hypocrisy

Michael Scheuer: For Egypt’s Islamists war is a legitimate option

"What should concern Americans most about the near certainty of war in Egypt, and thus the broadening of the mujahedin’s overall war against the West, is whether Obama’s administration — in league with pro-Israel Republican and Democratic senators, Britain, and Israel — used its intelligence services to help the leaders of Egypt’s anti-democratic opposition to organize, fund, and train the democracy-killing forces that filled Cairo’s streets with demonstrations and prompted the Egyptian army to use that most democratic of all tools — a military coup." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: For Egypt’s Islamists war is a legitimate option

When is a coup not a coup?

"Republicans also voiced strong support for Egypt’s military, whose close ties to Washington stretch back to the 1979 Israeli-Egypt peace accords. 'The Egyptian military has long been a key partner of the United States and a stabilizing force in the region, and is perhaps the only trusted national institution in Egypt today,' said U.S. Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House. 'Democracy is about more than elections,' he said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhen is a coup not a coup?

Who is this that “Makes Nations Tremble”?

"Mr. Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, had gone to the Tanzanian capital to commemorate the 15th anniversary of a terrorist bombing at the U.S. embassy. Just hours later, his administration quietly ordered two European countries – France and Portugal – to deny access to their airspace to a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales home from Russia. This was a hijacking – an act of official terrorism committed against an elected head of state of a country with which the US is not at war. The President who authorized it commands a nuclear arsenal and routinely kills innocent people through remote-controlled drones." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWho is this that “Makes Nations Tremble”?

Edward Snowden’s leaks cause editorial split at the Washington Post

"It said: 'Stopping potentially damaging revelations or the dissemination of intelligence to adversaries should take precedence over US prosecution of Mr Snowden — which could enhance his status as a political martyr in the eyes of many both in and outside the United States.' And all this in the paper responsible for publishing Snowden’s leaks. Syndicated newspaper columnist David Sirota contends that the editorial 'represents the paper’s higher-ups issuing a jeremiad against their own news-generating source and, by extension, the reporters who helped bring his leak into the public sphere.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden’s leaks cause editorial split at the Washington Post

Why the BBC Fails to Care

"Over the past three years, 150 managers received a total of £25 million in severance payments – and 10 of the most senior executives accounted for more than £5 million of that sum. The report from the National Audit Office (NAO) into severance payments at the BBC scotched the myth that the Corporation had been contractually bound to make them. Over the past three years, 150 managers received a total of £25 million – and 10 of the most senior executives accounted for more than £5 million of that sum. The NAO said the BBC not only operated an excessively generous policy on severance payments, but had 'exceeded contractual requirements' in doing so." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy the BBC Fails to Care

French and British Spying Rivals NSA’s

"Reports are now getting out that the French government and the British government both run data-monitoring programs that involve spying as comprehensive as NSA’s. But this is not getting as much attention, because they have not had leakers with stolen documents that prove this. The protests of European governments against NSA spying on their people turns out to be turf war. The government’s politicians resent the fact that the NSA has invaded their turf. Only domestic spies are allowed to spy on domestic populations in European countries. Privacy is a thing of the past all over the world. The cost of spying on us keeps falling." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench and British Spying Rivals NSA’s

What Reasonable Person WOULDN’T Avoid the Cops?

"In 2000, the US Supreme Court ruled that warrantless narcotics checkpoints in Indiana were unconstitutional. Police in at least two states have responded by setting up fake checkpoints, and then stopping motorists who seek to avoid them. Police in Mayfield Heights, Ohio are now using the same tactic by placing 'Drug Checkpoint Ahead' signs in the express lanes of Interstate 271. Although such checkpoints are illegal, observes Professor Ric Simmons of Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, lying about one is not, because police 'can lie to anybody.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat Reasonable Person WOULDN’T Avoid the Cops?

France revealed to be spying on its citizens’ phone calls, email and social media

"France’s external intelligence agency spies on the French public’s phone calls, emails and social media activity in France and abroad. It said the DGSE intercepted signals from computers and telephones in France, and between France and other countries, although not the content of phone calls, to create a map of 'who is talking to whom'. It said the activity was illegal. 'All of our communications are spied on,' wrote Le Monde, which based its report on unnamed intelligence sources as well as remarks made publicly by intelligence officials. 'Emails, text messages, telephone records, access to Facebook and Twitter are then stored for years,' it said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance revealed to be spying on its citizens’ phone calls, email and social media

Bill Bonner: Special Independence Day Edition

"Eventually history will tell the story of how Edward Snowden came out and revealed the extent to which the feds - under the guise of protecting us from terrorism - were laying the foundation for a police state. This was deeply disturbing to thoughtful people...if there were any...who feared the rise of an all-knowing, all-powerful Big Brother, from whom no secrets are kept, from whom no desires are hidden. And it was disturbing too to the Big Brothers themselves. They insisted on knowing everything about everybody else's business. But they made it a crime to reveal what they were up to! In short, nobody likes a snitch...and a snoop especially dislikes a snitch." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBill Bonner: Special Independence Day Edition

‘Top French politicians had Swiss accounts’

"A former executive of a Geneva-based bank says he gave authorities in France a list of 15 former and current French cabinet ministers with secret Swiss bank accounts. Pierre Condamin-Gerbier, formerly with Reyl & Company, said on Wednesday he had submitted the list of 'big names' to investigators. Condamin-Gerbier was a witness before a French parliamentary commission investigating France’s former Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac, who resigned in disgrace in March over an undeclared foreign bank account said to contain around €600,000. Cahuzac is now facing charges of tax fraud. He had earlier said the list contained a number of well-known names." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Top French politicians had Swiss accounts’