‘War, Debt, and Democracy’

“As the United States takes up the decision to lift its self-imposed debt ceiling, we would do well to remember why America’s public debt is as large as it is, and how it matters. With the rise of the Tea Party, Republicans may rail against raising the debt ceiling, but they are likely to back down in the end, because, among other things, debt-funded wars – say, in Afghanistan and Iraq – are easier to defend than pay-as-you-go wars that voters must finance up front with taxes.”

read it here:

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/ferejohn1/English

‘Nationalism and its discontents’

“What you must understand is we Chinese all hate Japanese.”

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110227x1.html

‘NIA: U.S. Inflation Caused Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya Unrest’

read it here:

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-inflation-caused-algeria-tunisia-egypt-and-libya-unrest-says-nia-117064018.html

‘A US recovery based on low paid jobs’

depends on how you define “recovery”

read it here:

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_10/b4218014902482.htm

‘Nervous Beijing blocks social network sites’

nervous nellies these communists………………sign of weakness…………

read it here:

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Nervous+Beijing+blocks+social+network+sites/4358045/story.html

‘Japan, U.S. must manage bold China’

“China’s increasingly assertive diplomatic and security postures present a much tougher challenge than its economic rise, requiring closer cooperation between the United States and its allies such as Japan to manage the situation, scholars from American think tanks said at a recent symposium in Tokyo.”

read it here:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20110226d1.html

‘Nuclear Weapons: Pakistan’s rash buildup’

“By any standard, Pakistan is a needy country. With a $32 billion federal budget, it relies heavily on $7 billion or so in foreign aid and loans, much of it from the United States, to help feed its poor, school its children, provide health care and battle internal insurgents. On the United Nations development scale it ranks an unenviable 125th.”

“Yet even so, Pakistan is spending what it takes to be a growing nuclear power. Back in 1974, prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto swore people would “eat grass” if that’s what it took to get The Bomb, as India had just done, and his successors have delivered on that vow.”

read it here:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/944526–nuclear-weapons-pakistan-s-rash-buildup

‘Afghan war costs $300 million a day: Pentagon’

thats a lot of potatoes………….

read more here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gNQ3JbWwd6t-PzkuECkRJvsAlNkA?docId=CNG.ebeff272fc0b04d38c80f83bba916cbc.591

‘America Chose China as Enemy Number One’

“We needed an existential threat to rationalize spending more on our military than the rest of the world combined and to justify exempting defense spending from the budget cuts necessitated by our impending national bankruptcy,” said Freeman.”

read it here:

http://freepressonline.com/main.asp?SectionID=52&SubSectionID=78&ArticleID=11300

Communist China: No limit to expansion of nuke arsenal

those commies got all of our jobs……………thanks congress

“China’s top officials have declared there is no limit to the expansion of Beijing’s nuclear weapon arsenal, fears abound internationally that it will eventually be equal to that of the United States, and will have profound consequences on maintaining strategic balance in Asia.”

“According to other leaked US cables, Japan fears that China’s nuclear arsenal will grow to equal that of the US. Japan has asked Washington to retain strong nuclear capabilities to deter an “increasingly bold” China from “doing something stupid”.”

read it here:

http://www.sify.com/news/no-limit-to-expansion-of-nuke-arsenal-china-news-international-lc2qadgfccj.html

‘Lessons from the Day of Rage’

“The first lesson concerns the limits of what the United States can do. Iraq is, after all, where the United States has made enormous sacrifices in blood and treasure beginning almost eight years ago.”

read it here:

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/paul-pillar/lessons-the-day-rage-4950

‘The Global Movement: Many Uprisings Fighting For The Same Cause’

“Dictators and Royalty have been living in grotesque luxury while the people are being starved and oppressed by draconian laws.  The capitalist empire has criminally supported, and financially rewarded, these individuals and their regimes in order to maintain easy access to resources and cheap labor.  The rights of the people of these countries have been violated not only by their unworthy leaders but by the global economic system and all those who support it.”

read it here:

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/27/the-global-movement-many-uprisings-fighting-for-the-same-cause/

Washington: Step back and recalibrate

as the idiots in congress look to cut spending, there is a $100 billion a year being burned up in Afghanistan. START CUTTING.

