The Promise of an Unhurried Society

Click here to access article by Mat Little from New Compass (Norway).

I have a problem with an argument presented in this piece. The author seems to be indulging in idle fantasies. No, I don't disagree with the possibility that work-free time could be put to very constructive uses. It's just that he totally ignores that our home is on fire (both literally and figuratively), and indulging in such fantasies while our home is burning down is approaching insanity. We should and must be gathering all our energies and imagination to figure out how we are going to fight this rampaging fire of capitalism and preserve our home. Once we put the fire out, then we can realize the true potential of human imagination and activity. Time is running out.

The Confidential Memo at the Heart of the Global Financial Crisis

Click here to access article by Greg Palast from Vice.

Palast summarizes the "end-game" as this:

The bankers' and Summers' game was to use the Financial Services Agreement, an abstruse and benign addendum to the international trade agreements policed by the World Trade Organization.

Until the bankers began their play, the WTO agreements dealt simply with trade in goods–that is, my cars for your bananas.  The new rules ginned-up by Summers and the banks would force all nations to accept trade in "bads" – toxic assets like financial derivatives.

Until the bankers' re-draft of the FSA, each nation controlled and chartered the banks within their own borders.  The new rules of the game would force every nation to open their markets to Citibank, JP Morgan and their derivatives "products."

As a followup to this article, British activist Pete Dolack puts these sensational revelations in their proper perspective in his article "‘End-game’ conspiracy or business as usual?" by emphasizing that what Geithner, Summers, and Rubin were doing was "business as usual" under capitalism.

I’ve no argument against the accusation that Secretaries Summers and Rubin have personally enriched themselves to the tune of many millions of dollars. The facts speak for themselves. I am not suggesting that there is no personal interest at stake here; but the larger issue is that these Wall Street consiglieres are acting for ideological reasons. The logic of an entire economic structure led to deregulation and the disastrous consequences that flowed from it. The steps that culminated in the 2008 collapse that we continue to live with go back decades, before the careers of any of today’s capitalist mandarins.

Vulture funds: US court ruling on Argentina enrages debt justice campaigners

Click here to access article by Bodo Ellmers from The Committee for the Abolition of Third World Debt.

The long litigation odyssey between the government of Argentina and holdout creditors continues. Debt justice campaigners in Argentina and the USA are enraged about a new ruling by the New York appeals court in favour of the vulture funds

That these international banking institutions are controlled mostly by the US that used its clout following WWII to establish them is rarely mentioned in any articles related to them. These banks are key players in the US dominated capitalist Empire.

The USA is the IMF’s largest shareholder and is endowed with a de facto veto right over its decisions.

For more information of the use of vulture funds and sovereign debts that have been used by major banks to hold entire nations in debt to them, I recommend the following links: this, this, this, and this. Also, read Confessions of an Economic Hit Man in which author John Perkins provides all the nefarious details on how this banking scam works.

An Eye-Witness Account of the Real War in Syria

Click here to access article by Don Quijones from Raging Bull-Shit.

When they took control of a neighbourhood, the rebels would expel the children from the schools, which they would then turn into makeshift bases. On one occasion we visited one of those bases and I got speaking to the commander. At first he didn’t want to grant us an interview but I told him that I was Columbian and that Columbia was a friend of Israel.

His concerns duly allayed, he gave us a tour of the place, showing us their weapons stash, which included sub-machine guns, as well as a group of Al Qaeda fighters in one of the rooms.

During our conversation, the commander never stopped asking for support from the U.S. and Europe.

Banks put a price on Earth's life support

Click here to access article by Paul Brown from The Daily Climate.

It seems that some banksters at the highest level of banking are getting a bit concerned about the deep contradictions between their exploitative system of capitalism and our ecosystem. They have been forced by an abundance of scientific evidence and the almost daily occurrence of extreme weather events to finally acknowledge the reality of global warming. So, what's a bankster to do but come up with another plan to pretend to solve the problem. I'm sure some of them are sincerely concerned, although not enough to become a socialist in any sense, while others cynically view this as another public relations gimmick that will keep people off their backs.

