Winning Hearts & Minds

Israel closes probe into Palestinian activist’s tear-gas death

"Israel’s army has decided to close an investigation into the killing of a Palestinian activist during a West Bank demonstration in 2009, an Israeli rights group said Tuesday. According to B’Tselem, the military’s prosecutor general had decided to close the case for lack of evidence. Bassem Abu Rahmeh, 30, who was struck in the chest by a tear-gas canister on April 17, 2009 at a protest in the village of Bilin, and died of his wounds. The army had decided to open an investigation into Abu Rahmeh’s death in 2010 after a team of international experts found its forces had fired the tear gas in violation of regulations." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIsrael closes probe into Palestinian activist’s tear-gas death

Afghan authorities slam NATO after drone strike kills 16 civilians

"Afghan authorities have accused NATO forces of killing 16 civilians, including four children, in a drone strike targeting Taliban militants in the country’s Kunar province on the border with Pakistan. The incident occurred on Saturday when NATO drones destroyed a pickup truck with civilians inside after its driver agreed to give a lift to Taliban insurgents, provincial governor Shuja ul Mulk Jalala said. According to UN data, over 1,000 civilians were killed in Afghanistan in the first half of 2013 and another 2,000 injured. This is a 23 percent increase in comparison with the same period last year." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfghan authorities slam NATO after drone strike kills 16 civilians

After Bold Step on Syria, French Leader Finds Himself Dismissed as Lackey

"As portrayed in a satirical television show here this week, President François Hollande is left behind to hold President Obama’s coat while the American leader and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia hold private talks. Mr. Hollande gullibly concludes he is playing a key role. In the show, 'Les Guignols de L’Info,' a rough equivalent of 'The Daily Show,' Mr. Hollande is seen interrupting a visit to a school to ask Mr. Obama’s permission to use the bathroom. If Mr. Hollande ever thought that his decision to stand steadfast alongside the United States in backing a retaliatory strike against Syria would give him new stature on the global stage or help him at home, the last week has been a sharp shock." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAfter Bold Step on Syria, French Leader Finds Himself Dismissed as Lackey

President Obama Calls for Conscience Vote On Syria, Even If Public Opposed

"'It's conceivable that, at the end of the day, I don't persuade a majority of the American people that it's the right thing to do,' Obama said in response to a question from ABC News during a solo press conference at the conclusion of the G20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia. But, Obama said, members of Congress need to consider the lessons of World War II and their own consciences and vote 'yes' to authorize the use of force, even if it means going against the opinion of the majority of their constituents. 'Each member of Congress is going to have to decide if [they] think it's the right thing to do for America's national security and the world's national security,' Obama said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPresident Obama Calls for Conscience Vote On Syria, Even If Public Opposed

Humanitarian Murder: It’s a Gas

"The true humanitarian position on any question of war is to reject it entirely: war is nothing more than the creation of the collective state, not the individual constituents thereof. US military involvement in Syria will do nothing more than complicate matters not just in Syria, but also the entire region. Indeed, the same politicians who speak so proudly of 'democracy' have no problem imposing it upon others (through death and destruction), but when it comes to their own countrymen, it is but a whisper. Today, only 9% of Americans support any intervention in Syria, and this number is low for good reason: Americans simply do not trust their government anymore." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHumanitarian Murder: It’s a Gas

Satoshi Forest, Nine-Acre Sanctuary for the Homeless

"The location at 1999 Massachusetts Ave, Pensacola, FL encompasses nine acres of wooded land that will now become, as Jason King describes it, 'a homeless sanctuary, a place where the downtrodden can find respite from the ‘crime’ of being simply being poor.' The property cost $89,000 to purchase, which, King writes, 'for acreage within the developed part of greater Pensacola, is dirt cheap.' The mortgage on the property, valued at $600 per month, will be paid entirely in Bitcoin. Once housing construction is well underway, they also intend to add a large kitchen for preparing food, and then begin organic farming operations which he later intends to expand to aquaculture." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSatoshi Forest, Nine-Acre Sanctuary for the Homeless

Satoshi Forest, Nine-Acre Sanctuary for the Homeless

"The location at 1999 Massachusetts Ave, Pensacola, FL encompasses nine acres of wooded land that will now become, as Jason King describes it, 'a homeless sanctuary, a place where the downtrodden can find respite from the ‘crime’ of being simply being poor.' The property cost $89,000 to purchase, which, King writes, 'for acreage within the developed part of greater Pensacola, is dirt cheap.' The mortgage on the property, valued at $600 per month, will be paid entirely in Bitcoin. Once housing construction is well underway, they also intend to add a large kitchen for preparing food, and then begin organic farming operations which he later intends to expand to aquaculture." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSatoshi Forest, Nine-Acre Sanctuary for the Homeless

More Bad Consequences from Obamacare

"I am an insurance agent for the nation's largest multiple line insurance company. There are over 17,000 of us, all independent contractors with our own employees, who, like us, are not employed by the insurance company. On September 3rd, the company announced that it would terminate all Group Medical health insurance that our employees (who work for us, not the company) participate in, effective January 1st, 2014, citing the Affordable Care Act and its restrictive underwriting requirements." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMore Bad Consequences from Obamacare