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
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
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
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Gay marriage, a smokescreen issue
Gay marriage is one of the "smokescreen issues" that is pushed in everyone's face by the propaganda machine aka mass media - our information supply - to divert attention from the really important issues.
The solution to this particular problem has been around since the idea of "civil unions" was conceived. A civil union approach could have been used to confer equal rights to gay people who want to marry, without tampering with the definition of marriage. If there are issues, resolve them.
But putting this issue to rest isn't the point at all. The objective is to keep the subject alive and ready to be popped into the news cycle on demand.
There's a pool of "smokescreen issues". Abortion is another. It's been decided that a woman is, and should be, in charge of her body. It's common sense. But again, a small number of people have decided this a compelling issue for all of mankind to argue endlessly over. Or, more specifically, to be thrown into the conversation to keep it from going in another direction.
This weeks examples of headlines that just happened to "fall through the cracks" while attention was shunted to smokescreen issues include what looks to me like the murder of Michael Hastings, and former US general James Cartwright being named in the Stuxnet leak inquiry.
As you may know, Michael Hastings was an investigative journalist. Can you imagine how chilling this is on the whole field of investigative journalism? Will Bill Moyers be next?
It's the headlines we're not seeing that talk about what's really wrong with America. The biggest injustice of all being the invasion of Iraq. Then comes the Wall Street barons who robbed us blind and plunged us into debt, the unbelievably large sinkhole called the MIC, the pitiful and declining state of health care, the complete loss of privacy and a foreign policy controlled by special interests that have parents sending their kids to kill and die for.
What we need, and can't implement fast enough, is election system reform. We've got to remove the big money from the equation. There are many people who care more about other people then a large salary and are smart/educated enough to get things done to mankind's betterment. These people exist and we need to build a path for them to get into office and truly represent us (what a breath of fresh air that will be!).
Then each of us wouldn't have to waste so many cycles thinking about these problems, only to rediscover being helpless to do anything about it. The answers to some of the biggest problems come easily when human decency and common sense are applied. We've been duped by suits with silver tongues who lack the human decency part. Just look at the current state of issues that are really important today. The invasion of the Middle East is about to enter its next phase, perhaps in Syria, but any country will do to keep the mission alive. If you could ask the people pulling the military strings whether they would ever consider the invasion of the Middle East as yet another defeat, this one larger then Vietnam because this one bites back, and they will shout you right down. Yet consider what's been achieved for all that blood, suffering and destruction. And now Bush is going around giving speeches? Read Vincent Bugliosi's book for what we need to happen.
For an interesting view on our information supply, see this video based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave — how human perception of reality is manipulated by others.
Bill
The solution to this particular problem has been around since the idea of "civil unions" was conceived. A civil union approach could have been used to confer equal rights to gay people who want to marry, without tampering with the definition of marriage. If there are issues, resolve them.
But putting this issue to rest isn't the point at all. The objective is to keep the subject alive and ready to be popped into the news cycle on demand.
There's a pool of "smokescreen issues". Abortion is another. It's been decided that a woman is, and should be, in charge of her body. It's common sense. But again, a small number of people have decided this a compelling issue for all of mankind to argue endlessly over. Or, more specifically, to be thrown into the conversation to keep it from going in another direction.
This weeks examples of headlines that just happened to "fall through the cracks" while attention was shunted to smokescreen issues include what looks to me like the murder of Michael Hastings, and former US general James Cartwright being named in the Stuxnet leak inquiry.
As you may know, Michael Hastings was an investigative journalist. Can you imagine how chilling this is on the whole field of investigative journalism? Will Bill Moyers be next?
It's the headlines we're not seeing that talk about what's really wrong with America. The biggest injustice of all being the invasion of Iraq. Then comes the Wall Street barons who robbed us blind and plunged us into debt, the unbelievably large sinkhole called the MIC, the pitiful and declining state of health care, the complete loss of privacy and a foreign policy controlled by special interests that have parents sending their kids to kill and die for.
What we need, and can't implement fast enough, is election system reform. We've got to remove the big money from the equation. There are many people who care more about other people then a large salary and are smart/educated enough to get things done to mankind's betterment. These people exist and we need to build a path for them to get into office and truly represent us (what a breath of fresh air that will be!).
Then each of us wouldn't have to waste so many cycles thinking about these problems, only to rediscover being helpless to do anything about it. The answers to some of the biggest problems come easily when human decency and common sense are applied. We've been duped by suits with silver tongues who lack the human decency part. Just look at the current state of issues that are really important today. The invasion of the Middle East is about to enter its next phase, perhaps in Syria, but any country will do to keep the mission alive. If you could ask the people pulling the military strings whether they would ever consider the invasion of the Middle East as yet another defeat, this one larger then Vietnam because this one bites back, and they will shout you right down. Yet consider what's been achieved for all that blood, suffering and destruction. And now Bush is going around giving speeches? Read Vincent Bugliosi's book for what we need to happen.
