June « 2008 « carapace – Not your father's america

Archive for June, 2008

July 1 – July 10, 2008 – From every mountain side / Let Freedom ring. – Samuel F. Smith, “America”

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Which One Will YOU Be In the Year 1984?

There won’t be much choice, of course, if this book’s predictions turn out to be true. But you’ll probably become one of the following four types:

Proletarian–Considered inferior and kept in total ignorance, you’ll be fed lies from the Ministry of Truth, eliminated upon signs of promse of ability!

Police Guard–Chosen for lack of intelligence but superior brawn, you’ll be suspicious of everyone and be ready to give your life for Big Brother, the leader you’ve never even seen!

Party Member: Male–Face-less, mind-less, a flesh-and-blood robot with a push-button brain, you’re denied love by law, taught hate by the flick of a switch!

Party Member: Female–A member of the Anti-Sex League from birth, your duty will be to smother all human emotion, and your children might not be your husband’s!

From the 1954 Signet (#S798) paperback edition

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NEW PULSE POSTED

http://www.ornl.gov/news/pulse/pulse_v264_08.htm

That’s the url to the June 30, 2008, issue of DOE Pulse. Pulse is a newsletter about accomplishments at the Department of Energy’s national laboratories. Here is some of what you’ll find in this issue:

* NETL: Coal & biomass

* Livermore: 4-in-1 detector

* Berkeley: XPD structure solved

* Pacific Northwest: Modeling water

Feature: Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor summer user session

Researcher profile: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s Rich Hawryluk

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BRAIN-MACHINE INTERFACES

Brain-machine interfaces could someday be used routinely to help paralyzed patients and amputees control prosthetic limbs with just their thoughts. Now, University of Florida researchers have devised a way for computerized devices not only to translate brain signals into movement, but also to evolve with the brain as it learns.

“The status quo of brain-machine interfaces that are out there have static and fixed decoding algorithms, which assume a person thinks one way for all time,” said Justin C. Sanchez, a UF assistant professor of pediatric neurology. Sanchez and his colleagues developed a system based on setting goals and giving rewards. Fitted with electrodes in their brains to capture signals for the computer to unravel, three rats were taught to move a robotic arm toward a target with just their
thoughts. “We think this dialogue with a goal is how we can make these systems evolve over time,” Sanchez said.

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EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics. – Petroleum Supply Monthly

Petroleum Supply Monthly

The June Petroleum Supply Monthly with April data has been updated to the EIA website on Monday, June 30, 2008.

Petroleum Supply Monthly website:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/fwd/psm.html

Petroleum Navigator:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_sum_top.asp

EIA Home Page: http://www.eia.doe.gov/

Iraq Oil Report – ‘Iraq oil deals in the north have wildcatters optimistic’

Plus:

*Korea National Oil Corp. gets two new Iraq Kurd deals
*and made third parties to two existing deals
*Chinese and Turkish firms added to Baghdad deals named

It could be the new age for wildcatters, or just the new age of Iraqi oil development, but the monthly gathering of operators in Iraq’s Kurdistan region is an optimistic party [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/4txzsd (www.iraqoilreport.com)

Iraq Oil Report – ‘Americans named participant in Iraq oil contracts with Big Oil’

Plus:

*Iraq announces five long-term oil field/two gas field contracts up for bid
*Iraqi Kurdistan pans Baghdad’s moves
*Iraq Parliament Oil & Gas Committee demands oversight
*KRG explains oil deal breakdown

The U.S. advisers tasked to Iraq’s Oil Ministry were involved to some extent in the negotiated contracts between Iraq and the major international oil companies. U.S. advisers have been [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/4xqm8x (www.iraqoilreport.com)

Ethanol cited for popcorn prices … and more

Bizjournals.com – Charlotte,NC,USA

Rising demand for corn for ethanol is one reason theater operators are paying more for popcorn, which typically accounts for nearly a third of their revenue …

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/06/09/story4.html

US Ethanol tax-breaks

List of tax breaks and incentives for US ethanol producers.

http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_ethanol_incentives.htm

Ethanol trade group spent $162000 lobbying in 1Q

Forbes – NY,USA

AP 06.23.08

The Renewable Fuels Association, which represents the US ethanol industry, spent nearly $162000 in the first quarter lobbying on …

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/23/ap5144772.html

Ethanol Losing Some Political Support

27 Jun 2008

The Oakland Press reports that ethanol is losing its support from some politicians such as Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Representative Joe Knollenberg says the problem with ethanol is the subsidies. Knollenberg says many ethanol farmers have become multimillionaires thanks to their recent profits. Some politicians, such as former Lottery Commissioner Gary Peters of Bloomfield Township, have decided to avoid any strong position on the topic.

http://tinyurl.com/446mtr (biodieselinvesting.com)

USPS Ethanol Push Was Detrimental

27 Jun 2008

Bloomberg.com reports that the United States Postal Service bought over 30,000 trucks and minivans with ethanol capability between 1999 and 2005. Unfortunately, USPS gas consumption increased by over 1.5 million gallons and the vehicles got up to 29% fewer miles for each gallon because the engines were bigger. In addition, lack of retail stores carrying ethanol caused on 1,000 of the vehicles to even use ethanol in that time period.

http://tinyurl.com/489l7b (biodieselinvesting.com)

Rand Corporation Says Renewable Energy Switch is Very Difficult

29 Jun 2008

WalletPop.com reports that The Rand Corporation says that significantly reducing America’s oil, gas, and coal dependence will be harder than what people initially thought. Ethanol subsidies would have to be removed but that isn’t likely to happen. Rand says biomass has great potential and the U.S. should switch from corn to agricultural and wood waste or switchgrass instead of corn for ethanol.

http://tinyurl.com/5r5mp8 (biodieselinvesting.com)

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U.S.-Funded Attacks on Iran

Monday, June 30, 2008

Seymour M. Hersh in The New Yorker reports: “Late last year, Congress agreed to a request from President Bush to fund a major escalation of covert operations against Iran, according to current and former military, intelligence, and congressional sources. These operations, for which the President sought up to four hundred million dollars, were described in a Presidential Finding signed by Bush, and are designed to destabilize the country’s religious leadership.

“Under federal law, a Presidential Finding, which is highly classified, must be issued when a covert intelligence operation gets under way and, at a minimum, must be made known to Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and the Senate and to the ranking members of their respective intelligence committees — the so-called Gang of Eight. … None of the four Democrats in the Gang of Eight — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Intelligence Committee chairman John D. Rockefeller IV, and House Intelligence Committee chairman Silvestre Reyes — would comment on the Finding, with some noting that it was highly classified.”

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh

From: Institute for Public Accuracy

ISN Security Watch – Israel-Iran: Attack or feint

30 June 2008

Israel-Iran: Attack or feint

With speculation building concerning Israeli intentions, ISN Security Watch’s Dominic Moran probes the potential for an attack on Iran.

By Dominic Moran in Tel Aviv for ISN Security Watch (30/06/08)

In the wake of a major Israeli military exercise earlier this month, speculation is growing that the recurrent failure of diplomatic efforts is fostering a deterioration that may lead to a US or Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

According to reports, over 100 Israeli F-16s and F-15s took part in a major training operation over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece earlier this month, purportedly practicing maneuvers and refueling procedures crucial to a possible attack on Iran.

Support helicopters and refueling aircraft reportedly flew around 1,500km – roughly the distance between Israel and Iran’s primary uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.

Dr Ephraim Kam from Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies told ISN Security Watch there had been no official confirmation of the training operation from Israel. “There was a denial, so if it took place it seems that the idea was to carry out such an exercise as part of the preparations to enhance the military option against Iranian nuclear sites,” he said.

An Israeli strike is fraught with potential pitfalls and by no means guaranteed of striking a major blow to the Iranian nuclear program, which would likely require multiple raids and risk a major military escalation. (See US, Iran: Empty threats, by Kamal Nazer Yasin for ISN Security Watch.).

Any attack would also impact deleteriously on Israel’s improved position vis-à-vis western nations, the University of Haifa’s Dr Soli Shahvar told ISN Security Watch.

Referring to Iran, Kam said, “They have better air defenses than they had before, though the more sophisticated system [S-300] is probably not operational. […] Russia did supply Iran with a new, much better system [29 Tor M-1 systems].”

Russian officials relate that the S-300 surface-to-air missile is capable of intercepting aircraft at up to 27,000m and at an operating distance of 145km and believe it is superior to the Israeli-deployed US Patriot. Israeli defense analysts have confirmed that Iranian receipt of the system would make it far more difficult for the Israeli air force to attack Iranian targets. Russian supply of the system is far from assured.

Referring to September’s Israeli strike on a site in northern Syria, Shahvar said, “Maybe [Israel] was trying to sense what the world’s reaction would be to an attack on a nuclear facility.”

…

Complete article at:

ISN Security Watch http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/

Dr Dominic Moran, based in Tel Aviv, is ISN Security Watch’s senior correspondent in the Middle East and the Director of Operations of ISA Consulting.

Iran to control Gulf oil route if attacked –Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander says that Tehran able to retaliate if Iran came under attack.

28 Jun 2008

The commander of the Revolutionary Guards said Iran would impose controls on shipping in the vital Gulf oil transit route if the Islamic Republic came under attack, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Speculation about a possible attack on Iran because of its disputed nuclear ambitions has risen since a report this month said Israel had practiced such a strike.

At:

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=26653

From: CLG News

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USGAO – Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed. … and more

GAO-08-837, June 23.

http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-837

Highlights -

http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08837high.pdf

THE FIVE SECRET BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES SUCKING OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF TAXPAYER MONEY

By Nick Turse, Tomdispatch.com

Meet the mystery defense contractors that are raking in billions in taxpayer dollars without notice.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/89432/

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Mallaby’s Failed Effort to Scare on Oil Price Regulation

We regularly see efforts to push favored public policies by trotting out really big numbers that are supposed to scare people. For example, there is a whole contingent running around Washington who talk about the country’s $75 trillion long-term deficit as a way to push cuts to Social Security. The real story is that the bulk of the projected shortfall (about 6 percent of future income) is attributable to projections of exploding health care costs and has nothing to do with Social Security.

Washington Post gives us another example of would be scary numbers when he tries to warn off regulation of oil prices by referring back to the price controls of the Nixon presidency. Mallaby tells readers that “administering the controls on energy alone took an estimated 5 million man-hours per year.”

Are you scared. Let’s see, most workers put in 2000 hours a year, so this means that it took 2,500 people to administer energy prices under Nixon. I had never given this one too much thought, but I probably would have guessed something considerably higher. After all, energy accounted for well over 5 percent of GDP and was the most problematic sector of the economy in terms of pushing prices higher. So, containing prices in energy required 2,500 people — the same number who might occupy a small town in Iraq –that one doesn’t scare me. I would not argue for oil price controls (I agree with many of Mallaby’s points), but I would caution against being scared away by seemingly big numbers.

Undoubtedly, most of the increase in oil prices is real. Is some of it due to speculation? It seems almost impossible for me to believe it isn’t. There are sharp movements in oil and other commodities. These sharp movements are not just responses to changes in underlying supply demand. Inevitably speculation exaggerates these moves.

In response to the question of where is the oil being stored. First, with a product with highly inelastic demand, we don’t need very much oil to be pulled off the market to affect the price. But the obvious place that the oil would be stored is in the ground. Do we know exactly how much oil would be pumped at $140 a barrel, if producers anticipated it would rise no higher? Obviously the rate of current production will depend on future price expectations of price. That doesn’t make for a grand conspiracy of speculators, but it does mean that the expectation of higher prices in the future can lead to higher prices in the present.

This doesn’t mean we should have price controls or ban speculation. My policy recommendations would be to tax the speculation. We tax casino gambling, why not tax gambling in financial assets? We could easily raise over $150 billion a year on a comprehensive set of financial transactions taxes. We could even use the money to pay for a cut middle class income taxes.

For oil, how about a windfall profit tax? We can use the money to pay for tax cuts for energy conserving home improvement. Will that reduce the amount of investment in new drilling for oil? Probably, but we can almost certainly do more to influence the energy market in the future through conservation.

–Dean Baker

From: The Beat the Press Weekly Roundup http://www.cepr.net/

Gazprom CEO: $250 for oil? While experts doubt the probability, they agree that such a price would jolt everyday life.

16 Jun 2008

At $250 a barrel for crude oil, food prices double. The U.S., Japan and Europe plunge into deep recession. Companies go bankrupt. Airlines are nationalized. Sport-utility vehicle sales dry up as gasoline tops $7 a gallon.

