I've long been wanting to refresh the list of websites/writers that I find honest, interesting and kept out of the mainstream.
Today, listening to Chris Hedges, who is one of my favorite modern thinkers, I was reminded of this desire, so I'll start it now and update it over time.
Truth-Out
Infowars
Alternet
Truth Dig
CommonDreams
CounterPunch
DailyBeast
Firedoglake
TomDispatch
Slate
Rolling Stone
McClatchy
AfPak daily brief
DemocracyNow
Antiwar
To be continued ...
Bill
Drudge
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Friday, November 15, 2013
A Trail of Tears
Please see A Trail of Tears by Ann Jones and Nick Turse
I'm posting this link because too few people read the Anti-War website carrying this article.
I can attest to the misery of war, having experienced it myself. It was many years ago now and the memories had dulled somewhat over time - until the invasion of the Middle East woke them up Big Time.
But try as I might to explain how terrible the state of war is to my family, friends and in writing to a group of programmers I've belonged to for many years, I failed miserably, and the "right wingers" (plants?) in the group drowned out every word I wrote until my words were overwhelmed and robbed of any value they were intended to convey. I was guilty of every anti-American cliche cast at such people at the time. I wasn't supporting the troops; I wasn't standing for our Great Country and it's Great Democracy and it's Great Freedoms that our enemies hated us for.
I could go on and on, because these "discussions" went on for a long period of time, until one day I realized I simply couldn't win the war of the words and the battle of the minds that I was engaged in. The MSM fed the war mongers with a never-ending stream of retorts to anything and everything folks like myself tried to say. Their clever phrases dis-empowered the likes of lesser trained debaters like myself until we were neutered and ineffective. So I walked away from the conversations, knowing what I knew to be true despite it all. I simply couldn't win, and every attempt drove me deeper into isolation from the groups I was engaged with. I became a loner, like so many others who share the experience.
Now that time has passed and the well written real-life accounts stack up, as this well articulated book by Ann Jones and Nick Turse, I feel vindicated at least to myself. Of course not a soul who argued so effectively against me at the time will now admit to having been so very wrong. Instead they are now enveloping us with smoke screens, one after the other, to move public attention away from the core issues such as the staggering failure of the invasion and the devastating impact it's had on our soldiers, our economy and our way of life.
And the worst part is that it's not over. It wouldn't be over until we recognize, acknowledge and defeat the evil of the underlying forces that beat the drums for war in the first place. Yes, I'm talking about the elephant in the living room: the Zionist fueled crusade to establish military authority in the Middle East and make their beloved Israel safe and secure on their terms. The will not accept any other authority, which by simple logical extension means they are determined to be the authority, but they don't say these words. Instead they make the case they are the victim and never the perpetrator. They've got all the arguments well developed, even justification for outright state sponsored murder. But what they couldn't avoid was the historical records of events in their wake, from the Neocon PNAC document to the Dancing Israelis to the murderous attack on an aid ship headed for Gaza to the filmed documentaries of the treatment of the Palestinians. The alternative media has a large accumulation of historical records that make it clear that Americans have been duped Big Time.
The Zionist project is a complete and utter failure. It has rained misery and despair on millions of people in the Middle East and America, all for the cause of achieving Israel's "security" (that is, domination).
Sure, the Zionists are not alone. They provided the rationale and the arguments, and found willing bedfellows among the rich, who own so much of America and who gain so much from the war machine and politics that go their way. They are scum and heartless bastards, all of them, and the depth of their depravity is still unknown but we're getting to watch it unfold as we speak. They learned well from Stalin and the Nazis, and they've brought that learning into the modern age with computer technology and modern weapons.
These and other arguments fell on deaf ears back in the days of the pump-up for the invasion, but now an historical record has been established, and some very intelligent and noble people are writing about what actually happened - and is happening. They cumulative evidence can no longer be ignored. Our only hope now is that enough people start listening to these alternate information sources before the warmongers make things much, much worse then they already are.
A turning point event that should - must - happen is the trial of Bush & Company for war crimes. Undoubtedly this trial will put the spotlight on the cast of protagonists in and behind that gang. Folks like Wolfowitz, who masterminded the plan from behind the scenes, and the MSM barons who orchestrated the brain-washing of the American people to support their agenda.
