20 November 2007

Beam me up Scotty - there are only liars here on Planet Earth

Scott McClellan takes on BushCo

Scotty - once the White House mouth piece of lies has written a book. Surprise surprise!

It's called "What Happened" and its publisher, Public Affairs, at its Web site carries this brief excerpt:

"The most powerful leader in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White house briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides in the White House: Karl Rove and Scooter Libby.

"There was one problem. It was not true.

"I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice President, the President's chief of staff, and the president himself."

JMCO: Okay Nancy is this enough evidence of possible CRIMES and TREASON?

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003675070

18 November 2007

How I got hooked on a soap and how it relates to FCC media consolidation plans

Confessions of a serial Soap Opera Addict

I lived in South Africa (RSA) at the end of the Apartheid era (88 to 91). In fact, when I first moved to RSA, only 11 hours of TV was available for the entire week. And, all of the TV network programming was handled by the government controlled media company called SABC.


I was rather skeptical of any news I read in RSA as it was all controlled by an Apartheid-led government. I was as an American leaving in a society that had no "freedom of the press". Later around 1990 - 1991, SABC did allow the live broadcasting of CNN one hour a day. I used to tape this hour of news to watch. It was during one of the Soweto uprisings and CNN was a doing a live report with photos of military abuses. SABC immediately cut that feed and put in a still photo of an SABC journalist saying "and now live from Soweto SABC is reporting yada yada".

With this FCC Media Consolidation act - this will become our reality in America.
P.W. Botha - the last "apartheid dictator" of RSA would come on TV drunk. I thought those "Presidential" speeches were a joke - because the man was so obviously a "wet brain". Fast forward 15 years in USA and the food for fodder Bush offers Jon Stewart for the Daily Show. RSA also had something called "Information Freedom act". I was preparing a presentation as a keynote speaker at a SAPICS conference, I needed to get back copies of the Economist. I had to put in a formal request to Pretoria to get a six month old copy of the Economist to be mailed to me in RSA! When I received the copy of the Economist - pages had been removed at the discretion of the South African government censorship.

Final connection of the B&B and being in a "media blackout" country.
With a government controlled media and still living in a relative healthy democracy called America in the late 80's, I was hungry for any type of non biased programming that was available. SABC chose the Bold and the Beautiful soap opera to take up 1.5 hours of the 11 available TV hours programming weekly. Talk about the dumbing down of your citizens!

It was not until I returned to the states that I realized that the B&B shown in RSA was 5 years behind. Imagine my surprise when I realized I had missed five years of libido teasing story lines! How did I fill myself in on those years? I moved to Italia for a year contract & viola - in Italia the B&B programming was only year year behind. So I got to fill myself in on 4 years of missed story lines and practice Italian at the same time. If you are passing judgment on me right now - may I remind you in the last couple of years our media has been obsessed with OJ Simpson, Chandra Levy, Monica Lewinsky, Anna Nicole Smith, etc.

One additional point I might add to Mr. Moyers' great program at the end, is that the LOCAL newspaper market (along with the Hispanic market) is the largest ad growth market in the industry.


PBS two relevant blogs by Rick Karr on Media Consolidation:


Media Consolidation: A primer on making your opinion heard blog:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2007/11/media_consolidation_a_primer_o_1.html#more

The Net @ Risk update
Blog
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/blog/2007/11/the_net_risk_update_1.html

Media Ownership Act of 2007
U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Trent Lott (R-MS) have introduced legislation to halt the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) "fast march" toward easing media ownership rules.

S.2332 :
A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.


Committees: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation


Cosponsors (11) Sen Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [DE] - 11/8/2007 Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 11/8/2007 Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 11/8/2007 Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 11/13/2007 Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 11/8/2007 Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] - 11/8/2007 Sen Lott, Trent [MS] - 11/8/2007 Sen Nelson, Bill [FL] - 11/8/2007 Sen Obama, Barack [IL] - 11/8/2007 Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 11/8/2007 Sen Tester, Jon [MT] - 11/14/2007
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:41:./temp/~bdLIrN:@@@P|/bss/d110query.html|

Bill Moyers: Media Consolidation Program Nov 16th

14 November 2007

State Dept IG recuses himself from Blackwater Investigation


House Oversight Committee chaired by Rep. Henry Waxman held on Nov 14th. State Dept Inspector General Howard Krongard was before the committee. The IG's official responsible is to ensure the agency operates ethically. The IG recused himself from any investigations related to Blackwater Worldwide after admitting to the Oversight Committee that his brother is a member of Blackwater's advisory board.

The brother is Alvin "Buzzy" Krongard. Former Exec. Director of CIA - appointed by Tenet in March, 2001. Prior he was CEO/Chair of Alex Brown - Deutsche Bank (oldest Investment Firm) and Banker's Trust.

AB “Buzzy” Krongard resigned from the CIA shortly after the arrival of Porter Johnston Goss in September 2004. While at the CIA, he was the link connecting the CIA, Erik Prince and Blackwater. Through his influence, Blackwater was able to receive its first no-bid contract.

In March, 2005 , Krongard was appointed as an outside US director to the Global Board of Directors organized to oversee and coordinate the worldwide operations of DLA Piper, one of the world’s leading law firms.

His name is brought up in conjunction with investigations into suspected 9/11-related insider trading because of timely Wall Street trades allegedly made through the investment bank he used to head.

These clips are from the end of the Oversight Hearing. btw, yes I got creative and I am proud of it.

He_Ain't_Heavy_He's_My_Brother video



Still want more information on the Krongard brothers? Great article just posted on Mother Jones, authored by Bruce Falconer.

