The decline and eventual fall of the USA as world superpower?

[ralis]

Racism is alive and well in the bigoted South.

 

 

 

I will never go to Wild wings cafe in N. Chs again! We (Party of 25 family and friends) waited 2hrs, patiently and were refused service because another customer (White) felt threatened by us. This type of racial discrimination is unacceptable and we have to put a STOP TO IT. The manager looked me dead in the face and said she was refusing us service because she had a right to and simply she felt like it. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS ESTABLISHMENT… PLEASE SHARE THIS POST… We need your help.

 

 

 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/24/south-carolina-restaurant-ejected-african-american-customers-when-white-person-felt-threatened/

[ralis]

The dangers of right wing religious fundamentalist ignorance in telling lies to children and adults. These types want creationism/intelligent design taught in public schools.

 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/20/creationist-tyrannosaurus-rex-was-created-to-eat-plants/

 

 

[ralis]

Think tanks such as the Koch bros. sponsored CATO Institute have been given too much media time for promoting right wing anti-social agendas.

 

 

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/22/cato-institute-report-says-poor-americans-have-it-too-good/

[ralis]

Just watched this interview which reveals where the major problems are. Greed corruption and media shills!

 

[ralis]

[Thunder_Gooch]

Pentagon prepares for "large scale economic breakdown" and the upcoming "loss of functioning political and legal order" leading to "purposeful domestic resistance or insurgency".

 

 

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/jun/14/climate-change-energy-shocks-nsa-prism

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/Russia-warns-US-against-Syria-military-action-says-not-to-repeat-past-mistakes-in-region/articleshow/22052710.cms

 

 

Russia warns US against Syria military action, says not to repeat past mistakes

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY3JufoapBU

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://gawker.com/obama-orders-release-of-report-justifying-air-strike-in-1205362037

 

Obama Orders Release of Report Justifying Air Strike in Syria

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/hagel-us-forces-ready-strike-syria-if-ordered

[zerostao]

can we strap mccain onto a missile ?

where the heck is us grant when we need him?

i mention grant to show i am not biased against all republicans

we could strap obama on one too?

i am not biased at all really

 

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

[ralis]

Aljazeera is stating that Thursday the U.S. will strike against Syria. Where in the hell are the diplomatic solutions and if Assad has been committing war crimes, then put him in the Hague for trial.

Edited August 27, 2013 by ralis

[Thunder_Gooch]

[gatito]

Nearly 2,400 years ago, Aristotle wrote one of the defining works of political philosophy in a book entitled Politics.

It's still incredibly relevant today, particularly what he writes about tyranny.

The ancient Greeks used the word 'turannos', which referred to an illegitimate ruler who governs without regard for the law or interests of the people, often through violent and coercive means.

Aristotle attacks tyrants mercilessly in his book, and clearly spells out the criteria which make a leader tyrannical. You may recognize a few of them:

1) Artistotle suggests that a tyrant rises to power by first demonstrating that he is a man of the people:

"He ought to show himself to his subjects in the light, not of a tyrant, but of a steward and a king."

and

"He should be moderate, not extravagant in his way of life; he should win the notables by companionship, and the multitude by flattery. "

2) But once in power, a tyrant uses all available means to hold on to power, including spying on his people:

"A tyrant should also endeavor to know what each of his subjects says or does, and should employ spies . . . and . . . eavesdroppers . . . [T]he fear of informers prevents people from speaking their minds, and if they do, they are more easily found out."

3) Furthermore, Aristotle tells us that a tyrant thrives by creating division and conflict-- "to sow quarrels among the citizens; friends should be embroiled with friends, the people with the notables [the rich]. . ."

4) Controlling the economy and stealing the citizens' wealth is also another mark of a tyrant:

"Another practice of tyrants is to multiply taxes. . . [and] impoverish his subjects; he thus provides against the maintenance of a guard by the citizen and the people, having to keep hard at work, are prevented from conspiring."

5) And as Aristotle points out, a tyrant also attempts to disarm the people such that "his subjects shall be incapable of action" because "they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny, if they are powerless."

6) Naturally, a tyrant "is also fond of making war in order that his subjects may have something to do and be always in want of a leader."

