Sarah Palin & Theocracy& The Great Commision

"Do you think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." (NIV)
Matthew 5:17:Bible

On this another anniversary of 9/11 we once again grieve for those who lost their lives that day. We also wonder at the madness of those who committed such an outrageous and brutal act. And we can all agree that those who were involved in organizing this act of terror should be made to pay for what they did. For some of us it is just another example of Robert Burns' apt phrase " Man's Inhumanity to Man".

But to others 9/11 takes on another significance as a sign from God that the End-Times are near and that Biblical Prophecies are now coming true.Are they right? Well this is based on their interpretaions of the Bible and especially " The Book of Revelation " of St. John. Once they take this book as literally true they then go back through the Bible to add more details, prophecies & revelations to their overall vision of the End-Times and Armageddon including the rise of the Anti-Christ etc. To one faction a Kingdom of True Believers or Saints will be established over all the nations which is then followed by Judgement Day whereas for others the true believers are taken away by the Rapture.Those left on Earth will suffer greatly and so on until Jesus descends from Heaven and straightens everything out.

In any religion there are differences of opinion about what the main tenets of that religion are. In Christianity there are a host of different factions or sects each claiming certain teachings of Jesus for instance are more important than others or they interpret those teachings in different ways. Some believe that there is room for different interpretions while others claim only certain interpretations of the teachings of Jesus or the Prophets are acceptable. One of the more conservative views holds that the Bible in its entirety is to be taken as the literal word of God and that there are no substantial errors in the Bible or contradictions (Bibical Inerrancy ). The seeming contradictions have only the appearance of contradictiction. So with ample thought, devotion & prayer these contradictions are resolved or dissolve as it were.There are also no grey areas everything is back or white so everything is known for certainty. And the only thing which one truly needs to know or can know about the world is contained in the Bible. This means that the Earth is not billions of years old but is only six thousand years old or for some a 100,000 years old. Therefore Darwin's Theory of Evolution is heretical and pernicious. Whatever occurs from Hurricanes to wars to Global Warming that is they would argue if Global Warming it were true. As for fossil fuels oil coal etc will not run out for God Will Provide as God Will's The New Crusade against all heretics and infidels.

To a large and growing group of Evangelicals the various sects or schools of Christian theology have all gone astray and need to be brought back to God'Word & God's Law. They therefore reject any sort of ecumenical movement. In their view the World is a Fallen World and must be redeemed by the true believers of Jesus and the Holy Word of the Bible. They are not satisfied with living within society alongside all those who have been in their view misled or are in the possession of Demons or Satan Himself or the Anti-Christ. They therefore preach a militant activism to reshape society in this case mainly American society so that it conforms to God's Will and God'Laws. To do otherwise is to be an appeaser who attempts to forego the battle in order to be left alone and to live in peace while permitting society to fall further under the rule of Satan.Therefore they believe they must enter into all the realms of society including the political real in order to reshape society accordingly.Since 9/11 these groups have increased in leaps and bounds and have become more and more outspoken and militant. To them 9/11 was a sign from God that their time had come and that they should rise up and take control of American society and then the world to transform the world into God's Kingdom.

Sarah Pallin's Churches appear to be apocalytic & Fanatical. She will continue to Crusade against all other religions. The church is Domiinioist or Reconstructioist that is they believe that Go's Law needs to be instituted in America . They condemn notions about tolerance and compassion. The laws as they exist in the Old Testament are to be the laws of the land and not some quasi-liberal BS written by the Founding Fathers of America or interpreted by corrupted Supreme Court Justices or those in the Congress or Senate. All laws must be based upon Biblical principles. Abortion, homosexuality,pre-marital sex , atheism, blasphemy, disobedience to authority must be punishable by the creation of Codified Religious based laws.

The church believes in the Great Commission that is the spreading of its version of Chritianity throughout the world by any means. They believe that the churches or Holy Places and their Idols or statues must be destroyed. The Taliban most notably did this to the Giant Buddha statues in Afghanistan. So Islamic, Hindu, Buddhists places of worship and all their paintings, statues and iconography must be destroyed. With this kind of message may in fact be appealing to enough Americans to giver Palin & McCain victory. Though this message of intolerance may upset those of us who believe in religious tolerance and mutual understanding it will appeal to many Americans. Such an appeal can also give a cover story or rationalization for those who don't want Barack Obama as Presient because he is not white. Or to put it in other terms all that is considered to be part of " Liberal Ideology " must be rejected since liberals and all those who believe in tolerance, understanding & a multicultural society are in fact Godless and further are agents of Satan and the Anti-Christ. Therefore Obama can be understood as an agent of Satan or the Anti-Christ.

Does this sound Apocalyptic
Would Nuclear War be welcomed by these people.
One wonders how far they would go but it partly would depend on how they interpreted certain political events. If a voice from on high tells them to Nuke Iran then maybe if they have their finger on the button they will. Just look at what George W. Bush has done claiming that he was guided or told by God to do what he has done. So the rest of us should be afraid of individuals who suffer from such delusions of grandeur.

"This World Has Nothing For Me
I Will Follow You..."
words from a song by radical Christian Evangelicals.

Given this sentiment why bother to try to do anything beyond bringing the World to Jesus. Therefore, problems such as poverty, hunger, war are all just signs of the end-times or merely signs of the Fallen World.

Palin's Demon Haunted Churches


from : brucewilson /September 06, 2008 at YouTube
also see Bruce Wilson's article at Huffington Post September 7, 2008

Sarah Palin's Churches and the Third Wave: New Video Documentary
By Bruce Wilson

Palin's churches are actively involved in a resurgent movement that was declared heretical by the Assemblies of God in 1949. This is the same 'Spiritual Warfare' movement that was featured in the award winning movie, "Jesus Camp," which showed young children being trained to do battle for the Lord. At least three of four of Palin's churches are involved with major organizations and leaders of this movement, which is referred to as The Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. The movement is training a young Joel's Army to take dominion over the United States and the world.

In the video you will see the Wasilla Assembly of God's participation with major international ministries that believe churches must be restructured for the end times under the authority of prophets and apostles anointed by God. A new breed of super Christians will have powers to get messages directly from God, heal the sick, and lay claim for God to cities across the world through "strategic level spiritual warfare" against territorial demons. You will see 'slaying in the spirit' by cell phone anointing, visions of a portal to Jesus on the third floor, and accounts of a village being saved by expelling a witch. The video is accompanied by documentation in articles at www.Talk2action.org. The articles include further links of Palin's churches with major leaders of this extreme movement including Rodney Howard-Browne, the person given credit for the beginning of 'holy laughter' outbreaks at revivals around the world. Involvement with the activities of other major leaders is revealed including Rick Joyner, Steve Thompson, Lou Engle, Frances Frangipane and more

also see:
The Lord's Generation
You See Dry Bones / But We See An Army

Dry Bones drama by Chosen at the Call Nashville 7.7.07
"To become His Offensive Army to impose the will of God" Karen Wheaton


see more at YouTube. Check out Jesus Camp .
also see website Joel'Army & videos connected with this group and others.

also see: from AleterNet :Theocratic Sect Prays for Real Armageddon
By Casey Sanchez, Southern Poverty Law Center. August 30, 2008.

Members of Joel's Army are fighting to bring about the millennial reign of Christ.
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Todd Bentley has a long night ahead of him, resurrecting the dead, healing the blind, and exploding cancerous tumors. Since April 3, the 32-year-old, heavily tattooed, body-pierced, shaved-head Canadian preacher has been leading a continuous "supernatural healing revival" in central Florida. To contain the 10,000-plus crowds flocking from around the globe, Bentley has rented baseball stadiums, arenas and airport hangars at a cost of up to $15,000 a day. Many in attendance are church pastors themselves who believe Bentley to be a prophet and don't bat an eye when he tells them he's seen King David and spoken with the Apostle Paul in heaven. "He was looking very Jewish," Bentley notes.

Tattooed across his sternum are military dog tags that read "Joel's Army." They're evidence of Bentley's generalship in a rapidly growing apocalyptic movement that's gone largely unnoticed by watchdogs of the theocratic right. According to Bentley and a handful of other "hyper-charismatic" preachers advancing the same agenda, Joel's Army is prophesied to become an Armageddon-ready military force of young people with a divine mandate to physically impose Christian "dominion" on non-believers.