They have agreed that the present economic system uses and often destroys the environment without paying to do so. And that, they say, is not sustainable.

The banks are also concerned that some companies are using up natural resources so fast, with no thought for their own future, let alone that of the planet, that they will collapse.

The Full Story on Why Obama Backed Down on Syria

Click here to access article by Ibrahim al-Amin from Al Akhbar.

This editor of Al Akhbar appears to have inside knowledge of the negotiations involving all the important parties to the standoff in Syria. Because there is no supporting documentation, one has to depend on his credibility as demonstrated by past editorials, some of which I have cited on this website (see this and this). This record plus the internal logic and judgement displayed in this article lends a heightened credibility to his analysis of the present standoff in Syria which he portrays as a case of brinkmanship involving major powers.

Commentators in the West will surely declare that it was their democratic systems of government that forced US President Barack Obama to back down on attacking Syria. But the events that led up to Washington’s de-escalation suggest there were other factors at play.

This latest move by the US directorate to refer the matter to Congress could be either a face-saving way out if Congress were to deny support, or it could be a means of adding legitimacy to the attack on Syria. From what I have seen in the media thus far leads me to believe that the directorate is only intent on engineering greater support for the attack. Judging from past experience, it will not be difficult to gain Congressional authorization.

While reporting on the issue, both local and national mainstream TV continue to replay scenes of victims from a chemical attack and feature prominent US officials claiming that they have solid evidence that the Assad government was responsible. Just last night I saw local TV coverage of a street scene in Seattle which depicted a small number of people identified as Syrians or people of Syrian ancestry (see this) supporting the attack while numerous protests against the attack by much greater numbers of people all over the greater Seattle area have been mostly ignored.

Egyptian Addition to: “US Power Elite: At War Among Themselves?”

Click here to access article by Andreas Schlüter from Wipokuli. 

This is an updated addition to his primary essay entitled "US Power Elite: At War Among Themselves?” published in December 2012 and is also well worth reading. The author is a 65 year old German sociologist living in Berlin.

This piece offers a deep political analysis of the US power structure, or what I often refer to as "the directorate" or "shadow government" (in place of the staged version of "democracy" performed by the ruling class), which is nearly always missing from the views of other Western geopolitical analysts. These are the people who make the important decisions about policy matters; and as this analyst argues, they consist of two factions. 

Unfortunately, this article has some rather serious English flaws due to a poor translation in some places. I have offered below what I think he meant in the more seriously flawed places.

The fraction faction of the Neocons is more for direct action done by the US military, thus formerly dubbed the “Warriors”. ("fraction = faction throughout the article)

They are closest to Israel´s Power Elite and their dream of “having the whole cake” which means the perspective of the Palestinians “Transfer” over the Jordan. the transfer of Palestinians to Jordan.

The neocon ties into the US military and the ties of those to the Egyptian military gave the clue. This IMO should read "Neocon ties to the US military and the latter's ties to the Egyptian military offers the clue."

But that military coup could have been countered by the Obama administration if not the Saudis would also support had not supported the Egyptian Junta. And they do so! But they did! The Saudi regime is good friend of the Bush Clan (http://tinyurl.com/8t7rd), they consequently step in and compensate Western financial aid thus they stepped in and offered substantial aid (http://tinyurl.com/mlcl4ea).

 “Seven Countries in Fife Five Years”

After all, the enormous recourses resources of gas and oil in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea are the general reason for fierce the strong US influence in the region as well as Geo-Strategy geo-strategic interests, but there is also Israel´s desire to trigger an “all out war” in the region for the desired “Transfer” (of Palestinians).

Brutal Repression of National Strike in Colombia-Santos Declares Militarization of Bogotá

Click here to access article by James Jordan from Alliance for Global Justice. 

The national strike was called following attacks against peaceful protesters in the Catatumbo region, which set off a national movement. Demands include popular participation in the peace process, an end to Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) that threaten the livelihoods of family farmers and workers, and government fulfillment of unkept promises for infrastructure development and Peasant Reserve Zones in rural areas.

I haven't seen any coverage of this in US mainstream media.

CIA Files Prove America Helped Saddam as He Gassed Iran

Click here to access article by Shane Harris and Matthew M. Aid from Foreign Policy.

