History Repeating

Musty Idea: War To Maintain “Credibility” As A Global Hegemon

"In the most recent episode of U.S. war hysteria, the media was filled with endless remarks on how Syria had to be attacked to maintain U.S. 'credibility'. These individuals, and many others just like them, care not a whit about the lessons of history. Ronald Reagan sang the same interventionist tune while he was President. Even after 241 U.S. Marines were killed in the Beirut barracks bombing, he kept up the 'credibility' rhetoric. The warring classes know that the American public has a short memory. Few will recall what happened in Lebanon and the 'credibility' garbage that was tossed around back then." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMusty Idea: War To Maintain “Credibility” As A Global Hegemon

It’s official. America’s Suez moment has arrived

"Britain had once been the dominant power in the world. But years of unsustainable finances and economic decline changed all of that. By the end of World War II, Britain was nearly bankrupt. But reality hadn’t set in yet. They still saw themselves as a superpower. British policymakers were still at the peace table. They helped set up the UN, divide up Germany, and even influence the new global financial system at Bretton Woods. Reality finally hit during the Suez Crisis. It became clear that the UK no longer had the economic fortitude or international standing to do as it pleased. And with the US opposed to the invasion of Egypt, the British government had no choice but to withdraw." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIt’s official. America’s Suez moment has arrived

Record return of Arctic ice cap as it grows by 60% in a year

"A chilly Arctic summer has left nearly a million more square miles of ocean covered with ice than at the same time last year – an increase of 60 per cent. The rebound from 2012’s record low comes six years after the BBC reported that global warming would leave the Arctic ice-free in summer by 2013. Some eminent scientists now believe the world is heading for a period of cooling that will not end until the middle of this century – a process that would expose computer forecasts of imminent catastrophic warming as dangerously misleading." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRecord return of Arctic ice cap as it grows by 60% in a year

Czech communists to return in office for first time since 1989

"Many people associate the Communists to 41 years of repression. But by being out of power for so long, the party has escaped the taint of sleaze that has tarnished the governments that took over from it. Sobotka added that if his party formed a government, its economic policy would be more leftist than the previous centre-right coalition government, with plans to raise taxes for the biggest corporations and for high earners. Jiří Stránský, a dissident writer imprisoned under Communist rule, said he believed today's Communists were dangerous populists. 'I am saddened that after nearly 24 years the country has ended this way, when we started out so amazingly,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCzech communists to return in office for first time since 1989

CIA Begins Weapons Delivery To Syrian Rebels

"The CIA has begun delivering weapons to rebels in Syria, ending months of delay in lethal aid that had been promised by the Obama administration, according to U.S. officials and Syrian figures. The shipments began streaming into the country over the past two weeks, along with separate deliveries by the State Department of vehicles and other gear — a flow of material that marks a major escalation of the U.S. role in Syria’s civil war. The arms shipments, which are limited to light weapons and other munitions that can be tracked, began arriving in Syria at a moment of heightened tensions over threats by President Obama to order missile strikes to punish the regime of Bashar al-Assad." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCIA Begins Weapons Delivery To Syrian Rebels

Is This Why Obama is So Desperate for a Nice Little War?

"Why the desperation to focus our attention externally, to monsters abroad in need of slaying? Could it be the mushrooming NSA scandal, that all of a sudden has grown exponentially more serious with today’s Guardian Snowden-leak sourced report that the 'NSA shares raw intelligence including Americans’ data with Israel.' According to Glenn Greenwald, the National Security Agency routinely sends raw intelligence information to Israeli intelligence without first removing information about American citizens. In effect, rather than serving to protect the safety of Americans and national security of the United States the NSA has seemingly become an agent of Israeli intelligence." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIs This Why Obama is So Desperate for a Nice Little War?

Misesians on 9/11, Then and Now

"I attended the Mises Institute’s Supporters Summit in 2001. Occurring shortly after 9/11, which was itself unsettling in its pointless bloodshed, we also knew that so much more bloodshed was to come, and that all the planned attacks on human liberty and decency, such as the USA-PATRIOT ACT, were all in the works. Libertarians were virtually alone in opposing the planned expansions of government power in the wake of 9/11, and we saw the attacks for what they were: criminal attacks on human persons and property which nonetheless have not been set right or rendered impossible by more than a decade of nearly untrammeled government theft, war, regulation, and spying." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMisesians on 9/11, Then and Now

American Banksterism Through the Ages

"The Bank of the United States 'ran into grave difficulties through mismanagement, speculation, and fraud.' -- James J. Kilpatrick, The Sovereign States; '[Henry Clay's] income from this business [general counsel to the Bank of the United States] apparently amounted to what he needed: three thousand dollars a year from the bank as chief counsel; more for appearing in specific cases; and a sizable amount of real estate in Ohio and Kentucky in addition to the cash . . . . When he resigned to become Secretary of State in 1825, he was pleased with his compensation.' --Maurice Baxter, Henry Clay and the American System" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerican Banksterism Through the Ages

Kerry and McCain’s favorite Syria ‘expert’ fired for faking credentials

"A prominent pro-Syrian intervention expert, cited by both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sec. of State John Kerry, lied about her academic credentials and failed to disclose her ties to rebel groups in the embattled republic. An op-ed piece by O’Bagy published in the Wall Street Journal drew fire over O’Bagy’s failure to disclose her ties to rebel groups in Syria. After the article was published on Aug. 30, it came to light that she is affiliated with the Syrian Emergency Task Force, a lobbying group that facilitates contract negotiations involving the U.S. and British governments and other agencies which provide aid to Syrian rebels." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingKerry and McCain’s favorite Syria ‘expert’ fired for faking credentials

Protesters gather in DC to demand no strike against Syria

"As Congress prepares to consider a proposal for airstrikes in Syria against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, public sentiment is tilted against the idea. Protesters gathered to make their objections felt in the nation's capital this weekend, calling into question President Barack Obama's case that action is necessary to maintain international law, deter other 'bad actors' and protect American credibility." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingProtesters gather in DC to demand no strike against Syria