US military seeks ceasefires in Iraq

US military officers in Iraq are attempting to negotiate ceasefires with some insurgent groups that have been responsible for the violence in the country. I wonder if this is a tacit admission of defeat or a bona fide plea for peace so that some progress can be made towards solidifying the central Iraqi government.



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Patriot Act in Effect

Wellington, Colorado - Michael Welch II paced frantically across the living room of his parents' farmhouse. His father lay dead in an adjoining room, shot through the heart by the lawmen who had the house surrounded. His terrified wife, Lori Romero, whimpered nearby. Put the gun down, she begged him, so that they could all walk out with their hands up. read the Full Story

New York Post in Trouble? (Payoffs)

from TSG MAY 18--Prompted by a legal threat by a former contributor, the editor of Page Six has acknowledged taking cash from a New York businessman whose restaurant has been frequently mentioned in the New York Post column, the gossip industry's ground zero. The admission by Richard Johnson came today in a preemptive strike against Jared Paul Stern, the former Page Six freelancer who was bounced last year after being accused of trying to shake down billionaire Ron Burkle (federal investigators have declined to pursue charges against Stern). The admission by Johnson came a week after Stern's lawyer forwarded a Post attorney an affidavit from Ian Spiegelman, a former Page Six contributor, that details an assortment of alleged unethical practices by Johnson and fellow Posties.

intolerable truths

Ron Paul says Osama bin Laden is delighted we invaded Iraq.

Does the man not have a point? The United States is now tied down in a bloody guerrilla war in the Middle East and increasingly hated in Arab and Islamic countries where we were once hugely admired as the first and greatest of the anti-colonial nations. Does anyone think that Osama is unhappy with what is happening to us in Iraq?

Of the 10 candidates on stage in South Carolina, Dr. Paul alone opposed the war. He alone voted against the war. Have not the last five years vindicated him, when two-thirds of the nation now agrees with him that the war was a mistake, and journalists and politicians left and right are babbling in confession, "If I had only known then what I know now ..."

Straitjacketed by the men in white coats

Unable to resort to their favoured method for dealing with peaceful political demonstrations - violence - the authorities were going to have to come up with some other means to stop it going ahead.



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the Camden 6 - revisited

MSNBC has an update on the six foreign nationals who were arrested for plotting to attack Fort Dix Army base and it looks like they might have been a bunch of bumblers egged on by over-aggressive FBI informants -- leading to speculation that an entrapment defense is upcoming.

the might-a-been plotters: "The FBI learned of the alleged plot when the men went to a Circuit City store and asked a clerk to transfer a jihad training video of themselves onto a DVD."

the would-be informants: "One of the [accused plotters]... called a Philadelphia police officer in November, saying that he had been approached by someone who was pressuring him to obtain a map of Fort Dix, and that he feared the incident was terrorist-related, according to court documents."

one of the informants actions: "He railed against the United States, helped scout out military installations for attack, offered to introduce his comrades to an arms dealer and gave them a list of weapons he could procure, including machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades."

well, as for railing against the US-i do it all the time. it is called patriotism. however, the credibility of at least one informant is called into question which, to me, calls it all into question.

New Logic?

"It's not that money buys votes," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the lone vote against the bill. "But you have a culture in which big money has significant influence. Big money gains you access, access gives you the time to influence people."

Is this guy dense or what?! The money bought the vote, it mattered not what the person said after the money changed hands. Politicians are bought and sold, period.

FYI:Politics and Medicine

• A measure that blocked an effort to allow drug importation passed, 49-40. The 49 senators who voted against drug importation received about $5 million from industry executives and political action committees since 2001 — nearly three quarters of the industry donations to current members of the Senate, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data compiled by two non-partisan groups, Center for Responsive Politics and PoliticalMoneyLine.

• Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said he demanded removal of language that would have allowed the FDA to ban advertising of high-risk drugs for two years because it would restrict free speech. Roberts has raised $18,000 from drug interests so far this year, records show, and $66,000 since 2001. His spokeswoman, Sarah Little, said he "takes great pains to keep fundraising and official actions separate."

• Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., claimed authorship of a change that reduced the FDA's power to require post-market safety studies. He said he wanted to target drugs only if there was evidence of harm. Gregg has raised $168,500 from drug executives and PACs since 2001 and sided with them in four key votes.

• The bill's chief sponsors — Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., — agreed after consultations with industry officials and others to modify a proposal that all clinical drug studies be made public, said Craig Orfield, Enzi's spokesman. Under the change, only those studies submitted to the FDA would be available. Enzi took in $174,000 from drug interests since 2001; Kennedy, $78,000. Their spokesmen said the money did not influence them.

SOURCE

Protect America: Generals call Bush a Liar

Three retired generals, John Batiste, Paul Eaton, and Wesley Clark, and a veteran of Afghanistan are taking to the airwaves to dispute that claim in a new series of ads sponsored by VoteVets. The ads are intended to force Congress, and particularly GOP members who have continually rubberstamped this war, to do its job and end this war. "For too long, the President has maintained that he’s just listening to commanders on the ground, which is utterly false. These ads set the record straight, directly from the mouths of those men," said Jon Soltz, Iraq war veteran and Chairman and Co-Founder of VoteVets.org. "The President isn’t listening, he hasn’t listened, and he hasn’t shown an interest in listening to commanders on the ground in Iraq. If the President won’t listen to commanders, then Congress must. They must force about a surge in diplomacy, and not allow a war without end."



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Cheny's Rose Colored Glasses

big Dick Cheney says that "all is well" (video) in Iraq as mortars and rockets slammed the 'green zone' in Baghdad, Iraq. U.S. counterterrorism officials beg to differ. the washingtonpost describes a 91% rise in terror in Iraq. i wonder if iran was ever considered when the U.S. Gov. decided to destabilize her eastern and western borders. also, the post cites concerns by Turkey as to the weakening of her common border with Iraq: "Turkish leaders expressed increasing frustration at what they viewed as Iraq's inaction against the PKK" -- the abbreviation for the Kurdistan Workers Party, which launches attacks into Turkey from Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq. Dick, if you mean it is going well for you and the corporate whores you represent; i have to agree with you. your world is rosy, indeed. however, if it is all well for the Mid East, Iraqi and American citizens, or the world; i beg to differ. at least, stop lying to me.

Redefinig Amerika

it seems that the FBI has been busy telling state and local police/law-enforcement what defines a terrorist. there have been a few write ups in Blogland and nary a one in Major Media. it seems that "defenders of the constitution" and "Anti-Nuclear/Anti-War" proponents are to be considered terrorists. "Christian's" are suspect because of their belief that the 10 Commandments are God given, Gay/Animal/Enviromental Right's activist have made the list. anyone with a prior conviction for vandalism may be/become a terrorist. i can not say this enough: "anyone who wants you to surrender your freedom (no matter how small) is not looking out for your best interest." that is a fact. explore the PA terror awareness web page and this counterpoint blog. under the these guidelines- are founding father's were terrorists.

Michael Moore's Trip to Cuba

Director Michael Moore is being investigated by the Treasury Department for traveling to Cuba in violation of a U.S. trade embargo. In a May 2 letter, the Office of Foreign Assets Control informed Moore that he was the subject of a civil investigation stemming from the filmmaker's March trip to Cuba. Moore reportedly traveled there with 9/11 rescue workers who were seeking medical care. The trip was filmed as part of Moore's documentary "Sicko," which examines the U.S. health care industry (and premieres at the Cannes film festival on May 19). Letter and Full Info (thesmokinggun)

Zimbabwe to lead Commission on Sustainable Development

Zimbabwe is enduring the world's highest inflation, at more than 2000%, mass unemployment, and there are widespread accusations of civil rights abuses.On Wednesday it was announced that households in Zimbabwe were to be limited to four hours' electricity a day, between 1700 and 2100 local time. SWEET!



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Bush-ism

"I think anybody who doesn't think I'm smart enough to handle the job is underestimating."
- George W. Bush April 3, 2000 As reported in U.S. News & World Report.

Fort Dix Terror Plot?

thesmokinggun published the affadavit against the Camden 6. it seems that wanting to produce a DVD expressing their religion (DVD showed 10 young men-"shooting assault weapons at a firing range in a militia-like style while calling for jihad and shouting in Arabic 'Allah Akbar' ('God is Great').") the FBI then inserted two undercover guys and then busted them. as i read the papers i became very interested in the footnote 2 that starts at the bottom of the page. not only is the informants credibility called into question, the implications of the DVD maker informing on his customer are scary. are the Camden 6 that ignorant of the Patriot Act and digital media or is a set up.

Chavez: 'All Your Banks Are Belonging To Us'

'Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday threatened to nationalize the country's banks and largest steel producer, accusing them of unscrupulous practices.' i really love this guy. he keeps both republikans and demokrats nervous. i also find it particularly interesting that no 'super powers' (read as US/UK) really want him to succeed. if you do a tiny bit of research (ie-google.com) you can find out that alot of countries have nationalized banks/utilities/oil to the benefit of the state and people, directly. always do your own research. don't be lazy.

White House Blames Gov. Sebelius For National Guard Shortages

White House Press Secretary Tony Snow this morning blamed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) for the shortages, saying he was “not aware of any prior complaints” by the governor about the equipment and "The Governor shouldn't have had all those tornadoes during a national crisis". i, too, admonish the gov sebelius for hosting those terror affiliated type tornadoes durning tornado season. now, can we send in FEMA to restore order?



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Military Dead Since the Democrats Won and Promised Withdrawal: 521

Military Dead Since the Democrats Won and Promised Withdrawal: 521 Updated April 28, 2007. Total 3,571 (3,331 in Iraq, 239 in Afghanistan and 1 at Guantanamo of non-hostile cause): Year 1 -- 582 Year 2 -- 958 Year 3 -- 904 Year 4 -- 953 Year 5 -- 184



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NSA Announces Plans for Data Center in San Antonio

the NSA is opening a data center in Texas. every Amerikan should be aware of this.

The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) has identified a facility in San Antonio, Tex., as the site of a data center. Determination for the site was made after a comprehensive evaluation of potential locations nationwide, using input from government organizations (which? FBI, INS, IRS, ATF, DEA,...?), such as the Army Corps of Engineers, and commercial (corporate sponsorship perhaps or collaborators) data center plans.

NSA has also engaged other government agencies to pursue the suggestion that Intelligence Community organizations collaborate to determine the potential for shared data (shared data on whom?) center sites.

For more information about the NSA/CSS and its national security mission, visit the website, www.nsa.gov.


for more detailed information-(cryptome.org)

things to watch

if you only watch two videos this year...please make them these two....

HD_DVD Fascism in Action

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0.

Until they ban us all.

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Digg entries on this HD-DVD decryption flap are being thrown up and taken down left and right... No one reallys knows what's going on, but accusations of high-level Digg censorships have been put out there. Only, I took this moments before this thread was deleted from the front page...

Is Kevin Rose earmarking posts for deletion or is Digg being censored even more secretly?