"An end-time army has one common purpose -- to aggressively take ground for the kingdom of God under the authority of Jesus Christ, the Dread Champion," Bentley declares on the website for his ministry school in British Columbia, Canada. "The trumpet is sounding, calling on-fire, revolutionary believers to enlist in Joel's Army. ... Many are now ready to be mobilized to establish and advance God's kingdom on earth."

Joel's Army followers, many of them teenagers and young adults who believe they're members of the final generation to come of age before the end of the world, are breaking away in droves from mainline Pentecostal churches. Numbering in the tens of thousands, they base their beliefs on an esoteric reading of the second chapter of the Old Testament Book of Joel, in which an avenging swarm of locusts attacks Israel. In their view, the locusts are a metaphor for Joel's Army.
Despite their overt militancy, there's no evidence Joel's Army followers have committed any acts of violence. But critics warn that actual bloodletting may only be a matter of time for a movement that casts itself as God's avenging army.

also see article from Daily Kos:Sarah Palin's connections that McCain doesn't want you to know about- Sarah Palin: Dominionist Stalking Horse by dogemperor Fri Aug 29, 2008

There are quite a number of extremely troubling links between Sarah Palin and neopentecostal dominionists--enough that, in truth, she may be ultimately as much of a "dream candidate" for the dominionist movement as Mike Huckabee was. Even worse, she's running in a manner that has been frighteningly successful for dominionist groups since the early 80's--specifically, as a "stealth candidate".

Palin's Assemblies linkage:

The first link in and of itself is a doozy--and one of the most damning indeed. No less than the official newsletter of the Assemblies of God of Alaska promotes her proudly as one of the denomination's own, and she was actually feted at an official function of the Assemblies' Alaska District as recently as this year:
The opening night banquet of the 2008 Alaska District Council was honored to have Governor Sarah Palin address the delegates and guests. Governor Palin spoke of her appreciation for the Assemblies of God and requested that the Council pray for both her and the State of Alaska. Superintendent Ted Boatsman, who was Palin’s junior high pastor at Wasilla Assembly of God, along with Pastor Mike Rose of Juneau Christian Center, where Palin presently attends church when in Juneau, laid hands on the Governor and led the Council in prayer.

Palin, who was elected Governor in 2007, is Alaska’s youngest governor and the first female governor of the state. She just recently gave birth to her fifth child, Trig. Palin spoke of the faith challenge she faced when learning that Trig would be a Downs Syndrome child. However, she and her husband, Todd, believe that every child is a gift of God, deserving of life, and that God was asking them to accept His will for their lives. The Alaska District Council believes that the State of Alaska is blessed to have a woman of faith and courage as Governor.

A look at the home website of Palin's church tends to be revealing. Among other things, a particular Assemblies buzzword associated frequently with Hillsong A/G and New Zealand Assemblies churches shows up ("Destiny", here, is a buzzword for "Joel's Army", and is being preferred even as the phrase "Joel's Army" is getting enough negative spin that even the Assemblies is now having to do some rather massive spin control); cell churches are promoted (of the same sort that are linked to short-term and longterm psychological damage and are among the most coercive tactics ever documented in spiritually abusive groups). The church, like a number of other large Assemblies churches, is the center of a dominionist broadcast TV center whose programming is carried across multiple channels in Alaska.

In a trend that has been recently documented by no less than Southern Poverty Law Center (in its recent report on the Joel's Army movement), the church operates a Seven Project-esque targeted recruitment campaign aiming at teens (this is common across the Assemblies and across "Joel's Army" groups in general; fully a third of the documented national-level front groups operated by the Assemblies target teens).
And...believe you me, Palin's church is definitely "Joel's Army"...

also see: Elijah's List

and :Todd Bentley's Violent ministry at YouTube


& BattleCry Ministries

on Dominionism & Reconstructionism and its connection to the Rise of Militant Evangelicalism and the Religious Right see:

Theocracy Watch: Dominion Theology (1/5)at YouTube

and see: Christian Reconstructionism,Dominionism at Religious Tolerance.org

and from the Reconstructionst Official website: THE CHALCEDON FOUNDATION


and so it goes,
GORD.

MORE FUN WITH Ultra-Conservative Quasi Fascist ANN COULTER

Quote of the day:

" Here's a little inside scoop about white people: We're not thinking about you. Especially WASPs. We think everybody is inferior, and we are perfectly charming about it."
Ann Coulter

Before beginning trying to deceipher the meaning of Ann Coulter's quasi-intellectual half-baked attack campaigns I'll begin with a commentary on her by Keith Olberman which is still one of the best commentaries on this woman's invectice from which she has made a few million as it were. Though we may ridicule Ann Coulter it is unfortunate that many Americans agree with her and this makes her and her ilk rather dangerous.

It should be noted that she is just one of a number of Hate Filled Columnists, Radio Talk Show Hosts and TV and Internet celebrities of the extreme right. The group includes Glenn Beck, Michelle Malkin, Bill O'Reilley, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage or Sean Hannity of Hannity & Colmes and most of the people on FOX NEWS. FOX NEWS has all but in name become the propaganda tool of the Bush/Cheney regime and the far right of the Republican party if not of all Republicans. These spokespersons are not old fashioned conservatives but rather Radical Conservatives who label all those who oppose their views and ideology as UNAMERICAN, as TRAITORS and part of a seditious Fifth Column.These people put forth views whic are in fact anti-Democratic and go against the whole spirit of American Democracy of an open society which welcomes diversity and multiculturalism. Their main weapon invective & rumor and repitition of lies and slander. The more oft repeated the lie or slander the more it becomes accepted as the truth. Facts and truth mean nothing to these ultra-conservatives who seek to maintain the status-quo and power at all costs.

Keith Olbermann Slams Ann Coulter
June 9, 2006

-- Ann Coulter attacking Obama's book " Dreams From My Father "---

She begins in her usual manner of incinderary and inflammatory remarks. She compares Obama's book to Hitler's Mein Kampf. Who is the real lunatic. Has Obama suggested that all WASPs be incarcerated or referred to them as vermin a disease on the body politic as Hiler did abot the Jews.

One the other issues here is that Coulter claims she hears race-baiting at her Church every Sunday. Is this supposed to make us all feel better. maybe she should leave a church that is racist.

and why should we pay any attention to Ann Coulter well it seems her books sell milions of copies and those who read her take whatever she says not merely as her opinion but as the Gospel Truth.

Ann Coulter's column in TownHall.comObama's Dimestore 'Mein Kampf' by Ann Coulter April 3, 2008

If characters from "The Hills" were to emote about race, I imagine it would sound like B. Hussein Obama's autobiography, "Dreams From My Father."
Has anybody read this book? Inasmuch as the book reveals Obama to be a flabbergasting lunatic, I gather the answer is no. Obama is about to be our next president: You might want to take a peek. If only people had read "Mein Kampf" ...
Nearly every page -- save the ones dedicated to cataloguing the mundane details of his life -- is bristling with anger at some imputed racist incident. The last time I heard this much race-baiting invective I was ... in my usual front-row pew, as I am every Sunday morning, at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.
and here is is another signature Coulter quote in which she thinks its funny somehow that she and her WASP friends superior to everyone who is not a WASP. This is the very definition of a racist . So she truly believe that being white and a protestant means that she is superior to Catholics, Jews , Muslims, Buddhists, agnostics , atheists besides being superior to Asian-Americans, African-Americans and anyone else who is not white.

But she also appears in her books and columns and her public speeches to serve up contempt for anyone who does not think as she does.

" Here's a little inside scoop about white people: We're not thinking about you. Especially WASPs. We think everybody is inferior, and we are perfectly charming about it."

and as for McCain picking Sarah Palin as his running mate Ann Coulter in an outrageous bit of hipocrisy pounces on the media for attacking Sarah Pallin. It is ok when Ann Coulter and her neocon clones attack Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton but it is not ok to smear a true blue Republican who is of course a true patriot and is on God"s Side while all liberals are on the side of Satan in Ann Coulter skewed vision of the world .

Also note Ann Coulter refers to Barack Obama in her condesending manner as B. Hussein Obama to further play upon his name as if this name was one to be feared or held in contempt. As in Saddam Husseinor Osama Bin laden as FOX NEWS has continued to make a big deal about as if Obama were a secret Muslim planning to destroy America and make America into an Islamic/ Muslim Theocracy.

In her mind how could the American people dare to elect a black man as president when only WASPs are supposed to be president.

