves office for crimes committed. Impeachment would ensure that President Bush could not hold any federal office on commission etc. for the rest of his life.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">2) impeaching Judge Jay Bybee of the Ninth Circuit. Judge Bybee signed the infamous August 1, 2002 torture memo ascribed also to Professor John Yoo at the University of Berkeley School of Law. It shocks the conscience that a person who enabled torture is permitted to sit on a federal bench.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">3) criminally prosecuting high-level civilians in state courts. The legendary Vincent Bugliosi knows how to do it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">4) criminally prosecuting civilian and military leaders in federal and military courts. There are 2700 state prosecutors across the country. American families all over have suffered the loss of a loved one or live with an injured member who served in wars started by President George Bush. Some of these families are willing to assist their state prosecutors in seeking criminal trials. If a sufficient number of these cases are brought forth, a federal prosecutor might initiate a prosecution, notwithstanding Attorney General Mukasey's unwillingness to faithfully execute our federal laws with regard to criminal prosecution of these leaders.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">5) removing from academia former Bush administration officials who created and put in place the torture policies and practices. Ordering and abetting torture has nothing to do with academic freedom.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">6) encouraging, to the extent courts allow, "citizen prosecutors" to exercise citizen mandamus and step in to prosecute where their state or federal prosecutors have failed to act. This was attempted recently in Minnesota to permit a citizen arrest of President Bush for murder if he came into St. Paul to attend the Republican Convention.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">7) organizing peaceful civil actions that convey to those holding the levers of power in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches that we intend to vindicate United States law and United States international obligations and hold them accountable.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">8) Seeking assistance from foreign and international tribunals to make sure that these perpetrators serve time for their crimes.</span></p> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;">It is abundantly clear that President George Bush ordered torture. By dehumanizing others through torture and murder he dehumanizes America and Americans. Criminal prosecution is a viable means to demonstrate the importance for Americans of the most basic rules of US and international law. Let the world know that we are not barbarians.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;"><strong>Benjamin G. Davis</strong> is an Association Professor of Law at the University of Toledo School of Law.</span></p><p><a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=site%3A911review.org%2F+torture&qfront=torture&domainroot=911review.org%2F">search torture @ 9/11 review</a><br /></p><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;"><br /></span></p> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-1;"> <!-- End: AdBrite --> </span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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Sarah Palin's signature accomplishment — a contract to build a 1,715-mile pipeline to bring natural gas from <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_0">Alaska</span> to the Lower 48 — emerged from a flawed bidding process that narrowed the field to a company with ties to her administration, an Associated Press investigation shows.</p> <p>Beginning at the <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_1">Republican National Convention</span> in August, the McCain-Palin ticket has touted the pipeline as an example of how it would help America achieve energy independence.</p> <p>"We're building a nearly $40 billion <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_2">natural gas pipeline</span>, which is North America's largest and most expensive infrastructure project ever, to flow those sources of energy into hungry markets," Palin said during the Oct. 2 <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_3">vice presidential debate</span>.</p> <p>Despite Palin's boast of a smart and fair bidding process, the AP found that her team crafted terms that favored only a few independent pipeline companies and ultimately benefited the winner, <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_4">TransCanada Corp</span>.</p> <p>And contrary to the ballyhoo, there's no guarantee the pipeline will ever be built; at a minimum, any project is years away, as TransCanada must first overcome major financial and regulatory hurdles.</p> <p>In interviews and a review of records, the AP found:</p> <p>_Instead of creating a process that would attract many potential builders, Palin slanted the terms away from an important group — the global energy giants that own the rights to the gas.</p> <p>_Despite promises and legal guidance not to talk directly with potential bidders, Palin had meetings or phone calls with nearly every major candidate, including TransCanada.</p> <p>_The leader of Palin's pipeline team had been a partner at a lobbying firm where she worked on behalf of a TransCanada subsidiary. Also, that woman's former business partner at the lobbying firm was TransCanada's lead private lobbyist on the pipeline deal, interacting with legislators in the weeks before the vote to grant TransCanada the contract. Plus, a former TransCanada executive served as an outside consultant to Palin's pipeline team.</p> <p>_Under a different set of rules four years earlier, TransCanada had offered to build the pipeline without a state subsidy; under Palin, the company could receive a maximum $500 million.</p> <p>"Governor Palin held firmly to her fundamental belief that <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_5">Alaska</span> could best serve Alaskans and the nation's interests by pursuing a competitive approach to building a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_6">natural gas pipeline</span>," said McCain-Palin spokesman Taylor Griffin. "There was an open and transparent process that subjected the decision to extensive public scrutiny and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_7">due diligence</span>."</p> <p>___</p> <p>ONLY ONE VIABLE BIDDER</p> <p>There were never more than a few players that could execute such a complex undertaking — at least a million tons of steel stretching across some of Earth's most hostile and remote terrain.</p> <p>TransCanada estimates it will cost $26 billion; Palin's consultants estimate nearly $40 billion.</p> <p>The pipeline would run from Alaska's North Slope to Alberta in Canada; secondary supply lines would take the gas to various points in the United States and Canada. The pipeline would carry 4.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily, about 8 percent of the present U.S. market.</p> <p>Building such a pipeline had been a dream for decades. The rising cost and demand for energy injected new urgency into the proposal.</p> <p>So too did the depletion of Alaska's long-reliable reserves of oil, which are trapped in the same <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_8">Arctic Circle</span> reservoirs as clean-burning natural gas. Not only does that oil provide jobs, it pays for an annual dividend check to nearly every Alaska resident. This year's payment was $2,069, 25 percent higher than 2007 — plus a $1,200 bonus rebate to help offset higher energy costs. </p><p>Palin was elected as governor two years ago in part because of her populist appeal. Promising "New Energy for Alaska," she vowed to take on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_9">Exxon Mobil Corp</span>., <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_10">ConocoPhillips</span> and BP, the multinational energy companies that long dominated the state's biggest industry. </p><p> Oil interests were particularly unpopular at that moment: Federal agents had recently raided the offices of six lawmakers in a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_11">Justice Department investigation</span> into whether an Alaska oil services company paid bribes in exchange for promoting a new taxing formula that would ultimately further the multinationals' pipeline plans. </p><p> Palin ousted fellow Republican Gov. <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_12">Frank Murkowski</span>, who pushed a pipeline deal he negotiated in secret with the "Big Three" energy companies. That deal went nowhere. </p><p>With Alaskans eager for progress and sour on Big Oil, Palin tackled the pipeline issue with gusto, meeting with representatives from all sides and assembling her own team of experts to draw up terms. </p><p>Palin invited bidders to submit applications and offered the multimillion-dollar subsidy. Members of Palin's team say that without the incentive, it might not have received any bids for the risky undertaking. </p><p> ___ </p><p> TIES THAT BIND </p><p>Palin's team was led by Marty Rutherford, a widely respected energy specialist who entered the upper levels of state government nearly 20 years ago. Rutherford solidified her status when, in 2005, she joined an exodus of Department of Natural Resources staff who felt Murkowski was selling out to the oil giants. </p><p>What the Palin administration didn't tell legislators — and neglected to mention in its announcement of Rutherford's appointment — was that in 2003, Rutherford left public service and worked for 10 months at the Anchorage-based Jade North lobbying firm. There she did $40,200 worth of work for Foothills <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_13">Pipe Lines</span> Alaska, Inc., a subsidiary of TransCanada. </p><p> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_14">Foothills Pipe Lines Alaska Inc</span>. paid Rutherford for expertise on topics including state legislation and funding related to gas commercialization, according to her 2003 lobbyist registration statement. </p><p>Palin has said she wasn't bothered by that past work because it had occurred several years before. But Rutherford wouldn't have passed her new boss' own standards: Under ethics reforms the governor pushed through, Rutherford would have had to wait a year to jump from government service to a lobbying firm. </p><p> Rutherford also has downplayed her work for Foothills. </p><p> "I did a couple of projects for them, small projects," she told a <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_15">state Senate committee</span> examining the TransCanada bid earlier this year. While a partner, Rutherford said, she "realized that my heart was not in the private sector, it was in the public sector, and I sold out for the same amount of money I bought in for." </p><p> At one point, Palin's pipeline team debated Rutherford's role, but concluded there was no problem. </p><p>"We were looking at it in terms of is this an actual conflict or is there the appearance of impropriety of Marty's participation," said Pat Galvin, the commissioner of the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_16">Revenue Department</span> and another top team member. "It was determined that there was none, and so we moved forward." </p><p> Patricia Bielawski, Rutherford's former partner at Jade North, spent last summer in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_17">Juneau</span>, the state capital, serving as TransCanada's lead private lobbyist on the pipeline deal. While the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_18">Legislature</span> debated — and ultimately approved — the TransCanada deal, Bielawski met with lawmakers and sat in on the public proceedings, several legislators said. </p><p>Bielawski told AP earlier this month that Rutherford's employment at her firm was irrelevant. She said Rutherford never directly lobbied the Legislature for Foothills, and that Rutherford broke no rules based on 2003 state ethics guidelines. </p><p>"There's no statutory or regulatory prohibition that extends to things that many years ago," Bielawski said. "So there's no issue." </p><p> But others say it's a legitimate question. </p><p>"I'm not saying someone's getting paid off for a sweetheart contract, but it's very hard to ignore that this is your former partner and your former client standing there before you," said <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_19">Republican Sen. Lyda Green</span>, a Palin critic who in August was among the handful of lawmakers who voted against awarding TransCanada the license. "Every time it was mentioned to the governor or to the commission, it was like, 'How could you question such a wonderful person?'" </p><p> Tony Palmer, the TransCanada vice president who leads the company's <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_20">Alaska gas pipeline</span> effort, rejects the suggestion that his company benefited. </p><p>"We have gained clearly no advantage from anything that Ms. Rutherford did for Foothills some five years ago on a very much unrelated topic," he said. </p><p>Rutherford did not respond to interview requests made directly to her and through the governor's office. But Griffin, the spokesman for the McCain-Palin campaign, said Rutherford "had no decision-making role or authority," and contended that such matters were handled by others on the Palin pipeline team. </p><p>TransCanada also had a connection to the team hired by the Palin administration to analyze the bid. Patrick Anderson, a former TransCanada executive, served as an outside consultant and ultimately helped the state conclude that TransCanada's technical solution for shipping gas through freezing temperatures would work. </p><p> ___ </p><p> NARROW SET OF RULES </p><p> In January 2007, Palin spoke the first of at least two times to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_21">Vice President Dick Cheney</span>, the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_22">Bush administration</span>'s point person on energy issues, according to calendars obtained by the AP through a public records request. Cheney's staff pressed the Palin administration to draw in the energy companies, said current and former state officials involved in those discussions. </p><p> As the governor's approach unfolded in the spring of 2007, there were signs it was skewed in a different direction. </p><p>Palin said she saw problems if the firms that own the gas also owned the pipeline. They could manipulate the market or charge prohibitive fees to smaller exploration firms, discouraging competition. </p><p>Several important requirements in the legislation were unpalatable to the big oil companies. In the talks under Murkowski, the firms asked that the rates for the gas production tax and royalties be fixed for 45 years; Palin refused to consider setting rates for that long. </p><p> Under the Palin process, the pipeline firms had an advantage because they simply pass along taxes paid by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_23">oil and gas producers</span>. </p><p> Oil company officials warned lawmakers they wouldn't participate under those terms. Still, in a near unanimous vote, the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_24">Legislature</span> passed the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act in May 2007, generally as written by Palin's pipeline team. </p><p>Once the state issued its request for proposals on July 2, 2007, the level of communication between the government and potential bidders was supposed to decrease drastically, so that no one would be accused of gaining unfair advantage. State lawyers advised public officials to keep their distance, and bidders were told to submit questions on a Web site where answers could be seen by all. </p><p>Several of the state's gas line team members interviewed by AP said they had no contact with possible bidders. But Palin had conversations with executives at most of the major potential bidders during that period, according to her calendars. </p><p>While the calendars don't detail what was discussed, the documents indicate that the pipeline was the subject of the discussions, or that the conversations occurred immediately after a briefing with Palin's pipeline team. </p><p>When she was in Michigan for a National Governors Association summit in late July 2007, Palin and her team met executives from Williams Co., a pipeline builder that ended up not bidding. </p><p>"The purpose of the meeting was to more fully understand the details of the project, which we were still evaluating at the time," company spokeswoman Julie Gentz said in a statement. </p><p> TransCanada's Palmer described communication with state officials as nonexistent. </p><p>According to the governor's official schedule, however, Palin called TransCanada President and CEO Hal Kvisle on Aug. 8, 2007. Asked about that call, Palmer said it was to clarify the bidding process. </p><p>Griffin said that in keeping with legal guidance, Palin never spoke in any of the meetings about the competitive bidding process. </p><p>By the Nov. 30 submission deadline, there were five applications. But the state disqualified four for failing to satisfy the bill's requirements. </p><p> That left TransCanada. </p><p>The Canadian giant had been pursuing an Alaska pipeline since at least 2004, when the company negotiated a deal with Rutherford that the state ended up shelving. While the details remain confidential, six people familiar with the terms told the AP that TransCanada was willing to do the work then without the large state subsidy. </p><p>In testimony this July before the state Senate, Rutherford herself confirmed such a willingness, but described the 2004 deal as presenting a different set of trade-offs. A state lawyer warned her not to say more, lest she violate a confidentiality agreement. </p><p> Others who reviewed the deal think much of the $500 million will be wasted money. </p><p> "Most definitely TransCanada got a sweetheart deal this time," said <span style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1224955077_25">Republican Sen. Bert Stedman</span>, who voted against the TransCanada license. "Where else could you get a $500 million reimbursement when you don't even have the financing to build the pipeline?" </p><p> ___ </p><p> Associated Press writer Brett J. Blackledge contributed to this report.</p><p><a href="http://911review.org">http://911review.org</a><br /></p> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-64437182065023686232008-10-24T19:56:00.000-05:002008-10-24T19:58:12.032-05:00Private Military Contractors Writing the News? Pentagon's Propaganda mercenaries<p>Note that there are more retired generals working for private mercenaries'<br />contractors than in the Pentagon.<br /></p><p>The definition for such a situation is Feudal Fascism...<br /></p><p>Private <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.infowars.com/?p=5372">http://www.infowars.com/?p=5372</a>> Military Contractors Writing the<br />News? The Pentagon's Propaganda at Its Worst<br /></p><p>AlterNet | Months after the Pentagon pundits flap, the Department of Defense<br />continues to hand down contracts for propaganda in Iraq and beyond.<br /></p><p> <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net/fourthreich.html">http://infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net/fourthreich.html</a>> Jim Marrs<br /></p><p>The Rise of the Fourth Reich<br />For the first time Jim Marrs has gathered compelling evidence that an effort<br />has been underway for the past sixty years to bring a form of National<br />Socialism to modern America, creating in essence a modern empire-or "Fourth<br />Reich"! <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net/fourthreich.html">http://infowars-shop.stores.yahoo.net/fourthreich.html</a>> Get this<br />blockbuster at Alex Jones' Infowars Store today!<br /></p><p> <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.infowars.com/?p=5372">http://www.infowars.com/?p=5372</a>> Private Military Contractors Writing the<br />News? The Pentagon's Propaganda at Its Worst<br /></p><p>Liliana Segura<br />AlterNet<br />October 17, 2008<br /></p><p>Less than a week after the Washington Post<br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR200810020">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR200...</a><br />4223_pf.html> reported that the Department of Defense will pay private<br />contractors $300 million over the next three years to "produce news stories,<br />entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media<br />in an effort to 'engage and inspire' the local population to support U.S.<br />objectives and the Iraqi government," Virginia Sen. Jim Webb wrote a<br />strongly worded letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. "I have serious<br />reservations about the need for this expenditure in today's political and<br />economic environment," he wrote. "Consequently, I am asking that you put<br />these contracts on hold until the Armed Services Committee and the next<br />administration can review the entire issue of U.S. propaganda efforts inside<br />Iraq."<br /></p><p>Such a review, if it were to happen, would be a formidable undertaking, one<br />that would have to start with the declaration of the "War on Terror" itself.<br />It's a project the Bush administration has always approached as a PR<br />campaign as much as a military one. Who can forget former White House Chief<br />of Staff Andy Card's explanation for the need to introduce the Iraq War to<br />Americans in September: "From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce<br />new products in August." And remember the short-lived attempt by<br />administration officials to re-brand the "War on Terror" by renaming it the<br />"Global Struggle Against Violent Extremism"? (Reports at the time were that<br />administration officials worried that the original phrase "may have outlived<br />its usefulness," due to its sole focus on military might.)<br /></p><p>Regardless of what you call it, the so-called "War on Terror" has cost<br />American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in propaganda costs<br />alone. As with so much of modern war-making, most of this work is carried<br />out by private military contractors. With the word "Halliburton" now<br />shorthand for waste, fraud and abuse for many Americans, taxpayers'<br />tolerance for war profiteering has reached new lows - especially when<br />private military companies operating with no oversight undermine the very<br />"hearts and minds" that mission propaganda is supposedly meant to advance.<br /></p><p>Selling the War to Americans<br /></p><p>Perhaps one of the Bush administration's most egregious PR undertakings in<br />the war on Iraq was revealed this spring, when the New York Times<br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html</a>> blew the lid<br />off the Pentagon's military analyst program, in which more than 75 retired<br />military officials were recruited to spout pro-war rhetoric on major<br />networks in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. These "message force<br />multipliers," as they were branded, were provided with thousands of talking<br />points by the Department of Defense starting in 2002. In one memo, dated<br />Dec. 9, 2002 and titled "Department of Defense Themes and Talking Points on<br />Iraq," a quote from Paul Wolfowitz - "We cannot allow one of the world's<br />most murderous dictators to provide terrorists a sanctuary in Iraq" - was<br />followed with a bullet point: "Saddam Hussein: A Global Threat."<br /></p><p>The investigative piece by the Times said the project "continues to this<br />day," seeking to "exploit ideological and military allegiances, and also a<br />powerful financial dynamic: Most of the analysts have ties to military<br />contractors vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on<br />air."<br /></p><p>"Records and interviews show how the Bush administration has used its<br />control over access and information in an effort to transform the analysts<br />into a kind of media Trojan horse - an instrument intended to shape<br />terrorism coverage from inside the major TV and radio networks." It would be<br />hard to overstate the implications of such a program, particularly for a<br />country that claims to be a beacon of democracy.<br /></p><p>Although the Pentagon was said to have suspended its PR briefings of retired<br />military officials shortly after the Times story broke, since claiming that<br />its inspector general is conducting an investigation, in reality there has<br />been precious little fallout. However, in one promising move, earlier this<br />month, the Federal Communications Commission sent five letters of inquiry to<br />TV military analysts in an apparent probing of the program. According to<br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/10/6/fcc-probes-pentag">http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2008/10/6/fcc-probes-...</a><br />on-analysts.html> one report, "at issue is that some of them were also<br />linked to Pentagon contracts, raising the issue of conflict of interest. In<br />its letter signed by the chief of the investigations and hearings division<br />enforcement bureau, the FCC suggests that TV stations and networks may have<br />violated two sections of the Communications Act of 1934 by not identifying<br />the ties to the Pentagon that their military analysts had." Diane Farsetta<br />at PR Watch, who has written extensively on the Pentagon's pundits,<br />particularly their work on behalf of defense contractors, says, "the good<br />news is that that's (a first) step toward conducting an investigation."<br /></p><p>Profiting off the "War of Ideas"<br /></p><p>Beyond the Pentagon's pundit "scandal," the fact that propaganda contracts<br />continue to be awarded to the very companies that have previously been<br />implicated in ethical breaches for disseminating unattributed U.S.