Bill
Bill
I'm posting this link because too few people read the Anti-War website carrying this article.
I can attest to the misery of war, having experienced it myself. It was many years ago now and the memories had dulled somewhat over time - until the invasion of the Middle East woke them up Big Time.
But try as I might to explain how terrible the state of war is to my family, friends and in writing to a group of programmers I've belonged to for many years, I failed miserably, and the "right wingers" (plants?) in the group drowned out every word I wrote until my words were overwhelmed and robbed of any value they were intended to convey. I was guilty of every anti-American cliche cast at such people at the time. I wasn't supporting the troops; I wasn't standing for our Great Country and it's Great Democracy and it's Great Freedoms that our enemies hated us for.
I could go on and on, because these "discussions" went on for a long period of time, until one day I realized I simply couldn't win the war of the words and the battle of the minds that I was engaged in. The MSM fed the war mongers with a never-ending stream of retorts to anything and everything folks like myself tried to say. Their clever phrases dis-empowered the likes of lesser trained debaters like myself until we were neutered and ineffective. So I walked away from the conversations, knowing what I knew to be true despite it all. I simply couldn't win, and every attempt drove me deeper into isolation from the groups I was engaged with. I became a loner, like so many others who share the experience.
Now that time has passed and the well written real-life accounts stack up, as this well articulated book by Ann Jones and Nick Turse, I feel vindicated at least to myself. Of course not a soul who argued so effectively against me at the time will now admit to having been so very wrong. Instead they are now enveloping us with smoke screens, one after the other, to move public attention away from the core issues such as the staggering failure of the invasion and the devastating impact it's had on our soldiers, our economy and our way of life.
And the worst part is that it's not over. It wouldn't be over until we recognize, acknowledge and defeat the evil of the underlying forces that beat the drums for war in the first place. Yes, I'm talking about the elephant in the living room: the Zionist fueled crusade to establish military authority in the Middle East and make their beloved Israel safe and secure on their terms. The will not accept any other authority, which by simple logical extension means they are determined to be the authority, but they don't say these words. Instead they make the case they are the victim and never the perpetrator. They've got all the arguments well developed, even justification for outright state sponsored murder. But what they couldn't avoid was the historical records of events in their wake, from the Neocon PNAC document to the Dancing Israelis to the murderous attack on an aid ship headed for Gaza to the filmed documentaries of the treatment of the Palestinians. The alternative media has a large accumulation of historical records that make it clear that Americans have been duped Big Time.
The Zionist project is a complete and utter failure. It has rained misery and despair on millions of people in the Middle East and America, all for the cause of achieving Israel's "security" (that is, domination).
Sure, the Zionists are not alone. They provided the rationale and the arguments, and found willing bedfellows among the rich, who own so much of America and who gain so much from the war machine and politics that go their way. They are scum and heartless bastards, all of them, and the depth of their depravity is still unknown but we're getting to watch it unfold as we speak. They learned well from Stalin and the Nazis, and they've brought that learning into the modern age with computer technology and modern weapons.
These and other arguments fell on deaf ears back in the days of the pump-up for the invasion, but now an historical record has been established, and some very intelligent and noble people are writing about what actually happened - and is happening. They cumulative evidence can no longer be ignored. Our only hope now is that enough people start listening to these alternate information sources before the warmongers make things much, much worse then they already are.
A turning point event that should - must - happen is the trial of Bush & Company for war crimes. Undoubtedly this trial will put the spotlight on the cast of protagonists in and behind that gang. Folks like Wolfowitz, who masterminded the plan from behind the scenes, and the MSM barons who orchestrated the brain-washing of the American people to support their agenda.
Bill
Bill
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
The Price of America Having the Greatest Military in the World? It's Destroying the Country by Nicolas J.S. Davies
Please read this outstanding overview of the absolute folly of believing the military approach to the world's problems is making the world a safer place.
This isn't the first article or author to attempt putting one's mind around this situation, but it's certainly one of the better attempts, and certainly worth your time to read and digest.
