Mad Statists

Hold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling

"The media never holds anybody to either their predictions or their results–officeholders, politicians, and of course their own pundits. And it’s a good thing for people like Bill Kristol, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham. No matter what the overseas 'crisis' or where it is, they are gung ho about sending either U.S. forces or U.S. arms into the fray. Recently, these war hawks have been pounding the drums for U.S. greater intervention in Syria. Their argument isn’t that the Syrian rebellion will fall apart if the United States doesn’t provide arms, it’s that when the insurgents finally take over Syria, the U.S. will won’t have much 'influence.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHold US Policymakers to Their Abysmal Record on Foreign Meddling

Drugs, steel, and MKULTRA: engineering the super-soldier

"For those who still wonder whether the famed CIA MKULTRA mind control program of the 1950s continued after the announced cut-off date, your question is answered. Coerced brain and behavioral conditioning is at the core of creating the super-soldier. The military can’t afford to risk trillions of dollars on pharmaceutical enhancement and body-part replacement, without also controlling the thoughts, responses, and actions of its high-priced personnel. Finally, consider this. An all-out operation to transhumanize the military could not take place unless there is absolute dedication to fighting wars without end. You don’t re-build humans for a future of skirmishes or peace treaties." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDrugs, steel, and MKULTRA: engineering the super-soldier

Military ready to act over Syria says U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel

"US officials said Washington wanted to cultivate military ties with Malaysia and other governments in Southeast Asia to ensure stability in the region and to encourage a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China’s assertive stance over the waterway has raised concerns in Washington. Beijing claims virtually all of the South China Sea and has stoked rising concern among rival claimants, particularly the Philippines, of a gradual takeover of disputed islets. The Pentagon is offering help to Southeast Asian countries with ships, aerial reconnaissance, joint training and other initiatives as they try to better monitor their coastal waters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMilitary ready to act over Syria says U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel

Leaping to Conclusions

"When I read this news item, I was shocked at the flimsiness of it as a justification for the US to attack Syria. What the nation’s political leaders are saying is so irrational, so superficial, so hasty and so ill-considered. I feel as if the country is being run by people lacking in stability of temperament, emotional control, judgment, patience, experience, understanding and maturity. I don’t think they understand how to do good via neutrality. They are men of power, action, and intervention, who do not understand the consequences of their actions. They seem to have made up their minds and now do not want to be bothered by anything that might possibly paint a different picture." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLeaping to Conclusions

Tony Blair supports intervention against Assad regime in Syria

"Tony Blair has called on the west to stop 'wringing our hands' as he endorsed intervention against the regime of Bashar al-Assad and warned governments against ostracising the military dictatorship in Egypt. In his first intervention since the chemical weapons attack last week, the former prime minister said the west should not be neutral in protecting Syrians from the Assad regime and 'affiliates of al-Qaida' seeking to exploit the instability. Blair, who was humiliated by Assad during a trip to Damascus after the 9/11 attacks, when the Syrian president likened Palestinian suicide bombers to the Free French, said it was time to intervene against the regime." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTony Blair supports intervention against Assad regime in Syria

Michael Scheuer: Observing King Obama’s Syrian madness

"Our heroic, if addled Knesset-member-wannabees McCain and Graham warn that if we do not do 'something' about the Syrian regime’s chemical weapons, Asaad may well turn them over to terrorist groups. Interesting point, but only if you say it fast and do not ponder it. If we destroy Asaad’s regime in favor of the al-Qaeda-led Syrian opposition, won’t those unkempt Islamist laddies inherit Syria’s chemical-weapons arsenal? As night follows day, if the U.S.-led West destroys the Syrian regime, our highly intelligent King Obama will have succeeded in arming al-Qaeda and its allies with Asaad’s chemical weapons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: Observing King Obama’s Syrian madness

A Congressman who Doesn’t Cotton to the Constitution

"Rep. Cotton has proposed a measure that would punish family members of people who violated U.S. sanctions against Iran with prison sentences of up to 20 years. As Cotton explained: 'There would be no investigation. If the prime malefactor of the family is identified on the list for sanctions, then everyone within their family would automatically come within the sanctions regime as well.' The sanctions measure itself is constitutionally illegitimate, since Congress has no jurisdiction over the military and economic policies of any other nation. Rep. Cotton would compound that offense against the Constitution by imposing collective punishment – without trial – on the basis of kinship." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Congressman who Doesn’t Cotton to the Constitution

The Real, Terrifying Reason Why British Authorities Detained David Miranda

"Those in power were angry and impulsively acted on that anger. They're lashing out: sending a message and demonstrating that they're not to be messed with -- that the normal rules of polite conduct don't apply to people who screw with them. That's probably the scariest explanation of all. Both the U.S. and U.K. intelligence apparatuses have enormous money and power, and they have already demonstrated that they are willing to ignore their own laws. Once they start wielding that power unthinkingly, it could get really bad for everyone." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Real, Terrifying Reason Why British Authorities Detained David Miranda

Run Snowden Run!

"NSA leaker Edward Snowden set the world on fire when he stood up to the powerful and secretive National Security Agency, exposing its illegal and unconstitutional spying to a global audience. Since that time, statists, neoconservatives, and supporters of the Obama administration have called for him to stand trial for treason. Meanwhile, civil liberties activists have hailed him as a whistleblower and a hero. Some have even suggested that the NSA should be disbanded, that its officials should be held accountable, and that Edward Snowden deserves a ticker tape parade. Today's Enemies Domestic short tackles this national conversation head-on." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRun Snowden Run!

The war on African poaching: is militarization doomed to fail?

"Governments have given game rangers better weapons, engaged intelligence analysts, and put spotter planes, helicopters, and unmanned drones into the air. Some have deployed their national defense forces into national parks. Private wildlife custodians have spent millions on their own armed anti-poaching guards, sniffer dogs, mini-drones, and informants. The continental-scale slaughter of rhinos and elephants continues to intensify, despite rising arrests and killings of poachers and increasing interdiction of illegal shipments of rhino horn and ivory. Some drug policy experts liken the uphill battle against African poaching to the war on drugs, an extraordinarily expensive, bloody failure." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe war on African poaching: is militarization doomed to fail?