Ann Coulter.com
THE BEST MAN TURNED OUT TO BE A WOMAN
September 3, 2008

John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, as his running mate finally gave Republicans a reason to vote for him -- a reason, that is, other than B. Hussein Obama.

The media are hopping mad about McCain's vice presidential selection, but they're really furious over at MSNBC. After drawing "Keith + Obama" hearts on their denim notebooks, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews stayed up all night last Thursday, writing jokes about Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the presumed vice presidential pick. Now they can't use any of them.

So the media are taking it out on our brave Sarah and her 17-year-old daughter.

Well of course if this were the seventeen year old daughter of Obama or Biden the ultra-conservatives would be attacking the girls parents for failing at their jobs as parents and would claim that such things happen in families whose views are too liberal and Godless.

Ann Coulter Wants Jews to be perfected
How would America be better. Answer Ann Coulter If everyone is Christian .



Ann Coulter claims that in order to win the war in Iraq the Bush administration:
Shouldn't pay attention to human rights groups such as Amnesty International or the International Red Cross...
We shouldn't worry about killing civilians. and we should Get rid of FDR ideology or the notion of an hygenic war.

( She claims that America should Kill as many Iraqis or Afghans or whomever as possible) She also defends torture as do most Ultra-conservatives and the Republicans as unfortunately so do far too many Democrats but that's Americans for you. They get all pissed off if one of their own get tortured but think torturing so called terrorists is just fine and they usually claim the Bible and Jesus will back them up on these issues. Their version of Jesus is someone who has no time for what they believe to be misplaced compassion. Compassion is not a Christian virtue except towards Christians like themselves or so they argue endlessly. Therfore according to their mindset :Waterboarding and torture are good. And going on a Crusade for God that We ,I.E. American Uber-Christian Evangelicals must destroy their society I.E.Islamic, Muslim, Arab,Iraqi, Afghan, Pakistani, Palestinian, Cuban, Russian, Chinese, Korean, or whatever flavor of the month .



and more fun quotes from Ann Coulter who sees nothing wrong with using the most ugly racists terms that she can. She calls this lumping of all Arabs and Muslims & Sikhs and others who wear turbans into the same category. All are guilty according to her black and white view of the world. She wants to protect white American Christians who in her view are the only people of consequence.

" Ragheads talk tough; Ragheads face consequence ."
Ann Coulter

April 18, 2007
Ann Coulter at CPAC 2006 calls Muslims "Rag heads" and feels that we should have a new post 9/11 philosophy

and here's more invective from Ann Coulter
at the Young America's Foundation National Center




August 18, 2008
The panel on Hannity and Colmes picking over a vote he took in the Illinois Senate on abortion, and Hannity and Coulter trying to say he supports infanticide which is just ridiculous. As the HuffPo reports this is just the latest smear to get the right wing worked up and actually come out and vote for McCain by the 527's.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08...
check out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xVYW-_0jVU

as the clip cannot be embedded.

see: Huffington Post: Obama Infanticide Attack Being Readied by 527, Pat Buchanan Says , August 18, 2005 by Sam Stein

A few weeks ago, the Huffington Post's Seth Colter Walls reported that Republican officials and outside groups were set to launch a smear campaign against Barack Obama, accusing the Senator of enabling infanticide.

The issue stems from a state version of the federal Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which proposed that any "viable" fetus surviving a late-term abortion receive sustaining medical care. Obama opposed the measure not because he disagreed with overarching purpose, but because of objectionable side-provisions such as a failure to immunize doctors from legal prosecution.

It was, Seth concluded, a ginned-up argument made more complicated by the fact the bill passed in 2005, "free of any other measures Obama had previously opposed."
And yet, the GOP seems hell bent on furthering the line of attack. In the minutes preceding Saturday's values forum with the presidential candidates, Pat Buchanan discussed Obama's alleged vulnerabilities on the issue of abortion before letting it slip that conservative groups were set to hit the Illinois Democrat on charges of infanticide.

"Barack Obama on the issue of life is further left than anybody in the Congress of the United States. He not only pro abortion but pro-abortion on demand, he is pro-late term abortion, pro-partial birth abortion, he objected to the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the ban. But most important, Barack Obama and the Illinois legislature supported, or rather opposed a bill that would have protected the life of babies born from a botched abortion who were alive, three times. And I do know Republicans are planning, or rather 527s are planning attack ads on this and I will be interested to see if Rick Warren brings it up."

and here's a bit more on her attitude towards teachers & the use of torture.
she seems to believe that:We should bomb the New York Times"
and that ...teachers living the high life- they are all drunks and pediophiles.

Ann Coulter Is A Complete Idiot
June 30, 2006

As if anyone didn't already realize Coulter's clown act is all about acting as outrageous as possible in attention-grabbing stupidity here's yet more proof. It's amazing this pea brained flamethrower has become the leading spokesperson of conservatives.

and so it goes,
GORD.

9/11 TRIBUTE FILM MERE PROPAGANDA TO SUPPORT WAR IN IRAQ & THE COMING WAR WITH IRAN

Nazi Propagandist Joseph Goebbels would be proud of the Republican Party at how adept they have become at Propaganda under the tutelage of Dick Cheney and Karl Rove and Bill Kristol as they manipulate the American Public. Nations around the world should take heed; these guy are a threat.

It is amazing and funny if it wasn't so tragic that the Republicans under Bush & McCain are uping the ante on a war against Iran. America it appears is hooked on war. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war and the American people rise up to yell in unison as the Marx Brothers did in Duck Soup - To War! To War !

9/11 Tribute Video shown at the Republican National Convention Links Iran to 9/11 attack . It also seems that somehow the taking of hostages by Iranians in 1979 led directly to 9/11 and so there is ample reason to attack Iran. Of course there's no mention of the reason for the Iranian people to overthrow the Shaw who had an iron-grip on Iran as he suspended one right after another as he filled his prisons with anyone who dared criticize his government. The Shaw did evil deeds imprisoning innocent people, torturing detainees all with America's blessing and aid. So the Iranians developed over a period of some twenty years or so a special dislike for America. But let's not let facts get in the way of the Republicans and Americans in general rewriting history to bolster their myth that they have never done anything wrong.

And here's a new piece of Republican Bush/McCain /Palin Karl Rove Outrageous Inflammatory Propaganda against Iran and all Muslims in the World.
Is Tom Brokaw now pimping for the Republicans & McCain. Has he no shame. Keith Olbermann on the otherhand having not sold out completely is outraged by the video which was he believes inappropriate and merely a means to manipulate American citizens.



From Huffington Post by Jeffrey Feldman : McCain RNC Video 'Tribute to 9/11

Last night, while Americans sat quietly expecting to watch a video 'tribute' to victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001--John McCain took advantage of America's good will to showed a video falsely linking Iran to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

At 9:11pm (CST), the MSNBC coverage cut to a video being projected onto the main screen at the RNC. At that point, Tom Brokaw introduced the video as follows:
Tom Brokaw: OK, let's go now, Keith, if we can, down to the floor. We want to share with our viewers the 'Tribute To The Victims of 9/11.'

So, that was the introduction the networks gave to the video--no doubt lifted from a press release given to them by the RNC. Normal practice, I suppose. But here is the astoundingly immoral thing that happened next, rather than show a video 'tribute' to the victims of 9/11, the McCain team showed a video 'history' of 9/11 that began like this:

and the article concludes after presenting major talking-points and spin of the video:

Never before had a major broadcast video so blatantly attempted to connect the Iranian hostage crisis of 1979 to the Al Qaeda terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Never before John McCain's night at the Republican National Convention.
Interestingly, Keith Olbermann responded to the imagery in the McCain video immediately after it was shown by apologizing to MSNBC viewers for imagery that could be construed as a political exploitation of the emotions of 9/11.

No doubt, showing a 9/11 video at a political convention was emotional exploitation. But it was also something much worse: it was blatant historical revisionism. It was a cynical attempt to claim attacks on Americans--1979 and 2001--were carried out by the same 'enemy.'

What Olbermann should have apologized for was MSNBC accidental transformation of their network into a mechanism of the most cynical kind of Orwellian propaganda.
John McCain did not make the link between 9/11 and Iran in his RNC speech, but we can be certain that the video 'tribute' is a sign of what is to come on the campaign trail between now and November.

The media's responsibility from this point forward is clear: either they can sit back and let McCain's historical revisionism stand or they can move quickly to debunk it.