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2007/11/Krongard-Blackwater-State-Department-Brother.html


November 17th Update


The lawyer for State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard asked on Saturday that he not be called to testify before Congress on discrepancies between his statements and those of his brother over the brother's ties to the Blackwater security firm.

"There is no legitimate purpose to be gained by publicly pitting two brothers against each other," Barbara Van Gelder wrote in a letter to Rep. Henry Waxman, chairman of the government oversight panel. "

13 November 2007

What does it look like through the eyes of Mercenaries to shoot at innocent Iraqis?

Aegis Defense Services shooting at innocent people for sport in Iraq

This is the BRITISH private firm. Go to the end of the vid and you will see a car coming up behind the Aegis evil-mobile that stops in the highway when they realize what is happening.

Department of Defense security contractors are coordinated through a single, DoD entity, the US Regional Coordination Offices. Being a military government agency in the Bush Administrataion, the DOD promptly outsourced "the coordination" responsibilities through a recently renewed $475 million contract to the British firm Aegis which is run by the infamous mercenary, Tim Spicer (no relation to the Spice Girls). It also includes intelligence services and security services for the Army Corps of Engineers.

What does it look like through the eyes of Mercenaries to shoot at innocent Iraqis?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3wh2HF03qYs

Great article just posted on the turf wars between Pentagon & CIA on who owns the mercenaries in Iraq!

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/10/pentagon-vs-cia.html

Blackwater - Too much bang for the buck


I wish I could claim to be the author of that great quote. But I am not. I just saw it on an incredible vid - linked below.

Protestors at Blackwater Worldwide had the guts on October 20th to gather at the gates of Blackwater Worldwide in Moyock, NC to protest the Massacre at Nisour Square that took place in September.

Who were these brave Americans to go to the gates of evil and SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER! Members of the JustFaith group (Catholic Church).

What happened to these people? Seven people were arrested for civil disobedience at that protest by the County Sheriff. I am sure there is a story there. Greasing of palms between the County Sheriff in NC & the Erik Prince Boys Club.

The others were held in the Currituck County Detention Center for five days before a judge released them on unsecured bonds. I could NOT get an exact count out of the article (linked below) - but I believe there were five non NC residents present. They have a Dec. 5 court date.

Vid of the re-enactment of Nisour Squar slaughter is moving:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=QNTLaJe_JCI

Article Link: http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2007d/111607/111607k.htm

Aegis Defense Services shooting at innocent people for sport in Iraq

This is the BRITISH private firm. Go to the end of the vid and you see a car coming up behind Aegis that stops in the highway when they realize what is happening.

Department of Defense security contractors are coordinated through a single, DoD entity, the US Regional Coordination Offices which it outsourced these responsibilities through a recently renewed $475 million contract to the British firm Aegis which is run by the infamous mercenary, Tim Spicer (no relation to the Spice Girls). It also includes intelligence services and security services for the Army Corps of Engineers.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3wh2HF03qYs

Great article just posted on the Turf wars between Pentagon & CIA on who owns the mercenaries in Iraq!

http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/10/pentagon-vs-cia.html

Just when I thought it was safe ....

To leave my iMac.

Just got this in a Blackwater email from Judy Hess (leader PDA Metro SD Chapter).


This is in regards to the Potrero Planning Committee recall vote (see below excerpts from Ms. Hess).

Our new Registrar of Voters is Deborah Seiler - formerly a sales executive for Diebold (manufacturer of our voting machines - more on that in an article below).

Assistant Registrar is Michael Vu (in Potrero now - sls)- required to resign as the Cuyahoga County Ohio Board Of Elections Executive Director - where his employees were charged with fourth degree felonies and pled no contest to lesser charges (and sentenced to prison terms) in the recount of the presidential ballots in 2004 - on Vu’s watch.

It’s very important to understand that our San Diego County machines - (Diebold) the optical scanners which count the votes - can be hacked almost effortlessly in 60 seconds.

Background information on the Potrero Planning Committee recount vote (San Diego Union Tribune July Article)
Anger over the proposed Blackwater USA training facility in Potrero has led to the county's first recall election targeting planning group members.

Voters in the back country community will decide whether to remove five Potrero Community Planning Group members who voted last December in favor of Blackwater's plans to build a center to train law enforcement and military personnel.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070731/news_1m31potrero.html

Today BradBlog calls for the
San Diego County's Registrar of Voters Mikel Haas to resign due to questionable voting machine irregularities.

http://www.bradblog.com

JMCO

This is not the first time that an ex-Diebold employee has landed a job in the trenches as a Registrar of voting! So maybe Diebold should really come out of the closet and announce to the world what they really are! Diebold is an EMPLOYMENT AGENCY!

Humanitarian efforts = Human Trafficking

Blackwater Speak
Humanitarian efforts = Human Trafficking
Excerpts from a SF Chronicle article

The Department of Defense's lackluster effort has been aided and abetted by some members of Congress. In summer 2005, the House Armed Services Committee, under U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine (San Diego County), successfully blocked the original draft of the Trafficking Victims Protection bill, routinely reauthorized every two years. Why? It specifically addressed the role of the Department of Defense and contractors in human trafficking. When these provisions were removed from the draft, the trafficking bill went forward. The Department of Defense and the contractors were let off the hook.
U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter
Pro Blackwater West

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/12/EDK6T9NT5.DTL&type=printable

San Francisco Chronicle
Beyond Blackwater
Sarah E. Mendelson
Monday, November 12, 2007

12 November 2007

Hola - US plans on sharing "private contractors" in Mexico

Reported in Dallas Morning on Oct 18th
Excerpts below from Dallas Morning article

The U.S. and Mexican governments are expected Monday to announce an anti-drug package that will probably involve hiring private U.S. military contractors to train Mexican troops on the use of new technologies and equipment, senior U.S. officials said.

