Thursday, March 29, 2012
PressTV - Qatar insists it will not be launching pad for anti-Iran strike
PressTV - Qatar insists it will not be launching pad for anti-Iran strike: Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani has emphasized that Qatar will not allow any country to use its territory for launching attacks against Iran.
“We will not accept, and this is very clear, any act of aggression against Iran (being launched) from Qatar," said the premier of Qatar, host to US military's regional Central Command (CENTCOM) that is responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
“We will not accept, and this is very clear, any act of aggression against Iran (being launched) from Qatar," said the premier of Qatar, host to US military's regional Central Command (CENTCOM) that is responsible for US military operations in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.
If Obamacare is ruled constitutional, here are 7 more things the Obama administration may soon require everyone to purchase
If Obamacare is ruled constitutional, here are 7 more things the Obama administration may soon require everyone to purchase: (NaturalNews) The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments this week about Obama's health care law, which has been challenged by twenty-six states. The crux of the legal arguments center around whether the federal government can mandate private citizens to purchase a product or service they may not even want or need. (I don't buy health insurance, for example, because I prefer to invest in healthy eating and superfoods.)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
14 characteristics of fascism
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.
6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.
9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.
14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights. The regimes themselves viewed human rights as of little value and a hindrance to realizing the objectives of the ruling elite. Through clever use of propaganda, the population was brought to accept these human rights abuses by marginalizing, even demonizing, those being targeted. When abuse was egregious, the tactic was to use secrecy, denial, and disinformation.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. The most significant common thread among these regimes was the use of scapegoating as a means to divert the people’s attention from other problems, to shift blame for failures, and to channel frustration in controlled directions. The methods of choice—relentless propaganda and disinformation—were usually effective. Often the regimes would incite “spontaneous” acts against the target scapegoats, usually communists, socialists, liberals, Jews, ethnic and racial minorities, traditional national enemies, members of other religions, secularists, homosexuals, and “terrorists.” Active opponents of these regimes were inevitably labeled as terrorists and dealt with accordingly.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism. Ruling elites always identified closely with the military and the industrial infrastructure that supported it. A disproportionate share of national resources was allocated to the military, even when domestic needs were acute. The military was seen as an expression of nationalism, and was used whenever possible to assert national goals, intimidate other nations, and increase the power and prestige of the ruling elite.
5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.
6. A controlled mass media. Under some of the regimes, the mass media were under strict direct control and could be relied upon never to stray from the party line. Other regimes exercised more subtle power to ensure media orthodoxy. Methods included the control of licensing and access to resources, economic pressure, appeals to patriotism, and implied threats. The leaders of the mass media were often politically compatible with the power elite. The result was usually success in keeping the general public unaware of the regimes’ excesses.
7. Obsession with national security. Inevitably, a national security apparatus was under direct control of the ruling elite. It was usually an instrument of oppression, operating in secret and beyond any constraints. Its actions were justified under the rubric of protecting “national security,” and questioning its activities was portrayed as unpatriotic or even treasonous.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together. Unlike communist regimes, the fascist and protofascist regimes were never proclaimed as godless by their opponents. In fact, most of the regimes attached themselves to the predominant religion of the country and chose to portray themselves as militant defenders of that religion. The fact that the ruling elite’s behavior was incompatible with the precepts of the religion was generally swept under the rug. Propaganda kept up the illusion that the ruling elites were defenders of the faith and opponents of the “godless.” A perception was manufactured that opposing the power elite was tantamount to an attack on religion.
9. Power of corporations protected. Although the personal life of ordinary citizens was under strict control, the ability of large corporations to operate in relative freedom was not compromised. The ruling elite saw the corporate structure as a way to not only ensure military production (in developed states), but also as an additional means of social control. Members of the economic elite were often pampered by the political elite to ensure a continued mutuality of interests, especially in the repression of “have-not” citizens.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated. Since organized labor was seen as the one power center that could challenge the political hegemony of the ruling elite and its corporate allies, it was inevitably crushed or made powerless. The poor formed an underclass, viewed with suspicion or outright contempt. Under some regimes, being poor was considered akin to a vice.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts. Intellectuals and the inherent freedom of ideas and expression associated with them were anathema to these regimes. Intellectual and academic freedom were considered subversive to national security and the patriotic ideal. Universities were tightly controlled; politically unreliable faculty harassed or eliminated. Unorthodox ideas or expressions of dissent were strongly attacked, silenced, or crushed. To these regimes, art and literature should serve the national interest or they had no right to exist.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment. Most of these regimes maintained Draconian systems of criminal justice with huge prison populations. The police were often glorified and had almost unchecked power, leading to rampant abuse. “Normal” and political crime were often merged into trumped-up criminal charges and sometimes used against political opponents of the regime. Fear, and hatred, of criminals or “traitors” was often promoted among the population as an excuse for more police power.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption. Those in business circles and close to the power elite often used their position to enrich themselves. This corruption worked both ways; the power elite would receive financial gifts and property from the economic elite, who in turn would gain the benefit of government favoritism. Members of the power elite were in a position to obtain vast wealth from other sources as well: for example, by stealing national resources. With the national security apparatus under control and the media muzzled, this corruption was largely unconstrained and not well understood by the general population.