Either way, it seems apparent that major broadcast outlets need to take a more proactive role in pre-screening for blatant historical inaccuracies any video a political party plans to show during a national broadcast--or at least preparing to immediately debunk politically motivated inaccuracies.

John McCain will no doubt continue to exploit the pain of 9/11 in some vain hope of political gain, and will continue to push historical revisionism about the links between Iran and 9/11. The media, if it does its job, can be a crucial counterweight that prevents false and militaristic propaganda from flowing freely on our public airwaves.

In case you missed it:
also check out this video of Keith Olbermann on the Bush administrations lies about the connection between Iran and Iraq insurgents & uprisings in Iraq.



and here's the Republican Neocon Bush McCain network beating the war drums for bombing the shit out of Iran to teach them a lesson.

More propaganda and lies about Iran. Bush's Footsoldiers at FOX NEWS
from Brave New Films


------------
And now for some bits on corruption at Cheney's corporation Halliburton.

So are Cheney's former Friends taking the fall for his corruption at Halliburton. As a Neocon there is no reason for Cheney to take the fall himself. That's what friends are for in the Straussian/ Neocon / Machiavellian world.

And the corruption continues so where's Teddy Roosevelt when you need him. Oh I forgot according to Republicans he was some sort of Marxist-Anarchist because he believed there ought to be rules governing how corporations do business or how they treat their stockholders and their workers.

From Huffington Post : Former Halliburton CEO to Get Jailtime For Cheney Era Corruption Sptember, 4, 2008 by Marcy Gordon

WASHINGTON — A former chief executive of construction firm KBR Inc. has pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in connection with the company's natural gas operations in Nigeria from 1995 to 2004.

The Justice Department said Albert "Jack" Stanley entered a guilty plea Wednesday in federal court in Houston to conspiring in a decade-long scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials in return for engineering and construction contracts.
As CEO of Houston-based KBR, Stanley headed a subsidiary within Halliburton Co., the oilfield services conglomerate whose chief executive from 1995 to 2000 was Vice President Dick Cheney.

Stanley also pleaded guilty to a separate count of conspiring to defraud KBR and others, admitting to receiving $10.8 million in kickbacks from a consultant hired by the company at his behest.

Under his plea agreement, Stanley, 65, faces a sentence of seven years and payment of $10.8 million in restitution.

The government said the seven-year term is the longest sentence to date against an individual in a case involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it unlawful to bribe foreign government officials or company executives to obtain or retain business.

A number of U.S. and foreign companies have been charged with violating the law in recent years, in cases involving payments to officials in Nigeria, Ecuador, Iraq, China, Iran and Kazakhstan.

"Today's plea demonstrates that corporate executives who bribe foreign government officials in return for lucrative business deals can expect to face prosecution," acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich said in a statement.

also from Huffington Post :

Frances Moore Lappe: Send This to Your Republican In-laws. September 3, 2008.

For too long Democrats have been derided as economically clueless tax-and-spenders. No wonder Americans so often vote against their own common interests.
We should know better. And now we do.
Alan S. Blinder, in The New York Times, drew recently (9.30.08) from Unequal Democracy, a new book by Princeton political science professor Larry M. Bartels. His takeaway could be a game-changer:

Over the last six decades, whether rich or poor, everyone has done better with Democrats in the White House.

And that is just the non-divisive, universal note that Barack Obama needs to hit and keep hitting, in response to the RNC, and in debates and in the press. So let's tell our McCain-leaning friends and family about this -- and also encourage the Obama campaign to make sure this message gets heard. It's easy; just fill out this form. (See below for the note I myself sent, which you can use as you wish.)
Among the most striking points:

( which the author concludes with this shocking but true statistic:)

> Income inequality in the United States has been rising for about three decades, especially in recent years. Over the entire 60-year period, writes Blinder, "income inequality trended substantially upward under Republican presidents but slightly downward under Democrats, thus accounting for the widening income gaps over all."

and:

From Huffington Post Jobless Rate Jumps to 5 year high of 6.1 Percent by Jeannine Aversa September 5, 2008.

WASHINGTON — The nation's unemployment rate zoomed to a five-year high of 6.1 percent in August as employers slashed 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike.

The Labor Department's report, released Friday, showed the increasing toll the housing, credit and financial crises are taking on the economy.
The report rattled Wall Street again. The Dow Jones industrial average was down about 40 points in midday trading. All the major stock indexes tumbled into bear territory Thursday as investors lost hope of a late-year recovery. With the employment situation deteriorating, there's growing worry that consumers will recoil, throwing the economy into a tailspin later this year or early next year.

Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Assembly Suspended Due To National Security-Therefore Ask No Questions

Freedom of Speech & Freedom of Assembly Suspended Due To National Security Therefore Ask No Questions

So let's look at a funny bit by JonStewart before beginning my rant as it were:

funny bit from Jon stewart
Karl Rove Bitterly Divided on the Experience Issue
REPUBLICANS CAUGHT BEING HYPOCRITES JON STEWART!!!!




Those who ask the wrong questions will be arrested. Welcome to the Police State. Now will Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton make a statement about these outrageous activities on the part of the police or is someone like Amy Goodman not worthy enough of their attention.

First lets watch an ABC Reporter being arrested at the Democratic National Convention for taking photos of those taking part in the convention .I didn't realize that ABC personnel were on the Terrorists Watch List but there you go. Of course the police can't tell us who's on the Watch List since this is a matter of " National Security ". Remember they have all those secret files on everybody and they never ever make mistakes. And as we heard in Sara Palin's speech at the Republican National Convention she put the press on alert that as far as she and the Republican Party are concerned the press & media who criticize them are THE ENEMY. Those in the Media like Fox News are their friends and the other networks better start supporting The outgoing Bush Regime and the Incoming McCain/Palin Regime or else.

As Ann Coulter has suggested all Liberals are anti-American and Pro-Terrorists and this is now a prevalent attitude throughout America as it was in the 1960s and the 1950s , Liberals are leftist , communists who should all be put behind bars.
ABC Reporter Arrested . Suspected Terrorist or Suspected Liberal.


Now lets watch as a Terrorist Nun is arrested. Is she a suicide bomber. Is she armed. Is she a " terrorist the Master mind ".
Why does the Media portray even Iraq Veterans against the War as being a bunch of trouble makers and as UnAmerican Traitors who must be silenced at any cost.


By conducting mass arrests and raids the police under the directions of those in authority are able to harass and intimidate anyone who tries to take part in peaceful demonstrations. Of course we know there are always a small group among protesters who are out to create a bit of chaos. What the authorities are doing is branding everyone as being a risk to National Security and as " Terrorists ". The Mass Media is unable or just unwilling to bother differentiating among the various protesters. This further creates the impression that anyone who protests is a threat . So everyone is lumped in together. By this means all who disagree or dissent from those inpower are seen as threats to the state. The Soviet Union used just such methods to shut down dissent in the Soviet Union and its satellite States. The Chinese and Burmese and South African Apartheid Regime and other nations in Central America have all used these tactics to silence all opposition to those in Power.

Supposedly the United States as it claims is the most Democratic and free country in the world yet the authorities deemed it necessary to arrest and charge Amy Goodman of Democracy Now ! along with other journalists and an 80 year old nun who are all I guess in the minds of the Paranoid Rich elite are threats to National Security. The thing of it is is that all one has to do is claim a risk to National Security or however one phrases it and then the police, FBI, Secret Service or Blackwater can round up large groups of people without giving much in the way of details about why the arrests took place. Those in authority after 36 to 72 hours let people go and file or not file charges against those detained . Afterwards those in authority can refuse to talk about these cases because it involves National Security. With such logic the Mass Media falls in line and accepts whatever rationale they are presented with by those in Power.

During one Press Conference a police spokesman refused to give out the names of Journalists to the press and seem to suggest that these arrests were based on some secret intel which the local police and FBI and Secret Service had been compiling. No matter how unfair an arrest may seem those in authority suggest that it is done to protect the country and the American People.

But I'm sure the Neocons and Bush supporters think it is obvious that Amy Goodman as seen in this video of her arrest is a threat to National Security or that the officers involved here felt that themselves at risk of being physically harmed by Amy Goodman. Do these people have no shame. But where is the Media outrage or the public outcry. In our paranoid post 9/11 society anyone who speaks out against those in authority is automatically seen as a" Terrorist Threat ".