The U.S. government may be considering military action in response to chemical strikes near Damascus. But a generation ago, America's military and intelligence communities knew about and did nothing to stop a series of nerve gas attacks far more devastating than anything Syria has seen, Foreign Policy has learned.

Thanks to this article I was reminded of Iraq's use of chemical weapons in their war with Iran in the 1980s with the full knowledge of US officials who supplied both sides with at least conventional weapons. It was a classic case of Western agents promoting war between two antagonists both of whom they wanted to destabilize--the old divide and conquer scenario. I remember reading reports of this from--of course!--alternative news sources. And, I remember reports of discovery of some chemical agents that were manufactured in West Germany which is confirmed in this statement in the CIA documents:

Chemcial agent precursors, munitions, equipment and expertise were purchased in Western Europe and Egypt. 

Thinking about Revolution

Click here to access article by John Spritzler and Dave Stratman from NewDemocracyWorld.

This timely PDF document is featured on this website to encourage us to think about a real alternative to the current capitalist mode of organization of societies so that we can live in harmony with nature, with others, and enjoy the fruits of our labor. It is clear that the time for radical change is no longer merely desirable, but absolutely necessary for our survival.

Real democracy will require a whole new organization of society. This paper proposes radical changes in how we think about ourselves and what we imagine human possibilities to be. It proposes a democratic structure based on confidence in the values and good sense of ordinary people.

Also, there are many other interesting articles to peruse on this website.

One thing that I don't understand in this age of full-spectrum surveillance is the "This I Believe" statement that they want you to sign, collect other signatures, and email it to them!

Obama's Carte Blanche War Resolution

Click here to access article by Bernhard from his blog Moon of Alabama. 

Any war resolution Congress would pass would likely be interpreted by the administration as a license for all out war on Syria and beyond. 

USA: No.1 Threat to World Peace, Security and Freedom

Click here to access article by Finian Cunningham from Press TV (Iran) via nsnbc.

The people of the world have had it with elite Western rulers acting as terrorists who are holding humanity to ransom. The rulers are presiding not only over military terrorism. They are inflicting economic, social and ecological terrorism with their bankrupt capitalist smash-and-grab system. That system has reached the point of meltdown and that is why we are being pushed into relentless wars – in order for the rulers and their politician puppets to corner the remaining resources. The ultimate solution to end the wars is for the people to overthrow the economic system that US and Western elite rulers preside over. The insane criminality of the US rulers over Syria is exposing this historic challenge facing humanity.

When Irish people do what their government won’t

Click here to access article by David Malone from his blog Golem XIV. 

Malone writes about a very interesting case of an Irish banker who tried to follow the rules to prevent a bank collapse and was told to shut up. Since then their government like ours has refused to hold Irish banks accountable for their destruction of the economy. This lone honest banker and other Irish individuals are fighting back.

It comes to something when ordinary people have to uphold the laws because their government refuse to. But that is where we are, not just in Ireland but in all of our nations.

(Note: Because of fast moving events in the Middle East, I am posting today's articles much earlier than usual.)

The formula for revolution

Click here to access article by Tomasz Pierscionek from London Progressive Journal.

The author provides an excellent assessment of the unfinished revolution in Egypt in the context of the Arab Spring revolts. He implies that it is a work in process because once a people experience revolutionary possibilities and their power to change things, it's very hard for any ruling class to put this genie back in the bottle. 

As the fighting between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Egyptian military continues, there remains the real risk of a return to the exploitation of the Mubarak era. Such a choice would be a safe and stable bet for global capital. But any future military regime needs to take note that the Egyptian people now have a memory of revolution. They have political consciousness and experience of ousting leaders who do not represent their interests.

This revolutionary spirit is also a big threat to the rule of the Empire in the all important Middle East and its access to their resources. That is precisely why the Syrian situation is so dangerous. While the Empire directorate is desperate to bring about some measure of control in Syria, Syrians and people as a whole in the Middle East have experienced so much disruption of their lives from Western agents that they may be willing to incur extraordinary risks to rid themselves of Empire agents, their puppet governments, and their mercenary "jihadist" terrorists.