For an interesting view on our information supply, see this video based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave — how human perception of reality is manipulated by others.
Bill
Friday, June 28, 2013
Is It Wrong to Skip the Commercials?
Is it ethical to DVR a TV show and then fast-forward through all the commercials while watching it? G.G., LOS ANGELES
Dumb question, but it does remind me of a theory I think we should be thinking about: that advertising should never be in our faces, and ESPECIALLY TV advertising, which I will assume you know what I'm talking about without further description.
How should advertising work? I think it should all be in a giant database that we can query when we want to research or buy something. Yes, that would turn in-our-face advertising inside out. Good.
Bill
Dumb question, but it does remind me of a theory I think we should be thinking about: that advertising should never be in our faces, and ESPECIALLY TV advertising, which I will assume you know what I'm talking about without further description.
How should advertising work? I think it should all be in a giant database that we can query when we want to research or buy something. Yes, that would turn in-our-face advertising inside out. Good.
Bill
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
The 4 Plagues ... then, fix the Election System!
The 4 Plagues: Getting a Handle on the Coming Apocalypse By Don Hazen
This article is a very thoughtful and compelling summary of America's plight. It should be read by all Americans.
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I think that the Occupy movement withered for a few reasons, must mostly because the movement didn't focus on one issue.
And there IS such an issue that is worthy of our concentrated attention: election system reform.
We can use computer technology and the Internet to find and elect the right people, and they in turn will intelligently fix what's broken.
We can (must!) use what's left of our democracy to replace the shills now occupying so much of government. By removing the big money we remove the corrupting influence. This opens the doors for educated, smart, capable and well-meaning, public-service minded people to occupy these offices. There are many good people out there who are not corrupted or beholden to special interests who would take office if given the chance and a respectable paycheck.
But let's get the process straight this time. The election process must begin with identifying the issues, not the candidates. We've been force fed the issues for so long now that we don't even realize it's been working that way.
Therefore the first task of our new system will be to help us develop the list of issues. Then, as this list takes form, candidates are invited to state their positions on each of the issues (think "spreadsheet").
Candidates for elected positions can load up their online profiles with videos of their speeches, links to articles they've written, and if they've held office, their voting record, etc. With this information accessible through our voting program, we can hone in on our real favorites and vote them into office.
Perhaps before too long it will be possible for us to use a program such as IBM's Watson to help us match our positions on the issues with those of the candidates running for the office, but let's get started with a basic apparatus. This is a perfect application for an Open Source development project, where programmers around the world share and improve the code. The program would then be shared by any country wishing to use it.
Bill
"In an environment of confusion and despair, it helps to understand the forces at play, how they operate, and why they feel so overwhelming."
This article is a very thoughtful and compelling summary of America's plight. It should be read by all Americans.
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"Many people are mystified as to the specific causes of their fears, with a mass media system that constantly broadcasts propaganda about how great America is and a new digital media system that may be exacerbating the problems for a society under immense and unprecedented duress."
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"Virtually every problem we face has gotten worse over the past 40 years, and heavily sped up since 9/11 and the economic crash of 2007."
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"The statistics are quite shocking. The poor are suffering—more than 46 million Americans live at or below the poverty level, ..."
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"Almost half of middle-class workers, 49 percent, will be poor or near poor in retirement, living on a food budget of about $5 a day.”"
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"On the other hand, no one could have predicted Occupy. Is there another upheaval waiting to explode?"
I think that the Occupy movement withered for a few reasons, must mostly because the movement didn't focus on one issue.
And there IS such an issue that is worthy of our concentrated attention: election system reform.
We can use computer technology and the Internet to find and elect the right people, and they in turn will intelligently fix what's broken.
We can (must!) use what's left of our democracy to replace the shills now occupying so much of government. By removing the big money we remove the corrupting influence. This opens the doors for educated, smart, capable and well-meaning, public-service minded people to occupy these offices. There are many good people out there who are not corrupted or beholden to special interests who would take office if given the chance and a respectable paycheck.
But let's get the process straight this time. The election process must begin with identifying the issues, not the candidates. We've been force fed the issues for so long now that we don't even realize it's been working that way.
Therefore the first task of our new system will be to help us develop the list of issues. Then, as this list takes form, candidates are invited to state their positions on each of the issues (think "spreadsheet").
Candidates for elected positions can load up their online profiles with videos of their speeches, links to articles they've written, and if they've held office, their voting record, etc. With this information accessible through our voting program, we can hone in on our real favorites and vote them into office.