14. Fraudulent elections. Elections in the form of plebiscites or public opinion polls were usually bogus. When actual elections with candidates were held, they would usually be perverted by the power elite to get the desired result. Common methods included maintaining control of the election machinery, intimidating and disenfranchising opposition voters, destroying or disallowing legal votes, and, as a last resort, turning to a judiciary beholden to the power elite.
Basson: Mandela brought me in from the cold - News - Mail & Guardian Online
Basson: Mandela brought me in from the cold - News - Mail & Guardian Online
...Basson reiterated that his task had been to create a defensive chemical and biological warfare capability for the defense force but said a limited offensive capability was also necessary to equalise battle conditions.
...Basson reiterated that his task had been to create a defensive chemical and biological warfare capability for the defense force but said a limited offensive capability was also necessary to equalise battle conditions.
PressTV - Proposed settlement fact-finding committee enrages Israel
PressTV - Proposed settlement fact-finding committee enrages Israel: “This is a hypocritical council with an automatic majority against Israel. This council ought to be ashamed of itself. This council has passed 91 resolutions, 39 of which deal with Israel.”
These angry words belong to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu uttered in reaction to the latest decision by the UN Human Rights Council. For the first time, the council has reached an agreement on the formation of an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the consequences of the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories and particularly in the eastern part of al-Quds (Jerusalem).
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Gore-a-thon on WUWT | Watts Up With That?
The Gore-a-thon on WUWT | Watts Up With That?: The Gore-a-thon on WUWT
This is a collection of all of the posts related to Al Gore’s “24 hours of climate reality” aka the Gore-a-thon. My sincere thanks to cartoonist Josh for making it possible.
This is a collection of all of the posts related to Al Gore’s “24 hours of climate reality” aka the Gore-a-thon. My sincere thanks to cartoonist Josh for making it possible.
SilverDoctors: Tungsten Filled 1 kilo Gold Bar Discovered in UK
SilverDoctors: Tungsten Filled 1 kilo Gold Bar Discovered in UK: Australian Bullion Dealer ABC Bullion has contacted SD to advise that one of its suppliers has provided them photographic evidence of a tungsten filled 1 kilo gold bar discovered this week. The bar passed a hand-held xrf scan which showed 99.98% pure AU. The tungsten was only discovered when the bar was physically cut in half.
After numerous reports of 400oz tungsten filled bars being discovered in Hong Kong, this is the first documented and verified report with photographic evidence that has been made public.
After numerous reports of 400oz tungsten filled bars being discovered in Hong Kong, this is the first documented and verified report with photographic evidence that has been made public.
Medieval warming WAS global – new science contradicts IPCC • The Register
Medieval warming WAS global – new science contradicts IPCC • The Register: More peer-reviewed science contradicting the warming-alarmist "scientific consensus" was announced yesterday, as a new study shows that the well-documented warm period which took place in medieval times was not limited to Europe, or the northern hemisphere: it reached all the way to Antarctica.
Ed: For mine, the fact that initial warmist diagrams (hockey stick) and debates completely ignored the medieval warm period (i.e. graphs started at 1300 AD), illustrates the duplicity in the 'science'
Ed: For mine, the fact that initial warmist diagrams (hockey stick) and debates completely ignored the medieval warm period (i.e. graphs started at 1300 AD), illustrates the duplicity in the 'science'
Basson: I did it for the benefit of mankind - News - Mail & Guardian Online
Basson: I did it for the benefit of mankind - News - Mail & Guardian Online:
Wouter Basson, the infamous Doctor Death, has told the professional conduct committee of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) that he was acting "for the benefit of mankind and to limit loss of life" when he lead the development of chemical weapons during the apartheid era.
Next week will mark 10 years since Basson was acquitted of charges ranging from murder to drug dealing in what was then the Pretoria High Court.
Wouter Basson, the infamous Doctor Death, has told the professional conduct committee of the Health Professionals Council of South Africa (HPCSA) that he was acting "for the benefit of mankind and to limit loss of life" when he lead the development of chemical weapons during the apartheid era.
Next week will mark 10 years since Basson was acquitted of charges ranging from murder to drug dealing in what was then the Pretoria High Court.
Sarkozy seeks to ban certain imams from France - News - Mail & Guardian Online
Sarkozy seeks to ban certain imams from France - News - Mail & Guardian Online: France's President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday he would bar some Muslim preachers from entering France to participate in an Islamic conference next month as part of a crackdown after shootings by an al-Qaeda-inspired extremist.
Astonishing to think that this murderer's actions were so HARMFUL to the people he was supposedly fighting for... Palestinians, Muslins, etc... Cui Bono, who gains?... Certainly NOT the people this fool was supposedly trying to help. Quite the opposite.
Astonishing to think that this murderer's actions were so HARMFUL to the people he was supposedly fighting for... Palestinians, Muslins, etc... Cui Bono, who gains?... Certainly NOT the people this fool was supposedly trying to help. Quite the opposite.
PressTV - Israelis rally to condemn Tel Aviv’s war plans against Iran
PressTV - Israelis rally to condemn Tel Aviv’s war plans against Iran
Sadly, this is no threat to the warmongers- all that has to happen is a staged event whereby they are pitted against each other and the process of demonisation kicks in....and then its back to children painting missiles "To Iran, with love from Israel"
Sadly, this is no threat to the warmongers- all that has to happen is a staged event whereby they are pitted against each other and the process of demonisation kicks in....and then its back to children painting missiles "To Iran, with love from Israel"
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