Amy Goodman Arrested



DN! PROSECUTORS OF AMY

September 04, 2008
Amy Goodman Questions Ramsey County Prosecutors on Jailing, Charges of Journalists. Two days after several journalists were arrested covering the RNC protests, including three staffers at Democracy Now!, county and city prosecutors held a press conference in St. Paul. Amy Goodman was there to question them about the crackdown on journalists

Andfrom AlterNet.org
Amy Goodman: Why We Were Falsely Arrested
By Amy Goodman, Truthdig. Posted September 5, 2008.

Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy. As the Republican National Convention meets in St. Paul, Minn., this week, police are systematically targeting journalists. I was arrested with my two colleagues, “Democracy Now!” producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar, while reporting on the first day of the RNC. I have been wrongly charged with a misdemeanor. My co-workers, who were simply reporting, may be charged with felony riot.

The Democratic and Republican national conventions have become very expensive and protracted acts of political theater, essentially four-day-long advertisements for the major presidential candidates. Outside the fences, they have become major gatherings for grass-roots movements -- for people to come, amidst the banners, bunting, flags and confetti, to express the rights enumerated in the Constitution’s First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Behind all the patriotic hyperbole that accompanies the conventions, and the thousands of journalists and media workers who arrive to cover the staged events, there are serious violations of the basic right of freedom of the press. Here on the streets of St. Paul, the press is free to report on the official proceedings of the RNC, but not to report on the police violence and mass arrests directed at those who have come to petition their government, to protest

and to leave with a laugh here's Jon Stewart again . If McCain wins will Jon Stewart be shut down as they did to Bill Maher or Donahue.

Foghorn Leghorn and Droopy Dog





and so it goes,
GORD.

Police Over-Reaction at Republican National Convention Arrests Democracy Now! Journalist Amy Goodman & others

So anyway the police were busy at the Republic National Convention in the Twin Cities seeking out terrorists and anyone who dared to protest. They were especially keen to arrests journalists & video-bloggers and anyone who might film or report on the police activities. It turns out the police took exception to those who might document police using excessive force or brutality against protesters. It is now illegal in the United States to film police in a public place or while they are beating the crap out of someone just for the hell of it. Canadian police forces are watching closely so they can learn how to stop protest and dissent before it starts. Next stop arresting people for even thinking or talking about taking part in a protest. Well who am I to question those in authority. We are moving closer and closer to a police state. But the majority in the United States and Canada of course are all in favor of a police state where Law and Order and National Security is the Number 1. prority. So teach your children well about the New Limits on Democracy. You get to vote for twiddle-dee or Dwiddle Dum and the rest of the time keep your thoughts to yourself.

So here are some bits about the arrests and police over-reaction at RNC:

Secret Service take Media Pass & Refuse to return them
Amy Goodman arrested accused of being in engaged in Criminal Activity
Why won't the spokesperson reveal any names or the names of journalists who had been arrested.
Is it a matter of National Security.
And where's the Mainstream Media . They of course don't care. They just want their man McCain to win .



Democracy Now! Staff Arrests Pt. 3

September 03, 2008

Amy Goodman & Two Democracy Now! Producers Arrested at RNC Protest (b). More than 280 people were arrested here in St. Paul Monday, the opening day of the Republican National Convention. Among them were several journalists covering the protests in the streets, including three of us at Democracy Now! Amy was detained trying to question police officers about the arrests of Democracy Now! producers Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar.

Democracy Now!MASS PRE-EMPTIVE RAIDS RNC

Seizing equipment which was used to document the activities of the police and how they treat protesters and jounalists.
The police entered houses with their guns drawn while shouting at those inside.
Some are merely " detained " not arrested.



Cops Don't Like Being Watched or Filmed
The Police have rights the average citizen does not in Paranoid America !!!

August 31, 2008
Cop watcher viciously attacked by police and equipment destroyed. Darryl Robinson, Communities United Against Police Brutality, Minneapolis

Accusations "Criminal activity," lies and roumers - anything the police can think of to PREVENT DISSENT. "Protect Free Speech?" NOT on the agenda.

RNC Police PREVENT DISSENT, FREE SPEECH.


Lawyers Protect Protests? Really I ask?

These lawyers are unusual since they actually seem to care about the rights of average citizens and not just the rich and powerful.

Legal organization documenting police activities. It appears that in the United States it is now illegal to film or report on police activities. So it is illegal to film or report on police using excessive force . So much for Democracy in America.



Hundreds Arrested at RNC Protests :Posted by Lindsay Beyerstein, Firedoglake September 2, 2008.

The most common charges included obstruction, unlawful assembly, conspiracy to riot, and rioting.

As of 10:30 pm last night, 284 protesters had been arrested and booked at the Ramsey County Jail in Saint Paul, MN. The most common charges included obstruction, unlawful assembly, conspiracy to riot, and rioting.

The bulk of the arrests took place late yesterday afternoon. The mass arrests started around 3:00pm when officers dragnetted protesters on Shepherd Road in a park near the river. The officers encircled the protesters and detained them for over an hour. About 50 people were let go, according to Gena Berglund of the National Lawyers Guild, which dispatched between 80 and 90 trained legal observers to monitor and videotape yesterday's protests.

( the arrests included:)

Amy Goodman and two of her producers for Democracy Now were arrested yesterday near Jackson and 5th Sts. after videotaping a violent arrest.
"First her crew was arrested, then Goodman went over to talk to the commanding officer," Berglund explained, "The Secret Service yanked her badge off of her to deny her press protection."

According to the Ramsey County Jail booking database, Goodman was arrested for obstruction. She was released later that day.

Fight Back Against Police Brutality at the RNC: AlterNet

On Monday several journalists covering the RNC protests, including Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, and two of her producers, were violently manhandled by Minneapolis police and arrested on bogus charges.

The problem with using excessive force to illegally arrest members of the press, though, is that they have things like cameras and radio shows and popular websites with which to publicize assaults on their rights. While the mainstream media have ignored the story, it has exploded in the progressive press.

Help push the story further into the public eye and make officials accountable by signing this Free Press letter demanding that "press intimidation cease immediately and that all charges be dropped."

By signing the letter:

... you're sending a powerful message: Officials must rein in aggressive and violent tactics by local law enforcement, stop the targeting of journalists and immediately drop all charges against them.

The letter will be sent to St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, St. Paul City Attorney John Choi, and the Host Committee of the Republican National Convention.

and so it goes,
GORD.

WAR ON TERROR: " GOD WILLS IT " -JUST ANOTHER BLOODY CRUSADE

"If the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded.": Noah Webster - (1758-1843) American patriot and scholar, author of the 1806 edition of the dictionary that bears his name, the first dictionary of American English usage.
=
"This so-called ill treatment and torture in detention centers, stories of which were spread everywhere among the people, and later by the prisoners who were freed... were not, as some assumed, inflicted methodically, but were excesses committed by individual prison guards, their deputies, and men who laid violent hands on the detainees.": Rudolf Hoess, the SS commandant at Auschwitz.
=
If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law: Henry David Thoreau, On the Duty of Civil Disobediance, 1849
=
Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may: Mark Twain
=
We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was "legal" and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was "illegal." ~Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail," Why We Can't Wait, 1963
===

Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq "1,255,026"
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html

Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America'sWar On Iraq 4,152
http://icasualties.org/oif/

The War And Occupation Of Iraq Costs
$550,923,413,304

See the cost in your community
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

Above quotes and info from the News Website: ICH Information Clearing House which I read each and every day and so should you. Otherwise go to the website and check it out or sign up for daily newsletter.

And now back to another post about Western Insanity as it were :

Palin another Republican who believes she & her country are on a mission for God. So the War On Terrorism is therefore a New Crusade against the ungodly, the heretics and the Infidels who threaten the lands of Christendom. So once again it is 1097 and the Church is sending Christians on another Crusade. So Praise the Lord and pass the Ammunition. Ah well This should add more fuel to the fears of any nation which is not wholly Christian or is not part of the Evangelical Fundamentalist Christian Brand as defined by many Christian Americans. But maybe this is really what many Americans want . Maybe even many Canadians and Brits and Europeans also would like even more blood to be spilled to teach those outside Christendom that Western Civilization as such is superior to all other nations or societies and that the West itself has been given a mission from God.In the end we get what we deserve and what is our due. If we act like Tyrants then we will be treated like tyrants. The masses outside the West will resist. But of course we have the wealth and the military power and of course Nuclear Weapons to destroy all those who dare resist.

