"Raise less corn and more hell!" We print shotgun journalism, use "bad grammar" whenever possible and write with a short fuse from our farm in North Jefferson County, Kansas. Our slogan: "Hayseeds and bovines, unite! Stampede the clutterfreaks! Life is short!" Email us at: bluebarnnewscentral@gmail.com
Friday, October 31, 2008
The End is at Hand (to Leftist Conspiracy Theories) | This Can't Be Happening!
U.S. security chief says cross-border raids necessary | Reuters
Roberts Stands Alone in his Support for Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens | Kansas Democratic Party
Kansan Bob Dole missed his Viagra dose ...
Native Blood: The Myth of Thanksgiving « Kasama
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Editorial - Loans? Did We Say We’d Do Loans? - NYTimes.com
Latest Dispatches from Our Rebellious Colonies: "We have left our garrisons in hot pursuit of shadows ... "
Gates Expands Bush Doctrine
http://www.truthout.org/102908Jhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/washington/29gates.html
Thom Shanker, The New York Times: "Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Tuesday that the United States would hold 'fully accountable' any country or group that helped terrorists to acquire or use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons. The statement was the Bush administration's most expansive yet in attempting to articulate a vision of deterrence for the post-Sept. 11 world. It went beyond the cold war notion that a president could respond with overwhelming force against a country that directly attacked the United States or its allies with unconventional weapons."
US Raids Ignore International Law
http://www.truthout.org/102808R
Matt Renner and Maya Schenwar, Truthout: "While US officials continue to avoid discussing the weekend strikes that killed eight people in eastern Syria, Middle East experts have condemned the attacks as a violation of international law that threatens to further destabilize US-Syria relations."
Pakistan Protests U.S. Attacks Within Its Borders
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/world/asia/30pstan.html
By Jane Perlez (NYT, 29 Oct 08) Pakistani officials said they had told the U.S. ambassador that strikes on militants should be “stopped immediately.”
Christopher Hitchens: "The GOP ticket's appalling contempt for science and learning." - Slate Magazine
It wasn't that 'appalling' when he, as a drunken lap dog yipping for Bush's wars and snagging kid glove interviews on C-Span's Book TV to hawk his books, told all it was for the good of his new-found country. Why does Hitch want us to read him now? To tell us the obvious about the crowd he courted before the invasions, of course. Let me stray into the mystic regions and ask, "What do we expect from a talented writer who dines with the Devil, then tells us he found heaven?" A reader forwards this post by Christopher Hitchens US imperialist kiss-ass.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
RES 247 Environmental Awareness Network
Alexander Cockburn: Obama, the first-rate Republican - Opinion - The Independent
Monday, October 27, 2008
Joe Bageant: The Bailout in Plain English
t r u t h o u t | Greenspan Says, "Who Could Have Known?"
Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Palin ‘Going Rogue’
Truthdig - Reports - Populism Arising—but Will It Be the Killer Kind?
Discomfit Magazine: Friends of Sustainable Ag and the Family Farm endorse Jim Slattery for Senate
Sarah Palin's Trailer Trash Nation!
John McGoo for President
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Daily Kos: Turnout in Kansas
Jason Leopold: "Bush Intervenes in Ohio Voter Dispute" - Consortiumnews.com
Alaska's Biggest Paper Endorses...Obama
In This Moment: The real problem with Palin's $150,000 wardrobe
Gareth Porter: "US troop deal with Iraq gov't 'crushing defeat' for Bush" - The Real News Network
Jim Slattery Endorsed for Senate | Eagle Editorials | Kansas.com
Please Help Cindy Sheehan Run This Great TV Ad Against The Banker's Bailout And Pelosi
Watch this Great TV Ad Against The Banker's Bailout And Pelosi
Bush Orders DOJ to Probe Ohio Voter Registrations
Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.mcclellan.endorse.cnn
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Oklahoma's Revelator Issue No. 1 is On-line NOW!