At:

http://tinyurl.com/4ef5j3 (www.charlotte.com/business)

From: CLG News

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Blitzer lets Graham off hook on how McCain would “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts”

On The Situation Room, Wolf Blitzer asked Sen. Lindsey Graham how Sen. John McCain would “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts” and said, “But there’s no waste — with all due respect, Senator … you’re going to find $300 billion in waste, are you?” But when Graham replied, “No, no, $35 billion from earmarks, but there are other programs up here that can be reined in, including the Department of Defense,” Blitzer did not press Graham to identify which specific “programs” McCain would “rein[] in” to “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts.”

Read More

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806270004?lid=409331&rid=10272936

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MCCAIN ADVISOR CHARLIE BLACK

By Jon Ponder, Pensito Review

Black was an early innovator of the GOP attack machine, and a very successful lobbyist and political strategist in the Reagan and Bush eras.

http://www.alternet.org/election08/89835/

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Economic Report: How much impact does a plant closing have on the … and more

How much impact will the closure of a GM plant in Janesville, Wisconsin have on the community? A study by the University of Wisconsin suggests that 9000 jobs could be lost in the region including the loss of $500 million in labor income …

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8831

Plant closing will take 207 jobs with it

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier – Waterloo,IA,USA

Teslow noted Northern Engraving closed its plant in Lansing in 2002. Losing the factory will probably affect his sales, he added. …

http://tinyurl.com/5gan9t (www.wcfcourier.com)

Big Spring Businesses Closing

NewsWest9.com – Midland,TX,USA

Solitaire Home Manufacturing is closing it’s Big Spring plant. Before the oil boom, they had 180 workers, now they have 89, and it’s just not enough to keep …

http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543689&nav=menu505_2

La Vergne Computer Parts Plant To Close

NewsChannel5.com – Nashville,TN,USA

Almost 150 people will lose their jobs due to a computer parts supplier closing its La Vergne plant. Several workers at Gateway Pro Partners said they are …

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543141

WORKFORCE CUTBACKS

In a deal that is moving forward, Bank of America Corp. (BAC) set plans to eliminate about 7,500 jobs after it completes the acquisition of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp. (CFC). That announcement came just a day after Countrywide shareholders approved the proposed takeover, which is expected to close July 1.

Learn more details

http://tinyurl.com/3nocka (www.marketwatch.com)

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Global Climate Change: National Security Implications, … and more

edited by Dr. Carolyn Pumphrey.

This book addresses global climate change from the perspective of its threats to U.S. national security. The authors examine human security, pandemics, population shifts, energy, and extremist ideologies, among other issues, and propose solutions to these challenges. The volume is the outcome of a 2007 colloquium held by the Strategic Studies Institute and the Triangle Institute for Security Studies.

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?PubID=862

GAO Report: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change Climate

Change: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change,

GAO-08-605, May 09, 2008:

“Elevated levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the resulting effects on the earth’s climate could have significant environmental and economic impacts in the United States and internationally. Potential impacts include rising sea levels and a shift in the intensity and frequency of floods and storms. Proposed responses to climate change include adapting to the possible impacts by planning and improving protective infrastructure, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions directly through regulation or the promotion of low-emissions technologies. Because most U.S. emissions stem from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, much of this report centers on the effect emissions regulation could have on the economy.”

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08605.pdf

National Intelligence Assessment on the National Security Implications of Global Climate Change to 2030

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, 25 June 2008.

National Intelligence Assessment on the National Security Implications of Global Climate Change to 2030.

Statement for the Record of Dr. Thomas Fingar, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Analysis and Chairman of the National Intelligence Council.

“We assess that climate change alone is unlikely to trigger state failure in any state out to 2030, but the impacts will worsen existing problems — such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership, and weak political institutions. Climate change could threaten domestic stability in some states, potentially contributing to intra- or, less likely, interstate conflict, particularly over access to increasingly scarce water resources. We judge that economic migrants will perceive additional reasons to migrate because of harsh climates, both within nations and from disadvantaged to richer countries.”

http://intelligence.house.gov/EventsItem.aspx?id=354

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War of Ideas and the War of Ideas. Authored by Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II.

http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=866

The author discusses several types of wars of ideas in an effort to achieve a better understanding of what wars of ideas are. That knowledge, in turn, can help inform strategy. It is important to note, for instance, that because ideas are interpreted subjectively, it is not likely that opposing parties will “win” each other over by means of an ideational campaign alone. Hence, physical events, whether intended or incidental, typically play determining roles in the ways wars of ideas unfold, and how (or whether) they are end. Thus, while the act of communicating strategically remains a vital part of any war of ideas, we need to manage our expectations as far as what it can accomplish.

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Book examines American policies post 9/11

Tom Engelhardt’s The World According to TomDispatch shed’s light on ‘new age of empire’ during rule of Bush administration.

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=26549

June 20, 2008

London – A comprehensive volume of essays that offers readers a chance to sample some of the finest political analysis of our age, focused on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq has just been released.

Introduced and edited by TomDispatch’s creator TOM ENGELHARDT, The World According to TomDispatch: America in the New Age of Empire is an essential primer for anyone seeking guidance along the highways and byways of our post 9/11 world….

It sheds light on subjects such as the US offshore Bermuda Triangle of injustice from Guantamano to the CIA “black sites,” not to speak of extraordinary rendition, the response to Hurricane Katrina, global warming, Iraq’s black gold and the energy crisis, and, above all, the Bush administration’s misbegotten “smash of civilizations.”…

Tom Engelhardt created and runs the website TomDispatch, a project of The Nation Institute where he is a Fellow. He is the author of a highly praised history of American triumphalism in the Cold War, The End of Victory Culture. Each spring he is a TEACHING FELLOW AT THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY. He lives in New York City….

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Congressman Ron Paul’s Texas Straight Talk

Personal Freedoms and the Internet

“The most basic principle to being a free American is the notion that we as individuals are responsible for our own lives and decisions. We do not have the right to rob our neighbors to make up for our mistakes, neither does our neighbor have any right to tell us how to live, so long as we aren’t infringing on their rights. Freedom to make bad decisions is inherent in the freedom to make good ones. If we are only free to make good decisions, we are not really free.”

Click here for the full article:

http://tinyurl.com/49483x (www.house.gov)

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THE FAMILY’S VALUES: AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL (AND SECRETIVE) RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION …
and more

By ZP Heller, AlterNet

Jeff Sharlet’s The Family will leave you stunned by the religious motivations behind seemingly every political decision in the last 70 years.

http://www.alternet.org/rights/88221/

TEXAS SUPREME COURT: BEAT A TEEN FOR JESUS

By Amanda Marcotte, Pandagon

Violent exorcism A-OK in the Lone Star State, high court rules.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/rights/89885/

MEDIA BLACKOUT ON ANTI-CHOICE CAMPAIGNS

By Amanda Marcotte, Pandagon

Only alternative media is reporting on the activities of anti-choice activists

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/87013/

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Borowitz Report – Tax Holiday Shocker

McCain Proposes Tax Holiday for Beer Heiresses
Says Brewery Scions Could Lead Economic Revival

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain unveiled details of his economic policy today, telling an audience in Ohio that if elected he would support a real estate tax holiday for beer heiresses.

Sen. McCain said that his tax holiday plan could lead to a revival for the U.S. economy, arguing, “The key to this country’s economic well-being has been and will always be those Americans with vast inherited brewery wealth.”

The Arizona senator took great pains to indicate that the tax holiday would not be available to all brewery heiresses, “Just those with a net worth of over 100 million dollars.”

Mr. McCain’s real estate tax holiday proposal came on the heels of the news that his wife, presumptive First Lady nominee Cindy McCain, had failed to pay real estate taxes on her La Jolla, California home for four years.

But Sen. McCain was quick to dismiss speculation that his real estate tax holiday proposal was intended to help his wife, adding, “Anyone who is serious about fixing the U.S. economy would start with the engine of that economy, which as everyone knows is brewery heiresses.”

Standing at Sen. McCain’s side during his appearance, Mrs. McCain endorsed the real estate tax holiday and offered an explanation for her failure to pay four years’ worth of real estate taxes.

“I guess it slipped my mind,” she said. “Quite frankly, I’ve been busy coming up with totally original recipes for my website.”

Andy with Jeffrey Toobin and Joy Behar – October 22
Andy hosts “Countdown to the Election, with special guests Joy Behar (The View) and Jeffrey Toobin (CNN, bestselling author of “The Nine”) at the 92nd Street Y in NYC on October 22 at 8 PM. For tickets go to www.92y.org

http://www.borowitzreport.com/

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three thousand words

Cartoon du Jour – By Khalil: of (blank) checks and balances

http://www.bendib.com/newones/2008/june/small/6-28-Demopublicans.jpg

Monte Wolverton: … alright! our mission is really accomplished!

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/WolveM/2008/WolveM20080630_low.jpg

John Cole; fireworks

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/ColeJ/2008/ColeJ20080629_low.jpg

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Monday June 30, 2008 – The way things are going, soon we will have socialism for the rich, and free enterprise for everyone else – Gore Vidal

Monday, June 30th, 2008

Envisioning a world of $200-a-barrel oil

As forecasters take that possibility more seriously, they describe fundamental shifts in the way we work, where we live and how we spend our free time.

By Martin Zimmerman : times staff writer

June 28, 2008

The more expensive oil gets, the more Katherine Carver’s life shrinks. She’s given up RV trips. She stays home most weekends. She’s scrapped her twice-a-month volunteer stint at a Malibu wildlife refuge — the trek from her home in Palmdale just got too expensive.

How much higher would fuel prices have to go before she quit her job? Already, the 170-mile round-trip commute to her job with Los Angeles County Child Support Services in Commerce is costing her close to $1,000 a month — a fifth of her salary. It’s got the 55-year-old thinking about retirement.

Commuter Katherine Carver Ferry operator Greg BombardStocks plunge as oil prices hit $140 a barrel, spooking investors
“It’s definitely pushing me to that point,” Carver said.

The point could be closer than anyone thinks.

Three months ago, when oil was around $108 a barrel, a few Wall Street analysts began predicting that it could rise to $200. Many observers scoffed at the forecasts as sensational, or motivated by a desire among energy companies and investors to drive prices higher.

But with oil closing above $140 a barrel Friday, more experts are taking those predictions seriously — and shuddering at the inflation-fueled chaos that $200-a-barrel crude could bring. They foresee fundamental shifts in the way we work, where we live and how we spend our free time.

“You’d have massive changes going on throughout the economy,” said Robert Wescott, president of Keybridge Research, a Washington economic analysis firm. “Some activities are just plain going to be shut down.”

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/55pxxp (www.latimes.com)

martin.zimmerman @latimes.com

Times staff writers Ken Bensinger, Leslie Earnest, Jerry Hirsch, Peter Pae and Ronald D. White contributed to this report.

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CFTC.gov - Commitments of Traders Reports Update

Friday, June 27, 2008

Commitments of Traders Reports for CFTC.gov.

The current reports for the week of June 27, 2008 are now available.

http://tinyurl.com/3ymzao (www.cftc.gov)

See previous weeks in Historical Commitments of Traders Reports.

http://tinyurl.com/6obons (www.cftc.gov)

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Financial deleveraging, inflation and risks to global growth

Notes for remarks by Malcolm D. Knight, General Manager, Bank for International Settlements, On the occasion of the 2008 IIF Ditchley Conference on Global Economic and Financial Developments, June 12-13, 2008.
http://www.bis.org/speeches/sp080623.pdf

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Economic Report: How much impact does a plant closing have on the … and more

http://www.laborradio.org/node/8831

Plant closing will take 207 jobs with it

Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier – Waterloo,IA,USA

Teslow noted Northern Engraving closed its plant in Lansing in 2002. Losing the factory will probably affect his sales, he added. …

http://tinyurl.com/5gan9t (www.wcfcourier.com)

Big Spring Businesses Closing

NewsWest9.com – Midland,TX,USA

Solitaire Home Manufacturing is closing it’s Big Spring plant. Before the oil boom, they had 180 workers, now they have 89, and it’s just not enough to keep …

http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543689&nav=menu505_2

La Vergne Computer Parts Plant To Close

NewsChannel5.com – Nashville,TN,USA

Almost 150 people will lose their jobs due to a computer parts supplier closing its La Vergne plant. Several workers at Gateway Pro Partners said they are …

http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543141

WORKFORCE CUTBACKS

Learn more details

http://tinyurl.com/3nocka (www.marketwatch.com)

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Florida banks tell feds to ease regulation

27 Jun 2008

Florida banks say they are tired of playing cops, and some congressional leaders agree. The Florida Bankers Association (FBA) issued a statement Thursday in support of 18 members of Congress who signed a letter asking bank regulatory agencies to ease off on their enforcement of bank-related provisions of the Patriot Act and the Bank Secrecy Act. Parts of the two laws require banks to report the suspicious activity of their customers, especially when conducting international business.