At Press TV Palin: God tasked us with Iraq war Wed, 03 Sep 2008

Sarah Palin, the surprise vice presidential pick by Republican candidate John McCain, has said the war in Iraq was 'a task from God'.

Like US President George W. Bush, Governor Palin attempted to justify her policies by claiming they were divinely-ordered during a speech at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in June.

"Pray for our military. Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right for this country - that our leaders, our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God," the Alaska governor said in her address posted on the website of the Wasilla Assembly of God.

Earlier in 2005, President Bush claimed he was on a mission from God when he started the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"I am driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did." The US president told a Palestinian delegation in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Palin, prior to her 'there is a plan and that it is God's plan' comment on the Iraq war, asked the audience to pray for a $30 billion national gas pipeline project because it was 'God's will to get that gas line built' as well.

Earlier in March 2007, Palin had said, "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."

The report comes as one of the first on Palin's positions on foreign policy issues, as the Republican camp has not yet allowed her to hold a press conference.

And once again the Americans show contempt for another nation's belief in its own sovereignty

Act of war:U.S. Troops Kill 20 in Pakistan Attack By Hafiz Wazir

03/09/08 --- -WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - "Suspected" U.S. commandos from Afghanistan killed 20 people, including women and children, in a pre-dawn raid inside Pakistan, officials said, an attack branded as an assault on the nation's sovereignty.

The attack is likely to spark uproar in Pakistan, where it will be seen as undermining sovereignty at a time when a new civilian government is struggling to assert authority in the turbulent nuclear-armed state.

"It is outrageous," Owais Ahmed Ghani, governor of North West Frontier province, said in a statement.

"This is a direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan expect that the armed forces ... would rise to defend the sovereignty of the country and give a befitting reply," he said.

Security officials in the region said they suspected U.S. soldiers backed by helicopter gunships mounted the attack.

So the madness contines and it appears doubtful it will end under MCain or Obama.

In Afghanistan which some including Barack Obama claim is the necessary and justifiable war against terrorists once again the US forces and their allies use force indiscriminately against combatants and non-combatants since they all look alike to them . And why American spokesmen have said would anyone have a wedding in a remote area in Afghanistan rather than at the Holliday Inn or Hilton so their reaction in seeing a large group of Afghans in a remote area is to blow the people to bits and ask questions later. American has slid further and further into becoming the world's worst terrorists. One wonders if Barack Obama can return America to some semblance of civility and sanity. But he too wants to kill all those whom he believes are terrorists. But as time passes and American aggression and brutality including the use of secret prisons and Medieval torture chambers are all those who dare resist American naked aggression or who seek justice and who wish to resist tyranny are all of them "Terrorists". By painting the world in terms of good versus evil , the Godly against the UnGodly has not America and the West in general now become as delusional and fanatical as Bin Laden & other such fanatics. Isn't a million dead Iraqis enough to satisfy the West' desire for revenge and is our blood lust insatiable.

Lately attending a wedding in Afghanistan has become a tricky and sometimes deadly affair as American forces and their allies seem to make a lot of " Bloobers" these belong right up there with America's Funniest Home Videos or out-takes from Seinfeld and are taken just as seriously by those in power in the West and her wonderfully enlightened peoples who think blowing people up in foreing countries is a hoot. Even more fun than video games maybe.

Note Americans claim they don't target civilians tell that to a million or so dead Iraqis or two million dead Vietnamese or those murdered in American backed Coups in various countries from Chile to Gautemala, to Iran & Panama and the Phillipines and a few dozen other countries where American forces such as the CIA conducted their dirty little wars to kill evil school teachers, social workers, union organizers, priests and nuns in order to stop evil of Communism.

Besides as we read below that the government will give the survivors $1,000 to 2,000 dollars for each person murdered by our Forces of Freedom and Justice.So if you throw these uneducated barbarians and infidels a few dollars that should shut them up and so it goes.

NBC : A Heart Broken Groom in Nangarhar by Iqbal Sapand Wednesday, September 03, 2008

"I thought American forces were in Afghanistan for our security," said Attiqullah, his voice trembling. "I could never have imagined that they would bomb my wedding party. They killed my entire family. I will never forgive them."
I sat with Attiqullah, who gives his age as around 15, near the graves where his family members are buried. He described what happened the day of July 6, 2008 -- his wedding day -- when his bride, two of his brothers and a sister, along with 45 relatives, were killed by a U.S. air strike on the remote village of Oghaza, in Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan.
Attiqullah’s father had sent the entire family to the bride’s house the night before the wedding ceremony, as per Afghan custom. "The women were playing musical instruments and everyone was singing and dancing," Attiqullah said. "Then, according to our tradition, the entire groom’s family must escort the bride from her house to meet the groom. Early the next morning everyone set out on the way to my house, walking in a kind of procession through a mountain pass. And then, the unimaginable happened."
"It was 6:30 in the morning and there were 300 of my relatives and friends gathered at my house waiting for the bride to arrive," he said. Attiqullah, by now his eyes brimming with tears, was barely audible and wanted to appear strong in front of me. He was fighting hard not to lose control as he told his story so he avoided my eyes and drew circles in the mud as he answered my questions.
"I was watching the cooks cut the meats, prepare the potatoes, and wash the rice," he continued. "This was all for me and I felt so happy and proud. I was day-dreaming of welcoming my bride, wondering how she would feel as she entered my house and also how I would feel. I was counting the minutes to her arrival."
"Then there was a loud explosion on the top of the mountain," Attiqullah, crying, explained what happened. "I saw balls of fire explode in the sky, the mountain seemed to be burning. I ran from the house and started climbing. I ran faster and faster. I could hear the cries of children and women. And then the second explosion."
"And then there was a third explosion," he said.

"Oh my God!" Attiqullah was now sobbing uncontrollably. " I saw my bride and my family members; I saw the pieces of their bodies scattered all over the place."
The U.S. military is investigating the incident and said in a statement: "Any loss of innocent life is tragic."

"I assure you we do not target civilians and that our forces go to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties," U.S. military spokesman, 1st Lieutenant Nathan Perry said.

An investigation by the Afghan government concluded that 52 people died in that air attack - 45 women and children were killed. Afghan President Hamid Karzai ordered his government to pay $2,000 for each person killed and $1,000 to each injured person.

Meanwhile America moves ineluctably towards a police state which wishes to impose its will on the world. Doesn't that sound like tyranny and hubris. Bringing peace to the world by destroying much if not all of it. As the Americans have destroyed much of Iraq their proxies the Israelis have left the Palestinians to starve and go without water or decent medical care while reducing large parts of Lebanon to rubble. The Israeli do not want any other Middle Eastern Country to grow and prosper if they can help it.

And as Paul Craig Roberts in a recent article argues : Who Is Wrecking America?03/09/08 "ICH " -- - Does the liberal-left have a clue? I sometimes think not.

In his book, “What’s the Matter With Kansas?,” Thomas Frank made the excellent point that the Karl Rove Republicans take advantage of ordinary’s people’s frustrations and resentments to lead them into voting against their best interest.

Frank’s new book, “The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule,” lacks the insight that distinguished his previous book. Why does Frank think that conservatives or liberals rule?

and now I will quote at length his disturbing conclusions about how far astray America has gone:

Neoconservatives are in the tradition of the French Jacobins of the 18th century. Having had the French Revolution, the revolutionaries thought that they should take it to all of Europe. Napoleon exercised French hegemony over Europe. The American neocons desire American hegemony over the world.

The true American conservative does not believe in foreign wars. In US history, conservatives were derided by liberals as “isolationists.”

There is nothing conservative about launching wars of aggression on the basis of lies and deception in order to control the direction of oil pipelines and to enhance Israeli territorial expansion.

Frank misses all of this.

And what a pity that is. A false conservative-liberal fight distracts attention from the growing police state that is destroying civil liberties for all Americans. It obscures the real motives of policies in behalf of special interests that are leading to nuclear confrontation with Russia and China.

What is wrecking America is not conservatives, but a neoconservative ideology of US hegemony.

What is wrecking America is the “impeachment-is-off-the-table” twins, Nancy Pelosi and John Conyers.

What is wrecking America is the Democratic Party, which was put in control of the House and Senate in the 2006 congressional elections to stop the gratuitous wars and gestapo police, but, instead, has continued to cooperate with the Cheney/Bush regime in behalf of war and police repression, such as we witnessed at the Republican National Convention.

