smugllama's news review
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
(DV) Nichols: Radiation in Iraq Equals 250,000 Nagasaki Bombs (dissidentvoice.org/Bob Nichols)
"When the uranium bullets, missiles, or bombs hit something or explode most of the radioactive uranium turns instantly into very, very small dust particles, too fine to even see (they call it: uranium oxide, that's the really bad stuff). When US troops or Iraqis breathe even a tiny amount into their lungs, as little as One Gram, it is the same as getting an X-Ray every hour for the rest of their shortened life. "
"When the uranium bullets, missiles, or bombs hit something or explode most of the radioactive uranium turns instantly into very, very small dust particles, too fine to even see (they call it: uranium oxide, that's the really bad stuff). When US troops or Iraqis breathe even a tiny amount into their lungs, as little as One Gram, it is the same as getting an X-Ray every hour for the rest of their shortened life. "
Peak Oil is a Myth based on Ignorance of Russian and Ukrainian Science (the7thfire.com/David McGowan)
"For the sake of accuracy, I think we need to modify Mr. Campbell's response, because it should probably read: no one in the petroleum industry will publicly admit giving any credence to abiotic theories. But is there really any doubt that those who own and control the oil industry are well aware of the true origins of oil? How could they not be?"
[Mike's rebuttal: "You have employed dishonesty, straw arguments, and libelous character assassinations instead of addressing the only question that matters to anybody. Is abiotic petroleum and natural gas readily available and making its way into commercial use in sufficient quantities to establish that there is no imminent energy shortage? Instead you are dancing around the issue with falsehoods which are typified (as only one example) by your statement that I and a number of petroleum scientists argue that oil is derived from dinosaurs. Neither I nor any reputable scientist - especially those who are warning of Peak Oil - has ever made such a claim. We all gagged as you put these words in our mouths." -smugllama]
"For the sake of accuracy, I think we need to modify Mr. Campbell's response, because it should probably read: no one in the petroleum industry will publicly admit giving any credence to abiotic theories. But is there really any doubt that those who own and control the oil industry are well aware of the true origins of oil? How could they not be?"
[Mike's rebuttal: "You have employed dishonesty, straw arguments, and libelous character assassinations instead of addressing the only question that matters to anybody. Is abiotic petroleum and natural gas readily available and making its way into commercial use in sufficient quantities to establish that there is no imminent energy shortage? Instead you are dancing around the issue with falsehoods which are typified (as only one example) by your statement that I and a number of petroleum scientists argue that oil is derived from dinosaurs. Neither I nor any reputable scientist - especially those who are warning of Peak Oil - has ever made such a claim. We all gagged as you put these words in our mouths." -smugllama]
Revealed: how Britain was told full coup plan (observer.guardian.co.uk)
"Britain was given a full outline of an illegal coup plot in a vital oil-rich African state, including the dates, details of arms shipments and key players, several months before the putsch was launched, according to confidential documents obtained by The Observer."
"Britain was given a full outline of an illegal coup plot in a vital oil-rich African state, including the dates, details of arms shipments and key players, several months before the putsch was launched, according to confidential documents obtained by The Observer."
Sunday, November 28, 2004
Saudis, Enron money helped pay for US rigged election (Wayne Madsen / OnlineJournal)
The Bush campaign spent some $29 million to pay polling place operatives around the country to rig the election for Bush. The operatives were posing as Homeland Security and FBI agents but were actually technicians familiar with Diebold, Sequoia, ES&S, Triad, Unilect, and Danaher Controls voting machines. These technicians reportedly hacked the systems to skew the results in favor of Bush. The leak about the money and the rigged election apparently came from technicians who were promised to be paid a certain amount for their work but the Bush campaign interlocutors reneged and some of the technicians are revealing the nature of the vote rigging program. The money to rig the election in favor of Bush reportedly came from an entity called Five Star Trust, largely based in Houston but a worldwide entity that is directly tied to the Saudi Royal Family. Five Star Trust was termed "a well-protected vehicle" that has been used to support both Bush and Osama bin Laden in the US and around the world.
