Chomsky

U.S. Strategy on Afghanistan Will Contain Many Messages

WASHINGTON—In declaring Tuesday that he would “finish the job” in Afghanistan, President Obama used a phrase clearly meant to imply that even as he deploys an additional 30,000 or so troops, he has finally figured out how to bring the eight-year-long conflict to an end.

CIT files for bankruptcy protection

CIT Group, the troubled US commercial lender that has been in business for more than a century, on Sunday filed for bankruptcy after attempts at a restructuring or bail-out failed.
In a statement, CIT said it had asked the bankruptcy court to quickly confirm its prepackaged bankruptcy plan, which has broad support from its debt holders and on Friday received backing from Carl Icahn, the billionaire investor.

Guernica / Healthcare on the Moon

Who's Behind the Financial Meltdown

The Center for Public Integrity
a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org/investigations/economic_meltdown/articles/entry/1629/">Among those on the list:
At least two firms that earlier settled charges of illegal collection practices brought by federal regulators; another was placed under federal supervision before voluntarily surrendering its bank charter;
A subprime subsidiary of top-bailout recipient American International Group Inc. (AIG);
Two former subsidiaries of Merrill Lynch & Co. and one former subsidiary of Lehman Brothers, investment banks that helped underwrite the subprime boom, and;
A subsidiary of the now-sold, former No. 1 subprime lender in the nation, Countrywide Financial Corp.

Been Away... I'm Back

Okay folks, I was getting really bummed out by all the research I was doing and I had to walk away for a while. I wanted to make sure all the horror stories I was finding were not just propaganda and there was substance to what I was discovering... turns out it is true... the U.S. fast becoming the most hated country on the globe. Anyway, I am back and I will begin to post my same brand of fun, terrifying and horrible stories that no one else will give you! Peace...

Gaza, West Bank maps... Look Closely

Message from Wen

“It is completely confusing right and wrong when some countries that have been overspending then blame those that lend them money for their spending,” he argues. Mr Wen points to a famous proverb in China about Zhu Ba Jie, a fictitious character in the 16th-century Chinese fable, Journey to the West , who always blames others who try to help him. “When I shared this view at Davos with the world business leaders, they all agreed with me on that,” he says.

Deaths of women and children in Gaza

The cost of war
Jan 14th 2009
From Economist.com



AT LEAST 292 children and 75 women have died as a result of Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip, according to a paper published in the Lancet, a medical journal, which uses data from Gaza's Ministry of Health. The death toll has risen steeply since Israel began its ground assault on January 4th. Around 40% of the 910 deaths recorded by Monday January 12th were of women and children under 18, and around half of the 4,250 injured. Gaza has one of the youngest populations in the world, which is one factor in the high proportion of children among the dead and injured. Some 13 Israelis, mostly soldiers, have been killed.

Why is China’s trade surplus still growing when its exports have collapsed?

REVISED figures published this week show that in 2007 China overtook Germany to become the world’s third-biggest economy. At the start of last year China also looked set to become the world’s biggest exporter, but for 2008 as a whole its exports remained smaller than Germany’s, because of a slump in the final months of the year. China’s exports tumbled by 13% (in dollar terms), in the fourth quarter, leaving them 3% lower in December than a year earlier. Yet, despite weak exports, China’s trade surplus rose to a record $457 billion at an annual rate in the fourth quarter—50% bigger than in the same period of 2007.

Left to Survive

Systematic Failure to Protect Unaccompanied Migrant Children in Greece
December 22, 2008

Some 1,000 unaccompanied migrant children who have entered Greece in 2008 without parents or caregivers struggle to survive without any state assistance, Human Rights Watch said in a new report issued today. Although a member of the European Union, Greece flouts its most basic obligations when it comes to meeting the rights of these children, many of whom come from war-torn countries, including Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq, with special protection needs.

U.S. seeks to ship hundreds of tons of arms to Israel

By Reuters


The United States is seeking to hire a merchant ship to deliver hundreds of tons of arms to Israel from Greece later this month, tender documents seen by Reuters show.

The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command said the ship was to carry 325 standard 20-foot containers of what is listed as "ammunition" on two separate journeys from the Greek port of Astakos to the Israeli port of Ashdod in mid-to-late January.

UN call fails to halt Israel push in Gaza

Few doubt the UN has increased the pressure on Israel to end an offensive that has claimed the lives of at least 776 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. But pressure from abroad is to some degree cancelled out by domestic factors: Israel holds a closely fought general election next month, and for several key decision makers – including Mr Barak and Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister – the outcome of the conflict will be crucial in determining their political future.

From AlJazeera:

Harry Reid, who leads the Democratic majority in the senate, said on Thursday following that vote: "Our resolution reflects the will of the state of Israel and the will of the American people."

From Canada, Globe and Mail:

Israel “has never agreed to let an external body decide its right to protect the security of its citizens,” Mr. Olmert insisted as Israeli warplanes and artillery struck at 50 targets in Gaza during the day, and continued pounding the strip well into the night.

