Imperial Presidency

Obama steps into China’s African shadow

"Obama's trip comes a little over two months after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Africa. Chinese investments in Africa have grown steadily over the years that the United States has been engaged in Asia and the Middle East. Several private Chinese firms have also invested heavily in Africa. For example, Huawei, a leading global telecom services provider, has invested US$1.5 billion and employs 4,000 workers in Africa alone. The past decade's trade figures also attest to China's growing ties with Africa, having grown from just $9 billion in 2000 to $200 billion in 2012. That is more than double the US trade for last year, which stood at $95 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama steps into China’s African shadow

South African group calls for Obama’s arrest during presidential tour

"Cosatu cites Obama's 'horrifying record of US foreign policy in the world', highlighting, the 'militarisation of international relations for the multinational companies and their profit-seeking classes in the US'. It is also opposing the 'US support for oppressive regimes that benefit US narrow interests', saying in a statement on its website that its call was part of world-wide struggle against imperialism. Many in the country have already heeded the call with a huge protests, dubbed the 'Nobama campaign', being planned across the country. The University of Johannesburg's decision to award him an honorary degree has already spurred protest and frustration." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSouth African group calls for Obama’s arrest during presidential tour

Paul Craig Roberts: Washington Is Driving The World To The Final War

"It is not possible for a true patriot to support a government that destroys the Constitution. The United States is the Constitution. Our country is not the Obama regime, the Bush regime, or some other administration. Our country is the Constitution. The Constitution is our country. Beyond obligations to one’s own country, all humans have a responsibility to human life itself. Washington’s puppet states, such as the NATO countries, Japan, and Colombia, by providing cover and support for Washington’s aggression are enabling Washington to drive the world into World War III." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Craig Roberts: Washington Is Driving The World To The Final War

Biden calls Ecuador’s president about NSA leaker Snowden

"Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa on Saturday said Vice President Joe Biden had called him to urge the South American country to deny an asylum request from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, according to reports. Correa added that no decision would be made on the asylum request unless Snowden was on Ecuadorian territory and said that the admitted leaker would 'have to assume his own responsibilities' for his actions. Correa disclosed the phone call from Biden during a television interview in Ecuador. National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said Biden and Correa spoke on Friday, but would not provide more details." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBiden calls Ecuador’s president about NSA leaker Snowden

Why Roger Stone’s JFK book has to be taken seriously

"Roger Stone is the first JFK assassination author to have worked in the White House and among the few who have personal acquaintances with JFK’s sucessors. Stone’s background doesn’t mean that his interpretation of November 22, 1963, is necessarily correct, but he cannot be dismissed as 'conspiracy theorist' who is deluded about the realities of American politics and power. To the contrary, he has far more first-hand experience with those Washington realities than an academic like John McAdams or a prosecutor like VIncent Bugliosi. I think Stone’s indictment of Lyndon Johnson deserves to be taken more seriously than anyone else’s." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhy Roger Stone’s JFK book has to be taken seriously

More than half of Americans disapprove of Obamacare

"A majority of Americans say Obamacare will make things worse for their families and the nation overall, a poll released on Thursday found, highlighting the challenges his administration still faces in winning over the public. Overall, the survey of nearly 2,050 adults showed 52 percent disapprove of the 2010 law aimed at expanding access to health insurance for millions of people, according to Gallup. Another 44 percent said they back the changes. Among those polled, 42 percent said it would make their family’s healthcare situation worse while 33 percent said it would have little impact. Just 22 percent said they thought it would help, the poll showed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore than half of Americans disapprove of Obamacare

China’s state newspaper praises Edward Snowden for ‘tearing off Washington’s sanctimonious mask’

"The strongly worded front-page commentary responded to harsh criticism of China from the US for allowing Snowden to flee. 'Not only did the US authorities not give us an explanation and apology, it instead expressed dissatisfaction at the Hong Kong special administrative region for handling things in accordance with law,' wrote Wang Xinjun, a researcher at the Academy of Military Science. 'In a sense, the United States has gone from a 'model of human rights' to 'an eavesdropper on personal privacy', the 'manipulator' of the centralised power over the international internet, and the mad 'invader' of other countries' networks,' the People's Daily said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina’s state newspaper praises Edward Snowden for ‘tearing off Washington’s sanctimonious mask’

The 5 Richest Cabinet Members of All Time

"No. 5: W. Averell Harriman, commerce secretary, 1947-48; Estimated wealth in current dollars: $841 million; Harriman earned his money the old-fashioned way: He inherited most of it from his father, E.H. Harriman, founder of the Union Pacific Railroad. No. 4: William C. Whitney, Navy secretary, 1885-89; Estimated wealth in current dollars: $1.1 billion; Whitney came into his money via political connections and by marrying Flora Payne, the sister of Oliver Hazard Payne, one of John D. Rockefeller’s close assistants and earliest investors. No. 3: Penny Pritzker, commerce secretary, 2013." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe 5 Richest Cabinet Members of All Time

Crony Chicago-Based Billionaire Heiress Joins Obama Cabinet

"The Senate has confirmed Chicago-based billionaire Penny Pritzker as new Commerce Secretary. She was an early and important source of money in Obama's first presidential campaign. Pritzker is also on the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. She serves as trustee of Stanford University. She's an advisory board member of Robert Rubin's Brookings Institution's Hamilton Project. This, folks, is a major insider. Forbes lists her wealth at $1.7 billion. Her father co-founded the Hyatt Hotel chain." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrony Chicago-Based Billionaire Heiress Joins Obama Cabinet

Smearing Glenn Greenwald: The Gregorian Connection

"The campaign to demonize Edward Snowden, whose revelations about the National Security Agency’s ubiquitous and ongoing spying on the American public has the Obama regimein furious disrray, has taken on a new dimension – now they’re going after Glenn Greenwald, the Guardian reporter and columnist Snowden chose to tell his story. Glenn has alreadypreempted some of this in his Guardian column, but there is sure to be more. What’s interesting about this effort is that it tells us far more about the smear-merchants – and who they serve – than it does about Greenwald." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSmearing Glenn Greenwald: The Gregorian Connection