<br />propaganda abroad is reason enough to renew alarm. More than the dollar<br />amount, what is outrageous to Farsetta about the most recent propaganda<br />contract is that it is "blatantly illegal." "If you look at this most recent<br />contract," she explains, "one of the 'strategic audiences' is U.S.<br />audiences." According to federal law going back to World War II, she says<br />"no taxpayer money can go to propagandize U.S. audiences."<br /></p><p>* A d v e r t i s e m e n t<br /></p><p>*<br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.prisonplanet.tv/subscribe.html">http://www.prisonplanet.tv/subscribe.html</a>> Prison Planet TV<br /></p><p>The Washington Post story describes the contract as the latest in a series<br />of cutting-edge PR initiatives undertaken since 2003 that represent a<br />revolution in what it calls "the military's role in the war of ideas."<br />"Iraq, where hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on such<br />contracts, has been the proving ground for the transformation."<br /></p><p>"The tools they're using, the means, the robustness of this activity has<br />just skyrocketed since 2003. In the past, a lot of this stuff was just some<br />guy's dreams,'" said a senior U.S. military official, one of several who<br />discussed the sensitive defense program on the condition of anonymity.<br /></p><p>The Pentagon still sometimes feels it is playing catch-up in a propaganda<br />market dominated by al Qaeda, whose media operations include sophisticated<br />Web sites and professionally produced videos and audios featuring Osama bin<br />Laden and his lieutenants. "We're being out-communicated by a guy in a<br />cave," Secretary Robert M. Gates often remarks.<br /></p><p>The new contract was awarded to four companies, most of whom Farsetta refers<br />to as "the usual suspects," including<br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lincoln_Group#_note-8">http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Lincoln_Group#_note-8</a>> Lincoln<br />Group, the Pennsylvania Avenue company that in 2005 was found to have<br />planted articles written by U.S. military officials in Iraqi newspapers<br />without attribution. (Although the group was cleared of any illegalities,<br />even then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recognized the potential breach,<br />remarking, "Gee, that's not what we ought to be doing."<br /></p><p>Selling the War to Iraqis<br /></p><p>The main target audience for the $300 million contract is Iraqis. But,<br />different from earlier propaganda efforts, the content is not simply meant<br />to convince them of the noble intentions of their American occupiers.<br />"Originally, the major focus was all about the U.S.," says Farsetta. "The<br />message then was, 'Hey, you're free now,' but over time it has shifted to<br />more 'make sure you support your own government, your own police.'"<br /></p><p>Indeed, the Washington Post quoted an unnamed official who described one<br />component of the program:<br /></p><p>"There's a video piece produced by a contractor showing a family being<br />attacked by a group of bad guys, and their daughter being taken off. The<br />message is: You've got to stand up against the enemy." The professionally<br />produced vignette, he said, "is offered for airing on various (television)<br />stations in Iraq. They don't know that the originator of the content is the<br />U.S. government. If they did, they would never run anything.<br /></p><p>"If you asked most Iraqis," he said, "they would say, 'It came from the<br />government, our own government.'"<br /></p><p>A pretty blunt admission, to be sure, and one that lays bare the dubious<br />ethical nature of the program (not to mention the extent that the military<br />recognizes Iraqis' antipathy for the U.S. government). But it's not the<br />first time the U.S. government has sought to play hand puppet with Iraqi<br />media. Last spring, the NSA obtained and made public a document, along with<br />a PowerPoint presentation, that revealed the Pentagon's plans in the run-up<br />to the war to create a "Rapid Reaction Media Team." Jim Lobe, D.C. bureau<br />chief of InterPress Services, covered the revelation in May 2007; as he<br />wrote, the proposal was for a "six-month, $51 million budget for the RRMT<br />operation, apparently the first phase in a one- to two-year 'strategic<br />information campaign'":<br /></p><p>Among other items, the budget called for the hiring of two U.S. "media<br />consultants" who were to be paid $140,000 each for six months' work. A<br />further $800,000 were to be paid for six Iraqi "media consultants" over the<br />same period.<br /></p><p>Both the paper and the slide presentation were prepared by two Pentagon<br />offices - Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, which, among other<br />things, specialize in psychological warfare, and the Office of Special Plans<br />under then undersecretary of defense for policy, Douglas Feith - in<br />mid-January, 2003, two months before the invasion, according to NSA analyst<br />Joyce Battle.<br /></p><p>"The RRMT concept focuses on USG-UK pre- and post-hostilities efforts to<br />develop programming, train talent, and rapidly deploy a team of U.S./UK<br />media experts with a team of 'hand selected' Iraqi media experts to<br />communicate immediately with the Iraqi public opinion upon liberation of<br />Iraq," according to the paper.<br /></p><p>The "hand-picked" Iraqi experts, according to the paper, would provide<br />planning and program guidance for the U.S. experts and help ''select and<br />train the Iraqi broadcasters and publishers ('the face') for the<br />USG/coalition sponsored information effort." USG is an abbreviation for U.S.<br />government.<br /></p><p>In a rather extraordinary quote, the document boasted, "It will be as if,<br />after another day of deadly agit-prop, the North Korean people turned off<br />their TVs at night, and turned them on in the morning to find the rich fare<br />of South Korean TV spread before them as their very own."<br /></p><p>Circumventing Congress<br /></p><p>In the United States, few lawmakers have had a chance to scrutinize this<br />latest deployment of public funds for propaganda. (Like so many other<br />contracts awarded to private defense corporations, this one was awarded with<br />no Congressional approval.) But Webb's letter to Defense Secretary Robert<br />Gates suggests that it could become an issue.<br /></p><p>At a time when this country is facing such a grave economic crisis, and at a<br />time when the government of Iraq now shows at least a $79 billion surplus<br />from recent oil revenues, in my view it makes little sense for the U.S.<br />Department of Defense to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to<br />propagandize the Iraqi people. There is now an elected government in Iraq,<br />which is recognized to have the power and authority to negotiate a long-term<br />security agreement with the government of the United States. Clearly that<br />government is capable, both politically and financially, of communicating<br />with its own people in the manner now contemplated by these DOD contracts -<br />and without being accused by adversaries of being a foreign government that<br />is fulminating internal conditions through propaganda.<br /></p><p>Laudable as his efforts to reign in contractors may be - much of Webb's<br />letter was devoted to military contractors more generally, and Blackwater<br />specifically - his letter made no mention of the myriad ethical questions<br />raised by the propaganda contract. To name a few, says Farsetta, "the fact<br />that the media produced is overwhelmingly not attributed to the U.S.<br />government;" "the fact that one of the 'strategic audiences' listed in the<br />contract is 'U.S. audiences,' in apparent violation of U.S. law;" and "the<br />difficulties in holding private contractors operating in war zones<br />accountable to any standard (ethical, performance or otherwise)."<br /></p><p>Webb, who first learned about this contract as did most Americans, from the<br />Washington Post, has called for a thorough review of the Pentagon's<br />"strategic communications" initiatives, including Congressional hearings."<br />Were this to happen, says Farsetta, "I would love for those hearings to<br />include representatives from foreign governments and civil society groups<br />where the U.S. has major propaganda operations, including Iraq and<br />Afghanistan. The heads of firms like the Lincoln Group, L-3 and Rendon<br />should also testify, under oath."<br /></p><p>But, she says, "What really bothers me is that Webb's using the "we've given<br />Iraq so much and now it's time for them to step up" argument. That argument<br />never fails to amaze and anger me. We bombed them in 1991, then for more<br />than a decade placed them under such devastating sanctions that hundreds of<br />thousands of children died, then bombed them more ferociously over a longer<br />period of time. Yet some politicians have the gall to complain that the<br />Iraqis aren't doing enough now? That's not to mention that the argument<br />assumes that Iraqi leaders have the same priorities as U.S. officials.<br />Personally, I say we need to get our propaganda and troops out of Iraq and<br />pay them reparations."<br /></p><p>*** exposing the hidden truth for further educational research only ***<br />CAVEAT LECTOR ***<br /></p><p>In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed<br />without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the<br />included information for research and educational purposes. NOTE: Some links<br />may require cut and paste into your Internet Browser.<br /></p><p>Please check <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://tinyurl.com/33c9yr">http://tinyurl.com/33c9yr</a>> <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://tinyurl.com/33c9yr">http://tinyurl.com/33c9yr</a><br /><<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://groups.google.com/group/total_truth_sciences/topics?gvc=2">http://groups.google.com/group/total_truth_sciences/topics?gvc=2</a>><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://groups.google.com/group/total_truth_sciences/topics?gvc=2">http://groups.google.com/group/total_truth_sciences/topics?gvc=2</a> for more<br />real news posts and support the truth! (sorry but don't have time to email<br />all posts)<br /></p><p>free book download: <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lulu.com/content/165077">http://www.lulu.com/content/165077</a>><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lulu.com/content/165077">http://www.lulu.com/content/165077</a> or<br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_63/165000/165077/21/print/165077.pdf">http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_63/165000/165077/21/print/165077.pdf</a> <br /></p><p> <<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://blogs.albawaba.com/alexanderjames">http://blogs.albawaba.com/alexanderjames</a>><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://blogs.albawaba.com/alexanderjames">http://blogs.albawaba.com/alexanderjames</a><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://blogs.albawaba.com/Alexanderjames/page/links">http://blogs.albawaba.com/Alexanderjames/page/links</a><br /><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://bb.domaindlx.com/alexjames999">http://bb.domaindlx.com/alexjames999</a> <br /></p><p>*** Revealing the hidden Truth For Educational & Further Research Purposes<br />only. *** Welcome to Real News Edited excerpts, non-partisan,<br />pro-truth-honesty-peace, and anti-war-lies-crime. The purpose is to expose<br />corruptions, frauds, deceptions, lies, criminal plans, cover-ups and<br />free-speech silencing by powerful people in governments, foundations,<br />corporations and media, which are done using the name of democracy, human<br />rights, false interpretations of religions, cults, occults, patriotism,<br />economy, business, media, elections, justice, charity, etc., and are used to<br />trick the public into hatred & wars and out of their lives, money and<br />freedoms, while the propaganda we are subjected to makes us believe that we<br />have evolved to where such things cannot happen [remember slavery,<br />apartheid.]. Please share what you learn with others who do not have access<br />to the internet. This is only a tip of the iceberg. Stop the hatred that is<br />used to promote the dehumanization of the victims of predatory<br />aggressions;spread the truth;free your mind from being a Zioncon occupied<br />territory of the neo-feudal lords by rejecting the mainstream news<br />propaganda. Caution: real news may induce a kind of schizophrenia because it<br />provides a true vision of reality which is so different from the one we are<br />presented by the mass media spins. Latest real infonews available at<br />alternate news. ***** Check whatreallyhappened.com, inforwars.com, whtt.org,<br />savethemales.ca & other alternative news sites for latest news flashes. In<br />Truth We Trust! The opinions expressed herein contain positions and<br />viewpoints that are not necessarily those of the recipient, disseminator or<br />others mentioned in the information. These are offered as a means to<br />stimulate dialogue and discussion.<br /></p>NOTICE: Due to Presidential Executive Orders, the National Security Agency<br />(NSA) may have read emails without warning, warrant, or notice. They may do<br />this without any judicial or legislative oversight. You have no recourse,<br />nor protection.......... IF anyone other than the addressee of this e-mail<br />is reading it, you are in violation of the 1st & 4th Amendments to the<br />Constitution of the United States. Patriot Act 5 & H.R. 1955 Disclaimer<br />Notice: This post & all my past & future posts represent parody & satire &<br />are all intended for entertainment and amusement only.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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For Salon’s complete coverage of Sarah Palin, click <a href="http://dir.salon.com/topics/sarah_palin/">here.</a><br /><p>Oct. 10, 2008 PALMER, Alaska — | On the afternoon of Sept. 24 in downtown Palmer, Alaska, as the sun began to sink behind the snowcapped mountains that flank the picturesque Mat-Su Valley, 51-year-old Mark Chryson sat for an hour on a park bench, reveling in tales of his days as chairman of the Alaska Independence Party. The stocky, gray-haired computer technician waxed nostalgic about quixotic battles to eliminate taxes, support the “traditional family” and secede from the United States.</p><p>So long as Alaska remained under the boot of the federal government, said Chryson, the AIP had to stand on guard to stymie a New World Order. He invited a Salon reporter to see a few items inside his pickup truck that were intended for his personal protection. “This here is my attack dog,” he said with a chuckle, handing the reporter an exuberant 8-pound papillon from his passenger seat. “Her name is Suzy.” Then he pulled a 9-millimeter Makarov PM pistol — once the standard-issue sidearm for Soviet cops — out of his glove compartment. “I’ve got enough weaponry to raise a small army in my basement,” he said, clutching the gun in his palm. “Then again, so do most Alaskans.” But Chryson added a message of reassurance to residents of that faraway place some Alaskans call “the 48.” “We want to go our separate ways,” he said, “but we are not going to kill you.”</p><p>Though Chryson belongs to a fringe political party, one that advocates the secession of Alaska from the Union, and that organizes with other like-minded secessionist movements from Canada to the Deep South, he is not without peculiar influence in state politics, especially the rise of Sarah Palin. An obscure figure outside of Alaska, Chryson has been a political fixture in the hometown of the Republican vice-presidential nominee for over a decade. During the 1990s, when Chryson directed the AIP, he and another radical right-winger, Steve Stoll, played a quiet but pivotal role in electing Palin as mayor of Wasilla and shaping her political agenda afterward. Both Stoll and Chryson not only contributed to Palin’s campaign financially, they played major behind-the-scenes roles in the Palin camp before, during and after her victory.</p><div class="share_inset" id="digg_inset"> <p class="share_lead">Share this story on Digg:</p> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.digg.com/submit/?phase=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.salon.com%2Fnews%2Ffeature%2F2008%2F10%2F10%2Fpalin_chryson%2Findex.html&title=Meet%20Sarah%20Palin%27s%20radical%20right-wing%20pals" onclick="var s=s_gi('salondev'); s.eVar10='digg-box'; s.eVar16='/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson'; s.events='event7'; s.linkTrackVars='eVar10,eVar16,events'; s.linkTrackEvents='event7'; s.tl(this,'o','digg-box');"><img src="http://www.digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" alt="Digg!" height="20" width="100" /></a> <p class="share_thanks">Thanks for your support.</p> </div> <p>Palin backed Chryson as he successfully advanced a host of anti-tax, pro-gun initiatives, including one that altered the state Constitution’s language to better facilitate the formation of anti-government militias. She joined in their vendetta against several local officials they disliked, and listened to their advice about hiring. She attempted to name Stoll, a John Birch Society activist known in the Mat-Su Valley as “Black Helicopter Steve,” to an empty Wasilla City Council seat. “Every time I showed up her door was open,” said Chryson. “And that policy continued when she became governor.”</p><p>When Chryson first met Sarah Palin, however, he didn’t really trust her politically. It was the early 1990s, when he was a member of a local libertarian pressure group called SAGE, or Standing Against Government Excess. (SAGE’s founder, Tammy McGraw, was Palin’s birth coach.) Palin was a leader in a pro-sales-tax citizens group called WOW, or Watch Over Wasilla, earning a political credential before her 1992 campaign for City Council. Though he was impressed by her interpersonal skills, Chryson greeted Palin’s election warily, thinking she was too close to the Democrats on the council and too pro-tax.</p> <div style="float: right; height: 0pt;"><!-- --></div> <div style="display: none;" class="ad_content"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.1"> <!-- OAS_AD('Right'); //--> </script><a href="http://sacdcad01.salon.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.salonmagazine.com/news/content/large.html/418569414/Right/default/empty.gif/534d79584a306a76624d7341415a6e79" target="_top"><img src="http://sacdcad01.salon.com/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/default/empty.gif" alt="" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></a> <noscript><a href="http://judo.salon.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.cgi/www.salonmagazine.com/news/content/large.html@Right"><img src="http://judo.salon.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_nx.cgi/www.salonmagazine.com/news/content/large.html@Right" width="300" height="250" border="0" alt="" /></a></noscript> </div> <p>But soon, Palin and Chryson discovered they could be useful to each other. Palin would be running for mayor, while Chryson was about to take over the chairmanship of the Alaska Independence Party, which at its peak in 1990 had managed to elect a governor.</p><p>The AIP was born of the vision of “Old Joe” Vogler, a hard-bitten former gold miner who hated the government of the United States almost as much as he hated wolves and environmentalists. His resentment peaked during the early 1970s when the federal government began installing Alaska’s oil and gas pipeline. Fueled by raw rage — “The United States has made a colony of Alaska,” he told author John McPhee in 1977 — Vogler declared a maverick candidacy for the governorship in 1982. Though he lost, Old Joe became a force to be reckoned with, as well as a constant source of amusement for Alaska’s political class. During a gubernatorial debate in 1982, Vogler proposed using nuclear weapons to obliterate the glaciers blocking roadways to Juneau. “There’s gold under there!” he exclaimed.</p><p>Vogler made another failed run for the governor’s mansion in 1986. But the AIP’s fortunes shifted suddenly four years later when Vogler convinced Richard Nixon’s former interior secretary, Wally Hickel, to run for governor under his party’s banner. Hickel coasted to victory, outflanking a moderate Republican and a centrist Democrat. An archconservative Republican running under the AIP candidate, Jack Coghill, was elected lieutenant governor.</p><p>Hickel’s subsequent failure as governor to press for a vote on Alaskan independence rankled Old Joe. <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/">With sponsorship from the Islamic Republic of Iran</a>, Vogler was scheduled to present his case for Alaskan secession before the United Nations General Assembly in the late spring of 1993. But before he could, Old Joe’s long, strange political career ended tragically that May when he was murdered by a fellow secessionist.</p><p>Hickel rejoined the Republican Party the year after Vogler’s death and didn’t run for reelection. Lt. Gov. Coghill’s campaign to succeed him as the AIP candidate for governor ended in disaster; he peeled away just enough votes from the Republican, Jim Campbell, to throw the gubernatorial election to Democrat Tony Knowles.</p><p>Despite the disaster, Coghill hung on as AIP chairman for three more years. When he was asked to resign in 1997, Mark Chryson replaced him. Chryson pursued a dual policy of cozying up to secessionist and right-wing groups in Alaska and elsewhere while also attempting to replicate the AIP’s success with Hickel in infiltrating the mainstream.</p> <div style="float: right; height: 0pt;"><!-- --></div> <div id="x10" class="ad_content"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.1"> <!-- OAS_AD('x10'); //--> </script><!-- Start of interCLICK (C) In-Page Code --> <!-- Ad Format: Medium Rectangle (300x250) --> <!-- Domain: http://www.salon.com --> <!-- Copy and paste this ad code between the <body> and </body> tags of your page. --> <script src="http://a1.interclick.com/getInPageJS.aspx?a=51&b=12672&cid=1212766556247"></script> <noscript class="noscript-show"></noscript><noscript class="noscript-show"></noscript> </div> <p>Unlike some radical right-wingers, Chryson doesn’t put forward his ideas freighted with anger or paranoia. And in a state where defense of gun and property rights often takes on a real religious fervor, Chryson was able to present himself as a typical Alaskan.</p><p>He rose through party ranks by reducing the AIP’s platform to a single page that “90 percent of Alaskans could agree with.” This meant scrubbing the old platform of what Chryson called “racist language” while accommodating the state’s growing Christian right movement by emphasizing the AIP’s commitment to the “traditional family.”</p><p>“The AIP is very family-oriented,” Chryson explained. “We’re for the traditional family — daddy, mommy, kids — because we all know that it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. And we don’t care if Heather has two mommies. That’s not a traditional family.”</p><p>Chryson further streamlined the AIP’s platform by softening its secessionist language. Instead of calling for immediate separation from the United States, the platform now demands a vote on independence.</p><p>Yet Chryson maintains that his party remains committed to full independence. “The Alaskan Independence Party has got links to almost every independence-minded movement in the world,” Chryson exclaimed. “And Alaska is not the only place that’s about separation. There’s at least 30 different states that are talking about some type of separation from the United States.”</p> <p class="next_page">Next page: <a href="http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/10/10/palin_chryson/index1.html">The War of Northern Aggression, or the Civil War, or the War Between the States — however you want to refer to it — was not about slavery</a></p><p id="ednote"><br /></p><p id="ednote"><br /> </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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And the Associated Press this morning elaborated on exactly what that entails [see below]. "The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.," AP said. Very interesting! But the rest of the article doesn't give any details on these Nazis or the role of this group, called the World Anti-Communist League, in launching a "Cocaine Coup" that turned Bolivia into a drug trafficking hub and hotbed of brutal torture. Luckily a former AP and Newsweek reporter named Roberty Parry wrote an oddly fun book called Lost History, which can provide further illumination:<br />In 1966, the Asian Peoples Anti-Communist League expanded into the World Anti-Communist League, an international alliance that pulled together traditional conservatives with former Nazis, overt radicalists and Latin American "death squad" operatives. In an interview, reitred U.S. Army Gen. John K. Singlaub, a former WACL president], said "the Japanese [WACL] chapter was taken over almost entirely by the Moonies."<br /><br />Through WACL and other political relationships, [Moonies founder Sun Myung] Moon built bridges to right-wing forces in South America during the 1970s.... [a] Bolivian WACL leader [last name Gasser]... was a leading figure in the coup....<br /><br />...CAUSE, one of Moon's anti-communist organizations, listed as members nearly all the leading Bolivian coup-makers.<br /><br />...An architect of the Bolivian coup was World War II Nazi fugitive Klaus Barbie, who was working as a Bolivian intelligence officer under the name Klaus Altmann. Barbie drew up plans modeled after the 1976 Argentine coup and contacted the Argentines for help. As the coup took shape, Barbie organized a secret lodge, called Thule, where he lectured his followers under swastikas by candlelight. [[!!!??!!]]