Unspeakable grief and horror
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Know them by their fruit:
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Unspeakable grief and horror
Know them by their fruit: |
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'I Refused and He Hit Me'A 14-Year Old's Prison Journey
CounterPunch.org — December 22, 2005 By AMIRA HASS Slaps and a punch in the stomach
"We got to a place that I guessed was a prison.
They took my bag from me.
They put me in a very narrow cell.
I couldn't stand up in it, I could only lie down, bent over. I couldn't stretch my legs.
Someone came and demanded that I sign.
I couldn't see who it was because I was lying down, with my head on my arms.
I was afraid that the leg would not heal, and I missed my mother.
I refused to sign, but they told me that it was only my signature to the fact that they had taken my cell phone.
After what I guess was about two hours, they removed me from this narrow cell.
I asked them to help me carry the bag, but they refused.
They sent me to an ordinary prison cell, all by myself.
I didn't cry, I was only shaking from the cold.
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On the way from the solitary confinement cell upstairs one of the detainees warned me about `birds' (asafir) — who try to get you to talk.
"Again a soldier came in, one I didn't recognize, and demanded that I sign, and again I refused.
I laid on the bed.
The soldier tied my hands above my head to the bed, and cuffed my feet to the bed.
He started to slap me around.
After 20 or 30 slaps, he punched me in the stomach.
I felt I wanted to throw up.
He punched me again, and this time I did throw up.
He released my legs and uncuffed my hands from the bed — but they remained cuffed to each other.
He threw me a little toilet paper so I could wipe up the vomit.
"They put someone, a Palestinian, in my room, who was bound hand and foot.
He asked me why I was arrested.
I told him that there was nothing against me, and that if I wasn't released that night, I would be released the next morning.
He told me that he'd killed a settler and was sentenced to 15 years, and he told me not to be afraid of him, that he wasn't a collaborator.
But I felt he was a collaborator.
I told him I wasn't afraid (to tell him what I'd done), it was only that I hadn't done anything, and I would be released, if not today then tomorrow.
He asked me how I was so sure of myself.
After a while, a soldier came and took him out.
"By now it was evening. I was awfully tired, and I went to sleep. Someone came in dressed like a doctor. I asked him what time it was and he said it was 6 P.M. He told me to arrange my things, because they were taking me to court.
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Then they removed the metal handcuffs and replaced them with plastic cuffs.
A prisoner who was there gave me sweatpants, a shirt and sandals, but only after an argument with the soldiers.
I'd been barefoot ever since they took me out of the hospital.
He also brought me a crutch.
From the other prisoners I heard that I was in Ramle.
But two minutes later they took the crutch away from me.
"They put me in a car, sat me behind the driver, and I stretched my injured leg forward.
A policemen sat down next to me, and to make room for himself he pushed my injured leg.
They tried to blindfold me with a garbage bag, but when it didn't work, they covered my head with the garbage bag.
My hands were cuffed very tightly.
Every so often the driver, who was a soldier, would turn around and slap me and demand that I lean my head down.
As he was turning around to slap me, I felt that he collided or brushed up against another car, apparently a truck.
After that, he still managed to get in a slap.
I think we were driving for about two hours.
I sweated a lot, and I nearly suffocated from the plastic bag over my head.
The leg was hurting me a lot, and so were my hips, which were bound by a belt.
I thought we were on the way to the court, and when they pulled me out of the police car I suddenly realized I was at the Hawara roadblock."
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IDF Spokesman denies
The IDF Spokesman's response: "On the afternoon of December 4, the detainee was about to be handed over to the Prisons Service. Since his transfer to the Prisons Service was delayed, a team of military policemen and the detainee made their way to the Military Police base in Tel Mond. Around 7 P.M., the Prisons Service made the decision not to process the detainee until the following morning. Accordingly, the detainee was held in a separate detention cell in the Military Police base.
"When he entered the lock-up, there was a need to carry out a procedure of deposition of property, and therefore an Arabic-speaking soldier explained to the detainee that he had to sign the document to confirm that his cell phone was deposited. The detainee refused to sign the deposit form. Until the time that he entered the detention cell, only the detainee's hands were bound. Once he entered the detention cell, the handcuffs were removed. The detainee's stay in the Military Police base was closely supervised by the base commander, an officer of the rank of major, who confirmed that his treatment was humane and according to regulations. We emphasize that the detainee was not beaten or handcuffed to a vehicle.
"On the morning of December 5, 2005, the detainee was transferred to the Prisons Service facility in Ramle by a team of military policemen. That evening, at around 7 P.M., a directive was issued by the Samaria district of the Israel Police, stating that the detainee should be immediately released.
"A team of three military policemen was entrusted with his transfer from the Prisons Service facility to the Hawara roadblock. The detainee was transferred from the Prisons Service with a plastic bag tied around his eyes. In the course of the journey no exceptional event took place, and the allegations of violence committed against him are groundless. The Military Police car did not have a collision with any other car. The trip lasted approximately one hour, at the end of which the detainee was transferred to a Civil Administration officer who was waiting there." Nevertheless, the IDF Spokesman informed Haaretz that these were the results of an initial inquiry, and that an investigation of the event continues.
The Prisons Service reported, "The detainee arrived at the central hospital of the Prisons Service on December 5, 2005 at 11:35 A.M., and his processing was approved by the chief medical officer of the Prisons Service (due to his being injured). The detainee was released that same day by the Prisons Service at 6:10 P.M. and was taken by the Military Police. The detainee spent these hours in a hospital room and was held separately, because he is a minor."
Maher Talhami, the attorney for Physicians for Human Rights who met twice with Ouda and took down an affidavit, says that on the basis of his own experience, the beating of minor Palestinian detainees in order to have them sign confessions is routine. This view is shared by attorney Khaled Quzmar, who represents minors in military tribunals for Defense for Children International.
What makes this case atypical, say the two lawyers, is that Ouda insisted on not signing, was released early, and was able to tell about his arrest only a few days after it occurred.
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Amira Hass writes for Ha'aretz. She is the author of Drinking the Sea at Gaza. |
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| US Veto 41 for Israel | November 11, 2006 — US vetoes adoption of a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel military operations in the Gaza Strip; vote: The United Kingdom, Denmark, Japan and Slovakia abstaining. 10-1 with four absentions, Britain, Denmark, Japan and Slovakia |
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| US Veto 40 for Israel | July 13, 2006 — US vetoes UN Qatari-sponsored resolution in the UN Security Council condemning Israel military disproportionate force in the Gaza Strip; vote: 10-1 with four absentions, Britain, Peru, Denmark and Slovakia |
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| US Veto 39 for Israel | October 5, 2004 — US vetoes UN condemning Israel military incursion in Gaza, causing many civilian deaths and extensive damage to property; vote: 11 to 1, with 3 abstentions, Britain, Germany, Romania |
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| US Veto 38 for Israel | March 25, 2004 — US vetoes UN condemning Israel for killing Palestinian spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in a missile attack in Gaza; vote: 11 to 1, with 3 abstentions, Britain, Germany, Romania |
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| US Veto 37 for Israel | October 14, 2003 — US vetoes UN raising concerns about Israel building of a securiy fence through the occupied West Bank; vote 10 to 1, with 4 abstentions, Britain, Germany, Bulgaria and Cameroon |
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| US Veto 36 for Israel | September 16, 2003 — US vetoes UN reaffirming the illegality of deportation of any Palestinian and expressed concern about the possible deportation of Yasser Arafat; vote: 11 to 1, with 3 abstentions, Britain, Germany and Bulgaria |
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| US Veto 35 for Israel | December 19, 2002 — US vetoes UN expressing deep concern over Israel killing of U.N. employees and Israel’s destruction of the U.N. World Food Program warehouse in Beit Lahiya and demanding that Israel refrain from the excessive and disproportionate use of force in the occupied territories; vote: 12 to 1, with 2 abstentions, Bulgaria and Cameroon |
UN President calls for sanctions against Israel
by Saed Bannoura — IMEMC News Thursday November 27, 2008
Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann said that the international community should engage in a 'boycott, divestment and sanctions' campaign against Israel, similar to those enacted against South Africa two decades ago."