The plan calls for increasing U.S. anti-drug aid to Mexico, now estimated at $44 million a year, to $1.4 billion over two to three years, said officials speaking on the condition of anonymity. The issue of using private contractors in Mexico, a fiercely nationalistic country, is likely to generate controversy.

The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, expressed concern about the possible use of U.S. private contractors in Mexico. He said the issue has been among the most sensitive areas of negotiations for both governments.

"I've heard that expressed as a concern on the part of Mexican officials, and it also raises an issue of concern for us because of how contractors are being used in Iraq," he said. "That will not be helpful in getting this through Congress."

The senior U.S. official downplayed the use of private contractors, saying that "their role is limited to training only" for the highly technical and military equipment that is part of the package.

Link article: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/world/mexico/stories/102007dnintplanmexico.31cb082.html

(JMCO = but this really won't count as Foreign Aid in the new North American Union.)

The Economist reported that US officials stated private contractors or US military would NOT be involved in this Mexico iniatative. Below from Economist.

Full details of the Merida Initiative (after the city where the Mexican and US presidents first discussed it in March) have not yet been released, though US officials say it will not include any use of US military personnel on Mexican soil—which neither Mexico’s government nor its public would accept. This contrasts with a similar initiative, Plan Colombia, which has been in place since 2000 (and has cost the US around US$4bn). US military advisors and private military contractors have had a role in the anti-drug and anti-insurgency battle in that country. (Bet you the private contractors are Greystone / Blackwater)

Nice to know:

Announced as Merida Initiative. AKA "Plan Mexico". Here is the link:

CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) 11/6/07 Latin American expert interview. She seems to believe the "Merida Initiative" is a go through Congress. Fun things from this article:

  • Congress has complained that its members were left out of the negotiation process. JMCO - Congress does not get it - they have been canceled!
  • Where is this appropriation request hidden (because we all know BushCo)? It is included in the supplementary funding bill mainly for Iraq, in which the Merida Initiative is included. It is $500 million as a part of a larger $50 billion package. So it’s tied in some ways to the state of the Iraq funding as well, which is of course an issue in its own right.
http://www.cfr.org/publication/14727/

Where is this appropriation request hidden (because we all know BushCo)? It is a supplementary funding bill mainly for Iraq, in which the Merida Initiative is included. It is $500 million as a part of a larger $50 billion package. So it’s tied in some ways to the state of the Iraq funding as well, which is of course an issue in its own right.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere

“While I look forward to reviewing the counter-narcotics plan for Mexico and Central America, Congress was not consulted as the plan was developed. This is not a good way to kick off such an important effort to fight the increase in narco-trafficking and violence in the region,” said Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, which held a hearing on the proposal Thursday. “I hope that the administration will be more forthcoming with members of Congress now that they have announced the plan,” he added tartly.



11 November 2007

Footsteps to Martial Law

Signing Statement by Signing Statement
Bill by Bill
Footsteps to Martial Law


May 9th
Executive Order: Establishment of Temporary Organization to Facilitate United States Government Assistance for Transition in Iraq. Brief and loose interruption, gives the President the capability to define any event in the world as reason to start Martial Law.

July 17th
Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq

July 20th
Executive Order: Interpretation of the Geneva Conventions Common Article 3 as Applied to a Program of Detention and Interrogation Operated by the Central Intelligence Agency

August: Congress passes FISA

September - Madame_CEO_Pelosi decides NOT to have the full house vote on Criminal Contempt charges issued by the HJC for Miers & Bolton. Get out of jail card - thank you Nancy.

September - Senator Leahy who had made continued sound bites stating he would not allow the Attorney General confirmation hearings to go forward unless his committee received information from the resigned AG Gonzo. Well that promise went by the wind.

October 23rd - Congress passes HR 1955 (Introduced by Jane Harman - Approved by Congress 404 Ayes & 6 Nays). Radicalization of HomeGrown Terrorism. (I proudly count myself in this category).

October 10th - Senate passes HR 1585

Prediction - JMCO

May_08
All or majority of the Blackwater contractors under contract with the State Department will be re-deployed back to the USA. As is speculated by many, Blackwater will lose the renewal of this contract in May_08.

Bet you this bill never sees the light of debate
Next Wednesday, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) will introduce legislation to phase out the use of tens of thousands of private security contractors deployed on battlefields where American troops are present. The Stop Outsourcing Security Act intends to effectively put Blackwater and their ilk out of business.

Question: Is there legislation anywhere that PROHIBITS the use of Private Contractors to be used by our government against American Citizens on American soil? I don't think so.