<br /><br />....The slaughter was fierce.... Labor leader Marcelo Quiroga... 'was dragged off to police headuarters to be the object of a game played by torture experts imported from Argentina's dreaded Mechanic School of the Navy...' [[-pages 38-41, 200-202]]<br /><br />The WACL/Moonie/Barbie forces then transported cocaine on behalf of the drug lords they had made a deal with prior to the coup, Parry wrote. The drug trafficking eventually became an issue for the U.S. government (despite evidence the CIA was complicit in the coup) and the Moonies pulled out. And about a year later the Moonies, apparently flush with cash, launched the conservative Washington Times at an alleged cost of about $100 million per year! Very interesting.<br /><br />Supposedly McCain was involved with this WACL council about as little as Obama was involved with 1960s radical Bill Ayers. "I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group," Singlaub (the retired Army general from the quote above) told AP. Singlaub, however, doesn't remember McCain quitting the group in 1984 as McCain has long claimed he did. That's probably because McCain attended the group's 1985 "Freedom Fighter Of The Year" awards! (See HuffPo link at top.)<br /><br />Dredging up this McCain link is a crafty bit of flackery on behalf of Barack Obama's campaign in that it seems to neutralize the issue of Obama's affiliation with Ayers. Trouble is, the Ayers issue was useful mainly as an excuse to paint Obama as he was already seen by some voters — an un-American terrorist sympathizer. And the people who think that aren't going to care about some extreme anti-communist group McCain affiliated himself with a long time ago. The people who might care about that, in fact, are mostly already voting for Obama. So, nice going, oppo-wise, linking McCain with Nazis and so forth, but it's probably not going to stop all this "Who Is Barack Obama?" business.<br /><a href="http://gawker.com/5059938/mccains-nazi+cocaine-connection"><br />http://gawker.com/5059938/mccains-nazi+cocaine-connection</a><br />•••••••<br />Oct 7, 5:58 AM EDT<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">McCain linked to private group in Iran-Contra case</span><br /></div>By PETE YOST<br />Associated Press Writer<br /><br />WASHINGTON (AP) -- GOP presidential nominee John McCain has past connections to a private group that supplied aid to guerrillas seeking to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua in the Iran-Contra affair.<br /><br />McCain's ties are facing renewed scrutiny after his campaign criticized Barack Obama for his link to a former radical who engaged in violent acts 40 years ago.<br /><br />The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. The group was dedicated to stamping out communism around the globe.<br /><br />The council's founder, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain was launching his political career in Arizona. Singlaub said McCain was a supporter but not an active member in the group.<br /><br />"McCain was a new guy on the block learning the ropes," Singlaub told The Associated Press in an interview. "I think I met him in the Washington area when he was just a new congressman. We had McCain on the board to make him feel like he wasn't left out. It looks good to have names on a letterhead who are well-known and appreciated.<br /><br />"I don't recall talking to McCain at all on the work of the group," Singlaub said.<br /><br />The renewed attention over McCain's association with Singlaub's group comes as McCain's campaign steps up criticism of Obama's dealings with William Ayers, a college professor who co-founded the Weather Underground and years later worked on education reform in Chicago alongside Obama. Ayers held a meet-the-candidate event at his home when Obama first ran for public office in the mid-1990s.<br /><br />Obama was roughly 8 years old when Ayers, now at the University of Illinois at Chicago, was working with the Weather Underground, which took responsibility for bombings that included nonfatal blasts at the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol. McCain's vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, has said that Obama "pals around with terrorists."<br /><br />In McCain's case, Singlaub knew McCain's father, a Navy admiral who had sought Singlaub's counsel when McCain, a Navy pilot, became a prisoner of war and spent 5 1/2 years in North Vietnamese hands.<br /><br />"John's father asked me for advice about what he ought to do now that his son had been shot down and captured," Singlaub recalled in one of two recent interviews. "I said, 'As long as you don't give any impression that you care more about him than you care about any of the other prisoners, he won't be treated any differently.'"<br /><br />Covert arms shipments to the rebels called Contras, financed in part by secret arms sales to Iran, became known as the Iran-Contra affair. They proved to be the undoing of Singlaub's council.<br /><br />In 1987, the Internal Revenue Service withdrew the tax-exempt status of Singlaub's group because of its activities on behalf of the Contras.<br /><br />Elected to the House in 1982 and at a time when he was on the board of Singlaub's council, McCain was among Republicans on Capitol Hill expressing support for the Contras, a CIA-organized guerrilla force in Central America. In 1984, Congress cut off CIA funds for the Contras.<br /><br />Months before the cutoff, top Reagan administration officials ramped up a secret White House-directed supply network and put National Security Council aide Oliver North in charge of running it. The goal was to keep the Contras operational until Congress could be persuaded to resume CIA funding.<br /><br />Singlaub's private group became the public cover for the White House operation.<br /><br />Secretly, Singlaub worked with North in an effort to raise millions of dollars from foreign governments.<br /><br />McCain has said previously he resigned from the council in 1984 and asked in 1986 to have his name removed from the group's letterhead.<br /><br />"I didn't know whether (the group's activity) was legal or illegal, but I didn't think I wanted to be associated with them," McCain said in a newspaper interview in 1986.<br /><br />Singlaub does not recall any McCain resignation in 1984 or May 1986. Nor does Joyce Downey, who oversaw the group's day-to-day activities.<br /><br />"That's a surprise to me," Singlaub said. "This is the first time I've ever heard that. There may have been someone in his office communicating with our office."<br /><br />"I don't ever remember hearing about his resigning, but I really wasn't worried about that part of our activities, a housekeeping thing," said Singlaub. "If he didn't want to be on the board that's OK. It wasn't as if he had been active participant and we were going to miss his help. He had no active interest. He certainly supported us."<br /><br />© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-17589003032824355852008-09-16T17:31:00.000-05:002008-09-16T18:18:48.150-05:00WW3-anthrax-DEAD_20-GENERALS<p>Interesting <em>Coincidence</em>: Tinsley’s previous boss, Michael “Buzz” Mosely, resigned in the wake of <a href="http://cryptogon.com/?p=1299">the Minot Nukes incident</a>.</p><p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">http://cryptogon.com/?p=3178</span></span></strong></p><p><br /><strong></strong></p><p>I have received reports that 20 U.S. Generals were murdered within approximately the past week, reportedly by the "George W. Bush True Colors Assassination Teams", and that most of these generals were Air Force personnel. Although one source said 10 of these generals were incarcerated, not killed, another source says the murders happened while Bush and Bush Sr. were in China at the Olympics as a cover, so not to be associated with what was occurring on U.S. Mainland.</p> <p>I have not been able to confirm this as the MSM is silent on this kind of stuff.</p> <p>In my book in the bonus section dealing with Hillary Clinton,Bill Clinton, Waco, and the 'Red List' I described what the 'Red List' is as it was originally devised years ago in Europe.<br />If this report of these officers is correct it would signal the beginning of the RED LIST Implementation in the United States has begun, and all military and police officers, especially, should be on alert.</p><p><br /></p><p>Considering the above events we are now beyond regular impeachment. Just the suspicious death of Air Force Brigadier General Thomas L. Tinsley a few days ago in Anchorage with a chest wound as the late <a href="http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1862030&mesg_id=1862273">Admiral Jeremy Boorda</a> had is highly suspicious. So where is the alleged handgun in this incident?<br />Reference: Brigadier General Thomas L. Tinsley had testified to the Virginia National Security Court that Red-Blue U.S.-Canadian war games were staged on 9/11, i.e. a mock attack on America based on hijacked aircraft to disguise the actual Pentagon-Israeli Mossad BLACK OPS attack using holograms and laser technology. </p><p>Frederick Wayne Hutchins Jr., a major aide to Senator Jim Webb, D-VA, was recently assassinated in a Vince Foster-style manner.</p> <p>Hutchins was murdered by the same Israeli MOSSAD team that poisoned Bruce Ivins in the Frederick, Maryland hospital.</p> <p>Hutchins had been in communication with the attorney for the late Bruce Ivins, Paul F. Kemp, concerning the role of Dr. Philip Zackerie and the post 9/11 anthrax attacks on the East Coast of the United States.</p> <p>Hutchins, who was familiar with the Bush-Clinton "TRUE COLORS" assassination teams, had recently testified before the Virginia National Security Court concerning the use of private mercenaries tied to Blackwater and Halliburton and their activities in Iraq, Europe, other parts of the Middle East and the United States of America.<br />Hutchins and Webb had become familiar with new smoking gun 9/11 evidence, which would bring the criminal outlaw Bushfraud Administration to justice for HIGH TREASON.</p><p><a href="http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/35491">http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/35491</a><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.informamerica.net/20Generals_Murdered.html">http://www.informamerica.net/20Generals_Murdered.html</a></p><p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Breaking News: NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALERT</span></span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Exclusive first ever reported under immediate threat against America's National Security, this REPORT complies with 18 U.S.C. 4 The Federal Reporting Crimes Act we report it.</span></span></strong></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">20 U.S. Generals mostly Air Force have been Murdered in the past week by George W. Bush True Colors Assassination Team tied with Rouge Israeli Mossad. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The name of the Bush Murder Operation is "Operation Raptor ", The Hawks are killing the Doves.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><a href="General%20Tinsley%20Murdered"><img src="http://www.stewwebb.com/general_thomas_tinsley.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="340" width="268" /></a> General Tinsley Murdered</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">One of the first Generals Murdered, General Tinsely was first reported by Tom Heneghan August 2, 2008.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://batcave911.blogspot.com/2008/08/anthrax-ivins.html">ANTHRAX IVINS MURDER - Bioport - Hatfil - Rumsfeld</a><br /></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.stewwebb.com/anthrax_gate_escalates_Aug_2_2008.htm"><span style="font-family:Arial;">anthrax_gate_escalates_Aug_2_2008.</span></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.stewwebb.com/Anthrax%20Gate%20Grand%20Jury%20Indicting%20US%20Attorney%20Michael%20Mukasey.htm"><span style="font-family:Arial;">Anthrax Gate Grand Jury Indicting US Attorney Michael Mukasey</span></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">The 20 U.S. Generals, many have testified against George W. Bush and Richard Cheney's Treason and Sedition over their Orchestrated attack of America on 911 WTC 2001.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><img src="http://www.stewwebb.com/CameronClassified.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="150" width="350" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">A New Jersey National Security Grand Jury was empowered long ago in Secret to Investigate and Indict Bush and Cheney's for their Roles as Co-Conspirators to attack America on 9-11-2001 and other Treasonous acts against America.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Some of the Generals killed would not allow an attack on Iran by the United States Military.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">All the Murders have occurred on U.S. soil by Bush Crime Syndicate Rouge True Colors assassination teams tied with Rouge Israeli Mossad killers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><img src="http://www.stewwebb.com/frederick_hutchins_jr.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="135" width="100" /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Senate Aid Hutchins Murdered</span> <a href="http://www.stewwebb.com/anthrax_gate_escalates_Aug_2_2008.htm">anthrax_gate_escalates_Aug_2_2008.</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Senator James Webb of Virginia who was elected in 2006, Senate Aid Hutchins was murdered last week coordinating with Senator Webb testimony by various Generals 4 Star and 3 Star Generals who have been Murdered this past week by George W. Bush assassination teams.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">George W. Bush and Richard Cheney have covered up the murders with CIA Roster Doctors who have snatched the bodies of the 20 Generals Murdered.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Bush will make it look as those missing Generals were killed in an assault in Iraq by Iran to start his long awaited attack on Iran to cause World War 3.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">The Impeachment of White House Occupunk-none elected President 2000 George W. Bushfraud began Friday July 25, 2008.</span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bush is Charged with Murder in the Articles of Impeachment</span></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.stewwebb.com/35_articles_to_impeach_bushfraud_stewwebb.com.htm"><span style="font-family:Arial;">35_articles_to_impeach_bushfraud_stewwebb.com.</span></a></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">U.S. Military, Good People in Government and those with Badges time to arrest Bush and Cheney.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><img src="http://www.stewwebb.com/Bush%20Arrest.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="281" width="365" />Murderer George W. Bush</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Exclusive</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">By Stew Webb</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.stewwebb.com/">http://www.stewwebb.com</a></span></p> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: tahoma,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;"> <div> </div> <div><strong>COMMENTS BY EL CID</strong></div> <div> </div> <div> <div>Need to pay very serious attention to this one. Confirmation from the highest level of "energetic read" input. Accuracy for below article is at 100% level, with exception of first picture -- second picture is accurate. Other point of accuracy is <span style="font-weight: bold;">10 of the 20 USF generals are incarcerated by this cabal -- not dead.</span> Bush, Jr. is remaining in China for the Olympics with Bush, Sr. so there will not be the perception of their involvement. Bush, Sr., as with 9/11 is incharge of this operation. World War III and (in time when possible) marshall law is the intent. Using balance of our troops in Iran and out of the U.S. is part of the plan. The U.S. instigated Russia vs. Georgia conflict, as reported by FourWinds10, is part of this scenio. </div> <div> </div> <div>There are approximately 10,000 UN troops currently in the U.S. -- it would take approx. 1,000,000 to actually pull off their plan, if there were full cooperation on various levels, to pull off intent of marshall law -- with U.S. troops in conflicts abroad and good side generals are knocked off. For the approx. past 4 years Russian tanks and other military equipment have been entering this country -- huge amounts -- through a Texas port and have been stregically placed around the U.S. It would take approx. 20 months under this planned scenario to be in place and then have all our U.S. based military put into UN iniforms -- their plans succeding naturally.</div> <div> </div> <div>El CID.............</div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <div style="clear: both;"><br />========<br /><p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kerry Cassidy: Today is September 6th and it’s 7:14 pm, California time. And Benjamin, where you are, I can’t imagine how late it is.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benjamin Fulford: Well, it’s 11 in the morning on September 7th here in Tokyo.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Oh, right. Sunday. So this is Kerry Cassidy from Project Camelot and Bill Ryan. And we’re talking to Benjamin Fulford in Japan. So, Benjamin, last time we talked, you were very, sort of incognito, talking about September 8th as an interesting date.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, actually, I don’t know about September 8th, but, you know, the dirt I’ve been hearing is September 30th, and then some sort of event in the US in October. So my understanding from my various sources is that there will be an <span style="font-weight: bold;">attempt at a coup d’etat, martial law</span>, and rounding people up for the detention camps in early October. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These people have been trying very hard to start WWIII. As you know, the Israelis had an Air Force base in Georgia and they were planning to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities from Georgia. The important thing is though... a friend of mine who was at the Trilateral meeting in Tokyo in 2006 told me there was a technical explanation there, where they said that because the Iranian facilities are so deep underground, they would have to attack them with nuclear weapons. Now, the Russians and the Chinese have said they will destroy Israel if they do that. OK? </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, I suspect the people behind this are ready to see Israel destroyed. This is gonna be their new holocaust in order to create the environment for their so-called “messiah” to appear. So they’re crazy. And they’re trying to kill billions of people. And we’re running out of time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: So you’re saying that they’re going to push this event forward and you think it might be happening sometime in... October is the timeline you’re given? </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, this is what a lot of the sources are telling me. There’s a split in the ranks. You see, a lot of the Bushes and their Nazi people have been stealing from everybody, and up in the high finance world they’ve created a lot of enemies. And they’re supposed to have some sort of September 30th deadline to pay. And they don’t have the money, so they’re gonna create martial law and activate their military and say, <em>To hell with you. </em></span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I have conflicting information and it’s hard to sift through it all. The Japanese Security Police Ninja -- and that, by the way, is a very ancient tradition in Japan, with very deep roots; the top levels are their equivalent of our spy agencies -- but he’s telling me they actually made an agreement and they’re gonna use Japanese gold in the US to pay off the Bushes’ debt and then they’re gonna come up with a new agreement. I published it in Japanese on my web page. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the problem is, it looks to me like a delaying tactic. These people were planning something for 2012, and events are spinning out of their control. So they’re trying to fast-forward it, but they need more time. That’s my understanding of it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we really, clearly, must not let them strike first. That’s what they did on September 11, 2001, and they’re gonna do it again. In other words, we cannot <em>react</em>. They’re gonna do something so radical that... We have to have a critical mass of people in the military and the intelligence establishment, whatever, among the civil population, to take these people down before they make a move like this.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: What exactly is the plan that you think they have? In other words, you think they plan either to attack Iran, or you’re saying they’re going to take out Israel. What is their plan?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, there <em>is</em> a group that wants to start WWIII. And we’re the group that’s trying to stop them. It’s clear the US Air Force has prevented the Israelis from attacking Iran by flying over Iraqi air space. And when the Israelis set up an air base in Georgia, the Russians came in and captured the airplanes and dismantled the air base. But clearly there is a big group in the US military, in Russia, whatever, trying to stop these people. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But they control the Congress, they control the press, they control the Supreme Court, they control the office of the President, and they control about 190,000 Blackwater mercenaries.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Who are you saying controls these people? Do you have... </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, they’re a group of Neo-Nazis headed by their fuerher, George Bush, Sr. And these are people who, after WWII, they said, you know, they found Nazi documents in Germany saying, <em>For us the war never ended.</em> And they’ve been planning this for more than 50 years. They are the people who assassinated Kennedy and Martin Luther King. And they have a lot of their people spread throughout the establishment. And they were waiting until they had all the right people in all the right places. And now it’s sort of “endgame”. They’re being cornered. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their original plan was to have Hillary Clinton followed by Jeb Bush for the... to complete their entire Nazification and turning the US into a fascist country. But the loss by Clinton and a change in the power politics among the “secret government” members has meant they’re kind of desperate and they’re gonna try to do something very crazy. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: OK, but you were talking about a coup. So on September 30th, exactly what do you think...? Because you can’t put in martial law without some kind of...</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, the BIS has demanded that the Bushes pay back the money they owe to the Europeans who are trying... basically everyone on Earth. They’ve been ripping people off all over the place. So if they don’t, then there is a possibility of a serious economic crisis in the US. And such a crisis would be followed by martial law.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: OK, from George Green we understand that the Bank for International Settlements is supposed to be not able to do their actual audit during the Bush administration, that they’d have to come in after the election. That was his understanding, because Bush does not want them to come in while he’s in office. Do you think that they can be put off that far?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, they’re obviously trying to play for time. It’s clear that everybody’s waiting for November and everybody’s waiting for the new President before they can start, you know, unraveling the mess these people made. OK? </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You’ve got to remember, these people have been planning this for 50 years. They’re not just gonna step aside politely. As you know, they’ve built concentration camps around the US. They have their Blackwater mercenaries who are, you know, the equivalent of the SS. OK?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Are you getting information on what kind of event that they’re planning for, say, October sometime?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, it would be declaration of a national state of emergency. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, the message and information I’m getting is mixed. It’s clear there’s a lot of flux going on. There’s a lot of different factions with different agendas and it’s not clear how the whole thing’s gonna play out. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like I say, the Japanese Security Police, the guy who was originally sent to me by David Rockefeller, contacted me saying they’d reached an agreement for a new type of “world secret government” that would involve domination by an alliance of the Europeans (and when I say “Europeans,” I mean the non-Anglo-Saxon Europeans: the French and the Germans), the Russians, and the Chinese, with the Americans getting 22 out of 100 votes and the Europeans, the Russians, and the Chinese getting 78 votes. And that, as a result of this agreement, they’re gonna extend the Bushes’ money to keep things going after September. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I worry that that agreement is just a ploy for time, that it’s not gonna be something they’re really gonna do. I mean, these people are serial liars. And we have the, apparently George Bush Senior’s brother, Jonathan Bush, who has been living in China for a long time. And my sources are telling me that a Chinese Politburo official connected to Madame Wu has laundered billions of dollars overseas and is being blackmailed about this. And also we have George Bush, Sr., who was ambassador to China. So they have a lot of connections there. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I think they’ve been lying to and fooling the Chinese and using their connections to try to make it look like they’re gonna hand over control to the Chinese, but really they’re just playing for time. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my advice to the Chinese is don’t trust these people and don’t trust any Chinese that are connected to the Bushes, because they’ve been bribed, and they’ve been compromised, and they’re probably also blackmailed, too. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: But you’re saying that they’re actually going to sit back and take 22 votes versus 78 on the side of the Europeans. I don’t see America settling for that. Not the America I know, at any rate.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, that’s the point. So there are some, obviously, factions. This is, I assume, the same faction that was behind this whole CO2 campaign, the people who backed Al Gore, OK? And that faction is obviously opposed by the Nazi faction, who want to create an artificial Endtime. That’s the problem. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it’s really... And the US military establishment and intelligence community, whatever, seems to be split in two between the fascists and the traditional, you know, patriots. I’m hoping that a majority will be patriots and realize that they want the United States to be free and strong. And if the United States is free and strong, they will keep their leadership of the world just because they’ll be the best and everyone will want to imitate them. But to try to take over the world by force... it’s just not gonna happen.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Originally you had said that if they went and attacked Iran, that the Ninjas would be mobilized to actually take them out one by one. That was your threat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, yeah. I mean, if there is an attack I will certainly ask that they start doing this. I mean, it’s clearly... These people are a threat to the human species and it’s in everybody’s interest. At that point, that will have to happen.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Our information, partly from George Green, but also from other sources, is saying there <em>is</em> going to be an attack on Iran. Is that information you’re getting? Or are you getting that they’re going to hold off?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, they’ve been trying to attack Iran for a long time. They tried to attack Iran... well, in fact, George Bush, Sr. ordered the Pentagon to nuke Iraq or something back in 1992 and they said <em>No</em>, and they tried to take him down with the Iran Contra scandal. And they managed to get him out of power. So there is a powerful faction of “White Knights” in there. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And these are the same people that have repeatedly blocked the Israeli Air Force from attacking Iran. And if you look at a map, you can see that they could attack Iran from Georgia without flying over Iraqi air space, and therefore not being blocked by the US Air Force. But if the Air Force is actually blocking the Israelis, then I don’t see how the Israelis are gonna be able to attack. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I have also heard that something like 20 Air Force generals were killed. And so, maybe they’re trying to wrest control of the Air Force. But Russia... </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Are you talking about 20 US Air Force generals?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Yes. I got this from an NSA source. I don’t know if it’s true or not.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: We heard something similar to this. Is this something that happened in Georgia? </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: No, that would be in the US.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: In the US? OK.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: They’re trying to purge the doves from the US Air Force so they can get their hands on the nukes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Are you able to reveal where you got that information about the generals being... </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, one NSA source and one CIA source. And I looked on the internet and there were some articles. It’s hard to see if it’s true or not, you know. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I believe that even if they get rid of the generals, there are so many colonels and other people there who are the... they are the line of defense, at the end of the day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, these people, they control their very top positions. Like you have Hayden there, at the top of the CIA. And you have Kinney. And these are the people that you have to take out. They don’t control the middle ranks or even most of the upper ranks, just the very tip-top, in many cases. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, we have a list of their names. Everyone knows the Neocons and who they are. And these are the people that need to be stopped. I mean, they’re crazy. That’s the bottom line. They’re following an insane agenda.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: What’s your idea of what can be done to stop them? Are you just saying that we have to rely on what is, in essence, “white hats,” to pull a coup within the US government? Because I would posit that this might have already happened, under Mike McConnell.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, I hope so. And I think Mr. Gates, Defense Secretary Gates, seems like a sane man. And you had the Admiral Fallon thing. That was a bunch of them trying to put the crazies back in the box. But there is some kind of Mossad assassination team out there, too. And at a certain point, these white hats are gonna have two take actual action, i.e., arrest people. And that hopefully will happen. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean, I am encouraged by the fact that they have been stopping repeated, repeated attempts to attack Iran. So hopefully this nightmare scenario will not take place. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the key of the question of what’s gonna happen is Blackwater mercenaries, and who’s gonna fight them. Or are they gonna obey orders? </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The big difference between the Nazis today and the Nazis in Germany is that these Nazis don’t have any popular support. Hitler had 80% popular support. These guys have 20%, just the brainwashed Christian Zionists. You know, we have other sources saying that something like 1 to 2 percent of the US population has been specially trained and indoctrinated for an event of this sort. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a messy situation and there’s a lot that we cannot see. On the other hand, there are good signs as well. Japan’s gonna have a general election in November and hopefully the new government will be very different from the one that’s been in power since after 1955. And hopefully they will insist that the US stop their incessant warmongering if they wish to keep receiving funding that they need to have their economy stay afloat.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: What’s your take on what’s going on on September 30th in regard to the US economy? Because, as you said, those debts are going to be due. Is the Japanese gold going to prop up our economy here in the US or not?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, I mean, it’s in nobody’s interest to have the US economy collapse. Nobody wants to have a Soviet-style collapse. And I think they’ll find a way to keep the money going. But of course if there is an attack on iran, then who knows? But I believe that there’s a critical mass of sane people that does not want WWIII. So even... my guess is that the Zionists, if they succeed in bombing Iran, then Israel will be destroyed, but the US will not then start all-out thermonuclear war, as some of these crazies are planning and hoping for.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Are you still in the same position you were before, in the sense that you’re aligned with these Asian Secret Societies and that they can be called upon to actually try to change events?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Yes. And I have asked them to take a look at their deal and insist that they be given access to US military bases, to make sure there’s no genocide being planned. And I also told them that, you know, they should not be playing for time and we should not give them time, because time is not on our side. They were... You know, I guess they’re working toward 2012. They’re trying to speed up the agenda. And so, the faster we act, the less likely they are to succeed. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And also, I’m been contacted by other groups... the Karate Association? Fifty million people around the world are studying karate and they’ve offered help. And they could probably get all the other martial arts societies to join. And, as you know, most people who are studying martial arts are not Asians these days. They’re actually, you know, all over the world. I mean, I studied judo in Mexico as a kid and then continued my studies in Canada. So these societies are very important. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the day, we’re hoping that everything can be done peacefully, without a single death and a single fight. You know, bullies become weak if people stand up to them. And if enough people stand up and say, <em>Hey!</em> then they will stand down. I’m hoping they will see the insanity of what they’re trying to do and wake up.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bill Ryan: Some of the information that you’ve been reporting... a lot of people listening to this will identify it as being very similar to stories that are being reported by Christopher Storey on World Reports and also by Stew Web on Fourwinds10 and then copied around on websites and forums like Rumor Mill News. And most serious analysts don’t give that information any credence because they don’t trust those sources. Are you saying that your source of this information comes from genuine insiders, and it’s not just picked up off the internet?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, the person sent to me by Heizo Takenaka, the finance minister, who works for Rockefeller -- the person who is definitely connected with the Japanese Security Police and definitely connected with David Rockefeller -- ok? -- what he told me was that they had figured out, they had worked around the September 30th deadline, and that Japanese gold would be used... 2,000-trillion yen worth of Japanese gold would be used to support the US economy over a transition period through to 2010. First of all, clear the debts of the cabal, and then finance a huge aerospace project. So that source, he tells me that the September 30th thing <em>has</em> been dealt with, OK? There was a deadline, and they’ve come up with a solution.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Well, it sounds like you’re not sure about that. It sounds like you’re actually unsure.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, I mean, that’s what one source says. The source, the NSA guy, is telling me that there’s still (and the CIA guy, they both have), and a source that is not Mr. Storey, ok? These are some analysts who have come up with a very successful predictive model by scanning the internet for certain types of clues.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: You’re talking about Half Past Human.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Yes. Now, they’re saying some sort of event in early October, too. And then you can confirm this from places like the <em>Jerusalem Post</em>. That newspaper had an article saying they were going to attack Iran with nuclear weapons. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, you have a faction that wants to start nuclear war. They want to nuke Iran’s facilities. And you have a faction that’s trying to stop them. And you have these factions controlling large sums of money, so there are financial backers for each faction. And so, what we’re getting is information from two sources, two big, you know, main sources, of two factions, and it’s not clear what the balance of power is. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, overall, I think the crazy faction that wants to start WWIII is losing. But they’re desperate and they’re cornered and they’re gonna try to pull off something, OK? So that’s how I read the situation. There is a desperate, violent, nasty group, and they are in a pinch. And until they’ve actually stepped aside, we cannot say with confidence they’re not gonna do something crazy. That’s my reading of the situation, from many different sources.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BR: As a financial guy, there’s a lot more that you understand than we do about the processes of banking and the Federal Reserve and all of the huge machinations that make up the kind of whole carefully balanced machine of the international debt structure. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what <em>could</em> really happen in the real world on September 30th? Imagine that the clock’s turning midnight in Washington. What happens? Do they make a press announcement the next morning, announcing to the world and to the media that they’re repudiating all of their debt? Or do they just put troops on the streets and say, <em>Tough, all the banks are closed; we’re not even going to tell you why</em>? Or if this all in response to an event, some kind of martial law, what might that event be?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, OK. The scenario is that they cut off the US payments, right? They say, <em>OK, the United States is bankrupt.</em> And that would lead to a shutdown of banks. People wouldn’t be able to get their money out. The whole system would fall into chaos. OK? There would be riots in the streets, people rushing to supermarkets to grab food. People heading out the countryside, you know. And then we’d have martial law and we’d have these Blackwater mercenaries out on the street trying to round up dissidents. And they have this list of a million people that they want to round up, right? This so-called “no-fly” list. So, if you’re on that list, you better hide. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But my guess is that the smart people will not give those guys any excuse to start martial law. In other words, they will keep financing them until November, until they’re out of power, not give them... If I were, you know, I would say, <em>Look, let’s not give these guys their excuse.</em> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They’re trying to do something in October, because after November they’re out of power. And they’re worried about going to jail for war crimes. So again, my recommendation is we offer these people a full pardon, a full amnesty, as long as they step aside peacefully.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: OK, when you say “we,” though, are going to offer these people amnesty... I mean, what is your scenario as to how this so-called amnesty would even take place? Because, for all intents and purposes, from our understanding, these people are not going to go quietly. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Right.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Under every circumstance that we can imagine, including their heart-felt desire for an Armageddon-like scenario, they don’t have any motivation to go quietly, do they?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: They don’t. But the question is, do they have the ability? I think they’ve lost so much support, even in the “secret government,” that I don’t think they’re going to be <em>able</em> to do anything. They have stolen a lot of money. They’ve hired a lot of goons. The big worry is this Blackwater force and what those people are gonna do. They’re paid a thousand dollars a day. But they want to do something. They’ve wanted to do it for a long time. They’ve been trying to nuke Iran for years. They’ve been talking this talk for a very long time. I mean, how many hundreds of times have they said, <em>We’ll attack Iran, attack Iran, attack Iran</em>. You know? But they haven’t <em>done</em> it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Right.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: They obviously want to, but somebody’s stopping them.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: OK. Well, look, I’m an American and I can tell you that the party line that I’m hearing from John McCain... he’s totally backed now by Bush and his whole Neocon group, and so is Palin. And they’re rapping the exact same party line that’s always been rapped down. These people are trying to get into office. On the other side, you’ve got Brzezinski’s faction, which is Obama. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So under these scenarios... I mean, in essence, I don’t see anybody really backing down. The “white hats” cannot possibly be part of the McCain camp, so in essence, theoretically, they have to be part of the Brzezinski group. And yet, Brzezinski is known for wanting to bring Russia into a third world war. I mean, the bottom line is that these are factions of the Illuminati, and that they do want to see a population reduction situation happen.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, I mean, on a more macro picture, you have the United States and these factions. OK? They’ve been playing international poker for the planet over the past year. They’ve used their oil card. They tried to jack up the oil price? But what happened was, they jacked it up so far that their revenue from oil actually started to <em>decrease</em>, because people just stopped using oil. So that misfired. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So then they tried to jack up the food price. Right? And they jacked up the price of steel and aluminum, everything they controlled, OK? As part of the battle. And finally they dropped their last card, which is the US military machine. And they’re saying, <em>Look. If nothing else, we’ll just use this machine full-out.</em> So, it’s their last bargaining chip. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what I have recommended... What I believe the Chinese and everybody are saying is: <em>Look we’ll keep your military machine afloat. We’ll turn it into a United Nations military machine. And we’ll keep financing your economy, but no genocide.</em> </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the other question is, are they gonna free the forbidden technology? You don’t even have to get into conspiracy theory to look at... for example, I interviewed a lot of the solar power companies ten years ago. And they said that after two or three years, solar power would be compared with oil. Well, oil was $30 a barrel then. And now, what happened? Well, the price of silicon has gone up five-fold in this past year, along with the price of oil. Now, silicon is the third most common element on Earth. It’s <em>sand</em>. There’s no way that price should be so high. In other words, solar power should be dirt cheap, and everyone should have solar power in their house. But they don’t. So they have to free this technology. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there is a powerful group of people who’ve been living off oil money and who have bought up, you know... and it’s the oil money that’s fed the military machine, right? So the trick is to separate the military from the oil. Say to the military guys, <em>Hey, we’ll keep funding you, and we’ll finance a major, major space exploration program.</em> And the oil people, well, they’re just gonna have to realize that oil is very valuable as a fertilizer and as a material for making things, but it’s not very valuable as a source of energy. You know, that’s the question.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: But the bottom line here is whether or not the Illuminati -- and where we get into a difficulty here is, when I talk about the Illuminati -- if you listen to David Icke, who makes a lot of sense a lot of the time, he’s actually saying that on an upper level, the Chinese are also run by the Illuminati behind the scenes. And that means there is a deeper agenda than just the one we’re talking about here that will motivate events in the long run. And I appreciate that there’s some madmen, the Neocons, that are going to be trying to stay in what <em>appears</em> to be power here in the US. But the bottom line is also that there is an agenda for the <em>world</em>. And it’s pretty diabolical. And this is what we’re actually fighting.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, it is definitely clear that there... Well, this is where it gets into stuff that I don’t know about. But a CIA guy who’s connected with the Area 51-type people, and a couple of other sources, have told me that, basically, humanity was not <em>allowed</em> to continue exploring space after the Apollo program, because we are a very violent and dangerous race. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And <em>if</em> humanity can come up with a world government that follows this universal principle of “Never shoot out the first punch,” they will be allowed to continue space exploration. And there is a faction that wants to turn the human species into a kind of predatory type of creature. And this is what these people say. So that’s the battle line there. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the Chinese, as far as I can tell by all my connections, and if you look at the nature of their government and everything else, they are not doing evil in China. But China was under their control under Chairman Mao and they killed tens of millions of people. But after Deng Xiao-Ping got in power, basically the Illuminati lost China. They’re trying to get back. They have people they’ve been working on and bribing and whatever, but they don’t have control. But they have been negotiating and they’ve been trying to fool the Chinese. That’s my take on it.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: We understand that the Russians and the Chinese have been doing war games together.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Yes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Do you know the objective of that?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: The objective is that, if necessary, they are ready to take on the US military machine. The Chinese have their nuclear subs out there. The Russians are ready. These people are ready for all-out nuclear war, if it comes to that. So, it’s a question of who blinks first.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Well, that sounds like a really dire situation. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: It <em>is</em> a dire situation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: So basically, would you say you’re optimistic at this time, Benjamin, in light of everything we’re talking about here? Or are you very cautious?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Well, I’m optimistic. It’s a dangerous situation, but I’m optimistic that sanity will prevail. Because, you know, it’s amazing what the thought of <em>death</em> does to clarify your thinking. And these guys have such a good life, they don’t wanta die. And so, there will be a step-down. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, worst case scenario would be the nuking of Iran followed by the nuking of Israel. But it would not escalate beyond that point. So if the Zionists do attack Iran, it’ll be a fatal mistake for them. That’s my reading of the situation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: All right. Well, Benjamin, we really appreciate you reconnecting with us on this call, because we’ve started our new site, which is <a href="http://www.projectavalon.net/" target="_blank">www.projectavalon.net</a>. It’s got a forum and we’re already getting hundreds of people signing on. It’s about people talking to each other about all these issues as well as finding safe places in the off-chance that this situation in October actually becomes something major, as well as the meltdown of the US economy, which in many ways, wouldn’t you say it’s going to continue? Because regardless of whether you have the day, September 30, I mean, the US <em>is</em> bankrupt.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: Yeah, it is bankrupt and they need to be refinanced. And it’s in everybody’s interest to refinance the US. Theoretically, I mean, the US should be having very, very high economic growth. All they have to do is take all that technology that they’ve classified for so-called security reasons and make it public. And, you know, they’d have a boom. Free energy alone would cause people to be rich.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: No doubt about it. Well, thank you very much, Benjamin.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BF: So the message is, we need a critical mass of decent people in the world right now. It’s very, very urgent that all decent people who want peace realize that there is a time when we have to draw a line in the sand. And this is that time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">K: Well said. OK. Hopefully, we can connect with you again sometime after your Rense show on September 8th, and see if there’s some new developments at that time.