More on the buying of electoral fraud by the Bush campaign (Wayne Madsen / OnlineJournal)
The epicenter for the vote rigging operation is Dallas, Texas, and the operation may involve retired FBI agents who used a well-established "good ole boy" network to arrange for access to polling precincts by electronic voting machine technicians who took advantage of various November 2 security "lockdowns" to illegally alter the tabulation of votes in favor of Bush. This reporter has obtained a copy of a bank check for $29,600,000 that was allegedly sent to cover the cost of the Texas-based vote rigging operation. The check is dated October 22, 2004, and was made payable to "Five Star Investment Ltd.," a trust said to have long connections to Saudi-funded operations in Texas and around the world. The payer is identified as "Equity Financial Trust," a Houston-based "brass plate" and post office box entity tied to offshore Cook Islands "folding tent" accounts used to hide away profits amassed by the former Enron as well as Saudi financiers.
The Bush campaign spent some $29 million to pay polling place operatives around the country to rig the election for Bush. The operatives were posing as Homeland Security and FBI agents but were actually technicians familiar with Diebold, Sequoia, ES&S, Triad, Unilect, and Danaher Controls voting machines. These technicians reportedly hacked the systems to skew the results in favor of Bush. The leak about the money and the rigged election apparently came from technicians who were promised to be paid a certain amount for their work but the Bush campaign interlocutors reneged and some of the technicians are revealing the nature of the vote rigging program. The money to rig the election in favor of Bush reportedly came from an entity called Five Star Trust, largely based in Houston but a worldwide entity that is directly tied to the Saudi Royal Family. Five Star Trust was termed "a well-protected vehicle" that has been used to support both Bush and Osama bin Laden in the US and around the world.
More on the buying of electoral fraud by the Bush campaign (Wayne Madsen / OnlineJournal)
The epicenter for the vote rigging operation is Dallas, Texas, and the operation may involve retired FBI agents who used a well-established "good ole boy" network to arrange for access to polling precincts by electronic voting machine technicians who took advantage of various November 2 security "lockdowns" to illegally alter the tabulation of votes in favor of Bush. This reporter has obtained a copy of a bank check for $29,600,000 that was allegedly sent to cover the cost of the Texas-based vote rigging operation. The check is dated October 22, 2004, and was made payable to "Five Star Investment Ltd.," a trust said to have long connections to Saudi-funded operations in Texas and around the world. The payer is identified as "Equity Financial Trust," a Houston-based "brass plate" and post office box entity tied to offshore Cook Islands "folding tent" accounts used to hide away profits amassed by the former Enron as well as Saudi financiers.
Saturday, November 27, 2004
Pakistan pulls troops from Afghan border area - Nov 27, 2004 (cnn.com)
"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- After more than two years of battling remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban, Pakistan's government announced late Friday it will end its military operation in the tense tribal region of South Waziristan."
"ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- After more than two years of battling remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban, Pakistan's government announced late Friday it will end its military operation in the tense tribal region of South Waziristan."
Protest plans force Bush to curtail Ottawa visit (washingtontimes.com/Levon Sevunts)
TORONTO - President Bush won't have to rescue his Secret Service bodyguards during his upcoming visit to Canada as he did recently in Chile, Canadian security officials said.
But with thousands of protesters expected to demonstrate against Mr. Bush, the White House decided to cut short his visit to Ottawa and travel to Halifax instead.
TORONTO - President Bush won't have to rescue his Secret Service bodyguards during his upcoming visit to Canada as he did recently in Chile, Canadian security officials said.
But with thousands of protesters expected to demonstrate against Mr. Bush, the White House decided to cut short his visit to Ottawa and travel to Halifax instead.
Dollar hits new low against euro (USATODAY.com)
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The euro surged to a new high against the U.S. dollar for the fourth straight day Friday, although the greenback rose off its low point.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The euro surged to a new high against the U.S. dollar for the fourth straight day Friday, although the greenback rose off its low point.
