2011/11/05

Gerald Celente: Collapse is Coming! Are you Ready??

On June 13th, Trends Journal Subscribers and the global media received this alert: "Collapse is coming. Are you Ready?" In that Trend Alert, Gerald Celente accurately predicted that a global economic collapse was imminent. "The economy is on the threshold of calamity, and another violent financial episode is looming," he wrote. Celente warned that the trends of the summer of 2011 paralleled those in play during August of 2007, trends that had accumulated in the panic of 08. He dismissed the assurances of world leaders that policies were in place to mitigate the escalating European and US debt crises. He discounted "media experts" promoting an imaginary recovery or debating the prospects of a double-dip recession. It was all bogus. Those assurances were hot air, and the "recovery" talk and "double-dip recession" debates were just red herrings. In that trend alert, Celente urged readers to resist the urge to lapse into a vacation state of mind, and he warned that the coming panic was going to be distinctly different! In the summer of 2007, before the "Panic of '08" set in, the Dow had hit a high of 14,000, the real estate and credit bubbles had not yet burst, and unemployment was a manageable 4.7 percent. People actually still felt prosperous! The "Collapse of 2011" follows four years of relentless economic decay. The combination of plummeting real estate values, intractable unemployment, and a US/European government debt crisis dwarfs the banking/financial institution turmoil of 2008!

Pravda: Israel Launches New Missile That Can Reach New York and Tokyo

Israeli Military men conducted a successful launch of Jerico-3 intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday. The test was carried out at the Palmahim airbase. the Irish Times said. At the same time, officials with Israeli Defense Forces said they had conducted the tests of a new missile engine in the morning of November 2. The launch of the missile could be seen from Ashkelon to Tel Aviv, Nesru Israel said. According to publications in the media, the three-stage missile is capable of delivering a 750-kilo warhead to a distance of of more than 10,000 kilometers. If the reports about the range of Jericho-3 are true to fact, then it means that the missile can reach such cities as Tokyo and New York. The distance between these two cities and Tel Aviv makes up a bit more than 9,000 kilometers. According to Western sources, Israel passed the Jericho-3 missile into service in 2008. However, the work on the project still continues, Missile Threat.com says. According to the publication, the takeoff weight of the missile makes up 29 tons. The missile is 15.5 meters long. The website says that in addition to the 750-kilo nuclear warhead, a Jericho-3 is capable of carrying multiple independently target- able re-entry vehicles. Even though the Jericho-3 is designed for deep underground basing, it will be possible to launch the missile from mobile platforms, including railway platforms.

Yuri Sosinsky Semikhat: Germany Deprives Israeli Navy of POWER

Construction of Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem has always provoked a mixed reaction in the West. This time, Israel's actions in this direction have been the subject of sharp criticism by Berlin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel does not hide her disappointment with the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu who does not intend to abandon the construction of settlements. At the same time, a major contract for the supply of the Israeli army with German submarines is in jeopardy. It is not ruled out that Berlin would purposely take a step in order to force Tel Aviv to abandon construct- ion at the disputed territories. It should be noted that the Germans tried to similarly influence the Netanyahu government in the past. Another story that has left an unpleasant aftertaste in the relations between the two countries took place in late 2010.

Michael Knigge: Big Failures, Small Successes For Obama's Environmental Record

As presidential candidate Barack Obama ran on a bold "green agenda". He vowed to reverse the climate change policy of his predecessor and push for "green" jobs. But one year before the election the results are mixed at best. "Few challenges facing America, and the world, are more urgent than combating climate change," President-elect Obama declared in California two weeks after the 2008 vote, and he promised: "My presidency will mark a new chapter in American leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs, and there was no shortage of events and incidents to help galvanize support for this ambitious environmental platform. In his first year in office, with a Democrat-controlled Congress and just two months after being honored with the Nobel Peace Price, President Obama, armed with the latest research outlining the dire consequences of climate change, attended what was arguably the most high stakes environmental policy drama ever staged: the Copenhagen Climate Conference. The result was the biggest reality check for anyone who believed Barack Obama could indeed restore American leadership on climate issues. The Copenhagen conference couldn't agree on a comprehensive global climate regime and is widely regarded as the final nail in the coffin of serious international climate legislation. That was in December 2009. Four months later, and much closer to home, the biggest oil spill in history wreaked havoc on the marine environment in the Gulf of Mexico, but after a government-mandated moratorium on drilling that ended a year ago, it has been basically back to business as usual for the petroleum industry in the Gulf and elsewhere.

