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Ahmadinejad heads to nuclear-backers Brazil, Venezuela

epppie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:14:18 -0600

Ahmadinejad (yeah, he's a bigot and a despot and so what in the fucking Middle East) isn't waiting on the asshole, back-stabbing Russians to forge global alliances. "Faced with mounting pressure over his country's atomic ambitions, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad left on a five nation tour Sunday, including Brazil in a bid to boost ties with Latin America's biggest economy and a rare backer of Tehran's nuclear programme. Since coming to power in 2005, Ahmadinejad has sought to form bonds with leftist south American leaders, and enjoys "brotherly ties" with fiercely anti-US Hugo Chavez, president of Brazil's neighbour, Venezuela. His five-day trip will also take in Venezuela as well as another left-leaning South American country, Bolivia and the West African countries of Senegal and Gambia, the presidential website said. "Nations such as Iran, Brazil, Venezuela, Gambia and Senegal have the ability to restore a new world order," Ahmadinejad said before leaving Tehran. Highlighting Tehran's growing ties with Brazil, the hardliner said: "Iran and Brazil have a common vision about the situation in the world and are determined to develop their cooperation." ... In an interview with AFP in September, Lula said he believed US-led criticism of Iran was reminiscent of Washington's fallacious justification for the war in Iraq."

Frank Rich: The Pit Bull in the China Shop

RicKelis — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:01:07 -0600

AT last the American right and left have one issue they unequivocally agree on: You don’t actually have to read Sarah Palin’s book to have an opinion about it. Palin is far and away the most important brand in American politics after Barack Obama, and attention must be paid. Those who wishfully think her 15 minutes are up are deluding themselves.The book’s biggest surprise is Palin’s wide-eyed infatuation with show-business celebrities.Even by the standard of politicians, this is a woman with an outsized ego. No one, least of all her own political party, can control her. Palin’s political appeal has never had anything to do with facts — or coherent policy positions. It’s a politics of victimization and sloganeering with no policy solutions required beyond the conservative mantra of No Taxes. But no matter how much Palin tries to pass for “center-right,” she’s unlikely to fool that vast pool of voters left, right and center who have already written her off as unqualified for the White House. The G.O.P. establishment knows this, and is frightened. The demographic that Palin attracts is in decline; there’s no way the math of her fan base adds up to an Electoral College victory. Palin defies partisan labeling. If Obama can’t tamp down that rage across the political map, Palin will at the very least pave the way for a demagogue with less baggage to pick up her torch.

Azerbaijan threatens force over Nagorno-Karabakh

epppie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:36:28 -0600

Why is it ok for a US ally to threaten force to resolve a political dispute? That's illegal. If Iran did it, we'd go ballistic. Why is it ok for our ally to do it? " President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan says his nation may use military force if talks with Armenia on resolving a long-standing territorial dispute produce no result. Aliyev says he plans talks next week with his Armenian counterpart, Serge Sarkisian, on resolving the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh. The mountainous region is a part of Azerbaijan that has been under control of Armenian troops and ethnic Armenian forces since a 1994 cease-fire ended six years of war. " When does Barack Obama have to actually stand up for peace? Ever? Because the Nobel Peace Prize is looking more and more like something you get for the most wars and the most military industrial spending.

Iraq War Veteran on a Mental-Health Mission by Dahr Jamail

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:51:10 -0600

Chuck Luther, who served 12 years in the military, is a veteran of two deployments to Iraq, where he was a reconnaissance scout in the 1st Cavalry Division. The former sergeant was based at Fort Hood, Texas, where he lives today. "I see the ugly," Luther told Truthout. "I see soldiers beating their wives and trying to kill themselves all the time, and most folks don't want to look at this, including the military." According to Luther, the tragedy at Fort Hood on November 5, when Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan allegedly went on a shooting rampage, killing 13 people and wounding dozens more, could have easily been avoided. "The way things are set up right now in the military is that if a soldier gets a chance to go to mental health, which is something military commanders tend to try to prevent from happening in the first place, but if soldiers go, psychologists and psychiatrists address and diagnose their PTSD and write it up, but this does not mean that they will get treatment," Luther explained to Truthout, "The doctors then send it to command, but that doesn't mean the soldiers will get treatment. The soldier can push it up to the commander, but the commander can deny it and that's as high as it gets. Soldiers are listed as not being able to serve by a military doctor, but they are nonetheless medicated and sent out into combat anyway."