“Even as the Middle East explodes and the US plunges into a budget “debate” significantly powered by our stunningly expensive wars that won’t end, these two experts implicitly propose that Petraeus and his successors fight on in Afghanistan at more than $100 billion a year into the distant reaches of time, as if nothing in the world were changing.”

read it here:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MB26Ak02.html

Financial crisis: Irishman tells it like it is (video)

greed, greed and more flipping greed.

watch the video here:

 

Small towns mourn fast-closing post offices

just sad how far this country has fallen

“Talk about Priority Mail. This southwest Iowa town of 92 residents is begging the United States Postal Service to keep its post office with its 44 boxes, on a downtown strip dominated by derelict storefronts save for the beloved Hayloft restaurant and bar around the corner, owned and operated by Mayor Zelda Swartz.”

read it here:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110227/NEWS03/102270331/Munson-Small-towns-mourn-fast-closing-post-offices?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

‘Ethanol debate has much historical context’

“The debate is raging again as corn prices rise, food inflation grows and riots erupt across the globe. One set of parameters for the current debate was set earlier this month by Princeton University researcher Tim Searchinger, who wrote in the Washington Post: “Biofuels have grown rapidly, from consuming 2 percent of world grain and virtually no vegetable oil in 2004 to more than 6.5 percent of grain and 8 percent of vegetable oil last year.”

read it here:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110227/BUSINESS03/102270322/1029/BUSINESS&odyssey=mod%7Cdnmiss%7Cmoney

Japan to curb rare earth dependence on China

communist china has too much control of this market.

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/116163/20110225/the-nikkei-rare-earth-japan-china.htm

‘The end of China’s cheap denim dream’

“Only the fittest will survive. And they will have to go upmarket and stop making cheap clothes,” said Zhan Xueju, the powerful head of the local Denim Association.”

“Meanwhile, the price of cotton has sky-rocketed to levels not seen for 30 years. Floods in Pakistan and Australia, an export ban from India and now the wave of revolutions across the Middle East has made cotton unaffordable.”

read it here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8349425/The-end-of-Chinas-cheap-denim-dream.html

Video of Wisconsin Protest 100,000 strong

watch it here:

http://news.firedoglake.com/

Stagnation, Stagflation, Inflation & Hyperinflation… Just think of the Possibility

“The Federal Reserve is printing money we don’t have, America prices are raising; stagflation, inflation, hyperinflation they are upon us as food and gas hike higher every day; will we tank with hyperinflation? This is a very real possibility; we need a strong American voice; Hello Congress, Stop this insanity.”

read it here:

http://www.nolanchart.com/article8384.html

Secret Government: The Constitution in Crisis

from 1987 but still topical given todays environment. watch the full video here and read the story behind the story

http://www.wanttoknow.info/newsstories

http://www.wanttoknow.info/050423secretgovernment

Gates warns against future land wars like Iraq, Afghanistan

a little to late for these words as we have spent trillions fighting the last 2 wars.

“In my opinion, any future Defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as General MacArthur so delicately put it,” Gates said in a speech to cadets at West Point.”

read it here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-na-gates-speech-20110226,0,7763237.story?track=rss

“Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil”

“As a concentration of purewealth and power, oil is simply too dangerous to handle, because it magnifies all of our worst tendencies. Oil is like Sauron’s ring in Tolkien’s trilogy: even those who try to use its power for good will find themselves drawn to the dark side.”

read it here:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/MB26Dj02.html

‘Bank of America, Wells Fargo See Fines, Actions on Foreclosures’

$20 billion in fines is not enough for killing the global economy

“U.S. regulators may try to extract $20 billion of penalties in a settlement with banks that serviced flawed loans, two people briefed on the talks said this week. Terms of an accord, from regulators led by the Treasury Department and Department of Housing and Urban Development, haven’t been formally presented to banks, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions aren’t public.”

read it here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-26/bank-of-america-wells-fargo-see-fines-actions-on-foreclosures.html

‘The Federal Reserve Is Causing Turmoil Abroad’

” Consider, for example, that much of world trade, particularly in basic commodities like food grains and oil, is denominated in U.S. dollars. When the Fed floods the world with dollars, the dollar price of commodities goes up, and this affects market prices generally, particularly in poor countries that are heavily import-dependent. Export-dependent nations like China try to maintain exchange-rate stability by inflating their own currencies to buy up dollars.”

read it here:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704657704576150202567815380.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

‘The role of US Debt in the Current Revolution’

“Seems like every time we pick up the paper another dictator is toppling over. Where does it lead, we wonder? What would a world be like without dictators? Without them, who will the CIA and the State Department give our money to?”