At:

http://tinyurl.com/5ms3mc (www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville)

From: CLG News

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Among the things that the proliferation of TV cable news has wrought is slackened standards for what constitutes a political strategist.

By: Daniel Libit

more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/11319.html

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Blitzer lets Graham off hook on how McCain would “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts”

Read More

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806270004?lid=409331&rid=10272936

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Insurance in Name Only

The purposes of health insurance are to ensure financial access to needed care and protect against financial hardship from medical bills. Unfortunately, even for many of those who are insured, neither purpose is fulfilled. In a new column, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis reviews the findings of a Commonwealth Fund study published earlier this month in Health Affairs showing that 25 million Americans are underinsured–meaning they have health coverage but still have medical expenses they cannot afford.

The growing number of people with inadequate health insurance underscores the need for universal coverage that provides comprehensive benefits. As laid out in another recent Health Affairs article by Davis and colleagues Cathy Schoen and Sara Collins, a system of comprehensive, affordable coverage for all Americans is feasible. By offering more choices, including the option of enrolling in public programs, the authors’ “Building Blocks” framework would provide every American with the financial security that insurance is intended to provide.

“We cannot accept a health care system in which 42 percent of Americans under age 65 are uninsured or underinsured,” Davis writes. “We must pursue a workable solution that mixes private and public coverage–well before the majority of Americans find themselves with no coverage, or with coverage that has been chipped away until it no longer serves its purpose.”

http://tinyurl.com/4yhgtp (www.commonwealthfund.org)

Moving Away From Employer-Based Coverage as Part of Health Reform, the Latest from the Pulling It Together Series

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Moving Away From Employer-Based Coverage: Don’t Forget Public Opinion, the Latest Installment of Pulling It Together, From Drew Altman

One of the underlying issues that will be discussed as the health reform debate develops is whether or not to move away from the current employment-based health insurance system and have people, rather than their employers, make health insurance coverage decisions on their own in the individual health insurance marketplace. Very different proposals to move away from employment-based insurance have been made by both liberals and conservatives and additional proposals are likely to be offered as the health reform debate evolves.

In this new installment of the Kaiser Family Foundation series, “Pulling It Together, From Drew Altman,” the Foundation’s president and CEO explores one factor that has not received much attention to date, but will be important for the success of any proposal to move away from the current employment-based system — the public’s willingness to accept such a big change.

The current column, Moving Away From Employer-Based Coverage: Don’t Forget Public Opinion, is available online at http://www.kff.org/pullingittogether/062608_altman.cfm . Previous columns about state health reform efforts, the role of health care in the current economic downturn, an analysis of the fundamental differences between Democrats and Republicans on health reform, and a description of the steps that could lead to, or still derail, the first major national health reform debate since the early nineties — are also available online at http://www.kff.org/pullingittogether/index.cfm .

For more information, contact Rakesh Singh at (202) 654-1313 or rsingh@kff.org or Larry Levitt at (650) 854-9400 or llevitt@kff.org .

CPI Project Release: Pushing Prescriptions

In 2007, the drug industry spent more than $168 million on lobbying in Washington, a 30 percent jump over 2006 and the most it has spent in a single year on record. This record spending, driven up in part by a busy legislative calendar dominated by issues critical to the industry, raised the total amount drug interests spent on federal lobbying in the past 10 years to more than $1.1 billion.

What does that mean for consumers like you and me? The Center for Public Integrity’s latest project, Pushing Prescriptions, examines this question by looking at the political influence of the drug lobby and the consequences for the American consumer.

Click here to read the investigation.

http://www.publicintegrity.org/rx/report.aspx?aid=985

The pharmaceutical industry is among the largest and most powerful lobbying interests in Washington. Our investigation suggests that their considerable investment in federal lobbying has paid off. In recent years, laws passed under the pretense of helping the public actually delayed the entry of low-cost generic drugs to the market, and allowed for commercial advertising of prescription drugs. These policies have resulted in substantial windfalls for the pharmaceutical industry as consumers are forced to buy brand-name prescription drugs for longer periods, and the 20-fold increase in advertising has led to over-medication.

Pushing Prescriptions documents how the drug industry has swayed public policy through lobbying, campaign contributions and grassroots efforts and examines the industry’s targeted lobbying blitzes that helped to block or slow down legislative efforts to lower drug prices in the states.

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National Security Archive Update, June 26, 2008 – Federal Prosecutors Agree to Release of Some Rosenberg Grand Jury Records After Petition from Archive and Historical Groups

For more information contact:
Tom Blanton/Meredith Fuchs – 202/994-7000
David Vladeck – 202/662-9540

http://www.nsarchive.org

Washington, DC, June 26, 2008 – Responding to a petition filed in January by the National Security Archive and several leading U.S. historical associations for the release of grand jury records from the 1951 indictment of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, federal prosecutors in New York conceded that a substantial portion of the grand jury materials could be made public after more than 55 years.

In a court filing this week, the government said it would not oppose the release of transcripts and other materials for 35 of the 45 witnesses who testified before the grand jury that in 1951 indicted the Rosenbergs, who were accused of running an espionage ring that passed American atomic secrets to the Soviet Union, convicted of spying, and executed in 1953. The 35 witnesses are either deceased or consented to the disclosure. In its filing, the government agreed that the Rosenberg case is of “significant historical importance” and therefore the materials are covered by a special exception to the longstanding rule that grand jury records must remain secret indefinitely.

“The government’s decision to open the bulk of the Rosenberg transcripts marks an important historic turning point,” said Archive director Tom Blanton. “In every prior case, the government has steadfastly resisted release of any grand jury records, regardless of their importance.”

The petitioners include the National Security Archive at George Washington University, the American Historical Association, the American Society for Legal History, the Organization of American Historians, the Society of American Archivists, and New York Times reporter Sam Roberts.

Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information about today’s posting.

http://www.nsarchive.org

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GOD KILLED POTTY-MOUTH COMEDIAN GEORGE CARLIN, AND CAST HIM FORTHWITH INTO HELL.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

NEWS RELEASE

George Carlin is now in Hell, and it is irrelevant that George Carlin boasted that he did not believe in Hell when he lived on earth. Be assured, Carlin believes in Hell now. Like the rich man the Lord Jesus told about in Luke 16, who died; “and in Hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus (the beggar on earth), that he may dip the tip ofhis finger in water, and cool mytongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Lk. 16:23,24. When told that he could not have a drop ofwater, for ever, though tormented in flames, he begged for somebody to rise from the dead and preach to his kinfolk, lest they also die and come to this place of torment. George Carlin – the filthy blasphemer – the obscene potty-mouth skeptic, agnostic, and profane atheist – who had nothing but disdain for God and the Bible all the days of his tragic life – is now, at this minute and for ever writhing and screaming in exquisite pain – pleading for mercy from that God he flipped off while performing for HBO for lucre. Carlin made lots of money
making fun ofGod; now he must deal with God – face to face – for ever. “The Lord thy God repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.” Deut. 7:10. When Carlin died yesterday (June 22) he split Hell wide open at once; as it is written: “Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the dead for thee. All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? The worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.” Isa. 14:9,10. Two fellow perverts scrambled to report the news, both of whom will no doubt in due time join Carlin and his buddies in Hell; to wit: Lying Propagandist Keith Olbermann; and fellow filth-monger Jerry Seinfeld. All these and more are typical, antichristic American loud mouths and spindoctors.

Westboro Baptist Church exists to publish Gospel Truth, and to thereby expose Satanic lies. George Carlin is in Hell. Deal with it. You will soon join him. America is Doomed. We will picket George Carlin’s funeral.

Amen.

http://www.godhatesfags.com/written/fliers/20080624_carlin-in-hell.pdf

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three thousand words

Tom Toles: hunting partners

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/uc/20080627/ltt080627.gif

Mike Smith: business is up

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/SmithM/2008/SmithM20080629_low.jpg

Jack Ohman: anybody got an idea for a new battery?

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmjoh/2008/tmjoh080625.gif

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Sunday June 29, 2008 – “Not one man in a thousand has the strength of mind or the goodness of heart to be an atheist.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

#5 of 10 Reasons You Should Never Have a Religion

May 27th, 2008
by Steve Pavlina

While consciously pursuing your spiritual development is commendable, joining an established religion such as Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism is one of the worst ways to go about it. In this article I’ll share 10 reasons why you must eventually abandon the baggage of organized religion if you wish to pursue conscious living in earnest.

Since Christianity is currently the world’s most popular religion, I’ll slant this article towards Christianity’s ubiquitous failings. However, you’ll find that most of these points apply equally well to other major religions (yes, even Buddhism).

…

5. Support your local pedophile.

In addition to being a serious waste of time, religious practice can also be a huge waste of money.

For starters when you donate to a major religion, you support its expansion, which means you’re facilitating the enslavement of your fellow humans. That isn’t very nice, now is it? If you feel the urge to donate money, give it to a real and honorable cause, not a fabricated one. Better yet, go outside and do something that really helps people. If you can’t think of anything better, grab a can of paint and clean up some local graffiti.

Your religious donations fund freeloaders who mooch off society but who generally provide little or no value in return. Sure there are some religious people who perform valuable public services, but for the most part, that isn’t their bailiwick. These freeloaders typically operate tax-free, meaning they’re effectively subsidized by taxpayers. That’s a great racket if you’re on the receiving side… not so great if you’re funding it though.

Religions offer a suite of special services to generate additional income. They’ll spout some gibberish while feeding you a crusty wafer, pronounce you bonded to a fellow human being, snip some of your excess skin, pour water on your head, proclaim your manhood, cast out your demons, pronounce your transgressions forgiven, and so on. When they can’t think of anything else, they make up some drivel like confirming you’re still loyal to them. The bill may read “suggested donation,” but it’s still a bill.

When you donate money to a religious organization, you’re doing much worse than throwing your money away. You’re actively funding evil. If you think that spending a billion dollars to defend pedophiles and rapists is a good use of your hard-earned cash, perhaps you should run for Pope. You could hardly do worse. At least Wall Street is honest about its greed and lust.

One of my Catholic high school teachers was later revealed to be a repeat child molester… written up in the newspaper and everything. I didn’t see any suspicious behavior at the time, and to be totally honest, I actually liked that teacher and was shocked to learn of his extracurricular activities. He was shuffled from one location to another by those who knew about his appetite for young flesh. I’m glad I wasn’t on the menu, but I feel sad for those who were. Methinks God should raise his standards… just a tad.

Why aren’t Catholic priests allowed to marry? This has nothing to do with what’s written in the Bible or with any benefits of celibacy. This rule was invented by the Church to prevent their priests from producing heirs. When the priests died, their property would go back to the Church, thereby enriching the rich even more. Apparently God needed more cash. It was a very effective policy, as the Church is now among the richest and most powerful organizations on earth. It’s hard to fail when you have a loyal force of lifetime indentured servants who work cheaply and then yield their life savings to you when they die.

Lay religious people (i.e. non-clergy), on the other hand, are encouraged to have lots of babies because that means more people are born into the religion, which means more money and a bigger power base. Condoms are a big no-no; they’re bad for business. Marriage is a big yes; it means more brainwashed babies will be made.

Would you seriously consider this sort of structure a “good cause” worthy of your hard-earned cash?

I have got to get me one of these…

…

Complete article at:

http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2008/05/10-reasons-you-should-never-have-a-religion/

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RELIGIOUS RIGHT GROUPS WANT PASTORS TO CROSS THE PARTISAN LINE AND SPARK COURT SHOWDOWN

By Rob Boston, Church & State Magazine

The nation’s most prominent Religious Right legal group is looking for a pastor who will knowingly break the law and spark an IRS penalty.

ttp://www.alternet.org/democracy/89023

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Teenager From Faith-Healing Family Dies

AP 2008-06-19

GLADSTONE, Ore. (June 18) – Authorities say a teenager from a faith-healing family died from an illness that could have been easily treated, just a few months after a toddler cousin of his died in a case that has led to criminal charges.

Tuesday’s death of 16-year-old Neil Beagley, however, may not be a crime because Oregon law allows minors 14 and older to decide for themselves whether to accept medical treatment.

http://tinyurl.com/5ddhgs (news.aol.com)

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JOHN MCCAIN MEETS WITH GAY REPUBLICANS (IN SECRET, OF COURSE)

By Cenk Uygur, The Young Turks

“Secretly I don’t hate you as much as I tell the vangelicals I hate you, but I still kinda hate you. Is that ok?”

