http://www.harpers.org/archive/2006/09/0081195
"But I couldn't fathom doing the work any longer. I had become what I had to admit was the antithesis of a journalist. And if I continued to suborn Iraqi reporters with U.S. military money, this would surely mean I would never be able to work as one."
"There was still one remaining formality before I was set to go. I had to travel to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, to pick up a Common Access Card, a kind of passepartout for military facilities all over the world."
"They often speculated about the company, suspecting that it might secretly be owned by the Carlyle Group or that some of its employees were really CIA."
06 June 2007
Wake up Jews, it is time to leave Berlin
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html
Here is the final few words of this document. This is how serious this is! You are not paying attention to it because the media and your representatives are not talking about it!
Wonder why?
Here is the final few words of this document. This is how serious this is! You are not paying attention to it because the media and your representatives are not talking about it!
Wonder why?
(22) Revocation. Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 ("Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations"), including all Annexes thereto, is hereby revoked.
(23) Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto, are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this directive.
(24) Security. This directive and the information contained herein shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure, provided that, except for Annex A, the Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.
GEORGE W. BUSH
23 May 2007
The Final post to this blog will be this
And since you can edit blog posts it can be changed by the ideas and criticisms presented here. This is not a book, as a book is written and it is final, this is an ongoing process of mutually affecting each other's opinions and ideas.
Go home people, there is nothing to see here for you. A US Social Forum of activists in the US who will achieve what? At best be really effective and destroy the power hierarchy of the world's superpowers, bring up some other super power, and the public in the US get poorer and poorer till equality with the rest of the world's working people is achieved? And that will be the best case senario of the US Social Forum, the worst will be to really achieve NOTHING but add a line or two on activists' resumes so eventually they can become lobbyists, or bureaucrats somewhere in the non-profit or governmental chain of bureaucracy.
I doubt that any would become cops in anti-demonstration squads, or work for the FBI in similar activities, but working for the EPA, dept. of justice/agriculture/health etc. does not really change the world. It helps this system survive longer.
So go home people, go vote for some centrist representative, sign your online petitions to protect the environment and decrease the price of gas, provide day care for upper middle class mothers, civil rights for those who can afford them.
Go home, there is nothing to see here! There is nothing to do here! Don't get fouled by all those commies telling you that we have to fight for equality. We don't have to! Let those who are on the wrong side of the equation fight for equality. Let's fight for inequality by DOING NOTHING! Even the very poor in this country are better off than the average worker on earth. Even the unemployed in this country are better off than working people in China and elsewhere who work 80hr/week. Even the prisoners in this country are better fed than the average child on earth!
Go home people, go home, there is nothing to see, but your television!
Tune IN, drop out of the movement!
Go home people, there is nothing to see here for you. A US Social Forum of activists in the US who will achieve what? At best be really effective and destroy the power hierarchy of the world's superpowers, bring up some other super power, and the public in the US get poorer and poorer till equality with the rest of the world's working people is achieved? And that will be the best case senario of the US Social Forum, the worst will be to really achieve NOTHING but add a line or two on activists' resumes so eventually they can become lobbyists, or bureaucrats somewhere in the non-profit or governmental chain of bureaucracy.
I doubt that any would become cops in anti-demonstration squads, or work for the FBI in similar activities, but working for the EPA, dept. of justice/agriculture/health etc. does not really change the world. It helps this system survive longer.
So go home people, go vote for some centrist representative, sign your online petitions to protect the environment and decrease the price of gas, provide day care for upper middle class mothers, civil rights for those who can afford them.
Go home, there is nothing to see here! There is nothing to do here! Don't get fouled by all those commies telling you that we have to fight for equality. We don't have to! Let those who are on the wrong side of the equation fight for equality. Let's fight for inequality by DOING NOTHING! Even the very poor in this country are better off than the average worker on earth. Even the unemployed in this country are better off than working people in China and elsewhere who work 80hr/week. Even the prisoners in this country are better fed than the average child on earth!
Go home people, go home, there is nothing to see, but your television!
Tune IN, drop out of the movement!
