Dialectical Maneuvers

Saving the rhino with U.S. military surveillance drones

"A rhino farmer in South Africa is planning to use surveillance drones designed for the US military to combat poachers who are driving the animals towards extinction. Clive Vivier, cofounder of the Zululand rhino reserve in KwaZulu-Natal province, said he has been granted permission by the US state department to buy the state-of-the-art Arcturus T-20 drone. He is now seeking clearance from local civil aviation authorities to put 30 of the drones in South African skies. He appealed for the US, UK or other countries to help raise the necessary funds." Continue reading →

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U.S. warns Egypt of return to ‘bad old days’ of Mubarak

"The United States warned Tuesday there must be no return to the 'bad old days' of the Mubarak era in Egypt, as the army there called for talks to resolve a crisis over a constitutional referendum. 'We continue to have deep concerns about the situation in Egypt,' State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. Tens of thousands of protesters filled Cairo streets to demonstrate for and against the referendum called for Saturday on a draft constitution backed by President Mohamed Morsi and his Islamist allies." Continue reading →

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As Europe Plots Closer Ties, Britain Mulls Split

"German Chancellor Angela Merkel called last week for turning the European Commission, which currently drafts legislation and regulates competition, into 'something like a European government.' The phrase alone rattles the teeth of many British politicians, who have warned for decades of the specter of a European superstate. Last month, Cameron faced a huge rebellion within his own party as 81 of the 303 Conservative lawmakers defied his orders and voted to hold an urgent referendum on EU membership in 2015." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAs Europe Plots Closer Ties, Britain Mulls Split

Egypt protesters tear-gassed as world concern mounts

"Anti-riot police fired tear gas on Saturday to disperse protesters camped out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square as Western governments voiced growing concern over Islamist President Mohamed Morsi’s assumption of sweeping powers. The president already held both and executive and legislative powers and Thursday’s decree puts him beyond judicial oversight until a new constitution has been ratified in a referendum." Continue reading →

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Occupy hatches plot to destroy payday loan industry

"'The Debt Resistor’s Operations Manual' is 122 pages of some of the dodgiest financial advice we’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder the entire thing was published for free and written by 'an anonymous collective' of contributors. Here’s one of their more elaborate plans to upend the predatory payday lending industry, which involves finding 1,000 people from three different continents willing to commit fraud." Continue reading →

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Obama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

"The FOIA was filed in response to an article that appeared in The Washington Post this week, claiming that Obama issued a secret directive shortly before the elections that empowers the military to 'vet any operations outside government and defense networks' for cyber security purposes. However, because the exact text of the directive remains a secret, nobody can really say exactly what it does. That was somewhat disconcerting to American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel Michelle Richardson, who told Raw Story on Wednesday that without the text, 'it’s hard to see what they mean.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama’s ‘secret’ cyber security law may allow ‘military deployment within the U.S.’

Americans Aged 18-29 Have A More Favorable Response To Socialism Than To Capitalism

"In the prior post, we showed a presentation that looked at America from the perspective of a corporation and how it would be completely unsustainable. Luckily, there is little probability that America will ever have anything to do with S-Corp status, and far more likely end up as an agrarian Kolhoz. The reason: based on a Pew survey of America's youth, or those aged 18-29, more have a positive view response toward Socialism than they do toward Capitalism. We will leave it at that. Socialism: 49% Positive / 43% Negative. And Capitalism: 46% Positive / 47% Negative." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmericans Aged 18-29 Have A More Favorable Response To Socialism Than To Capitalism

Veterans struggle with benefit claims thanks to missing war records

"Over the last decade, millions of military field records from Iraq and Afghanistan have been lost or destroyed, making it difficult for some soldiers to prove their combat experiences and obtain medical benefits or other veteran awards and services. Our reporting found a few reasons behind the problem. The loss of field records - after-action write-ups, intelligence reports and other day-to-day accounts from the war zones - has far-reaching implications. It has complicated efforts by soldiers like DeLara to claim benefits. And it makes it harder for military strategists to learn the lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan." Continue reading →

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Where FEMA Fell Short, Occupy Sandy Was There

"This stretch of the coast remained apocalyptic, with buildings burned like Dresden and ragged figures shuffling past the trash heaps. There was still no power, and parking lots were awash with ruined cars. On Wednesday morning, as the winds picked up and FEMA closed its office 'due to weather,' an enclave of Occupiers was huddled in a storefront amid the devastation, handing out supplies and trying to make sure that those bombarded by last month’s storm stayed safe and warm and dry this time." Continue reading →

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3rd ex-Jackson officer pleads guilty in bribery case

"The last of three former Jackson police officers charged in a bribery case has pleaded guilty. The three men were indicted on charges of accepting bribes to protect drug shipments. It turned out the men they thought were drug dealers were really FBI agents. Anthony Ricardo Payne changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Jackson, one week before his trial was to begin. Two other former officers, Monyette Quintel Jefferson and Terence Dale Jenkins, pleaded guilty Oct. 17. Their sentencing is Jan. 7, however, it may be pushed to Feb. 28, to coincide with Payne's sentencing hearing. " Continue reading →

Continue Reading3rd ex-Jackson officer pleads guilty in bribery case