Israel has engaged in a military occupation of the Palestinian territories since 1967, with an increase in military presence since the year 2000.
The people of Palestine continue to live under martial law, with no control of their land, sea or water.
In his remarks, d'Escoto said that Israeli policies in the Occupied Palestinian Territories appear similar to the apartheid of an earlier era, a continent away.
He said that the United Nations should not be afraid to use the term apartheid to describe what is happening in occupied Palestine.
Former US President Jimmy Carter came under fire for using the term 'apartheid' in reference to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
He was even prevented from speaking at the Democratic National Convention this year because of his position on the issue.
Inserted by TheWE.biz
More than Fifteen million US dollars is given by US taxpayers each day for the use of Israel, which presently involves the imprisonment of the remaining segregated ' Bantustan — Apartheid ' parcels of land occupied by millions of Palestinian people.
Palestinians were forced from their homes 60 years ago from what is now called Israel into refugee camps in Gaza and the West Bank, Jordan and Lebanon.
While attempts have been made by the Palestinians to create a better life for themselves, these refugee camps have been forced upon them to this day by American Taxpayer funding, and Anglo American, Europe backing and banking for Israel that has propped up the forced 'state' of Israel for more than fifty years.
Illuminati, New World Order elite have been at the forefront in protecting European and American settler people who stole the land and continue to steal the remaining few segments of land from the Palestinians, in essence taking away from the Palestinians piece by piece this land over these many years.
Funding by the US Taxpayer for the enslavement of the Palestinian people continues to increase, estimated now considerably more than the previous 4 billion US dollars per year.
© 2001-2008 IMEMC NEWS.
Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse reprint, and rebroadcast on the net and elsewhere. |
| US Veto 34 for Israel | December 14, 2001 — US vetoes UN condemning all acts of terror, the use of excessive force and destruction of properties and encouraged establishment of a monitoring apparatus; vote: 12-1, with 2 abstentions, Britain and Norway |
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| US Veto 33 for Israel | March 26, 2001 — US vetoes UN calling for the deployment of a U.N. observer force in the West Bank and Gaza; vote: 9 to 1, with 4 abstentions, Britain, France, Ireland and Norway |
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| Please take these images you see Please place them on your website Future generations need to know the monsters presently running our planet! |
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| US Veto 32 for Israel | March 21, 1997—Demanded Israel cease construction of the settlement Har Homa (called Jabal Abu Ghneim by the Palestinians) in East Jerusalem and cease all other settlement activity in the occupied territories; vote: 13 to 1, with one abstention |
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| US Veto 31 for Israel | March 7, 1997 — US vetoes UN calling on Israel to refrain from settlement activity and all other actions in the occupied territories; vote:14 to 1 |
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I Refused and He Hit Me — 14-Year Old's Prison Journey Never told where he was or who was holding him |
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The Olive Harvest A tree that was planted several hundred years before by my forefathers |
Using war to take and swallow Palestine land The Israeli army arrived on our street at 2 am yesterday morning |
The waiting game
Three years ago, the acclaimed Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif travelled through the West Bank to write a special report for G2.
This month, she returned for the first time
Monday November 24, 2003
The Guardian Sunday October 19, the West Bank I thought it was bad three years ago. Now the landscape itself is changed. New settlements spring up everywhere; more than 60 since I was here last. You can watch their metamorphosis from a handful of caravans, to some Portakabins, then basic bungalows and, finally, the bristling, concrete hilltop fortress that is an Israeli settlement. Hardly a Palestinian village exists without an Israeli settlement lowering down on it from above. Everywhere there is construction going on — illegally: wide, Israeli-only highways to connect the settlements to each other, great mounds of rubble and yellow steel gates to block the old roads between Palestinian villages. And there are people waiting; waiting with bundles, with briefcases, with babies, at gates, at roadblocks, at checkpoints, waiting to perform the most ordinary tasks of their everyday lives. |
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And there are people waiting; waiting with bundles, with briefcases, with babies, at gates, at roadblocks, at checkpoints, waiting to perform the most ordinary tasks of their everyday lives.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 |
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Clean up of tank turret blown through roof
Tskhinvali, South OssetiaAugust 29, 2008
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Was the former Georgian PM murdered?
Global Research, February 7, 2009
Russia Today — 2009-02-04
Senior politicians in Georgia are for the first time publicly asking whether the mysterious death of Prime Minsiter Zurab Zhvania in 2005 could have been murder.
The official cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning, caused by a gas heater in his apartment.
But now the opposition is calling for a more thorough investigation.
According to some Georgians, Zurab Zhvania was the architect behind Georgia’s Rose revolution.
But it was Mikhail Saakashvili who went on to become president, with Zurab Zhvania as his prime minister.
In February 2005 Zhvania was found dead, apparently poisoned by gas.
Bezhan Gunava from the Conservative Party of Georgia says: “it was the Georgian democracy that was poisoned”.
“Every day people get killed in Georgia. People are unlawfully detained and other anti-democratic actions are carried out,” Gunava said.
At the time of the death, Zhvania’s family questioned the official version.
"The government is trying to block a real investigation into the case,” Giorgi Zhvania said, brother of the former Prime Minister.
In an interview with the Washington Post in 2006, Georgia’s ex-president, Eduard Shevardnadze, also implied it was murder.
Now some members of the Georgian Parliament members have the same view.
“Authoritarian rule dominates, with only one person who personifies the judicial system, the cabinet and the president – this is nothing but authoritarian rule,” Bezhan Gunava said.
“None of us saw Zhvania’s body being brought to the place where he was found, there are facts and details screaming that Zurab Zhvania’s death was not an accident”.
But who would kill Zurab Zhvania and why?
Aslan Abashidze from the Institutue of International Relations in Moscow says there was a widespread belief that Zhvania would become president.
“But he became the secondary figure, although he was a powerful prime minister. Of course, if he was taken out because of this, it would be unforgivable.”
The state of personal relations between Saakashvili and Zhvania remains unknown.
But close allies have turned on the President.
In 2007 Irakli Okruashvili, who held several ministerial positions, claimed the president was corrupt and abused human rights.
He also said Zurab Zhvania’s corpse was taken to the apartment where he was found dead along with a friend.
Rumours continue to circle around Saakasvili.
“There are many questions which remain unanswered, and that is enough to assume something happened,” Aslan Abashidze said.
Officials in Georgia are now demanding those answers. Political or not, Zurab Zhvania died four years ago when the country looked to be a young democracy.
Now Georgia’s political instability is more visible, and perhaps the country’s shaky political life will help reveal the truth about its beginnings.
Strange coincidence?
In late May 2005, what looked quite an ordinary domestic crime was committed in the small town of Kvareli in Georgia.
Two young men from Tbilisi went to the provincial town to see their former classmate.
But the latter turned out to be ‘mad’. He had a gun and fired at his guests, killing one and injuring the other. Finally he shot himself.
This would certainly be considered a common domestic drama if it were not for one fact.
The ‘Tbilisi guest’ who died was Levan Samkharauli, the head of Georgia’s forensic medical examination at the Ministry of Justice.
In the previous winter he had prepared the death certificate of Zhvania and his friend.
So, the ‘domestic’ murder in Kvareli seemed suspicious to many: it happened the day after the Georgian TV channel ‘202’ showed a documentary called ‘Without a bullet’.
The film cast doubt on the official version of Zhvania’s death.
Samkharauli was killed in front of many witnesses.
The ‘mad’ classmate fired 20 shots before getting close to the victim and shooting him right in the head.
Then he ran home, where police later found him.
It’s reported that he shot himself twice (!) – in the heart and in the head.
The bullet shells have never been found.
CITIZEN S’S ROSEBUD Russia Today — November 8, 2008
A year after mass anti-Saakashvili protests were held in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi the struggle of the country’s opposition continues.