WAF = A Little Reality with your Sunday a.m. java


WAF = A Little Reality with your Sunday a.m. java
WAF = We Are Fucked
DETERMINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVIL SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS

Dennis Kucinich reported during an interview with Nicole Sandler (Miami Talk Radio) Friday morning, he was reading through HR 1585 and for the first time Thursday (Nov 8th), he noticed this language that has been inserted into the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill.
He said that this language jumped off the page at him and that he was very concerned that people learn about this provision that would authorize domestic operations for the US military. (Please glance below - Section 1615).
JMCO at this point. I like Dennis - I met him in a kitchen and if you know me - you know it is very RARE for me to (one) be in a kitchen and even more rare for me (two) be with a man in a kitchen these days. On to my point. Kucinich voted against HR 1585 on May 17th - thank you. But if he is admitting that he himself did not even notice this section until Nov 8th and he is running for President - WAF.
H.R.1585 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
TITLE XVI, NATIONAL GUARD ENHANCEMENT

Section 1615
DETERMINATION OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE CIVIL SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS

(a) DETERMINATION OF REQUIREMENTS---- The Secretary of Defense shall determine the military-unique capabilities needed to be provided by the Department of Defense to support civil authorities in an incident of national significance or a catastrophic incident.

(b) PLAN FOR FUNDING CAPABILITIES---

(1) PLAN----The Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a plan, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for providing the funds and resources necessary to develop and maintain the following:

(A) The military-unique capabilities determined under subsection (a).

(B) Any additional capabilities determined by the Secretary to be necessary to support the use of the active components and the reserve components of the armed forces for homeland defense missions, domestic emergency responses, and providing military support to civil authorities.

(2) TERM OF PLAN---- The plan required under paragraph (1) shall cover at least five years.


Other Nice to Knows about HR 1585
  • Ike Skelton [D-MO] Sponsor
  • Section 1615 was part of the text "reported to the house". I cannot find where it was either revised in the House nor the Senate.
  • (42) S.Amendment 2022 by Sen. Specter [R-PA]
    To restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States.
    Proposed: Jul 9, 2007. Withdrawn: Sep 19, 2007 (another WAF)
  • Passed House 05.17.07 (397 Ayes, 27 Nays)
  • Passed Senate 10.01.07 (92 Ayes, 3 Nays)
  • Senate NV (No Votes) - were none other than our 5 current Senate Presidential Candidates. Yes sir, and it was these same yutzes whom voted NV for the confirmation of Mukasey.

JMCO on a Sunday Morning

Veteran's Day weekend and where is our War Time Prez?

Crawford TX pretending to be a cowboy (born and raised as white boy in CT)

Hillary in IA last night @ a huge candidate forum stated:

President Truman said 'If you cannot stand the heat - then get out of the kitchen. Well as a female I am comfortable in the kitchen".

sls response to Ms. Clinton (it is offensive - it is a Sharona-ism)

"A woman's place is NOT in the kitchen. A woman's place is in the bedroom and a man's place is in the woman".

(btw, I have stated this to the Board of Directors of Caterpillar in South Africa, to the several other Boards worldwide & to several former Communist companies (to various communist chiefs (parading as westerners) in the former Soviet Union). And I am proud of this statement :)
--
Sharona

09 November 2007

Randi Rhodes interview with Steve Cohen on Impeachment

November 9th Randi Rhodes interviewed Rep. Steve Cohen to discuss the Kucinich Privileged Resolution to impeach Cheney. Rep Steve Cohen (TN) is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and one of the co-sponsors of HRes333 - Impeach Cheney resolution.

Discussion included Pelosi, Conyers and action to get this happening.

Randi asked Rep Cohen if Pelosi is holding Conyers chairmanship over his head to get him NOT to bring impeachment to the HJC.

BTW, this weekend Randi will be in Detroit for political events with John Conyers - stay tuned.


15 Minute interview without commercials.


Full Spectrum Mercenaries - Blackwater goes to Mexico


http://www.counterpunch.org/ross11092007.html


November 9, 2007

Full Spectrum Mercenaries
Blackwater Goes to Mexico

By JOHN ROSS

If and when private security contractor Blackwater USA and its heavily-armed operatives are forced to pull out of Iraq as the result of the September 16th rampage in downtown Baghdad when its employees massacred up to 28 Iraqis, Mexico could be a profitable option for the North Carolina-based company.

Actually, Blackwater is almost in Mexico already. For months, the North Carolina-based corporation has been pressuring local San Diego officials to grant it an operating license for an 824-acre training site to be known as Blackwater West in Potrero California 45 miles east of that bustling port city but only six miles from the Tecate Mexico border crossing. The site, some of which snakes through the Cleveland National Forest, is a favored transit route for undocumented Mexican workers heading north and has been recently scorched by out-of-control wildfires.

Blackwater USA's plans have drawn the ire of locals who are not happy about having 15 firing ranges in earshot and a coalition of homeowners, local farmers, environmentalists, and peaceniks has been pieced together to oppose the project. Nonetheless, Blackwater has kept up a full court press on county officials, even sailing the company yacht flying a humongous Blackwater flag, into a local marina last spring and inviting members of the planning commission aboard for cocktails.

Blackwater USA is attracted to the San Diego area because of the heavy concentration of military bases such as Camp Pendleton in the environs that could produce a windfall of security and training contracts from its pals in the Pentagon. Blackwater USA was founded by ex-Navy Seal Eric Prince who cultivates close ties with the military.

One of Blackwater's most rah-rah backers in the Potrero venture is local congressman Duncan Hunter, ranking republican on the House Armed Services Committee and a dark horse candidate for his party's presidential nomination. Hunter is considered one of the most virulent anti-Mexican immigration voices in congress and is a political architect of the separation wall that now lines California's border with Mexico.

The dispute over Blackwater's proposed Potrero training camp is not just a NIMBY-type confrontation. Siting the facility a stone's throw from the Mexican border internationalizes the proposition. By any stretch of the imagination, Mexican president Felipe Calderon ought to be nervous about the encampment of the world's largest private army on his conflictive northern border, particularly one that is not accountable to either the Geneva Convention or U.S. and Mexican military and civil law. Yet Calderon has not publically protested the proposal.

