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"No one is useless in this world who lightens another's burden" -- Charles Dickens
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 The Great Debate of 2008
Jerry W. Sanders via reed, Saturday, Nov 3 2007, 10:49pm
If ever the time was right for a Great Debate on America's purpose and place in the world, that time is now. But if early auditions leading up to primary season are any indication, the top contenders are either not up to the task or unwilling to take on the challenge of correcting the current course of failure in US foreign policy. Despite America's dire standing in the world and the President's record low approval ratings at home, leading Republican candidates have made it clear that they will deviate little from the geopolitics of fear and fantasy that have marked the Bush years. And while Democratic front-runners are quick to denounce the folly of the war in Iraq--at least in its execution--they appear reluctant to take on the worldview and logic from which it was manufactured and continues to be sold in anticipation of yet new adventures. So far, in shades too reminiscent of 2004, Democrats act as if the White House is theirs for the taking if only they can avoid missteps and duck charges of "weakness."
international /
imperialism /
other press
 Dunlavey: Guantanamo Mission Came Straight From Bush, Rumsfeld
Lisa Thompson via rialator, Saturday, Nov 3 2007, 10:31pm
When military investigators questioned Erie County Judge Michael E. Dunlavey about reported prisoner abuse during his tenure at the Guantanamo Bay camp for suspected terrorists, Dunlavey told them he got his “marching orders” from President Bush, according to a new book about U.S. policies regarding torture. (story and 1 image)
international /
injustice/law /
other press
The sun sets early on the American Century
Philip S Golub via reed, Saturday, Nov 3 2007, 12:47pm
The ‘American Century’ only began 60 years ago. But it seems already to be over, with the disaster of Iraq forcing some of the United States’ ruling elites to realise that its hegemony has been severely weakened. But nobody seems to know what to do next, or even how to behave.
international /
imperialism /
other press
CODEPINK and K.I.S.S.
finch, Friday, Nov 2 2007, 12:38pm
For the uninitiated or uninformed CODEPINK is a predominantly women’s anti-war, anti-Bush, life affirming, Peace movement. Their success lies in unity, innovative tactical thinking, COURAGE, strategic planning, simple image branding and dedication of the RELENTLESS variety -- the totality of which spells a formula for success! Are the many lame ideologically hamstrung, FAILED protest movements learning yet? (story and 1 comment and 1 image)
Last Commented Saturday, Nov 3 2007, 11:11am
international /
social/political /
news report
Exceeding Worth
Kingfisher, Friday, Nov 2 2007, 12:17am
Alienation, vacuity of purpose or simply 'the lost lives of the people!' Are YOU working more and enjoying it less? What does it matter if you wallpaper your house with money if you have lost your family, friends and community in the process. In a world where we are constantly fed lies relating to our ‘envious’ standard of living and the wonderful advances we’ve made, I notice entire developed nations now suffering from what I call, ‘native envy.’ The Aboriginal standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a limitless landscape. A land that provides all his needs with minimal work -- a few hours per day. The other twenty hours are dedicated to ritual ‘dreaming’ art and dance. But we are better off aren’t we? We have Nintendo and Plasma TV! (story and 1 comment)
Last Commented Friday, Nov 2 2007, 10:49am
international /
social equality/unity /
opinion/analysis
Collusion and Interference in State Institutions
nano, Thursday, Nov 1 2007, 11:58am
It is absolutely imperative in any democracy that legal, regulatory and other important State Institutions REMAIN INDEPENDENT and free of GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE. However, in America today we witness flagrant attempts by the Bush regime to commandeer legal and regulatory organisations to the neo-conservative ideology and cause -- the result of these outrageous interventions has been the wholesale subversion of the founding democratic principles of the nation. (story and 2 images)
national /
injustice/law /
commentary
“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!”
sadh, Wednesday, Oct 31 2007, 11:05pm
The title is also my favourite adage pertaining to what some people mistakenly refer to as a religion. The major religions are structured, social/political organisations administered and led by men. In contrast Buddhism kills the principal object that may become an idol or object of veneration. It thereby protects itself from the corruption that has made the world’s ‘great religions’ a FARCE and a gathering place for idiots, slaves, fools and manipulators!
international /
theology /
opinion/analysis
Chaser's poo-stain Jesus 'a disgusting parody'
Phil Han via fish, Wednesday, Oct 31 2007, 9:36am
['Show me your God and I will expose your psychopathology.' More power to the irreverent Chasers crew for exposing the inanity and absolute imbecility of ALL RELIGION. What a difference a 'slave' makes!