Two senior officials 'leave CIA' (news.bbc.co.uk)
"Two further top CIA officials from the organisation's clandestine unit are reported to have resigned."
"Two further top CIA officials from the organisation's clandestine unit are reported to have resigned."
Colombia 'foiled attempt on Bush' (news.bbc.co.uk)
"The largest guerrilla group in Colombia ordered an assassination attempt on US President George W Bush during a recent visit there, a senior official says."
"The largest guerrilla group in Colombia ordered an assassination attempt on US President George W Bush during a recent visit there, a senior official says."
CIA facing a major 'purge' (janes.com)
"(T)he US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has ridden out many storms since its creation by President Harry Truman in 1947, but the row threatening to engulf it as a new director appointed by President George W Bush eviscerates the old leadership at Langley may prove the greatest challenge yet. "
"(T)he US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has ridden out many storms since its creation by President Harry Truman in 1947, but the row threatening to engulf it as a new director appointed by President George W Bush eviscerates the old leadership at Langley may prove the greatest challenge yet. "
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Intelligence networks go for Google (Government Computer News, 12/05/03)
"The Intelink Management Office, which oversees top-secret, secret and sensitive but unclassified intranets for the CIA and other intelligence organizations, has adopted the Google Search Appliance from Google of Mountain View, Calif. IMO director John Brantley said during an interview this morning at CIA headquarters in McLean, Va., that the office has purchased two Google Search Appliances, one for its secret networks and one for its top-secret networks. ... IMO this summer paid an amount in the "high six figures" for each of the two devices, Brantley said. ... A Google spokesman said the company also has provided the appliances to the Army, the Energy Department and other agencies that he declined to name."
Wow. Our intelligence community sure trusts Google with their sensitive information. Agencies would have to implicitly trust a company to allow them to access to such secret intelligence data. How does the CIA know there are no backdoors in these search appliances? Which brings into question the real motives for Google... Is it safe to say that everything Google has their hands in is an intelligence asset? Search queries? Gmail? The Google Toolbar? The Google Deskbar? Blogger? Keyhole? Google Desktop Search? ... I think we need to take a long hard look at how much access Google has to our lives. Oh, yeah, and who is Google doing business with that is secretive enough to remain unnamed?
"The Intelink Management Office, which oversees top-secret, secret and sensitive but unclassified intranets for the CIA and other intelligence organizations, has adopted the Google Search Appliance from Google of Mountain View, Calif. IMO director John Brantley said during an interview this morning at CIA headquarters in McLean, Va., that the office has purchased two Google Search Appliances, one for its secret networks and one for its top-secret networks. ... IMO this summer paid an amount in the "high six figures" for each of the two devices, Brantley said. ... A Google spokesman said the company also has provided the appliances to the Army, the Energy Department and other agencies that he declined to name."
Wow. Our intelligence community sure trusts Google with their sensitive information. Agencies would have to implicitly trust a company to allow them to access to such secret intelligence data. How does the CIA know there are no backdoors in these search appliances? Which brings into question the real motives for Google... Is it safe to say that everything Google has their hands in is an intelligence asset? Search queries? Gmail? The Google Toolbar? The Google Deskbar? Blogger? Keyhole? Google Desktop Search? ... I think we need to take a long hard look at how much access Google has to our lives. Oh, yeah, and who is Google doing business with that is secretive enough to remain unnamed?
Google buys CIA-backed mapping startup (The Register)
"Google has acquired 3D mapping company Keyhole for an undisclosed sum, and announced that it's cutting the price of the consumer edition from $69.95 to $29.95."
"Google has acquired 3D mapping company Keyhole for an undisclosed sum, and announced that it's cutting the price of the consumer edition from $69.95 to $29.95."
Secret U.S. court OKs electronic spying (CNET)
"A secretive federal court on Monday granted police broad authority to monitor Internet use, record keystrokes and employ other surveillance methods against terror and espionage suspects."