</span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <em><a href="http://www.projectcamelot.org/audio_interviews.html"><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here</span></a></em> <span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong><span style="color:#990033;">for the original audio </span></strong></em></span><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><br /> </span><a href="http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/908789">http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/908789</a><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-31417066440674183952008-08-09T18:38:00.000-05:002008-08-09T18:39:45.758-05:00ANTHRAX-IVINS<h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://alexconstantine.blogspot.com/2008/08/project-anthrax-cover-up-part-four-el.html">PROJECT ANTHRAX & THE COVER-UP (PART FOUR): THE BIOPORT LOOP, HATFILL & SPECIAL FORCES, INTRODUCTION TO VAXGEN, IVINS REDUX & RUMSFELD</a></h3><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">By Alex Constantine</span><br />(Updated)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cj_TRhTn10bEVk0qPAe7JW6iHDSG8N-jszyWfDsm16v4jL30oOf-sh6lpHX6F7oNzD2Qm4ujpw3U_KZtWxptqGTQ-vYU-aE3iI67oVSz-XaeJ-r5qFNxGN2NQtZt-IBA31uU/s1600-h/Rumsfeld60105a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cj_TRhTn10bEVk0qPAe7JW6iHDSG8N-jszyWfDsm16v4jL30oOf-sh6lpHX6F7oNzD2Qm4ujpw3U_KZtWxptqGTQ-vYU-aE3iI67oVSz-XaeJ-r5qFNxGN2NQtZt-IBA31uU/s400/Rumsfeld60105a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231942583031156850" border="0" /></a>The media concentration on the anthrax mailings has taken the heat off of BioPort and the Pentagon for the highly toxic <span style="font-style: italic;">vaccine</span> - which, by some measures, produced a medical situation far more dire than that brought about by the 2001 mailings currently blamed solely on Bruce Ivins:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">"'Our family has been through a living hell, to almost see your 23-year-old son die...' exclaims Cheryl. 'The government is wrong, and they need to take care of all these people that they've hurt.' The Department of Defense says they continue to believe that the vaccine is 'safe' ...</span>" - Firstcoastnews.com</blockquote><br />Fuad El-Hibri arranged investments for well-heeled Saudi clients as a broker at Citibank's Jeddah office. Tom Suber, a contributor to the Rouge Forum, a grassroots Internet think-tank, reports that the broker handled "the individual financial holdings of the bin Laden family group and the larger $18 billion Carlyle Group."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uwtjf1kkwHtHPD7a_YS6_itYchJFHw8EeaySzi6uowXigu4qpLIAmPWVuvTxXkZJJw_6N5IOZpHOYW0P5K0O-66BcqrFuzSebfIU1Km_i_hl5WhIF86ofzAlKobOQX7Efpoq/s1600-h/carlyle_protest75.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Uwtjf1kkwHtHPD7a_YS6_itYchJFHw8EeaySzi6uowXigu4qpLIAmPWVuvTxXkZJJw_6N5IOZpHOYW0P5K0O-66BcqrFuzSebfIU1Km_i_hl5WhIF86ofzAlKobOQX7Efpoq/s400/carlyle_protest75.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231939678017739570" border="0" /></a>The bin Ladens and Carlyle are "reputed to have had partnership interests with Fuad El-Hibri's Porton International and Bioport investments. These embarrassing partnerships are the result of complex web of interlocking private corporate holdings and are publicly denied by the El-Hibri family."1<br /><br />Carlyle Management Group, of course, is America's eleventh leading defense contractor, founded by Iran-contra's Frank Carlucci, James Baker III and George H.W. Bush.<br /><br />Ties to the bin Ladens and Carlyle constituted one "embarrassing" pact with the devil.<br /><br />Another was El-Hibri's acquisition of the Center for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) at <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/430502.stm">Porton Down</a> in the UK, a government-held toxic stockpile-research laboratory privatized by Margaret Thatcher. CAMR was launched under private ownership - El-Hibri's - as Porton International in 1993.<br /><br />Porton Down was the English mirror-image of Ft. Detrick. Both military laboratories conducted Auschwitz-style experiments on human subjects during the Cold War. In 2002, <span style="font-style: italic;">Express</span> reported that scientists of the Ministry of Defense faced prosecution "over <span style="font-style: italic;">horrifying experiments on service men and women</span> during chemical and biological weapons tests."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszzb8grx5eXwFT3to6tFZ3C5961fuDhJ_wp_g_uSDgpBDzBJOyejvdNG8_5gvFCSfYuPIitfCqsLKswFYiOFZVdLeM8pkovqsYTqh4CWvGmy1DX1kSYpManRLtpM3BTswqH7X/s1600-h/articel01-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszzb8grx5eXwFT3to6tFZ3C5961fuDhJ_wp_g_uSDgpBDzBJOyejvdNG8_5gvFCSfYuPIitfCqsLKswFYiOFZVdLeM8pkovqsYTqh4CWvGmy1DX1kSYpManRLtpM3BTswqH7X/s400/articel01-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231940653836990578" border="0" /></a>Subjects were duped into volunteering, led to believe that the military doctors were searching for an innocuous "cold cure." The guinea-pigs said they were "impregnated with deadly chemical agents such as sarin and mustard gas." Ronald Maddison, a volunteer airman, died after a cloth treated with sarin was wrapped round his arm. Another subject said he was coerced to participate "under threat of court martial. During three nightmare weeks at the center, he said he was stripped to his underpants and marched repeatedly into gas chambers where he was impregnated with sarin, tabin and mustard gas."2<br /><br />El-Hibri inherited a horror factory, and this it remained.<br /><br />By 1996, Suber says, "the rape of the public resources of Great Britain was virtually complete," speaking of the "conservative" agenda behind privatization.<br /><br />The profit-lusting "interests of the Saudis and the Carlyle Group began to look to the United States for more promising plunder."<br /><br />Michigan Governor John Engler was urged by fellow Republicans to privatize the state-owned vaccination lab - exactly as Thatcher had done with CAMR. It was renamed the Michigan Biologics Products Institute.<br /><blockquote>"Governor Engler gave the most respectable and profitable agency in Michigan government to Fuad El-Hibri without any individual investment whatsoever," Suber writes. The new owners "incurred no individual expense, made no investments, and did not owe any individual promissory notes or obligations of any kind for their new lab purchase. Receipt of a $180 million business for absolutely nothing. The next hand-out the company received was an unsecured, interest-free loan of $18.7 million as an advance payment from the Defense Department ..."3</blockquote><br />All this fuss over a vaccine that didn't even work against <span style="font-style: italic;">inhalation</span> anthrax ... it just made people <span style="font-style: italic;">sick</span>.<br /><br />But homeland defense was never the idea, as Houston attorney Linda Minor noted after scanning BioPort's directors' page: "This group is obviously an investment syndicate composed of numerous intelligence agency members representing assorted countries..."4<br /><br />Bio-economic terrorism is the CIA's kind of low-intensity conflict. Dr. Edgar J. DaSilva, director of the Division of Life Sciences of the UN, says the approach is predicated on "the undermining and destruction of economic progress and stability" by "the development and use of biological agents against economic targets such as crops, livestock and ecosystems."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1oifEFEU7ICQlA-5-kPD0gs07PYTSaAOaR1m8F4AZPiz9d1yEw_VyTQ_7PiNvs-1L12QpgRQfnJAEYMco2VEwRzY71xO2dkqxKrpzx8G9YuAuTFSW61y7hVUVrq8sV10kLH4/s1600-h/Virus-shalafi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1oifEFEU7ICQlA-5-kPD0gs07PYTSaAOaR1m8F4AZPiz9d1yEw_VyTQ_7PiNvs-1L12QpgRQfnJAEYMco2VEwRzY71xO2dkqxKrpzx8G9YuAuTFSW61y7hVUVrq8sV10kLH4/s400/Virus-shalafi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231941641807236738" border="0" /></a>Germs, bacilli and viruses have certain advantages over conventional armaments - explosives and noxious gases have to be explained, but viral agents are plausibly deniable: "Such warfare can always be carried out under the pretexts that such traumatic occurrences are the result of natural circumstances that lead to outbreaks of diseases and disasters of either endemic or epidemic proportions."5 The Zimbabwe anthrax outbreak, the West Nile Virus, conceived at SAIC-USAMRIID, for instance. Add a trained provocateur – a biochemical warfare specialist hailing from a Rhodesian death squad with a parafascist history will do – a little media manipulation, and the result is anthrax psychosis.<br /><br />That's exactly what the collective response was called in Argentina when a false alarm was tripped by a suspect piece of mail. "Anthrax psychosis," an Argentine newspaper reported, spread in October 2001, "when a travel brochure mailed from Miami to a Buenos Aires family initially tested positive." The spores tested inactive the second time, but "within hours, frantic citizens swamped police stations, hospitals and all kinds of government offices throughout the country with about 1,000 pieces of suspicious mail, most of them posted from the United States or Pakistan."6<br /><br />The Ames strain did get around. The lethal dust was found in mail rooms ... in a Princeton borough ... in the Senate ... in Dan Rather's CBS office ... in a Kabul factory ... in New York City Hall ... in a diplomatic pouch to the US Consulate General in Yekaterinburg, Russia ... in the Supreme Court's basement mailroom ... in a letter mailed to Kenya ... at the Bureau of Prisons headquarters in Washington ... at the broadcaster's headquarters … 30 Rockefeller Plaza ... on and on.<br /><br />And the FBI, by focusing on Hatfill alone, gave the impression that the perpetrator was a lone gunman. But he had accomplices, apparently ran with a death squad in the United States as he did in Rhodesia.<br /><br />The West Nile and anthrax plots – as reconstructed by Leonard Horowitz, Robert Lederman and other independent researchers – began with the meeting at the White House regarding the fate of OraVax, attended by representatives of the company, the administration, and DoD officials. It was agreed that the company, facing bankruptcy, would receive a pass to inventory vaccines.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyyijTFPerrPROVjp5WDieyYWm2IuETSJpgZgGo9X2lcvq1uRmDVXE3Rc5HwUW0996Fn1eraJCx0Dr-HKkt97spnpn7IWaxLmsJL8f5ULu60uj1Heh31ZoxeJXAWxL2eoPIyW/s1600-h/31933_integrin-logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyyijTFPerrPROVjp5WDieyYWm2IuETSJpgZgGo9X2lcvq1uRmDVXE3Rc5HwUW0996Fn1eraJCx0Dr-HKkt97spnpn7IWaxLmsJL8f5ULu60uj1Heh31ZoxeJXAWxL2eoPIyW/s400/31933_integrin-logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231942122195029218" border="0" /></a>But some of those attending this meeting were active in this American Pinay Circle. One of them was <span style="font-weight: bold;">William Patrick III</span>, President and CEO of Advanced Biosystems Inc. (ABS). Patrick ran the anthrax "weaponization" program at the Ft. Detrick-SAIC lab where Hatfill worked. In 1999, Patrick wrote a study, according to the <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore Sun</span>, that discussed "the danger of anthrax spores spreading through the air and the requirements for decontamination after various kinds of attacks. The author, William C. Patrick III, describes placing 2.5 grams of Bacillus globigii, an anthrax simulant, in a standard business envelope – slightly more than the estimated amount of anthrax in each of the letters that killed five people last fall..."<br /><br />Stephen Hatfill, come to find out, "is a friend and protegé of Patrick, 75, a bio-weapons legend who has himself experienced the dual status of expert and possible suspect..."7<br /><br />"Protegé?"<br /><br />In 2002, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</span> reported allegations that Partick had produced a blueprint for the anthrax mailings:<br /><blockquote>"Hatfill commissioned William Patrick III, a biological weapons expert, to write a report on how to deal with anthrax sent through the mail. "It was a public service," Glasberg said, and Patrick was paid only $500. Hatfill and a colleague took Patrick's report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta and submitted it to its bioterrorism preparation center. The CDC was working on the same project, Glasberg said, and produced the same findings and recommendations as Patrick. ...<br /><br />"The concept of a report on anthrax mail attacks - two years before last October's mailings - intrigued the FBI. In particular, Patrick's report discussed mailing 2.5 grams of anthrax powder, about the same amount contained in the deadly anthrax letters.<br /><br />Glasberg said Patrick used 2.5 grams because that was the amount of talc he poured into an envelope, as a test, to see how much could pass unobtrusively through the mails. Some media reports have called Patrick's report a "blueprint" for the fatal mailings. ...<br /><br />Boris Lederer, who worked with Hatfill at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Science Applications International</span>, recalled his colleague's reaction when the anthrax mailings occurred. "It was just shock and complete disbelief that this was happening," Lederer said.8</blockquote><br />Disbelief at a lethal domestic covert operation? The most relevant clues went unreported by the "mainstream" media, for instance, per the <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post:</span><br /><blockquote>"... Hatfill's résumé detailing those periods has created another storm. Hatfill claimed on a 1997 résumé that he served in the Army Special Forces. Army records show that he enlisted in the Reserve in 1975, served a year of active duty and attended -- but dropped out of -- Special Forces training. Glasberg <span style="font-style: italic;">declined to comment</span> on Hatfill's military record. ... "9</blockquote><br /><br />The relevant corporate connections, ala BioPort, were played down. One of them was especially interesting in light of the deep history of the AIDS virus. McClatchy reported recently:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">" ... Before the Sept. 11 attacks, Ivins had worked on and held a share of two anthrax vaccine patents, at least one of which was licensed to <span style="font-weight: bold;">VaxGen, Inc.,</span> a California firm that later won an $877 million contract to make the vaccine for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Bioshield program. But when VaxGen failed to meet deadlines, the government scrapped the contract. ... "<br />http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/46642.html</span><br />Details of background of the VaxGen contract reveal a motive for one of the mailings. The motive for the overall plot centers on this pharmaceutical house - VaxGen and BioPort together had the most to gain from the patent on the anthrax vaccine, though this charge has since been widely leveled at the late Bruce Ivins:<br /><br />A few months before he was targeted in the deadly 2001 anthrax attacks, then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle sent a letter to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld questioning whether the anthrax vaccine the military was giving soldiers was unsafe and should be discontinued.
The letter, obtained by The Courant, was written with the help of a number of Connecticut officials. They were concerned about complaints from local National Guard members who refused to take the vaccine because they feared it would make them ill.
Apart from raising the issue of the vaccine's safety, the criticism may have had an unintended effect. NBC News reported Tuesday that federal authorities today will reveal that those same complaints could be among the motives in the anthrax attacks that left an Oxford woman and four others dead.
The suspected killer, Bruce Ivins, was one of the Army's lead scientists on the anthrax vaccine and was angered by suggestions that it made recipients ill, NBC reported. ...<br /><br />Ivins ... was a member of a panel that the government convened to study the vaccine's effectiveness. ... The committee was formed by the Department of Defense before the anthrax mailings and was still meeting at the time the letters were mailed, according to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chairman Jack Melling. He is the former head of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Porton Down</span></span></blockquote><br /><br />Now the anatomy of an inside job becomes apparent to anyone - even Americans reporter who have helium in their heads - there is no "lone gunman."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pfufHIzx0FGSksGp40_gJ4euR84g6GzGiCOI1rEx6ZsCJkc_W6_2Zsdrl-nYDMV8gIarOYLw5LnMqgPva2eWV9lMZ4uk3z-k70S3DvWyl1dk5HIZhOHzkyPk11DO_kO7Nd-Q/s1600-h/rumsfeld_reloaded.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6pfufHIzx0FGSksGp40_gJ4euR84g6GzGiCOI1rEx6ZsCJkc_W6_2Zsdrl-nYDMV8gIarOYLw5LnMqgPva2eWV9lMZ4uk3z-k70S3DvWyl1dk5HIZhOHzkyPk11DO_kO7Nd-Q/s400/rumsfeld_reloaded.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231943303957523378" border="0" /></a>Donald Rumsfeld was in the loop:<br /><br /><blockquote>"In the letter to Rumsfeld, Daschle raised concerns that the vaccine didn't work and may have made soldiers sick. He noted that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves drugs only after they are proven safe and effective.<br /><br />
"'A growing number of people believe that the use of the anthrax vaccine as currently formulated to protect humans against inhalation of anthrax spores fails to meet this test,' wrote Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat. 'We all acknowledge that the threat posed by biological weapons, including anthrax, is a real one that the Administration and the Congress have a responsibility to address.'<br /><br />"
The letter, also signed by then House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, was sent to Rumsfeld on June 21, 2001. The first anthrax letters were postmarked Sept. 18, 2001. The anthrax-laced letters sent to the offices of Daschle and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy were postmarked Oct. 9, 2001.
<br /><br />Ottilie Lundgren, 94, of Oxford, was killed in November 2001 when she opened an anthrax-laced letter that passed through the same sorting machine in a New Jersey postal facility as the letter to Daschle.
Daschle could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.<br /><br />"He has criticized the FBI investigation of the anthrax letters and the agency's refusal to update him and other victims on their progress. The FBI is expected to meet with the victims and their families today and might release documents that authorities say link Ivins to the crime.
Daschle got involved in the anthrax vaccine issue through U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, whose office represented Connecticut National Guard members who refused to take the anthrax vaccine.
<br /><br />"Blumenthal said Tuesday that attorneys in his office worked closely with Dodd and Daschle to craft the letter to Rumsfeld.
... "11</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TO BE CONTINUED</span><br /><br />Also see: <a href="http://constantineinstitute.blogspot.com/2008/08/who-first-wrongly-linked-anthrax-to.html">"Who First Wrongly Linked Anthrax to Iraq -- and Why?"</a><br />A: RUMSFELD'S PENTAGON - TO PROVOKE A WAR<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTES</span><br /><br />1) Tom Suber, "3500 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd," Rouge Forum, February 2003.<br />http://www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/rouge_forum/newspaper/winter2003/SuberAnthrax.htm<br /><br />2) Alun Reesand Cyril Dixon, "Scandal of the British soldiers 'poisoned in MoD tests,'" Express, November 7 , 2000.<br />http://www.mindcontrolforums.com/profreedom.co.uk/n1020-d.html<br /><br />2) Suber. Also see, The Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations of the House Committee on Government Reform, June 30, 1999.<br /><br />4) Linda Minor, e-mail exchange with author, November 8, 2004.<br /><br />5) Wayne Madsen, "Combining biological and economic warfare," <span style="font-style: italic;">Online Journal</span>, May 3, 2003.<br />http://www.911review.org/Wget/www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/050303Ma dsen/050303madsen.html<br /><br />6) Juan Pérez Cabral, "Anthrax, Anti-Semitism and Anguish In Argentina," NOVEMBER 9, 2001..<br />http://www.thegully.com/essays/argentina/011109_debt_default_wtc.html<br /><br />7) Scott Shane, "Scientist theorized anthrax mail attack - FBI searched apartment of expert linked to study," <span style="font-style: italic;">Baltimore Sun</span>, June 27, 2002. http://www.baltimoresun.com/bal-te.anthrax27jun27,0,3331733.story<br /><br />8) Tom Jackman, "Ex-Army Scientist Denies Role in Anthrax Attacks," <span style="font-style: italic;">Washington Post</span>, August 11, 2002.<br /><br />9) Ibid.<br /><br />10) Marisa Taylor and Greg Gordo, "After suicide, prosecutors reveal circumstantial anthrax case." http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/46642.html<br />By Marisa Taylor and Greg Gordon | McClatchy Newspapers<br /><br />11.) Dave Alatimari, "Anthrax Vaccine Safety Complaints Part Of Ivins Case," <span style="font-style: italic;">Hartford Courant</span>, August 6, 2008.<br />http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-anthrax0806.artaug06,0,5888202.story<br /><br />http://alexconstantine.blogspot.com/<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-60732571398156052242008-08-03T12:46:00.000-05:002008-08-03T14:25:32.530-05:00ANTHRAX_IVINS<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-08/41370117.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-08/41370117.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The ANTHRAX attacks had to be tied to 9/11</span><br />They happened at the same time. It takes time to get your hands on weaponized anthrax,<br />then plan and follow through with those mailings.<br /><br />FACT: Anthrax has the same type fo "TERROR" effect that the 9/11 attacks did.<br /><br />FACT: In 2003 Ivins received the highest non-military award there is from the Pentagon.<br /><br />FACT: On approximately <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 Sept. 2001</span> AMI received a fan letter containing powder and a star of David, addressed to actress Jennifer Lopez<br /><br />FACT: the Washington Post reported in 2006 that the FBI no longer believes the anthrax was weaponized.<br /><br />FACT: anthrax was mailed only to democrats and democratic members of the media<br /><br />FACT: an anonymous letter accusing a former USAMRIID scientist of plotting terrorism was sent to police BEFORE any anthrax letters or disease were reported.<br />The letter contains evidence that the anonymous writer had probably worked at USAMRIID.<br />This letter may also come from the anthrax perpetrator.<br /><br /><pre><br />This is what one of the letters said.<br />It very much appears that it is tied to the 9/11 attacks<br /><br />09-11-01<br />THIS IS NEXT<br />TAKE PENACILIN NOW<br />DEATH TO AMERICA<br />DEATH TO ISRAEL<br />ALLAH IS GREAT<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Was IVINS a radical MUSLIM ???</span><br /><span class="articleContent"><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2008-08/41375265-01130555.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 132px;" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/thumbnails/photo/2008-08/41375265-01130555.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p style="font-style: italic;"><b style="font-style: italic;">'Weird Love Letter to <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Jennifer</b> <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Lopez</b>'</b><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On its Web site, Newsweek magazine reported that on Sept. 4 AMI<br />received a "weird love letter to </span><b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102); font-style: italic;">Jennifer</b><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255); font-style: italic;">Lopez</b><span style="font-style: italic;">" containing a "soapy" powder<br />and a star of David, addressed to the singer-actress c/o The Sun tabloids. </span><br />That report is the only source of information concerning the date of receipt<br />of the letter, or that it was addressed to <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Lopez</b> specifically in care of the Sun.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Inside the <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Lopez </b>letter was a "soapy, powdery substance" and a cheap Star of David<br />charm, Sun employees confirmed. Knowledgeable sources told NewsMax.com<br />that the letter, which Blanco had taken to the Sun, was opened by one<br />of the editors in the absence of an editorial assistant who would have<br />ordinarily opened it.<br /><br />The editor looked at it and then tossed it into a wastepaper basket.<br />Another Sun staffer, who NewsMax.com was told had a daughter who is a <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Lopez</b><br />fan, retrieved it, found the contents amusing but of no interest to his<br />daughter, and passed it around to other staff members, according to our<br />sources.<br />The last person to touch the letter, they told NewsMax.com,<br />was probably <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Stevens</span>. (anthrax now dead)</p></span><span style="font-style: italic;" class="articleContent"><p><br /><b>FBI's Strange Reaction</b><br />Moreover, the FBI, which dismissed the letter out of hand and denied it<br />had any significance, for reasons not disclosed asked AMI not to go<br />into detail about it with the media or anyone else. The whole thing<br />just vanished from the investigative radar screen.<br /></p><p>The Newsweek report that the <b style="color: black; background-color: rgb(160, 255, 255);">Lopez</b><br />letter arrived <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sept. 4th,</span> seven days before the events of the terrorist<br />hijacking attacks, would have assumed enormous significance had the<br />letter been kept. It would seem to point the finger of guilt directly<br />at the 9-11 hijackers, most of whom lurked nearby until leaving for<br />their deadly rendezvous with the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.