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/video/89710/

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Americans United Files Brief In Supreme Court Religious Display Case

June 23, 2008

Government May Not Play Favorites Among Religions, Says AU’s Lynn

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court decision dealing with a controversy over the display of religious monuments in a Utah public park.

The case, Pleasant Grove City v. Summum, concerns an effort by a religious group called Summum to have its “Seven Aphorisms” displayed in a public park in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Summum argues that it should have the right to permanently display its religious code in Pleasant Grove City’s Pioneer Park because the public land already contains a Ten Commandments monument and other items.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Summum on free-speech grounds. But Americans United and its allies argue that the case should really be looked at as a church-state controversy.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, said the case raises an important conflict over the value of religious neutrality.

“It’s not the government’s job to display the symbols of any faith,” Lynn said. “When government officials allow religious groups to place permanent monuments on public land, the government is accountable for the message.

“Our government,” he continued, “should not — and, under our Constitution, may not — pick-and-choose among religions. This principle stands at the very heart of church-state separation.”

The AU brief asserts that government cannot play favorites among religions and deny a minority religious request because of discomfort with the less-known religious views.

“Religion plays so central a role in civic as well as personal identity in American society that when government associates itself with, or expresses a preference for, any denomination, it marks those of other faiths with a badge of inferiority just as insidious as when government prefers one race to another,” asserts the brief.

The brief was prepared by Americans United Legal Director Ayesha Khan, AU Assistant Legal Director Richard Katskee and AU Madison Fellow Jessica Wolland, in consultation with attorneys affiliated with allied religious and civil liberties groups.

Joining Americans United on the brief are the American Jewish Committee, the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, People For the American Way Foundation and the Anti-Defamation League.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org

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Dobson Attack On Religious Diversity, Secular Government Is Deplorable, Says Americans United

June 24, 2008

Religious Right Leader’s Views Are Extreme And Divisive, Says AU’s Lynn

Religious broadcaster James Dobson’s attack on religious diversity and secular government is deplorable, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Dobson, a leading Religious Right powerbroker, used his Focus on the Family national radio program today to dismiss American religious pluralism and to criticize the idea that laws must be secular, a concept that Dobson labeled a “fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution.”

Said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director, “Dobson is an extremist who wants the government to impose his fundamentalist viewpoint. He simply cannot accept the fact that America is a diverse nation that welcomes people of all faiths and none. His tirade today is deplorable and probably the most insensitive of his career.

“It is ironic that Dobson is holding himself out as some sort of authority on constitutional law and theology,” Lynn continued. “He is not a theologian or an attorney, and his lack of knowledge about those fields really shows.

“Our Constitution mandates the separation of religion and government,” Lynn concluded. “That means each of us is free to follow our own consciences. Dobson has no right to set himself up as some sort of spiritual dictator who gets to make personal decisions for the rest of us.”

Dobson’s remarks came in the context of an attack on a two-year-old Barack Obama speech on the role of religion in public life. Dobson has indicated that he will not vote for either Obama or John McCain for president.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org

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Americans United Will Monitor Implementation Of New Louisiana Anti-Evolution Law

June 27, 2008

National Watchdog Group Says Litigation Will Follow If Measure Is Used To Promote Religion In Public Schools

Americans United for Separation of Church and State today warned Louisiana officials that lawsuits will result if the state’s new anti-evolution law is used to introduce religion into public school classrooms.

Gov. Bobby Jindal this week signed the legislation (SB 733), which allows teachers to use “supplemental materials” when discussing evolution. The measure was pushed by the Louisiana Family Forum and the Discovery Institute, two Religious Right groups that advocate creationist concepts, and is widely seen as an effort to water down instruction about evolution.

“I am very disappointed that Gov. Jindal signed this unwise and unnecessary measure,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Louisiana has a long and unfortunate history of trying to substitute dogma for science in public school classrooms. Let me state clearly and upfront that any attempts to use this law to sneak religion into public schools through the back door will not be tolerated.”

Lynn urged Louisiana residents to monitor the situation in their local communities and report any potential violations to Americans United. He noted that the organization has a new chapter in Louisiana and that activists on the ground will be watching developments in the state very closely.

Supporters of the bill, including the Discovery Institute and Sen. Ben Nevers, its primary sponsor, have insisted that the measure is not intended to promote religion. Americans United says it will hold them to that.

“I’ve heard from plenty of people in Louisiana who are embarrassed by this law and are concerned that it’s just another attempt to bring religion into the public schools,” said Lynn. “I call on all concerned residents of Louisiana to help us make sure that public schools educate, not indoctrinate.”

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org

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Bush, White House Push ‘Faith-Based’ Agenda Despite Mounting Record Of Misuse

June 26, 2008

Administration Officials Steered Justice Department ‘Faith-Based’ Grant To Former White House Faith-Based Staffer

President George W. Bush’s “faith-based” initiative has been riddled with abuses and should be scrapped, not celebrated, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Today, the White House is sponsoring a national conference on “faith-based” social services, featuring a speech by Bush.

“The ‘faith-based’ initiative should be shut down, not celebrated,” said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. “Since day one, the Bush administration has misused the initiative to advance its political agenda and reward religious and political cronies.

“The initiative has undermined vital constitutional and civil rights safeguards,” said Lynn. “And it has been cynically manipulated for partisan ends. The ‘faith-based’ initiative has been a disaster of biblical proportions.”

The White House event comes in the same week as the latest revelation of dubious decisions surrounding the initiative.

Earlier this week, ABC News reported, “A former top official in the White House’s faith-based office was awarded a lucrative Department of Justice grant under pressure from two senior Bush administration appointees, according to current and former DOJ staff members and a review of internal DOJ documents and emails.

“The $1.2 million grant,” said ABC, “was jointly awarded to a consulting firm run by Lisa Trevino Cummins who previously headed Hispanic outreach efforts for the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, and a California evangelical group, Victory Outreach.

“The grant was awarded,” ABC found, “over the strong objections of career DOJ staff who did not believe that Victory Outreach was qualified for the grant and that too great an amount of the funds was going to Cummins’ consulting company instead of being spent on services for children.”

ABC said Cummins’ company, Urban Strategies LLC, was slated to get one third of the money for helping the self-described “evangelizing” Victory Outreach use the rest of the funds.

This example of inappropriate funding is only the latest in a long string of “faith-based” abuses by the Bush administration.

David Kuo, former deputy director of the White House’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, wrote a book revealing that political operatives in the White House, led by Karl Rove, cynically used the “faith-based” initiative to energize its Religious Right base and help favored candidates.

Kuo’s Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction reported that the White House faith-based office was used in 2002 primarily to help elect Republican candidates in tight races. Kuo said White House strategist Rove and other Republican leaders staged a series of supposedly non-partisan events around the faith-based initiative in states with tight House and Senate races.

According to Kuo, 20 events were held, and Republican candidates subsequently won 19 of those races.

Kuo also said that grant reviewers engaged in religious discrimination in the awarding of federal grants through the Compassion Capital fund.
There are also reports that the Bush administration manipulated the rules to help favored grantees.

According to Youth Today, a federal juvenile justice official helped selected organizations apply for Justice Department grants past the deadline — a significant violation of department policy — and directed employees to help a favored organization win a grant, according to federal documents.

Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State www.au.org

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Fort Worth diocese settles sex abuse case … and more

Fort Worth Star Telegram – Fort Worth,TX,USA

Bishop Kevin Vann wrote to the man apologizing for the sexual abuse he may have endured. “I am deeply ashamed and truly sorry,” Vann wrote. …

http://www.star-telegram.com/arlington_news/story/718632.html

Jury pushes for 11 years in prison for minister

Roanoke Times – Roanoke,VA,USA

“Proving child sex abuse cases can be difficult as the only evidence is often the testimony of a child,” he said, “and as such evaluating these matters is …

http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/wb/166933

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three thousand words

Matt Newton: pray now, it’s a tornado

http://freethunk.net/land-of-nodd/tornado-pray.jpg

Don Addis: how about boys’ town?

http://ffrf.org/fttoday/2007/march/images/addis-boystown-cartoon.jpg

ReverendFun: ANOTHER TIME WHEN JESUS HAD FOOD TO EAT THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT

http://www.reverendfun.com/2008/06/20080623_pda.gif

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Saturday June 28, 2008 – “As a rule we disbelieve all the facts and theories for which we have no use.” – William James

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

High Oil Prices: It’s All Speculation

BusinessWeek
Viewpoint June 27, 2008

The Administration says oil’s runup is due to shortages, but the evidence points to manipulation

by Ed Wallace

“The problem you had in California was caused by a combination of things: an unwise regulatory scheme, because they didn’t really deregulate. Now they’re trapped from unwise regulatory schemes, plus not having addressed the supply side of issues. They’ve [Californians] obviously created major problems for themselves.” —Vice-President Dick Cheney, May 17, 2001, on PBS’s Frontline

“Market fundamentals show us that production has not kept pace with growing demand for oil, resulting in increasing prices and increasingly volatile prices. There is no evidence that we can find that speculators are driving futures prices for oil.” —Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman, June 21, 2008, on MSNBC

Today, while energy prices are crushing American families, I think we’d all benefit by reflecting on what happened with energy in 2001. Seven years ago, Enron was fleecing California, extorting its people for electricity to the tune of billions of dollars. As is true today, some voices in the Administration claimed that supply shortages, not manipulation, formed the core of California’s soaring electricity prices. Yet, now that we know the whole story of Enron’s criminal manipulations, many menbers of the media have forgotten how in 2001 the White House deflected any blame for California’s suddenly stratospheric electrical costs away from their Houston friends.

Likewise, our Energy Secretary has a real problem discussing issues with facts. Like a broken record, he continues to maintain that in no way has speculation had anything to do with today’s high oil prices. No, to hear Sam Bodman tell it, they are now and always have been caused by too many buyers chasing too few barrels of oil. But, while that might have been true in 2004, things have changed. And so I give you just one week of news from the oil market. To be more exact, it’s the oil news from the seven days preceding our Energy Secretary’s comments about supply and demand.

It Was Printed in English

“[U.S.] demand for oil over the first five months of the year was off 2.5%* from last year.” —American Petroleum Institute, June 18, 2008, Associated Press Online (*Translation: We are using approximately 525,000 fewer barrels of oil per day.)

“Iran has 15 [oil] supertankers idling in the Persian Gulf capable of storing more than 30 million barrels of crude.” —Bloomberg, June 16, 2008

“Thunder Horse started pumping from a single well on Saturday…and on schedule to have the field online by yearend. Thunder Horse alone will increase overall U.S. oil and gas production by 3.6%. Add British Petroleum’s Atlantis platform that started up last year, and the boost grows to 6.4%.” —Houston Chronicle, June 16, 2008

“Asian refiners cut West African crude oil imports in June. Asian imports will fall 36%* to 830,000 barrels a day this month from May’s 1.3 million barrels per day.” —Bloomberg, June 17, 2008 (*Translation: Another 470,000 barrels a day of mostly light sweet crude rejected by the market.)

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/3q8nfh (www.businessweek.com)

Ed Wallace holds a Gerald R. Loeb Award for business journalism, bestowed by the Anderson School of Business at UCLA. His column heads the Sunday Drive section of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and he is a member of the American Historical Society. The automotive expert for KDFW Fox 4 in Dallas, Wallace hosts the top-rated talk show Wheels, Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on 570 KLIF AM in Dallas.

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BUSH AND MCCAIN HAPPILY PRESIDING OVER MASSIVE TRANSFER OF WEALTH TO OIL COMPANIES

By Harvey Wasserman, Huffington Post

Republicans are funneling billions into the coffers of their oil baron backers; it’s no surprise Bush and McCain aren’t pushing for renewable energy.

http://www.alternet.org/environment/89426/

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THE PORNOGRAPHY OF POWER: HOW DEFENSE HAWKS HIJACKED 9/11 AND WEAKENED AMERICA

By Robert Scheer, Twelve

The huge “defense” spending going on in our name is irrational and costly, but there are powerful vested interests that want to keep it that way.

http://www.alternet.org/democracy/89628/

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EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics – Natural Gas Weekly Update

The Natural Gas Weekly Update has been updated and is available on the EIA Website:

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/ngw/ngupdate.asp

Previous issues of the Natural Gas Weekly Update are also available from the website. To view previously published reports, click the navigation button on the left sidebar in the web page listed above.

EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics – Monthly Energy Review (6/25/2008)

Monthly Energy Review (6/25/2008)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/contents.html

EIA’s primary report of recent energy statistics: total energy production, consumption, and trade; energy prices; overviews of petroleum, natural gas, coal, electricity, nuclear energy, renewable
energy, and international petroleum; and data unit conversions. In the first quarter of 2008, total net imports of energy as a share of consumption in the United States stood at 24.3 percent, down 10.3
percent compared with the first quarter of 2007; and down 14.4% compared with the first quarter of 2006.

