Analysis Topic: Politics & Social Trends
The analysis published under this topic are as follows.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
How Gangsters are Saving the Eurozone / Politics / Euro-Zone
By: Pravda
Stephen Fidler writes: Gangsters, drug dealers and criminals engaged in money laundering appear to be helping to shore up the financial stability of the eurozone. That is thanks to the demand, European officials said, for high-denomination banknotes, mainly from 200 euros and 500 euros. The European Central Bank issues these bills for a large profit which is welcome at a time when their response to the financial crisis has cast doubt on their financial strength.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The CIA & Pakistani ISI: More In Common Than We Think? / Politics / US Politics
By: Submissions
Nida Khan writes: Drones Kill 12 Children Playing Outside'
'A Family Buries 15'
'Americans Target the Wrong House Again'
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
The American Empire is Coming to an End / Politics / US Politics
By: Ron_Holland
Tradition says when Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown back in 1781 the British played this tune as they marched out of the fortifications in surrender to the American army. Whether this actually happened is open to debate but the loss suffered by the great British Empire to ragtag American forces certainly seemed to the British like the world had indeed turned upside down.
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Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Israel Interference in Lebanon, Spies, Lies and Goodbyes – Part 1 / Politics / Middle East
By: OilPrice_Com
The killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was until recently widely believed to have been perpetrated by the Syrians, or at least on their behalf. It was the assassination of Mr. Hariri that led to the forced departure of Syrian troops from Lebanon as a result of international pressure and wide-ranging opposition from the Lebanese street.Read full article... Read full article...
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Immigration, Arizona Borderlands and U.S. Mexican Relations / Politics / US Politics
By: STRATFOR
Arizona’s new law on illegal immigration went into effect last week, albeit severely limited by a federal court ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court undoubtedly will settle the matter, which may also trigger federal regulations. However that turns out, the entire issue cannot simply be seen as an internal American legal matter. More broadly, it forms part of the relations between the United States and Mexico, two sovereign nation-states whose internal dynamics and interests are leading them into an era of increasing tension. Arizona and the entire immigration issue have to be viewed in this broader context.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
The Third Anniversary Of The Financial and Economic Crash / Politics / Recession 2008 - 2010
By: Danny_Schechter
“Those Were The Days, My Friend. I Thought They’d Never End.” They Haven’t
We live in the United States of Amnesia and selective memory. As we debate the breaking news, we easily forget the sequence of events that broke the bank and left us broke.
Monday, August 02, 2010
The Trouble With Unconstitutional Wars / Politics / US Politics
By: Dr_Ron_Paul
Our foreign policy was in the spotlight last week, which is exactly where it should be. Almost two years ago many voters elected someone they thought would lead us to a more peaceful, rational co-existence with other countries. However, while attention has been focused on the administration's disastrous economic policies, its equally disastrous foreign policies have exacerbated our problems overseas. Especially in times of economic crisis, we cannot afford to ignore costly foreign policy mistakes. That's why it is important that U.S. foreign policy receive some much needed attention in the media, as it did last week with the leaked documents scandal.
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Monday, August 02, 2010
Scientists Deeply Concerned About BP Disaster's Long-Term Impact / Politics / Environmental Issues
By: Dahr_Jamail
GULFPORT, Louisiana, - Contrary to recent media reports of a quick recovery in the Gulf of Mexico, scientists and biologists are "deeply concerned" about impacts that will likely span "several decades".
"My prediction is that we will be dealing with the impacts of this spill for several decades to come and it will outlive me," Dr. Ed Cake, a biological oceanographer, as well as a marine and oyster biologist, told IPS, "I won't be here to see the recovery."
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
U.S. Targeting Iran, Preparing for World War III / Politics / US Politics
By: Michel_Chossudovsky
Humanity is at a dangerous crossroads. War preparations to attack Iran are in "an advanced state of readiness". Hi tech weapons systems including nuclear warheads are fully deployed.
This military adventure has been on the Pentagon's drawing board since the mid-1990s. First Iraq, then Iran according to a declassified 1995 US Central Command document.
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
Putin Watches Russia Burn / Politics / Russia
By: Pravda
The overwhelming heat that has been raging Russia for 1.5 months and triggered forest fires in Russia's central and southern territories has become a matter of state importance. President Dmitry Medvedev held telephone conversations with governmental and regional officials and ordered to take additional emergency measures to liquidate the fires.
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Sunday, August 01, 2010
Global Catastrophe Alert... / Politics / Conspiracy Theory
By: Clive_Maund
We don`t normally mention Astrology on www.clivemaund.com because although Clive Maund has a good working knowledge of Astrology and has used it for many years in his personal life and found it most helpful, applying it to markets is another ball game and requires a special talent. So we have stuck to Technical Analysis and left applying Astrology to the markets to others. However, the planetary alignment that is set to reach maximum intensity during the next two weeks is of such immense power and has such major implications, that we would be foolish to ignore it. To those reading this who would scoff at applying Astrology to the markets and world affairs I would merely point out two undeniable facts.