</p></span><br /><br />Its pretty obvious to me that the anthrax attacks were tied to 9/11<br />and they are trying to cleanup all loose ends before BUSHCO leave office.<br /><br />Something smells to me about this Bruce Ivins.<br />They just aired an audio clip of his "psychiatrist" who said something<br />about him wanting to<br />"go out in a blaze of glory" with guns etc...<br /><br />If thats true, how come he was not put in jail ?<br />What would have happened hadhe actually WANTED to go out in a blaze of glory<br />dont you think he would have used ANTHRAX instead of guns ?<br /><br />ALso, im not sure if i buy the VICODEN line.<br />it would take a hell of a lot of that to die from<br />I would think he would have used morphine and valium at least.<br />I would think he would know something about drugs, and have access to<br />them ??<br />He was the son of a pharmacist.<br /><br />OK, so have someone who was supposedly <span style="font-weight: bold;">responsible for the Anthrax attacks</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">who then goes and buys a gun, and a bullet proof vest, and says hes </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">going out in a "Blaze of Glory"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">BUT, hes walking around on the street not locked up ?</span><br /><br />LOL<br />Looks like the patriot act wasnt working too good eh ???<br /><br />==========<br /><br />Therapist Jean C. Duley testified on July 24 that Bruce E. Ivins<br />described a "detailed homicidal plan" to kill his co-workers after<br />learning he was going to be indicted on capital murder charges.<br />Duley testified that Ivins had been diagnosed as a "sociopathic,<br />homicidal killer" by several top psychiatrists.<br /><br />During a recent group therapy session, Ivins said he had bought a<br />bullet-proof vest and obtained a gun after learning of the pending<br />charges, Duley said.<br /><br />"He was going to go out in a blaze of glory," testified Duley, who said<br />that Ivins also threatened her.<br /><br />Frederick County District Judge W. Milnor Roberts issued a temporary<br />protective order on July 24, ordering Ivins to not to contact Duley and<br />to stay away from her workplace.<br /><br />He was due in court Thursday.<br /><br />Two sources familiar with the investigation said that on Tuesday, the<br />day Ivins died, lawyers were to meet and discuss a possible plea deal<br />for him.<br />http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/02/anthrax.suspect/?iref=mpstoryview<br /><br /><br />At a Pentagon ceremony on March 14, 2003, Ivins and two colleagues from<br />USAMRIID were bestowed the Decoration of Exceptional Civilian Service,<br />the highest honor given to nonmilitary employees of the Defense<br />http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-anthrax2-2008aug02,0,3650657.story?page=2<br /><br /><br />As a co-inventor of a new anthrax vaccine, Ivins was among those in<br />line to collect patent royalties if the product had come to market,<br />according to an executive familiar with the matter.<br />The product had languished on laboratory shelves until the Sept. 11<br />attacks and the anthrax mailings, after which federal officials raced<br />to stockpile vaccines and antidotes against potential biological terrorism.<br />A San Francisco-area biotechnology company, VaxGen, won a federal<br />contract worth $877.5 million to provide batches of the new vaccine.<br />The contract was the first awarded under legislation promoted by<br />President Bush, called Project BioShield.<br />http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-anthrax2-2008aug02,0,3650657.story?page=1<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I would like to hear from someone more medically qualified on one<br />subject: If this man tried to commit suicide with tylenol-3. How could<br />they have taken him to the hospital where he died TWO DAYS LATER? I<br />have abused the same drug and I couldn't even get into a coma.<br /><br />Also, in listening to Jean Duley's testimony posted on NYTimes, I<br />noted she had worked at that facility for the exact length of time she<br />was treating Dr Ivins--six months. Does she supplement her income?<br />Hard to find any background on her, but I am looking.<br /><br />Finally, this comes very quickly on the end of a 5+ million dollar<br />settlement of the last lead suspect in the case. Which is unusual on<br />its own, seldom are suspects paid restitution like that as far as I<br />know.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.911review.org/Wiki/AnthraxAttacks.shtml"><br />More on the anthrax attacks</a><br />http://www.911review.org/Wiki/AnthraxAttacks.shtml<br /><br /><a href="http://911review.org/Alex/PROJECT_ANTHRAX_1_.html">Project Anthrax (6 part series)</a><br />http://911review.org/Alex/PROJECT_ANTHRAX_1_.html<br />><br /><a href="http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=149495;article=120074;title=APFN"><br />http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=149495;article=120074;title=APFN</a><br /><a href="http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/the-fbis-new-patsy-jean-duley/">http://willyloman.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/the-fbis-new-patsy-jean-duley/</a><br /></pre><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-8370471438499039762008-07-31T19:20:00.000-05:002008-07-31T19:21:27.187-05:00testetest<br /><a href="http://batcave911.blogspot.com/2007/05/black-ops-implicated-in-jill-carroll.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://batcave911.blogspot.com/2007/05/black-ops-implicated-in-jill-carroll.html</span></a><br /><a href="http://batcave911.blogspot.com">http://batcave911.blogspot.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-26732062483169483502008-07-31T17:50:00.000-05:002008-07-31T19:09:51.303-05:00Footprint_on_MARS<span style="font-weight: bold;">A footprint has been found on mars !!<br /><br /></span>It appears to be (by my calculations) a size 8 NIKE tennis shoe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIdasU8GEzQ6AASm6EGxsUf_rjXZbKvNhG4byFndfCN4LBtDnpFjr4bLMlOME_0f7Hy4u__GMap_M_kjUG8EVRsOwbCUaKOh11t3tg4RJeJeGoinKlgpPAW-NI5CoZinmLuV3Zw/s1600-h/footprint-mars.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlIdasU8GEzQ6AASm6EGxsUf_rjXZbKvNhG4byFndfCN4LBtDnpFjr4bLMlOME_0f7Hy4u__GMap_M_kjUG8EVRsOwbCUaKOh11t3tg4RJeJeGoinKlgpPAW-NI5CoZinmLuV3Zw/s320/footprint-mars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229314637670149074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=footprintmars1ym0.jpg">LARGE here</a><br /><br /><br />I was looking at the new page about water being found on MARS and found the print.<br /><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/15158.html">http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/15158.html</a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/264632main_15158-516.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/264632main_15158-516.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Although its possible that this mark was left by the mars scooper,<br />it doesnt appear to have the sharp lines produced by the other scoop marks<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6205/foot00uy3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6205/foot00uy3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Zs7niDAG04AlKR331nyO5Jc5y_uCNb6G2uEUskJfMACyBz8bhPkVMScEdnvVDLNZRonxnXl71M6iZS5fOyaRjiBS2VZX2BliLvj-qB8KBBo0shQh1UFmmLUwL1WCl6yzQFT5g/s1600-h/foot_01.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Zs7niDAG04AlKR331nyO5Jc5y_uCNb6G2uEUskJfMACyBz8bhPkVMScEdnvVDLNZRonxnXl71M6iZS5fOyaRjiBS2VZX2BliLvj-qB8KBBo0shQh1UFmmLUwL1WCl6yzQFT5g/s320/foot_01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229325830271639074" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2 different angles.</span> (just to the right of the obvious"scoop" marks)<br /><br />It looks almost like a stream of water left an impression stopping at the large rock.<br /><br /><br />Download the original <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">11mb</span> file here<br /><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/264661main_15158-hires.jpg">http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/264661main_15158-hires.jpg</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-46197393979510262812008-07-27T16:03:00.000-05:002008-07-27T16:05:48.915-05:00Bush-crimes<h3>Law professor rebukes Democrats for letting Bush off hook</h3> <p>Nancy Pelosi needs to hold meaningful impeachment hearings that will focus on evidence that President Bush has committed crimes in office, constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley said Wednesday.</p> <p>Turley was speaking with MSNBC's Keith Olbermann about the House Speaker's indication that she would let the Judiciary Committee hold an hearing to consider an impeachment article introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). </p> <p>The problem, Turley says, is that Pelosi has already rendered a "not guilty" verdict on the impeachment question, and the hearing organizers are making sure they won't be exposing any additional criminal activity. This makes the whole exercise more like a "fancy dress ball," than a criminal prosecution, he said.</p> <p>Recalling his testimony to an impeachment hearing during the Clinton administration, Turley said the Republican Congress was focused on its goal of impeaching the president in a way the Democrats simply are not.</p> <p>"It covered crimes," Turley said of Clinton's congressional inquisition. "What [Pelosi and others are] already saying is that they'll be talking about a wide array of abuses by the president. </p> <p>"An impeachment hearing needs to be focused and it needs to deal with things directly and frankly, as whether the president committed crimes," he continued, "And there is considerable evidence to say that the answer is yes."</p> <p>This video is from MSNBC's <em>Countdown</em>, broadcast July 16, 2008.</p><br /><strong>Read rest of article…</strong><br /><p><embed src="http://widgets.vodpod.com/w/video_embed/ExternalVideo.634472" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" wmode="transparent" flashvars="file=http://216.87.173.33/media/2008/0807/msnbc_ko_turley_power_abuse_080717a.flv&image=http://216.87.173.33/media/2008/0807/msnbc_ko_turley_power_abuse_080717a.jpg&logo=http://www.rawprint.com/fvp/rsvidlogo04.png&link=http://www.rawstory.com&autostart=false&lightcolor=0x557722&backcolor=0x000000&frontcolor=0xCCCCCC&showicons=false" width="425" height="350"></p><br /><div style="font-size: 10px;">more about “<a href="http://vodpod.com/watch/883635-jonathan-turley-evidence-suggests-bush-committed-crimes">Jonathan Turley: Evidence suggests Bu…</a>“, posted with <a href="http://vodpod.com/wordpress">vodpod</a></div></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-22765455533879337662008-07-27T12:16:00.000-05:002008-07-27T12:22:52.008-05:00The_SURGE<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br />McCain drops out of race to open Cheese company !</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYka4LNDFX2og5Qmh06Du2Jb8YmhQCtnFwQALu1x0xhL_zUmfCAgYp5aC15lg2zuOt09fIo4r7Qon6j9oov7p3xf_gSre5fRtPdJFqhsFh2EC2lx_1tv-bQesqXO5_xtsd0P3ASg/s1600-h/mccain-surge.cheese.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYka4LNDFX2og5Qmh06Du2Jb8YmhQCtnFwQALu1x0xhL_zUmfCAgYp5aC15lg2zuOt09fIo4r7Qon6j9oov7p3xf_gSre5fRtPdJFqhsFh2EC2lx_1tv-bQesqXO5_xtsd0P3ASg/s320/mccain-surge.cheese.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744607580914770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyigFG0aSN_JjHztR3nTxT39-HDGxm4R6WGdSUdnsIX4VUB4uimSfOYkp9AwBopvlZPwhAJccCqxilI8GZWKbWbTr3gXCHHHwaRGRBv36LJKh2hfvXwOSYUrrDenLlL5ljdHRgMQ/s1600-h/mccain-not-so-bad.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyigFG0aSN_JjHztR3nTxT39-HDGxm4R6WGdSUdnsIX4VUB4uimSfOYkp9AwBopvlZPwhAJccCqxilI8GZWKbWbTr3gXCHHHwaRGRBv36LJKh2hfvXwOSYUrrDenLlL5ljdHRgMQ/s320/mccain-not-so-bad.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744437664659330" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYWh1mv4pioqArMl6D3JpNCu61eA831NXYwxPg6S6emN75hgqG-bGHonu4FlX9eAIo52Mzez1f5I-UwEPVwo84o22P9MozUMP6X_m4Q2EEalv1Iocyfmrz__I1JzVSW-fIuMcLw/s1600-h/cloud2+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYWh1mv4pioqArMl6D3JpNCu61eA831NXYwxPg6S6emN75hgqG-bGHonu4FlX9eAIo52Mzez1f5I-UwEPVwo84o22P9MozUMP6X_m4Q2EEalv1Iocyfmrz__I1JzVSW-fIuMcLw/s320/cloud2+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744303831834082" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C1y6TLwjHqwwxSGnLubn3F_L62085ev0WRKDpJaQcXkdwIu3dd8W3JOP6AqmGfrBfMhMCxXv0zcg1gHrYIlFNq6NaIzKPiAKg_DdeG-JEOEQWP01DQZGSW0n2nq2Vo3OQ1s0aQ/s1600-h/complaining.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C1y6TLwjHqwwxSGnLubn3F_L62085ev0WRKDpJaQcXkdwIu3dd8W3JOP6AqmGfrBfMhMCxXv0zcg1gHrYIlFNq6NaIzKPiAKg_DdeG-JEOEQWP01DQZGSW0n2nq2Vo3OQ1s0aQ/s320/complaining.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744758945752210" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHg5glbDAzvfGUiYdLW6qs9Iq6PgCgC0Mngsf80RO8jYORr0d8NGE9pl9iUSz-zbd7xsFoP45ugkt0lmvdKvMvBxqrKA5iVVydoyc7xQDkNWCvpx8hvzzsVTWbbgmeE6uTvz8IQ/s1600-h/cloud.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFHg5glbDAzvfGUiYdLW6qs9Iq6PgCgC0Mngsf80RO8jYORr0d8NGE9pl9iUSz-zbd7xsFoP45ugkt0lmvdKvMvBxqrKA5iVVydoyc7xQDkNWCvpx8hvzzsVTWbbgmeE6uTvz8IQ/s320/cloud.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744228091361394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisiRB3pYV4FuDSfN8nE42ebiEcnOXYPwCGvQNdPmDb0h9xKtfQAIxm-WEas4SMlxkZ20S1JXZgUnad4pZj2urgF_Qa0kZV5_xQZQAWMueYvMO2qXcJUQFJbn8d1fN-9W4iVcFDg/s1600-h/arm-bears.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgisiRB3pYV4FuDSfN8nE42ebiEcnOXYPwCGvQNdPmDb0h9xKtfQAIxm-WEas4SMlxkZ20S1JXZgUnad4pZj2urgF_Qa0kZV5_xQZQAWMueYvMO2qXcJUQFJbn8d1fN-9W4iVcFDg/s320/arm-bears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744827897353730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">You can't change the dynamics on the ground if you've criticized the brave leader of Iraq.</span><br />- Geroge Bush<br />The First Bush-Kerry Presidential Debate<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;">Problem with the quote above is that now John McCain has critized the leader of Iraq for wanting the US out of his country ??</span><br />------------<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">some McCain quotes from 2000</span><br /><br />Historically, foreign policy debates in the United States have been pre-occupied with a false dichotomy<br />between policies that are intended to protect our security interests and policies intended<br />to promote our political values. In truth, I've never been able to understand what the fuss is all about.<br />I think the debate is a waste of time. For the United States, values and interests are inextricably linked,<br />and traditionally, American leaders have designed policies to serve both ends.<br />The policy of containment was based first and foremost on our faith in our core values -<br />- individual freedom and rights, democracy, pluralism, free markets, and the rule of law.<br />Core values that are, by the way, universal values -- absurd pretenses like an "Asian way" not withstanding.<br /><br /><br />As I have noted already, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is the clearest danger<br />we currently confront. Nowhere is the threat more worrisome than in rogue states such as Iraq, North Korea<br />and others. The United States should formulate a policy, in many ways similar to the Reagan Doctrine,<br />of supporting indigenous and outside forces that desire to overthrow the odious regimes that rule these states.<br />Call it rogue state rollback if you will. Such a policy serves both our security and our ideals because, again,<br />they are inseparable from one another.<br /><br />Third, force has a role in, but is not a substitute for, diplomacy. In other words,<br />if you perceive a threat to our security and our values that warrants the use of force if necessary,<br />don't forget the "if necessary" part. All means short of force should be employed first.<br />And don't be dragooned by other countries or international organizations into risking American lives<br />in quarrels that are entirely someone else's affair, where no faction is committed to our values,<br />and no vital interest is at stake.<br />Moreover, when force must be used, have clear rules of engagement, define an achievable mission,<br />know how to recognize when it is accomplished, and bring them home as soon as possible.<br />And never, never, accept foreign or "dual key" authority for the command of an American military operation.<br /><br /><br /><br />If climate change is a bona-fide global environmental problem, the solution must be global as well.<br />I have serious concerns about the Kyoto treaty because it fails to include the cooperation of countries<br />such as China and India. A problem that is serious enough to require U.S. action, should require<br />the responsible participation of other major countries as well<br />http://web.archive.org/web/19991007235849/http://mccain2000.com/<br /><br /><br />I believe that taxes are too high and the tax code too complex.<br />The average working family pays nearly 40% of their earnings to the taxman. That's not fair.<br /><br /><br />Q: Where does John McCain stand on abortion?<br />A: I am pro-life. I oppose abortion except in the case of rape,<br />incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.<br /><br />Q: How does John McCain feel about Roe v. Wade?<br />A: Roe v. Wade should be overturned and we should endeavor to change cultural attitudes<br />about abortion in favor of life.<br /><br /><br />Q: What about exempting firearm sales at gun shows and pawnshops from background check requirements?<br />A: I believe instant background checks should be conducted for all commercial firearms sales,<br />including gun shows and redemption of guns at pawnshops. I helped lead the fight in the Senate<br />to assure such sales are covered.<br /><br />Q: Where does John McCain stand on federally imposed "waiting periods" for firearm purchases?<br />A: I have opposed federally mandated "waiting periods"<br /><br />Q: Where does John McCain stand on Campaign Finance Reform?<br /><br />A: I have been privileged to lead the fight in Congress to clean up our corrupt campaign finance system.<br />I think most Americans understand that soft money - the enormous sums of money given to both parties<br />by just about every special interest in the country - corrupts our political ideals<br />whether it comes from big business or from labor bosses and trial lawyers.<br />The influence of money is corrupting our ability to address the problems that directly affect the lives<br />of every American. Without reining in soft money and reducing the role of money in politics<br />we will never have a government that works as hard for the average American as it does for the special interests.<br /><br /><br />Q: How should we prioritize use of the surplus?<br />A: First, it's important to understand that of the projected $3 trillion surplus over the next 10 years,<br />$2 trillion is a surplus in the Social Security Trust Fund. Let's keep that share away from politicians<br />and leave the revenues in the trust fund so that promised benefits can be paid without dramatic increases<br />in payroll taxes.<br />Of the remaining $1 trillion, I would dedicate 62 percent to shore up Social Security<br />as the President promised but has failed to make good on. Twenty-three percent should be used for tax relief;<br />10 percent should be dedicated to bolster Medicare and 5 percent earmarked for debt reduction.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-63524517214339028262008-07-17T15:38:00.000-05:002008-07-17T16:02:48.805-05:00gas-prices?_This_is_WHY?Its not that hard really to figure out why gas prices are high.<br />Is it only due to speculation?<br /><br />Do you really think that all the experts disagree,<br /> and none of them really know the reason ?<br />POPPY-COCK!<br /><br />The oil companies are <span style="font-weight: bold;">"testing us"</span><br />to see the point that demand drops off.<br />(and that is about $4.00 a gallon)<br /><br />You see, the oil companies see the writing on the wall.<br />GW Bush gave them what they wanted long enough,<br />but they dont trust Obama to play their game.<br />Obama, or even to some extent McCain would put federal $ toward getting us off of foreign oil<br />(by way of alternatives + green energy)<br />So, the oil companies will be loosing money in the next 10 years from the USA<br />(China and India will STILL be using a lot)<br /><br />Reason # 2<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">LAND GRAB !</span><br />The oil companies knew EXACTLY what the republicans would do,<br />and are playing them like a fiddle.<br />Big Oil are trying to get MORE land off the coast of the US,<br /> even though they arent using what they have now.<br />(much of that has NEVER even been explored!)<br /><br />The REPUGS have fallen right into their hands (AGAIN??)<br />Yes, again!.<br />I beleive that these are the same people who made money after 9/11<br />On airline stocks.<br />I think if we find out what companies these are that are driving up the price,<br />we will see that it IS the oil companies, but not for the reason it may seem.<br />I think the oil companies are falsely driving up the price,<br />not only by raising the price, but also by speculation.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;">False assumption #1</span></span><br />That speculators will lower the price once we open ANWR and offshore drilling.<br /><br />Speculators KNOW that it would take years before we see any REAL oil come from this,<br />and they dont change the numbers on something 5 years out.<br />Now, once that oil is a few months from hitting the market, it may change a small bit.<br /><br />ALSO SEE...<br /><h3 class="post-title entry-title"><a href="http://godandall.blogspot.com/2008/03/gas-to-10-gallon.html">Gas to $10 a gallon ?</a></h3>http://godandall.blogspot.com/2008/03/gas-to-10-gallon.html<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/uSiZ">