2011/11/04

Bob Unruh: Obama Ed Aims at US Takeover!!

All schools, even parents at home, may be forced to teach the US government agenda! An organization that monitors the US government's influence on education, and specifically on parents who choose to school their own children, is warning of a pending move in Washington that would result in "de facto" "national education standards." The measure could not only require parents who home-school their children to teach certain government agenda issues, but also effectively remove much of the decision-making authority of local school boards and districts, warns the Home School Legal Defense Association. The organization focuses on issues affecting home-school students and their parents in the United States and overseas, but also keeps an eye on the larger picture of education policy. The concern is about Democrat-driven plans in the US Senate to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, a massive federal program last reauthorized in 2001, as NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND Act! HSLDA's federal relations staff have read this 868-page bill, and we believe that while it does not directly impact home-school freedom, the bill will increase the federal role in education, at the expense of state, local, and parental control.

Rev. Ted Pike: Why "Christian" Zionism Is A Cult!

The first act of Christian cults is to distort the Bible's original, clear teaching in favor of more recent "revelations" or interpretations. Cults may emphasize the few verses in Scripture that seem to support their beliefs, but ignore a host which don't. This is like taking scissors to huge sections of the Bible. Jesus says anyone who removes even a line of His Revelation will have their name erased from His book of life. This behavior precisely describes Christian "Israel-first" Zionism. Evangelism is the central emphasis of the "New Testament." The Book of Acts opens with the Christian's duty to proclaim the good news of salvation, first to the Jews in Israel, and then to the whole world. Yet Christian Zionism is not concerned with evangelism to Jews. The foremost Christian Zionist leader today, Pastor John Hagee, forbids evangelism of Jews, or even the mention of the name of Jesus in his huge "pro-Israel" rallies. Christian Zionism is primarily devoted to upholding the right of a nation of Christ-rejecting Jews to occupy Palestine. It is primarily a political, not evangelistic movement. How do Christian Zionist leaders justify such a departure?

Emma Hurd: Israel Considers Pre-Emptive Attack On Iran

According to government sources, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to rally support in his cabinet on Iran. The country's defense minister Ehud Barak and the foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman are said to be among those backing a pre-emptive strike to "neutralize" Iran's nuclear ambitions, but a narrow majority of ministers currently oppose the move, which could trigger a wave of regional retaliation. The debate over possible Israeli military action has reached a fever pitch in recent days, with newspaper leader columns discussing the benefits and dangers of hitting Iran. Mr. Lieberman responded to the reports of a push, to gain cabinet approval by saying that "Iran poses the most dangerous threat to world order." But he said Israel's military options should not be a matter for public discussion. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is due to report on the state of Iran's nuclear capabilities on November 8, and that assessment is likely to influence Israel's decision. Western intelligence officials estimate that Iran is still at least two to three years away from obtaining a nuclear bomb. Israel has long made it clear that it will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear capability that could threaten the Jewish State. Publicly, it is pushing for a diplomatic offensive against Iran, including the imposition of sanctions, rather than a military strike, but prime minister Netan -yahu has repeatedly warned that "all options are on the table."

Russell D. Longcore: What Are Unalienable Rights?

I don't think I've ever seen an expansive article about unalienable rights. We all seem to just refer to the Declaration of Independence and what Jefferson wrote, and then defer to it. But natural law and unalienable rights are where it all starts. Thomas Jefferson wrote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain Unalienable Rights .... Self-Evident. Obvious. Perhaps it was self-evident to the 18th Century common man, but I submit to you that the common 21st Century mind is not equally equipped. Much of the wisdom of the ages has been withheld from the modern man by the government schools. And why not? If you are a government, both tasked by The People to educate them and controlled by the same People, why teach generation after generation how to control you? Why not teach those generations how to be controlled? Self-evident truths bow to governmental self-preservation. Building a tower requires building a firm foundation FIRST, or your tower goes over when the winds blow hard. Gentle readers, we're in a CAT 5 hurricane right now, that's going to take down our American tower. If you do not have a working understanding of unalienable rights, you'll likely fall for the next iteration of oppressive, tyrannical government foisted upon an uneducated populace who move their lips when they read.