The Left and the anti-right
There are those who believe that the left is one, just as the right is one, and I disagree with the aggregation of both. I believe the left is much more colorful than the right. Conservatism, whether christian fundamentalist, neo-liberal, pro-capitalist, anti-equality, ethnocentric, totalitarian, or not all the above but some, is more of the same. It is an alignment with the status quo, alignment with power, alignment with "necessary" injustice, with necessary violence to maintain this status quo, as being the cost of doing business. The left on the other hand can be many different things and in various levels and extents. As if the right is the center and the left are points radially away from it. Not even in the same sphere but at various distances from that center. And it is the task of this US Social Forum to enhance the communication of all those points so they can cooperate and assist each other. But what would the points be without their definition of that center and how well known and defined this center is. This is a major split in the left (in generic general form) of the need to define itself and/or the need to define its opposition. So I will make this distinction the theme of this post, which I may come back with more time available and fresh thoughts and edit, that the left can be self defining, and the left can be defined by its definition of the right and its aspects of opposition to. The question that comes to mind in relevance to this distinction is: Are the guerrilla warriors in Afghanistan and Iraq part of the left, for fighting the "right" or are they part of the right reforming its own identity? For every action there is a reaction, and for every murder there is an enemy of the emotionally tied others to the victim. For every terrorist killed there is a possibility of a guerrilla, and for every activist tortured there is an enemy of that torturing state. Are all those events and processes part of the left? So there may very well be a theoretical separation in the left, of those who have consciously chosen it as a source for better alternatives to social organization for the future and those who are opposing the right, but do not necessarily like to define themselves as advocating a new social order! ....more later..... Enjoy the videos while I'll be thinking for more to write on this issue!
Nathalie Cardone - Hasta Siempre & Che's life
17 May 2007
Truth! Some can't handle the truth!
I invited a few people initially to write on this blog without being meticulous of what their aligning ideology may be, and ask them to invite based on their discretion anyone who may have important comments to contribute.
It has been brought to my attention that at least one member who was invited, Darryl Wellington, does not wish to contribute to anything "anti forum" related, and please Darryl correct me if I misunderstood. His reaction calls for a definition of what this blog is "anti" to!
This is not a personal blog by any means, it is a dialectic expression of those invited, so I can only express my own views and perception and I hate to be the one to define anything. Because of Darryl's request I will try to define my perception of what this is anti to.
It is anti to the naive perception that if we "act" to change our world, the product will be desirable, when we, as progressive activists, never really communicated and understood what it is we want to change the world to.
It is anti to the naive notion the world has developed to what it is today solely due to our leaders' acts and choices. Anti to the notion that class struggles, movements, protests, wars, fights, prisons, executions, did not affect the outcome of the world we live in today.
Anti to blaming the "capitalist ruling class" for the short comings of an inequality system to make us unhappy. So unhappy as to take it to the streets and to "social forum" settings to change the world so we can be happier.
Will my acts to change my community, in Charleston, SC, my State of South Carolina, my country of the USA, have an impact on the lives of let's say Rwandan refugees? The civil war there, in Darfur, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, etc etc.? When that change takes place is it going to be better for them, for us, for me, and if there is a difference what is it?
What is the nature of the difference amongst left wing activists around the world?
aaahhh...... now I am getting to something more concrete, I am isolating the very individual within the global and the political. Think locally act globally! Is that the Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) slogan, hidden behind the "Supermarket to the World" slogan?
So, Darryl, is this enough of a definition for you of what this may be an anti to? If not, why don't you define for us what you perceive I am anti to! AntiTrotskyism and AntiStalinism it most definitely is, due to its open door to express views format.
In solidarity, always!
Does it matter who I may be or is it what I say that matters?
This is a political blog not a personal one!
It has been brought to my attention that at least one member who was invited, Darryl Wellington, does not wish to contribute to anything "anti forum" related, and please Darryl correct me if I misunderstood. His reaction calls for a definition of what this blog is "anti" to!
This is not a personal blog by any means, it is a dialectic expression of those invited, so I can only express my own views and perception and I hate to be the one to define anything. Because of Darryl's request I will try to define my perception of what this is anti to.
It is anti to the naive perception that if we "act" to change our world, the product will be desirable, when we, as progressive activists, never really communicated and understood what it is we want to change the world to.
It is anti to the naive notion the world has developed to what it is today solely due to our leaders' acts and choices. Anti to the notion that class struggles, movements, protests, wars, fights, prisons, executions, did not affect the outcome of the world we live in today.
Anti to blaming the "capitalist ruling class" for the short comings of an inequality system to make us unhappy. So unhappy as to take it to the streets and to "social forum" settings to change the world so we can be happier.
Will my acts to change my community, in Charleston, SC, my State of South Carolina, my country of the USA, have an impact on the lives of let's say Rwandan refugees? The civil war there, in Darfur, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, etc etc.? When that change takes place is it going to be better for them, for us, for me, and if there is a difference what is it?
What is the nature of the difference amongst left wing activists around the world?
aaahhh...... now I am getting to something more concrete, I am isolating the very individual within the global and the political. Think locally act globally! Is that the Archer Daniel Midland (ADM) slogan, hidden behind the "Supermarket to the World" slogan?
So, Darryl, is this enough of a definition for you of what this may be an anti to? If not, why don't you define for us what you perceive I am anti to! AntiTrotskyism and AntiStalinism it most definitely is, due to its open door to express views format.
In solidarity, always!
Does it matter who I may be or is it what I say that matters?
This is a political blog not a personal one!