I am no weapons expert, but I believe that Syria has quite sophisticated weapons that can inflict real damage on the US fleet in the Mediterranean. Because Empire directors and their military strategists have operated militarily with impunity since WWII, they have become so addicted to a sense of power which may cause them to underestimate the will and the means of Syrians and others in the region to fight back. If the US does go ahead with plans of a limited military strike, it could very well escalate into a dangerous conflagration. Empire directors are truly playing with fire this time.

On this theme read the piece entitled "Obama is Playing With Fire in Syria" by Ibrahim Kazerooni and Rob Prince from CounterPunch.

Joining the Dots: Just Who Are The “Official” Syrian Opposition?

Click here to access article by Don Quijones from Raging Bull-Shit.

Despite being faithfully reported by the media as a perfectly viable military strategy, this notion of limited warfare is as disingenuous an example of conflict marketing you’re ever likely to find.

To End All Wars: How the First World War Divided Britain

Click here to access article by Lindsey German from CounterFire (Britain). 

The author offers a book report on a recently published book by this title written by Adam Hochschild. The book appears to offer an accurate account of this devastating war that featured inter-Nicene rivalries for world dominance among capitalist ruling classes at that time. The war, like all wars in the capitalist era also served several other purposes: stifling dissent and activist opposition in their home countries using appeals to patriotism and the huge profit opportunities from weapons production as well as from re-building of assets destroyed during war. 

It's clear from reviewing this history, that nothing has substantially changed: it's still the same story because it still is the same criminal system that is driving history--capitalism.

Lindsey German

YouTube Censors Anti-Oil Videos

Click here to access article by Andy Rowell from The Price of Oil.

This report illustrates how big corporations will on occasion use outright censorship to protect and support each other and their system of capitalism. Because they "own" the means of communication of information, they control the content, and to a considerable extent the minds of their subservient populations. This ethos has infected even parts of the internet which many young people have seen as offering a "bastion of...freedom":

The website, which is owned by Google, argues it “provides a forum for people to connect, inform, and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.”

But that distribution platform only goes so far as activists and film makers have recently found out.

NSA Blackmailing Obama? Interview with Whistleblower Russ Tice.

Click here if you wish to access the source of this 11:49m video from RT via YouTube.

The fact that government spy agencies regularly spy on its officials, even those at the highest levels, is not really new--except to the American people. After J. Edgar Hoover was appointed to head the FBI in 1924, he immediately was used to spy on various radical groups and labor leaders in the post WWI red scare. Then in the 1930s President Franklin Roosevelt had him spying on all kinds of people who opposed his policies. Eventually Hoover was collecting dossiers on high public officials including members of Congress, and information was often fed to investigating committees of Congress and leaked to the media to discredit public officials when they crossed powerful people. (Read Hoover and the Un-Americans by Kenneth O'Reilly for all the details.)

Then with the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, engineered by the surveillance services and ordered by top members of the ruling class, any independent power of the office of President came to an end, and the shadow government has exercised direct control ever since.

However, I don't think that the Empire directorate or the shadow government needs to discipline or blackmail Obama in any way. He long ago sold his soul to the shadow government and functions largely as a public relations officer whose main task is to sell the policies of the shadow government to the gullible public. I'm sure that he must have moments of pangs of conscience, but he knows better than to thwart his real bosses.

The Autonomous Roots of the Real Democracy Movement

Click here to access article by Jérôme E. Roos and Leonidas Oikonomakis from Reflections on a Revolution. (Posted by permission from Roos.)

These two academics are explicating the unique nature of what they refer to as the "Real Democracy Movement" whose activities are reflected in various sub-movements throughout the world and identified by the authors. It is essentially a political treatise in that the authors clearly support this new form of political orientation, organization, and actions. 

The years since 2011 have witnessed the (re-)birth of a global cycle of struggles around the issue of democracy. With the representative institutions of liberal democracy in crisis, social movements appear to be increasingly moving away from claims-based and state-oriented contention towards a global project of autonomy. In this article, we focus on those movements that have articulated a critique of representation and expressed a desire to radically transform democratic processes from below.