RT sums up Georgia’s recent history and tries to take a glimpse into the country’s future.
Mikhail Saakashvili came to power in 2003, following events that became known as the Rose Revolution.
On November 23 a group of demonstrators stormed Georgia’s parliament.
They demanded the resignation of then president Eduard Shevardnadze after the results of parliamentary elections were judged to have been falsified.
Shevardnadze subsequently bowed out, leaving three heroes of the Rose Revolution – Parliamentary Chair Nino Burdzhanadze, then opposition leaders Saakashvili and future Prime-Minister Zurab Zhvania – in power.
According to the country’s constitution, Burdzhanadze became acting President and a date (January 4, 2004) was set for election, in which Saakashvili predictably won a landslide victory, getting 96% votes of a record 82.8% turnout.
Adjaria’s Velvet Revolution
With all the talk surrounding two newly recognised independent Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Georgia’s two other regions with tensions have largely eluded attention.
The Armenian majority of Southern Samtskhe-Javakheti region has repeatedly called for greater autonomy, while the South-Western Adjaria had spent a week separated from the rest of Georgia during the spring crisis of 2004.
Ruled by authoritarian Aslan Abashidze, Adjaria managed to capitalize on the early years of market economy, with its capital port of Batumi becoming a major transit hub for goods heading to and from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan.
With the majority of the aforementioned exports being oil, Abashidze preferred to keep the most of the transport and Black Sea tourism revenues in his region – something that would never suit the Saakashvili, who had aims at bettering the economy.
Sensing that Saakashvili will come for him sooner or later Abashidze heavily opposed the Rose Revolution, declared a state of emergency immediately after Shevardnadze’s ousting and sought to establish closer ties with Russia in hopes of getting support.
However, Russia was in no rush to undermine its relations with Georgia.
Following a tense week of attempting to ignore both protests within his region and Georgia’s arms wiggling outside, and while flying to Moscow for advice following every new development, Abashidze resigned.
The events received its own soft – ‘Velvet’ – revolution label and Abashidze, who moved to Moscow, got his 15-year sentence in absentia.
Evident progress of economy
Having two very tough political issues resolved and shedding virtually no blood Saakashvili shifted his attention to economy, and it was an immediate success.
Employing economy professionals from the private sector into Zhvania’s cabinet, the most notable of which being Russian oligarch of Georgian origin Kakha Bendukidze, who became the Minister of Economy, Saakashvili’s regime managed to raise the GDP growth rate from 5% in 2004 to near 10% in 2007.
One of the ways of doing so was by easing the regulations regarding business and entrepreneurship.
Georgia rocked the International Finance Corporation’s annual ‘Doing Business’ rating, that tracks indicators of the time and cost to meet government requirements in business start-up, operation, trade, taxation, and closure.
It climbed some 75 positions in 2007 alone, and with a 2% fall of unemployment, Georgia was named the reformer of the year.
By 2009 (the rating for each year is published in September of previous year) Georgia is the 15th most business-friendly economy in the world, ahead of Germany (25), Switzerland (21) and way ahead of Russia (120).
Some even claimed that Saakashvili’s regime managed to root the corruption out of the traffic police – an area with a strong tradition of bribery ever since the Soviet era.
When I interviewed him in 2006, Bendukidze left the impression of a man not only proud of his achievements, but also one who sees a long road of improvement ahead of himself and his country.
Yet somehow, the events of 2007 went from good to bad.
Death of an ally and alienation of others
The roots of the problem began in 2006, when amid a rising economy Georgia suddenly started to address the problem of breakaway republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The fact that it happened in between visits of U.S. senators to Georgia leaves little doubt on who gave Saakashvili the ill-timed idea.
Striving to bring back the breakaway regions, Saakashvili didn’t even spare his friends.
These actions were not typical of country leaders, but more of mobster bosses like Tony Montana.
The minister in charge of regulating conflicts Georgy Haindrava – one of the key supporters of Saakashvili during the Rose Revolution – was dismissed with no remorse, after strongly opposing the idea of using force to solve the conflicts with South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
By then Saakashvili had already lost the wisest of his allies.
In February 2005 Prime Minister Zhvania was found dead in a rented apartment.
Police claimed he died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to an inadequately ventilated gas heater.
Although, his death was ruled accidental, Zhvania’s family continues to question the results of the investigation.
Zhvania was, as many believed, for Saakashvili what Manny Ribera was for Tony Montana in Scarface: the person, who managed to stop him on the brink of radical and irreversible actions.
A year after Zhvania’s demise Saakashvili started to fear for his position. He started a campaign to intimidate the opposition by mass arrests.
Saakashvili also attempted to initiate an early presidential election in 2008, though having been elected in early 2004 he was entitled to office till 2009.
In August 2007 when yet another of Saakashvili’s former allies – ex-Defence Minister Irakly Okruashvili – made grave accusations against the President, Georgia saw itself on the brink of civil war.
Okruashvili also gave some new info on Zhvania’s death, and was immediately detained by police.
November 7, 2007
This led to mass protest organized by none other than Haindrava in the early days of November.
Tens of thousands gathered around the parliament building in Tbilisi demanding Saakashvili’s resignation on November 1.
Saakashvili initially dismissed the protest as ‘a campaign’ of lies.
Then, on their sixth day of the standstill, with some 70,000 protesting on the streets of Tbilisi, he addressed the nation, calling for calm.
Meanwhile out on the streets, riot police used tear gas, sound guns, water canons and rubber bullets many of which were believed to be supplied by Azerbaijan to disperse the crowds.
Opposition channel Imedi TV which has been called ‘the voice of opposition in Georgia’ was shut down.
It was broadcasting live when the presenter in the studio suddenly announced that there were riot police and special forces in the building.
They then detained the billionaire tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili owned TV station’s employees.
RT's own correspondent Ekaterina Azarova and cameraman Evgeny Litovko, were caught up in the police crackdown.
They were conducting a live television broadcast when special forces began to spray tear gas, as a result of which our team suffered tear-gas poisoning.
To watch RT’s footage of the events, please follow the link.
By the evening of November 7, Saakashvili – again rather like Tony Montana – was relegated to a state in which his enemies were once his allies.
Repeating Abashidze’s actions of 2004, he declared a 15-day nationwide state of emergency.
January election and war
Having the political initiative in his tight grip Saakashvili gave the green light for a snap election in January, banking on the lack of time the opposition had for choosing and preparing their candidate.
It was a risk, but also his only chance to end the disturbances, which already brought about the Human Rights Watch’s criticism for using ‘excessive’ police force and warnings of growing authoritarianism from International Crisis Group.
It took some time for the opposition to decide on the single candidacy of Levan Gachechiladze, while their main financial supporter Badri Patarkatsishvili announced he would campaign against Saakashvili in order to keep Georgia from sliding into ‘dictatorship’.
Patarkatsishvili’s Imedi resumed broadcast in December, but refrained from any politics related discussions till the election.
Despite having this kind of opposition, Saakashvili prevailed in the election with 53.47% of the vote, with both Gachechiladze (25.69%) and Patarkatsishvili (7.10%) lagging far behind.
Opposition supporters claimed the results were rigged and went on hunger strike demanding a second round election.
Meanwhile in London, unable to handle the defeat, 52-year-old Patarkatsishvili died of a heart attack.
In April a mysterious American businessman Joseph Kay, claiming to be the oligarch's step cousin, appeared in Tbilisi to claim the rights for the Imedi channel backed by Saakashvili’s government.
Though Kay vowed not to interfere with the channels editorial or personnel policies, the latest Imedi’s incarnation was politically harmless.
With no alternative TV channels left in Georgia apart from the state-backed ones, Saakashvili had achieved yet another victory.
His United National Movement party dominated the parliamentary election in May.
August saw the ever more self-confident Saakashvili let the age-long tensions between Tbilisi and South Ossetia escalate into a full-blown military conflict with Russia’s participation, which lead to Russia’s recognition of the breakaway countries’ independence in September.