Bill
Please read this outstanding overview of the absolute folly of believing the military approach to the world's problems is making the world a safer place.
This isn't the first article or author to attempt putting one's mind around this situation, but it's certainly one of the better attempts, and certainly worth your time to read and digest.
Bill
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
What Are We Doing in Syria?
What Are We Doing in Syria?
I know, it looks like Russia's plan to move Syria's chemical weapons out of Syria will stop momentum towards the next invasion in the ME.
Nevertheless, the ME situation isn't defused. It's not over. The Neocon/PNAC mission to establish military authority in the ME remains the objective. If we're going to do anything about it, we have to understand what we're up against.
Despite having studied the ME situation extensively from a "truth seeker" perspective for too many years (my career as a systems analyst allows no choice), I've developed an understanding of the agenda and the forces at work, but I don't have the presentation skills to share this knowledge. Thus I can't contain my happiness with having found the likes of Andrew Bacevich and Phil Donahue who provide considerable insight in only a half hour.
If you care at all about what's happening to we Americans, please take 1/2 hour to listen to this interview.
Update: 9-14-13
For a clear description of America's problems in the ME, and the strategy being applied, please see
"The People Against the 800 Pound Gorilla" by Jean Bricmont and Diana Johnstone that concludes with:
"For now, the threat of war has been avoided, or at least “postponed”. Let us not forget that Iraq and Libya also gave up their weapons of mass destruction, only to be attacked later. Syria is likely to abandon its chemical weapons, but without any guarantee that the rebels, much less Israel, won’t retain such weapons. The popular mobilization against the war, probably the first one in history to stop a war before it starts, has been intense but may be short-lived. Those whose war plans have been interrupted can be expected to come up with new maneuvers to regain the initiative. These past days have given a glimpse of what can be accomplished when people wake up and say no to war. This must be an inspiration for continued efforts to make diplomacy prevail over bullying, and mutual disarmament over endless war. If people really want peace, it can be possible."
Bill
I know, it looks like Russia's plan to move Syria's chemical weapons out of Syria will stop momentum towards the next invasion in the ME.
Nevertheless, the ME situation isn't defused. It's not over. The Neocon/PNAC mission to establish military authority in the ME remains the objective. If we're going to do anything about it, we have to understand what we're up against.
Despite having studied the ME situation extensively from a "truth seeker" perspective for too many years (my career as a systems analyst allows no choice), I've developed an understanding of the agenda and the forces at work, but I don't have the presentation skills to share this knowledge. Thus I can't contain my happiness with having found the likes of Andrew Bacevich and Phil Donahue who provide considerable insight in only a half hour.
If you care at all about what's happening to we Americans, please take 1/2 hour to listen to this interview.
Update: 9-14-13
For a clear description of America's problems in the ME, and the strategy being applied, please see
"The People Against the 800 Pound Gorilla" by Jean Bricmont and Diana Johnstone that concludes with:
"For now, the threat of war has been avoided, or at least “postponed”. Let us not forget that Iraq and Libya also gave up their weapons of mass destruction, only to be attacked later. Syria is likely to abandon its chemical weapons, but without any guarantee that the rebels, much less Israel, won’t retain such weapons. The popular mobilization against the war, probably the first one in history to stop a war before it starts, has been intense but may be short-lived. Those whose war plans have been interrupted can be expected to come up with new maneuvers to regain the initiative. These past days have given a glimpse of what can be accomplished when people wake up and say no to war. This must be an inspiration for continued efforts to make diplomacy prevail over bullying, and mutual disarmament over endless war. If people really want peace, it can be possible."
Bill
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Bradley Manning
Statement on Verdict in Bradley Manning Court-Martial by Julian Assange
Bradley Manning is 1st an American Citizen and second a soldier. He should have been tried in a civilian court because - obviously - there is no way he could have received a fair trial by the military, the very organization his whistle-blowing exposed as a matter of his own conscience and for the sake of America and humanity.
It's we-the-people who should determine whether Bradley Manning was a criminal or a hero, and certainly not the very organization he exposed. Whistle-blowing cases can never be judged by those affected. That's common sense!