read it here:

http://www.dailyreckoning.com.au/the-role-of-us-debt-in-the-current-revolution/2011/02/23/

‘THE WORLD FOOD CRISIS’

“The usual explanations are far from the truth”

read it here:

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110223/jsp/opinion/story_13613087.jsp

‘British forces would struggle to mount small military intervention, claim officers’

“British forces would struggle to mount even a small scale military intervention as the cupboard for resources was “threadbare”, senior officers have said.”

read it here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8347897/British-forces-would-struggle-to-mount-small-military-intervention-claim-officers.html

‘Tens of thousands march across Arab world’

how will all of this end and how will this effect the empire that is america?

“The escalating revolt in Libya has emboldened protesters across the Arab world, where tens of thousands flooded streets from Tunisia to Yemen on Friday to demand better lives and greater freedom.”

read it here:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/tens-of-thousands-march-across-arab-world-20110226-1b8w7.html

‘Wisconsin assembly passes anti-union bill, protests planned in all 50 States’

and here we go……………..

http://www.examiner.com/democrat-in-las-vegas/wisconsin-assembly-passes-anti-union-bill-protest-rallies-planned-all-50-sta

Will Communist China Become a ‘Militocracy?

“Beneath the heavy scent of the Jasmine revolts of the Arab world now inspiring a brutal game of cat-and-mouse between Chinese security organs and dissidents, the nation’s political environment is evolving. As the elites and pro-democracy camp pursue divergent fantasies, the people-powered dream could end up being much like post-communist Russia; a messy militocracy”

“Unless the Chinese government has enough resources to send police to every street corner, a goon to every dissident’s household, and a fifty-center to every online forum whenever an impish website announces a demonstration, it is going to have to develop new tools to manage China’s political life.”

read it here:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/MB26Ad01.html

‘Experts say US, EU see China’s growth differently’

read it here:

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=32582&Cat=4&dt=2/23/2011

‘How Corporations Have Mastered the Art of Not Paying Their Fair Share of Taxes’

“Nothing better shows corporate control over the government than Washington’s basic response to the current economic crisis. First, we had “the rescue”, then “the recovery”. Trillions in public money flowed to the biggest US banks, insurance companies, etc. That “bailed” them out (is it just me or is there a suggestion of criminality in that phrase?), while we waited for benefits to “trickle down” to the rest of us”

read it here:

http://www.alternet.org/economy/149991/how_corporations_have_mastered_the_art_of_not_paying_their_fair_share_of_taxes

China Also Rises

“Today, the question arises with increasing urgency: Is China set to occupy pride of place in the global picture as it had famously done in the time of Marco Polo?”

read more here:

http://nationalinterest.org/article/china-rises-4236

“Chomsky: Only a Massive Uprising Will Change Our Politics”

read it here:

http://www.alternet.org/economy/150003/chomsky:_only_a_massive_uprising_will_change_our_politics/

‘Foreign Policy Incoherence Limits China’s Power in Asia’

“Enhancing naval power serves several strategic functions for Beijing. Most fundamentally, possessing a modern navy is a prerequisite for China’s emergence as a genuine counterbalance to American influence in East Asia. To fulfill its ambition of once again becoming the region’s central actor, China requires greater maritime power projection and must be able — and willing — to shoulder the security responsibilities associated with this role. Improved nonconventional capabilities will allow China to assume a larger role in multilateral initiatives such as regional counterterrorism operations and disaster relief. Maritime reach is also critical to its ability to protect key supply routes in the South China Sea and beyond.”

http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/articles/7988/foreign-policy-incoherence-limits-chinas-power-in-asia

America Primed

“THE PAST century has seen a multi-polar world through the end of World War II, a bipolar world through the end of the Cold War and a dissipating unipolar world since. Economic multipolarity is already a reality. And, in military terms, America’s unipolar dominance over the air and sea-lanes will not last forever, given the rise of naval powers across Asia. Moreover, the advantages that accrue to terrorists and insurgents, for whom war is a way of life and who kill indiscriminately, have put tremendous strain on the U.S. security establishment. America’s prospects for global primacy appear bleak.”

read more here:

http://nationalinterest.org/article/america-primed-4892

‘U.S. foreclosure deal slowed by infighting: sources’