Situated in rugged high desert terrain, Potrero is an idyllic hideaway to train a new generation of Rambos - one can imagine guest motivational appearances by Sylvester Stallone and California's action figure governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The camp which, in addition to multiple shooting ranges, will house an armory and feature both a 33,000 square feet urban counter-insurgency set and a course where armed vehicles seek to evade a paint ball barrage, is expected to train military and law enforcement personnel as well as private paramilitary security forces.

Blackwater USA has trained dozens of police forces at its Moyock North Carolina complex in the heart of that state's Great Dismal Swamp, including big city (New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles and Chicago) officers as well as rural forces like the Maricopa County Arizona sheriff's department. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, is a first stop for undocumented Mexican migrants and the local police have been deputized to assist the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to corral the "indocumentados."

Blackwater USA's strategic position overlooking the Mexican border in Potrero presents inviting economic opportunities. Testifying before congress in 2005, then-Blackwater president Gary Jackson said that the North Carolina enterprise was prepared to provide assistance on border security and long-time connections inside DHS could generate lucrative contracts training increasingly heavily-armed ICE agents. San Diego congressperson Bob Filner, a Democrat told Salon Magazine's Elaine Zimmerman last month that he believes Blackwater is positioning itself to move into the border security business.

As the National Guard troops brought back from Iraq by George Bush to patrol the border and appease fellow-republicans like Hunter are drawn down (3000 have already been pulled back), Blackwater USA is poised to fill in the gap. Blackwater would also be useful in strengthening security at troubled immigration detention centers along the border, more than half of which have already been privatized.

In an October 15th Wall Street Journal interview Prince indicated that Iraq-type operations were no longer at the top of Blackwater USA's business agenda and that he saw his company as going more "full spectrum." Now, as they move into their new facility on the Mexican border, Eric Prince & Company appear to be set to expand into both border enforcement and the Bush White House drug war with an operational role in Plan Mexico, the $1.5 billion U.S.-Mexico drug war scheme to fuse drug-fighting agencies on both sides of the border under Washington's control.

Despite repeated advisories from the White House that Plan Mexico (** see below) is a done deal, Bush and Calderon have yet to formalize the pact, pending approval by the U.S. Congress.

The request for three half billion dollar Plan Mexico pay-outs through 2009 was sent on to congress folded into a near $50 billion supplemental spending bill to finance Bush's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan but given Democratic aversion to funding these failed military escapades in an election year, passage is not assured. Plan Mexico has spread widespread suspicion south of the border with many Mexicans condemning the project as a grievous violation of national sovereignty.

Modeled on Washington's flawed Plan Colombia, which has pumped billions into that South American nation to bolster the right-wing regime of Alvaro Uribe, one of Bush's few allies in the hemisphere, Plan Mexico will supply this not-so-distant neighbor nation with upgraded military hardware and cutting edge technological savvy - the New York-based Verint Technology is already installing a voice-activated "communication interruption" system that will audit all phone and e-mail traffic in Mexico and to the U.S. The surveillance technology, which is being bankrolled by a U.S. State Department grant, appears to be as much in violation of the Mexican constitution as Bush's massive, secret surveillance dragnet of his own citizens violates the U.S. magna carta.

Unlike Plan Colombia, Plan Mexico does not contemplate the stationing of U.S. troops on Mexican soil. Such an adventure would be universally unpopular here - the U.S. has invaded Mexico eight times since this country won its independence in 1821. To insure that U.S. military personnel stays on their side of the line, Mexican drug fighters are trained out of country, mainly at the Center for Special Forces in Fort Bragg North Carolina (100 miles as the crow flies from Blackwater's Moyock complex.)

Nonetheless, as the military pares itself down and outsources its services, training Mexican troops is a role that a new "full-spectrum" Blackwater USA seems perfectly positioned to assume at the Potrero site. Because it is not formally a part of the U.S. military, Blackwater could also infiltrate personnel across the border for on-site engagement inside Mexico.

Coincidentally, according to a recent report in the Army Times (Sept. 14th), Blackwater USA has just been handed a sizeable chunk of a $15 billion USD drug war grant by the Department of Defense (Raytheon is another big winner.) Part of the Blackwater boodle is slated for the design of an unmanned aerostat surveillance platform that has been subcontracted with the Maryland-based Arinc Corporation. The "blimp" project (if that what is being proposed) marks a radical departure for Eric Prince's conglom, which has never before been a supplier of technology to the military.

According to the Army Times report, the DOD grant mandates Blackwater USA "to deploy surveillance techniques, train foreign security forces, and provide logistical and operational support" for drug war initiatives.

Founded in 1996 by Prince and a handful of ex-Navy Seal buddies, Blackwater USA's business boomed in the wake of 9/11 and it is heavily invested in Bush's War on Terror. Drug war operations represent a field in which Blackwater has little experience but which, logistically at least, is not much different from the security firm's terror war duties. In recent years, the White House has done its damndest to conflate the War on Drugs with the War on Terror.

Blackwater USA's enlistment in the drug war is a direct challenge to its stiffest competitor, DynCorp - up until now, the Dallas-based corporation has locked up 94% of all private drug war security contracts.

Blackwater USA's move into combating narco-terrorism will give the North Carolina outfit a foot up in Latin America where the private security industry is flourishing. Blackwater now employs 1200 Chileans, ex-members of dictator Augusto Pinochet's military, in its international operations - in addition to its contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Blackwater provides security for high officials in Azerbaijan, Jordan, and Bokano Faso among other governments.