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John McCain (R-AZ) and a lobbyist for Koch Industries, lied to MSNBC's David Schuster, claiming <span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">We withstood Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and we didn't spill a drop."</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">McCain Claims Offshore Drilling 'Safe'</span><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU6vOEcdUIQ<br /><span>Sen. McCain (R-AZ) in Houston, June 17, 2008: "As for offshore drilling, it's safe enough these days that <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">not even Hurricanes Katrina and Rita could cause significant spillage from the battered rigs off the coasts of New Orleans and Houston."</span></span><br /><span></span><br />=====<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bobby Jindal Claims Katrina Caused No Oil Spills</span><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b12iyoB3mmo<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Q: </span>Real fast, Governor, the price of oil went up five bucks a barrel today. You’ve been drilling off the coast of Louisiana for a number of years. Any oil spills to worry about?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> JINDAL:</span> You know, that’s one of the great unwritten success stories, after Katrina and Rita, these awful storms, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">no major spills.</span><br />=============<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> The EPA called the spills “</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3457319.html">worse than the worst-case scenario</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">.”</span><br />http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/3457319.html<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfi_gfi291dHbrJ1xIu71bGriiSyase5YEmG-JC4As53Uz9lfHLY2pfMcVe4sKKqrc9zWyn4BvAUlC7KgVkB4q7I9YXS2Z-o1CTFMNGaheeuczz8DvBb3CHIdfCtblpi-FVVw9Q/s1600-h/Bass+Enterprises2w.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfi_gfi291dHbrJ1xIu71bGriiSyase5YEmG-JC4As53Uz9lfHLY2pfMcVe4sKKqrc9zWyn4BvAUlC7KgVkB4q7I9YXS2Z-o1CTFMNGaheeuczz8DvBb3CHIdfCtblpi-FVVw9Q/s320/Bass+Enterprises2w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223289218733475698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>The quantity and cumulative magnitude of the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> 595 spills</span>, which were spread across four states and struck offshore and inland, rank these two hurricanes<span style="font-weight: bold;"> among the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.</span> Some have even compared the total amount of oil released — estimated at 9 million gallons — to the tragedy of Exxon Valdez.<br /><br />==========<br /><br />http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2005/sep/16/usnews.hurricanekatrina<br /><h1 id="heading-alone" class="article-no-standfirst">Katrina oil spills may be among worst on record</h1><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj233IoO4ziL6yQ04SCdfRfoqclEpN1C8GYboloY6LQqmZPsYVtJGTC0mLgXjXKgOO0pnDbUO47ILxUJQtySRt4SoWU3XxuF6u7pxUvrfBDOtUMIroBGLgKBCqVNR3j0bJxdD7rJQ/s1600-h/oil+spill.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj233IoO4ziL6yQ04SCdfRfoqclEpN1C8GYboloY6LQqmZPsYVtJGTC0mLgXjXKgOO0pnDbUO47ILxUJQtySRt4SoWU3XxuF6u7pxUvrfBDOtUMIroBGLgKBCqVNR3j0bJxdD7rJQ/s320/oil+spill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223282506989847074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The oil pollution in the wake of Hurricane Katrina could be among the worst recorded in North America, officials trying to coordinate the clean-up say. The US coastguard, which is responsible for the marine environment, said yesterday more than 6.5 million gallons of crude oil had been spilt in at least seven major incidents. The previous worst spill in US waters was the 11m gallons in Alaskan waters from the Exxon Valdez in 1989.<p>"This is a major event," said Lieutenant Colonel Glynn Smith of the coastguard in New Orleans. "Things are going well, but three-quarters of the oil from the spills has not yet been recovered."</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjrUf-dmhmvDM7o5pGzjemjTZiDPsBfS7B5ttY20LFxUFVpg5iEGz6f3-GR2quElF2nDgJUoLC4lzyKJXjhPBjkoAQmrBPWiaThSeFrdDbbcYZT7i9AL6cKR40UNJ0djxOh6pbg/s1600-h/DYNEGY_201OCT05_20_24_katrina.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjrUf-dmhmvDM7o5pGzjemjTZiDPsBfS7B5ttY20LFxUFVpg5iEGz6f3-GR2quElF2nDgJUoLC4lzyKJXjhPBjkoAQmrBPWiaThSeFrdDbbcYZT7i9AL6cKR40UNJ0djxOh6pbg/s320/DYNEGY_201OCT05_20_24_katrina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223288871559950162" border="0" /></a></p><p>The figure does not include petrol and oil spilt from up to 250,000 cars which have been submerged, or that spilt from hundreds of petrol stations. The coastguard says it has received almost 400 reports of spills, the vast majority of which have not been assessed.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTfiXMFO5ayejCUk7OgGRNWzbdyARQJ3hATf-zON22FIRY23bh_xgqnC-_1zHnhBwAhiDRv0gkzXMF8Y7sX5zdFzxUeYaR6dIA6n78uppgrIkFsdaaCMWvv1Hz76MXI5avjE6KA/s1600-h/Nairn_2028SEP05_20_2_katrina-oil-spill.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTfiXMFO5ayejCUk7OgGRNWzbdyARQJ3hATf-zON22FIRY23bh_xgqnC-_1zHnhBwAhiDRv0gkzXMF8Y7sX5zdFzxUeYaR6dIA6n78uppgrIkFsdaaCMWvv1Hz76MXI5avjE6KA/s320/Nairn_2028SEP05_20_2_katrina-oil-spill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223289103667728450" border="0" /></a></p><p>President Bush attempted to regain the political initiative with an address to the nation pledging an unprecedented federal effort to help rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf coast. The prime-time speech from New Orleans was timed to confront growing doubts over his leadership abilities, after the stuttering federal response to Katrina's impact.</p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraRxNlewOPLs-vlk2zHlXUxEJ4Sto5DnrlasYlq2W2bBXlYdQJToJFjWuX1qZbUtRVPJyGtD2WaFD7WAZklE_TfDeq4PCZ39SYjLWTE-QMdZTPZIvGr5G7nV3cGAA1-cWbe7Itw/s1600-h/832-hi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraRxNlewOPLs-vlk2zHlXUxEJ4Sto5DnrlasYlq2W2bBXlYdQJToJFjWuX1qZbUtRVPJyGtD2WaFD7WAZklE_TfDeq4PCZ39SYjLWTE-QMdZTPZIvGr5G7nV3cGAA1-cWbe7Itw/s320/832-hi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223295340776201362" border="0" /></a><p>==========</p>Murphy Oil<br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdgG5kfplBIsNWNPDGp1ZBCc7bRt4T4qebqhsZ8A7661zZL0Ga_UPRWmWe46sd2plw2NdlVlL9ZreXZUI8eNU8ye7oJOcUreFHIJtbYszZcBVyUW9lC2eMmGzZhvkl6b5jBGyEA/s1600-h/051115_oilspill_hmed_11a.h2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdgG5kfplBIsNWNPDGp1ZBCc7bRt4T4qebqhsZ8A7661zZL0Ga_UPRWmWe46sd2plw2NdlVlL9ZreXZUI8eNU8ye7oJOcUreFHIJtbYszZcBVyUW9lC2eMmGzZhvkl6b5jBGyEA/s320/051115_oilspill_hmed_11a.h2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223294879840251106" border="0" /></a></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM6EuFVl9IW1QlYu4i5REFntP05T4EZ5FfMTcb9GHTciPuM0KlOHmZpDK5OU8eSYwXoXgrzsz2AkAIr78VeofCuq4bX4mLwVevHsioswNpM1D_sdZ-sBPN1e0nLMNqMRNj04nBg/s1600-h/ChalmetteOilSpill-Katrina.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM6EuFVl9IW1QlYu4i5REFntP05T4EZ5FfMTcb9GHTciPuM0KlOHmZpDK5OU8eSYwXoXgrzsz2AkAIr78VeofCuq4bX4mLwVevHsioswNpM1D_sdZ-sBPN1e0nLMNqMRNj04nBg/s320/ChalmetteOilSpill-Katrina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223295576614324514" border="0" /></a></p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Residents at oil spill site told not to move back</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Some in Katrina disaster area have, but EPA has ‘serious concerns’</span> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9994305">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9994305</a><br /><br />photos...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.epa.gov/katrina/images/832-hi.jpg">http://www.epa.gov/katrina/images/832-hi.jpg</a><br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tidewatermuse/42164639/">http://flickr.com/photos/tidewatermuse/42164639/</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxQkZghrltSBmHdpaWhlF458tEnEcOoDHWivaMmF2LPsABc929nvwJKwjU-lD3PiPLS52FsxQIRXMjT5ts65b29Rp3rRXFM2FIzVfFlWkbRSB4DRpW_2u-qHoTSjn1Ya57LjIoQ/s1600-h/Murphy_oil_overflight2w.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxQkZghrltSBmHdpaWhlF458tEnEcOoDHWivaMmF2LPsABc929nvwJKwjU-lD3PiPLS52FsxQIRXMjT5ts65b29Rp3rRXFM2FIzVfFlWkbRSB4DRpW_2u-qHoTSjn1Ya57LjIoQ/s320/Murphy_oil_overflight2w.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223292018832062034" border="0" /></a><br /><br />photos...<br />http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/v/damaged+energy+facilities/<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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New Orleans has seen quite a few of them.<br />Overnight, the storm went from a catagory 3 to a catagory 5. All day Saturday, <a href="http://click.adbrite.com/mb/click.php?sid=32798&banner_id=11882023&variation_id=903939&uts=1212799069&cpc=302e3235&keyword_id=648202&inline=y&zk_id=1034219&ab=168362148&sscup=41d633ce76d93e92e9a9ab9065a2d6ef&sscra=f13bfad0359d818c733a5967b82e9939&ub=1221075300&rs=&r=" style="background: transparent url(http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif) repeat-x scroll center bottom; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(0, 102, 0); text-decoration: none; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px;" name="AdBriteInlineAd_people" id="AdBriteInlineAd_people" target="_top">people</a> scrambled to get out of the city.<br />I stayed in my home which is a solidly built brick house, and had never had flooded.<br />There were high winds for a few hours, it lasted longer than other storms i have been through.<br />There was no serious damage to my home, but after the winds stopped, the water started to rise.<br />The power went out during the storm, and then the water, it would take at least a day before it flood my home .<br />For the first few hours, the water stayed at the sidewalk area, but then started to rise.<br /> Radio reports informed me that the people who manned the generators and pumps were evacuated.<br />They had to be flown back in to get to the pumps. I have never heard of this happening before.<br />Some emergency personell had volunteered to work the pumps, but were refused because they were not certified.<br />The waters continued to rise, even though the wind and rain had subdued a full day before.<br />It entered my home, and i slept on the couch, so that i could leave the front and back doors open. It was hot.<br />The first night (before the water rose) wasnt that bad, there was a crosswind,and it was about 75-80 degrees.<br /> I had put the front wheels of my car on stands, but only the front 2 tires,<br /> the back of my car was starting to get water, so i tried to use a jack stand to rasie it.<br />It was dark, and i wasnt able to get it to work. The cars computers were on the floorboard,<br />so I took them out and opened them up. I had to work by candle light, drying the electronics with the candle.<br />I couldnt get to the one under the seat, and when i was able to get in my car and start it,<br />the seat moved forward and crushed me against the steering wheel.<br />Good thing I also have a jeep which was high enough to stay out of the water.<br />This may all sound insignificant, but at the time, it was what was needed.<br />My 94 jaguar was more dependable and carried more fuel than the jeep, it had air conditioning, my jeep did not.<br />I sat for short periods in my car, so i could get some air conditioning, but had to keep it to a minimum to reserve fuel.<br />My phone service only worked sporadically at best, and I didnt know if my mother was OK. She was my first priority.<br />I knew where she was, but could not contact her, so I feared the worst, and wanted to get to her.<br />I had to wait for the water to go down before i could leave though, it took about 24 hours.<br />During that time, i was able to find an old police/fire scanner and passed my time that way.<br />I had an old 12v battery from a security system, and got the scanner to work. I just had to charge the batteries<br />by using battery (jumper) cables. The first thing I heard was a state trouper complaining that they were being treated like "step children".<br />I learned that <a title="FEMA" href="http://911review.org/Wiki/FemaTheSecretGovernment.shtml"> FEMA</a> and the Department of Homeland Security were running the show.<br /> There were several emergency personell who sounded frustrated.<br />The trouper said he was there to provide security, but then he wasnt needed and told to leave.<br />Monday I walked around taking <a title="Hurricane Katrina damage photos pictures" href="http://911review.org/Hurricane_Katrina/photos/index.html">photos of the the damage.</a> I walked to Loyola and West Esplenade and saw only 1 military type vehicle,<br />there was no one else on the street. It was a war zone. It looked like the B-52's carpet bombed the whole city.<br />I was up to my waist in water while on the sidewalk. In 30 years my house had naver come close to taking water.<br />It was time to wait. I spent some time getting a suntan on my roof, it was cooler there, the house smelled and was hot.<br />I knew i wouldnt be able to stand the smell another night, so i got a knive and started to cut carpet.<br /> I took as much as I could out, at least from the living room, where I was sleeping on the couch.<br />I watched a military vehicle (deuce and 1/2) as well as airboats go down the main street (Loyola Dr.) near my house.<br />They were going to and from Wall Mart who donated food and water to victims that had stayed behind.<br />I had no radio, but relied on my neighbor, who is retired and somewhat disabled, for news updates.<br /><br />It was at least 90 degrees the second night, the water stopped moving started to smell. Insects became a problem as well.<br />It was time to eat the food left in the fridge and freezer, it was going to spoil soon.<br /> My neighbor had a pool, and though the water was contaminated for any other purpose, I was able to use it to flush the toilet.<br />The water started to receed a few days after the disaster, and i thought it was best to leave to find my mother.<br />Then I heard from my mother, she was OK, but i decided to leave anyway, i heard it would be months before electricity and water would be restored.<br />I went to my girlfreinds house, and was able to stay there. for another week, i would still have no phone that worked.<br />I bought a cell phone, but had to drive 20 miles to get signal. Gas prices were at $5.00 a gallon and money was tight.<br />I had taken only what I needed, and locked my home. I left my dog, unsure of where I would stay at the time.<br />My fence wasnt just damaged, most of it was gone. My dog is used to my neighborhood, and would help to protect it and my home.<br />I left her food and water inside, she could go through the doggy door as she needed. I would have to come back for her soon though.<br />Leaving the city, i saw no one at all untill i came to the interstate Highway. I stopped to talk to a local officer,<br />and a discussion ensued about me being able to re-enter. He said no-one was allowed back in.<br />We spoke a few minutes, and he had mentioned that he saw people breaking into the store across the street stealing beer.<br />It appeared, at least to me, that he did not stop them. His attitude gave me the impression that looting was secondary to his being there.<br />There was an old lady next to him who had lost everything, I dont think she understood that she might not see home for months.<br />It seemed as though the cop was waiting for someone to pick her up. She had water, and the situation was not immediate, so the officer didnt seem concerned.<br />The look in the officers face seemed to be one of being overwheled, and not sure why he was there, except for the sense of duty.<br />I had to wonder duty to what at that point. Nothing was left, and the cops and robbers game just wasnt important at that point.<br />I asked if there was a place that was giving out food and water (in kenner), he said no.<br />I didnt understand where the stuff from Wall Mart had gone, but didnt want to ask. I figured it must have been for emergency personell.<br />After getting a good meal at my girlfreinds mothers, i unloaded the jeep, had a shower (first in several days) and brushed my teeth.<br />In the past, i had travelled to the Costa Rican, and Peruvian rainforests, to enjoy the solace and nature.<br />I had lived in the jungle weeks at a time. I knew I didnt need electricity, but it sure felt good have it now.<br />In the next few days I would buy a cell phone, spend my time trying to get a landline phone, and try to get news from the one radio station broadcasting.<br />In a day or two, I would realize I had to go back to get my dog, secure my home, and get valuables.<br />The radio stated they were not letting people into the parish, but I was able to get in.<br />I passed checkpoints asking me my reason for re-entry, and where I was going.<br />The officer seemed to tired to ask for my ID. My dog was OK, i grabbed what I needed and left.<br />I had bought food and water to hand out at the airport where people were supposed to be held, but no-one was there.<br />I tried to give my neigbor what I had, he hadnt left, but he only wanted the water. He had stocked up.<br />I went to metairie to check on my mothers house, she was very lucky, only roof damage and the shed was destroyed.<br />I met 3 people on Veterand blvd. (the main drag) one girl was pregnant, they wanted a ride, but my jeep was full.<br />I offered them 2 litter drinks, but they refused, they were not cold. It seemed as though, foor and drinks were free and the local stores.<br />No one was stopping people from getting what they wanted. Many stores had their food and water "commandeered" already by emergency personell.<br />There seemed not to be much of a difference between people taking what they wanted, and officials handing it out. It came from the same place.<br />People were just saving time by getting it themselves, rather than having to have it be distributed to them.<br />I had to wonder if the pregnant girl really understood that there wouldnt be an open store in the area for a month.<br />When i got back to my girlfeinds, I was finally able to watch a few minutes of TV, I couldnt understand why FEMA hadnt been to hardly any of the parishes<br />The reports made me sick.<br />I saw pictures of 35,000 people at the Superdome and 20,000 people at the Convention Center, no one had food or water.<br />I thought there had to be some way to airdrop it, or bring it by boat. The media was there taking pictures, but no one was helping.<br />Many people will not return to New Orleans. That is getting pretty clear now. People are already finding jobs elsewhere.<br />Local and federal officials seem to keep telling people to get their kids in school where they were, and to find jobs.<br />Others who depend on government assistance, will find it elsewhere. The places they stayed at, are not homes anymore,<br />much of what is left, is just debris on the side of the road.<br />It was as if no one cared. President Bush was on vacation, just like before <a title="911review" href="http://www.911review.org/">9/11</a><br />All i kept hearing were cries for help from the mayor, I heard them in my sleep, wishing I was in a better position to help.<br />I was finally able to get in touch with FEMA, they took my information, and said they would call me.<br />I told them about the 2 properties I just bought, they said since it wasnt my primary residence, they couldnt help me with those.<br />I spent 100,000 to buy them, my life savings, and a lean on my house in Kenner where i live.<br />I finally realized that i had lost everything. I would have to sell my home, if I could get anything for it.<br />The 2 properties I had bought were 8ft underwater, and since I just bought them, i didnt have insurance. I was waiting for the quote to come in.<br />That was my buisiness, to buy and sell homes, its now gone, thats it.<br /><br />As I sit waiting for food stamps, i see a John Deer road vehicle assigned to the food stamp office in a little town, on it, brightly painted is<br /><b>"Department of Homeland Security"</b>. Looking at this, I wonder how many of those are across the country,<br /> and how much money that has gone into that department.<br />I wondered how that money could have been used to strengthen the levees so I wouldnt have to be waiting for Government funded food.<br />As I sit here typing, I realize that a "National day of prayer" will not help me, nor will the President, nor will FEMA.<br />I dont need a place to stay, I dont need food or water. I need to go home to start rebuilding, but I cant.<br />They wont let anyone in for at least 3 weeks.<br />As I type, power is getting back on in my neighborhood, water is already there,<br /> but they wont let me in.<br /><br />Updates to come....(Sept 9th)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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feedburner</a></div>batcave911http://www.blogger.com/profile/16310881498540169402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9243229.post-1193016272025803972008-04-25T21:42:00.000-05:002008-04-25T21:57:41.553-05:00Free Ride: Media Myths of McCainMcCain says making FEMA an independent agency isn’t the problem. He said there needed to qualified people in the job. “The former head of FEMA was not qualified,” he said. “They haven’t always had a terrible record.”<br /><br /> He also told reporters he was <span style="font-weight: bold;">not sure if he would rebuild the lower 9th ward</span> as president.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> “That is why we need to go back is to have a conversation about what to do </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">-rebuild it,<br />tear it down, you know, whatever it is,</span><span style="font-style: italic;">” he said.</span><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/24/politics/fromtheroad/entry4040391.shtml">http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/04/24/politics/fromtheroad/entry4040391.shtml</a><br /><br /><p>When a reporter asked him Thursday whether responsibility for the poor response to Katrina went all the way to President Bush, McCain said, "Yes." </p> <p>Then the candidate, who was visiting a church in the Lower 9th Ward, added that Congress shared part of the blame by spending money wastefully on pork barrel projects after the storm, when it could have dedicated that money to Louisiana's recovery. </p> <p>McCain said he wasn't part of the problem in Congress because he has opposed pet-project earmarks in spending bills. </p> <p>But McCain met a stiff challenge after that statement at a news conference. A red-haired teenage volunteer he met along his walking tour, Jonathan Harris-Eisen, 15, of Amherst, Mass., asked: "How would you prioritize Iraq (compared) with the rebuilding here, because we are spending a fraction of what we're spending in Iraq on this disaster?" </p> <p>McCain didn't address the disparity of money spent on Iraq and storm recovery, but he spent the next few minutes explaining how his plan for Iraq was better than withdrawal strategies from Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.<br /></p><p>Later, at a town hall-style meeting at Xavier University, McCain got a similar question from Alex Brumfield, a pharmacy student at the Catholic institution. Brumfield wanted to know why McCain wants to make permanent Bush's tax cuts for high-income Americans and stock-market investors when those cuts forced reductions in education financing, including support for historically black universities like Xavier. </p> <p>"If we can find funds to fund this war in Iraq, we can find the funds for education," Brumfield said. </p> <p>McCain said he understood Brumfield's frustration but said he supports the current strategy in Iraq and believes curtailing wasteful spending and spurring economic growth -- not tax increases -- are the answer to financing education properly.<br /></p><p>Then, at the Xavier forum, McCain was asked about his own ties to the Rev. John Hagee, a San Antonio televangelist who has repeatedly said Hurricane Katrina was God's way of punishing New Orleans for its sinful ways. </p> <p>McCain said he rejected Hagee's statement and emphasized that he doesn't have a longstanding relationship with the pastor. Hagee is not McCain's pastor, but rather someone McCain courted for his endorsement, which he got in February.<br /></p><br /><p style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/hfiend/cake.jpg">THIS</a> is what McCain was doing on the day Katrina hit...</p><p><a href="http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/hfiend/cake.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y54/hfiend/cake.jpg</span></a><br /></p>celebrating his birthday with GW Bush, taking a ride on Air Force one to Arizona<br />(at the tax payers expense)<br /><br /><br /><h1 class="headline">Media Myths of McCain</h1> <ol><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#1">John McCain is a maverick.</a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#2">John McCain is a moderate. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#3">John McCain is a straight-talker. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#4">John McCain is a reformer. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#5">John McCain doesn't do things just<br />because they're politically expedient. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#6">Just about all you need to know about<br />John McCain's character is that he showed<br />courage as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#7">John McCain has too much integrity<br />to use his war record to his political advantage. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#8"> John McCain is the lobbyist's biggest enemy.</a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#9">The media honeymoon with John McCain is over. </a></li><li><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#10">John McCain has considerable foreign policy expertise. </a></li></ol> <br /> <a name="1"></a> <h2>1. John McCain is a maverick.</h2> <p><em>It sometimes seems that you can't read a story about John McCain without seeing him referred to as a "maverick." But is it true?</em></p> <p>Perhaps no word has been used to describe John McCain more often than "maverick." In January and February of 2008 alone, McCain was called a "maverick" more than 1,300 times in newspapers and on television. And those who use the label to describe McCain rarely explain just what he has done to earn it. But a closer examination of his record shows that McCain isn't quite the maverick that he is made out to be. The truth is that McCain's breaks from the Republican Party line are few and far between. According to <em>Congressional Quarterly</em>'s "party unity" ratings, since he came to the Senate in 1989, there have been only three years in which McCain voted with his party less than 80 percent of the time. When he has gone against the party line -- such as on campaign finance reform, global warming, or tobacco regulations -- McCain has taken a position that was overwhelmingly popular with the public, meaning that when he takes a "maverick" stance, he's gaining support with the public -- and hardly taking a political risk.</p> <p>Just as important, McCain's acts of independence aren't so much on high-profile issues as they are on issues that the press <em>makes</em> high-profile, precisely because of McCain's involvement. In all these cases, something important happens in the media when McCain opposes his party. When an ordinary senator crosses party lines, he or she will join members of the other party and perhaps have occasional opportunities to be quoted or interviewed on the issue in question. When McCain crosses party lines, on the other hand, the story the news media write undergoes a shift: It then becomes a story not about a conflict between Democrats and Republicans, but a story about John McCain and his rebellion. This is why McCain is perceived to be much more of a maverick than Republicans such as Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins, who actually break with the GOP far more often. Yet journalists continue over and over to call McCain a "maverick," seldom questioning whether there might be more to the story. </p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#top">Back to Top</a> </p> <div class="column_4"> <a name="2"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">2. John McCain is a moderate.</h2> <p><em>The news media consistently portray McCain as someone above ideology, with appeal to independents and a scorn for dogma. The record tells a different story.</em></p> <p>A <em>New Republic</em> headline during John McCain's first run for president sums up the media's views on McCain's politics and ideology: "This Man Is Not a Republican." Since his rise to prominence on the national scene, McCain has been routinely referred to as a moderate -- despite the fact that both his voting record and <em>McCain himself</em> attest that he is a reliable conservative. Take abortion. Over the years, McCain has voted for cutting federal funding of family planning clinics that counseled pregnant women on abortion and has supported a ban on late-term abortion. He has consistently received zero ratings from NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood. In 2000, hard-line social conservative Gary Bauer actually endorsed McCain over Bush because he said McCain assured him he would appoint pro-life judges to the Supreme Court (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 139).