Howard Zinn: "Taxes and class war"
I'm Calling the Election for Obama | This Can't Be Happening!
Adam Engel: "Heartland of Darkness: A Review of Jeffrey St. Clair’s BORN UNDER A BAD SKY"
Robert Parry: "McCain Enflames 'Partisan Rancor'"Consortiumnews.com
Friday, October 24, 2008
Slattery for Senate
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Protester in SF attempts to handcuff Karl Rove - Yahoo! News
Dirty rotten scoundrels! The secret is out!
Better than Michael Moore's dated "Slacker Uprising" - Naomi Wolfe's "The End of America" available FREE on the net!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Radio Free Kansas: Program Announcement
Slattery for Senate
A Conservative's "Economic Realities"
Robert Parry: "Al-Qaeda Leaders Root for McCain" - Consortiumnews.com
The explosion on BBC Newsnight: "Nassim Nicholas Taleb"
Last night's PBS Newshour report had a brief encounter with Mr. Taleb and his mentor, Mr. Mandelbrot, the economic reporter Paul Solman got more than he bargained for. Download here the .mp3 exchange and listen to the shocking prediction they are making for the immediate future.
Fabian Society - Kellner: polls could be under-estimating Obama win
Flyer reader sends links describing bailout "loopholes"
- It allows management to use the bailout money to pay dividends to stockholders.
- It allows management to use bailout money to make huge payouts (including bonuses) to staff.
- It allows management to squander bailout money on traditional executive perks.
- According to a certain presidential candidate, it enables the government to buy up otherwise unsellable mortgages at face-value prices to renegotiate terms with distressed borrowers.
I'd be grateful for references to any arguments that refute any of the 4 claims.
Paul Krugman - The Real Plumbers of Ohio - NYTimes.com
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
"Block the Vote" : Rolling Stone
McCain lands at Columbia Regional Airport - Columbia Missourian
Read the news short, but here is a poignant quote from the comment section: [excerpt] ... "So no, I'm not gathering at the airport to wave to McCain -- I'm more worried about my families well-being and how we are going to survive. I don't have time to listen to McCain tell me this is a "mental recession" and how Obama wants to turn us into socialists. I don't have time for the lies, McCain, and many other people don't have time for them either. If you have nothing better to do than to lie to us, just stay home. I drove 140 miles to see Obama on Saturday; I wouldn't waste gas driving 5 miles to see McCain."
I would humbly add, if Social Security, Universal Health Care, education for all, financially secured homes and a thriving decentralized green sustainable economy toward energy independence is "socialist" then I say "Go Big Red!"
Nationalize Big Oil, the Big Banks and shut down the Pentagon!
Bring the troops home now! Shut down all military bases abroad!
Read all about McCain's reception at the Columbia Missourian
Monday, October 20, 2008
A McCain "Win" Will Be Theft, Resistance Is Planned | AfterDowningStreet.org
John Bird & John Fortune: British satirists offer a primer on the subprime crisis and the global meltdown.
And who are the "Shafters"?
And so it has come to pass as the Truth.
And it is, as it should be, but wasn't when we were told by our Dear Leaders.
Hat tip to the roaring Scot, Rory Winter from the Chimes of Freedom blogspot for the lead to these posts.
Ontario police arrest man in voter fraud case - Los Angeles Times
Perfora Cariño, Perfora! | This Can't Be Happening!
Special prosecutor on election fraud requested from Obama campaign
DARPA Contract Description Hints at Advanced Video Spying - washingtonpost.com
The Postman always rings twice ... better listen.
Tomgram: Nick Turse, Going to Extremes in America
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wall Street bankers in line for $70bn payout | Business | The Guardian
Tim Dickinson | Antiwar Radio with Scott Horton and Charles Goyette
"The GOP's 'FBI-Is-Investigating' Smear" - Consortiumnews.com
Why I'm Voting for Barack Obama on November 4 | This Can't Be Happening!
