hypocrisy

U.S. condemns ‘outrageous’ Tunisia assassination

"The United States on Thursday condemned the assassination of a leading critic of Tunisia’s ruling Islamists, saying violence had no place in the country’s transition to democracy. Tunisian MP Mohamed Brahmi was shot dead outside his home Thursday in the second such slaying this year, with fingers again pointed at the authorities. 'We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Brahmi’s family, friends and colleagues and to the people of Tunisia,' State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said, adding US officials 'strongly condemn' the killing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. condemns ‘outrageous’ Tunisia assassination

America has history when it comes to forcing down planes in defiance of international law

"International law (and the Chicago Convention regulating air traffic) emphatically asserts freedom to traverse international airspace, but America tends to treat international law as binding on everyone except America (and Israel). Thus when Egypt did a deal with the Achille Lauro hijackers and sent them on a commercial flight to Tunis, US F-14 jets intercepted the plane in international airspace and forced it to land in Italy, where the hijackers were tried and jailed. In 1986 Israel forced down a Libyan commercial plane in the mistaken belief that PLO leaders were among its passengers, and the US vetoed UN security council condemnation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerica has history when it comes to forcing down planes in defiance of international law

France drops law that makes insulting the president a criminal offense

"Being rude to the French president is no longer an offence after parliament amended legislation dating back to 1881 in favour of freedom of speech. Previously any rude remark risked a fine and criminal conviction for 'offending the head of state'. But the change was pushed through after criticism from the European court of human rights. In March, the court ruled that France had violated the right to freedom of expression after giving a criminal conviction to a man holding a cardboard sign telling the then-president Nicolas Sarkozy to get lost, uttered by Sarkozy himself months earlier when a man refused to shake his hand at an agricultural fair." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance drops law that makes insulting the president a criminal offense

Small government promoter Rick Perry sends Texas $2.6 million bill for promotional travel

"Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) likes to talk tough about his small government credentials, but the numbers he’s been racking up lately tell a different tale: according to The Houston Chronicle, the arch conservative’s out-of-state security detail has cost Texas taxpayers a whopping $2.6 million since he was reelected in 2010. All that money has gone to pay for Perry’s security details as he tours the country trying to poach jobs from other states, and from his ill-fated bid for the Republican nomination to the presidency, according to data released by the Texas Department of Public Safety (TXDPS)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSmall government promoter Rick Perry sends Texas $2.6 million bill for promotional travel

Federal Government Consummates Theft of “Camp Zoe” in Missouri

"Rush Limbaugh’s net worth is estimated to be in excess of $400 million, and his annual income more $30 million. He owns several homes and a number of private aircraft. He was certainly a ripe target for prosecution and 'asset forfeiture' – or he would have been, had he been a commoner like Jimmy Tebeau, rather than the politically connected grandson of retired federal Judge Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr., whose name is affixed to the courthouse where the entertainer’s cousin consummated the theft of Tebeau’s business and property." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFederal Government Consummates Theft of “Camp Zoe” in Missouri

Obama Co-Sponsored 2004 Bill Strengthening Self-Defense in Illinois

"President Barack Obama has questioned the wisdom of 'Stand Your Ground' laws, which in many states provide that a person using justified force in self-defense against an attacker has no duty to retreat before using that force. However, in 2004, then-State Senator Obama co-sponsored a bill that strengthened an Illinois law providing for the use of lethal force in self-defense, making the use of such force more likely. Though Obama had made gun control a signature issue early in his career in the state capitol representing the urban, liberal district of Hyde Park, the need to appeal to voters statewide may have prompted Obama's co-sponsorship of the self-defense legislation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Co-Sponsored 2004 Bill Strengthening Self-Defense in Illinois

Imagine the ‘outrage’ from environmentalists if it had been an oil derrick

"Dozens of birdwatchers who traveled to a Scottish island to see an extremely fast and rare swift have been left distraught after it was killed by a wind turbine. There had been only eight recorded sightings of the white-throated needletail in the UK since 1846. So when one popped up again on British shores this week, bird watchers were understandably excited. A group of 40 enthusiasts dashed to the Hebrides to catch a glimpse of the brown, black and blue bird, which breeds in Asia and winters in Australasia. But instead of being treated to a wildlife spectacle they were left with a horror show when it flew into a wind turbine and was killed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingImagine the ‘outrage’ from environmentalists if it had been an oil derrick

US Is World’s Largest Tax Haven

"What is the world's largest tax haven? If you guessed any country in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Central or South America or Europe, then you would be wrong. Only the United States can lay claim to that title. Ever since the French loaned money to the struggling revolutionaries who defeated the British to create the United States, to today where the Chinese are buying U.S. Treasury debt, the United States would not be able to maintain its economy without large inflows of foreign capital. Foreign investors can invest in the United States virtually tax free — in structures that are legally protected from risks and, currently, with secrecy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Is World’s Largest Tax Haven

Tear Gas, A Deadly Chemical Weapon, in Bahrain

"This week we read from Britain’s Foreign Secretary that Britain is shipping gas masks to the Syrian rebels. I believe that this is so that the rebels can more freely use chemical weapons against the Syrian government forces. To understand why I say this, we need to connect a few dots. We know that Bahrain has made intensive use of tear gas, enough to kill many civilians and protesters. The United States and Great Britain have supported Bahrain’s government for decades, and they supported the most recent suppression of protests. Britain has supplied Saudi Arabia with many weapons, including tear gas, which were weaponized and used in Bahrain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTear Gas, A Deadly Chemical Weapon, in Bahrain

Ex-Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta fined $13.9 million for insider trading

"A federal judge Wednesday ordered former Goldman Sachs board member Rajat Gupta to pay a $13.9 million penalty related to insider trading. The SEC’s case against Gupta concerns alleged civil violations stemming from his communications with former Galleon hedge fund tycoon Raj Rajaratnam. In a parallel criminal case, a New York jury in June 2012 convicted Gupta of spilling boardroom secrets to Rajaratnam. In addition to his spot on the Goldman Sachs board, Gupta had been head of the renowned consultancy McKinsey & Co and a director of Procter & Gamble, making him one of the most successful Indian immigrants in the United States." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta fined $13.9 million for insider trading