U.S. looking for new Georgian leader?
In the dying days of August 2008 a number of prominent political figures from Georgia visited the U.S., including the speaker of the Georgian Parliament David Bakradze, chairman of Georgia’s Republican Party David Usupashvili, Burdzhanadze (who currently heads the new opposition party United Georgia), and David Gamkrelidze, leader of the New Right opposition party.
This was viewed as a move to choose a new leader for Georgia, sparking rumours that Burdzhanadze has received the overseas blessing for the post.
Gamkrelidze in particular flew across the Atlantic to take part in the 2008 Republican National Convention, where he was supposed to conduct meetings with members of U.S. political elite.
In an interview given at the time he suggested that to overcome the political and economic crises Georgia will need to hold an early presidential election.
With Obama in the White House, Gamkrelidze may have to abandon his plans made together with the Republicans.
However, the short but bloody war obviously put Saakashvili’s regime into an ambiguous and unpredictable position.
Now a year after violent mass protests the opposition is once again on the streets...
SAAKASHVILI CRITIC`S DEATH `SUSPICIOUS` Russia Today February 14, 2008 The death of a Georgian billionaire and government critic is being treated as suspicious by British police. 52-year-old Badri Patarkatsishvili died at his home near London on Tuesday night. He was accused of plotting a coup last year before running against President Saakashvili in January`s election. Patarkatsishvili’s family say he died of a heart attack. However, the Surrey police, who are investigating the case, say they treat all unexpected deaths as suspicious until they can prove otherwise. The police say no radioactive substances have been involved in Patarkatsishvili’s death. They have been on alert over the possibility of the use of radioactive materials after the murder of former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko in London two years ago. Meantime, Patarkatsishvili's body has been removed for post mortem which is expected to reveal the cause of death. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has expressed his condolence to the family of the businessman. Patarkatsishvili's friends and relatives are preparing to fly to London to arrange the transportation of his body to Tbilisi for burial. And his personal doctor has reportedly told Ria Novosti that he suffered no heart-related diseases. “Badri Patarkatsishvili’s death was confirmed today by his friend Boris Berezovsky. I don’t know if he was killed or died from natural causes. But I know one thing for sure – the government was responsible for his death,” Gogi Tsulaula, a member of ‘Our Georgia’ party, said. Georgian rebel minister Irakly Okruashvili says the death looks suspicious to him. "I would like to wait for an official comment. It seems strange that so many deaths are happening in February. I have not contacted Patarkatsishvili personally for five months and I regret this," Okruashvili said. Badri Patarkatsishvili made a fortune and a name for himself during his business ventures with Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky. In 1992, Patarkatsishvili became a Deputy Director General of the Logovaz Group. In 2006 he sold 100% of his share of the Russian Kommersant editorial house to Russian tycoon Alisher Usmanov. Patarkatsishvili played a key role in the Georgian opposition. In 2007 he became embroiled in a major political scandal in the country and was accused of plotting a coup against President Mikhail Saakashvili's government. He had remained in London ever since. "Now most of the opponents of Saakashvili's regime are either in prison or in exile or hiding somewhere,"Vyacheslav Nikonov, the President of the Russian Political Foundation, said. Patarkatsishvili was wanted in Russia for his part in an attempted jail break of ex-vice General Director of Aeroflot, Nikolay Glushkov. On December 23 an article in the British Times claimed the Georgian tycoon feared for his life. The paper quoted an audio-tape with a conversation, which allegedly took place between the intended hitman and an official from the Georgian Interior Ministry. The Times said Patarkatsishvili alerted police to the supposed plot. Russia's State Duma deputy and Britain's main suspect in the poisoning of former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko in London in 2006, Andrey Lugovoy, said the death of Patarkatsishvili is a great loss. "I knew him for over 15 years and as far as I know he didn't have any major health problems. All this is strange but you never know what life can bring," he said. "I think that his death, the heart attack that he had, is possibly connected with what's been going on with Georgia over the past two or three months. It might have affected his health. He was a real patriot," Lugovoy stressed. Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze also says the death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is a big loss for Georgia. “I knew him for a long time. He is not the sort of man to be involved in a murder or a coup. Of course, his death will raise suspicions; he was not an old man,” he said. According to Shevardnadze, there will be opposition rallies tomorrow. “This is not surprising. They'll of course accuse the government,” Shevardnadze said. “I think if the opposition speaks out about the sudden death of Badri, they have reasons to do this. We have lost not only an outstanding businessman, but a person who's established a fund for the poor, he helped a lot,” he added. Patarkatsishvili was born in Tbilisi in 1955 and graduated from Georgia's State Polytechnic Institute. Badri Patarkatsishvili is survived by his wife and two daughters. Russian reaction Konstantin Kosachev, State Duma International Affairs Committee Chairman, says it's important to avoid any guesswork, and wait for the results of the investigation. “I do believe that some motivation for such a development may be theoretically found in some other countries, including Georgia, including Great Britain, where some Patarkatsishvili’s partners, namely Berezovsky, are resided,” he said. “What is most important right now is to restrain from any speculations on this tragedy, to wait for the results of the investigation, which is being conducted right now by British authorities and to resume these discussions when the conclusions are made,” Kosachev stressed. Georgian mystery The death of Badri Patarkatsishvili is not the first suspicious death in Georgian politics. One of the leaders of Georgia's Rose Revolution and the country's former Prime Minister, Zurab ZhVAnia was found dead in early 2005. His body was discovered in the home of a colleague in Georgia, slumped in an armchair in the kitchen. Police claimed Zhvania died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to an inadequately ventilated gas heater. Although his death was ruled accidental, Zhvania's family continues to question the results of the investigation. ZHVANIA’S DEATH STILL A MYSTERY? Russia Today October 5, 2007 It has been eighteen months since the mysterious death of the former Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, but the final results of the investigation have still not been released. His death shocked the country and members of Zhvania’s family claim it was a planned assassination. Now the death of Georgia’s first Prime Minister is once again in the spotlight, after former Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili cast doubt on the official explanation two days before his arrest on corruption charges. Zurab Zhvania, a former Parliament Speaker, was one of the leaders of the Rose Revolution of 2003 that brought President Mikhail Saakashvili to power. He became the country’s first Prime Minister in 2004 and was the main architect of Georgia’s massive reform project. Then, on February 3, 2005, tragedy struck. The Prime Minister was found dead in the flat of provincial official Raul Yusupov. Zurab Zhvania apparently became a victim of CO poisoning from a faulty gas heater. The death sent shockwaves through Georgia, and many immediately suspected foul play. An investigation was launched, and experts from the FBI arrived to assist. The results backed up the conclusion of death by accidental poisoning, but doubts still remain. Zurab Zhvania’s brother Georgy never believed the official version of his brother’s death, and has hired private investigators to conduct their own investigation. “Of course, the family does not believe the official version. We know for sure that it was a planned assassination. All the evidence we’ve gathered points at this conclusion,” Georgy says. Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office refuses to make any comment about the case. Though it has been more than two years since his tragic death, the final results of their investigation have not yet been announced. But even after they are, it is certain that speculation will remain over the mysterious death of the Georgian first Prime Minister. © Copyright , Russia Today, 2009
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Photos of Georgia attack on South Ossetia
Arms supply to Georgia must be stopped — Russia But of the numerous myths surrounding the Cold War, 'communist expansionism' was certainly one of the biggest |
South Ossetia attack by Georgia waging war of terror from the air
Reality of political life in Georgia far different than media image Russian military vehicles parked facing Tskhinvali |
Allegations of Georgia war crimes begin to surface
Russia was 'aggressor' says Cheney Russia warns NATO over build-up of warships in Black Sea |
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Catastrophic Fall in 2009 Global Food Production
by Eric deCarbonnel Global Research, February 10, 2009 Market Oracle After reading about the droughts in two major agricultural countries, China and Argentina, I decided to research the extent other food producing nations were also experiencing droughts. This project ended up taking a lot longer than I thought. 2009 looks to be a humanitarian disaster around much of the world To understand the depth of the food Catastrophe that faces the world this year, consider the graphic below depicting countries by USD value of their agricultural output, as of 2006. |
 Countries by agricultural outputImage: Market Oracle |
 World drought, lack of rainfall, expected 2009Image: Market Oracle |
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The countries that make up two thirds of the world's agricultural output are experiencing drought conditions
Whether you watch a video of the drought in China, Australia, Africa, South America, or the US , the scene will be the same: misery, ruined crop, and dying cattle.