"Now Is the Time to Resist Wall Street's Shock Doctrine"
Seymour Hersh: The Man Who Knows Too Much | CommonDreams.org
Army to Probe 5 Slayings Linked to Colorado Brigade | CommonDreams.org
Huge Obama Crowds: 100,000 in St. Louis, 75,000 in K.C. | CommonDreams.org
David Swanson: "Stoning Dubya" - Global Research
Joe Bageant: Not new ideas, but identifying new enemies
The Political Graveyard
Activists Mislisted as Terrorists Balk at Rules for Seeing Files
Lowbagger.org - Spoiled Baby Boomers
Truthdig - A/V Booth - Cleese on Palin: ‘Monty Python Could Have Written This’
Mike Whitney: "No More Investment Banks, turn them into public utilities" : Information Clearing House - ICH
Alexander Cockburn: Blow Ups and Bombers
Barack Obama in Kansas City
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Banks borrow record $437.5 billion per day from Fed | U.S. | Reuters
Ray McGovern: "Attack on Iran Off the Table?" - Consortiumnews.com
Reader forward: "Beating a fascist drum?"
Katrina Vanden Heuvel responds to Bachman's Call for McCarthy like investigations of members of Congress
Friday, October 17, 2008
TomDispatch Audio and Video: Audio: Phone Interview with Mike Davis, contributor to TomDispatch.com
What are we up against in the coming next few years? Well Tom Dispatch gives us a glimpse and a listen across the Grand Canyon of time crisis. It's only a peek-a-boo, but a site wise enough to break Dr. Chalmers Johnson latest visionary stuff must be considered. Here is an article and short interview from Mike Davis, hat tip for the first link to Jason Miller from Cyrano's Journal, check both the article and the five minute interview , I'll be ruminating on this as a theme throughout this weekend on Radio Free Kansas. Listen in tonight and consider calling during show time (10pm central time zone), click the blinking microphone in the blogtalkradio box, top page left.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Truthdig - Reports - McCain’s Mob
Iraq War vets trampled with police horses outside boring presidential debate, 15 arrested, 3 injured
James Wolcott: : "The News Blues" : Entertainment & Culture: vanityfair.com
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Our Dear Leader Sarah in the Oval Office
Hat tip to Information Clearinghouse for the first link to this one!
Michael Hudson: Rescue for the Few, Debt Slavery for the Many
CJOnline - Dr. Bill Roy: Even the enlightened know race is big factor
October 15, 2008: New Energy Economy Emerging in the United States
Goodbye, GOP- by Justin Raimondo
Nat Parry: "Are You Palling Around with Terrorists?" - Consortiumnews.com
Rob Kall: The Mailer That Put the Final Nail in the McCain Campaign Coffin
I'll post it with this comment:
Kall misses a few important points, like Bill Clinton's collusion with Phil Gramm in the deregulation during Clinton's adminsitration. Then there are the second tier Democrat operatives which benefited enormously from the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac firms in the last few years. The anger that people are feeling at losing large chunks of their retirement funds should be a rage at the very foundations of the capitalist infrastructure. It's class society that is being set in concrete today and the days ahead. The wealthy will not only be fewer, but permanent, while those falling through the nets from above in the middling classes will be more and more in numbers. The crisis for us is just beginning - while Paulson and the bankers he helped bail out is over. The treachery is one of big time ruling class solidarity against us on the bottom. Read Rob Kall but bear in mind the old saying, "hangings tends to make people concentrate."
The end of the great Corn Boondoggle?
"The last thing we need ..."
Sarah Palin Rumors: Some People Are Taking The Low Road
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Truthdig - Vetting Sarah Palin
Degrees of Hank Paulson - ProPublica
We're Sure as Hell are Not in Kansas Anymore!
How far is Iceland from Kansas? Let's do some speculating, everyone else does...
Egad! Is the Government Going Socialist? No. It Only Looks That Way | This Can't Be Happening!