See “What’s New” http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/wni.html in the Monthly Energy Review for a record of changes.

EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics – Annual U.S. Projections – Annual Energy Outlook 2008 Report

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), an independent statistical and analytical agency in the U.S. Department of Energy, released the Annual Energy Outlook 2008 (AEO2008) report on June 26, 2008 in PDF format only.

The AEO2008 presents projections of energy supply, demand, and prices through 2030, which are based on results from EIA’s National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). The analysis in AEO2008 focuses primarily on a reference case and four other cases that assume higher and lower economic growth and higher and lower prices than in the reference case. However, the analysis includes over 30 alternative cases examining different aspects of energy markets. Projection tables for the reference case and alternative cases are available in PDF format for downloading purposes.

The full report is available in PDF format at:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/index.html

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Taxpayers for Common Sense: Economic Stimulus Falls Flat

ECONOMIC STIMULUS FALLS FLAT
Volume XIII No. 26 – June 27, 2008

Now that Uncle Sam has mailed Americans a majority of the checks intended to help jump start the economy, the question is, are you stimulated?

Passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed into law by the president last February, the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 (H.R. 5140) provided some business tax incentives and a one-time tax rebate for nearly all taxpayers. The rebate checks, as much as $600 for an individual or $1,200 for a couple, with an additional $300 per child, were intended to spur a booster shot of consumer spending to help keep the country from sliding into a recession.

The problem is—it doesn’t seem to be working.

One of the earliest signs of the stimulus’ impact was a May Commerce Department report showing a 1 percent gain in retail sales – double that of analyst expectations. But it appears that was a one-time blip of optimism. Earlier this week, the New York-based Conference Board released its latest Consumer Confidence Index, a measure of the public’s opinion on multiple economic measures. The results showed another decline in public confidence in June, on top of the decline in May. Putting lipstick on the news, an official at the Conference Board is quoted as saying, “Perhaps the silver lining to this otherwise dismal report is that Consumer Confidence may be nearing a bottom.”

It is important to remember that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Late last week the Government Accountability Office (GAO) testified (pdf) that at the end of the day the distribution of the stimulus checks would cost about $1 billion. This is largely due to the shifting of some Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees from their regular collections department jobs to economic stimulus work. Additionally, the Congressional Budget Office estimates (pdf) that the rebate checks will increase the federal deficit by just under $152 billion in fiscal year 2009. To top it all off, apparently the federal treasury is also intercepting about $2 billion worth of stimulus payments that were going to people who have been remiss in paying their student loans, back taxes, or child support. So this could mean that the government is actually losing money by increasing the deficit to pay itself back?

As we said back in January, if Congress is going to try to stimulate the economy, they need to be more judicious about doing what could actually work while not making our country’s fiscal situation worse. The recent emergency spending bill that the House just sent over to the Senate includes a temporary extension of unemployment insurance benefits, a measure the Congressional Budget Office estimates would have one of the largest and most immediate benefits to the economy.

On the other side of the ledger we’re all facing $4 a gallon gasoline, escalating food costs, and the depressing effects of the failing housing market. Sending rebate checks may make great fodder for press releases, especially in an election year. But anecdotal evidence indicates that much of the stimulus money is helping people pay down personal debt, fill their gas tanks, and knock down the grocery tab a bit. This is not the type of spending that stimulates anything.

Congress can do more good by dealing with the energy and mortgage crises. That would be much more stimulating than simply more election-year gimmicks.

Going on at Taxpayer.net This Week

House Appropriations Committee Smackdown

$197 Million in Homeland Security Earmarks in Senate Spending Bill

House Appropriations Committtee Disciplines DHS

Appropriations Committee Votes to Make DOJ Grants More Competitive

Independent Audit Ordered for Bridge to Nowhere

Highway Trust Fund Being Driven to Bankruptcy

Appropriations Committees Ramp Up Activities

Emergency Supplemental Bill – Take 1

Check out TCS’s Database of 2008 Congressional Earmarks

TCS in the News

TCS was cited in dozens of stories this past week Check them all out in the Headlines About TCS section of our redesigned website.

Notable Quote

“‘I don’t know what intern let this go—God help ‘em if I ever find out who it is. You’re part of the family when you work with me,’ Young says, and when a family member ‘goes out and tells the principal that someone put gum under the table, I’m not happy.’”

– Rep. Don Young (R-AK), as quoted by Anchorage Press, responding to release of The 2111: An Intern’s Survival Guide.

www.taxpayer.net

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Who’s Planning Our Next War?

by Patrick J. Buchanan
06/27/2008

Of the Axis-of-Evil nations named in his State of the Union in 2002, President Bush has often said, “The United States will not permit the world’s most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world’s most destructive weapons.”

He failed with North Korea. Will he accept failure in Iran, though there is no hard evidence Iran has an active nuclear weapons program?

William Kristol of The Weekly Standard said Sunday a U.S. attack on Iran after the election is more likely should Barack Obama win. Presumably, Bush would trust John McCain to keep Iran nuclear free.

Yet, to start a third war in the Middle East against a nation three times as large as Iraq, and leave it to a new president to fight, would be a daylight hijacking of the congressional war power and a criminally irresponsible act. For Congress alone has the power to authorize war.

Yet Israel is even today pushing Bush into a pre-emptive war with a naked threat to attack Iran itself should Bush refuse the cup.

In April, Israel held a five-day civil defense drill. In June, Israel sent 100 F-15s and F-16s, with refueling tankers and helicopters to pick up downed pilots, toward Greece in a simulated attack, a dress rehearsal for war. The planes flew 1,400 kilometers, the distance to Iran’s uranium enrichment facility at Natanz.

Ehud Olmert came home from a June meeting with Bush to tell Israelis: “We reached agreement on the need to take care of the Iranian threat. … I left with a lot less question marks regarding the means, the timetable restrictions and American resoluteness. …

“George Bush understands the severity of the Iranian threat and the need to vanquish it, and intends to act on the matter before the end of his term. … The Iranian problem requires urgent attention, and I see no reason to delay this just because there will be a new president in the White House seven and a half months from now.”

If Bush is discussing war on Iran with Ehud Olmert, why is he not discussing it with Congress or the nation?

On June 6, Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz threatened, “If Iran continues its nuclear weapons program, we will attack it.” The price of oil shot up 9 percent.

Is Israel bluffing — or planning to attack Iran if America balks?

Previous air strikes on the PLO command in Tunis, on the Osirak reactor in Iraq and on the presumed nuclear reactor site in Syria last September give Israel a high degree of credibility.

Still, attacking Iran would be no piece of cake.

Israel lacks the stealth and cruise-missile capacity to degrade Iran’s air defenses systematically and no longer has the element of surprise. Israeli planes and pilots would likely be lost.

Israel also lacks the ability to stay over the target or conduct follow-up strikes. The U.S. Air Force bombed Iraq for five weeks with hundreds of daily runs in 1991 before Gen. Schwarzkopf moved.

Moreover, if Iran has achieved the capacity to enrich uranium, she has surely moved centrifuges to parts of the country that Israel cannot reach — and can probably replicate anything lost.

Israel would also have to over-fly Turkey, or Syria and U.S.-occupied Iraq, or Saudi Arabia to reach Natanz. Turks, Syrians and Saudis would deny Israel permission and might resist. For the U.S. military to let Israel over-fly Iraq would make us an accomplice. How would that sit with the Europeans who are supporting our sanctions on Iran and want the nuclear issue settled diplomatically?

And who can predict with certitude how Iran would respond?

Would Iran attack Israel with rockets, inviting retaliation with Jericho and cruise missiles from Israeli submarines? Would she close the Gulf with suicide-boat attacks on tankers and U.S. warships?

With oil at $135 a barrel, Israeli air strikes on Iran would seem to ensure a 2,000-point drop in the Dow and a world recession.

What would Hamas, Hezbollah and Syria do? All three are now in indirect negotiations with Israel. U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq could be made by Iran to pay a high price in blood that could force the United States to initiate its own air war in retaliation, and to finish a war Israel had begun. But a U.S. war on Iran is not a decision Bush can outsource to Ehud Olmert.

Tuesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. Michael Mullins left for Israel. CBS News cited U.S. officials as conceding the trip comes “just as the Israelis are mounting a full court press to get the Bush administration to strike Iran’s nuclear complex.”

Vice President Cheney is said to favor U.S. strikes. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Mullins are said to be opposed.

Moving through Congress, powered by the Israeli lobby, is House Resolution 362, which demands that President Bush impose a U.S. blockade of Iran, an act of war.

Is it not time the American people were consulted on the next war that is being planned for us?

…

Complete article at:

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27228

Mr. Buchanan is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of “The Death of the West,” “The Great Betrayal,” “A Republic, Not an Empire” and “Where the Right Went Wrong.”

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The Coming Catastrophe?The finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iran

By David DeBatto
Global Research, June 23, 2008

Global Research Editor’s note

We bring to the attention of our readers David DeBatto’s scenario as to what might occur if one of the several contingency plans to attack Iran, with the participation of Israel and NATO, were to be carried out. While one may disagree with certain elements of detail of the author’s text, the thrust of this analysis must be taken seriously.

“Israel has said a strike on Iran will be “unavoidable” if the Islamic regime continues to press ahead with alleged plans for building an atom-bomb.” (London Daily Telegraph, 6/11/2008)
“Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany joined President Bush on Wednesday in calling for further sanctions against Iran if it does not suspend its uranium enrichment program.” Mr. Bush stressed again that “all options are on the table,” which would include military force. (New York Times, 6/11/2008)

We are fast approaching the final six months of the Bush administration. The quagmire in Iraq is in its sixth painful year with no real end in sight and the forgotten war in Afghanistan is well into its seventh year. The “dead enders” and other armed factions are still alive and well in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan again controls most of that country. Gas prices have now reached an average of $4.00 a gallon nationally and several analysts predict the price will rise to $5.00-$6.00 dollars per gallon at the pump by Labor Day. This, despite assurances by some major supporters of the decision to invade Iraq that the Iraq war “will pay for itself” (Paul Wolfowitz) or that we will see “$20.00 per barrel” oil prices if we invade Iraq (Rupert Murdoch).

One thing the Pentagon routinely does (and does very well) is conduct war games. Top brass there are constantly developing strategies for conducting any number of theoretical missions based on real or perceived threats to our national security or vital interests. This was also done prior to the invasion of Iraq, but the Bush administration chose not to listen to the dire warnings about that mission given to him by Pentagon leaders, or for that matter, by his own senior intelligence officials. Nevertheless, war gaming is in full swing again right now with the bullseye just to the right of our current mess – Iran.

It’s no secret that the U.S. is currently putting the finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iranian nuclear and military facilities. With our ground forces stretched to the breaking point in Iraq and Afghanistan, none of the most likely scenarios involve a ground invasion. Not that this administration wouldn’t prefer to march into the seat of Shiite Islam behind a solid, moving line of M1 Abrams tanks and proclaim the country for democracy. The fact is that even the President knows we can’t pull that off any more so he and the neo-cons will have to settle for Shock and Awe Lite.

…

Complete article at:

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9437

David DeBatto is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Iraqi war veteran and co-author the “CI” series from Warner Books and the upcoming

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Statement on HR 6304, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments

20 June 2008

Rep. Ron Paul, M.D.

Madam Speaker, I regret that due to the unexpected last-minute appearance of this measure on the legislative calendar this week, a prior commitment has prevented me from voting on the FISA amendments. I have strongly opposed every previous FISA overhaul attempt and I certainly would have voted against this one as well.

The main reason I oppose this latest version is that it still clearly violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution by allowing the federal government to engage in the bulk collection of American citizens’ communications without a search warrant. That US citizens can have their private communication intercepted by the government without a search warrant is anti-American, deeply disturbing, and completely unacceptable.

In addition to gutting the fourth amendment, this measure will deprive Americans who have had their rights violated by telecommunication companies involved in the Administration’s illegal wiretapping program the right to seek redress in the courts for the wrongs committed against them. Worse, this measure provides for retroactive immunity, whereby individuals or organizations that broke the law as it existed are granted immunity for prior illegal actions once the law has been changed. Ex post facto laws have long been considered anathema in free societies under rule of law. Our Founding Fathers recognized this, including in Article I section 9 of the Constitution that “No bill of attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed.” How is this FISA bill not a variation of ex post facto? That alone should give pause to supporters of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, we should understand that decimating the protections that our Constitution provides us against the government is far more dangerous to the future of this country than whatever external threats may exist. We can protect this country without violating the Constitution and I urge my colleagues to reconsider their support for this measure.

http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2008/cr062008h.htm

TELCO PACS GAVE $8K TO DEMS WHO CHANGED THEIR VOTE ON FISA

By Lindsay Beyerstein, AlterNet

How much is the Fourth Amendment worth? For some Dems, less than a compact car.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/rights/89267/

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And now for the important news ….