China
The drought in Northern China, the worst in 50 years, is worsening, and summer harvest is now threatened.
The area of affected crops has expanded to 161 million mu (was 141 million last week), and 4.37 million people and 2.1 million livestock are facing drinking water shortage.
The scarcity of rain in some parts of the north and central provinces is the worst in recorded history.
The drought which started in November threatens over half the wheat crop in eight provinces — Hebei, Shanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi and Gansu.
Henan
China's largest crop producing province, Henan, has issued the highest-level drought warning.
Henan has received an average rainfall of 10.5 millimeters since November 2008, almost 80 percent less than in the same period in the previous years.
The Henan drought, which began in November, is the most severe since 1951.
Anhui
Anhui Province issued a red drought alert, with more than 60 percent of the crops north of the Huaihe River plagued by a major drought.
Shanxi
Shanxi Province was put on orange drought alert on Jan. 21, with one million people and 160,000 heads of livestock are facing water shortage.
Jiangsu
Jiangsu province has already lost over one fifth of the wheat crops affected by drought.
Local agricultural departments are diverting water from nearby rivers in an emergency effort to save the rest.
Hebei
Over 100 million cubic meters of water has been channeled in from outside the province to fight Hebei's drought.
Shaanxi
1.34 million acres of crops across the bone-dry Shanxi province are affected by the worsening drought.
Shandong
Since last November, Shandong province has experienced 73 percent less rain than the same period in previous years, with little rainfall forecast for the future.
Relief efforts are under way.
The Chinese government has allocated 86.7 billion yuan (about $12.69 billion) to drought-hit areas.
Authorities have also resorted to cloud-seeding, and some areas received a sprinkling of rain after clouds were hit with 2,392 rockets and 409 cannon shells loaded with chemicals.
However, there is a limit to what can be done in the face of such widespread water shortage.
As I have previously written, China is facing hyperinflation, and this record drought will make things worse.
China produces 18% of the world's grain each year.
Australia
Australia has been experiencing an unrelenting drought since 2004, and 41 percent of Australia's agriculture continues to suffer from the worst drought in 117 years of record-keeping.
The drought has been so severe that rivers stopped flowing, lakes turned toxic, and farmers abandoned their land in frustration:
A) The Murray River stopped flowing at its terminal point, and its mouth has closed up.
B) Australia's lower lakes are evaporating, and they are now a meter (3.2 feet) below sea level.
If these lakes evaporate any further, the soil and the mud system below the water is going to be exposed to the air.
The mud will then acidify, releasing sulfuric acid and a whole range of heavy metals.
After this occurs, those lower lake systems will essentially become a toxic swamp which will never be able to be recovered.
The Australian government's only options to prevent this are to allow salt water in, creating a dead sea, or to pray for rain.
For some reason, the debate over climate change is essentially over in Australia.
The United States
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California
California is facing its worst drought in recorded history.
The drought is predicted to be the most severe in modern times, worse than those in 1977 and 1991.
Thousands of acres of row crops already have been fallowed, with more to follow.
The snowpack in the Northern Sierra, home to some of the state's most important reservoirs, proved to be just 49 percent of average.
Water agencies throughout the state are scrambling to adopt conservation mandates.
Texas
The Texan drought is reaching historic proportion.
Dry conditions near Austin and San Antonio have been exceeded only once before—the drought of 1917-18.
88 percent of Texas is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, and 18 percent of the state is in either extreme or exceptional drought conditions.
The drought areas have been expanding almost every month.
Conditions in Texas are so bad cattle are keeling over in parched pastures and dying.
Lack of rainfall has left pastures barren, and cattle producers have resorted to feeding animals hay.
Irreversible damage has been done to winter wheat crops in Texas.
Both short and long-term forecasts don't call for much rain at all, which means the Texas drought is set to get worse.
Augusta Region (Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina)
The Augusta region has been suffering from a worsening two year drought.
Augusta's rainfall deficit is already approaching 2 inches so far in 2009, with January being the driest since 1989.
Florida
Florida has been hard hit by winter drought, damaging crops, and half of state is in some level of a drought.
La Niña likely to make matters worse
Enough water a couple of degrees cooler than normal has accumulated in the eastern part of the Pacific to create a La Niña, a weather pattern expected to linger until at least the spring.
La Niña generally means dry weather for Southern states, which is exactly what the US doesn't need right now.
South America
Argentina
The worst drought in half a century has turned Argentina's once-fertile soil to dust and pushed the country into a state of emergency.
Cow carcasses litter the prairie fields, and sun-scorched soy plants wither under the South American summer sun.
Argentina's food production is set to go down a minimum of 50 percent, maybe more.
The country's wheat yield for 2009 will be 8.7 million metric tons, down from 16.3 million in 2008.
Concern with domestic shortages (domestic wheat consumption being approximately 6.7 million metric ton), Argentina has granted no new export applications since mid January .
Brazil
Brazil has cut its outlook for the crops and will do so again after assessing damage to plants from desiccation in drought-stricken regions.
Brazil is the world's second-biggest exporter of soybeans and third-largest for corn.
Brazil's numbers for corn harvesting:
Harvested in 2008: 58.7 million tons January 8 forecast: 52.3 million tons February 6 forecast: 50.3 metric tons (optimistic) Harvested in 2009: ??? Paraguay Severe drought affecting Paraguay's economy has pushed the government to declare agricultural emergency. Crops that have direct impact on cattle food are ruined, and the soy plantations have been almost totally lost in some areas. Uruguay Uruguay declared an "agriculture emergency" last month, due to the worst drought in decades which is threatening crops, livestock and the provision of fresh produce. The a worsening drought is pushing up food and beverage costs causing Uruguay's consumer prices to rise at the fastest annual pace in more than four years in January. Bolivia There hasn't been a drop of rain in Bolivia in nearly a year. Cattle dying, crops ruined, etc… Chile The severe drought affecting Chile has caused an agricultural emergency in 50 rural districts, and large sectors of the economy are concerned about possible electricity rationing in March. The countries woes stem from the "La Niña" climate phenomenon which has over half of Chile dangling by a thread: persistently cold water in the Pacific ocean along with high atmospheric pressure are preventing rain-bearing fronts from entering central and southern areas of the country. As a result, the water levels at hydroelectric dams and other reservoirs are at all-time lows. Horn of Africa Africa faces food shortages and famine. Food production across the Horn of Africa has suffered because of the lack of rainfall. Also, half the agricultural soil has lost nutrients necessary to grow plant, and the declining soil fertility across Africa is exacerbating drought related crop losses. Kenya Kenya is the worst hit nation in the region, having been without rainfall for 18 months. Kenya needs to import food to bridge a shortfall and keep 10 million of its people from starvation. Kenya's drought suffering neighbors will be of little help. Tanzania A poor harvest due to drought has prompted Tanzania to stop issuing food export permits. Tanzania has also intensified security at the border posts to monitor and prevent the export of food. There are 240,000 people in need of immediate relief food in Tanzania. Burundi Crops in the north of Burundi have withered, leaving the tiny East African country facing a severe food shortage Uganda Severe drought in northeastern Uganda's Karamoja region has the left the country on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The dry conditions and acute food shortages, which have left Karamoja near starvation, are unlikely to improve before October when the next harvest is due. South Africa South Africa faces a potential crop shortage after wheat farmers in the eastern part of the Free State grain belt said they were likely to produce their lowest crop in 30 years this year. South Africans are "extremely angry" that food prices continue to rise. Other African nations suffering from drought in 2009 are: Malawi, Zambia, Swaziland, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Tunisia, Angola, and Ethiopia. Middle East and Central Asia The Middle East and Central Asia are suffering from the worst droughts in recent history , and food grain production has dropped to some of the lowest levels in decades. Total wheat production in the wider drought-affected region is currently estimated to have declined by at least 22 percent in 2009. Owing to the drought's severity and region-wide scope, irrigation