Robert Parry: "How America Fell" - Consortiumnews.com
My Depression – or Ours? - by Tom Engelhardt
[excerpt] ... Last January, I even posted an essay by Chalmers Johnson, bluntly entitled "Going Bankrupt," suggesting that we were fast heading the way of Argentina 2001. I've certainly long been convinced that we were spinning out of control, that this was madness, and that we were, in some fashion, heading down.
But a near global financial collapse and crash in a matter of weeks? I can't claim that such a possibility even crossed my mind. And anyway, who can ever claim that learned and lived history bear much relation to each other any more than do the experiences of reporting and being reported upon?
That was a thought, a construct. This is my life. That was so much writing on the page. This is the world I'm sending my children into (which depresses me more than anything). I find I have no particular faith that, in the worst of times, the best of things will happen. ...
The possibility crossed my mind several times and I wrote and talked about it with many of my friends. How could people not think about it with energy scarcity, wars for oil, climate change and above all writers and scholars like Chalmers Johnson, Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein telling us the obvious among others?
The solution is rather simple - perhaps that's why no one who believes in capitalism likes it.
Shut down every damn military base outside the United States, bring the troops home now.
Move troops into what is left of the automobile factories and if necessary seize them at gunpoint, and re-tool the plants to make electric cars, electric solar kits for homes and businesses and anything else that will crank out de-centralized electricity.
Bust up the utility companies and the state legislatures that cut sweetheart deals and prevent net metering, where individuals can sell the electricity generated on their homes and businesses back to the power companies.
Use the money saved from cutting back the military toward building universal health care out-patient clinics and hospitals, schools and funding free merit-based education for all. Turn all that money loose on building sustainable food production domestically and re-vamping mass transportation systems, including the railroads.
It all begins with cutting the military budget by at least half, if not more, immediately.
What do we have editors for, if not to read the good articles first, before the public? I'm depressed, alright, read My Depression – or Ours? - by Tom Engelhardt
The movie: "Zeitgeist Addendum" is free for the view.
Can the Financial Crisis Be Reversed?
What kind of mobs are being created?
Welcome the rise of the New Isolationists, but prepare for Civil War ... against the rich Kleptocrats and their followers.
The ability of the leaders of the United States to preach to, and dominate the world economy will soon be [happily IMHO] thrown into the trash can of history. The world will be better off with America taking care of it's own problems, without US corporations and it's spoiled selfish citizens, robbing and pillaging the world whenever and wherever they choose.
Americans must wisely demand, militantly, a demilitarization of our Pentagon centered economy and quickly shift toward a people-centered economy; including but not limited to, universal health care, healthy food, stable housing, a sustainable and renewable energy grid and fair wages and union centered workplaces.
This will not take place easily, not without a very determined fight on a massive scale. Call it "Revolution," call it "21st Century Socialism," come up with a new name if you must. Unfortunately, most of the population in this part of the country are dumbed-down in gluttony and consumerism, and taught to hate even the word, "socialism." Most have no understanding of even the mildest forms of Socialism in other countries. The struggles to achieve these most basic of living standards for all citizens will be difficult.
Bring the troops home now, shut down all the military bases abroad ...
The unraveling of Eisenhower's "the military industrial complex" must be demanded, but are the American people intelligent enough to phase out Empire to our, the working middle classes' benefit? With all the Cornpone Christian Nazis in the political leadership shoving their nutty, hateful and fearsome messages on these dumbed down people, a dangerous slide into social turmoil is all too likely.
Too many Americans are just too easily manipulated with dumb racist slogans, television "news" sound bites and "feel good" demagogues. We must educate our fellows of our history and the horizons ahead to our mutual benefit.
I'm not hopeful, based on what I see, hear in rural Kansas today. A very vengeful backlash may be brewing, similar to what I experienced during the rise of the Christian militias and abortion wars of the nineties. We progressives, socialists, radical democrats, and critical free thinkers have our work cut out for us as the economic and political sea change takes place in the coming months and years ahead with the Empire in decline. We must decide to do the work and do it well!
