BYU professor's group accuses U.S. officials of lying about 9/11

A must read. - Vox
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635179751,00.html
"We believe that senior government officials have covered up crucial facts about what really happened on 9/11," the group says in a statement released Friday announcing its formation. "We believe these events may have been orchestrated by the administration in order to manipulate the American people into supporting policies at home and abroad."

The group's charges include:
• Members of the Bush administration knew in advance that the 9/11 attacks would happen but did nothing to stop them.
• No Air Force or Air National Guard jets were sent to "scramble" the hijacked planes, which were clearly deviating from their flight plans, although jet fighters had been deployed for scramblings 67 times in the year prior to 9/11. The procedure for issuing orders for scrambling was changed in June 2001, requiring that approval could only come from the Secretary of Defense, but Donald Rumsfeld was not alerted soon enough on 9/11, according to Scholars group.
• The video of Osama bin Laden found by American troops in Afghanistan in December 2001, in which bin Laden says he orchestrated the attacks, is not bin Laden. The Scholars for 9/11 Truth compared the video with a photo of the "real" bin Laden and argue that there are discrepancies in the ratio of nose-length to nose-width, as well as distance from tip-of-nose to ear lobe.

Let the truth be known.

- Vox

The Educational System Was Designed to Keep Us Uneducated and Docile

http://www.thememoryhole.org/edu/school-mission.htm
"The famous philosopher and educator John Dewey wrote in 1897:

Every teacher should realize he is a social servant set apart for the
maintenance of the proper social order and the securing of the right social
growth."

In case you missed it...

Prosecutor Will Step Down from Lobbyist Case
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/012706J.shtml
"Washington - The investigation of Jack Abramoff, the disgraced Republican lobbyist, took a surprising new turn on Thursday when the Justice Department said the chief prosecutor in the inquiry would step down next week because he had been nominated to a federal judgeship by President Bush."
"The White House had been poised to nominate Mr. Hillman for the bench last year. Mr. Sierra said he did not know why the nomination had been delayed until this week, but he said he believed it had nothing to do with the Abramoff investigation."

Well, well, well. Isn't that a eff-ing coincidence.

- Vox

Hamas, Fatah battle over election results

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060127/ts_nm/mideast_dc_77
"But thousands of Fatah supporters, who held protests across Gaza,...called on Fatah's veteran leadership to resign over the debacle. "Corrupt Fatah leaders who caused the election defeat must resign. Fatah must renew itself," one protester shouted through a loudspeaker."

So let me get this straight: In a stunning defeat, incumbent Fatah lost the majority of Palestinian parliamentary seats to the terrorist organization Hamas. This electoral loss, in which all the chips were stacked in Fatah's favor, was due to their corrupt leadership? And THIS is the group WE (the U.S.) were supporting? That figures.

This could simply signal an expression of the Palestinian people's dissatisfaction with their direction and current leadership. Perhaps they feel they are being boxed in, or "walled" in, and want a change, a better life. Or perhaps the attitudes of a majority of the Palestinian people are not so dissimilar to the stance of Hamas, as opposed to the appeasement of Fatah and Mahmoud Abbas. Remember, they are terrorists from the outside perspective, but to themselves, they are revolutionaries.
(more on this)

- Vox

Hunger strikers close to death

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2003828,00.html
"DESPITE force feeding by the American military, several hunger strikers at Guantanamo Bay may be close to death, according to lawyers acting for the detainees."

Keeping up with the Halliburtons

Good Halliburton site: Investigations in Halliburton.

A little balance: Halliburton's site.

- Vox

New year, same old Halliburton

Workers Allege Halliburton Knew Their Water Was Foul
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/22/AR2006012200853.html
"Troops and civilians at a U.S. military base in Iraq were exposed to contaminated water last year, and employees for the responsible contractor, Halliburton Co., could not get their company to inform camp residents, according to interviews and internal company documents."

In all fairness, congrats.

Here's a little something just so you don't think I'm the type that only posts the negative. And I'll even post it loud and proud:
2005 was best year in Halliburton's history
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/11048821/
"HOUSTON - Oilfield services conglomerate Halliburton Co. on Thursday said 2005 was the company’s best in its 86-year history, a year anchored by a profitable fourth quarter of strong sales and increased rig activity..."
"Quarterly profit rose to $1.1 billion, or $2.08 a share, including a one-time tax gain of $540 million or $1.02 a share..."