From AlJazeera:



The US House of Representatives has voted to endorse a resolution backing Israel in its offensive in Gaza, in which at least 780 Palestinians have been killed.

The body passed Friday's resolution "recognising Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza" by 390 votes to five.

UN calls for immediate ceasefire in Gaza

Financial Times

By Andrew England and Tobias Buck in Jerusalem, Harvey Morris in New York and Anna Fifield in Beirut

Published: January 8 2009 19:17 | Last updated: January 9 2009 03:00

"The United Nations security council on Thursday night called for an immediate and durable ceasefire in Gaza leading to a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

The council’s first resolution since the Israeli offensive began two weeks ago was carried 14-0, with Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, abstaining on behalf of her government.
"
I am past the point of words on this subject... I may just post Gaza photos from now on. Our Earth is in danger and I am beginning to feel an anger inside me that revolutions are made of.

China Losing Taste for Debt From U.S.

New York Times

By KEITH BRADSHER
Published: January 7, 2009

HONG KONG — China has bought more than $1 trillion of American debt, but as the global downturn has intensified, Beijing is starting to keep more of its money at home, a move that could have painful effects for American borrowers.


The declining Chinese appetite for United States debt, apparent in a series of hints from Chinese policy makers over the last two weeks, with official statistics due for release in the next few days, comes at an inconvenient time

MORE THAN NINE MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED IN CENTRAL AND EAST AFRICA:

In a new report on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Central and East Africa, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, as of last month, there were more than nine million IDPs in that region. Nearly three quarters of them were in the greater Horn of Africa, reflecting the combined internal displacement from crises in Sudan and Somalia. The displacements are triggered mainly by intra-state conflicts and natural disasters or, in many cases, both, the report says. Scarcity of resources, limited access to land, and inconclusive peace and reconciliation processes create multiple challenges. Humnitarian response is often hampered by a lack of access, caused by ongoing conflict or high insecurity, including the targeting of humanitarian workers.

Oh yeah! Africa is fucked up , too!

Children pay a high price for turmoil

Financial Times

By Vita Bekker in Tel Aviv

Published: January 6 2009 20:35 | Last updated: January 6 2009 20:35

Medical officials in Gaza said on Tuesday that at least 115 children had died since the Israeli assault began 11 days ago, amid warnings that the bombardment and continuing blockade could spur a new generation to embrace violence.

Pressure grows for ceasefire in Gaza

Financial Times

By Tobias Buck in Jerusalem, James Blitz in London and Harvey Morris at the United Nations

Published: January 6 2009 20:07 | Last updated: January 6 2009 20:07

Israel faced mounting international condemnation last night over its military operation in Gaza after its tanks shelled three schools run by a United Nations agency, leaving at least 33 Palestinian civilians dead.

After what was widely seen as the worst single incident in the 11-day operation, Barack Obama, incoming US president, broke his silence on the conflict, saying he was “deeply concerned” about civilian casualties in Gaza and Israel. A number of children was reported to have been killed in the attack.

A UN spokesman said three Israeli artillery shells landed just outside a UN-run girls’ school in the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City, killing at least 33 civilians and injuring at least 55, 15 critically. Officials in Gaza put the death toll at more than 40.

Fun in the Sun

Juxtaposition...

Here is an interesting ad that just happened to pop up while I was reading about the Palestinian plight.

Here Is Our Complicity At Work

I can't express to you how important it is to regain your sense of compassion and rational, critical thinking. No matter what anyone says, this is wrong and we are allowing it to happen through silence and complacency. Imagine this in your neighborhood!

Daily News Egypt

Civilian deaths mount in Gaza war

Women and children are among the many
Palestinian casualties [AFP]

Palestinian civilians are continuing to suffer as the Israeli military pushes deeper into the Gaza Strip.

At least 540 people have been killed in the territory in the last 10 days, with at least 100 deaths reported since the Israeli ground offensive began on Saturday.

Among the dead on Monday was a family of seven from Shati refugee camp, who were killed by Israeli navy shelling.

Three siblings from one family, as well as a girl and her grandfather, also died in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza during artillery shelling.

This story is from Al Jazeera... they live in the area! There is an understanding of what is really happening in the region. Do not trust the perpetrators news sources!!! How could they understand the human element? They can't... Their bosses own the weapons manufacturing companies and so on...
Please understand what is really happening. Read or watch alternative sources... Here's a list!!!

theglobeandmail
themoscowtimes
ekathimerini
thedailynewsegypt
timesofindia
asahi
pravda
lemonde diplomatique
haaretz

Civilian death toll rises as plight worsens

By Vita Bekker in Tel Aviv

Published: January 4 2009 19:27 | Last updated: January 4 2009 19:27, Financial Times

The Israeli ground invasion launched on Saturday into the Gaza Strip has claimed the lives of more than two dozen Palestinians and is worsening already dire humanitarian conditions in the impoverished enclave, aid organisations and witnesses said on Sunday.

At least a quarter of those killed since late Saturday were civilians, the aid groups said. The casualties increased the death toll since Israel began its military operation in Gaza eight days ago to as many as 500 people, including dozens of women and children, they added.