"A secretive federal court on Monday granted police broad authority to monitor Internet use, record keystrokes and employ other surveillance methods against terror and espionage suspects."
Reuters News Article
"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence."
"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A California teacher has been barred by his school from giving students documents from American history that refer to God -- including the Declaration of Independence."
Security officials to spy on chat rooms (news.com.com/Declan McCullagh)
"The CIA is quietly funding federal research into surveillance of Internet chat rooms as part of an effort to identify possible terrorists, CNET News.com has learned."
"The CIA is quietly funding federal research into surveillance of Internet chat rooms as part of an effort to identify possible terrorists, CNET News.com has learned."
Mysterious 'George W. Bush: Our leader' Clear Channel political public service billboard graces Orlando freeway (bluelemur.com/John Byrne)
A billboard recently put up in Orlando bearing a smiling photograph of President Bush with the words "Our Leader" is raising eyebrows among progressives who feel the poster is akin to that of propaganda used by tyrannical regimes.
A billboard recently put up in Orlando bearing a smiling photograph of President Bush with the words "Our Leader" is raising eyebrows among progressives who feel the poster is akin to that of propaganda used by tyrannical regimes.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Strength in Disunity(nytimes.com/David Brooks OpEd)
"(T)hree weeks ago the Republicans won an impressive victory. So what have they been doing since?"
"(T)hree weeks ago the Republicans won an impressive victory. So what have they been doing since?"
Economic `Armageddon' predicted (bostonherald.com/Brett Arends)
"Stephen Roach, the chief economist at investment banking giant Morgan Stanley, has a public reputation for being bearish.
But you should hear what he's saying in private.
Roach met select groups of fund managers downtown last week, including a group at Fidelity.
His prediction: America has no better than a 10 percent chance of avoiding economic ``armageddon.'' "
"Stephen Roach, the chief economist at investment banking giant Morgan Stanley, has a public reputation for being bearish.
But you should hear what he's saying in private.
Roach met select groups of fund managers downtown last week, including a group at Fidelity.
His prediction: America has no better than a 10 percent chance of avoiding economic ``armageddon.'' "
Friday, November 19, 2004
Underwear Goes Inside Your Pants (onegoodmove / Lazy Guy)
And now, for something completely different: An extremely humorous, yet serious, elloquent critique of America and especially its views towards the homeless, obesity, self-esteem, and drugs... Almost in a Dennis Leary vein; (Requires Windows Media Player, Real Player, or Quicktime, and well worth having to deal with those formats)
And now, for something completely different: An extremely humorous, yet serious, elloquent critique of America and especially its views towards the homeless, obesity, self-esteem, and drugs... Almost in a Dennis Leary vein; (Requires Windows Media Player, Real Player, or Quicktime, and well worth having to deal with those formats)
Thursday, November 18, 2004
A guide to the U.S. media's doublespeak (Socialist Worker Online)
"Mission accomplished": The operation in Falluja has been "very successful," with "hundreds and hundreds" of insurgents killed or captured, according to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers. But, he added, "If anybody thinks that Falluja is going to be the end of the insurgency in Iraq, that was never the objective, never our intention, and even never our hope."
"Mission accomplished": The operation in Falluja has been "very successful," with "hundreds and hundreds" of insurgents killed or captured, according to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers. But, he added, "If anybody thinks that Falluja is going to be the end of the insurgency in Iraq, that was never the objective, never our intention, and even never our hope."
US 'exaggerated' foreign fighters in Iraq (al-Jazeera)
The question of foreign fighters crossing Iraqi [borders] has been exaggerated, given that only 24 of the 1000 insurgents captured in Falluja are foreign.
