Gerard Pierce: Iran, A New Challenge!

On Monday afternoon a civilian boat approached the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock about 10 miles off Dubai's Jebel Ali port, according to the Navy. The Navy said the boat's crew disregarded warnings from the US vessel, and only then did gunners fire on it with a .50 caliber machine gun. The survivors of the attack claim that no warnings were given. As typical in this kind of incident, the US ambassador gave assurances that a full investigation would be made. In 2002, the US military staged the most elaborate war games ever designed. Operation Millennium Challenge, cost about $250 million, and required two years of planning. Retired Marine commander, Lt Gen Paul Van Riper, played the role of the leader of a supposed rogue state. In the first days of the "war," Van Riper's Force Red sunk most of the US fleet. He stopped the US force from eavesdropping on his communications by eliminating the use of radio transmissions. He used couriers and signals from the minarets of mosques during the Muslim call to prayer. He armed the civilian ships and boats and deployed them near the US fleet. Faced with a demand to surrender, Force Red went on the offensive. Some fired cruise missiles from close range, sinking a carrier. At the end, most of the US fleet had been destroyed. Sixteen US warships were on the bottom of the Gulf and thousands of American sailors were dead. Naval Command "raised" the sunken ships, brought the sailors back to life, and continued with the games. Gen Van Riper discovered that his orders to his subordinates were being countermanded. He withdrew in disgust, and charged that the games were rigged to produce the desired outcome.

Prof James F Tracy: "Progressive Journalism's Legacy of Deceit

Progressive left media persist in acting as propaganda outlets for the US NATO destabilization of Syria, thus placating a politically conscious audience that might otherwise be mobilized against acts of imperialism and violence. The historical record suggests how this is not the first time "Progressive publicists" were used to sell a war. A recent report in the UK Guardian by Charlie Skelton explains that Western news outlets remain willing victims, or accomplices in a propaganda campaign for US NATO led Syrian intervention being carried out by skilled and well financed public relations practitioners. According to Skelton, "the spokespeople, the 'experts on Syria', the 'democracy activists', The people who 'urge' and 'warn' and 'call for action' against the Assad regime are themselves part of a sophisticated and well heeled public relations effort to allow NATO forces to give Syria the same medicine administered to Libya in 2011. "They're selling the idea of military intervention and regime change," Skelton reports, "and the mainstream news is hungry to buy. Many of the "activists" and spokespeople representing the Syrian opposition are closely, and in many cases financially interlinked with the US and London, the very people who would be doing the intervening. Which means information and statistics from these sources isn't necessarily pure news. It's a sales pitch, a PR campaign." If one thinks that a revelation of this magnitude would be cause for other major Western news media to reassess their reportage of this magnitude would be cause for other major Western news media to reassess their reportage of the Syrian situation, they would be greatly mistaken. Amy Goodman's Democracy Now is a case in point. since the beginning of the "Arab Spring", color revolutions, the foremost to obfuscate and thereby advance the campaign for regime change in Egypt, Libya, and now in Syria.

Thierry Meyssan: The Battle of Damascus has Begun

Western and Gulf powers have launched the largest secret war operation since the Contra war in Nicaragua. The Battle of Damascus is not intended to topple President Bashar al-Assad, but to fracture the Syrian Army to better ensure the domination of Israel and the US over the Middle East. While the city is bracing for a new assault by foreign mercenaries, Thierry Meyssan takes stock of the situation. Coming from abroad, the "Contras" started their invasion of Syria by taking border posts. Over the past five days Washington and Paris have launched an attack operation dubbed "Damascus Volcano and Syrian Earthquake." It is not a new campaign of aerial bombardment, but a secret military operation, similar to the one used in Central America during the Reagan era. Within a few days, 40 to 60,000 Contras, mostly Libyans, entered the country, most often via the Jordanian border. The majority of them are attached to the "Syrian" Free Army, a secret operations front for NATO under Turkish command. Some are affiliated with groups of fanatics, including Al-Qaeda, under Qatars command, or factions of the Saudi Royal Family, the Sudairi. Along the way, they took some border posts, and then moved to the capital, where they have sown confusion by attacking random targets: Police groups or isolated military. Wednesday morning, an explosion destroyed National Security headquarters where some members of the National Security Council were meeting. It cost the lives of General Daoud Rajha, Defence Minister, of General Assef Shawkat, Deputy Minister, and of General Hassan Turkmani, Assistant Vice President of the Republic. The mode of attack remains uncertain: It could have been either a suicide bomber or a stealth drone.    

Gerard Pierce: A New Challenge - Iran!