But Blackwater USA's Colombian subsidiary, ID Systems, ran into a storm of criticism when it recruited 20 ex-military officers for the company's Iraq operation - the recruits now claim that they were paid less than half of what their contracts called for and were kept by Blackwater USA in Iraq against their wills.

Under the U.S.'s post 9/11 security redesign, military protection of the homeland has become the province of the newly created North Command, now housed in a Colorado bunker. Within the North Command's schema, Mexico forms a major portion of the U.S.'s southern security perimeter but with the U.S. military severely restricted in its abilities to put Special Forces on Mexican soil to combat the terrorists, narco or otherwise, Blackwater USA, perched as it is on the border at its Potrero California training camp and equipped with multi-million dollar DOD grants, stands ready to provide logistical and operational support to further Washington's designs on Mexico and the South.

Friends and Enemies of John Ross are cordially invited to attend "Eye on Mexico", a celebration of the 97th anniversary of the Mexican revolution and a benefit to buy the author a new eye. "Eye on Mexico" is set for Friday Nov. 16th, 7 PM at New College, 777 Valencia Street in San Francisco's Mission District.


Excerpts below.

After months of talks, President George W. Bush finally announced the “security cooperation” plan for Mexico. On October 22, he sent a request for $500 million in supplemental aid for 2008 as part of a $1.4 billion dollar multi-year package.

The Washington Post, which obtained a copy of the “Overall Justification Document,” reported that more than a third of the package will be spent on aerial surveillance and facilitating the rapid deployment of troops.

The role of private contractors in implementing the package remains unclear and a source of dismay. Security analyst Sam Logan says Blackwater will be likely be the major beneficiary, despite its tarnished reputation following its shooting of Iraqi civilians. Corruption in contracts related to both training and equipment purchase seems a certainty given recent experience in Iraq.

JMCO = Just My Cynical

Videos I have done on Blackwater.

"Give them Tents" = Blackwater humanitarian aid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKygFWAbwy8

This video has clips from Jeremy Scahill about the rebranding of Blackwater Worldwide to incorporate their new Blimp from Brazil (survelliance they say only for the border) + Blackwater USA's Colombian subsidiary, ID Systems, (which recruited Columbian bad guys for Iraq).

Face of Homeland Security CA = Face of Blackwater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTH5nIRrgsw

This vid talks about the hiring of an ex Blackwater Chris Bertelli to CA as the Deputy Director of Homeland security in CA.
Prediction - all of this with the co-mingling between Blackwater employees into DHS positions.


What to get involved and hear intelligent dialogue on Blackwater?

Evening with Jeremy Scahill & Dahr Jamail Together in Person (LA)

WHEN: FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16th, 7-9pm
Doors open at 6pm. Get There Early -Limited Seating

WHERE: United Teachers of Los Angeles Building (UTLA),
3303 W. Wilshire Blvd., LA, CA, 90010
(@ Berendo, across from Immanuel Presbyterian Church)

LAPD works toward mitigating radicalization.

Identification of Radicalization in LA begins

HRes 1955
Passed Oct 23, 2007 Congress

Tidbits - Refresher course on reality in USA.

H. R. 1955 - PREVENTION OF VIOLENT RADICALIZATION AND HOMEGROWN TERRORISM.

To prevent homegrown terrorism, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,


HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

IDEOLOGICALLY BASED VIOLENCE- The term `ideologically based violence' means the use, planned use, or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual to promote the group or individual's political, religious, or social beliefs.

Today November 9, 2007
LA Times
LAPD to build data on Muslim areas
Tidbits - Refresher course on reality in LA today.

We are seeking to identify at-risk communities," Downing ( Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief ) said in an interview Thursday evening. "We are looking for communities and enclaves based on risk factors that are likely to become isolated. . . . We want to know where the Pakistanis, Iranians and Chechens are so we can reach out to those communities."

During Oct. 30 testimony before Congress, Downing described the program broadly as an attempt to "mitigate radicalization. (as in HRes 1955) " At that time, he said law enforcement agencies nationwide faced "a vicious, amorphous and unfamiliar adversary on our land."

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-lapd9nov09,0,5411574.story?page=1&track=ntothtml&coll=la-tot-topstories

Mukasey confirmed & I am sick to my stomach


And I am literally nauseous - not kidding.

In a vote of 53-40 and 7 not voting, Michael Mukasey was confirmed Thursday by the Senate.

What is telling are the "no shows" . All the current Senators that are running for President were no shows.


This fact should be telling America.

Quotes from the Corporate Board of Executives (aka Senate).

Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt

"This is like saying when somebody murders somebody with a a baseball bat and you say, 'We had a law against murder but we never mentioned baseball bats,'" said Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. "Murder is murder. Torture is torture."

JMCO = Just My Cynical Opinion

Well Mr. Leahy. You gave great sound bites end of Aug up to the end of the Summer recess on the AG confirmation. I remember hearing from Chairman Leahy end of August until Madame_CEO_Pelosi came back and gave the orders for the 4th quarter.

"...I think that we should have the answers, and I have a great deal of confidence in the inspector general," Leahy said. "I have told the White House there's a lot of information we need to have before a confirmation hearing."
"...I think that we should have the answers, and I have a great deal of confidence in the inspector general," Leahy said. "I have told the White House there's a lot of information we need to have before a confirmation hearing."
"Will you give the same kind of advice? How do you feel about this torture memo? How do you feel about the warrantless wiretapping of Americans?'," said Leahy.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

Being better than Gonzales or an acting attorney general is not enough qualification for the job, said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.