Frank’s book, “The Wrecking Crew” falls into the scapegoat category of blaming the innocent and irrelevant. The Democrat Party could impeach Cheney/Bush and cut off funding for the wars and corrupt military contracts. But they do nothing and get a free pass from Frank.

“The Wrecking Crew” does have one virtue. Frank shows that the Republicans have spawned a new generation of brownshirts that lust to imprison, torture, and kill people. These ignorant bloodthirsty thugs see enemies everywhere and fervently desire to nuke them all. The Republican brownshirts are equally willing to kill American critics of the Bush regime as to kill Taliban and al Qaeda.

The latest “enemy” is Russia. The Bush regime, complicit in its Georgian puppet’s war crimes against South Ossetia, is attempting to hide its responsibility for ethnic cleansing by demonizing Russia. With every threat the Bush regime issues against Russia, the war drums beat louder. Yet, the print and TV media and Democratic Party have jumped on the war wagon.

The rapture evangelicals and the neocons are euphoric at the prospect of nuclear war. Frank’s misguided barrage at conservatives, who are a brake on war and the police state, hastens end times.

and as more innocents are killed this time in Pakistan the Alliance leaders are in state of denial for surely even if Nato forces etc. kill thousands of innocents it is surely for the benefit of humankind or at least for the Paranoid,Psychotic, Oil-starved Western Powers. Ah well as the the frothing at the mouth American intellectual giants such as Bill Kristol, Karl Rove, George Bush, Dick Cheney, Even Condoleeza Rice & Colin Powell and their bosom buddies Bill O'Reilley, Glenn Beck , Ann Coulter & Michelle Malkin would say why should Americans be concerned about a few sand****bleeps or " Rag-Heads "such talk pervades American and Canadian and British society these days though those who know the rules of the game don't use such terms in public or around a mix crowd but in private with their " real friends who are just like they are " well they speak their minds and unfortunately also what is in their dark twisted hate-filled hearts and souls. The God they pray to is one of vengeance and blood-lust who likes to go around smiting anyone who criticizes America or the Neocons or especially those who criticized the saintly George W. Bush or his clone our own Holier than Thou Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is now poised to " Wreck " our country once and for all.

Civilians Killed in Pakistan, Sept. 3, 2008 ,Al Jazeera

At least 15 people have been killed in a village along the border of Pakistan, in an attack by US-led coalition forces based in neighbouring Afghanistan, officials said.

Mowaz Khan, an official in South Waziristan tribal district, said on Wednesday that helicopters dropped troops into the border village of Jalal Khel, and that the troops shot civilians who had left their homes upon hearing the helicopters.
Among those killed in the raid included women and children, said Khan.

But coalition and separate Nato-led security forces in Afghanistan said they had no knowledge of any such attack, which reportedly took place in South Waziristan.
'Outrageous' incident

Pakistan has protested in the past about missile attacks on its territory, aimed at Taliban forces in tribal areas, but it is the first time officials have alleged a direct attack by foreign troops on its soil since 2001.

Owais Ahmed Ghani, North West Frontier Province governor, described the incident as"outrageous" and gave an even higher death toll.

"At least 20 innocent citizens of Pakistan including women and children were martyred," he said.

"This is a direct assault on the sovereignty of Pakistan and the people of Pakistan. Expect that the armed forces of Pakistan would rise to defend the sovereignty of the country."

Yousuf Raza Gilani, Pakistan prime minister, also criticised the attack, saying in a statement that "no external forces could be allowed to launch an attack in Pakistan's territory".

A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said he had no word of such a raid.
He said Isaf did not have a mandate to attack outside the borders of Afghanistan unless its troops came under fire from within Pakistan.

and so it goes,
GORD.

Reminder For Labor Day: Massacre of Workers in Chile 1907

UPDATE: September 2, 929



When music and politics and the " just struggles " of a people unite it is a powerful combination.

First a little ditty sung by Pete Seeger:

Pete Seeger Which Side Are You On

Song written by Florence Reece 1931 during the Coal Miners Strike in Harlan County USA.




Anyway, and now for something completely different as it were. Well only sort of.

First a little rant from yours truly:

and so workers in the past have died that is; murdered , massacred, slaughtered for daring to stand up to the rich and powerful. as usual the powers that be claim they are merely trying to keep law and order and to protect their precious interest and property. Their interests and property always come before the lives of their workers.
Workers of the world unite and all that usually just leads to firings, being black-listed, or being locked out or beaten or worse. Now we hear the refrain that yes once unions had a place but not anymore; they have outlived their usefulness. So we hear today and we heard this all before some twenty years ago or even forty years ago which I can recall myself. But there were people in the 1940s and 1950s making the same arguments against unions .And these days with the Neocons like George Bush, John McCain and Stephen Harper in charge they only have contempt for unions. In the USA less than 20% of workers belong to unions. This pleases the powers that be . Maybe workers are just too fearful or lazy or content with mere wishful thinking to be bothered fighting for their rights anymore.So maybe they get what they deserve to fight for low paying jobs at MCDonalds or WalMart, or Phone Centres etc.

So if Barack Obama sells out to the rich and powerful will peole that is average working people stand up and insist that he fulfill his promises to the people . Probably the people after voting will go back to sit in front of their TVs and bitch and complain once again. If McCain wins well its just business as usual and once again the people will prove they are not worthy of great leaders but rather mediocrity. As Bush proved the people like someone in power who is less informed than most of them.

In Canada in the next election the people will vote in droves for Stephen Harper because he loves America. He admires America. He wishes as do his supporters that they too were American citizens rather than citizens of what they consider to be a second-rated country-a borderline failed state. Heaven forbid we Canadians stand up for ourselves against the Americans or even the British. We can't make up our minds about whether we should still be British citizens or American Citizens. So we muddle through as we sell off our natural resources to the Americans and other nations. We should rather be expanding our trade with as many other nations as possible so that we are no longer so dependent on America or Britain or any other country. So we won't vote in the New Democratic Party which is to the left because America our great fearful Father Figure might be pissed-off and punish us by breaking off trade or militarizing our borders oh yes they are already militarizing our borders and trade is always in their favor .If we subsidize an industry the Americans go balistic when they subsidize an American industry or corporation it is they say their right. And so it goes . Now on with the show as it were.

Cantata Completa Santa Maria De Iquique



From: IMEEM MUSIC: "Cantata Santa Maria de iquique" by Quilapayun

Quilapayún - Canción Final De La Cantata Santa Maria
More of the Cantata at Youtube.



From Smithonian Folkways

Chile: The Seige of Santa Maria de Iquique - A People's Cantata
Quilapayún and Hector Duvachelle

Notes - "The bloodiest massacre in Chile’s history occurred on December 21, 1907. Workers in the nitrate mines, a leading industry owned largely by foreign (British and German) capital, struck on Dec. 4 demanding humane working conditions and higher wages. By Dec. 13 a general work stoppage in all the nitrate mines was announced. The miners were Bolivian, Argentine, Peruvian as well as Chileans. 18,000 workers, together with wives and children marched without food and water to the port of Santa María de Iquique to seek support. Dec. 14, the maritime workers joined them in the strike. Roberto Silva Renard, the person appointed by President Montt to handle the situation, ordered the Army to fire into the miner’s encampment in the schoolyard..."

"La masacre más sangrienta de la historia de Chile ocurrió el 21 de diciembre de 1907. Trabajadores de las minas de salitre, una industria que pertenecía en gran parte a capitales extranjeros (ingleses y alemanes), fue a paro el 4 de diciembre demandando condiciones humanas de trabajo y mejores sueldos. Para el 13 del mismo mes se anunció una huelga general de todos los trabajadores mineros, entre cuyas filas se encontraban, además de chilenos, bolivianos, argentinos y peruanos. 18.000 trabajadores, junto con sus esposas y sus hijos, marcharon sin comida ni agua hasta el puerto de Santa María de Iquique en busca de apoyo a su causa. El día 14 se les unieron los trabajadores marítimos. Roberto Silva Renard, la persona puesta a cargo por el presidente Montt para manejar la situación, ordenó al ejército abrir fuego en el campamento minero que se había construido en el patio de la escuela..."

and from Wikipedia:

The Santa María School massacre was a massacre of striking workers, mostly saltpeter (nitrate) miners, along with wives and children, committed by the Chilean army in Iquique, Chile on December 21, 1907. The number of victims is undetermined but is reliably estimated at over 2,000. It occurred during the peak of the nitrate mining era, which coincided with the Parliamentary Period in Chilean political history (1891-1925). With the massacre and an ensuing reign of terror, not only was the strike broken, but the workers' movement was thrown into limbo for over a decade.[citation needed] For decades afterward there was official suppression of knowledge of the incident, but in 2007 the government conducted a highly publicized commemoration of its centenary, including an official national day of mourning and the reinterment of the victims' remains.

