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McCain takes photos with 9/11 Truthers!
John McCain poses for a picture with guys holding a sign that reads "9/11 was an Inside Job," Truly entertaining!
McCain, who wrote the forward to Popular Mechanics' Debunking 9/11 Myths, repeatedly told reporters, "I do not support a new investigation" and stated that he believes the "9/11 Commission did a good job."
In an interview with Dan Rather, when asked if over this past decade evidence pointed to "State Sponsored Terrorism" and that a decision was made to look the other way,
McCain responded by saying:
"I felt that there's been involvement" John McCain poses for a picture with guys holding a sign that reads "9/11 was an Inside Job," Truly entertaining! ... more -
Iraq Vets KNOW 9/11 Was an Inside Job
I asked my buddies, so we're here to find weapons of mass destruction, and they laughed at me, and I said, we're here to help the people, and they laughed at me, and I said, "What's our Mission? What's our Goal?" I thought we were going to find the people that did 9/11, I thought we were get these weapons of mass destruction, I thought we were going to help people. They we're like, "All we're trying to do now is make it home alive." I'm going to lead you in now for the other lies, 'cause you guys know the lies, but I bled for these lies. I watched my brothers die for these lies.
"if one person shoots at you, kill everybody"
you roll into Baghdad, every single big apartment building is blown up. Every single apartment building in Baghdad has been broken to the ground by artillary and airplanes bombing.
You cannot meet someone in Iraq who has not lost a family member. Can you imagine what we would have done in America if after 9/11 everybody in America lost a family member? What would we be doing? Would we be talking about war? No. We'd be in the streets with weapons.
People talk about, "Oh, these people killing American Soldiers in Iraq, they're terrorists." They're not terrorists, they're wearing sandals. They got an AK, and they got 14 year old boys building bombs to kill these American soldiers because we killed their family.
So, we're done in Baghdad, we killed enough people. I WAS ORDERED TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. We killed innocent people. When they shot at us, we shot everybody.
We're done. Every guy I've ever served with is against this war. I asked my buddies, so we're here to find weapons of mass destruction, and they laughed at me, and I said, we're here to hel... more -
Pakistan's future tied to the oval office
Dr. Tariq Amin-Khan: Will Obama or McCain represent a new policy toward Pakistan? Part 5
The US military has increased the frequency of drone attacks inside Pakistani territory, resulting in high numbers of civilian casualties. Though Obama was the first to call for these kinds of operations within Pakistani borders, Dr. Amin-Khan believes that Obama is more likely to change this failed policy than is McCain. Obama provides the potential for a broader approach to easing tensions in the region than the military-only approach, embraced by Bush and McCain, that has only made things worse. Identifying the lack of economic development as the greatest source of the conflict, Dr. Amin-Khan believes that the only US policy which can realistically improve the situation in Pakistan is a new Marshall Plan.
Tariq Amin-Khan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Ryerson University. In addition to a PhD in Social and Political Thought from York University in Toronto, he holds a Master’s degree in South Asian Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Karachi in Pakistan. The title of his doctoral thesis is Theorizing the Post-Colonial State in the Era of Capitalist Globalism.
See Part 1 at: http://current.com/items/89339338_pakistan_on_the_brink
See Part 2 at: http://current.com/items/89351852_is_pakistan_s_zardari...
See Part 3 at: http://current.com/items/89361227_global_meltdown_pakis...
See Part 4 at: http://current.com/items/89373446_what_do_the_taliban_w... Dr. Tariq Amin-Khan: Will Obama or McCain represent a new policy toward Pakistan? Part 5 ... more -
Singer Songwriter Joshua Morrison discusses Iraq
Joshua Morrison is a singer songwriter and an Iraq War veteran. In this outtake, he talks about how his time in Iraq has affected his music. Joshua Morrison is a singer songwriter and an Iraq War veteran. In this outtake, he talks about how his time in Iraq has affected his ... more
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I vote Sarah Palin as ideal role model for America's daughters!
I just want to state right here, right now that I believe Sarah Palin is not only more than qualified for the position of Vice President of the United States of America, but is also an EXCELLENT parental role model for all soccer moms and daughters to live up to.