We lay down an open challenge to any religious leader to verify the existence of their man-made God and to prove the validity of their faith and the ‘divine’ origins of their culturally produced Scriptural text, you bunch of vacuum-headed, demented, idiot, slaves!
Here’s a little philosophical challenge for the slave masters: The One True 'God' is infinite; Infinity is ALL-INCLUSIVE therefore God is also represented buy shit skids in toilet bowls! Care to challenge self-evident TRUTH, you lying, sicko, aberrant HYPOCRITES? Ed.] (story and 2 images)
international /
theology /
other press
It’s about INTEGRITY!
jinn, Tuesday, Oct 30 2007, 2:55pm
I am not a religionist, far from it; as a professional textual analyst I am paid generous amounts to simply state what to members of my profession is considered obvious, it’s ‘hard, dirty, work’ but someone has to do it! I am not underrating this highly specialised profession, analysts are able to draw highly accurate behavioural profiles and conclusions from minuscule amounts of information -- tracing the source of the anthrax (letters) to the U.S. military amply demonstrates the fact. To specialists, ‘text’ is a treasure-trove of information. (story and 2 images)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
According to plan
peptide, Monday, Oct 29 2007, 11:08pm
Debate is raging at the moment over the prospect of the US attacking Iran -- as if there is any doubt! Of course the US will attack Iran. People forget the Bush administration is following a plan; insane though it may be the administration has not veered from it one iota. The plan was formulated by none other than the same lunatics who formulated the PNAC doctrine; a wishful, Disneyland, ‘pan-Americana’ dream, which would be just another Marvel comic book plot except for the ‘minor’ fact of an ongoing REAL holocaust in Iraq. (story and 1 comment and 1 image)
Last Commented Wednesday, Oct 31 2007, 7:27pm
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Kosovo and the Westphalian Order
Ambassador James Bissett via rialator, Monday, Oct 29 2007, 8:41pm
The following is Ambassador Bissett’s keynote address at the symposium on Kosovo held at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2007.
The breakup of the Yugoslav federation was the first serious diplomatic challenge facing the Western democracies following the collapse of the Soviet Union. They made a mess of it. They are still making a mess of it; and if a decision is made in the coming months to grant independence to the Albanians in Kosovo—as the United States seems determined to do—then the decision will simply add to, and compound, the many errors and mistakes made by the US-led Western powers before, during, and after the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.
international /
social/political /
other press
Freedom Writ Large
John Pilger via rialator, Sunday, Oct 28 2007, 8:14pm
This is John Pilger's address to a London meeting, 'Freedom Writ Large', organized by PEN and the Writers Network of Burma, on October 25.
Thank you PEN for asking me to speak at this very important meeting tonight. I join you in paying tribute to Burma's writers, whose struggle is almost beyond our imagination. They remind us, once again, of the sheer power of words. I think of the poets Aung Than and Zeya Aung. I think of U Win Tin, a journalist, who makes ink out of brick powder on the walls of his prison cell and writes with a pen made from a bamboo mat – at the age of 77. These are the bravest of the brave. (story and 3 images)
international /
social/political /
other press
The century of lost moralities
Kingfisher, Sunday, Oct 28 2007, 2:42pm
When powerful nations resort to criminality in order to rob weaker nations of their precious resources we need not be surprised, though some of us may be outraged. The world has long ago accustomed itself to imperialism. However, never before have we seen the type of imperialism practised by America today – it is clearly a failed model that threatens to plunge the entire world into an irreversible cataclysm.