2011/11/03

The American Dream: 14 New Ways That The Government Is Watching YOU!T

If you live in the United States today, YOU need to understand that your privacy is being constantly eroded. Our world is going crazy, government paranoia is off the charts, and law enforcement authorities have become absolutely obsessed with watching us, listening to us, tracking us, recording us, compiling information on all of us, and getting us all to spy on one another. If you doubt that we are rapidly getting to the point where the government will monitor every breath you take, and every move you make, just read the rest of this article. The truth is that the "government" is watching you more closely than ever, and they are spending billions upon billions of dollars to enhance their surveillance capabilities even further. If our society stays on its current path, we will eventually have zero privacy left. At this point, it is not too hard to imagine a society where we will not be able to say anything, buy anything, sell anything, assemble with others, or even leave our homes without "government" permission. We truly are descending into a brutal nightmare, and the American people had better wake up! Sadly, most people living in the United States and in Europe do not realize what is happening. Most of them think that everything is just fine. The "Big Brother control grid" that is being constructed all over the western world squeezes all of us just a little bit tighter every day, and most people don't even feel it. But when you step back and take a look at the big picture, it is truly horrifying: In many areas of the United States, you will be arrested if you do not produce proper identification for the police, and I don't mean the "Rock Group", which also carry that name! Please go to http://
blacklistednews.com to read the rest of this harrowing story! THEN write to your congress man, or woman. You'll be glad you did!!!!

Stephen Lendman: Obama's Legacy Of Shame!

Promising change after eight Bush/Republican years, Obama delivered betrayal. With congressional Democrats, he exceeded Bush's harshness, lawlessness, belligerency, and public trust betrayal. He violated every major domestic and foreign issue, after breaking all of his promises: He looted the nation's wealth, wrecked the economy, and consigned millions to lose jobs, homes, savings, social services, and the possibility of a brighter future. He gave Wall Street crooks greater money power, disguised as "financial reform". He waged multiple imperial wars and occupations, spending more on military hardware than the rest of the world combined, even though America had no enemies. He ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and Libya's Gaddafi. He promoted "regime change" in Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Lebanon, and elsewhere against independent leaders, while continuing support for the world's most ruthless and corrupt tyrants. He presided over a "bogus democracy" under the guise of a homeland police state. In addition, he continued Bush's worst lawless policies, by adding more of his own, including indefinite detentions without charges, deploying Special Forces death squads in over 120 countries to kill targeted suspects, including American citizens.

James Meikle: Occupy London: Archbishop Backs New Tax on Banking

The archbishop of Canterbury has outlined a package of political and financial measures needed to take forward the "moral agenda" of Occupy London campaigners encamped outside St Paul's Cathedral. Backing a new tax on banking, Rowan Williams said the protest against financial inequality and banking excesses had been seen "by an unexpectedly large number of people, as the expression of a widespread and deep exasperation with the financial establishment that shows no sign of diminishing". Endorsing the idea of a "Robin Hood" tax on financial transactions, he said: "There is still a powerful sense around, fair or not, of a whole society paying for the errors and irresponsibility of bankers, of impatience with a return to "business as usual", represented by still-soaring bonuses and little visible change in banking practices." The archbishop's sympathy for the protestors, in an article in Wednesday's Financial Times, came after a day in which the cathedral announced it would not be taking legal action to evict them from its land, and the Corporation of London said it was pausing its bid to clear the encamp- ment. Its officials are expected to make further announcement on Wednesday.

Daniel Hannan: Eurocrats Are Terrified of Democracy!