The fact that she has had to endure the pressures of living on the border of the Soviet Union with Putin doing "fly-overs" over our magnificent state of Alaska, credit could only be given to Sarah Palin for keeping a watchful eye and Americans safe.
I've no doubt, given the opportunity, that while aerial hunting wildlife in Alaska, seeing Putin flying over, Palin would have taken aim and shot the leader of the USSR down and rid the world of that communist threat once and for all. I have no doubt at all pitbull / soccer mom wearing lipstick! More power to you WOMAN - you are strong!
You can not only bring home the bacon, you can shoot it and skin it alive, you can cook it up in a frying pan and make men cry.
I can only imagine the pride her daughters feel about their mom. It's refreshing to see her adolescent daughter being so mature, having babies and getting married and so forth. It's got to make Sarah proud and a testament to Sarah's parenting skills that her daughter is psychologically and emotionally advanced beyond her years. Just one more reason to Vote for Palin.
With the growing circle of so much love and support within the Palin family, I'm sure it won't be long before the Palin family girls bless us with more offspring - maybe even one of the boys.
My own daughter is only 8 years old, but I am so full of confidence in Sarah Palin's leadership, judgment and parenting skills that I am hoping (and encouraging) my own daughter to look to the example set by Sarah and her family for guidance and direction in her own life choices. I especially encourage my son to emulate the examples set by that first family of Alaska.
If my daughter has sex and conceives a child at say 14 or 15 years of age, I can rest easy that it isn't due to a lack of my parental guidance and discipline or that my daughter is emotionally deprived and neglected at home, but that my young daughter is emulating the fine example set forth by our Vice President, and dare I say, soon to be President of the United States.
Go Sarah Palin!!!!!! Down those "Rooskies" with brewskies Sarah Palin!!!!
Note: heavy sarcasm. I just want to state right here, right now that I believe Sarah Palin is not only more than qualified for the position of Vice Preside... more -
LA TRAGEDIA DEL 911 ANTICIPATA SEI MESI DA UNA SERIE TV!
LA TRAGEDIA DEL 911 ANTICIPATA SEI MESI DA UNA SERIE TV!
Il 4 Marzo 2001 (potete verificare la data ovunque) andò in onda sui network televisivi americani, il telefilm "The Lone Gunmen", i cui protagonisti principali sono i "consulenti" di Fox Mulder in "The X-Files", Langly, Byers e Frohike, i cosidetti "Pistoleri Solitari".
Ebbene in questo "spin-off" di X-Files, nella prima puntanta intitolata "Pilot" si trova la "profezia" di un atroce evento che sarebbe avvenuto qualche mese dopo. Nella puntata pilota si vede un Boeing 747 di una comune linea aerea, pieno di passeggeri, dirottato sul... Word Trade Center. Inoltre l’aereo è dirottato “da remoto” sfruttando il pilota automatico e la natura dei mandanti dell’attentato.
Nel telefilm l’attacco sarebbe organizzato da alcuni settori del Governo Federale allo scopo di “giustificare l’aumento delle spese militari e l’attacco ad un paese con un regime non affine agli Stati Uniti“.
E' solo una coincidenza oppure c'è davvero un sospetto (legittimo o meno che sia) che dietro le idee di Chris Carter (ideatore della serie "X Files" e di "The Lone Gunmen") ci sia la supervisione di qualche ente governativo e di "intelligence" USA?
Sopra alcuni spezzoni del telefilm RILEVANTI (in inglese con i sottotitoli in italiano) rispetto ai tragici eventi che sarebbero realmente accaduti 6 mesi dopo...
Commenti? LA TRAGEDIA DEL 911 ANTICIPATA SEI MESI DA UNA SERIE TV! ... more -
Soldier Songwriter
Iraqi war vet, now singer-songwriter, Joshua Morrison sits down talk about his music, his inspiration, and his duty as a soldier.