In America the military reports to civilian authority, not the other way around as it is in some countries. This means we get to give the military it's marching orders, albeit through our representatives, but orders nonetheless. In this case, there should be an order issued to turn Bradley Manning over to civilian authorities for trial.
Another possibility is that the military appeals court (presumably a more noble group) will acknowledge that he couldn't have gotten a fair trial by the military and throw it out.
Bill
Bradley Manning is 1st an American Citizen and second a soldier. He should have been tried in a civilian court because - obviously - there is no way he could have received a fair trial by the military, the very organization his whistle-blowing exposed as a matter of his own conscience and for the sake of America and humanity.
It's we-the-people who should determine whether Bradley Manning was a criminal or a hero, and certainly not the very organization he exposed. Whistle-blowing cases can never be judged by those affected. That's common sense!
In America the military reports to civilian authority, not the other way around as it is in some countries. This means we get to give the military it's marching orders, albeit through our representatives, but orders nonetheless. In this case, there should be an order issued to turn Bradley Manning over to civilian authorities for trial.
Another possibility is that the military appeals court (presumably a more noble group) will acknowledge that he couldn't have gotten a fair trial by the military and throw it out.
Bill
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Edward Snowden
As Review Continues, Snowden Still Stuck in Moscow Airport by Jason Ditz
If you're concerned about the state of affairs with America these days, you'll certainly be interested in the saga of Edward Snowden.
Here's what I think:
1. He can't get a fair trail in America. The Justice system is packed with political subservience to the ruling elite. If you need proof consider the difficulties Vincent Bugliosi is having bringing his crystal clear case against George W. Bush.
2. That leaves the U.N. and the International Criminal Court. I'm not sure which, and I'm definitely not promoting the "new world order", but it does seem that, in this case, the best venue for this trial is the world stage, since the behavior he exposed affects people around the world.
3. A trial is necessary to give Mr. Snowden his life back, which is the least he deserves for all he's done for us.
4. Above and beyond the fate of Mr. Snowden - as he would undoubtedly say himself - is the importance of the information he risked everything to share with us. Our privacy is a basic human right that isn't in the Bill of Rights because the authors could not possibly have foreseen the technological advances of modern times, else they certainly would have given the matter of privacy the attention it now requires. This is an extremely important issue to us, even if we don't fully realize it today.
Update: 8-1-13 Please, PLEASE read Snowden’s Father Calls Out Obama On Nuremberg Crimes by Kurt Nimmo which contains a letter from Edward Snowden's father to Obama. It's moving, compelling and is not available in the mainstream media ("Predictably, the corporate media, the official propaganda outlet for the establishment, has refused to post or publish an open letter sent to Obama by Lon Snowden, the father of Edward Snowden.")
Bill
If you're concerned about the state of affairs with America these days, you'll certainly be interested in the saga of Edward Snowden.
Here's what I think:
1. He can't get a fair trail in America. The Justice system is packed with political subservience to the ruling elite. If you need proof consider the difficulties Vincent Bugliosi is having bringing his crystal clear case against George W. Bush.
2. That leaves the U.N. and the International Criminal Court. I'm not sure which, and I'm definitely not promoting the "new world order", but it does seem that, in this case, the best venue for this trial is the world stage, since the behavior he exposed affects people around the world.
3. A trial is necessary to give Mr. Snowden his life back, which is the least he deserves for all he's done for us.
4. Above and beyond the fate of Mr. Snowden - as he would undoubtedly say himself - is the importance of the information he risked everything to share with us. Our privacy is a basic human right that isn't in the Bill of Rights because the authors could not possibly have foreseen the technological advances of modern times, else they certainly would have given the matter of privacy the attention it now requires. This is an extremely important issue to us, even if we don't fully realize it today.
Update: 8-1-13 Please, PLEASE read Snowden’s Father Calls Out Obama On Nuremberg Crimes by Kurt Nimmo which contains a letter from Edward Snowden's father to Obama. It's moving, compelling and is not available in the mainstream media ("Predictably, the corporate media, the official propaganda outlet for the establishment, has refused to post or publish an open letter sent to Obama by Lon Snowden, the father of Edward Snowden.")
Bill