Tag Archives: u.s.

International, U.S.

Internet Incompetence: Sites on the internet are incorrectly reporting that 85% of U.S. citizens are against war with Iran

A few international news sites have reported that CBS News conducted a poll that showed 85% of people in the United States are against war with Iran.  Blog sites have been picking up that ball and running with it.  The problem is that it’s not true.

I looked at the CBS News Poll, and it’s not quite what’s being reported by other  internet sites. The results were 55% who thought diplomacy was enough, 17% who said Iran was no threat, and 15% who wanted to go to war NOW!  I didn’t see any “85% against war with Iran”.

The CBS News Poll has a lot of other interesting responses about U.S. policy in the Middle East, North Africa, China and North Korea, but, like many polls, the number of respondents are just to small to accurately represent the whole of the U.S. population.

International, Opinion, U.S.

World War 3: U.S. sells first strike bunker buster bombs to United Arab Emirates, proof that we’re going to war against Iran

According to the Commonwealth controlled (British Empire, via Rupert Murdoch) Wall Street Journal, warmonger U.S. President Barack Obama is about to sign off on a deal to provide the UAE with bunker buster bombs.

The WSJ article claims that the UAE is about to buy 4,900 JDAMs.  These are not necessarily bunker busters, but could be configured as such.  JDAM stands for Joint Direct Attack Munitions.  Basically it’s an advanced smart bomb that can be set up with a variety of explosive material, depending on what the target is.

The UAE deal is part of a trend. In recent months the United States has already sold thousands of JDAMs to Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Bunker buster bombs are not defensive weapons, they are first strike weapons, used when you invade a country.  This is why the sale of these weapons to Middle Eastern countries, who don’t like Iran, is a sign of a coming attack on Iran.

Russian media say the UAE arms deal also includes Hellfire anti-tank missiles.  Iran has the largest tank force in the Middle East.

Regarding the WSJ, as well as most U.S. media sources, being controlled by the British Empire; a clue is that many times they use Commonwealth English grammar rules. In their article about the JDAM sale to the UAE they punctuate the abbreviation for UN, and UAE.  That’s incorrect for U.S. English grammar rules: “In American English, U.S. (with periods) is more common as the standard abbreviation for United States, although The Chicago Manual of Style now deprecates the use of the periods (16th ed.). US (without periods) is generally accepted in most other national forms [such as British English] of English. In longer abbreviations incorporating the country’s initials (USN, USAF), periods are not used.”-Wikipedea: Manual of Style

I had a college professor try to clarify the rules; he said only abbreviations for country names, and proper names for people get punctuated in U.S. grammar rules.  Organizations and business names do not. The UN is an organization, not a country.

In fact, even military vehicles used in UN peacekeeping operations do not punctuate the “UN” painted on their vehicles.  The U.S. military stopped punctuating their abbreviations in the late 1940s, when the new standardized U.S. grammar rules were finally adopted.  USAF=United States Air Force, USN=United States Navy, USMC=United States Marine Corps and USA (without punctuations)=United States Army.  So the next time you see a product labeled “Made in USA” (no punctuations) does it mean it was made by the United States Army, or that the company is ignorant of U.S. grammar rules?

What about the UAE (United Arab Emirates)?  The UAE is actually a confederation of seven smaller emirates. Despite many sources calling the UAE a federation, it can not be, because each ruler of each emirate maintains supreme authority within their emirate.  Therefore the UAE is not a “country”, but an loose organization of smaller countries.  This is the case with the failed Confederate States of America.  In fact being a loose confederation was a primary reason for their losing the Civil War (War Between the States) in the 1860s.

The same can be said for the Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS.  This is a confederation of countries lead by Russia, and includes many former members of the Soviet Union.

However, even Wikipedia: Manual of Style confuses the issue: “For consistency in an article, if the abbreviated form for the United States appears alongside other abbreviated country names, avoid periods throughout; never add full stops to the other abbreviations (the US, the UK, and the PRC, not the U.S., the U.K., and the P.R.C.).”

In the case of the WSJ article, it’s interesting that they punctuate U.S. and UN (the article was written by three people).

Did I distract you enough from the preparations for war with Iran?

Business/Economics, Idaho, International, Technology, U.S.

U.S. increases embassy staffing in Brazil & China. Officially it’s to help foreign students come to the U.S. Unofficially it’s to bring in cheaper labor to the U.S., and help U.S. citizens leave the U.S.

