Imperial Hubris

Colorado secede? Counties weigh exit plan to form state of ‘North Colorado’

"It’s an uphill climb that looks Rocky Mountain high, but a collection of independent-thinking counties may mount an effort to secede from the rest of Colorado and form their own new state. The idea is rooted in the political rift that many Coloradans – especially rural ones – feel with a Denver-based state legislature that has taken a liberal turn in recent years. A new state, if it formed, might be called North Colorado. Similar ideas have sprung up in other US states. But again, since 1863, secession to form a new state hasn’t actually happened." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingColorado secede? Counties weigh exit plan to form state of ‘North Colorado’

Marijuana’s March Towards Mainstream Confounds Feds

"It took 50 years for American attitudes about marijuana to zigzag from the paranoia of 'Reefer Madness' to the excesses of Woodstock back to the hard line of 'Just Say No.' The next 25 years took the nation from Bill Clinton, who famously 'didn't inhale,' to Barack Obama, who most emphatically did. Now, in just a few short years, public opinion has moved so dramatically toward general acceptance that even those who champion legalization are surprised at how quickly attitudes are changing and states are moving to approve the drug - for medical use and just for fun." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMarijuana’s March Towards Mainstream Confounds Feds

Drone strikes are an order of magnitude deadlier to Afghans than manned aircraft

"A study conducted by a US military adviser has found that drone strikes in Afghanistan during a year of the protracted conflict caused 10 times more civilian casualties than strikes by manned fighter aircraft. The new study, referred to in an official US military journal, contradicts claims by US officials that the robotic planes are more precise than their manned counterparts. It appears to undermine the claim made by President Obama in a May speech that 'conventional airpower or missiles are far less precise than drones, and likely to cause more civilian casualties and local outrage'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrone strikes are an order of magnitude deadlier to Afghans than manned aircraft

Snowden Issues Statement Condemning Actions of Both Obama and Biden

"For decades the United States of America have been one of the strongest defenders of the human right to seek asylum. Sadly, this right, laid out and voted for by the U.S. in Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, is now being rejected by the current government of my country. The Obama administration has now adopted the strategy of using citizenship as a weapon. Although I am convicted of nothing, it has unilaterally revoked my passport, leaving me a stateless person. Without any judicial order, the administration now seeks to stop me exercising a basic right. A right that belongs to everybody. The right to seek asylum." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSnowden Issues Statement Condemning Actions of Both Obama and Biden

Rafael Correa says Ecuador helped Edward Snowden by mistake

"Ecuador is not considering Edward Snowden’s asylum request and never intended to facilitate his flight from Hong Kong, president Rafael Correa said. Snowden was Russia’s responsibility and would have to reach Ecuadorean territory before the country would consider any asylum request, the president said. The president, speaking to the Guardian at the presidential palace in Quito, said his government did not intentionally help Snowden travel from Hong Kong to Moscow with a temporary travel pass. 'It was a mistake on our part,' he added, clashing with expressions of gratitude the 30-year-old fugitive issued hours later, before Correa’s views had been published." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRafael Correa says Ecuador helped Edward Snowden by mistake

Edward Snowden’s letter to the president of Ecuador

"While the public has cried out support of my shining a light on this secret system of injustice, the government of the United States of America responded with an extrajudicial man-hunt costing me my family, my freedom to travel and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression. As I face this persecution, there has been silence from governments afraid of the United States government and their threats. Ecuador however, rose to stand and defend the human right to seek asylum. The decisive action of your consul in London, Fidel Narvaez, guaranteed my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong – I could never have risked travel without that." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEdward Snowden’s letter to the president of Ecuador

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

Egyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

"Egypt’s presidency on Tuesday rejected an army ultimatum threatening to intervene if Islamist President Mohamed Morsi did not meet the demands of the people, raising the stakes in the country’s political crisis. The army statement, read out on television Monday, had given Morsi 48 hours to comply with its call. 'If the demands of the people are not met in this period… (the armed forces) will announce a future roadmap and measures to oversee its implementation,' it said. But in a statement issued overnight, the presidency insisted it would continue on its own path towards national reconciliation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgyptian president rejects army’s ultimatum to meet demands of protesting crowds

New U.S. Sanctions Imposed on Iran to Halt Gold Trading

"The first American sanctions on Iran since a moderate cleric won the presidential election there on June 14 went into effect on Monday, expanding the number of penalized industries and imposing rules that theoretically could halt all gold and currency trade by the country. Bullion dealers in other countries who flout the prohibition risk severe American penalties, including expulsion from the United States precious metals market. Iran has increasingly traded its oil and gas for gold with countries like Turkey because of earlier financial sanctions that have prevented the Iranians from using conventional bank payment methods." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew U.S. Sanctions Imposed on Iran to Halt Gold Trading