Perhaps before too long it will be possible for us to use a program such as IBM's Watson to help us match our positions on the issues with those of the candidates running for the office, but let's get started with a basic apparatus. This is a perfect application for an Open Source development project, where programmers around the world share and improve the code. The program would then be shared by any country wishing to use it.
Bill
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Afghanistan, ... more
Afghanistan: Is It Really the End Game? by Conn Hallinan
"With the exception of the current U.S. commander in Afghanistan, virtually everyone has concluded that the war has been a disaster for all involved."
One more giant disaster in the wake of America having been duped into invading the Middle East at the behest of interests certainly not American. Greedy politicians, "war is a racket" lunatic warmongers, morally bankrupt Wall Street and the totally misguided Zionists have not only broken our world but still have us duped about it - as they pull us by the noses into still more - and very likely much greater destruction then we have ever known.
You, I, none of us - cannot enjoy the fruits of our labor and live a good life while so many millions of people around the world hate us for what's been done - and is being done - to them in our name. And every time they look up in the sky to see one or "our" killer drones flying around and ready to murder them for hating us, they hate us more.
Fascinating.
The only possible explanation for this behavior is the people behind it truly believe that might is right and their God is bigger and badder then their enemies God. Why haven't these people read Thomas Paine, or at least the "You must not murder" order in their own Ten Commandments?
Nah, none of this matters to these people. Only power, money and more power and more money matters. It simply doesn't matter how many people they have to kill and put down in all the ways man can be evil to man, just as long as they wind up with the power and the money all is well.
And, worst case, they lose their bid for military authority in the Middle East, and that brings about terrible consequences for you and I, they will not be bothered by any of it. While our lives will be damaged or destroyed, they'll simply whisk away in their helicopters to luxurious retreats long at the ready.
These "might is right" people believe that the best defense is an offense, which is why they are working on getting a war started with the next county on their list, perhaps Syria. They still have their hands in our pockets funding their invasion, and they will spend our children's lives and our money until every last ounce of blood and nickel is spent on their ill-fated, stupid, bloody crusade.
Make no mistake about it: the people who pulled all the strings to dupe America into invading the Middle East are evil. There is no goodness, no heart, no conscience, no kindness, no guilt, no love coming from any of them to any of us.
Yet we let them continue to rule us. How is this possible? How is it accomplished? It's actually easy: by controlling our information supply, our Congress, our election system and our justice system they've seized control of our country, effectively.
I'll elaborate elsewhere, but I'm committed to designing an election system that will remove them from power (in a nutshell). I don't see any other way, and I fear if we wait too long they will eventually bring all the hatred they've created down on us.
Bill
"With the exception of the current U.S. commander in Afghanistan, virtually everyone has concluded that the war has been a disaster for all involved."
One more giant disaster in the wake of America having been duped into invading the Middle East at the behest of interests certainly not American. Greedy politicians, "war is a racket" lunatic warmongers, morally bankrupt Wall Street and the totally misguided Zionists have not only broken our world but still have us duped about it - as they pull us by the noses into still more - and very likely much greater destruction then we have ever known.
You, I, none of us - cannot enjoy the fruits of our labor and live a good life while so many millions of people around the world hate us for what's been done - and is being done - to them in our name. And every time they look up in the sky to see one or "our" killer drones flying around and ready to murder them for hating us, they hate us more.
Fascinating.
The only possible explanation for this behavior is the people behind it truly believe that might is right and their God is bigger and badder then their enemies God. Why haven't these people read Thomas Paine, or at least the "You must not murder" order in their own Ten Commandments?
Nah, none of this matters to these people. Only power, money and more power and more money matters. It simply doesn't matter how many people they have to kill and put down in all the ways man can be evil to man, just as long as they wind up with the power and the money all is well.
And, worst case, they lose their bid for military authority in the Middle East, and that brings about terrible consequences for you and I, they will not be bothered by any of it. While our lives will be damaged or destroyed, they'll simply whisk away in their helicopters to luxurious retreats long at the ready.
These "might is right" people believe that the best defense is an offense, which is why they are working on getting a war started with the next county on their list, perhaps Syria. They still have their hands in our pockets funding their invasion, and they will spend our children's lives and our money until every last ounce of blood and nickel is spent on their ill-fated, stupid, bloody crusade.
Make no mistake about it: the people who pulled all the strings to dupe America into invading the Middle East are evil. There is no goodness, no heart, no conscience, no kindness, no guilt, no love coming from any of them to any of us.
Yet we let them continue to rule us. How is this possible? How is it accomplished? It's actually easy: by controlling our information supply, our Congress, our election system and our justice system they've seized control of our country, effectively.
I'll elaborate elsewhere, but I'm committed to designing an election system that will remove them from power (in a nutshell). I don't see any other way, and I fear if we wait too long they will eventually bring all the hatred they've created down on us.
Bill