“Idaho’s the last state that should say we don’t want to do business with Asia. Asia’s where the money is.”-Brad Little, Lieutenant Governor of Idaho

Recently the U.S. Department of State announced they were increasing staffing in China and Brazil.

Most U.S. and Chinese media reports suggested this was due to the increasing number of foreign students wanting to go to school in the United States.  The Chinese media even said it was a money making scheme for U.S. colleges: “A number of state governments in the U.S. are tightening their grip on education spending, which means smaller subsidies for public colleges to pay teachers and fund research. International students on average pay far more for tuition expenses than U.S. residents.”-ChinaDaily

According to U.S. Department of Commerce (yes it’s a “department”, not an “agency” as Rick Perry said), it’s also about the money Chinese tourists bring to the U.S.  In 2010 those visitors contributed more than $5 billion to the U.S. economy.

What about Brazil? In 2008 there were reports that Brazilians working in the U.S. wanted to go back to Brazil.  Now the U.S. State Department claims they can’t keep up with demands from Brazilians wanting to come to the U.S.

In September a report showed that the U.S. government has been wooing new Brazilian companies to move to the U.S.

EverWrite and DeskMetrics were two companies mentioned.  Young Brazilian entrepreneurs say it’s much too hard to start a new company in their home country, so they move to the United States (that’s funny ’cause just this past week Idaho business leaders told our U.S. Congress that it’s too hard to maintain a business in the United States).

Chinese businesses are being wooed here as well.  This brings me to one of two points; that increasing U.S. Embassy staffing in China and Brazil is really about bringing foreign workers into the U.S.  You see, many of those Chinese and Brazilian companies are bringing their own employees.

In fact, here in Idaho our state leaders have made a deal with the Chinese.  They will have their own 10,000 to 30,000 acre industrial and housing zone south of the Boise Airport, with their own Chinese employees, and even some level of national sovereignty.

“I think China’s coming over here shows they are willing to collaborate on the re-invigoration of the American industrial base.”-Jeff Don, Idaho representative for the Chinese company, called Sinomach

Here in southeast Idaho the Chinese have already moved in.

Sinomach is China’s third-largest contractor, and pressured Southeast Idaho Energy for a contract to build SIE’s $2 billion goal gasification fertilizer plant in Power County.  In May, 2011, SIE closed its American Falls, Idaho, office claiming they were trying to reduce operating expenses.

A polysilicon factory is just about to start up in Pocatello.  It’s run by Hoku International, which is now a subsidiary of a Chinese company.  The few local employees hired went to China to learn about their job duties.  So far no more word on anymore local hires, which makes you wonder if the main Hoku labor force will be coming from China?

Officials in Boise, Idaho, admit they’re working with more Asian corporations: “We’re getting calls from investors from all across Asia who are interested in Idaho.”-Cece Gassner, assistant to the mayor of Boise, for economic development.

The other point (regarding increased U.S. Embassy staffing) is that U.S. citizens are flocking to China and Brazil.

Japanese, and even PBS, media reports show that many U.S. citizens aren’t waiting until they’ve been hired to move to China; there’s a growing number of U.S. citizens who’ve moved to China, and are still looking for employment.  In fact many U.S. job seekers in China, are finding that they’re competing not only against Chinese job seekers, but their fellow U.S. citizens.

In Brazil, the current population, according to the World Bank, is more than 194 million people. That’s an increase of almost 3 million since 2008!  Most of those people moved to Brazil, many from the United States.

 

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

No Economic Recovery for the U.S.: Brazil about to beat out U.S. as number 1 Coffee drinkers. Coffee consumption a sign of good times

“In Brazil the middle class has grown and has more money nowadays. Consumers are becoming more sophisticated and want more quality, they want differentiation.  In 2000 you could not find gourmet coffee on supermarket shelves, now we have 104 different brands that are certified as gourmet coffees in the program in the stores.”-Nathan Herszkowicz, ABIC

Right now Brazil is the number one producer of coffee, and according to Brazil’s coffee industry association ABIC, Brazil is about to become the number one consumer as well.

According to officials with ABIC, the coffee consumption rate, in Brazil, is increasing by 4% every year.