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The View From Over There
Has America's image been tarnished by the last eight years? Democrats seem to think so, and increasingly so do some Republicans. Collective Journalism contributors around the world work to gauge America's image abroad, as US policymakers struggle to maintain positive feeling in spite of ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"The View From Over There" takes in an depth look at American foreign policy and how it affects America's image abroad. In this show, we feature a look at how other countries view the US, especially in the wake of Sept 11, the War on Terror, and the War in Iraq. We also hear from citizens of other countries about who they prefer in this year's US election. And finally, we show a unique perspective on the issue of how to handle Iran - an Iranian perspective.
Collective Journalism, Current's citizen journalism program, works by combining perspectives from contributors like you around the world. All month until Election Day, CJ will be airing special investigations into the most important issues of this election. Has America's image been tarnished by the last eight years? Democrats seem to think so, and increasingly so do some Republicans. ... more -
Delta Force Prevented from Getting Bin Laden
Bin Laden was known to be holed up at Tora Bora on a ridge with an elevation of 14,000 feet. The Delta Force team's initial plan was to come at him from the direction he'd least expect, climbing over the mountains at his back, but that plan wasn't approved by the higher-ups. Their second idea, to drop hundreds of landmines along the mountain passes to Pakistan to impede bin Laden's retreat and then bring in helicopters, was also turned down.
"How often does Delta come up with a tactical plan that's disapproved by higher headquarters?" CBS's Scott Pelley asked the commando leader.
"In my experience, in my five years at Delta, never before," he replied.
If this war was about bin laden then why would opportunities been avoided.....oh thats right the bin ladens and bush family were friends....
I swear we have been convinced to engange in a war fighting "terrorists" which cannot be wone but can be continually perpetuated trying to find "terrorists" Bin Laden was known to be holed up at Tora Bora on a ridge with an elevation of 14,000 feet. The Delta Force team's initial plan ... more -
Turkey bombs PKK targets in Iraq
Turkish warplanes launched airstrikes on 21 PKK bases inside and across the border of northern Iraq following clashes that killed 15 Turkish soldiers last Friday. The Turkish military released a statement reporting on the mission and the safe return of the warplanes to their bases, but didn't disclose any other details. This is the fourth raid on PKK bases since the attack last week. Turkish warplanes launched airstrikes on 21 PKK bases inside and across the border of northern Iraq following clashes that killed 15 T... more
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Russia Bolivia ink helicopter deal
Forrest Hylton: There used to be a recognition of US spheres of influence - all that is over.
Russia and Bolivia strengthened their ties this week. With Moscow concluding a deal with La Paz to purchase five Russian civil defence helicopters. The deal also forms part of a strategy of Latin American integration, sidelining the United States, as countries like Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina among others, attempt to re assert control over their own progress. Forrest Hylton states that "there used to be a recognition of spheres of influence all that is over."
Forrest Hylton is the the author of Evil Hour in Colombia (Verso, 2006), and with Sinclair Thomson, co-author of Revolutionary Horizons: Past and Present in Bolivian Politics (Verso, 2007). He is a regular contributor to New Left Review and NACLA Report on the Americas. Forrest Hylton: There used to be a recognition of US spheres of influence - all that is over. ... more -
The encirclement of Russia
Chalmers Johnson: "We have to back down unless we are looking for real confrontation with Russia". Part 3
Chalmers Johnson: "It's amazing that we have gone this far pushing the Russians around ... They are the only people on earth who could literally destroy us."
Chalmers Johnson taught from 1962 to 1992 at the Berkeley and San Diego campuses of the University of California. From 1968 until 1972 he was a consultant to the Office of National Estimates of the Central Intelligence Agency. He has written 17 books. His most recent releases are “Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire” (Metropolitan Books, 2000) and “The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic” (Metropolitan, 2004) and his newest book, “Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic" (Metropolitan, 2007). Chalmers has been a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times, the London Review of Books, Harper’s Magazine, and The Nation among others, he appears in the 2005 prize-winning documentary film "Why We Fight".
See Part 1 at: http://current.com/items/89370666_massive_us_military_b...