supplies from reservoirs, rivers, and groundwater have been critically reduced. Major reservoirs in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria are all at low levels requiring restrictions on usage. Given the severity of crop losses in the region, a major shortage of planting seed for the 2010 crop is expected. Iraq In Iraq during the winter grain growing period, there was essentially no measurable rainfall in many regions, and large swaths of rain-fed fields across northern Iraq simply went unplanted. These primarily rain-fed regions in northern Iraq are described as an agricultural disaster area this year, with wheat production falling 80-98 percent from normal levels. The USDA estimates total wheat production in Iraq in 2009 at 1.3 million tons, down 45 percent from last year. Syria Syria is experienced its worst drought in the past 18 years, and the USDA estimates total wheat production in Syria in 2009 at 2.0 million tons, down 50 percent from last year. Last summer, the taps ran dry in many neighborhoods of Damascus and residents of the capital city were forced to buy water on the black market. The severe lack of rain this winter has exacerbated the problem. Afghanistan Lack of rainfall has led Afghanistan to the worst drought conditions in the past 10 years. The USDA estimates 2008/09 wheat production in Afghanistan at 1.5 million tons, down 2.3 million or 60 percent from last year. Afghanistan normally produces 3.5-4.0 million tons of wheat annually. Jordan Jordan's persistent drought has grown worse, with almost no rain falling on the kingdom this year. The Jordanian government has stopped pumping water to farms to preserve the water for drinking purposes. Other Middle Eastern and Central Asian nations suffering from drought in 2009 are: The Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Israel, Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Cyprus, and Iran. Lack of credit will worsen food shortage A lack of credit for farmers curbed their ability to buy seeds and fertilizers in 2008/2009 and will limit production around the world. The effects of droughts worldwide will also be amplified by the smaller amount of seeds and fertilizers used to grow crops. Low commodity prices will worsen food shortage The low prices at the end of 2008 discouraged the planting of new crops in 2009. In Kansas for example, farmers seeded nine million acres, the smallest planting for half a century. Wheat plantings this year are down about 4 million acres across the US and about 1.1 million acres in Canada. So even discounting drought related losses, the US, Canada, and other food producing nations are facing lower agricultural output in 2009. Europe will not make up for the food shortfall Europe, the only big agricultural region relatively unaffected by drought, is set for a big drop in food production. Due to the combination of a late plantings, poorer soil conditions, reduced inputs, and light rainfall, Europe's agricultural output is likely to fall by 10 to 15 percent. Stocks of foodstuff are dangerously low Low stocks of foodstuff make the world's falling agriculture output particularly worrisome. The combined averaged of the ending stock levels of the major trading countries of Australia, Canada, United States, and the European Union have been declining steadily in the last few years: 2002-2005: 47.4 million tons 2007: 37.6 million tons 2008: 27.4 million tons These inventory numbers are dangerously low, especially considering the horrifying possibility that China's 60 million tons of grain reserves doesn't actually exists. Global food Catastrophe The world is heading for a drop in agricultural production of 20 to 40 percent, depending on the severity and length of the current global droughts. Food producing nations are imposing food export restrictions. Food prices will soar, and, in poor countries with food deficits, millions will starve. The deflation debate should end now The droughts plaguing the world's biggest agricultural regions should end the debate about deflation in 2009. The demand for agricultural commodities is relatively immune to developments in the business cycles (at least compared to that of energy or base metals), and, with a 20 to 40 percent decline in world production, already rising food prices are headed significantly higher. In fact, agricultural commodities NEED to head higher and soon, to prevent even greater food shortages and famine. The price of wheat, corn, soybeans, etc must rise to a level which encourages the planting of every available acre with the best possible fertilizers. Otherwise, if food prices stay at their current levels, production will continue to fall, sentencing millions more to starvation. Competitive currency appreciation Some observers are anticipating “competitive currency devaluations” in addition to deflation for 2009 (nations devalue their currencies to help their export sector). The coming global food shortage makes this highly unlikely. Depreciating their currency in the current environment will produce the unwanted consequence of boosting exports—of food. Even with export restrictions like those in China, currency depreciation would cause the outflow of significant quantities of grain via the black market. Instead of “competitive currency devaluations”, spiking food prices will likely cause competitive currency appreciation in 2009. Foreign exchange reserves exist for just this type of emergency. click for link Central banks around the world will lower domestic food prices by either directly selling off their reserves to appreciate their currencies or by using them to purchase grain on the world market. Appreciating a currency is the fastest way to control food inflation. A more valuable currency allows a nation to monopolize more global resources (ie: the overvalued dollar allows the US to consume 25% of the world's oil despite having only 4% of the world's population). If China were to selloff its US reserves, its enormous population would start sucking up the world's food supply like the US has been doing with oil. On the flip side, when a nation appreciates its currency and starts consuming more of the world's resources, it leaves less for everyone else. So when china appreciates the yuan, food shortages worldwide will increase and prices everywhere else will jump upwards. As there is nothing that breeds social unrest like soaring food prices, nations around the world, from Russia, to the EU, to Saudi Arabia, to India, will sell off their foreign reserves to appreciate their currencies and reduce the cost of food imports. In response to this, China will sell even more of its reserves and so on. That is competitive currency appreciation. When faced with competitive currency appreciation, you do NOT want to be the world's reserve currency. The dollar is likely to do very poorly as central banks liquidate trillions in US holdings to buy food and appreciate their currencies. By Eric deCarbonnel http://www.marketskeptics.com Eric is the Editor of Market Skeptics © 2009 Copyright Eric deCarbonnel — All Rights Reserved |
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| US ISRAEL MASS WAR CRIMES Israel Caused Holocaust Palestine Lebanon US Israel massacres — desire to kill one and half million people They keep sucking off the teat of America and the banking systems of Europe |
| Canada, US, Western rogue governments — War crimes continue |
Afghanistan hit by record number of bombs
Bruce Rolfsen, Air Force Times
July 19, 2008
Air Force and allied warplanes are dropping a record number of bombs on Afghanistan targets.
For the first half of 2008, aircraft dropped 1,853 bombs — more than they released during all of 2006 and more than half of 2007’s total — 3,572 bombs. |
Western Terror States: Canada, US, UK, France, Germany, Italy Photos of Afghanistan people being killed and injured by NATO |
Cluster bombs Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon US new generation of landmines called Spider |
| IraqAlmost a million dead4 million displaced, scattered into other countriesUntold injuredHorror of US UK invasion continuing |
Resistance to US, UK, Bombing Resistance is response to foreign occupation Will stop once troops withdraw |
Basra, Fallujah, Baghdad, Mosul... US created Iraq — devastated cities They are such liars |
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ixquick.com — click here change your browsers search engineThis is not a paid ad, brought to you for your information by TheWE.biz |
| The aim of TheWE.biz is to make us all aware that the most murderous violence and terror by far, committed by anyone, is done by The West
Violence and terror is the footprint and modus operandi of Western Government and the shadow power that operates from behind these 'elected officials'
This film helps us to focus on that reality
Indonesia's 9/11 — Exposing US government operations in the Bali Bombing
Kewe |
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Questioning War, Organizing Resistance — Carol Brouillet Glen Clancy, from Victoria, Australia, created "Fool Me Twice" described as 'A documentary about the Australian government's lies about the East Timor massacres, the cover-up of the Bali Bombings and subsequent anti-terror laws.' The 25 year old, Clancy is Australia's Dylan Avery (of Loose Change fame). The work was originally created to be viewed online, but Clancy is working on improving the resolution for larger screen and theatrical viewing. Glen wrote (at the Fool Me Twice Blog on December 4, 2008)
To all,
After discovering 911 was an inside job, through such movies as Loose Change, Terrorstorm and Zeitgeist, I decided to investigate the Bali bombings. The evidence was overwhelming. There had been a cover-up.