"The next attorney general must restore confidence in the rule of law," he said. "We cannot afford to take the judgment of an attorney general who either does not know torture when he sees it or is willing to look the other way."



http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=1&vote=00407

08 November 2007

Thom Hartmann - Takes on 911 Conspiracy - Fact or Fiction

Thom Hartmann hosted a debate between Kevin Ryan, 9/11 UL whistleblower and co-editor of the online "Journal of 911 Studies," and Michael Shermer, publisher of "Skeptic Magazine" and Executive Director of the Skeptics Society.

For some background on these participants, see:

Kevin Ryan

Kevin Ryan is former Site Manager for Environmental Health Laboratories, a division of Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Mr. Ryan, a Chemist and laboratory manager, was fired by UL in 2004 for publicly questioning the report being drafted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on their World Trade Center investigation. In the intervening period, Ryan has completed additional research while his original questions, which have become increasingly important over time, remain unanswered by UL or NIST.

Through interviews, presentations, and his work as co-editor at the online Journal of 911 Studies, Mr. Ryan works to bring out the truth behind the events of 9/11/01 for the benefit of all people.

Michael Shermer

Michael Shermer is the Founding Publisher of Skeptic magazine and the Executive Director of the Skeptics Society. He is an author, speaker, and producer.

Dr. Shermer is a contributing editor and monthly columnist for Scientific American, and is the host of the Skeptics Distinguished Lecture Series at Caltech. He is also the co-host and producer of the Fox Family television series, Exploring the Unknown, and serves as the science correspondent for KPCC radio, an NPR affiliate for Southern California.

Audio on Debate (23 minutes without commercials - you are welcome!)

07 November 2007

Just when you thought it was safe!

Remember Mark Geragos, esteemed lawyer to Winona Ryder and let us not forget his innocent wife and son killer client Scott Peterson. Well, Mr. Geragos is now associated with the House invoking their right to privilege a little thing called the "speech and debate" clause. This is comparable to "Executive Privilege".

For more than a year, House Democrats and Republicans have waged a separation-of-powers battle of their own against the DoJ, with the House general counsel increasingly invoking the Constitution’s speech and debate clause to push back against public corruption cases implicating several members.

Mr. Geragos is representing Brent Wilkes, the defense contractor accused of bribing former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham. Geragos subpoenaed lawmakers and they have asserted their "speech & debate" clause.

Below is excerpts from article in TheHill.
The ‘cleanest Congress in history’ should not be using the speech or debate clause to impede House staffers from testifying about congressional corruption,” CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan said. “It is the people who need protection from corrupt members of Congress, not corrupt members who need protection from the Justice Department.”

Sloan said she has witnessed an increased use of the speech and debate clause to protect members from DoJ corruption probes since the FBI raided Rep. William Jefferson’s (D-La.) office last year. Both parties viewed the raid, the first ever on a congressional office, as an outrage and a violation of the separation of powers.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/amidwhite-house-clash-house-asserts-its-own-rights-2007-11-07.html

JMCO = Just My Cynical Opinion

Okay, so it appears that the Congress in given battles with an inscrutable White House and DoJ are playing dirty and invoking little known rules in the House.

I have a suggestion for our Corporate Congress - Just Say No (thank you Nancy Reagan). Maybe this White House, DoJ and Supreme Court would stop this unilateral presidential power grab!

If Congress would just start to play dirty with this evil White House by lets say: impeachment, filing inherent contempt charges against Rove, Gonzales, Miers and Bolton, don't confirm Mukasey, charge the Blackwater contractors with murder 17 counts. I am sure I could think of more action items, but that is it for now.

06 November 2007

70% of HJC Members voted NO to TABLE impeach resolution

Memo to CEO_Madame_Pelosi
and John Conyers
Suggest you review the split of HJC members,
because 70% = 29 sitting House Judicarcy members voted to NO to table the HRes 799 Impeach Cheney Privileged Resolution.


HJC members - Voted No to Table
14 Democrats
15 Republicans
  1. Baldwin, Tammy (Dem - WI)
  2. Cannon, Chris (Rep - UT)
  3. Cohen, Steve (Dem - TN)
  4. Conyers, John (Dem - MI)
  5. Ellison, Keith (Dem - MN)
  6. Feeney, Tom (Dem - FL)
  7. Forbes, Randy (Rep - VA)
  8. Franks, Trent (Rep - AZ)
  9. Gallegly, Elton (Rep - CA)
  10. Gohmert, Louie (Rep - TX)
  11. Goodlatte, Bob (Rep - VA)
  12. Gutierrez, Luis (Dem - IL)
  13. Issa, Darrell (Rep - IL)
  14. Jackson-Lee, Sheila (Dem - TX)
  15. Johnson, Hank (Dem - GA)
  16. Jordan, Jim (Rep - OH)
  17. Keller, Rick (Rep - FL)
  18. King, Steve (Rep - IA)
  19. Lungren, Dan (Rep - CA)
  20. Pence, Mike (Rep - IN)
  21. Scott, Bobby (Dem - VA)
  22. Sensenbrenner, James (Rep - WI)
  23. Sherman, Brad (Dem - CA)
  24. Smith, Lamar (Rep - TX)
  25. Sutton, Betty (Dem - OH)
  26. Waters, Maxine (Dem - CA)
  27. Watt, Melvin (Dem - NC)
  28. Weiner, Anthony (Dem - NY)
  29. Wexler, Robert (Dem - FL)
HJC members - Voted Yes to Table
9 Democrats
2 Republicans

