Imperial Hubris

What’s Happening in Egypt?

"Former US Ambassador and neocon John Bolton has endorsed the Egyptian coup and the insightful libertarian Lew Rockwell believes nothing good can come of it for Egyptians. Below, we ask whether this is one of the greatest diplomatic reversals for the US in modern times ... then add in our conclusion that 'we don't know.' What seems fairly certain is that the Muslim Brotherhood would not have obtained power without US backing and now they are out of power. What takes place over the next few days and weeks should clarify this tale. We hope whatever happens will benefit Egyptians, who have seen nothing but bloody turmoil and despotism for decades." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat’s Happening in Egypt?

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 →

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Susan Rice for National Security Advisor?

"She and her husband have a net worth estimated at between $23.5 and $43.5 million. From October 1997 to January 2001, she was Bill Clinton's Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She supported Washington's imperial Afghan and Iraq wars. She urged longterm occupation. She endorsed imperial war on Libya. She falsified claims about Gaddafi forces committing mass rapes. She ignored Western-enlisted death squad atrocities. She's been silent about them throughout Obama's war on Syria. She blames Assad for Western imperial crimes. She asked for UN authorization to wage war. She favors partnering with Israel against Iran." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSusan Rice for National Security Advisor?

Michael Hastings and the Hillary Clinton Link

"Michael Hastings, who died in a fiery car crash, had more enemies than just General Stanley McChrystal, who was forced to resign because of a Hastings story. American Free Press reminds us: Hastings had a long list of powerful enemies. Hillary Clinton was reportedly infuriated by Hastings, who dug up the truth about what happened in Benghazi, Libya, contradicting Hillary’s and Obama’s official version. After Hastings asked too many hard-hitting questions, Hillary’s personal spokesperson, Philippe Reines, sent Hastings an email, posted online on Sept. 24, 2012, which said: 'Have a good day. And by good day I mean [expletive deleted].'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Hastings and the Hillary Clinton Link

Utah launches new federalism commission to push back Washington

"For too long Utah and other states have not exercised their sovereign powers in the face of the federal government’s growing reach into new arenas, according to leading members of a new state commission assembled to study and push back against federal authority. 'History has shown that if you concentrate power it was a fundamental threat to the rights of people and it was corrupting,' Senate Majority Leader Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, told the inaugural meeting of the Commission on Federalism. 'We have watched that happen for the last 50 years as the federal government has broadened its jurisdiction in a number of issues.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUtah launches new federalism commission to push back Washington

US sends Irish government arrest warrant for Snowden

"The Government has received a request from the US authorities to arrest fugitive US intelligence analyst Edward Snowden. The provisional arrest warrant received by the Irish Government from the US authorities is now being handled by the extradition Unit in the Garda’s crime and security branch based in Garda headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin. The warrant has been issued as a pre-emptive strike against any effort by Mr Snowden to evade the US authorities by flying from Moscow to Havana on a commercial flight that stops off at Shannon for refuelling. The warrant would enable the Garda to arrest Mr Snowden under the Extradition Act 1965." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS sends Irish government arrest warrant for Snowden

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales threatens to close U.S. embassy

"Bolivia’s president threatened to close the US embassy as leftist Latin American leaders joined him in blasting Europe and the United States after his plane was rerouted amid suspicions US fugitive Edward Snowden was aboard. President Evo Morales, who has suggested the United States pressured European nations to deny him their airspace, warned he would 'study, if necessary, closing the US embassy in Bolivia.' 'We don’t need a US embassy in Bolivia,' he said. 'My hand would not shake to close the US embassy. We have dignity, sovereignty. Without the United States, we are better politically, democratically.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBolivia’s President Evo Morales threatens to close U.S. embassy

The Real National Security Interest of America

"McCain thinks that our common good rests in deeply expanding U.S. government involvements in dozens of foreign countries. How such an indirect, tortuous, and demonstably dangerous path achieves the common good of Americans is a deep mystery. It is beyond belief that the McCains in the Senate think they can improve other countries when they cannot even identify America's common good and take steps domestically to improve that good. Can Senator McCain explain how the U.S. involvements in Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Afghanistan have furthered the common good of Americans?" Continue reading →

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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

CA Medical Marijuana Dispensary Numbers Shrink in Two-Pronged War of Attrition

"Anyone who is following the situation in the Golden State at all closely has seen a numbing litany of reports of dispensaries forced out of business, including from some of the most venerable, respected, and law-abiding operations in the state. What had been the occasional raid or prosecution by the DEA or federal prosecutors during the early years of the Obama administration has turned into a heightened onslaught since the issuance of the notorious Cole memo, written by Assistant Attorney General James Cole, two years ago next week and the announcement by California's four US Attorneys that fall that they were declaring open season on dispensaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCA Medical Marijuana Dispensary Numbers Shrink in Two-Pronged War of Attrition