As shocking as the truth may be, please keep an open mind while viewing this documentary. FOOL ME TWICE is 100% sourced. Please see reference list below. I tried to produce a documentary as true to the genre as possible, limiting opinion and simply documenting the facts.
I believe that 911 Truth is one of the most important movements of our time and exposing the cover-up of the 2002 Bali bombings can help destroy the "911/War on terror/Al-CIAda" myth.
Please help spread this information.
Kind regards,
Glen
To listen to the March 10, 2008 interview of Glen Clancy by Carol Brouillet broadcast on:We The People Radio Network — Right Click Here (Save Target As, Link As, File) MP3 1 hour
Americans are politically paralyzed by both cognitive dissonance and by what psychologists call “learned helplessness,” the result of years of having one outrage after another foisted upon them, without there ever being any real accountability.
So, as many truthers have discovered, the most common reactions of average Americans, when presented with the facts of 9/11, are either, “My government would never do that,” or, “Okay . . . but what can anybody do about it?”
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Before that he was with the City of Sacramento as a Firefighter Paramedic.
He first began working in Emergency Services in 1988 in the Sacramento area with a 911 private paramedic ambulance company.
He has 20 years experience in Emergency Services.
He earned my pilot's license in 1987, and have been recreationally flying since.
He graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics from the University of California at Davis in 1993, with 2 years of elective Engineering courses, and a Minor in Psychology.
Erik wrote a moving account of his own shift in consciousness regarding 9/11 which prompted him to start Fire Fighters For 9/11 Truth entitled: MAYDAY...MAYDAY...MAYDAY.
Here's an excerpt:
I, like most Americans, remember exactly where I was when I saw the attacks and had the overwhelming urge to take action.
I was shocked, outraged, scared and confused.
I called my Battalion Chief and asked if Seattle would be sending any teams to help.
I was a member of the MMST, and figured we would be needed and I wanted to know where to report.
Due to the nature of the incident we were not called up, and instead USAR teams, including Seattle's, were sent.
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I first visited Ground Zero in October of 2001 with several firefighters from Seattle.
We went to pay our respect and show support.
We raised money for our brother firehouses and attended the funerals of our fallen Brothers.
I was deeply moved and humbled by the community support, the sheer enormity of the tragedy along with the courage and compassion of the FDNY "Brotherhood."
I vividly remember the anger, the intense desire for vengeance,the feelings of helplessness
Even though I listened to their stories for days, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and tragedy they suffered on that day and the years to come.
I vividly remember the anger I felt, the intense desire for vengeance, and the feelings of helplessness.
I was relieved when the government identified the terrorists and satisfied that we were going to have a swift deliverance of "justice."
I've been a conservative my entire life; a registered Republican since I could vote.
I am a self proclaimed Patriot with George Washington as one of my all time heroes.
So when conspiracy theories quickly surfaced, and "Liberals" cried foul on the erosion of civil liberties, I chalked it up to their political beliefs and bitterness towards the Republican President.
I read many debunking articles — including Popular Mechanics — and watched many debunking videos including, Farenhype 9/11.
I was convinced that these "Liberals" were misinformed and were grasping at straws to discredit the "official" story.
Don't confuse me with the facts, I have my mind made up!
Like most people with strong opinions, instead of looking at all the facts, I was specifically looking for anything that supported my own beliefs.
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As soon as I discovered any inaccuracy in a conspiracy claim, I wrote it off.
My father, a big city cop and Korean War veteran, loved to say, "don't confuse me with the facts, I have my mind made up!"
Well, I had my mind made up.
I told conspiracy theorists like my own Truck Officer, Lt. Earl Emerson, that they were insane if they thought anyone other than the terrorists did this.
Bin Laden confession tapes — how much clearer did they need it
Heck, we have ID cards, security camera videos, Bin Laden confession tapes — how much clearer did they need it?
The years went on and I was satisfied in my beliefs.
I even believed these "Wackos" that doubted the "official" story were distracting our country from focusing on the real threat of terrorism...
Fast forward to March of 2008.
A great friend of mine with a Business degree from West Point, as conservative and non-conspiratorial as they get, came over one night to talk about what he saw happening in the economy.
Began researching such things as economies, who is in control of currencies
He provided some disconcerting evidence that we as a nation are at risk of entering into another depression; he pointed out historical parallels where other countries, such as Germany, suffered economic collapse.
THAT was my eye opener.
I became obsessed researching things such as economies, who is in control of currencies, what causes depressions, who profits during war, etc.
So many things kept pointing to 9/11.
Another one of my dad's favorite quotes was, "believe half of what you see and none of what you hear."
So, I looked at both sides and quickly noticed a pattern.
On one side, the general media ignores some of the most compelling evidence that contradicts the "official" story...
When I voiced my new opinion and concerns most of my friends listened.
Shocked that a staunch Conservative could have such a major shift
I think because they were shocked that a staunch Conservative could have such a major shift, or because they thought I had lost my mind and wanted to diagnose the cause.
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Curiously, some became angry at my new questions and actually thought I was supporting Terrorists with my concerns.
Being a part of that same mindset myself only a few weeks ago, and then having a major shift in consciousness, really shook me to the core.
What has happened to our collective consciousness that we believe anyone who doubts the "official" story or what the government tells us is an enemy?
What has happened to us — are we not founded on Freedom of Speech and taught to check our Government?
Anyone who asks for the Truth is labeled a "Wacko" or "Terrorist Sympathizer?"
What has happened to us?
Are we not founded on Freedom of Speech and taught to check our Government?...
To be honest, I was asleep at the wheel, and relied on what I was being told by mainstream media.
The same media whose parent corporations, are some of the largest suppliers of weapons in this war.
Before this "awakening" I had no idea the extent of our civil liberties that had been eroded in the name of Terrorism.
I had never really wrapped my brain around what legalized torture means.
I had always claimed America was noble.
Just look at how we treated POW's during WWII and Vietnam compared to our enemies.
[Ever check out the real story of John McCain as a POW, keep investigating! — TheWE.biz]
That separated us.
We were setting the example of Human Rights to the rest of the world.
[Check out the real facts of US instigations in Central and South America! — TheWE.biz]
Sure, you'll always have individuals that will take things too far, but Government sponsored torture?
[Let's mention CIA activity across the planet since its inception, including inside the US, and other black budget US government special operations agencies! — TheWE.biz]
What has happened to our country?
What kind of example are we setting for our children, and the world?
You would be interested to learn how many of our own rights have been stripped away recently.
Look up the Military Commissions Act of 2006, John Warner Defense Authorization Act, Homegrown Terrorism Act, Presidential Directive 51.
Amazing the rights we have all lost
It is amazing the rights we have all lost in the past couple of years and very little is covered by the U.S. media.
After discovering this, I applied the "common sense" test that my Grandfather always said wasn't so common.
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Why would a government so aggressively suppress truth and blatantly destroy evidence if there was nothing to hide?
Why has every testimony from sworn government and military officials that points to "prior knowledge" been stricken from the 9/11 Commission Report?
How did paper business cards, cloth bandanas, and plastic ID's that implicate the terrorists survive so neatly through jet fueled fireballs hot enough to destroy titanium and steel?
I've seen bodies burned beyond recognition, yet I have never found one that was wearing unburned clothing.
These questions alone are enough to make me risk everything for a real investigation and accounting...
When I truly realized the enormity of the effect 9/11 has had on our Rights, our Economy, our Beliefs, our Fears, our Intolerances and our Government — I felt fear, then anger, then the need to take action.
Bill Chickering said it best:
“Anger is a very appropriate and necessary response to an injustice.
“But stand back now; the truth, clearly spoken, is always your best weapon.