  1. Berman, Howard (Dem - CA)
  2. Boucher, Rick (Dem - VA)
  3. Chabot, Steve (Rep - OH)
  4. Coble, Howard (Rep - NC)
  5. Davis, Artur (Dem - AL)
  6. Delahunt, William (Dem - MA)
  7. Lofgren, Zoe (Dem - CA)
  8. Nadler, Jerrold (Dem - NY)
  9. Sanchez, Linda T. (Dem - CA)
  10. Schiff, Adam (Dem - CA)
  11. Schultz, Debbie (Dem - FL)
CA - Democrats Voted YES (That's a bad thing)
  1. Davis, Susan
  2. Berman, Howard (HJC Member)
  3. Harman, Jane
  4. Lantos, Tom
  5. Lofgren, Zoe (HJC Member)
  6. Matsui, Doris
  7. Sanchez, Linda T. (Friends of Hillary) (HJC Member)
  8. Sanchez, Loretta
  9. Schiff, Adam (HJC Member)
  10. Schwartz, Allyson
  11. Tauscher, Ellen
  12. Waxman, Henry (He obviously did NOT listen to my call to him @ 8 a.m. EST this morning)
CA - Democrats Voted NO to table
  1. Capps, Lois
  2. Farr, Sam
  3. Filner, Bob
  4. Gallegly, Elton (HJC Member)
  5. Honda, Michael
  6. Lee, Barbara
  7. Napolitano, Grace
  8. Roybal-Allard, Lucille
  9. Sherman, Brad (HJC Member)
  10. Solis, Hilda
  11. Stark, Fortney Pete
  12. Waters, Maxine (HJC Member)
  13. Watson, Diane
  14. Woolsey, Lynn
CA - Republicans Voted NO to table
  1. Gallegly, Elton
  2. Issa, Darrell (HJC Member)
  3. Lungren, Dan (HJC Member)
  4. Miller, Gary

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1037.xml#Y

Olbermann vs. John Gibson on a historic moment


How the MSM reports the historic moment.

A Privileged Resolution to impeach a Vice President in Congress.

Olbermann vs. John Gibson.

Fairly unfair contest.

You decide.


Olbermann vs. Gibson on Impeach Cheney - You Decide


Kucinich throws the gauntlet to Pelosi - Reads her Articles of Impeachment


Rep. Dennis Kucinich Reads Articles of Impeachment for VP Richard Cheney Privileged Resolution Congressional rules

The total time he spoke on the House Floor was 26-27 minutes. I have divided his brilliant performance into three separate videos.
You got it here first!


Part 1 Video Clip

Rep. Kucinich reviews Article I for Impeachment
http://www.youtube.com/v/AcwXnSVcLN4




Part 2 Video Clip
Rep. Kucinich reviews Article II for Impeachment
http://www.youtube.com/v/C9rbZanHRbM



Part 3 Video Clip
Rep. Kucinich reviews Article III for Impeachment

03 November 2007

If you are reading this blog then you are a HOMEGROWN TERRORIST

H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. Rep. Jane Harmon legislation.

Oct 23, 2007: This bill was passed in the House of Representatives by roll call vote. The vote was held under a suspension of the rules to cut debate short and pass the bill, needing a two-thirds majority. The totals were 404 Ayes, 6 Nays, 22 Present/Not Voting.

Terrorism prevention act of 2007 amends the Homeland Sec Act of 2002 to add provisions concerning the prevention of homegrown terrorision by individuals born raised or based and operating primarily in the USA.

HOMEGROWN TERRORISM- The term `homegrown terrorism' means the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States or any possession of the United States to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population of the United States, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.

JMCO = Just My Cynical Opinion
If this legislation (which granted still needs to pass the Senate) does not scare the reality of what has happened to our Democracy - than you are hopeless.
President John F. Kennedy April 1961 audio bytes to the Press Corps.

Video on Homegrown Terrorism.





PS - some of my best friends are now Homegrown Terrorists!

02 November 2007

Blackwater charity bites in the end.

Press Release from Ray Lutz (Citizen's oversight) on Blackwater in Potrero. Blackwater was able to get beyond sheriff's blockade to deliver these goods. Let's talk. In New Orleans Blackwater got in there first with no DHS contract & then a week later they had a contract. Remember, Blackwater was in New Orleans before FEMA (truth be told that is no great task). I am sure they "back dated" services they did that first week in New Orleans in the eventual contract they got for New Orleans.

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2007/11/1/22310/1835

It may appear that these are "do-gooders" but they are going to get money some way out of the state for this. Chris Bertelli (Deputy Director of DHS in CA) is an ex-Blackwater.

Blackwater's new source of revenue stream (to support Erik Prince in the lifestyle he has grown accustomed to) will be from within the USA. The contract in Iraq is up May_09 - which will probably not be renewed.
  1. That is what should be in this bill. Is the insurance that DHS cannot hire Blackwater or equivalent in the USA in lieu of National Guard, for example.
  2. If Blackwater does not get extension on State Dept contract - what firm are they going to hire to replace Blackwater in Iraq.
Oct 15 - WSJ Blackwater Vies for Jobs Beyond Guard Duty

"We see the security market diminishing," Mr. Prince said. He added that the company's focus "is going to be more of a full spectrum," ranging from delivering humanitarian aid to responding to natural disasters to handling the behind-the-lines logistics of moving heavy equipment and supplies.

Question: which firm will State Dept get to replace Blackwater in Iraq?

JMCO (Just my cynical opinion)