Grece's prime minister George Papandreou is in the doghouse, only because he dared to offer voters a choice. Shall I tell you the truly terrifying about the EU? It's not the absence of democracy in Brussels, or the ease with which Eurocrats swat aside referendum results. It's the way in which the internal democracy of the member states is subverted in order to sustain the requirements of membership. George Papandreou, the luckless Greek leader, is the latest politician to find himself being chewed up, because he stands in the way of the Brussels machine. On Monday afternoon, Papandreou announced a referendum on whether to accept the EU's bail-out terms. He had evidently had enough of the antics of the opposition party, New Democracy, which kept insisting that Greece remain in the euro, while opposing all the austerity measures necessary to that end, an outrageous stance, given that New Democracy ran up the deficits in the first place. Papandreou hoped to force his opponents off the fence: In favor of the spending cuts, or against euro membership. Perhaps he also hoped to put pressure on the EU to offer more generous terms. I wish I could convey the sheer horror that his proposal provoked in Brussels. The first rule of the Eurocracy is: "No Referendums". Brussels functionaries believe that their work is too important to be subject to the prejudices of hoi polloi. Referendums are always seen as irresponsible, but at a time when the Euro is teetering on the brink, Papandreou's proposal was seen as an act of ingratitude, bordering on treason.

Congressman Ron Paul: Leaving Iraq??

It is not often that I am pleased by the foreign policy announcements from this administration, but last week's announcement that the war in Iraq was at its final stage, and all the troops may be home for Christmas, did sound promising. I have long said that we should simply declare victory and come home. It should not have taken us nearly a decade to do so, and it was supposed to be a priority for the new administration. Instead, it will be one of the last things done before the critical re-election campaign gets into full swing, but better late than never. Examining the fine print, is there really much to get excited about? Are ALL of our men and women really coming home, and in this time of economic crisis, are we going to stop hemorrhaging money in Iraq? Sadly, it doesn't look that way! First and foremost, any form of withdrawal that is happening is not simply because the administration realized it was the right thing to do. This is NOT the fulfillment of a campaign promise, or because suddenly the training of their police and military is complete, and Iraq is now safe and secure, but because of disagreements with the new government over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). The current agreement was set up by the previous administration to expire at the end of 2011. Apparently, the Iraqis refused to allow continued immunity from prosecution for our forces for any crimes our soldiers might commit on Iraqi soil. Can you imagine having foreign soldiers here, with immunity from our laws and Constitution, with access to your neighborhood?

2011/11/02

Kamal Ahmed: George Soros Attacks Brussels Rescue Deal

Veteran investor George Soros has attacked the lack of leadership at the top of the euro-zone and said that the the new Brussels "deal" to solve the debt crisis will only last between "one day and three months". Mr Soros, who achieved world wide fame when he bet against sterling remaining within the Exchange Rate Mechanism in the 1990s, said that the 50pc "haircut" on private bond holders would only reduce Greek debt by 20pc. He said that was insufficient to stop an economic decline in Greece, which would lead to greater social unrest. His words come as the euro-zone appeared to be heading for further economic trouble, as investors started to express scepticism about the rescue deal announced in the early hours of Thursday morning. This weekend Goldman Sachs said that the euro-zone countries were heading for a "mild recession" as confidence waned. "Given the magnitude of the crisis, it is again too little, too late," Mr. Soros said of the Brussels deal at a dinner organized by Pi Capital investor network on Thursday. "It will bring relief partly because the markets were so obsessed by the lack of leadership. The mere fact that something was achieved was a major relief, and it will be good for any time, from one day to three months.