Hat tip to The Kasama Project for the first link to this pertinent article about the economy. Despite the difficulty of reading about economics, I encourage readers to study the article, the times demand it. This is from an Argentinian magazine which should be commended for hustling over and finding one of the oldest few independent socialist analysis available in America, the Monthly Review.
[excerpt] "... Can they avoid a massive devaluation of capital across the board? I doubt it. It is likely too late to stabilize things in this way. Things have gone too far. The crux of the matter is that the whole "Atlantic" economy is in trouble, not just the financial sector. Consumption is collapsing in the United States, where it represents more than two thirds of total demand, and a good part of world demand. Fifteen percent of the population is under water with their mortgages. Real wages in the United States have not risen since the 1970s and people are deeply in debt and their circumstances are eroding. Unemployment is way up and jobs are vanishing. Where the productive base of the economy is weakening drastically, a falling financial superstructure, finding the ground shifting under it, is unlikely to be able to right itself. ..."
You decide the answer by reading "Can the Financial Crisis Be Reversed?" and get prepared for a fight among us, the people. Take history into our hands!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Wm. Loren Katz: "New York, Slavery & the Truth" - Consortiumnews.com
Truthdig - Reports - America’s Political Cannibalism
Dave Lindorff: When Money Flies
Zeitgeist: Addendum
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Robert Parry: "Why Are McCain Backers So Angry?" - Consortiumnews.com
Jason Leopold: "Gov. Palin Cited for Ethics Violation" Consortiumnews.com
McCain's attacks fuel dangerous hatred -- baltimoresun.com
Hat tip to Otto's War Room! More music for Radio Free Kansas
Ready, set - GO! Greg Palast BBC hits the road!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Alexander Cockburn: Is McCain a Lot Sicker Than We Know?
Friday, October 10, 2008
Robert Parry: "McCain-Palin Put 'Country Last'" - Consortiumnews.com
Truthdig - Reports - Bruce Fein: "Palin vs. Palin"
First link kudos to Truthdig's A/V booth!
Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Obama Buys His Own TV Special
Wall Street crashes amid mounting signs of global recession
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Consortiumnews.com launches important fundraising goal.
[excerpt] ... Several top Republicans told the Washington Post that “McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama’s character, believing that to win in November they must shift the conversation back to questions about the Democrat’s judgment, honesty and personal associations.” McCain aides also left no doubt that the strategy would have a McCarthyistic tinge by highlighting Obama’s limited connections to Ayers, who as a young man in the late 1960s and early 1970s, veered off into violent radicalism in protest of the slaughter going on in the Vietnam War. ...
Read more at Consortiumnews.com and consider a donation, today.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Pepe Escobar: McCain's 'reptile' behavior at the 2nd debate
The "... that one ..." debate moment.
Picked to direct the Wall Street bailout: Who is Neel Kashkari?
Intellectual Cleansing - Media Lens, 7 October 2008
Chimes of Freedom: "Britain's Robber Barons steal ... "
Is McCain's temper a National Security concern?
Mary Pitt: "View of the debate from the Great Flyover"
Tomgram: Chalmers Johnson, The Ultimate Election
A crisis made in the Oval Office : Information Clearing House - ICH
Counter-culture Freak (毛-ist ): Westar of Kansas – Bad service, but you pay for their mistakes
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
FOXNews.com - Anger After Cheerleaders Stage Mock Execution at Pep Rally | US News
"No More Bailout Votes Until Congress Hears From Some REAL Economists" - Cindy Sheehan
An excerpt from her supporters email received at the Flyer expressing their outrage at the bailouts from congress with taxpayers' money: "... By arrogantly ignoring our literally millions of phone calls and emails vehemently opposed to this lunatic policy blunder, Congress has demonstrated that they are for the most part beyond redemption. We have only one practical recourse. Vote the losers out of office as soon as possible, and replace each and every one of them with strong progressives who WILL be accountable to the people.