While increased coffee consumption is a sign of good economic times for Brazilians, it could be bad news for everyone else: Coffee farmers in Brazil are now focusing on growing for domestic sales, rather than exporting their drinkable beans. That could increase prices for the rest of us.

By the way, the ranking of biggest coffee consumer is based on a country’s consumption of 60 kilogram (132 pounds) bags of coffee.  If you look at per capita (per person) consumption of coffee, then Finland is number one!

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, Technology, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? After donating $1 million to charity, HP will lay off Idaho employees

At the beginning of November, Hewlett-Packard reported they had donated $1 million to charity, for the fiscal year which ended October 31.

Now, according to a Boise TV station, HP employees called and reported a major layoff at the HP Boise operation was in the works.

KBOI says they contacted HP officials.  The officials stated they are still working on the details of a forthcoming press release, which will explain the layoffs.

Business/Economics, U.S.

Occupy America: Police harass newspaper videographer following suicide of war veteran who joined the OWS protests

“Get out of here, now!”-James Trieb, Burlington Detective

In Burlington, Vermont, a local newspaper videographer revealed that the local police tried to stop his coverage of the suicide of a war veteran at the Occupy Burlington demonstrations.

The newspaper’s editor said it was a public news event that justified being covered: “It occurred in a public place where there has been a lot of controversy.”-Michael Townsend, Free Press Executive Editor

The video of the incident is posted on the newspaper’s website.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Occupy America: People, including war veteran, shot and killed at protests

On November 10, in two separate incidents, two people were shot and killed during protests on the east and west coasts of the United States.

On the west coast, in Oakland, California, what appears to be a gang shooting took the life of a man who might have used the protest to try an hide from his killers.  Occupy Oakland demonstrators claim the man was not part of the protest.

On the east coast, in Burlington, Vermont, a 35 year old War on Terror veteran shot and killed himself as a form of protest.  Occupy Burlington demonstrators say the man told them of the government’s failure to help him with a condition he developed due to his military service: “This person has clearly needed more help than we were capable of giving him here at this park.”– Emily Reynolds, University of Vermont student

Back in Oakland, paranoid city officials are ignorantly blaming the possible gang shooting on the Occupy protestors: “I have been very vocal on the fact that this cannot continue. I think fear has become a reality. They should pack up and leave, if not, we should take whatever action is necessary.”– Ignacio De La Fuente, Oakland City Councilman

In Burlington, the veteran’s protest by suicide has encouraged more people to openly protest.  It’s also encouraged the Burlington police to get violent: “We’re dealing with a large group of people. We have stuff available. We have to.”-Andi Higbee, Deputy Police Chief

Burlington media says up until the veteran’s suicide local officials had been tolerant of the Occupy protest.  That has changed, and the mayor of Burlington is even using the suicide to mount an anti-gun campaign: “We need to reflect on guns in Vermont.”-Bob Kiss, Burlington mayor

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Jefferson County, Alabama, makes largest bankruptcy claim in U.S. history! Thank you JP Morgan Chase.

“Despite the county’s best efforts, these negotiations have not produced a deal that fairly treats the county and its citizens, and there is no reason to believe that further out of court negotiations will lead to a fair, acceptable result.”-David Carrington, County Commission President

On November 10, Jefferson County, in Alabama, filed the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.  They can’t pay back a loan from JP Morgan Chase of U.S.$3 billion, used to upgrade the county sewer system.

Just like many business owners and individuals have tried, the county was trying to negotiate for a new loan.  At the last minute (again, small business owners, construction contractors and individuals have experienced this) the finance industry changed its mind.

The failed negotiations put all other county services at risk of being shut down, so they had no choice but to file bankruptcy.  It’s not just the county that’ll be affected: “Bankruptcy will negatively impact not only the Birmingham region, but also the entire state.”-Robert Bentley, Governor of Alabama

Amazingly, JP Morgan Chase says the $3 billion bankruptcy will not negatively affect them financially!

Jefferson County, Alabama, is part of a growing trend of municipalities going bankrupt.  Since 2010 seven U.S. cities and towns have gone officially bust.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Global Economic War: New Greek & Italian Prime Ministers part of Rockefeller’s Trilateral Commission’s push for one world government

News of who the new Greek and Italian Prime Ministers are, has calmed European stock markets, mainly ’cause these guys are part of the corporate team.