See Part 2 at: http://current.com/items/89373406_last_days_of_the_amer... Chalmers Johnson: "We have to back down unless we are looking for real confrontation with Russia". Part 3 ... more -
Americans and reality
Robert Parry: The Reagan presidency further detached Americans from world reality. Part 3
Robert Parry is an American investigative journalist. He was awarded the George Polk Award for National Reporting in 1984 for his work with the Associated Press. In 1995, he established Consortium News as an online ezine dedicated to investigative journalism. From 2000 to 2004, he worked for the financial wire service Bloomberg. Major subjects of Parry's articles and reports on Consortium News include the presidency of George W. Bush, the career of Army general and Bush Secretary of State Colin Powell (with Norman Solomon), the October Surprise controversy of the 1980 election, the Nicaraguan contra-cocaine investigation, the efforts to impeach President Clinton, right-wing terrorism in Latin America, the political influence of Sun Myung Moon, mainstream American media imbalance, United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as well as international stories . Parry has written several books, including Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & "Project Truth." (1999) and Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq (2004).
See Part 1 at: http://current.com/items/89369029_america_pays_the_pipe...
See Part 2 at: http://current.com/items/89370644_america_pays_the_pipe... Robert Parry: The Reagan presidency further detached Americans from world reality. Part 3 ... more -
The Secret Behind the Surge
Bob Woodward's final book on the Bush years in Iraq, The War Within, reports that top secret American targeting and assassination operations--extra-judicial killings--were "very possibly" the biggest factor in reducing violence in 2006-07, even more than the so-called troop surge itself.
He writes that the "groundbreaking" operations were carried out as Special Access Programs or under the Special Compartmentalized Information effort.
Woodward and his editors consider this strategy of summary executions of "key individuals in extremist groups" so ultra-sensitive that they chose not to reveal "the state secrets that have been so beneficial to Iraq."
"Because disclosing the details of such operations could compromise their ongoing use," Woodward writes, "I have chosen not to include more here."
The programs were considered "awesome" by President Bush and were effective enough to give "orgasms" to the top intelligence adviser to Gen. David Petraeus, Derek Harvey.
As he has in the past, Woodward chooses to keep significant and explosive news a secret out of deference to the Pentagon and White House. The media is no longer independent, but part of the national security apparatus. (The New York Times, for example, held the story on FISA/domestic wiretapping for one year.)
Thus far no mainstream media writer has sought to uncover the whole story, and why it was withheld since being launched in May 2006.
No member of Congress has raised a question either. Most lawmkers, however well-intentioned, know little about counterinsurgency doctrine, the actual role of counterterrorism units, and the vast gulags that already hold some 100,000 Iraqis and Afghans in detention without charges or lawyers.
Some immediate questions:
• Since the Iraqis on the receiving end presumably know about these tactics, why keep them secret from the American public, Congress and media?
• How are the operations consistent with US constitutional law and international human rights standards?
• Are they joint US-Iraqi operations, or only US operations?
• Are those targeted for execution carrying out any military action at the time, or do their names only have to appear on target lists?
• Did the target lists come from Iraqi informants or official sources, and how were they verified?
• Why were the targets killed instead of being detained?
• How many targeted individuals were killed or made to disappear?
• Who in the Administration, Congress and upper echelons of the media have known, and for how long?
This is the essence of a dirty war, and could well be the updated "global Phoenix program" recommended by Petraeus adviser David Kilkullen in 2004.
The shame is the utter silence with which the news is being met. Bob Woodward's final book on the Bush years in Iraq, The War Within, reports that top secret American targeting and assassination... more -
Poland ends Iraq mission
Poland formally ended its Iraq mission in the Shiite province of Diwaniyah on Saturday leaving US troops to take their place, as an Iraqi commander warned insurgency could re-emerge.
Poland's final contingent of 900 troops would return home by end of the month and the withdrawal process was already underway, a military official told journalists at the ceremony in this central Iraqi town.
Warsaw's Defence Minister Bogdan Klich attended the ceremony and parade, where troops from Armenia, Mongolia, Romania, Ukraine, Latvia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States also participated.
"We feel responsible for the future of Iraq. The completion of our mission does not mean end of our engagement," Klich said. "We hope to cooperate in Iraq's economic and financial areas."
Iraq's top military commander, General Babaker Zebari, thanked Polish troops for helping restore stability in the region, but warned that security gains should not be taken for granted. Poland formally ended its Iraq mission in the Shiite province of Diwaniyah on Saturday leaving US troops to take their place, as an Ir... more -
Sarah Palin in 30 seconds
"Sarah Palin's debate performance, reduced to its essence."