“Banking regulators and a coalition of state attorneys general are trying to forge a settlement with the largest U.S. banks, which have been accused of foreclosing on borrowers without having the necessary paperwork in place.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/24/us-usa-foreclosures-settlement-idUSTRE71N54B20110224

‘Gun battles rage in Libya as Gaddafi fights on’

how can we afford another war? america is broke, the states are broke and the cities are broke……………

“With a spike in oil prices threatening prospects for a global economic recovery, the United States said it was keeping all options open, including sanctions and military action in response to the Libyan government’s crackdown on the uprising.”

read more here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/24/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110224

Financial Crisis: Irishman tells like it is (video)

greed, greed and more flipping greed.

watch the video here:

‘Syria clamps down on dissent with beatings and arrests’

“Tensions are mounting in the Syrian capital, Damascus, after the third peaceful demonstration in three weeks was violently dispersed on Wednesday. There are increasing reports of intimidation and blocking of communications by secret services in the wake of violent unrest in neighbouring Arab countries.”

read more here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/24/syria-crackdown-protest-arrests-beatings

Arabian Autocracies and Inflation

“An important question is whether or not Saudi Arabia eventually gets into the mix. And if so, does the current struggle in Libya morph into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia (Sunni Muslims) and Iran (Shiite Muslims). Also, will the new regime in Egypt-whatever form it ends up to be–allow Iran to use the Suez Canal to parade war ships across the Mediterranean Sea and into Syria? And if so, what will Israel’s reaction to such a perceived provocation be? More importantly, what type of government will eventually replace these dictators if the freedom movement is successful?”

read more here:

Read more: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/115895/20110224/arabian-autocracies-and-inflation.htm#ixzz1Eu6jpSw0

 

‘Beijing And Washington: Things That Go Bang’

“Real differences and common ground exists, but sorting through them can be a taxing exercise in deep analysis. Are the tensions over an increasingly aggressive Beijing that is beginning to assert itself in a world formerly dominated by United States? Or is it because Washington is encircling China with allies and military bases aimed at blocking the rise of an up-and-coming international rival?“

“China currently ranks as the world’s number two energy consumer. Its explosive industrialization will require 11.3 million barrels of oil a day by 2015. Since China only produces 3.7 million barrels per day on its own, much of its foreign policy is aimed at insuring a steady supply. How that energy gets to China, and who supplies it, is the rub.”

read more here:

http://www.eurasiareview.com/opinion/opinion-opinion/beijing-and-washington-things-that-go-bang-24022011/

‘Malta braces itself to handle evacuees’

“Malta is bracing itself to handle hundreds, possibly thousands, of evacuees from Libya as Muammar Gaddafi’s regime fights on to retain control of the west of the country.”

read more here:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110224/local/malta-braces-itself-to-handle-evacuees

Libya and Imperialism

“Is it just coincidence that the rebellion started in Benghazi, which is north of Libya’s richest oil fields as well as close to most of its oil and gas pipelines, refineries and its LNG port? Is there a plan to partition the country?“

read more here:

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=23364

‘Why America’s teachers are enraged’

“Teachers across the nation reacted with alarm when the leaders of the Central Falls district in Rhode Island threatened to fire the entire staff of the small town’s only high school. What got their attention was that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and President Obama thought this was a fine idea, even though no one at the high school had been evaluated.”

http://articles.cnn.com/2011-02-20/opinion/ravitch.teachers.blamed_1_bad-teachers-public-employee-unions-test-scores?_s=PM:OPINION

Italy’s African Refugee Crisis

UN estimates 50 million refugees by 2020

see the video and read more here:

http://rt.com/news/italy-lampedusa-refugees-crisis/

‘As budget cuts loom, what could your community do without? Firefighters?’

the state of michigan’s cities…………………INSOLVENT. but so is the rest of the country..

read more here:

http://www.freep.com/article/20110224/NEWS05/102240529/0/COL04/As-budget-cuts-loom-what-could-your-community-do-without-Firefighters-?odyssey=nav|head

‘California Unionist joining Wisconsin Protest’

this movement is picking up steam……………

“Members of Los Angeles County labor unions are on their way to Wisconsin to support government workers there who are battling to keep collective bargaining rights.”

read more here:

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17461106?nclick_check=1

‘Obama Considers his options’

another war???? say it aint so……………….

“But he also hinted that Washington may consider taking unspecified unilateral action against the regime of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.”

read more here:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/MB25Ak02.html