7) Aristotle also tells us that tyrants hunt down those who oppose their power:

"It is characteristic of a tyrant to dislike everyone who has dignity or independence; he wants to be alone in his glory, but anyone who claims a like dignity or asserts his independence encroaches upon his perogative, and is hated by him as an enemy to his power."

8) Ultimately, though, Aristotle concludes that "No freeman, if he can escape from [tyranny], will endure such a government."

The above is a comment that was posted about this article: -

 

Obama administration asks court to force NYT reporter to reveal source

Previous ruling said reporters have no privilege to safeguard confidentiality leaving Risen to reveal his source or go to jail

 

http://www.theguardian.com/law/2013/aug/27/obama-administration-james-risen-no-privilege

 

www.theguardian.com/law/2013/aug/27/obama-administration-james-risen-no-privilege

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://news.yahoo.com/us-backed-plan-launch-chemical-weapon-attack-syria-045648224.html

ANI January 29, 2013

 

 

London, Jan 30 (ANI): The Obama administration gave green signal to a chemical weapons attack plan in Syria that could be blamed on President Bashar al Assad's regime and in turn, spur international military action in the devastated country, leaked documents have shown.

 

A new report, that contains an email exchange between two senior officials at British-based contractor Britam Defence, showed a scheme 'approved by Washington'.

 

As per the scheme 'Qatar would fund rebel forces in Syria to use chemical weapons,' the Daily Mail reports.

Barack Obama made it clear to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad last month that the U.S. would not tolerate Syria using chemical weapons against its own people.

 

According to Infowars.com, the December 25 email was sent from Britam's Business Development Director David Goulding to company founder Philip Doughty.

 

The emails were released by a Malaysian hacker who also obtained senior executives resumes and copies of passports via an unprotected company server, according to Cyber War News.

 

According to the paper, the U.S. State Department has declined to comment on the matter. (ANI)

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btErI0w8IUg

[Jetsun]

There is no evidence that Assad has used chemical weapons, this is so much like groundhog day it is depressing that the politicians can just repeat the exact same lie and the public don't seem willing or able to do anything about it.

[ralis]

There is no evidence that Assad has used chemical weapons, this is so much like groundhog day it is depressing that the politicians can just repeat the exact same lie and the public don't seem willing or able to do anything about it.

 

'Doctors Without Borders' were the first to report on the use of chemical weapons. Victims showed symptoms of chemical weapons.

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/08/24/doctors_without_borders_reports_on_a_possible_use_of_chemical_weapons_in.html

[gatito]

 

'Doctors Without Borders' were the first to report on the use of chemical weapons. Victims showed symptoms of chemical weapons.

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/08/24/doctors_without_borders_reports_on_a_possible_use_of_chemical_weapons_in.html]http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/08/24/doctors_without_borders_reports_on_a_possible_use_of_chemical_weapons_in.html[/url]

Direct quote from the article:-

 

MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor establish who is responsible for the attack,

 

Dr Bart Janssens, MSF Director of Operations

 

(MSF = Medecins sans Frontieres = "Doctors without Borders")

Edited August 28, 2013 by gatito

[Jetsun]

'Doctors Without Borders' were the first to report on the use of chemical weapons. Victims showed symptoms of chemical weapons.

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/08/24/doctors_without_borders_reports_on_a_possible_use_of_chemical_weapons_in.html

 

There may be Chemical weapons used but there is no evidence that Assad used them. Assad isn't stupid, he is a highly educated doctor and he knows that if he used chemical weapons it would be effectively signing his own death warrant, so why would he do it? In Syria there are many different factions and groups, one group may use chemical weapons on another who are on the same side just to try get air strikes. They even found chemical weapons in the hands of some of the rebels already http://rt.com/news/sarin-gas-turkey-al-nusra-021/

[ralis]

There may be Chemical weapons used but there is no evidence that Assad used them. Assad isn't stupid, he is a highly educated doctor and he knows that if he used chemical weapons it would be effectively signing his own death warrant, so why would he do it? In Syria there are many different factions and groups, one group may use chemical weapons on another who are on the same side just to try get air strikes. They even found chemical weapons in the hands of some of the rebels already http://rt.com/news/sarin-gas-turkey-al-nusra-021/

 

 

Assad is a highly educated doctor and therefor would not use chemical weapons? Given that he is a doctor or is highly intelligent has no relevance.There have been many highly educated persons in the past that have been responsible for such atrocities and worse.