George Jahn: New Signs of Syria-Pakistan Nuke Tie

UN investigators have identified a previously unknown complex in Syria, that bolsters suspicions that the Syrian government worked with A.Q. Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb, to acquire technology that could make nuclear arms. The buildings in northwest Syria closely match the design of a uranium enrichment plant provided by Libya, when Moammar Gadhafi was trying to build nuclear weapons under Khan's guidance, officials told The Associated Press. The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency also has obtained corres-pondence between Khan and a Syrian government official, Muhidin Issa, who proposed scientific cooperation, and a visit to Khan's laboratories following Pakistan's successful nuclear test in 1998. The complex, in the city of Al- Hasakah, now appears to be a cotton-spinning plant, and investigators have found no sign that it was ever used for nuclear production. But given that Israeli warplanes destroyed a suspected plutonium production reactor in Syria in 2007, the unlikely coincidence in design suggests Syria may have been pursuing two routes to an atomic bomb: uranium as well as plutonium. Details of the Syria-Khan connection were provided to the AP by a senior diplomat with knowledge of IAEA investigations and a former UN investigator. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. The Syrian govern- ment did not respond to a request for comment. It has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons, but also has stymied an investigation into the site bombed by Israel.

Stephen Lendman: Out Of Control Israeli State Terror

Having friends in high places in Washington lets Israel literally get away with murder: On October 31, Ma'an News said continued Israeli air strikes so far killed 12 Gazans. Others were wounded, some of them severely. Overnight Sunday, the IDF confirmed additional air strikes. Another cease- fire took effect at 10:00 PM. Nonetheless, early Monday, attacks continued, targeting Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. Israel overflights continue. Given its propensity for raw violence, expect more attacks at any time, for no reason, or none at all. On Sunday, Netanyahu relished having them, saying: "There is no ceasefire." Israel will murder Palestinians, and protect the residents of the south, wiping out the rocket launchers. I promise that the other side will pay an even heavier price than it has up to now, until it stops firing." No matter that Gazans respond defensively to premeditated Israeli attacks, which is Netanjahu's inverted truth, blaming the victims of IDF crimes: Since Cast Lead ended in January 2009, Hamas has rigorously observed ceasefire terms, and so do other resistance forces, except when attacked. Among other details, Israel violated Egypt's brokered truce. "Islamic Jihad is committed to the truce, as long as the occupation commits to it." However, if Israeli attacks continue, further comments said "Resistance will respond defensively!"

Libya: Al Qaeda Flag Now Flown above Benghazi Courthouse

Good News: With NATO's help, Obama has finally reached his desired mission in Libya. The American public will now see an Al Qaeda flag flown above the Benghazi courthouse. The flag, complete with Arabic script, reading: "There is no God but Allah" and full moon underneath, was seen flying merrily flying above the Benghazi courthouse building, considered to be the seat of the revolution, according to the news website Vice.com (http://www.vice.com/) Now, at last, Obama's loyal following around our world, can finally rejoice that Obama's mission for the American people has been fully completed! Vice.com also reported that Islamists had been seen driving around the city streets, waving the Al Qaeda flag from their cars, and shouting "Islamiya, Islamiya! No East, nor West". The revelation came just days after it emerged that rebels in Libya have imposed Sharia law in some parts of the country, since seizing power. Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, chairman of the National Transitional Council, said Islamic Sharia law would be the "basic source" of legislation in "free" Libya. OBAMA, born in Africa MUST BE SO PROUD!!! The move towards Islamic "extremism" is likely to alarm many in the west who supported the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi. Do you THINK????

2011/11/01

Christopher Leak, Will Stewart: A Major Deal in Kazakhstan!

Tony Blair, the billionaire donor Lakshmi Mittal, and a major deal in Kazakhstan: Tony Blair secured a deal to represent Kazakhstan, after meeting with billionaire Labor donor Lakshmi Mittal in the corruption-plagued country, according to the Mail on Sunday. Steel magnate Mittal, who has given more than millions to Labour, sat next to Mr. Blair at a meeting of powerful inter -national businessmen in the Kazakh capital Astana in May. The former Labor Prime Minister's meeting with Mr. Mittal will inevitably raise fresh claims that he has cashed in on his decade in power at Downing Street. Mr. Mittal is Britain's richest man, with a fortune of more than 20 billion pounds, and is the biggest employer in Kazakhstan. He employs 50,000 people there, and is close to the country's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. In 2001. Mr. Blair's links to Mr. Mittal were questioned, after it was revealed that he wrote a letter supporting the Indian-born billionaire's deal to buy Romania's state-owned steel firm, just two weeks after he made an enormous donation to Labour. Both parties denied Mr. Blair's support was connected with the donation. Mr. Blair's letter to the Romanian government hinted that the privatization of the company, and its sale to Mr. Mittal might help smooth the way for the country's entry into the European Union.