By Argus Hamilton

George Carlin was remembered this week for his classic comedy routine listing the seven dirty words you can’t say on television. Not much has changed in the ensuing thirty years. You still can’t say those seven words on the air, but you can show them.

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com

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three thousand words

Matt Wuerker: when oil men rule the world

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/WuerkM/2008/WuerkM20080626_low.jpg

John Deering: self service / self serving

http://img.slate.com/media/32/080626_ed.gif

Paul Fell: of course these are magic beans!

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/FellP/2008/FellP20080627_low.jpg

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Friday June 27, 2008 – Orwell was right: Big Brother is watching you.

Friday, June 27th, 2008

I’ve Seen the Future, and It Has a Kill Switch

Bruce Schneier

It used to be that just the entertainment industries wanted to control your computers — and televisions and iPods and everything else — to ensure that you didn’t violate any copyright rules. But now everyone else wants to get their hooks into your gear.

OnStar will soon include the ability for the police to shut off your engine remotely. Buses are getting the same capability, in case terrorists want to re-enact the movie Speed. The Pentagon wants a kill switch installed on airplanes, and is worried about potential enemies installing kill switches on their own equipment.

Microsoft is doing some of the most creative thinking along these lines, with something it’s calling “Digital Manners Policies.” According to its patent application, DMP-enabled devices would accept broadcast “orders” limiting capabilities. Cellphones could be remotely set to vibrate mode in restaurants and concert halls, and be turned off on airplanes and in hospitals. Cameras could be prohibited from taking pictures in locker rooms and museums, and recording equipment could be disabled in theaters. Professors finally could prevent students from texting one another during class.

The possibilities are endless, and very dangerous. Making this work involves building a nearly flawless hierarchical system of authority. That’s a difficult security problem even in its simplest form. Distributing that system among a variety of different devices — computers, phones, PDAs, cameras, recorders — with different firmware and manufacturers, is even more difficult. Not to mention delegating different levels of authority to various agencies, enterprises, industries and individuals, and then enforcing the necessary safeguards.

Once we go down this path — giving one device authority over other devices — the security problems start piling up. Who has the authority to limit functionality of my devices, and how do they get that authority? What prevents them from abusing that power? Do I get the ability to override their limitations? In what circumstances, and how? Can they override my override?

…

Complete article at:

http://tinyurl.com/4htrb4 (www.wired.com)

Bruce Schneier is chief security technology officer of BT, and author of Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World.

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National Security Archive Update, June 25, 2008 – THE SHOOTDOWN OF MAJOR ANDERSON

New Book One Minute to Midnight Reveals U.S. Intelligence Tracked Activation of Soviet Air Defenses During Missile Crisis

For more information contact:
Michael Dobbs – dobbsm@washpost.com – 202/334-4399

http://www.nsarchive.org

Washington, DC, June 25, 2008 – American signals intelligence collectors tracked the activation of Soviet air defenses prior to the shootdown of a U.S. spy plane at the peak of the Cuban missile crisis, according to documents published on the Web today by the National Security Archive.

A new book by Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs shows that the destruction of the U-2 piloted by Major Rudolf Anderson, Jr. on October 27, 1962, was closely connected to the deployment of Soviet nuclear cruise missiles in the vicinity of the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo. Soviet generals feared that the spy plane had uncovered the forward launch position of the cruise missiles, just 15 miles from Guantanamo.

This is the fourth of five postings looking at the new material in One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War, which draws on the National Security Archive’s long-standing documentary work on the Cuban missile crisis. The book provides new details about U.S. SIGINT (signals intelligence) activities in and around Cuba at the height of the missile crisis.

Next week, in the final installment from One Minute to Midnight, the National Security Archive will publish key primary sources behind the “Eyeball to Eyeball” confrontation between U.S. and Soviet ships that never happened.

Visit the Web site of the National Security Archive for more information about today’s posting.

http://www.nsarchive.org

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Color Code Ridge as Tardy

Source: O’Dwyer’s PR Daily (sub req’d), June 23, 2008

Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently filed a lobbying disclosure form on his work for the government of Albania — nearly two years late. Ridge signed a $480,000, one-year contract with Albania in September 2006, to help the country “develop an overall homeland defense strategy based on land, air and sea security.” The contract identified Ridge as the “lead on strategic advice” for the Albanian government. Ridge’s firm, Ridge Global, no longer works for Albania. A spokesperson for the firm said Ridge didn’t think he needed to disclose his Albania work. But the Justice Department, which maintains a database of lobbyists working with foreign entities, disagreed. The Department contacted Ridge’s firm, “after a story about Ridge’s work appeared in the press.” According to a September 2006 Associated Press article, Ridge’s “main priority” was “to help Albania meet its goal of joining NATO in 2008.” Albania began accession talks with NATO in April 2008

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EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics – This Week in Petroleum (TWIP)

This Week in Petroleum (TWIP) provides analysis, data, and charts of the latest weekly petroleum supply and price data, all in one product, and generally is available at 1:00 pm Eastern Time on Wednesdays.

The latest version of the “This Week in Petroleum” (TWIP):

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp

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Big oil and the war in Iraq

DERRICK Z. JACKSON
June 25, 2008

It took five years, the deaths of 4,100 U.S. soldiers and the wounding of 30,000 more to make Iraq safe for Exxon. It is the inescapable open question since the reasons given by President Bush for the invasion and occupation did not exist, neither the weapons of mass destruction nor Saddam Hussein’s ties to Al-Qaida and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Times reported last week that several Western oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Shell, Total, BP and Chevron, are about to sign no-bid contracts with the Iraqi government. Western oil had a significant stake in Iraqi oil for much of the last century until the government nationalized the industry in 1972. The Associated Press quoted Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Fadel Gheit as saying he believed the contracts were a first step toward production-sharing agreements. “These companies are in it for the money, not to make friends,” Gheit said.

This of course blows a hole in another ancient Bush fallacy, the one in which former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said “the oil wells belong to the Iraqi people” and former secretary of State Colin Powell seconded him by saying Iraqi oil “will be held in trust for the Iraqi people.” Former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz once claimed there was so much oil in Iraq that “When it comes to reconstruction, before we turn to the American taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government.”

No, all that is really happening is that while the American taxpayer is being turned inside out by the war, and while families bury the brave, the corporate colonialists get all the resources. Halliburton, the oil services company which Vice President Dick Cheney once led, last year reported a 49 percent rise in profits, to $3.5 billion.

KBR, the former Halliburton subsidiary that provides food, shelter, and laundry services to soldiers, last year reported record profits and is about to share in a new 10-year, $150 billion contract. The controversial North Carolina-based private security firm Blackwater, whose guards shot and killed 17 Iraqis in one incident last year, has crossed the billion-dollar mark in government contracts, charging, according to the Raleigh News and Observer, $1,221 a day for security guards who are actually paid $500 a day.

This is despite repeated charges of waste, overcharging and recklessness, and a degree of patriotism that verges on betrayal. As many veterans were being treated amid appalling conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Halliburton CEO Dave Lesar last year moved from Texas to Dubai. The Globe last March reported on how KBR has avoided paying perhaps half a billion dollars in Social Security and Medicare taxes since the start of the invasion by hiring employees through shell companies in the Cayman Islands.

Now comes Big Oil itself, which is already basking in record profits. Its interest in Iraq, which has the world’s third-largest oil reserves according to the federal government, is utterly transparent. A decade ago, then-Chevron CEO Kenneth Derr said “I’d love Chevron to have access to” the Iraqi oil reserves. A Los Angeles Times news account just before the invasion said, “Maybe it’s a coincidence, but American and British oil companies would be long-term beneficiaries of a successful military offensive … Industry officials say Hussein’s ouster would help level the playing field … a bonanza for the U.S.-dominated oil-services industry.”

Who will stop the bonanza or at least ensure that it is not an utter windfall for CEOs as US soldiers risk their lives keeping the peace and as Iraqis continue to struggle out of the rubble of the invasion? That is unclear. Of the two presumptive nominees for president, Democrat Barack Obama makes the most noise against oil profiteering and indeed, Republican John McCain has received more money overall from Big Oil. But Obama has received enough campaign contributions to leave it an open question as to how much leadership he would exert. We know Big Oil is in this for the money. Nothing says it is returning to Iraq in the name of the people.

From: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/368377_jacksononline26.html

Derrick Z. Jackson is a columnist for the Boston Globe; jackson@globe.com

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At Last, Some Truth About Iraq and Afghanistan

by Eric Margolis
June 24, 2008

PARIS – After a sea of lies and a tsunami of propaganda, the ugly truth behind the Iraq and Afghanistan wars finally emerged into full view this week.

Four major western oil companies, Exxon, Mobil, Shell, BP and Total, are about to sign US-brokered no-bid contracts with the US-installed Baghdad regime to begin exploiting Iraq’s oil fields. Saddam Hussein had kicked these firms out three decades ago when he nationalized Iraq’s foreign-owned oil industry for the benefit of Iraq’s national development. The Baghdad regime is turning back the clock.

This agreement comes as talks are continuing between the Washington and its Baghdad client regime over future US basing rights in Iraq. After some face-saving Iraqi objections, it is expected that Baghdad will sign a compact with Washington giving US forces control of Iraq and its air space in a manner very similar to Great Britain’s colonial arrangement with Iraq.

Interestingly, the same oil companies that used to exploit Iraq when it was a British colony are now returning. As former US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan recently admitted, the Iraq war was all about oil. VP Dick Cheney stated in 2003 that the invasion of Iraq was about oil, and for the sake of Israel.

Meanwhile, according to Pakistani and Indian sources, Afghanistan just signed a major deal to launch a long-planned, 1680 km long pipeline project expected to cost $ 8 billion. If completed, the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India pipeline (TAPI) will export gas and, later, oil from the Caspian Basin to Pakistan’s coast where tankers will transport it to the west.

The Caspian Basin located under the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakkstan, holds an estimated 300 trillion cubic feet of gas and 100–200 billion barrels of oil. Securing the world’s last remaining known energy Eldorado is strategic priority for the western powers. China can only look on with envy.

But there are only two practical ways to get gas and oil out of landlocked Central Asia to the sea: through Iran, or through Afghanistan to Pakistan. For Washington, Iran is tabu. That leaves Pakistan, but to get there, the planned pipeline must cross western Afghanistan, including the cities of Herat and Kandahar.

In 1998, the Afghan anti-Communist movement Taliban and a western oil consortium led by the US firm UNOCAL signed a major pipeline deal. UNOCAL lavished money and attention on Taliban, flew a senior delegation to Texas, and also hired an minor Afghan official, one Hamid Karzai.

Enter Osama bin Laden. He advised the unworldly Taliban leaders to reject the US deal and got them to accept a better offer from an Argentine consortium, Bridas. Washington was furious and, according to some accounts, threatened Taliban with war.

In early 2001, six or seven months before 9/11, Washington made the decision to invade Afghanistan, overthrow Taliban, and install a client regime that would build the energy pipelines. But Washington still kept up sending money to Taliban until four months before 9/11 in an effort to keep it “on side” for possible use in a war or strikes against Iran.

The 9/11 attacks, about which Taliban knew nothing, supplied the pretext to invade Afghanistan. The initial US operation had the legitimate objective of wiping out Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida. But after its 300 members fled to Pakistan, the US stayed on, built bases – which just happened to be adjacent to the planned pipeline route – and installed former UNOCAL”consultant” Hamid Karzai as leader.

Washington disguised its energy geopolitics by claiming the Afghan occupation was to fight “Islamic terrorism,” liberate women, build schools, and promote democracy. Ironically, the Soviets made exactly the same claims when they occupied Afghanistan from 1979-1989. The cover story for Iraq was weapons of mass destruction, Saddam’s supposed links to 9/11, and promoting democracy.

Work will begin on the TAPI once Taliban forces are cleared from the pipeline route by US, Canadian and NATO forces. As American analyst Kevin Phillips writes, the US military and its allies have become an “energy protection force.”

From Washington’s viewpoint, the TAPI deal has the added benefit of scuttling another proposed pipeline project that would have delivered Iranian gas and oil to Pakistan and India.

India’s energy needs are expected to triple over the next decade to 8 billion barrels of oil and 80 million cubic meters of gas daily. Delhi, which has its own designs on Afghanistan and has been stirring the pot there, is cock-a-hoop over the new pipeline plan. Russia, by contrast, is grumpy, having hoped to monopolize Central Asian energy exports.