Edited August 28, 2013 by ralis

[Jetsun]

 

 

Assad is a highly educated doctor and therefor would not use chemical weapons? Given that he is a doctor or is highly intelligent has no relevance.There have been many highly educated persons in the past that have been responsible for such atrocities and worse.

I was just making the point we are not dealing with an idiot. The conflict has been going on for two and a half years and they are saying he waited this long to use chemical weapons at the point in time when inspectors had just been allowed in the country, knowing that a bad report would probably result in his own death, none of this makes any sense!! They are saying he chose to use the weapons a few weeks after he allowed in inspectors to check he's not using them in an area 20 minutes drive from where the inspectors were staying. Why are people believing all this?

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2013/08/us-no-longer-seeking-un-nato-permission-strike-syria/69446/?oref=d-topstory

 

U.S. No Longer Seeking U.N., NATO Permission to Strike Syria

[gatito]

Meanwhile, additional data from Damascus about the actual chemical attack increases the doubts about Washingtons version of events. Immediately after the attack, three hospitals of Doctors Without Borders (MSF: médecins sans frontières) in the greater Damascus area treated more than 3,600 Syrians affected by the chemical attack, and 355 of them died. MSF performed tests on the vast majority of those treated.

MSF director of operations Bart Janssens summed up the findings: MSF can neither scientifically confirm the cause of these symptoms nor establish who is responsible for the attack. However, the reported symptoms of the patients, in addition to the epidemiological pattern of the events characterized by the massive influx of patients in a short period of time, the origin of the patients, and the contamination of medical and first aid workers strongly indicate mass exposure to a neurotoxic agent. Simply put, even after testing some 3,600 patients, MSF failed to confirm that sarin was the cause of the injuries. According to MSF, the cause could have been nerve agents like sarin, concentrated riot control gas, or even high-concentration pesticides. Moreover, opposition reports that there was distinct stench during the attack suggest that it could have come from the kitchen sarin used by jihadist groups (as distinct from the odorless military-type sarin) or improvised agents like pesticides.

Some of the evidence touted by the Obama White House is questionable at best.

 

and

 

Several Syrian leaders, many of whom are not Bashar al-Assad supporters and are even his sworn enemies, are now convinced that the Syrian opposition is responsible for the Aug. 21, chemical attack in the Damascus area in order to provoke the U.S. and the allies into bombing Assads Syria. Most explicit and eloquent is Saleh Muslim, the head of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) which has been fighting the Syrian Government.

Muslim doubts Assad would have used chemical weapons when he was winning the civil war.

The regime in Syria has chemical weapons, but they wouldnt use them around Damascus, five km from the [uN] committee which is investigating chemical weapons. Of course they are not so stupid as to do so, Muslim told Reuters on Aug. 27. He believes the attack was aimed at framing Assad and provoking an international reaction. Muslim is convinced that some other sides who want to blame the Syrian regime, who want to show them as guilty and then see action is responsible for the chemical attack. The U.S. was exploiting the attack to further its own anti-Assad policies and should the UN inspectors find evidence that the rebels were behind the attack, then everybody would forget it, Muslim shrugged. Who is the side who would be punished? Are they are going to punish the Emir of Qatar or the King of Saudi Arabia, or Mr Erdogan of Turkey?

And there remain the questions: Given the extent of the involvement of the Mukhabarat Amriki in opposition activities, how is it that U.S. intelligence did not know in advance about the oppositions planned use of chemical weapons in Damascus?

And if they did know and warned the Obama White House, why then the sanctimonious rush to blame the Assad Administration? Moreover, how can the Obama Administration continue to support and seek to empower the opposition which had just intentionally killed some 1,300 innocent civilians in order to provoke a U.S. military intervention?

Full article here: -

 

http://www.worldtribune.COM/2013/08/28/mounting-evidence-raises-questions-about-syrian-chemical-weapon-attack/

 

(www.worldtribune.COM/2013/08/28/mounting-evidence-raises-questions-about-syrian-chemical-weapon-attack/)

[Thunder_Gooch]

http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/iran-thousands-of-missiles-to-rain-on-israel/

 

Iran: 'Thousands of missiles' to rain on Israel Threatens massive strike if military action launched on Syria