We MUST Help Cindy Sheehan defeat Nancy Pelosi.
This is our only real chance for the next two years. Nothing would send a stronger message that the voice of the people actually COUNTS for something than a resounding victory for Cindy Sheehan in the Congressional race for the 8th district of California against Nancy Pelosi in just 4 weeks.
NOTHING would send a stronger message to the gutless wimps in Congress that their reign of cowardice is over.
What we need is literally a tsunami of donations to put Cindy Sheehan's new TV spot on the air, where she pulls no punches about the abject failure of Pelosi to lead. ..."
Why not hit the top-tier wealthy Democrats where it hurts them the most? Support an Independent candidate in their own backyard that stands with us! Watch Sheehan's video and send her a donation, volunteer to phone bank from your home to get a progressive independent candidate from San Francisco in the House of Representatives.
Click No More Bailout Votes Until Congress Hears From Some REAL Economists.
The Markets Have Just Given a Big Raspberry to Paulson, Bernanke, Bush and Congress | This Can't Be Happening!
When they see a dud, they let you know it. And that's exactly what they've done with regard to that $700 billion bailout bill Congress passed on Friday. This Can't Be Happening!
Otto 子's War Room: More on the debate
Global Fears of a Recession Grow Stronger - NYTimes.com
FOXNews.com - American Author of Anti-Obama Book Detained in Kenya - International News
Keating Economics - McCain Economics
Railroading Rexrode: Fish & Game Goes Hunting, Bruce Anderson
Bank Failures during the 1930s Great Depression
Monday, October 06, 2008
Daily Kos: Palin offends small town Kansans
I say she's nothing but a pretty sock puppet for the wealthy who need empty headed religious nut-jobs, like her, to win the election and ram through a Cornpone Nazis dictatorship they need for the immediate future.
And the wealthy (Christian or otherwise) do not think of anything but their immediate future.
The drunk Kansan Republicans that I run into, and there's plenty of them who march to Church every Sunday, want to vote for her just so they can dream of having sex with her (and I'm being polite about what words they really use) ... Maybe there's more reasons to be damn suspicious about supporting her and Senator "Cancerous Timebomb" McCain but in the meantime:
"This is the thing, for all Palin's talking about how she's just a regular hockey mom, I don't think she's connecting with voters here in the Republican strong-holds. Oh, I don't think that Obama has any shot in hell of winning Kansas...after all the state overwhelming voted for Bush. But, I do wonder if people in Kansas, many of whom still support Bush, are thinking about sitting this election out, I wonder how many small town folks in swing states are thinking the same thing? ..." Palin offends small town Kansans
The Idiot Factor: Todd Tiahrt's folly: Tiahrt took $3,000 from Northrop Grumman during the 2008 election
MRFF Newsletter details brutal suppression of military service members who are not Christian!
Truthdig - Reports - Dennis Kucinich on the Democrats’ Bailout Betrayal
Is there anything to what Naomi Wolf is talking about?
Naomi Wolf: The Battle Plan II: Sarah "Evita" Palin, the Muse of the Coming Police State
The End of America: Trailer
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Electric Politics | EP Podcast: Surge, Splurge, Gurge
Noam Chomsky: "The Problems of Latin America and the Caribbean" : Information Clearing House - ICH
Naomi Klein on John Amato's "Crooks and Liars" and "Al Jazeera - English Riz Khan's One on One"
Riz Khan's informative "One on One" show on Al Jazeerah - English presents a backgrounder on Naomi Klein and her method of work.
On Air America's "The Young Turks" Sept. 22nd
Selections from last week's The REAL News: Dr. Chalmers Johnson and Editor Robert Parry
Selected videos from Russia Today network news.
Michael Hudson - financial economist and historian
Taylor-Report.com - September 2008
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Rep. Dennis Kucinich on bailout: "We Had Alternatives" | CommonDreams.org
Mary Pitt: "Where is Justice?"