</p> <p>And that's just the tip of the iceberg. He has opposed extending the assault weapons ban, federal hate crimes legislation, the establishment of the International Criminal Court, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, pro-labor legislation, ergonomics rules, lawsuits against gun manufacturers, and benefits for gay partners. He has supported privatizing Social Security, conservative judicial appointments, the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, tax cuts for the wealthy, and the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 139-140). On national security, McCain has consistently proven himself to be one of our most hawkish senators. Conservative groups such as the American Conservative Union and the Christian Coalition of America routinely give McCain high marks (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 145-146). As McCain himself has said: "I've always been a conservative. I think my voting record clearly indicates that on economic issues, national security issues, social issues -- I'm pro-life -- so I think I could make an argument I've had a pretty clear 20-some-year record basically being conservative" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 153). If only the media believed him. </p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#top">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="3"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">3. John McCain is a straight-talker.</h2> <p><em>If there is any term that approaches the ubiquity of "maverick" in stories about John McCain, it's "straight talk." But the truth is that John McCain's tongue is often as forked as any other politician's.</em></p> <p>A straight-talker says what's on his mind, regardless of the political consequences. In the public imagination, it also extends beyond talk and into the realm of action: Straight talk means taking a definitive and unshakable stand on an issue. The typical politician avoids taking a stand unless he really has to; a straight-talker takes a stand even when it hurts him. This definition certainly fits John McCain as the media have presented him to the public. </p> <p>But the truth is that McCain has been just as guilty as other politicians of attempting to be all things to all people. For instance, in 2006, McCain made a highly public gesture of embracing Jerry Falwell, a man whom he once described as an "agent of intolerance." Perhaps McCain's run for the White House -- and the need to curry favor with religious conservatives -- had something to do with it. On tax cuts, McCain was an opponent of George W. Bush's tax cuts in 2001. But when they came up for extension in 2006, the senator chose to support them -- appealing to the conservative base in the process. He now claims he opposed the tax cuts only because they were not offset by spending cuts, but the truth is that, at the time, he said he was against them because they were tilted to the wealthy. On abortion, McCain once said, "[C]ertainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of <em>Roe vs. Wade</em>." And yet he had also told an anti-choice group in a letter, "I share our common goal of reducing the staggering number of abortions currently performed in this country and overturning the Roe vs. Wade decision" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 160-161). Today, his website reads, "John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned." When he ran for president in 2000, he skipped the Iowa caucus, and made clear his contempt for ethanol made from Iowa corn. "Ethanol does nothing to reduce fuel consumption, nothing to increase our energy independence, nothing to improve our air quality," he said in 2003. Yet in 2008, he decided to compete in the Iowa caucus, and had a change of heart on ethanol. "I do not support subsidies, but I support ethanol and I think it is a vital alternative energy source, not only because of our dependence on foreign oil but because of its greenhouse reduction effects," he said in August 2006.</p> <p>With straight talk like that, who needs waffling? </p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#top">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="4"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">4. John McCain is a reformer.</h2> <p><em>When reporters think "political reform," there's one name that comes to mind: John McCain. But is his image as a reformer all it's cracked up to be?</em></p> <p>In 1989, John McCain was embroiled in one of the biggest financial scandals in American history: the Keating Five. Yet far from ending his career, the scandal has since been spun as a defining moment for the senator, the event that set him straight and inspired his transformation into a reformer. The media have eagerly bought this line, and mentions of McCain's involvement in the Keating Five, already few, are usually framed in redemptive terms. But if you look closely at McCain's life, one can see the hallmarks of the typical politician -- the reliance on powerful lobbyists, the close ties with industries in his regulatory purview, the specter of conflict of interest. Indeed, McCain has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the telecom, transportation, and media industries. What do all these companies have in common? They all have interests before the Senate Commerce Committee, which McCain chaired. Their support paid off. Corporations such as EchoStar, BellSouth, Ameritech, and -- as <em>The New York Times</em> recently reported -- Paxson Communications, among others, benefited from McCain's actions on their behalf (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 109).</p> <p>Then there is McCain's advocacy of campaign finance reform, which more than anything has made him the premier reformer in the eyes of the media. Five years later, it would be difficult for anyone to argue that McCain-Feingold actually cleaned up the campaign finance system. Rather than diminishing, the amount of money spent on political campaigns has exploded. The legislation also had the effect of boosting the Republican Party at the expense of the Democratic Party. At the time, the Democrats relied much more heavily on soft money donations, particularly from labor unions, than did Republicans. And McCain knew that as well as anyone. When Americans for Tax Reform aired an ad in New Hampshire in 1999 accusing him of helping Democrats by working to ban soft money, McCain's spokesman protested to the Associated Press, "In fact banning soft money will help the Republican Party because it will stop the flow of cash which runs around the clock from the big labor unions straight into the Democratic Party's coffers" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 24-25).</p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/#top">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="5"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">5. John McCain doesn't do things just because they're politically expedient.</h2> <p><em>Unlike all the other politicians, John McCain doesn't pander, doesn't tell people what they want to hear, and makes decisions based not on what's good politics, but on what's right. Or so the news media would have you believe.</em></p> <p>In early January 2008, <em>Newsweek</em> editor Jon Meacham wrote: "The apparent reconsideration of the candidacy of John McCain is good news for all of us, whatever our politics, for McCain has proved in the campaign what he proved in Vietnam: that patience is a virtue, and, when in doubt, principle is worth a try." This is the John McCain the press has presented to us: unwavering in principle, and propped up by endless political courage.</p> <p>But you don't have to look far to find examples of McCain pandering. Consider his decision in 2000 to denounce the Confederate flag flying over the South Carolina statehouse -- when the South Carolina primary approached, he announced that the flag was, in fact, a symbol of heritage. After the primaries, when the need to curry favor with Southern voters had passed, McCain admitted that he had pandered on the flag issue. But to the media, McCain did nothing of the sort. Instead, "McCain displayed political courage -- belatedly, but powerfully," according to <em>The New York Times</em>. Time and again, the same pattern has repeated itself: McCain panders, the media look the other way or explain it away (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 117-118).</p> <p>As he prepared to make his second run for the presidency, McCain made a series of public shifts on his positions, the most ballyhooed of which was his rapprochement with Jerry Falwell, whom he had once denounced as an "agent of intolerance." The media noted the senator's rightward drift, but while a few criticized him for his fairly obvious attempt to pander to the Republican base, most of the media stuck to the script. According to his liberal advocates, the maverick was only suppressing his maverick instincts and doing what he needed to do to win the nomination. Once past the nomination process, the thinking went, the real, more moderate McCain would return. Jacob Weisberg, writing in Slate, said that McCain's shift was "a stratagem -- the only one, in fact, that gives him a shot at surviving a Republican presidential primary." Jonathan Chait called McCain's shift a "fake right" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Pages 178-79). In recent months, McCain has backtracked on his positions on immigration and taxes, with an eye toward pleasing the conservative base. It goes without saying that any other politician who tried a similar gambit would be criticized for such blatant pandering. But for John McCain, the rules are different.</p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="6"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">6. Just about all you need to know about John McCain's character is that he showed courage as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.</h2> <p><em>No one doubts that McCain showed courage, and suffered greatly, in his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. But the press would have you believe that Vietnam makes any questions about McCain's character -- such as those based on what he's done in the four decades since -- not worth asking.</em></p> <p>John McCain endured terrible suffering during the five and a half years he spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and in the course of that time, he displayed admirable courage, even heroism. No decent person would contest those facts. But it does not necessarily follow that McCain's Vietnam history should function as a halo reducing all questions of character -- a press obsession, particularly when it comes to presidential candidates -- to the story of the Hanoi Hilton. To be sure, McCain's Vietnam experience is a key part of his character, but it is, after all, only a part. But that is not how the press sees it. For John McCain, Vietnam is nearly the entirety of the character story we are told (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 6).</p> <p>And the story is told again, and again, and again, even when it has no connection to the issue at hand. Reporters routinely drop in to their stories the phrase, "McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam ..." as though it were simply a piece of identifying information, like "Arizona senator." A Nexis search of the terms "prisoner of war" or "POW" within 10 words of "McCain" produces more than 1,000 hits in newspapers in 2007 alone.</p> <p>Because of the fixation on his Vietnam experience, the media obscure from the public other aspects of his character that might raise more questions. For instance, McCain almost always finishes at the top of the list for "Hottest Temper" in Congress in <em>Washingtonian</em> magazine's "Best and Worst of Congress" survey. Indeed, McCain's path to power is trailed by burned bridges and broken friendships because of his volcanic outbursts. Yet few people seem to know this about the Arizona senator. (A Gallup poll in August 2006 found that only 2 percent of respondents cited his temper as a quality they disliked in McCain.) McCain has also been known to spout the occasional mean-spirited joke. At a Republican fundraiser in 1998, McCain told the following gem: "Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father and Hillary Clinton is her mother." Any other politician who was caught on record saying such a vicious thing would be torn apart by the media. But McCain got away scot-free. <em>The New York Times</em>' Maureen Dowd quoted a magazine editor as saying that the McCain-media love affair was "a return to the Kennedy era. He makes a gaffe, and we look the other way" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 85-104).</p> <p>Because McCain is viewed, and sometimes described, as an "anti-politician" to whom the sins of his profession don't apply, matters like his considerable capacity for ambition and opportunism, or his personal foibles, are swept aside. How many voters know, for instance, that he admitted cheating on his first wife before divorcing her and marrying a wealthy heiress, then buying a house in Arizona on the very day a congressman whose seat he wanted to take announced his retirement? The point isn't that those things should disqualify him from the presidency. But they are also part of McCain's story.</p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="7"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">7. John McCain has too much integrity to use his war record to his political advantage.</h2> <p><em>The press has told us many times that John McCain is reluctant to bring up his captivity in Vietnam in political contexts. The only problem is, he does it all the time.</em></p> <p>Everybody knows by now that John McCain served our country honorably in Vietnam. But a key part of McCain's Vietnam story as the press tells it is that the senator is reluctant to mention it. As Howard Kurtz of <em>The Washington Post </em>once wrote, "McCain doesn't talk much about those days, but he doesn't have to." In the words of <em>The Washington Examiner</em>'s Bill Sammon, "Unlike Sen. John Kerry, McCain rarely mentions his Vietnam service without prompting" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 14). McCain himself has said the same thing: "One of the things I've never tried to do is exploit my Vietnam service to my country because it would be totally inappropriate to do," McCain once said (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 9). </p> <p>But for someone who supposedly doesn't want to talk about his experience as a POW, McCain sure does bring it up a lot. The truth is that he mentions it all the time. He talks about it seriously, he jokes about it, and he uses it to his political advantage. His first campaign for Congress was built on his Vietnam heroism, including when he responded to the potentially fatal (and true) accusation of carpetbagging by saying, "[T]he place I lived longest in my life was Hanoi" (<em>Free Ride</em>, Page 48). His emergence on the national stage came during his keynote address at the 1996 Republican convention, a speech that concerned his captivity in Vietnam. His first TV ad in New Hampshire for the 2000 primaries was a 60-second spot featuring black-and-white still photographs and footage of McCain as a fighter pilot. <em>Faith of My Fathers</em>, McCain's memoir of his wartime experience, came out in 1999, conveniently timed for the start of his campaign. </p> <p>For his current campaign, McCain has not been shy about invoking Vietnam. In March 2007, the campaign sent out an email marking the anniversary of McCain's release from the Hanoi Hilton, retelling the story of his captivity. On his campaign website, the featured video on the main page is called "Courageous Service," which highlights McCain's POW experience and Vietnam service. His campaign has run ads showing him as a POW. Indeed, when one looks over McCain's career, one sees that at nearly every key moment, he has reaped political benefit from talking about Vietnam. </p> <p>Of course, McCain has every right to talk about his military service as much as he pleases, just as many candidates did before him. It is his history, and no one has ever disputed the facts of what he went through. But no reporter should fool him or herself into thinking that McCain is reluctant to do so.</p> <!--<p style="font-size:1em;text-align:center; color:#174a82;"><strong>The next media myth, that "John McCain is the lobbyist's biggest enemy," will be released on Thursday, April 17th.</strong></p>--> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="8"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">8. John McCain is the lobbyist's biggest enemy.</h2> <p><em>Nobody is supposed to be a greater adversary to the lobbyists who prowl the halls of Congress looking for special interest handouts than John McCain. But all it takes is a look at his campaign staff list to puncture that myth.</em></p> <p>The media have long perpetuated a myth of John McCain as the bane of Washington lobbyists. It is just that -- a myth. Even before his current campaign, the senator reached out to lobbyists in preparation for his run. A March 8, 2006, story in <em><em>The Hill</em></em> reported that "lobbyists say that McCain has been reaching out to K Street to strengthen his national fundraising network." A February 3, 2007, <em><em>National Journal</em></em> article by Peter H. Stone and James A. Barnes reported that McCain and Mitt Romney are "working overtime to line up influential allies on K Street who can deliver supporters and campaign cash." The article reported that on "January 22, David Girard-diCarlo, the chairman of Blank Rome, which is headquartered in Pennsylvania, escorted McCain to Pittsburgh and Harrisburg to meet with influential donors and fundraisers. And on January 31, the senator attended a Capitol Hill luncheon at the Monocle restaurant that drew two dozen trade association leaders and potential allies."</p> <p>According to Public Citizen, McCain's campaign has more current and former lobbyist bundlers -- lobbyists who raise money by pooling donations from themselves and others -- than any other candidate. According to Thomas Edsall, a former <em>Washington Post</em> reporter and political editor of The Huffington Post, McCain "has more lobbyists working on his staff or as advisers than any of his competitors, Republican or Democrat." And a study by <em><em>Media Matters for America </em></em>has also found numerous McCain staffers or advisers who were registered to lobby Congress as of year-end 2007 or were previously lobbyists. The current or former lobbyists working for McCain include his campaign manager, his deputy campaign manager, his chief political adviser, his chief fundraiser, and the chief of staff of his Senate office.</p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <div class="column_4"> <a name="9"></a> <div class="column_4_inner"> <h2 class="subhead">9. The media honeymoon with John McCain is over.</h2> <p><em>Some conservatives have claimed that while McCain got great coverage in the past, the press has become much more critical in recent days. Nothing could be further from the truth.</em></p> <p>In recent weeks, some commentators have suggested that the media have turned on John McCain, pointing to a <em>New York Times</em> article about McCain's ties with a lobbyist, Vicki Iseman, and a political favor he did for Iseman's client, Paxson Communications. In the wake of the story, conservative host Rush Limbaugh said that it was "the drive-by media turning on its favorite maverick and trying to take him out." Conservative pundit Laura Ingraham suggested that the McCain-media marriage was at an end, asking, "Did McCain think that having all these people on the Straight Talk Express -- and getting Jonathan Alter and all these guys to sit down with him and laugh and chat -- do you think that was going to inoculate him from this kind of absurd attack?" But what was just as notable about the episode was what happened afterward. MSNBC's Chris Matthews and Joe Scarborough, along with other major media figures, hammered the <em>Times</em> for running the story. In less than a day, the story was transformed from one about John McCain's connections with lobbyists seeking his favor into one about the ethics of <em>The New York Times</em>.</p> <p>And days after it was reported, the issue all but disappeared from newspapers, despite the fact that McCain's claim that he had never met with broadcaster Lowell "Bud" Paxson prior to writing a letter to the FCC on his behalf was false. A Nexis search of "McCain" and "Paxson" after February 23 -- the date it was reported that Paxson contradicted McCain's claims that they never met -- turned up only seven hits from U.S. newspapers. So much for a feeding frenzy.</p> <p>Further evidence proving the continuing love affair between McCain and the media comes from the media itself. A March 10 story in <em>The New York Times</em> reported that McCain would "continue to hold forth with reporters" on the campaign bus, with aides believing that such access would make "McCain less likely to be the subject of what they call 'gotcha' journalism." The article went on to add, "That seemed to be borne out last week, when Mr. McCain briefly tripped over the name of the new Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev. Reporters, who have been known to quiz candidates on the names of foreign leaders, did not pounce." On the March 9 edition of CNN's <em>Reliable Sources</em>, in a discussion about an incident in which McCain lost his temper with the <em>Times</em>' Elisabeth Bumiller, Time.com Washington editor Ana Marie Cox noted that "it's almost always someone who has not -- who hasn't been with the campaign ... that's going to make a call that makes [McCain] look bad." (Bumiller, according to Cox, was new to the McCain beat.) Asked by Kurtz if reporters who travel with McCain "become part of the bubble, part of the team," Cox replied, "Become part of the bubble, and also, I mean, I think what happens is that you -- if you've been covering him for a long time, there's a sense that, well, he does that all the time, it's not worth reporting." And so it goes for the media and John McCain. </p> <p class="right_link"><a href="http://mediamattersaction.org/freeride/myths/">Back to Top</a> </p></div> </div> <a name="10"></a> <h2 class="subhead">10. John McCain has considerable foreign policy expertise.</h2> <p><em>The media have said over and over that McCain has "credibility" and "expertise" on foreign policy. It's worth asking what that expertise consists of</em>.</p> <p>In the February 26 Democratic debate in Cleveland, moderator Brian Williams told Sen. Barack Obama that he "could be going into a general election against a Republican with vast foreign policy expertise and credibility on national security." For almost his entire career, foreign policy has been regarded as one of John McCain's strengths. But a closer examination of his record contradicts that image. Take Iraq. McCain was one of the strongest proponents of the war to oust Saddam Hussein. In the run-up to the war, a September 29, 2002, online CNN article quoted him predicting, "We're not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad. We may have to take out buildings, but we're not going to have a bloodletting of trading American bodies for Iraqi bodies." In May 2003, McCain wrote: "Thanks to a war plan that represented a revolutionary advance in military science, to the magnificent performance of our armed forces, and to the firm resolve of the President, the war in Iraq succeeded beyond the most optimistic expectations." Asked whether Iraqis would greet us as liberators, he replied, "Absolutely. Absolutely." (He would later lambaste the Bush administration for giving the public "too rosy a scenario" about Iraq.) </p> <p>As the situation in Iraq has deteriorated, McCain has amplified his criticism of the administration's policy -- even as he proposes to keep the United States in Iraq for 100 years. Commenting on the sectarian violence in Iraq, McCain said in 2006, "One of the things I would do if I were president would be to sit the Shiites and the Sunnis down and say, 'Stop the bullshit.' " The idea that all the Iraqis needed was a swift kick in the pants might have marked McCain as a deeply unserious thinker when it came to foreign affairs and national security -- had anyone bothered to notice. As <em>The New Republic</em>'s John Judis put it, "He was wrong about [Iraqi National Congress leader Ahmed] Chalabi, he was wrong about Iraq's ties to Al Qaeda and WMD, he was wrong about the reaction of Iraqis to the invasion, and he was wrong about the effects on the wider Muslim world." But none of that matters. To most of the media, McCain remains the candidate with the most foreign policy expertise.</p> <p>As to what McCain thinks about the rest of the world and how the United States should conduct its foreign policy, it's not always easy to tell. The "issues" section of his website contains no page for foreign policy, and what he says on the topic often raises more questions than it answers. For instance, McCain has often said he would "follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell," but when he was asked exactly how he'd go about finding the Al Qaeda leader, McCain cited a secret plan. "One thing I will not do is telegraph my punches. Osama bin Laden will be the last to know," he said, adding, "I have my own ideas and it would require implementation of certain policies and procedures that only as the president of the United States can be taken." He has also promised, "There's gonna be other wars," and said of Iran, Libya, and North Korea, "I'd institute a policy that I call 'rogue state rollback.' I would arm, train, equip, both from without and from within, forces that would eventually overthrow the governments and install free and democratically elected governments."</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><p id="blogfeeds"><$BlogFeedsVertical$></p>
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