Who can be on this forum
Anyone who has every good intention of constructive criticism for this blog and for the US Social Forum in Atlanta, summer 2007. This board is not to be used for wasting readers time with immature flame throwing, but to open up a dialog of people who may support the idea of young and not so young people getting together to see how they can change the world, if the world needs changing, and to what direction.It is my feeling that many of us are caught into rhetoric of old time left tendencies who mislead us to dead end streets. We need to explore social change in more detail. Find out why, how, and when we want what we want and if we really want it.
I know, it sounds very conservative, but critical thinking works for and against us sometimes. We know we can not debate with bureaucratic liberals, or anti-state conservatives, or even partisan Marxists. Nothing ever comes out of such debates. We can only debate amongst ourselves in the undefined left, the humanist left, the anarchist left, the anti-establishment left, the neo-Marxist left, the anti-western civilization left! We owe it to ourselves to be honest with what we want and why we want it. Only if we get closer in defining the goal will we be able to organize and achieve any change.
We will not be sheep to any shepherd!
For those of you who will ride a bike to the forum KEEP THE SINNY SIDE UP and that is your helmet dummy!
15 May 2007
Why Anti US Social Forum 2007
US Social Forum 2007
Another World is Possible - Another U.S. is Necessary!
June 27 - July 1, 2007 · Atlanta, GA
Before we wish of another possible world and another necessary US, we must first understand what it is we are wishing for.
http://web.worldbank.org
The World Bank, with all the criticism of its contributions to world exploitation, is a great source of social and economic data which can help us understand the world we are part of and the world we try to shape.
One of the key statistics I would like to emphasize the importance of is the sum of GDP of all countries devided by the world population. This in 2005 came to about $7,000/year/per capita. To demand equality and justice we must demand for absolute equality. There is no logical way for everyone to be equal if we "the ones in the first world demanding this change" are not ready to give up our share. To demand it for others but wishing to maintain out own piece of the existing pie is just illogical.
So, can we survive with $140/week so everyone on earth would make $140/week?
It is not that simple, it may actually be much less. For example think of our health and education systems, we rarely think of those as our expense and something that would have to be taken out of the $140/week paycheck. So does the infrastructure of water, septic system, electricity and communications. For the world to enjoy an equal share of everything, we would all have to pay for them. Yes, equality will bring "world peace" and therefore the defense and military spending would be eliminated. Or that is what we are naively forced to believe.
China and India, who roughly contain 1/3 of the world's population, survive with much less than the $140/week/person, and they manage to have a very well trained and armed military.
At $140/week it would be incomprehensible for us, in the first world, to maintain a military presence, to enforce this global equality scheme. And who said that China and India would follow and abide by our decision to enforce euality?
So, how do we stop those who want to spoil our peace and equality initiative? Energy is scarce and except for petroleum and nuclear power, most other researched alternative sources are just not worth the disussion. Drinking water is just as important as petroleum as a source of survival. And it is going to run out before oil will reach the rapidly approaching deadline of no more petroleum based energy.
Another World is Possible - Another U.S. is Necessary!
June 27 - July 1, 2007 · Atlanta, GA
Before we wish of another possible world and another necessary US, we must first understand what it is we are wishing for.
http://web.worldbank.org
The World Bank, with all the criticism of its contributions to world exploitation, is a great source of social and economic data which can help us understand the world we are part of and the world we try to shape.
One of the key statistics I would like to emphasize the importance of is the sum of GDP of all countries devided by the world population. This in 2005 came to about $7,000/year/per capita. To demand equality and justice we must demand for absolute equality. There is no logical way for everyone to be equal if we "the ones in the first world demanding this change" are not ready to give up our share. To demand it for others but wishing to maintain out own piece of the existing pie is just illogical.
So, can we survive with $140/week so everyone on earth would make $140/week?
It is not that simple, it may actually be much less. For example think of our health and education systems, we rarely think of those as our expense and something that would have to be taken out of the $140/week paycheck. So does the infrastructure of water, septic system, electricity and communications. For the world to enjoy an equal share of everything, we would all have to pay for them. Yes, equality will bring "world peace" and therefore the defense and military spending would be eliminated. Or that is what we are naively forced to believe.
China and India, who roughly contain 1/3 of the world's population, survive with much less than the $140/week/person, and they manage to have a very well trained and armed military.
At $140/week it would be incomprehensible for us, in the first world, to maintain a military presence, to enforce this global equality scheme. And who said that China and India would follow and abide by our decision to enforce euality?
So, how do we stop those who want to spoil our peace and equality initiative? Energy is scarce and except for petroleum and nuclear power, most other researched alternative sources are just not worth the disussion. Drinking water is just as important as petroleum as a source of survival. And it is going to run out before oil will reach the rapidly approaching deadline of no more petroleum based energy.
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