Energy is more important than blood in our modern world. The US is a great power with massive energy needs. Domination of oil is a pillar of America’s world power. Afghanistan and Iraq are all about control of oil.

From: http://www.lewrockwell.com/margolis/margolis114.html

Eric Margolis contributing foreign editor for Sun National Media Canada, is the author of War at the Top of the World.

See his website. http://www.ericmargolis.com/

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McCain’s Essential Dishonesty on Iraq

23 Jun 2008

A number of years ago, I had my sights set on becoming a history professor. One of the things that drew me to history was the connections that could be drawn between past and present. Of course there are difficulties in comparing the past to the present, but I have always found it interesting to think about the ways in which history teaches lessons for the present and future.

I got suckered into going to law school, but still have a passion for history. Recently I picked up James McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom, which is about the U.S. Civil War. I have been reading about Lincoln’s ability to set aside his ego, to change his approach and even some of his principles when doing so served his larger objective of preserving the union and winning the war (it is laughable that our current president, who is incapable of change or even reflection, thinks he is following in Lincoln’s footsteps).

Anyways, I just finished reading about the first year of the war, the bloody fighting at Bull Run, Grant’s successes in the west, McClellan’s dithering in the east, when something jumped out at me. When the war began, each side thought it would be over quickly. Recruits in the north signed 90 day enlistments and southerners boasted of licking 10 Yankees singlehandedly. After a year of bloody war, both sides realized they had to change the way they thought about the conflict. Each side believed that its very existence was at stake. Accordingly, each side mobilized for total war–which meant drafting men into active service (with ways out for the rich of course–even in the 1860s there were Dich Cheney-types who had “other priorities”) and subordinating every piece of the nation’s business to the war.

This all made me think of John McCain. He claims that the war in Iraq is “necessary and just”, that supporters of the war are on the right side of history in the struggle against terrorism and extremism. If this war is really as crucial as McCain claims, then why is he asking so little of the American people? He is following Bush’s approach, asking the troops and their families to sacrifice everything, asking the rest of us to sacrifice nothing.

I completely disagree with McCain’s assessment of the war in Iraq. I do not think it is a defining moment in our nation’s history, at least not in the way he thinks it is (though if we stay much longer, it may define us in ways none of us desire). I don’t think this war has ever been necessary or just. It has been a mistake, it is not making us safer, and what is going on in Iraq, terrible as it is, does not implicate our survival as a nation. This is not World War II or the Civil War.

But it strikes me as deeply dishonest that McCain, who asserts that this war is so important and does implicate our national interests, asks nothing of most Americans. He has no plan for national mobilization, he is not calling for a draft.

Personally, I am not a pacifist, especially if the country’s very existence is truly endangered, If this were World War II or the Civil War and our nation’s survival really was at stake, I would want our leaders to mobilize the entire nation. If people hesitated (as they did during World War II before Pearl Harbor and in the Civil War at various times), I would want our leaders to convince them that total mobilization was necessary.

The fact that McCain is doing none of this is puzzling. Perhaps he realizes that Americans wouldn’t go for total mobilization–to the contrary, they see this war as a mistake and want the troops home. What I want to know is, if this war is as crucial as McCain says it is, why isn’t he making his case to the American people for a draft, for sacrifice by all Americans, for doing whatever it takes to win? Is it because he doesn’t really think these measures are necessary, or because he knows Americans would reject such proposals out of hand? Something is deeply wrong here–McCain’s assessment of Iraq does not match his actions or his (lack of) call for action by Americans

From: The Seminal :: Independent Media And Politics

http://www.theseminal.com/

MSNBC again hosted Lott in discussion of McCain’s energy policy without disclosing that Lott is a lobbyist for gas and oil companies

On MSNBC Live, anchor Chris Jansing discussed Sen. John McCain’s energy policy with former Sen. Trent Lott but failed to disclose that Lott is now a lobbyist for major energy companies. Earlier this month, Andrea Mitchell discussed energy policy with Lott and Sen. John Breaux on MSNBC Live but failed to disclose that both are lobbyists for oil and gas companies.

Read More

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806250012?lid=401647&rid=10110883

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State-Sponsored Terror: British and American Black Ops in Iraq

By Andrew G. Marshall
Global Research, June 25, 2008

Shining Light on the “Black World”

In January of 2002, the Washington Post ran a story detailing a CIA plan put forward to President Bush shortly after 9/11 by CIA Director George Tenet titled, “Worldwide Attack Matrix,” which was “outlining a clandestine anti-terror campaign in 80 countries around the world. What he was ready to propose represented a striking and risky departure for U.S. policy and would give the CIA the broadest and most lethal authority in its history.” The plan entailed CIA and Special Forces “covert operations across the globe,” and at “the heart of the proposal was a recommendation that the president give the CIA what Tenet labeled “exceptional authorities” to attack and destroy al Qaeda in Afghanistan and the rest of the world.” Tenet cited the need for such authority “to allow the agency to operate without restraint — and he wanted encouragement from the president to take risks.” Among the many authorities recommended was the use of “deadly force.”

Further, “Another proposal was that the CIA increase liaison work with key foreign intelligence services,” as “Using such intelligence services as surrogates could triple or quadruple the CIA’s effectiveness.” The Worldwide Attack Matrix “described covert operations in 80 countries that were either underway or that he was now recommending. The actions ranged from routine propaganda to lethal covert action in preparation for military attacks,” as well as “In some countries, CIA teams would break into facilities to obtain information.”[1]
Bob Woodward and Dan Balz, At Camp David, Advise and Dissent. The Washington Post: January 31, 2002:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/18/AR2006071800702.html

P2OG: “Commit terror, to incite terror… in order to react to terror”

In 2002, the Pentagon’s Defense Science Board (DSB) conducted a “Summer Study on Special Operations and Joint Forces in Support of Countering Terrorism,” portions of which were leaked to the Federation of American Scientists. According to the document, the “War on Terror” constitutes a “committed, resourceful and globally dispersed adversary with strategic reach,” which will require the US to engage in a “long, at times violent, and borderless war.” As the Asia Times described it, this document lays out a blueprint for the US to “fight fire with fire.” Many of the “proposals appear to push the military into territory that traditionally has been the domain of the CIA, raising questions about whether such missions would be subject to the same legal restraints imposed on CIA activities.” According to the Chairman of the DSB, “The CIA executes the plans but they use Department of Defense assets.”

Specifically, the plan “recommends the creation of a super-Intelligence Support Activity, an organization it dubs the Proactive, Preemptive Operations Group (P2OG), to bring together CIA and military covert action, information warfare, intelligence and cover and deception. For example, the Pentagon and CIA would work together to increase human intelligence (HUMINT) forward/operational presence and to deploy new clandestine technical capabilities.” The purpose of P2OG would be in “‘stimulating reactions’ among terrorists and states possessing weapons of mass destruction, meaning it would prod terrorist cells into action, thus exposing them to ‘quick-response’ attacks by US forces.”[2] In other words, commit terror to incite terror, in order to react to terror.

David Isenberg, ‘P2OG’ Allows the Pentagon to Fight Dirty. Asia Times Online: November 5, 2002:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/DK05Ak02.html

The Los Angeles Times reported in 2002 that, “The Defense Department is building up an elite secret army with resources stretching across the full spectrum of covert capabilities. New organizations are being created. The missions of existing units are being revised,” and quoted then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld as saying, “Prevention and preemption are … the only defense against terrorism.”[3]

William M. Arkin, The Secret War. The Los Angeles Times: October 27, 2002:

http://tinyurl.com/58m7xz (web.archive.org/)

Chris Floyd bluntly described P2OG in CounterPunch, saying, “the United States government is planning to use “cover and deception” and secret military operations to provoke murderous terrorist attacks on innocent people. Let’s say it again: Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush and the other members of the unelected regime in Washington plan to deliberately foment the murder of innocent people–your family, your friends, your lovers, you–in order to further their geopolitical ambitions.”[4]

Chris Floyd, Into the Dark: The Pentagon Plan to Provoke Terrorist Attacks. Counter Punch: November 1, 2002:

http://www.counterpunch.org/floyd1101.html

“The Troubles” with Iraq

…

Complete article at:

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9447

Andrew G. Marshall contributed to breaking the Climate Change consensus in a celebrated 2006 article entitled Global Warming A Convenient Lie, in which he challenged the findings underlying Al Gore’s documentary. According to Marshall, ‘as soon as people start to state that “the debate is over”, beware, because the fundamental basis of all sciences is that debate is never over’. Andrew Marshall has also written on the militarization of Central Africa, national security issues and the process of integration of North America. He is also a contributor to GeopoliticalMonitor.com He is currently a researcher at the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) in Montreal and is studying political science and history at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia.

==========

And now for the important news ….

By Argus Hamilton

Merrill Lynch’s survey said Tuesday there were ten million millionaires in the world. The list includes everyone from Arab sheiks to San Fernando Valley tract home owners. By next year it will include everyone with enough money for a full tank of gas.

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com

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three thousand words

Randy Bish: the secret to our success? …

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/BishR/2008/BishR20080626_low.jpg

Steve Benson: same ol’ drill

http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/commphotos/view.php?id=162794

Jeff Danziger: Firewood Prices, Woodpec, Arabs

http://danzigercartoons.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/dancart3639.jpg

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Thursday June 26, 2008 -“In theory, reality and theory are the same. In reality, they’re different.” – Yogi Berra

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

Coming war against Iran: Increasing Anglo-American pressure on Turkey

By Cem Ertür
Global Research, June 21, 2008

Covering the period of March-June 2008, this article will try to highlight the political pressure applied by the US and UK governments on Turkey in view of their war plans against Iran. It is complementary to an earlier article titled “Will Turkey be Complicit in Another War Against Another Neighbour?” [1]

“[The Middle East] is capable of a very bright future:… a place of innovation and discovery, driven by free men and women. In recent years, we’ve seen hopeful beginnings toward this vision. Turkey, a nation with a majority Muslim population, is a prosperous modern democracy. Afghanistan under the leadership of President Karzai is overcoming the Taliban and building a free society. Iraq under the leadership of Prime Minister Maliki is establishing a multi-ethnic democracy.” — US President George W. Bush (World Economic Forum, Sharm el Sheikh, 18 May 2008) [2]

Turkey was the last stop of US Vice President Dick Cheney’s tour in the Middle East in March. Coverage of the event by the Turkish press gave the impression that Mr Cheney did not make any demands from Turkey’s President, Prime Minister or Chief of General Staff, concerning the US foreign policy in the Middle East and/or Afghanistan. Given the increasingly evident Anglo-American hostility against Iran on all fronts, this wasn’t very plausible. In fact, all the evidence since then suggests otherwise.

Shortly after Mr Cheney’s visit, the US-based RAND Corporation published a report on the US-Turkish relations:

“Given its growing equities in the Middle East, as well as the current strains in U.S.-Turkish relations, Turkey will be even more reluc-tant to allow the United States to use its bases in the future, particu-larly the [U.S.] airbase at Incirlik, to undertake combat operations in the Middle East… Turkey is unlikely to support U.S. policies aimed at isolating Iran and Syria or overthrowing the regimes in either country.” [3]

…

NOTES

[1] Will Turkey be complicit in another war against another neighbour?

by Cem Ertür, CASMII, 24 February 2008

http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/4153

[2] President Bush Attends World Economic Forum

by George W. Bush, Whitehouse.gov, 18 May 2008

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080518-6.html

[3] Turkey as a US Security Partner

by F. Stephen Larrabee, RAND Corporation, April 2008

http://rand.org/pubs/monographs/2008/RAND_MG694.pdf

[4] United States and Turkey: Strategic Allies for Global Challenges

by Gregory L. Schulte, U.S. Department of State web site, April 29, 2008

http://vienna.usmission.gov/080428_turkey.html

[5] Turkish Ambassador to U.S. Calls Iran “a threat to Turkey as well as to the US”

by Andrew Cochran, Counterterrorism Blog, 19 May 2008

http://tinyurl.com/55vjsg (counterterrorismblog.org)

[6] Britain praises “excellent” ties with Turkey in London talks

Monsters and Critics, 14 April 2008

http://tinyurl.com/4n5vdg (www.monstersandcritics.com)

[7] Text of The Queen’s speech at the State Banquet in Turkey, 13 May 2008

British Monarchy web site, 13 May 2008

http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page6254.asp

[8] Blair presses for Turkey’s EU membership

BBC News, 12 December 2002

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2567451.stm

[9] International Visitor Leadership Program Alumni.

U.S. Department of State web site

http://exchanges.state.gov/education/ivp/alumni.htm

[10] Illustrious welcomes The Queen for Istanbul Royal Reception

UK Ministry of Defence web site, 16 May 2008

[11] 5th Fleet Focus: Order of Battle

Information Dissemination, 10 May 2008

http://tinyurl.com/4h3bk5 (informationdissemination.blogspot.com)

[12] Carrier deployment adds to Iran war fears

PSCA International, 2 November 2007

http://www.pscainternational.org/news_story.asp?id=4281

[13] Turkey UK Strategic Partnership 2007/08

British Embassy web site, 25 October 2007

http://tinyurl.com/4od2c5 (www.britishembassy.gov.uk/)

[14] Building peace in Iraq harder than expected, says Miliband

by Richard Norton-Taylor, Guardian, 21 March 2008

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/21/iraq.iraq

[15] ‘The democratic imperative’ Aung San Suu Kyi lecture by Rt Hon David Miliband

by David Miliband, British Embassy web site, 12 February 2008

http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Miliband,0.htm

[16] Statement on U.S.-Turkey Agreement for Nuclear Cooperation (123 Agreement)

by Sean McCormack, US Mission to Italy web site, 2 June 2008

http://tinyurl.com/45z6wr (italy.usembassy.gov)

[17] US unit works quietly to counter Iran’s sway

by Farah Stockman, Boston Globe, 2 February 2007

http://tinyurl.com/45z6wr (www.boston.com)

[18] “Islamic Terrorists” supported by Uncle Sam: Bush Administration “Black Ops” directed against Iran, Lebanon and Syria

…

Complete article at:

www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=9407

==========

GAO Documents Lack of Oversight, Accountability for U.S. Anti-Terrorism Funds to Pakistan

June 24, 2008

GAO Documents Lack of Oversight, Accountability for U.S. Anti-Terrorism Funds to Pakistan

Washington, DC – As a result of an investigation requested by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released a report showing a troubling lack of oversight and accountability for U.S. funds to Pakistan that were meant to combat terrorism along its border with Afghanistan.

“I’m shocked at the lack of oversight of billions of dollars that have been doled out in Pakistan in an effort to fight terrorism,” said Committee Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-CA).

The United States has provided Pakistan about $5.6 billion in payments, known as Coalition Support Funds, since the 9/11 attacks. In its investigation, the GAO found several cases where the Bush Administration could not explain or account for such payments, including millions of dollars for road construction with no evidence that any roads were built, and reimbursement costs to the Pakistan military that may be duplicative.

“The report documents how U.S. funds were used without any evidence that they supported counter-terrorism efforts,” Berman noted. “The U.S. government is being asked to reimburse Pakistan for non-incremental air defense radar maintenance when Al Qaeda is not even known to have an air force. The purpose of these funds is to support the fight against extremists, not to boost Pakistan’s conventional warfare capability.”

In early May, the Foreign Affairs Committee examined some of the conclusions of an earlier GAO report it had commissioned on U.S.-Pakistan policy. Berman today said the committee will continue to follow the matter closely to ensure that the Administration puts in place improved systems of accountability for funding to Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.

The new GAO report can be found here on the Foreign Affairs Committee Web site.

http://www.hcfa.house.gov/110/gao062408.pdf

From: www.HCFA.house.gov

USGAO – Combating Terrorism: Increased Oversight and Accountability Needed over Pakistan Reimbursement Claims for Coalition Support Funds.

GAO-08-806, June 24.

http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-806

Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08806high.pdf

==========

Nearly Four Decades Later, U.S. Oil Companies Return to Iraq

Source: New York Times, June 19, 2008

Four oil companies are in the final stage of contract negotiations to regain drilling rights in Iraq — thirty-six years after they lost them. Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP — founding partners in the Iraq Petroleum Company — are currently in talks with Iraq’s Oil Ministry “for no-bid contracts to service Iraq’s largest fields.” Joining them are Chevron and several smaller oil companies. The deal is expected to be approved by the end of the month and “will lay the foundation for the first commercial work for the major companies in Iraq since the American invasion, and open a new and potentially lucrative country for their operations.” The no-bid process has frozen out 40 other oil companies, including Indian, Russian and Chinese competitors. A spokesperson for the Oil Ministry said that “the no-bid contracts were a stop-gap measure to bring modern skills into the fields while the oil law was pending in Parliament.” He added that the companies chosen already had a relationship with the government, “advising the ministry without charge for two years before being awarded the contracts.” While the current contracts are relatively small, they represent a foot in the door for much more lucrative future deals.

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Iraq Oil Report – ‘Iraq oil deals in Baghdad talks as KRG signs with Talisman’ … and more

Iraq’s Kurdish government has signed two oil deals with Canada’s Talisman Energy as meetings begin in Baghdad over controversial oil issues, Ben Lando reports for United Press International.

Calgary-based Talisman now has a 40 percent interest in the project operated by WesternZagros, the subsidiary spun off from Marathon.

The production sharing contracts the Kurdistan Regional Government has [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/6f85ph (www.iraqoilreport.com)

Iraq Oil Report – ‘U.S. Congress calls on Bush to block or cancel Iraq oil deals’

*Big Oil deals with Baghdad are the target
*As are Hunt Oil and other KRG deals signed with U.S. firms
*Plus, Iraq to establish Maysan oil company
*And, Alive in Baghdad

U.S. congressional leaders are pressing the Bush administration to block deals to be signed between the Iraqi federal government and the world’s largest oil companies and to [...]

You may view the latest post at

http://tinyurl.com/4mx2r5

==========

MEDIA TELL US ABOUT IRAQ WAR-OIL CONNECTION FIVE YEARS AFTER THE FACT

By Tom Engelhardt, Tomdispatch.com

If Iraq’s main product had been video games, the media might have been quicker to ask tough questions about the war’s effects on our kids’ lives.

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/89310/

==========

EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics – Annual Energy Review 2007 (06/23/2008)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/contents.html

Summarizes U.S. energy history 1949-2007 in tables and figures. Covers all major forms of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewable energy) and total energy by activity (e.g., production, consumption, trade, stocks, and prices). Also includes financial indicators related to energy; international energy; environmental indicators; and data unit conversions. Key long-term trends are graphically illustrated in special section called “Energy Perspectives.”

==========

Conservation is solution to energy crunch

June 24, 2008

HARRY ROSENFELD

Remedies for soaring gasoline prices proposed by President Bush and Sen. John McCain would increase America’s capacity to produce more energy from its own resources. What those remedies would not do is reduce the cost of gasoline anytime soon.

The president’s demand that Congress immediately lift its bans on exploring for oil and natural gas off-shore and on federal lands wouldn’t be productive for at least seven years, more likely 10. The impact on world prices, and on the cost of a gallon of gas in America, would be minimal. That’s because the U.S. controls, at most, only 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves.

In a political year, the president, the Republican candidate and the Republican congressional minority are trying to leverage the American people’s disgruntlement with gasoline prices that have increased six-fold in recent years. Their aim is to overcome environmental restrictions imposed in response to public demand nearly 30 years ago and give their staunchest supporters, the oil companies, what they have been lusting for.

Nowhere in the Bush or McCain proposals is there so much as a hint that all of the added oil and gas would be retained exclusively for American consumption, which presently accounts for one-quarter of the world’s production. That’s because it wouldn’t. Instead America’s mammoth oil companies would continue to seek the highest returns, meaning the growing markets in Asia especially.

…

Complete article at:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/368230_rosenfeldonline25.html

E-mail Harry Rosenfeld, editor-at-large of the Albany, N.Y., Times Union:
hrosenfeld@timesunion.com .

==========

Limbaugh: “Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me’ ” to African-Americans and gays

After being asked by a caller: “I want to know how the Republicans don’t need Christians and conservatives, and they think we’re 30 percent. Twelve percent black people in the population. Ten percent — they claim — homosexuals in the population. Rush, honey, when did 30 percent get to be a small number?” Rush Limbaugh responded, “Let me see if I can get your question right. You want to know why the Republicans are willing to say, ‘Screw you,’ to 30 percent or more of their voters and yet Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me,’ for 10 percent and 2 percent of the population?”

Read More

http://mediamatters.org/items/200806240008?lid=397939&rid=10052028

==========

And now for the important news ….

By Argus Hamilton

Saudi Arabia hosted a summit Monday to find ways to reduce prices from the oil well to the pump. Gas station owners are looking for ways to make gasoline more affordable. Across the nation they’re converting all their mini-marts into pawn shops.

http://www.JewishWorldReview.com

==========

three thousand words

Tom Tomorrow: Awesome Non-Racism

http://action.credomobile.com/comics/TMW06-25-08original_image.jpg

Joel Pett: sandbagging didn’t work … now what?

http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoons/PettJ/2008/PettJ20080625A_low.jpg

Jack Ohman: … the full bush administration is on the job here …

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/tmjoh/2008/tmjoh080620.gif

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Archive for June, 2008

July 1 – July 10, 2008 – From every mountain side / Let Freedom ring. – Samuel F. Smith, “America”

Which One Will YOU Be In the Year 1984?

==========

NEW PULSE POSTED

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BRAIN-MACHINE INTERFACES

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EIA, the Nation’s clearinghouse for energy statistics. – Petroleum Supply Monthly

Iraq Oil Report – ‘Iraq oil deals in the north have wildcatters optimistic’

Iraq Oil Report – ‘Americans named participant in Iraq oil contracts with Big Oil’

Ethanol cited for popcorn prices … and more

US Ethanol tax-breaks

Ethanol trade group spent $162000 lobbying in 1Q

Ethanol Losing Some Political Support

USPS Ethanol Push Was Detrimental

Rand Corporation Says Renewable Energy Switch is Very Difficult

==========

U.S.-Funded Attacks on Iran

ISN Security Watch – Israel-Iran: Attack or feint

Iran to control Gulf oil route if attacked –Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander says that Tehran able to retaliate if Iran came under attack.

==========

USGAO – Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq: Progress Report: Some Gains Made, Updated Strategy Needed. … and more

THE FIVE SECRET BILLION-DOLLAR COMPANIES SUCKING OBSCENE AMOUNTS OF TAXPAYER MONEY

==========

Mallaby’s Failed Effort to Scare on Oil Price Regulation

Gazprom CEO: $250 for oil? While experts doubt the probability, they agree that such a price would jolt everyday life.

==========

Blitzer lets Graham off hook on how McCain would “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts”

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MCCAIN ADVISOR CHARLIE BLACK

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Economic Report: How much impact does a plant closing have on the … and more

Plant closing will take 207 jobs with it

Big Spring Businesses Closing

La Vergne Computer Parts Plant To Close

WORKFORCE CUTBACKS

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Global Climate Change: National Security Implications, … and more

GAO Report: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change Climate

National Intelligence Assessment on the National Security Implications of Global Climate Change to 2030

==========

War of Ideas and the War of Ideas. Authored by Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria, II.

==========

Book examines American policies post 9/11

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Congressman Ron Paul’s Texas Straight Talk

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THE FAMILY’S VALUES: AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL (AND SECRETIVE) RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION … and more

TEXAS SUPREME COURT: BEAT A TEEN FOR JESUS

MEDIA BLACKOUT ON ANTI-CHOICE CAMPAIGNS

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Borowitz Report – Tax Holiday Shocker

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three thousand words

Monday June 30, 2008 – The way things are going, soon we will have socialism for the rich, and free enterprise for everyone else – Gore Vidal

Envisioning a world of $200-a-barrel oil

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CFTC.gov - Commitments of Traders Reports Update

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Financial deleveraging, inflation and risks to global growth

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Economic Report: How much impact does a plant closing have on the … and more

Plant closing will take 207 jobs with it

Big Spring Businesses Closing

La Vergne Computer Parts Plant To Close

WORKFORCE CUTBACKS

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Florida banks tell feds to ease regulation

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Among the things that the proliferation of TV cable news has wrought is slackened standards for what constitutes a political strategist.

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Blitzer lets Graham off hook on how McCain would “pay for $300 billion in new tax cuts”

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Insurance in Name Only

Moving Away From Employer-Based Coverage as Part of Health Reform, the Latest from the Pulling It Together Series

CPI Project Release: Pushing Prescriptions

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National Security Archive Update, June 26, 2008 – Federal Prosecutors Agree to Release of Some Rosenberg Grand Jury Records After Petition from Archive and Historical Groups

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GOD KILLED POTTY-MOUTH COMEDIAN GEORGE CARLIN, AND CAST HIM FORTHWITH INTO HELL.

THE FAMILY’S VALUES: AMERICA’S MOST INFLUENTIAL (AND SECRETIVE) RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION …
and more