Storming Heaven's Gates: $100,000 reward for rigged voting whistleblowers
The Revolution that Failed | This Can't Be Happening!
Friday, October 03, 2008
How far will they go to bail out their wealthy buddies?
This should piss-off every freedom-loving American, no matter our partisanship. What a bunch of dirty rotten scoundrels to even discuss this in their back chambers. Hat tips to the proud Scot, Rory Winter at the Chimes of Freedom for sending this to the Heartland. For more on this despicable extortion racket read this article from the World Socialist Web Site.
Radio Free Kansas show reminder - presidential candidate Jerry White for the Socialist Equality Party will be live Saturday night beginning at 8pm (central), callers welcome!
Joe Bageant: Sarah Palin, through the Toast Crumbs Dimly
Thursday, October 02, 2008
The End of Arrogance: America Loses Its Dominant Economic Role - SPIEGEL ONLINE
[excerpt] On this sunny Tuesday morning in New York, even his hair seemed messy and unkempt, his blue suit a little baggy around the shoulders, as Bush stepped onto the stage, for the eighth time, at the United Nations General Assembly. He talked about terrorism and terrorist regimes, and about governments that allegedly support terror. He failed to notice that the delegates sitting in front of and below him were shaking their heads, smiling and whispering, or if he did notice, he was no longer capable of reacting. The US president gave a speech similar to the ones he gave in 2004 and 2007, mentioning the word "terror" 32 times in 22 minutes. At the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations, George W. Bush was the only one still talking about terror and not about the topic that currently has the rest of the world's attention. "Absurd, absurd, absurd," said one German diplomat. A French woman called him "yesterday's man" over coffee on the East River. There is another way to put it, too: Bush was a laughing stock in the gray corridors of the UN. ... Read the complete eye-opening series at SPIEGEL ONLINE
Israelis Attack on Iran "unlikely", Bin Ladin "dead" - Robert Baer's new book.
Ex-CIA agent (21 years in the Middle East '76 - '97) Robert Baer is interviewed on NPR's "Fresh Air" program about his new book "The Devil We Know: Dealing with the new Iranian superpower" reveals a couple very controversial insights; that members of Israel's Knessett he interviewed acknowledged that an air attack on Iran's nuclear facilities has been considered until the January 20th U.S. presidential transition (18min.) Baer, who the character played by George Clooney in the movie Syriana is loosely based on, also maintains that Osama Bin Laden is dead and qualifies it by recent discussions with CIA operatives who cannot deny or confirm it. This would dovetail with the unusual statement made by the assassinated Pakistan candidate for Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto just prior to her killing. Another interesting tidbit, Baer agrees with others found on my blog and those I have interviewed on Radio Free Kansas, that the American empire is "waning."
Listen to the 30 minute program by clicking here.
From those who have read the new book:
“A masterpiece…Baer's brilliant analysis of Sunni versus Shia, Arab versus Iranian, and Christian versus Muslim is shocking, revealing, and provocative. Baer lifts the veil of Western media hype and challenges the simplistic solutions offered by ‘experts’ whose vision is blurred by the past. Through his knowledge, long-term experience, and ability to assess the changing landscape of this vital region, he not only shatters the foundations of conventional thinking, but also offers a practicable blueprint for turning things around.”
—John Perkins, author of the New York Times bestseller Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
“The most important and original book on the Middle East to appear in many years. Baer’s subject is the growing power of Iran; his goal is ending the pattern of American failure; his message is that we’ve been backing the wrong horse. This is a book McCain and Obama should ponder.”
—Thomas Powers, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Man Who Kept the Secrets and Intelligence Wars
"The Devil We Know, Bob Baer has once again peered into the future and has brought back uncomfortable truths that won't satisfy any partisan. But his book does force us to do something that, unfortunately, doesn't come naturally to the chattering classes. Think.”
—James Risen, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration