junk and crap, amen

I recently ran across this great clip from On The Map with Avi Lewis. It's an interview between CBC Journalist Avi Lewis and the ninja master of obfuscation, John Bolton, famous UN hater and (curiously) former US ambassador to same. The subject is the new Plunder Iraqi Oil Legislation. Or new Iraqi Oil Law, however you want to put it.

Lewis opens with a "...word from [Bolton's] sponsor:" cue Donald Rumsfeld, 2005

...that you give credence to those who suggest that we're there for the oil or that we're there to occupy them in perpetuity.

Bolton repeats over and over that "frankly I don't care what happens to Iraq politically", and in reference to other developing nations having local employment agreements with multinationals so why not in Iraq now he laughingly says "Because those are highly inefficient requirements for the oil companies."

Labels: corporations, Iraq, Oil, War of Terror

Francesco Cossiga, President of Italy from 1985 - 92, in a November 30th article in the Italian Evening Courier, lets loose this amazing quote (translated from the Italian by Babelfish, unedited):

[referring to the authenticity of a video confession for 9/11 by Bin Laden]
...all the atmospheres democratics of America and Europe, with in front line those of the centrosinistra Italian, by now know well that the disastrous attack has been planned and realized from the Cia American and the Mossad with the aid of the sionista world in order to put under accusation the Arabic Countries and in order to induce the western powers to take part are in Iraq are in Afghanistan.

Granted, the translation isn't perfect. But the meaning is clear. He's saying that western intelligence agencies (atmospheres democratics) know that the CIA, Mossad and sionista (Zionists?) were responsible for September 11 in order to demonize an entire culture, thereby justifying endless war and profit and power.

He would know.

Labels: 9/11, conspiracy, War of Terror

Michael Chossudovsky, writing for GlobalResearch.ca, puts the Iraq war, US belligerence toward Iran and Israel's invasion of Lebannon into global perspective.

The war mongering, power hungry USA is on the path toward WW3, with Stephen Harper dragging Canadians along for the ride. And of course ultimately it's all about energy.

The logic behind it all is just so iron-clad. I mean, who could argue with choosing to spend trillions buying war, destruction and death, rather than trillions, or hell even billions on renewable energy, mutual respect and co-operation, and life.

We're just all so darn ethical.

Labels: ethics, War of Terror

If you think about the phrase 'stay the course' the way it's invoked by the US government as their strategy in Iraq, you may come to realize that the phrase carries no strategic meaning. Beyond the obvious, that staying the course would involve a course to be on (when no course has been demonstrated), strategies, particularly war strategies involve action, reaction, and an outcome. But this phrase implies only the first; action, or 'carry on'. It's like the official strategy contains an opening paragraph and then skips to the index. If you thought too hard on it, perhaps eventually your brain would burst from the pressure of the absurdity.

Or perhaps not. Maybe a different possibility would confront you. The possibility of a real strategy, well thought through and orchestrated with success., but fundamentally not very complicated: marginalize the citizenry, create a perpetual war, and consolidate executive power. Simple as that. And when you've got the most powerful military in history at your command, armed with September 11 as your justification and a colluding media, it probably was quite simple.

In light of the unfolding of events in Iraq over the last several years, what other conclusion can be reached? There is constant, consistent failure by the worlds most powerful armed forces. Consistent failure by highly intelligent, highly educated, highly trained generals and politicians. Consistent failure in a region the US has had a magnifying glass on for 30 years. Don't know the difference between Sunni and Shia? Please. Maybe the average Congressman doesn't, but you can bet Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld do. The US intelligence machine has been all over Iraq at the very least since Desert Storm on the early 90's. They know precisely the differences between Sunni and Shia and have intricate knowledge of any other factors, and they are probably manipulating these two groups against each other.

Perhaps the failure is the success. Maybe failure is the plan. After all, try try again. If you win, well, the war has to stop doesn't it? If the war stops, the executive power grab stops, never mind that there might be questions and consequences about all those nasty things that were done to the Constitution and to liberty.

In these days of linguistic gymnastics, in which George Orwell would be a busy translator, the term 'stay the course' serves a double duty; an obfuscation of the truth and the laying bare of it.

Labels: Iraq, War of Terror

Condoleeza Rice is today's spokesperson for all that is inane. The following exchange is between Rice and 9/11 Commissioner Ben-Veniste (video here):

BEN-VENISTE: Isn't it a fact, Dr. Rice, that the August 6 PDB warned against possible attacks in this country? And I ask you whether you recall the title of that PDB?

RICE: I believe the title was, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

She goes on to explain, with a slightly impatient tone in her voice, that this PDB (presidential daily briefing) contains absolutely no warning of any sort of impending terrorist attack. It was simply an attempt by the FBI to give some historic perspective on Bin Laden's activities.

Lets examine the title (which she confirms) again. ""Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States."

What it doesn't say is Bin Laden Historically Determined to Attack the United States. Nor does it say Bin Laden Was Determined to Attack Inside the United States. It does not imply has been, or could be, or might, or did or tried to.

What it does say, through the use of strong, clear language, is that Bin Laden Is Determined to Attack Inside the USA. There can be no confusion, unless you are purposefully sowing it.

Of course, this could all be cleared up if the PDB in question would be declassified. But, because secrecy is their only refuge from justice and the truth, they refuse to do so.

Labels: Mangled Logic, War of Terror

Christopher Brauchli, writing for counterpunch.org, has todays ode to insanity. Beyond the ridiculousness of the situation, there is the tragedy of it. And there should be outrage as well.

Props to my home and native land for stepping up, or at least trying to. Canada does do some things right. Hey Albania, let them c'mon over.

Labels: Afghanistan, Bush, Mangled Logic, torture, Uighurs, War of Terror