Lisa Karpova: Syrian President Assad Warns the "West"!!

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned that an attack against Syria by Western countries could trigger a scene equal to that of Afghanistan. In an interview published in the Sunday edition of the British Sunday Telegraph, the first granted to a Western journalist since the early protests for seven months, Assad said that in case of possible US military intervention, any problem in his country would cause "an earthquake" that will burn the entire region. Since March, Syria has been the scene of riots and armed insurrection against the Assad regime. So far, based on UN data, an estimated 3,000 people have been killed. At least 20 Syrian soldiers were killed on Saturday, and 53 others were injured, in clashes against suspected military deserters in the city of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In the interview, Assad affirmed that his country is different "in all respects" from Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, where there have been revolts against the regimes. The president noted that Syria is now in the center of that region, and compared his country to a geological fault line. He added: If you play with the ground, there is the possibility of making an earthquake! He added: "Do you want another Afghanistan, or at least ten Afghanistans."

PressTV: Obama Must Formally Apologize to Iran!

An Iranian lawmaker says the recent US anti-Iran allegations will cost Washington dearly and demands an official apology from the administration of Barack Obama. Ali Aqazadeh Dafsari, a member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told Fars News Agency on Monday that Iran has lodged an official complaint at the UN against Washington over the false accusations, claiming that Tehran plotted to assassinate the Saudi Arabian envoy. He added that the latest anti-Iran claims are part of Iranophobia projects pursued by the US, and meant to feed Israeli-backed media. Aqazadeh Dafsari said Americans have not been able to support their accusations were aimed at diverting world public opinion from the anti-corporatism protests in the US. In a recent letter to the US government, Iran has insisted that American authorities must publicly apologize to the Iranian government and its citizens for the false accusations they leveled against Tehran, in violation of international rules and regulations. In the letter, the Iranian government also demanded compensation for material and moral damages caused by the American anti-Iran propaganda campaign. The letter has been handed over to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which now represents US interests in Iran, since Tehran and Washington severed diplomatic relations in 1980.

Dr. Ismail Salami: Washington's Black Ops Against Iran

The US secret agenda for tightening its vice-like grip on the Islamic Republic of Iran has taken on an apparently new form, after the anti-Iran "alleged" assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador to the United States, Adel al-Jubeir, raised many eyebrows among experts and analysts around the world. With a strong penchant for pushing for tougher action on Iran, the Obama administration has already imposed a series of sanctions against the Islamic Republic. However, a Republic-controlled congressional committee has recently heard testimony demanding an extensive range of covert operations against the country. The operations, which range from cyber attacks to political assassinations, are speculated to be conducted under the feeble excuse that Iran was the challenged architect of an assassination plot against the Saudi envoy to the United States. By political assassination, the US congressmen unconsciously mean the liquidation of the Iranian nuclear scientists, an act they actually started long ago. Retired Army General John Keane told a hearing of two key subcommittees of the House Committee on Homeland Security on Wednesday, "We've got to put our hand around their throat now. Why don't we kill them? We kill other people who kill others." Also, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) poured some pearls of wisdom over others, and called for "sober, reasoned discussion." "Iran's leaders must be held accountable for their action," she said, "but we cannot take any reckless actions which may lead to opening another front in the 'War on Terror,' which the American people do not want, and cannot afford."

2011/10/31

Kiyoshi Takenaka: Japan's Fukushima Plant Dismantling Needs Over 30 Years

Japan will likely need more than 30 years to dismantle the tsunami-crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, the Atomic Energy Commission said on Friday, underscoring its prolonged challenges after the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. A massive earthquake and tsunami in March knocked out cooling functions at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, causing fuel rod meltdowns and radiation leakage into the atmosphere. A sub - committee of the Atomic Energy Commission, comprising nuclear and other experts who recommend the direction of nuclear policy to the government, called for the removal of melted nuclear fuel rods to start within 10 years. At the Three Mile Island plant in the United States, fuel removal started six and a half years after the meltdown accident in 1979, but it will likely take longer at the Fukushima complex, since it suffered an even more severe accident, the sub- committee said in a draft report. The subcommittee estimated it would take more than three decades to complete the process of taking out melted fuel rods from damaged reactors, and dismantling of the plant, where workers still face high levels of radioactive water and debris. The report did not provide estimated costs for the whole dismantling process. Tepco has acknowledged that it may not be able to remove the fuel from the reactors for another ten years, and experts say cleanup at the plant could take several decades!