Centenary of the Massacre:

The site of the massacre was the Domingo Santa María School[1], where thousands of miners from different nitrate mines in Chile's far north had been camping for a week after converging on Iquique, the regional capital, to appeal for government intervention to improve their living and working conditions. The minister of the interior Rafael Sotomayor Gaete, decided to crush the strike, by army assault if need be.[citation needed] On 21 December, 1907, the commander of the troops at the scene, General Roberto Silva Renard, in accordance with this plan, informed the strikers' leaders that the strikers had one hour to disband or be fired upon. When the time was up and the leaders and the multitude stood firm, General Silva Renard gave his troops the order to fire. An initial volley that felled the negotiators was followed by a hail of rifle and machine gun fire aimed at the multitude of strikers and their accompanying wives and children.

Historical background:

Chilean society faced a crisis from the late 1800's onwards: what was delicately referred to at the time as the "social question"[2] -- namely, "the problem of worsening living and working conditions in the country's mining centers and major cities"[3] [4] The nitrate miners' strike of December 1907 was the last of a series of strikes and other forms of unrest that began in 1902, chief among them being the strike in Valparaíso in 1903 and the meat riots in Santiago in 1905.[5] In Chile, the workers' movement in general, and syndicalism in particular, got started among the nitrate miners.[citation needed]

Geographically, the region Chileans today have come to refer to as the Norte Grande (Big North) lies within the Atacama Desert, one of the driest regions on Earth. The Norte Grande and the Norte Chico immediately to the south belong to the Chilean pampa, a vast plain located between the Pacific Ocean and the western foothills of the Andes mountains. The Norte Grande, which administratively consisted (before 1974) of the two Provinces of Tarapacá and Antofagasta,[6] [7] had been seized by Chile from Bolivia and Peru in the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), giving Chile an area rich in minerals, principally copper and saltpeter (sodium nitrate). Tensions provoked by the control of the mines had been one of the leading causes of the Chilean Civil War of 1891, when pro-Congress forces triumphed.

The mining of nitrate had become the mainstay of the nation's economy at the end of the nineteenth century, Chile being the exclusive producer worldwide.[citation needed] According to the census of November 28, 1907, Tarapacá Province held 110,000 inhabitants.[8] In the provinces of Tarapacá and Antofagasta about 40,000 workers were active in the nitrate industry, of whom about 13,000 came from Bolivia and Peru.[8]

Life in the mining camps -- a nitrate works was known locally as an oficina, "office", a term whose use extended to the adjoining settlement -- was grueling and physically dangerous.[9] The enterprises exercised a severe control over the life and working conditions inside the mines, which rendered the workers extremely vulnerable to arbitrary actions perpetrated by the owners. Each oficina was a company town in which the mine owner owned the workers' housing, owned the company store (known in Chile as a pulpería), monopolized all commerce, and employed a private police force. Each mining camp ran its own money system, paying its workers in tokens, which could be spent only within the mining camp. Mine managers frequently put off paydays, for up to three months.[5]

At the beginning of the 20th century, the above mentioned "social question" prompted unrest among the workers at the nitrate oficinas in the Tarapacá Province. They began to mobilize politically, repeatedly petitioning the national government in Santiago to get involved and bring about improvements in their dreadful living and working conditions. The Parliamentary Period governments, however, were reluctant to intervene in negotiations between employers and workers, and they tended to see large scale workers' movements (especially if accompanied by massive demonstrations) as incipient rebellions.[10]

and from libcom.org 11 December, 2007 CHILE: UNIONS COMMEMORATE MASSACRE OF STRIKING WORKERS

By Daniela Estrada

SANTIAGO, Chile, Dec. 8, 2007 (IPS/GIN) -- One hundred years ago on Dec. 21, the Chilean government ordered its military to massacre thousands of striking workers from the then-flourishing saltpeter industry in northern Chile.

To prepare for this year’s commemoration of the massacre, a national coordinating committee made up of more than 70 public figures and institutions was created in January 2007.

"The mass killing was a shameful thing that Chile covered up for a very long time," said Juan Manuel Díaz, an international relations officer for the United Federation of Workers, the country’s largest trade union.

But the “massacre of the Santa María de Iquique school” became widely known in Chile and abroad thanks to the well-known Cantata of Santa María de Iquique, which was composed in 1969 by the late Luis Advis and recorded in 1970 by Quilapayún, a folk music group belonging to the Chilean New Song movement.

"Today, what happened there is part of our national, archetypal, collective memory," said Chilean historian Sergio Grez, the author of many books and articles on Chilean social history.

In early December 1907, thousands of dockhands in the northern port of Iquique, who were mainly handling saltpeter, went on strike to demand better working conditions.
Over the next few days, thousands of workers for the saltpeter companies in the Atacama desert flats, which were controlled by Chilean and foreign (mainly British) capital, came down to Iquique to join the strike.

With the list of their demands in hand, the strikers tried to negotiate with the company bosses, who insisted that the laborers go back to work as a precondition to negotiations.

The government of then-president Pedro Montt initially acted as a mediator in the conflict. But as the workers’ strike grew, the authorities decided that the 5,000 workers occupying the Santa María school and the 2,000 who had taken over the Manuel Montt plaza posed a threat to public security and public health.
When the workers refused to move elsewhere, Mayor Carlos Eastman, the local government representative, was urged by Interior Minister Rafael Sotomayor to order their removal from the premises by any means necessary.

On Dec. 21, 1907, at 3:45 p.m., Gen. Roberto Silva Renard gave the order to open fire with machine guns on the Chilean, Bolivian, Peruvian and Argentine strikers occupying the Santa María school.

In his cantata, Advis refers to 3,600 dead, but Grez said there is no documentary evidence for this figure. "It is estimated that there may have been 1,000 people killed or wounded. The maximum possible number of dead would have been 2,000," the historian said.

The Iquique strike was less of an immediate threat than an incident that risked making the government and employers look weak, said Grez in an article titled "La guerra preventiva. Escuela Santa María de Iquique. Las razones del poder" (roughly translated as “Pre-Emptive War: The Santa María de Iquique School -- The Rationale of the Powerful”).

"The massacre of unarmed civilians perpetrated at the Santa María school in Iquique was a pre-emptive act of war against an internal enemy," Grez said. In the view of the authorities, the strikers were dangerous, "not because of what they had done, but because of what they might do."
The Iquique killings came at the height of a spiral of massacres of workers unleashed by the Chilean state in 1903. Their result was to accelerate the design and implementation of policies to improve workers’ living and working conditions.
Grez and trade unionist Díaz see a number of shared characteristics between the Chile of 1907 and that of today.

"Both are periods of economic boom. Now, as 100 years ago, the state and the ruling class have enormous wealth -- then, because of the saltpeter exports, and today because of exports of copper and other natural resources," Díaz said.
"The gap between rich and poor is huge, in both cases," he said.

There has also been a revival of the trade union movement, which has held several strikes and demonstrations for better employment conditions this year, in the context of its rejection of the inequality of income distribution in the country.
In order to deal with these demands, President Michelle Bachelet formed a think tank in August with 48 members, most of them technical experts, which is supposed to report its proposals on "work and equity" to her in March 2008.

"Yesterday’s struggles are the same as today’s," the United Federation of Workers leader said.

According to Díaz, over the course of this year more than 300 initiatives related to the massacre, including exhibitions, trade union meetings and academic conferences, have taken place in Chile and in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.

The coordinating committee members are the United Federation of Workers, the municipal government of Iquique, the Tarapacá regional government, the Teachers’ Association, the Writers’ Association and the University of Chile Students’ Federation.

The four political parties belonging to the center-left coalition that has governed the country since 1990 -- the Socialist Party, Christian Democratic Party, Party For Democracy and Social Democratic Radical Party -- and the opposition Communist Party also joined the coordinating committee.

On Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day, an arts festival will be held in the center of the capital to mark the departure of a United Federation of Workers convoy heading to Iquique to participate in the official commemoration week, Dec. 14-21.

and so it goes,
GORD.