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The F Word: Where Iraq and Main Street Meet
Even as Congress urges aid to Wall Street, there are many running for office around the country today pledging to cut federal budgets on things like social spending, public services, and aid to financially strapped communities.
John McCain in the first presidential debate came on strong as a spending cutter. He's for the bail out -- but he pledged that if elected he'd freeze all other government spending -- all of it -- except for spending on war and care for vets.
But you can't hurt communities and help Vets at the same time. The fact is, more than 200,000 veterans are homeless today -- they're not just affected by what goes on in Main Street America, they may be living right there. And a disproportionate number of our service men and women come from rural America - some of the most economically stressed places in the country. They joined the military, many of them, because of the absence of other opportunities in their home towns.
Military families are poor families. Of a total of 700,000 spouses across all services, the Defense Department reports that about half are married to enlisted persons making less than $20,000 a year.
Thousands of military families rely on food stamps to get through the month. That’s right: the families of our troops need food stamps to feed themselves. Writes one Vietnam veteran on the website, The Olympian: “Without food stamps, many military families would not survive.”
If deficit spending's ok to help failed bankers or finance a war of choice -- don't tell us we have to shrink budgets where Main Street America is concerned. That's where military families live. Better yet, you want to help military families? Bring the troops home.
The $10 billion we're spending now on the Occupation -- Just think what it could do. Even as Congress urges aid to Wall Street, there are many running for office around the country today pledging to cut federal budgets ... more -
The Veteran Mystique
The true cost of the war in Iraq will be far greater than the government's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Some estimates are as high as $3 trillion when all is said and done.
In the first presidential debate McCain and Obama displayed the bracelets that had been given to them by the families of fallen soldiers. Susan Donnelly, a mother who works for peace and for veterans and an activist with Code Pink, says that maybe McCain should try wearing 4,000 bracelets. McCain's entire campaign is riding on his service in Vietnam and his "veteran mystique." But his record on voting for veterans is poor. So where does he stand and should the children of our nation's leaders serve in foreign wars? John Eisenhower had a recent op-ed in the New York Times arguing that presidential children don't belong in battle.
On GRITtv we discuss the war and where the candidates stand on Veteran affairs with Paula Rogovin, of Military Families Speak Out, Jose Vasquez, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Susan Donnelly, a mother and CodePink activist. The true cost of the war in Iraq will be far greater than the government's proposed $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. Some est... more -
The Deadly Infantilization of American Politics: Robert Fisk and Patricia DeGennar...
Perhaps the Iraq occupation has taken a back seat to the US economy in the minds of the American electorate. Yet we want and need a little more foreign policy discussion out of this campaign. How is it possible to unfairly grill a prospective commander in chief on a raging war? After 8 years of Bush, have our expectations for what a top leader can articulate fallen so low as to make a meaningful debate impossible?
To take the measure of U.S. foreign policy in this campaign, we turn to Robert Fisk, Britain's foremost foreign correspondent, who writes for the Independent and author of a new collection of essays, The Age of the Warrior; and Patricia DeGennaro, Professor at New York University and founder of the Institute for Integrated International Policy. Perhaps the Iraq occupation has taken a back seat to the US economy in the minds of the American electorate. Yet we want and need a li... more -
Negroponte on Surprise Iraq Visit
The US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte has arrived on a surprise visit to Iraq, the US Embassy in Baghdad said.
He will meet senior Iraqi officials to discuss political, security, and economic progress in the country. The Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) will also be high on the agenda, as it has run into problems and Negroponte has long held the reputation of being America's diplomatic strong-arm man.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani just back from Washington has said that the US is threatening to seize Iraqi assets and oil money if an arrangement is not worked out on SOFA that is to Washington's liking.
It should be remembered that Negroponte was the point man for American state terrorist activities in Central America when the US was destabilizing Nicaragua, overseeing the bloody suppression of opposition to its rightist allies in El Salvador and militarizing Honduras where he was the US ambassador in the 1980s. The US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte has arrived on a surprise visit to Iraq, the US Embassy in Baghdad said. ... more
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