Sunday, August 01, 2010
What the Tea Party has in common with the rest of us / Politics / US Politics
By: Nikki_Alexander
Once again, an artificial wedge is being driven between the Left and Right as media spinners harp on Tea Party racism, deflecting attention from the critical issues that united the Left and Right under the Bush-Cheney reign of terror: authoritarian fascism, destruction of civil liberties, neoliberal deregulation and privatization, corporate globalization, Pentagon war crimes and monetary despotism. A national movement based on shared perceptions brought together Labor, environmentalists, monetary reformers and social justice activists spanning the political spectrum. Attorney General Ramsey Clark’s effort to impeach Bush-Cheney war criminals drew over a million petition signatures from conservatives and liberals alike. What became of this momentum for deep systemic reform when Obama was elected?
Friday, July 30, 2010
International Community Presses Juba, Khartoum On Sudan Referendum / Politics / GeoPolitics
By: OilPrice_Com
The international community is pressuring the Juba and Khartoum governments to speed up preparation for a vote on South Sudan’s future – a decision that will be dominated by the fate of coveted oil resources -- but an expert on the African country criticizes the lack of understanding about Sudan.The referendum, scheduled for January 2011, is widely expected to result in the south parting ways with the north after years of bitterness and war.
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Friday, July 30, 2010
Wall Street Gets Trillions While Workers Get Bupkis / Politics / Credit Crisis Bailouts
By: Mike_Whitney
On Tuesday, the 30-year fixed rate for mortgages plunged to an all-time low of 4.56%. Rates are falling because investors are still moving into risk-free liquid assets, like Treasuries. It's a sign of panic, and the Fed's lame policy response has done nothing to allay the public's fears. The flight-to-safety continues a full two years after Lehman Bros blew up.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The Ruling Elite Called / Politics / US Politics
By: James_Quinn
I just got off the horn with the Ruling Elite. We had an emergency conference call and to tell you the truth, they ain’t happy. You little people are not responding the way you are supposed to. A significant portion of you are not getting more optimistic because they tell you to. Instead of just reading the headline on Bloomberg that durable goods orders skyrocketed in June, you actually read the details that said durable goods orders plunged. It is getting difficult for the ruling elite to keep the masses sedated and dumbed down. These damn bloggers, with their facts and critical thinking, are throwing a wrench into the gears.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Escalating Violence From the Animal Liberation Front / Politics / US Politics
By: STRATFOR
Scott Stewart writes: On July 22, special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI arrested Walter Bond in Denver and charged him with conducting the April 30 arson that destroyed a Glendale, Colo., business, the Sheepskin Factory, which sold a variety of sheepskin products. According to an affidavit completed by a special agent assigned to the Denver ATF field office, Bond used the nom de guerre, “ALF Lone Wolf” and boasted to a confidential informant that he not only torched the Sheepskin Factory but also was responsible for a June 5 fire at a leather factory in Salt Lake City and a July 3 fire at a restaurant in Sandy, Utah.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Did BP Accidentally Tap Into the Rigel Gas Field? / Politics / Environmental Issues
By: Washingtons_Blog
On July 23rd, Admiral Thad Allen said that the seep 3 kilometers from the leaking BP well was from the Rigel gas field: David Dishneau: Admiral, this is David Dishneau from The Associated Press. I have a question regarding that seep that we’ve been trying to, that was identified within three kilometers… And I know that the Interior Department now is trying to assist with identifying that but the AP has developed a map that shows the two old wells within the radius that you described. And I wondered if I could show you this map and you could point out which of those you believe.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
How Think Tanks, Foundations, Big Oil and the CIA Undermine Democracy / Politics / US Politics
By: Global_Research
How American right-wing foundations, Big Oil and the CIA collaborate to undermine the social democratic systems of Canada and other countries around the world.
Since the early 1970s, there has been a broad international agenda led by right-wing American foundations to sway public opinion towards greater acceptance of an economic philosophy called Neoliberalism, of which Canada’s Fraser Institute has been a pivotal part.
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Is WikiLeaks Release Anti-war Whistleblowing or Obama War Propaganda? / Politics / Pakistan
By: Global_Research
Larry Chin writes: Since the release of classified US military papers by WikiLeaks, the material has been aggressively spun by various political factions. Meanwhile, virtually no attention has been devoted to investigating the source of this “leak”, or questioning the agenda behind it.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Goldman's Derivatives Clearing Service: The Better To Cheat You With My Dear / Politics / Market Manipulation
By: Jesse
Say, aren't Goldman the fellows that just pled to fraudulent dealing in financial instruments like MBS, and paid a fairly hefty 500+ million dollar fine? The company is starting a centralized clearing facility for derivatives, which may be among those mandated for use by market participants, in the US government mandated efforts to reform.