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"The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire" -- Robert A Heinlein
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 China Asserts Superiority
Kwang zi, Saturday, Oct 21 2006, 12:43am
China asserts dominance in the region but if you blinked you missed it; the difference between loud and clear and subtle and clear is the difference between, “bombing into the stone-age” and gently applying Asian lateral diplomacy. DPRK (Kim Jong il) rebuffs six-party talks but promises China during independent talks, that nuclear testing will cease. Miss war whore/status quo/dead children, Condoleezza Rice, and the rest of the world are left in no doubt which nation exercises the greater degree of influence in the region; a clear message has been sent – the world has taken note. (story and 1 comment and 1 image)
Last Commented Saturday, Oct 21 2006, 11:44am
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
 Gross Incompetence
nano, Thursday, Oct 19 2006, 2:03pm
A principal failure if not the major failure of the U.S. administration is its failure to comprehend the nature of post-modern reality, especially post-modern warfare. The U.S. war ‘machine’ is an antiquated beast run by the mentally impaired. Dangerous and angry old men (past failures) do not good leaders/advisers make!
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
‘Honeypot’ for Keelty and Ruddock
budgie, Wednesday, Oct 11 2006, 8:21pm
We have recently received some unverifiable information regarding a purported obsession shared by Mick Keelty of the AFP and the Attorney-General, Philip Ruddock. The information referred to the existence of a “missing category” of terrorists whose activities have been severely affecting the ability of regulatory authorities to adequately fulfil their social obligations. Keelty and Ruddock, in their quest for tighter social regulation, have encountered certain aberrations in the social matrix, the cause of which remains a mystery! (story and 2 comments and 2 images)
Last Commented Friday, Oct 13 2006, 11:09am
national /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
Solutions, Remedies and Cultural Amnesia
jalal'udin, Wednesday, Oct 4 2006, 6:56pm
Would someone care to guess the historical age of the well-known adage, “A HOUSE DIVIDED CANNOT STAND” notwithstanding this particular quote is sourced from theological material? Regardless of age or source the above maxim expresses a universal truth in relation to social affairs. Recent history reminds us of the fragmentation and demise of a once independent Balkan nation. Yugoslavia now hosts the largest military occupation base (Bondsteel) in Europe. The Balkan conflict is a perfect example of divisionism leading to ruin – as it always does! [In contrast, fragmented warlord-torn China overcame its long history of internal conflict to become one of the most powerful nations on the planet.] (story and 1 comment)
Last Commented Sunday, Oct 22 2006, 10:12pm
international /
imperialism /
opinion/analysis
Democracy Burning
Kingfisher, Friday, Sep 29 2006, 4:12pm
What consistencies, common elements and patterns are identifiable in the following events: the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the attack on the USS Liberty, and 9/11? Although time, geographic location and historical context separate these events they nevertheless share remarkably similar aims, objectives and characteristics. All these orchestrated events provided an excuse for the USA to engage in what would have otherwise been blatantly illegal warfare. The Tonkin incident ‘justified’ American miliary aggression against Vietnam; the USS Liberty incident would have provided an ideal excuse for U.S. involvement in the six-day war; the 9/11 attack has been utilised as the primary justification for America’s military expansionism and the implementation of draconian laws on the domestic front. (story and 2 images)
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
U.S. Intelligence Agencies Discover Open Secret
budgie, Tuesday, Sep 26 2006, 2:57pm
I shouldn’t be so harsh on the Americans; it took me years to discover I had a nose on my face but I was at a disadvantage, there is only one of me. Imagine the cost (tax payer’s money) involved in maintaining not one bloated ‘intelligence’ agency, but sixteen! After a period of three years, sixteen U.S. intelligence agencies have finally determined the sky is blue, people have noses on their faces and that the illegal Iraq intervention increased the ‘terrorist’ threat – bravo! [Where do I sign, that’s the job for me, or are these agencies selective basket cases – incompetent relatives, banjo players and those owed favours only need apply?]
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
NEO-CON IMPERIALISM OR APOCALYPSE NOW?
Darren Owen, Friday, Sep 8 2006, 4:30pm
It appears that the greater majority of the American public have not kept pace with the rapidly developing neo-con “Bush Doctrine” of pre-emptive military strikes against sovereign states as laid out in last Septembers National Security Strategy. A strategy expressly forbidden and outlawed in the Geneva Convention and Nuremberg Treaty but long sought after by neo-cons seeking a global American empire predicated on military force. A doctrine that establishes the unquestioned sovereignty of the United States over any an all international laws while subjecting all other sovereign states to yield to the power of its military might. As James Kurth of Swarthmore College recently stated in an article in the National Interest, “Today there is only one empire, the global empire of the United States.” (story and 1 comment)
Last Commented Friday, Sep 8 2006, 5:09pm
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
The Enemy is You!
finn, Wednesday, Sep 6 2006, 8:20am
It is becoming more evident each day; the real target of new draconian laws and policies is not the (fabricated) terrorist ‘threat’, it is the domestic population – the enemy is you! The initial indicator (for this writer) was Section 543 of the Australian Defence Forces manual, which describes attack strategies against civilians and local populations – it should not be forgotten that Australia is a micro version and imitator of the USA and to a lesser extent the UK. (story and 1 image)
international /
social/political /
opinion/analysis
The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
Steven Metz via rialator, Tuesday, Aug 29 2006, 6:11pm
This is a fascinating paper for analysts, strategists, activists, hackers, political bloggers and numerous others. Written in 2000 it has already proven prophetic regarding proxy wars; States imitating the methodologies of organised crime; the increasing privatisation of warfare and much much more.