Robyn Greene: A Tool in the Government's War on Privacy and Terror.

That is how many times between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010, federal judges let the government avoid telling someone that their home or office had been searched, and that law enforcement officers rifted through, and potentially even seized their personal belongings. We contacted the Administrative Office of the US Courts to obtain up-to-date numbers on how frequently the government uses the 'sneak and peek' searches, also called delayed-notice searches, a government surveillance tool authorized by the PATRIOT ACT. The report shows that in 2010, sneak and peek warrants were issued more than twice as often as in 2009, and more than three times as often as in 2008. Federal laws usually require the government to notify you if it searches your property. This notification serves as an essential protection for the exercise of your rights, since it lets you know if you need to protect yourself against unlawful government searches, but sneak and peak search warrants allow investigators to enter and search an individual's business or dwelling and delay notification for up to 30 days longer,'if the facts of the case justify' it, and then obtain an indefinite number of 90-day extensions.

Press TV: New Israeli Airstrikes Kill 9 in Gaza!

Israeli warplanes pounded the southern Gaza Strip for the second time today, killing at least nine Palestinians. Two members of Islamic Jihad were among those killed in the Israeli attack on the city of Rafah. Initial reports said seven Palestinians were killed, but medical teams in Gaza later that the wounded died later of their extremely serious wounds. To defend against these attacks, the Palestinians fired two long-range Grad rockets, and the Israeli media reported that at least one Israeli was killed by the rockets. Over the past months, Tel Aviv has stepped up its air strikes against the besieged coastal strip, killing many Palestinians and injuring many more. Israel had stepped up attacks against the narrow strip of Palestinian land, killing many Palestinians and injuring many more. Israel had launched attacks against Gaza before and after its December 2008 to January 2009 war on the territory, which had left more than 1,400 Palestinians dead. Supposedly, the airstrikes were carried out under the pretext of "preventing attacks" against Israel.

Yuri Sosinsky Semikhat: Arab Revolutions May Lead to War Against Israel

The color revolution in Egypt caused negative reactions in Israel from the very beginning. The staunchest followers of democratic values welcomed the national riots that targeted the tyranny of former President Hosni Mubarak. However, many Israeli politicians and public figures, who are capable of calculating the political consequences of the possible regime change in Egypt were concerned about the massive riots on Cairo's Tahrir Square. Mubarak's government was friendly with Israel. The stability on the borders with the western neighbor has been extremely important for Israel during the recent 30 years. Israel's army was always prepared for subversive activities conducted by Lebanon and Syria. Israel's Defense Forces built defense constructions and mobilized extra forces to defend its northern territories. As for Egypt, Israel has never been concerned about that country. Anyone who has ever been to Israel's southern border, knew that those were quiet and safe places for Israel. While Mubarak was in power, Egyptian extremists did not dare to conduct subversive activities against Israel. Now, the state of affairs has changed drastically, as seen from the dramatic events near the Israeli embassy in Cairo. The Egyptian military has not intervened to prevent war-like actions against radical extremists, who have axes to grind against Israel.

2011/10/30

Laura Donovan: Singer Pat Boone Insists Obama Born in Kenya!