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Thousands in US anti-war protests
staff report via rialator, Saturday, Oct 27 2007, 8:01pm
Tens of thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations against the war in Iraq in cities across the US. Rallies took place in a dozen cities, with the biggest crowds gathering in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. (story and 1 image)
international /
peace/war /
other press
McCarthyism and the John Howard election campaign
budgie, Saturday, Oct 27 2007, 12:10pm
Just a short note for Geoffrey Cousins, after all we all know that Howard just takes orders from big business. What better lackey to have as a Prime Minister, ay Geoff? But it seems you’ve forgotten Joe McCarthy and his ignominious end. In two words Geoff, NEGATIVE OVERKILL! Negative advertising and persistent scare campaigns eventually wear thin with the population, you dumb fuck! Are we getting old and perhaps losing it, Geoff? A little over the hill like Howard! (story and 2 images)
national /
social/political /
commentary
Diamond ring and 'pinch of shit' *
barra, Friday, Oct 26 2007, 1:07pm
Analysts, the socially informed and criminal elites are acutely aware of the horrendous environmental calamity we are now facing. Do not be deceived, ‘tipping points,’ ‘thresholds,’ ‘runaway effects,’ ‘irreversible forces,’ have already been activated, passed, breached, exceeded! We are actually living on borrowed time NOW! However, it has already been decided that the masses – that’s you and me – are EXPENDABLE! High quality arable land has already been commandeered by the powers for bio-fuel production; the obvious consequences of this action are massive food shortages and skyrocketing prices in the very near future – is a picture slowly forming in the dull brains of the sheeple? (story and 1 comment and 3 images)
Last Commented Friday, Oct 26 2007, 1:25pm
international /
social/political /
commentary
The Failed Ape
nano, Thursday, Oct 25 2007, 7:30pm
A UN study group has just delivered a clear warning to HUMANKIND – in this case late is not better than never! For the past few decades specialists have been heard sounding exactly the same alarms/warnings from the modern wilderness. However, certain COMMERCIAL interests have muted the warning cries of concerned scientists and environmentalists. The most recent example is George W Bush favouring reports from oil company friendly ‘scientists’ refuting the effects of industrial, petro-chemical pollution on the planet’s climate and sensitive eco-systems. These delaying tactics only postponed the inevitable – runaway global warming and environmental chaos! (story and 3 images)
international /
environment /
commentary
Bush Regime Preaches Democracy, Proposes Tyranny
Paul Craig Roberts via rialator, Wednesday, Oct 24 2007, 9:12pm
[American citizens have finally realised that psychopaths, reprehensible criminals, amoral opportunists and inept fools rule their nation -- Australia and Britain take note! It is not enough that Bush and his neo-cons are made to answer for their many horrific crimes, so too must Blair, Howard and his senior ministers be brought to justice.
The continued failure of opposition parties to rein in openly exposed criminals is totally unacceptable -- the overwhelming majority of people demand that justice is served!
‘Religious’ leaders, criminal politicians, media moguls, consultants and advisers – everyone involved in the greatest crime of the century must be held accountable. The consequences of not reining in these criminals would be a source of bitter regret for many generations to come. Ed.]
international /
social/political /
other press
Bush's plan to spend away the terror
Simon Tisdall via rialator, Tuesday, Oct 23 2007, 11:22pm
Planned US spending on the "global war on terror" is set to rise sharply in the coming year despite claims by President George Bush that al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq. A funding request sent to Congress this week seeks $196.4bn (£95.8bn) for counter-terrorism in 2007-8, $25bn up on this year. The Pentagon's separate budget request amounts to an additional $481.4bn.
international /
peace/war /
other press
Outsourcing Government
Naomi Klein via reed, Tuesday, Oct 23 2007, 10:35pm
"We didn't want to get stuck with a lemon." That's what Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said to a House committee last month. He was referring to the "virtual fence" planned for the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. If the entire project goes as badly as the 28-mile prototype, it could turn out to be one of the most expensive lemons in history, projected to cost $8 billion by 2011.
international /
social/political /
other press
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