On Monday afternoon a civilian boat approached the refueling ship USNS Rappahannock about 10 miles (16 kilometers) off Dubai's Jebel Ali Port, according to the Navy. The Navy said the boat's crew disregarded warnings from the US vessel, and only then did gunners fire on it with a .50 caliber machine gun. The survivors of the attack claim that no warnings were given. As typical in this kind of incident, the US ambassador gave assurances that a full investigation would be made. In 2002, the US military staged the most elaborate war games ever designed. Operation Millennium Challenge, cost about $250 million, and required two years of planning. Retired Marine commander, Lt Gen Paul Van Riper, played the role of the leader of a supposed rogue state. In the first days of the "war," Van Riper's Force Red sunk most of the US fleet. He stopped the US force from eavesdropping on his communications by eliminating the use of radio transmissions. He used couriers and signals from the minarets of mosques during the Muslim call to prayer. He armed his civilian ships and boats, and deployed them near the US fleet. Faced with the demand to surrender, Force Red went on the offensive. Some of the small boats made suicide attacks. Some fired cruise missiles from close range, sinking a carrier. At the end, most of the US fleet had been destroyed. Sixteen US warships were on the bottom of the Gulf and thousands of American sailors were dead. Naval Command "raised" the sunken ships, brought the sailors back to life, and continued with the games. Gen Van Riper discovered that his orders to his subordinates were being countermanded. He withdrew in disgust and charged that the games were rigged to produce the desired outcome.   

The West Embraces "Terror" Attacks, But Only in Syria!

Someone managed to get the precious intel needed to penetrate, disrupt and destroy a meeting at the National Security building in Damascus. It is, literally, a bomb. What kind of wily actor managed to get the precious intel needed to penetrate, disrupt and destroy a meeting at the National Security building in Damascus, killing Defense Minister Dawoud Raija and his deputy Assef Shawkat, Bashar al-Assad's brother in law? What really happened is still murky. Reuters said it was a suicide bomber working as a bodyguard for Assad's inner circle. Agence France-Presse reported it was a suicide bomber detonating his belt. Beirut's Al-Akhbar said it was a planted bomb. Same for Lebanon's Al-Manar TV, detailing it was a 40 kilogram bomb. So who was it? The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)? The MI6? Saudi Intel? Turkish intel? Or that oh so pliable ghost, al-Qaeda? US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, five months ago, came up with a non denial denial by in fact admitting that Washington was working side by side with al Qaeda in Syria, supporting the Not Exactly Free Syrian Army (FSA). And then there was Hilary "We came, we saw, he died". Clinton only 10 days ago, warning there was still a chance to save the Syrian state from a catastrophic assault. Just like her prophetic warning only a few days before Muammar Gaddafi was captured, sodomized and executed, how could she be certain of this catastrophic assault? The FSA, out of its Turkey digs, wasted no time in claiming responsibility. It was an improvised explosive device (IED) planted inside the room. There were no suicide bombers. Yet the FSA have been lying through their teeth for months.      

James F. Tracy: Progressive Journalism's Legacy of Deceit

Progressive left media persist in acting as propaganda outlets for the US NATO destabilization of Syria, thus placating a politically conscious audience that might otherwise be mobilized against acts of imperialism and violence. The historical record suggests how this is not the first time "Progressive publicists" were used to sell a war. A recent report in the UK Guardian by Charlie Skelton explains that Western news outlets remain willing victims or accomplices in a propaganda campaign for US -NATO led Syrian intervention being carried out by skilled and well financed public relations practitioners. According to Skelton, the spokespeople, the experts on Syria, the democracy activists. The people who urge and warn and call for action against the Assad regime are themselves part of a sophisticated and well heeled public relations effort to allow NATO forces to give Syria the same medicine administered to Libya in 2011. They are selling the idea of military intervention and regime change, Skelton reports, and the mainstream news media is hungry to buy. Many of the "activists" and spokespeople representing the Syrian opposition are closely, and in many cases financially interlinked with the US and London, the very people who would be doing the intervening, which means information and statistics from these sources isn't necessarily pure news. Its a sales pitch, a PR campaign. If one thinks that a revelation of this magnitude would be cause for other Western news media to reassess their reportage of the Syrian situation, they would be greatly mistaken. Amy Goodman's Democracy Now is a case in point. Since the beginning of the Arab Spring, color revolutions the foremost broadcast venue of independent progressive Left journalism in the United States has used the reportage to obfuscate and thereby advance the campaign for regime change in Egypt, Libya, and now Syria.

Joanna Blythman, The Economist: You Are What You Eat!!

Joanna Blythman, a British investigative food journalist, wants to dispel the myth that eating well is the preserve of the "neurotic rich". Her new book "What To Eat" is a food reference compendium in which she assesses dozens of common foods and food groups. Not only does she consider the taste and healthiness of different foods, but also its environmental impact, the conditions of producers, the welfare of animals and affordability. In a no nonsense style, Ms Blythman lays out her 20 principles of eating. These are simple, thoughtful and practical tips, such as "base your diet on real, unprocessed food", "be skeptical about nutrition advice from 'experts'" and "save money by shopping outside the supermarket". She convincingly argues that supermarkets are not necessarily cheaper. They might be good for processed foods and staples, but her exhaustive research shows that for fresh and un- processed foods, fruit, vegetables, fish and meat, shoppers are better off at their local butcher, fishmonger, or greengrocer. Ms Blythman spoke to The Economist about nutrition, food fallacies and why we should pay more attention to native food knowledge. Food and nutrition has become somewhat confusing nowadays. Was this book an attempt to demystify and simplify food? Absolutely. We are bombarded with misguided government healthy eating advice, and this has had the effect of making food seem hugely complicated. In fact, eating well is simple when you apply a few fundamental principles. People are demoralized because they are trying to follow this advice, yet they are getting fatter and fatter. For lots of people, food has become a minefield of do's and don'ts, and a relaxed appreciation of the pleasures of eating has got a bit lost along the way.