President Barack Obama may have released his birth certificate this spring to debunk rumors that he was born outside the United States, but old school crooner Pat Boone maintains that our nation's leader originated in Africa, and has shown the world "a photo-shopped fraud." Speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Beverly Hills tea party member said he interacted with Kenyans a while back, who claim Obama was born in Kenya. "I was in Kenya a year and a half ago, and every-body said, "You know, he was born here," Boone told the northern California-based publication at a California GOP event last week. The singer argued that the president is putting millions towards "hiding all of his records" and that esteemed "experts" have dubbed the certificate a fake. "Why else would he be hiding all of his records? He's spending millions of dollars so that we do not have his records," Boone said. "And experts have already looked at, and been able to verify that this long-form document is a fraud, but the media ignores it: A total fraud, A photo-shopped fraud." Earlier this year, Obama made his birth records public, following Donald Trump's insistence that the president release the documents and negate so-
called 'birthers' who accuse the president of being foreign-born. The "Celebrity Apprentice" host even took credit, when copies of Obama's birth certificate hit the Internet. "Today I'm very proud of myself, because I've accomplished something that no one else has been able to accomplish," Trump said at a press conference after the White House announced it would release the certificate. "I want to look at it, but I hope it's true, but he should have done it a long time ago."

Jim Kirwan: Orgies Of Empire!

Empires have been with the human race almost from the beginning of time, or at least since we began to keep track of ourselves through what we call "history". There is a single common denominator, aside from all the others: Every one of these takeovers has been "financed" by others, to increase the power which the financiers seek. This has been true of every faction that ever sought to influence others and includes all political parties, both established and virtually unrecognized, and yet we fail to look at the political parties that we have grown up with as having anything to do with these revolutionary forces. That has probably been one of our greatest mistakes. We must come to understand that no party, no faction, no movement is capable of sustained efforts without political and monetary backing. Having said that, we need to look more closely at the main components of the confrontations taking place around the world in opposition to the "Austerity-measures" which are nothing but formal terms for the 'governmental-contracts' that will, if implemented, enslave us all. In the US the demonstrations have been proud to remain non-violent, as if this somehow justifies the validity of their claims against the private-corporate-governmental-forces.

Arthur Max: Gaddafi's Son Seif al-Islam Talks With International Court.

The International Criminal Court is in indirect negotiations with a so of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi about his possible surrender for trial, the chief prosecutor said Friday. Luis Moreno-Ocampo told The Associated Press that talks were being held through intermediaries, whom he did not identify, to assure Seif al Islam Gadhafi that he would receive a fair trial, and that he could be helped to find a new country of residence, if he were acquitted, or after completing a prison sentence. He said he did not know exactly where Gadhafi is. The 39-year-old was reported to be heading through the desert to Mali, where the former Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senoussi fled Wednesday. An adviser to the president of Niger said Gadhafi should cross the border into Mali later Friday or Saturday. Gadhafi and al-Senoussi were indicted by the International Criminal Court in June for unleashing a campaign of murder and torture, to suppress the uprising against the Gadhafi regime that broke out in February. The adviser in Niger, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Gadhafi was driving through the desert across an invisible line that separates Algeria from Niger. He said Seif al-Islam is being aided by Tuaregs, nomadic desert dwellers who supported Gadhafi, and were angered by the manner of his death.

Shobhana Chandra: First Time Unemployment Claims in US Declined!

Fewer Americans filed applications for unemployment assistance last week, while those on benefit rolls dropped to a three-year low, signaling limited improvement in the labor market. First-time jobless claims decreased by 2,000 to 402,000 in the week ended Oct.22, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The median forecast of economists in a Bloomberg News survey called for a drop to 401,000. The number of people collecting unemployment benefits fell in the prior week by 96,000 to 3.65 million, the fewest since September 2008. Waning dismissals, which lay the groundwork for gains in payrolls, may forestall cutbacks by consumers, whose spending accounts for about 70 percent of the economy. At the same time, faster hiring is needed to trim unemployment, lift household confidence and spur the recovery. "We're not making much progress," said Robert Dye, chief economist at Comerica Inc. in Dallas. "Unless we see the labor market improve, we won't see income growth. The consumer will remain fundamentally constrained." The US economy grew in the third quarter at the fastest pace in a year, as gains in consumer spending and business investment helped support a recovery on the brink of faltering, Commerce Department figures showed today. Gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced, rose at a 2.5 percent annual rate, matching the median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, and up from a 1.3 percent gain in the prior quarter.