“Calmly spoken, it can burn a hole through the hardest heart.”
When I realized the extent of the force and attitudes working to silence those who peacefully ask questions, demand answers, and seek truth, it became clear to me that our Country is in serious trouble and I must now stand alongside those Patriots who seek Truth and Constitutional Restoration.
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Richard Gage, AIA is the founding member of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth ae911Truth.org.
He has been a practicing Architect for 20 years and has worked on most types of building construction including numerous fire-proofed steel-framed buildings.
He is employed with a San Francisco Bay Area architecture firm and has most recently performed Construction Administration services for a new $120M High School campus including a $10M steel-framed Gymnasium.
Currently he is working on the Design Development for a very large mixed use urban project with 1.2M sq.ft. of retail and 320K sq.ft. of mid-rise office space — altogether about 1,200 tons of steel framing.
He has been one of the most tireless speakers on the issue of 9/11 truth, and more specifically on challenging the official narrative of the disintegration of the 3 major skyscrapers in the World Trade Center complex that took place on September 11th.
He has been lecturing widely across the US and in Canada.
Those who see his presentation rarely walk away still thinking that fires alone could have brought down the buildings.
When NIST came out with a report recently that fires were responsible for the destruction of WTC7, Richard and Architects and Engineers were quick to challenge that report.
See NY Times quotes Richard Gage on WTC7 "collapse"
Aside from the NYT's reporter and a media request from Bulgaria, the press has tried to ignore the serious criticisms that Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth has raised about their reports.
Richard Gage gives an insightful interview on major points that scientifically do not agree with the official story of 9/11.
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For Film: Elephant in the Room
— Click Here
Elephant in the Room is a documentary following British filmmaker Dean Puckett through his journey into the 9/11 Truth Movement: a global movement of 'conspiracy theorists' who believe that the official explanation about what happened on 9/11 is totally or partially inaccurate.
The filmmakers travel from middle England, across Europe and to New York for the six year anniversary of the attacks, where the film takes one final twist as we are introduced to the 9/11 first responders who are suffering from various grave health difficulties due to the toxic dust that they breathed in trying to help their country during the weeks after this tragic event.
Told with a personal hands on approach that avoids advancing any one position, the film asks the question: are these crazy conspiracy theorists?
Or is 9/11 Truth a credible political movement?
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For Film: Loose Change Final Cut
— Click Here
Loose Change Final Cut is the third installment of the documentary that asks the tough questions about the 9/11 attacks and related events.
This movie hopes to be the catalyst for a new independent investigation, in which the family members receive answers to their questions, and the TRUE PERPETRATORS of this horrendous crime are PROSECUTED and PUNISHED. |
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9/11
By all accounts, the unprecedented events of September 11th, 2001 changed the way our country functions, and in turn, the world.
It is therefore critical that conscientious Americans, as well as people around the globe, understand these events in detail.
Unfortunately the official reports, including The 9/11 Commission Report and the NIST WTC Report, written by those working under the direction of the Bush Administration, have been proven to be elaborate cover-ups.
Film: 9/11 Revisited
September 11th Revisited is perhaps the most riveting film ever made about the destruction of the World Trade Center.
This is a powerful documentary which features eyewitness accounts and archived news footage that was shot on September 11, 2001 but never replayed on television.
Featuring interviews with eyewitnesses & firefighters, along with expert analysis by Professor Steven E. Jones, Professor David Ray Griffin, MIT Engineer Jeffrey King, and Professor James H. Fetzer.
This film provides stunning evidence that explosives were used in the complete demolition of the WTC Twin Towers and WTC Building 7.
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For Film: 9/11 Revisited
— Click Here
Film: 9/11 Press for Truth
An excellent documentary about the families of the victims of 9/11 and their fight to uncover and expose the truth about what happened that day.
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For Film: 9/11 Press for Truth
— Click Here
Film: 9/11 Mysteries
90 minutes of pure demolition evidence and analysis, laced with staggering witness testimonials.
Moving from “the myth” through “the analysis” and into “the players,” careful deconstruction of the official story set right alongside clean, clear science.
The 9/11 picture is not one of politics or nationalism or loyalty, but one of strict and simple physics. How do you get a 10-second 110-story pancake collapse?
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'Oh! You don't believe the 9-11 official version,' they say.
'You mean where they want you to accept the buildings were not blown up from below.
'Plane fuel! Substance never burns higher then a gas stove! That it caused the inner core steel to melt!
'Steel melting!
'Concrete vaporizing!
'
'No! I don't believe that conspiracy theory.
'Cheney! Bush! Rudy Giuliani! HA! HA!
'Tower 7 that never had a plane hit — just came tumbling down!
'You believe that, eh!
'Ever think it had to be blown up because the plane scheduled to fly into it was off getting shot down.
'Thermite in Tower 7's walls, you see — incriminating evidence — impossible to get out without people watching!
Had to be blown up!
'Next you'll be saying Obama is not a Wall Street Illuminati banker stooge?
'Take your pick: The partner in a comedy team who feeds lines to the other comedians.
'Him who allows himself to be used.
'Oh! I can't really blame you, Television it turns minds to pulp.
'Turn off the television. It's the only way.'
'Turn off the television?'
'Get rid of it really. I mean what else is there to do!'
'Get rid of the television?'
'Don't forget all radio garbage is propaganda, even the songs.
'Then those five minute propaganda hits they send you every hour!
'The ones they refer to as News
'Get rid of all the propaganda from your brain, the only way to do it.'
'Stop being hooked on those Hollywood movies — even those that make you think they are making you think'
'All paid performers to make your brain dead.
'You turn the brainwashing off, you'll begin to become yourself.
'It really is the only way!'
'Oh!'
Kewe — TheWE.biz
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| Click logo for Firefighters for 9-11 truth |
| Click logo for architects & engineers for 9/11 truth | |
The War On Democracy is a powerful new documentary from award winning journalist and film-maker John Pilger.
Pilger interviews several ex-CIA agents who purportedly took part in secret campaigns against democratic countries and who he claims are profiting from the war in Iraq.
The film uses archive footage to show how democracy has been wiped out in country after country in Latin America since the 1950s.
The Venezuelan segment of the film features the President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez being captured in the coup of 2002, a takeover backed by rich and powerful interests under U.S. support. |
Humankind as we know it at the 'End Point'
Don't forget:
Behind it all is the desire for depopulation — by those rich enough to have their islands for temporary residence while depopulation takes place.
Doesn't matter if it is killing in the fight for food when the trucks no longer arrive at your local supermarket.
Doesn't matter if it is tribe against tribe.
Or thermobaric bombs — environmentally friendly compared to nuclear. Bombs that send ultra-sonic shock waves and searing fireballs to destroy everything in their dropping wake.
Or those special bombs that do not destroy the infrastructure — kill only you and those you love.
You are in the way, folks!
There are too many of you!
This is the plan.
Kewe |
| US ISRAEL MASS WAR CRIMES Israel Caused Holocaust Palestine Lebanon US Israel massacres — desire to kill one and half million people They keep sucking off the teat of America and the banking systems of Europe |
| ISRAEL MASS WAR CRIMES The horror of January 2009 Israel massacres — children bullets to the head I watched an Israeli soldier shoot dead my two little girls |
US Israel attack on Gaza City The Politics of Anti-Semitism 99 US Senators, 350 US House members attend AIPAC meeting |
Twenty Questions Radio/TV interviewers avoid asking about Israel Which parts of the Declaration of Human Rights and Geneva Conventions don't Israelis understand? Why is Israel still stealing Palestinian land for more illegal construction? |
Israel, chemical weapons and phosphorous bombs New and unknown deadly weapons used by Israeli forces Undetectable poison-needle gun for 'clean' assassinations |
The Negative Return Economy — a discourse on America’s black budget Fascinating and lucrative Black Budget? What Black Budget? |
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Unspeakable grief and horror
...and the circus of deception killing continues... |
Unspeakable grief and horror
...and the circus of deception killing continues... | |||
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