It also serves as a window into the workings of the inept U.S. and Israeli administrations. Both regimes confuse wishful thinking and dissociative rhetoric with post-modern warfare; we refer to the Bush, "mission accomplished", statement and the dissociative Olmert announcement that the 'Hezbollah infrastructure has been completely destroyed'.
This paper is a revealing document invaluable to those who oppose all forms of totalitarian rule -- know your enemy!
[Published in four parts.]
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
Steven Metz via rialator, Tuesday, Aug 29 2006, 6:10pm
Continued ....Part 2
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
Steven Metz via rialator, Tuesday, Aug 29 2006, 6:08pm
Continued ....Part 3
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
The Information Revolution and Post-Modern Warfare
Steven Metz via rialator, Tuesday, Aug 29 2006, 6:07pm
Continued ....Part 4
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Aspects of Asymmetric Post-Modern Warfare
dingo, Sunday, Aug 27 2006, 10:40am
Victory over any opponent is the result of functionally superior values and strategies not advanced technologies as is often imagined; wars today continue to be fought by men and women. The relative strengths and weakness of combatants and cultures determine outcomes in today’s conflicts. The recent conflict in Lebanon demonstrates that military might is no match for superior strategy and tactics – superior technology is the intoxicant of technocrats and the drug of weak and incapable fighters/soldiers. (story and 1 image)
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Lebanon, Lies and Criminal Warfare
Kwang zi, Thursday, Aug 24 2006, 6:24am
“Israel has a right to defend itself” was the inane excuse offered to the world by the Bush administration for the murder and vandalism committed by Israel in Lebanon – what price ‘defensive warfare’ in today’s world? The unprecedented vandalism and indiscriminate slaughter in Lebanon was (we are expected to believe) the measured response to a border incursion and two kidnapped soldiers! Hundreds of dead children, wanton destruction and the criminal oil pollution of the Mediterranean coast are the results of Israel ‘defending’ itself? (story and 4 comments and 1 image)
Last Commented Thursday, Aug 31 2006, 7:24am
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Ceasefire Violated: The Nature of the Beast
gan, Saturday, Aug 19 2006, 2:22pm
Most people are familiar with the popular tales of the half-dead venomous snake that bit the man who saved its life and the scorpion that stung the frog that ferried it (on its back) away from floodwaters that threatened to drown it. Both stories share a similar moral; the beast remains true to its nature regardless of noble, humanitarian, mitigating factors – serpents will always strike and scorpions will always sting, regardless! (story and 3 comments and 1 image)
Last Commented Sunday, Aug 20 2006, 7:13am
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
The Price of Inaction
Kingfisher, Saturday, Aug 12 2006, 8:51pm
Consider the war in Lebanon a test scenario, a ‘dry run’ to test the international response to flagrant criminal actions. Now recall Russia’s failure to support Yugoslavia in the Balkans. Russia stalled and now Yugoslavia is no more, just a number of fragmented pseudo States overseen by NATO and the largest U.S. base of occupation in Europe, camp Bondsteel. It is well known today that the USA wouldn’t have dared if Russia had supported its traditional ally, but a drunken fool, Boris Yeltsin, was in command at the time, the rest is history. (story and 2 comments)
Last Commented Sunday, Aug 13 2006, 8:53am
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
One Month in Lebanon
peptide, Thursday, Aug 10 2006, 6:53pm
The war in Lebanon is one month and hundreds of innocent lives old; the international community is displaying all the coherence and cohesion it did in 1939 – déjà vu! The solution today is as it should have been then – stop the invader with a confederation of nations opposed to the war. It stops! Count the nations for war, two, against the war, the rest of the world! (story and 2 images)
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
Factored-in
nano, Wednesday, Jul 26 2006, 1:58pm
The middle of the twentieth century was the last occasion a belligerent nation stunned the world with violent military invasions. The major powers watched passively while a rogue military nation boldly occupied a number of sovereign states; the excuses offered by the aggressor at that time are similar to the inanities and diatribes the world is offered today by Israel and the U.S. However, some would make the distinction that the comments made by John Bolton and Condoleezza Rice are even less believable than the mendacious propaganda of Dr. Joseph Goebbels. (story and 1 image)
international /
peace/war /
opinion/analysis
The Concept of Innocence in Today’s World
finch, Monday, Jul 17 2006, 7:20pm
This short paper does not pretend to a thorough analysis, however, it is hoped that the few indications would suffice both to verify assertions and to indicate a rich direction for further research.
Innocence implies a lack of guilt or blamelessness; the images humans readily associate with the concept of innocence are those of infants, suckling babes, children and the newborn. A species tends to identify and place value on itself. In contrast to instinctive emotions we have the superimposition of cultural values/demands. Religion is the traditional repository and medium of constructed/cultural values. A cursory analysis would reveal that cultural values are not usually compatible with strong instinctive emotions. The value placed on the lives of defenceless children, infants and the newborn will be the criteria utilised to easily prove our assertions. (story and 2 comments)
Last Commented Tuesday, Jul 18 2006, 7:38am
international /
social equality/unity /
opinion/analysis
Semiotic Sequences and Cultural Appropriation
peptide, Wednesday, Jul 12 2006, 5:07pm
I have recently discovered that donning a cleaner’s garb or waiter’s apron is a passport to a wealth of knowledge. A very rich harvest of information is available to every non-descript person in a service industry. A typical but dated example (I do not wish to compromise my current activities) would be an overheard conversation between two bankers regarding the then new strategy of reducing (their) costs while simultaneously narrowing the options/freedoms of the population. The banks and other large financial institutions decided that it would be far more expedient and profitable to run their businesses utilising a strategy of perpetual debt rather than temporary debt. ‘Joe and Josephine’ citizen were about to become perpetual debtors or economic slaves.
international /
philosophy /
opinion/analysis
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