The question of foreign fighters crossing Iraqi [borders] has been exaggerated, given that only 24 of the 1000 insurgents captured in Falluja are foreign.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Footprints of Electoral Fraud: The November 2 Exit Poll Scam (Global Research)
One of the clear indicators of massive electoral fraud was the wide divergence, both nationally and in swing states, between exit poll results and the reported vote tallies. The major villains, it would seem, were the suppliers of touch-screen voting machines. There appears to be evidence, however, that the corporations responsible for assembling vote-counting and exit poll information may also have been complicit in the fraud... The National Election Pool's own data - as transmitted by CNN on the evening of November 2 and the early morning of November 3 - suggest very strongly that the results of the exit polls were themselves fiddled late on November 2 in order to make their numbers conform with the tabulated vote tallies... What we are witnessing, the evidence would suggest, is a late-night contribution by the National Elections Pool to the rewriting of history.
One of the clear indicators of massive electoral fraud was the wide divergence, both nationally and in swing states, between exit poll results and the reported vote tallies. The major villains, it would seem, were the suppliers of touch-screen voting machines. There appears to be evidence, however, that the corporations responsible for assembling vote-counting and exit poll information may also have been complicit in the fraud... The National Election Pool's own data - as transmitted by CNN on the evening of November 2 and the early morning of November 3 - suggest very strongly that the results of the exit polls were themselves fiddled late on November 2 in order to make their numbers conform with the tabulated vote tallies... What we are witnessing, the evidence would suggest, is a late-night contribution by the National Elections Pool to the rewriting of history.
Monday, November 08, 2004
US ready to put weapons in space - Defence expert says America is likely to ignore treaty ban (Observer / Guardian Unlimited)
Documents reveal that the US Air Force has for the first time adopted a doctrine to establish 'space superiority'.
Documents reveal that the US Air Force has for the first time adopted a doctrine to establish 'space superiority'.
Documents: U.S. had plan to nuke N. Korea (United Press International)
Newly declassified documents revealed the United States planned as recently as 1998 to drop nuclear bombs on North Korea if the country attacked South Korea.
Newly declassified documents revealed the United States planned as recently as 1998 to drop nuclear bombs on North Korea if the country attacked South Korea.
Florida Chart
Some more than "unusual" results comparing registration numbers versus final ballot counts. Something smells terrible here.
Some more than "unusual" results comparing registration numbers versus final ballot counts. Something smells terrible here.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Dollar Declines on Speculation Exit Polls Show Kerry Leading (Bloomberg)
Wall Street applauds Bush victory (Yahoo! News / CBS Marketwatch)
U.S. stock futures rise on Bush lead in election (Christopher Noble/investors.com)
Defense stocks surge after Bush win (Associated Press)
Wall Street applauds Bush victory (Yahoo! News / CBS Marketwatch)
U.S. stock futures rise on Bush lead in election (Christopher Noble/investors.com)
Defense stocks surge after Bush win (Associated Press)
US Gave Date of War to Britain in Advance, Court Papers Reveal (Independent/UK & Common Dreams)
Secret plans for the war in Iraq were passed to British Army chiefs by US defense planners five months before the invasion was launched, a court martial heard yesterday.
Secret plans for the war in Iraq were passed to British Army chiefs by US defense planners five months before the invasion was launched, a court martial heard yesterday.
Friday, November 05, 2004
Glitch gave Bush extra votes in Ohio (CNN)
"A technician from the Omaha, Neb. company that designed the software, Election Systems & Software Inc., was working to diagnose and fix the problem."
"A technician from the Omaha, Neb. company that designed the software, Election Systems & Software Inc., was working to diagnose and fix the problem."
Tuesday, November 02, 2004
Ohio result could be delayed till Dec. (Tuscon Citizen / Gannett News Service)
"If Tuesday's presidential election is close in Ohio, it could be mid-November or later before it's known for sure which presidential candidate won the state - and maybe the presidency. Under election law, boards of elections cannot even begin counting provisional ballots until Nov. 13. Because that's a Saturday, many boards may wait until Nov. 15, the following Monday, to begin counting."
"If Tuesday's presidential election is close in Ohio, it could be mid-November or later before it's known for sure which presidential candidate won the state - and maybe the presidency. Under election law, boards of elections cannot even begin counting provisional ballots until Nov. 13. Because that's a Saturday, many boards may wait until Nov. 15, the following Monday, to begin counting."