In an earlier posting I postulated that the European debt crisis is part of a plan by the Corporate World to take over Europe (it’s too late for the U.S., why do you think taxpayers were made to bailout the big banks? Think about it, in Europe it’s the other way ’round; the big banks are bailing out the governments).

Now there’s proof of such a conspiracy in the announcement of the new Greek and Italian Prime Ministers, both of whom have a sinister connection.

Meet the new Greek PM, Lucas Papademos.  He’s got all kinds of college education, including MIT.  He taught at Columbia and Harvard.  He’s worked for the U.S. Federal Reserve (a private bank), was the Governor of the Bank of Greece, and was the Vice President of the European Central Bank.

Meet the new Italian PM, Mario Monti.  He too has all kinds of education, including Yale.  He spent a lot of time with the European Commission in which he focused on internal markets, financial services and financial integration, customs, and taxation.  He’s also been pushing to turn the European Union into a true federal government of Europe.  He’s a member of the Bilderberg Group (that should worry you).

Here’s the sinister connection between the two: Both are members of the Rockefeller founded Trilateral Commission.  In fact, Mario Monti is the current European Chairman of the Trilateral Commission!

The Trilateral Commission was founded by David Rockefeller in 1973.  The official goal is to foster economic and political co-operation between Japan, North American countries and European countries (notice these are the regions that are currently in big economic trouble).

In 2000, the Japan membership was expanded to include many other Asian countries, and is now called the Pacific Asia Group.

The appointment of Mario Monti as Italian PM, and Lucas Papademos as Greek PM, violates a Trilateral rule.  The rule says no official member of the commission can hold public office  (I don’t think they actually enforce that rule).

Former Republican U.S. Senator, Barry Goldwater, said the Trilateral Commission is “…a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power: political, monetary, intellectual, and ecclesiastical…[in] the creation of a worldwide economic power superior to the political governments of the nation states involved.”

In 1975 a report was made for the Trilateral Commission. It was called: The Crisis of Democracy: On the Governability of Democracies.  The report criticized Democracy because the “…impulse of democracy is to make government less powerful and more active, to increase its functions, and to decrease its authority.” It also said the problem with the United States was that it had “…an excess of Democracy.” (looks like they’ve succeeded in turning that around)

Noam Chomsky said the report was “…the ideology of the liberal wing of the state capitalist ruling elite.”

Currently there are several credible conspiracy theorists who claim the September 11, 2001 attacks on the U.S. were part of a Trilateral plot to take over the governments of the Western world.

If the appointment of two current members of the Trilateral Commission to the positions of Prime Ministers (in supposed violation of the Commission’s own rules) isn’t enough to convince you of a sinister plot to create a one world government (at least a one Western world government), then I don’t know what will.

 

 

 

International, Technology, U.S.

World War 3: British government officials leak info about invasion of Iran; Merry Xmas

“We’re expecting something as early as Christmas, or very early in the New Year.”-unnamed British Foreign Office source

The British media outlet Daily Mail has been publishing what they claim are leaked details of the coming attack on Iran, by Israel, United Kingdom and the United States.

On November 2 they published an article that says the U.K. and the U.S. are working on the details of a joint military operation against Iran.  It said that President Barack Obama wants vengeance for a supposed plot to assassinate a Saudi Arabian official (which in reality was a failed DEA/FBI sting operation), and that Obama and Prime Minister David Cameron are using the latest IAEA report as justification.

The Daily Mail says the invasion of Iran will be made by British and U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as from the Persian Gulf.  Israel will use its air force (including its growing arsenal of ballistic missiles) against Iran.

Whitehall (a term referring to the British royal family “Her Majesty’s Government” which oversees the operation of the U.K. government, the Queen is the c in c of British forces) officials claim that Iran has suddenly appeared “newly aggressive, and we are not quite sure why.”

The Daily Mail also said that Obama does not want a new war before the 2012 elections, but is being pressured by Israel.

The British newspaper Guardian also published similar articles.

On November 10, the Daily Mail published an article that said Israel would launch air strikes against Iran by the end of December. That report came from British intelligence officials.

British Ministry of Defense officials said their concern about Iran getting the bomb, is that other middle eastern countries will follow suit:  “The bigger concern is it will be impossible to stop Saudi Arabia and Turkey from developing their own weapons.”

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak continues to imply a possible Israeli military strike against Iran’s nuclear program: “We continue to recommend to our friends in the world and to ourselves, not to take any option off the table.”

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