Unthinkable? Pricing drugs humanely

protect_democracy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:57:49 -0600

The industry says high prices are the only way to recoup the vast sums that it ploughs into advancing the frontiers of medicine. But if we were starting from scratch it would surely be better to finance research collectively, perhaps with big payments for scientists who hit upon breakthroughs. Of course it's unthinkable that a competitive world would ever unite in the way that would be required to put people before profit. But then isn't it also unthinkable to ask people to accept early death when there could be another way?

Our Financial Dependence on China | by Peter Schiff

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:53:42 -0600

During President Obama's high profile visit to China this week, the most frequently discussed, yet least understood, topic was how currency valuations are affecting the economic relationship between the United States and China. The focal problem is the Chinese government's policy of fixing the value of the renminbi against the U.S. dollar. While many correctly perceive that this 'peg' has contributed greatly to the current global imbalances, few fully comprehend the ramifications should that peg be discarded. While the peg certainly is responsible for much of the world's problems, its abandonment would cause severe hardship in the United States. In fact, for the U.S., de-pegging would cause the economic equivalent of cardiac arrest. Our economy is currently on life support provided by an endless flow of debt financing from China. These purchases are the means by which China maintains the relative value of its currency against the dollar. As the dollar comes under even more downward pressure, China's purchases must increase to keep the renminbi from rising. By maintaining the peg, China enables our politicians and citizens to continue spending more than they have and avoiding the hard choices necessary to restore our long-term economic health.

The "Double Dip Economic Depression" by Danny Schechter

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:43:41 -0600

There are Structural problems like a growing wall of debt that try as you might cannot all be blamed on The Democrats if you are of the other persuasion or on the Repugs if you stand with the Donkeys. It’s a system thing, a cancer that is eating away at the economy. The Financial Times reported Wednesday night, “US President Barrack Obama warned that the US economy could head into a "double-dip recession" unless urgent steps were taken to rein in mounting public debt. Obama told Fox News—I guess they are talking again-- “That's when the economy begins to recover briefly from a recession only to be dragged back under. Obama told Fox News in an interview Wednesday that his administration is weighing tax breaks that could encourage businesses to begin hiring again. But he added that it's important to recognize that if the nation keeps adding to deficit spending through tax cuts or more stimulus spending, at some point people could lose confidence in the U.S. economy and that could "lead to a double-dip recession." What are the chances that can happen? Quiet as its kept, the odds are pretty good.

US government wouldn't lie to start a war with Iran, would they? A look at the conservative history

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:35:47 -0600

President Obama is using the same aggressive rhetoric we saw prior to invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, with media repeating the quickly-verifiable lie that Iran's President threatened to "wipe Israel off the map." Previously, Senator Lieberman, Secretary of State Clinton, and former UN Ambassador John Bolton resumed rhetoric of a United States attack upon Iran. There are two general justifications they speak of to justify war: Iran's "nuclear program" and their threat to Israel. Both claims are false (again, verify here: http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m11d20-Obama-aggress-for-war-Media-echoes-lie-Iran-threatens-to-wipe-Israel-off-the-map-Citizen-action and here:http://www.examiner.com/x-18425-LA-County-Nonpartisan-Examiner~y2009m9d29-Irans-Nuclear-Program-Iran-in-treaty-compliance-USIsrael-lying-and-out-of-compliance), which follows a history of US lies regarding wars. The following is edited from my brief, “War with Afghanistan and Iraq, rhetoric for war with Iran.” The focus of this article is to explore US interest in having a war with Iran. It's from my brief: War with Iraq and Afghanistan, rhetoric for war with Iran.

Concealed Handgun Permit Holders KILL

hterrya — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:31:23 -0600

In 2009, the Violence Policy Center began an ongoing research project to identify killings beginning in May 2007 to the present by individuals with concealed handgun permits. As the result of a massive campaign led by the gun lobby, almost all states maintain a veil of secrecy around those who have been issued permits to carry concealed handguns. Therefore, the VPC is forced to rely primarily on news accounts for reports of killings by concealed handgun permit holders and subsequent legal proceedings.

Crude: An Interview with Filmmaker Joe Berlinger

ConnecticutMan1 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:28:04 -0600

Suppose that an oil catastrophe more than 30 times the size of the Exxon Valdez happened and no one noticed? Well it did. In the Ecuadorian rain forest. For decades, Texaco is alleged to have dumped oil in pits across Ecuador. What would be fenced off superfund sites in the United States are stinky open oil pits that indigenous peoples live next to in Ecuador. Ken Krayeske interviews filmmaker Joe Berlinger, who appeared at Real Art Ways in Hartford, Friday night, November 20, as part of the Hartford premiere of Crude. Mr. Berlinger is crisscrossing the country promoting the new movie. He took a few moments Monday, November 16 to discuss the film.

Health Care Reform Passes First Senate Hurdle by Scott Galindez

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:23:00 -0600

In a party line vote of 60-39, the Senate voted Saturday evening to proceed with debate on a health care reform bill. All 58 Democrats and both Independents voted in favor of the motion while Republicans voted against it. Senate Majority Harry Reid closed debate and urged Republicans to support debate of the bill arguing that the framers of the Constitution didn't intend for the rules to limit a healthy debate. Following the vote, Reid said the "finish line is in sight." He added "that while we don't all agree how to get there we all agree something must be done." Reid went on to say that the bill will "save lives, save money and save medicare." Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Connecticut), told reporters that "everyone should have the right to quality health care" and that this bill will "move us down the path to health care for all Americans."

Oh Bummer: Rule-of-law extremism engulfs primitive Eastern Europe by Glen Greenwald

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:15:46 -0600

Lithuania is currently embroiled in a bizarre and deeply confusing political controversy which reveals what happens when a country becomes gripped by extremist ideologies. Evidence has emerged that Lithuanian intelligence agencies allowed secret CIA prisons to be maintained in their country during the Bush era. Just because such prisons would be "illegal" under the so-called "law" of Lithuania and various international conventions to which that nation is a signatory, irresponsible leaders of that country are demanding "investigations" and even possibly legal consequences if it turns out crimes were committed. What kind of a backwards, primitive country would do something like this? "Criminals"? "Prosecutions"? "Obliged to open a case"? "Violations of human rights"? Just because they maintained a few secret prisons in violation of domestic and international law? What kind of crazy, purist, Far Leftist utopians are running that place? They need a heavy dose of pragmatism so they can understand all the reasons why so-called "crimes" like this can be overlooked -- just blissfully forgotten like a bad dream.---

Oh Bummer: Rule-of-law extremism engulfs primitive Eastern Europe by Glen Greenwald

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:15:46 -0600

Lincoln to Debate, Still Opposes Public Option

RDemocrat — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:56 -0600

It appears as if the debate for Universal Healthcare will make it to the Senate floor. Blanche Lincoln recently announced she would cast a vote to allow debate. However, as always with a Corporate Democrat she has definately reserved her right to stab America in the back.

Lincoln to Debate, Still Opposes Public Option

RDemocrat — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:56 -0600

Lincoln to Debate, Still Opposes Public Option

RDemocrat — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:56 -0600

Lincoln to Debate, Still Opposes Public Option

RDemocrat — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:46:56 -0600

How the Media's Proud Know-Nothingism Helped Create the American Idiocracy by David Sirota

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:27:05 -0600

The term "idiocracy" means a nation run by idiots - and the term idiot is defined as "an utterly foolish or senseless person" and/or a "person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old." There are many reasons to conclude that America has become a full-fledged Idiocracy - bad decisions after bad decisions after bad decisions really have suggested that the last decade has seen the ascension of utterly foolish, senseless people of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation. And yet, as I show in my newspaper column out today, if there was still any shred of doubt that we had avoided becoming an Idiocracy, it was only fully snuffed out in the last week by David Broder and Jackson Diehl - two of the alleged "deans" of the Washington media intelligentsia. Here is Broder attacking President Obama for taking the time to carefully consider whether to send an additional 40,000 American troops into an increasingly Vietnam-like Afghanistan quagmire:

How the Media's Proud Know-Nothingism Helped Create the American Idiocracy by David Sirota

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:27:05 -0600

How the Media's Proud Know-Nothingism Helped Create the American Idiocracy by David Sirota

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:27:05 -0600

A Show About Nothing: The Placeholder Presidency of Barack Obama by David Michael Green

Sparrows — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:14:57 -0600

Hey, remember Seinfeld? Remember how it billed itself as a "show about nothing", and how, in fact, that's what it was? I think we're at the point now where it's become inescapable that the Obama presidency is also a show about nothing. It's the same as Seinfeld. Except for two things. First, unlike Seinfeld, it bills itself as a show about something, if not everything (remember Mr. Bigtime Change from just last year?). And, second, the nothingness of the Obama administration is not very goddam funny, thanks just the same. Consider the following crop of headlines, all from the New York Times, and all published in just the last week alone: "49 Million Americans Report a Lack of Food" "N.A.A.C.P. Prods Obama on Job Losses" "The Drug Industry Cashes In" "3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill In Senate" "Another Standoff May Be Looming On Abortion Issue" "Obama Hobbled in Fight Against Climate Change" "Leaders Will Delay Agreement On Climate" "Obama Backers Fear Opportunities to Reshape Judiciary Are Slipping Away" "Guantanamo Won't Close by January, Obama Says"---

Military Tribunals - Justice Lite?