Hey. Way to go.

- Vox

Stop Loss

Army forces 50,000 soldiers into extended duty
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060129/ts_nm/iraq_usa_stoploss_dc
"WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army has forced about 50,000 soldiers to continue serving after their voluntary stints ended under a policy called "stop-loss,"..."
"The policy applies to soldiers in units due to deploy for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The Army said stop-loss is vital to maintain units that are cohesive and ready to fight. But some experts said it shows how badly the Army is stretched and could further complicate efforts to attract new recruits."

Let the drum beat begin...

57% Back a Hit on Iran if Defiance Persists
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fornpoll27jan27,0,5687029.story?coll=la-home-headlines
"WASHINGTON — Despite persistent disillusionment with the war in Iraq, a majority of Americans supports taking military action against Iran if that country continues to produce material that can be used to develop nuclear weapons, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found."

Oh, by the way, the 1,000 person rule holds true once again!
"...He was among the 1,555 adults who participated in this week's survey..."

- Vox

The unacknowledged movement

Morales begins to form government
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/01/23/morales.ap/
index.html
"Morales, who counts Cuba's Fidel Castro and President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela as his political allies, is the latest leftist in Latin America to be swept to power by people weary of sluggish economies and free-market policies."

There is a movement going on that we are not being made aware of. This movement will effect our foreign and domestic policy more than anything except maybe this so-called "war on terror."
This movement is an anti-American, anti-capitalist, pro-populist movement taking over South America, and it's only a matter of time before it reaches as far north as Mexico. With the failed promises of NAFTA, and the false promises of FTAA, this movement has growing.
We're being brainwashed to believe Hugo Chavez and Morales are unstable Socialists who hate freedom and democracy. But populists have taken over Latin America, and they're loudly saying NO! to the expansion of US capitalism (which is modern day colonialism).

More on Evo Morales.
Also, Chile elects first female leader:
"Bachelet's victory adds to a leftward shift in Latin American politics.
Leftists hold presidential power in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela."

- Vox

Support the Troops.

Health benefits in danger, veterans groups claim
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002754666_
veterans22.html
"WASHINGTON — The Pentagon hopes to reap billions of dollars to pay for ships, aircraft and other weapons by doubling or tripling health-insurance premiums paid by military retirees and driving 600,000 of those pensioners out of the military medical system, a coalition of veterans organizations charges."
"The officers association, with 370,000 members, is one of several retiree groups circulating that list, which asserts that by 2009, the Pentagon wants to more than triple the annual premiums paid by retired officers younger than 65 for coverage..."

This proposal is still in the very early stages, and hopefully won't even make it to congress. Support the troops of yesterday, today and tomorrow by being aware and informed.

- Vox

SD Legislature To Consider Abortion Ban

http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail2817.cfm?Id=0,45410
"Sunday, (South Dakota Rep. Roger) Hunt and other anti-abortion advocates held an event promoting their legislation. They say now is the time to pass it, because other states are considering similar bills and because with new Chief Justice John Roberts, and possibly Samuel Alito, the US Supreme Court is changing."

Remember Afghanistan? Insurgents bring suicide terror to country

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article339090.ece
"More than 1,600 were killed in 2005, and the murder rate is rising. The rule of law has collapsed. The government is trapped in its own fortified compound in the capital."

For a long time I've known (through alternative news sources and such) that the "coalition" basically only controls Kabul, while the tribal leaders and the Taliban still run most of the rest of the country. So not only are we losing Iraq, but Afghanistan, too.

- Vox

Shameless pandering from the carpetbagger

Hil's King Day shocker - Likens House to 'plantation'
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/383509p-325495c.html
..."when you look at the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been run like a plantation - and you know what I am talking about."

Carpetbagger - An outsider, especially a politician, who presumptuously seeks a position or success in a new locality

Pandering - To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses

Hil, the ultimate politician. And I don't mean that in a good way.

- Vox

Who are the terrorists?

Source: Al-Zawahiri not among 18 killed in airstrike
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/14/alqaeda.strike/index.html
"The Associated Press quoted a senior Pakistani intelligence official as saying "our investigations conclude that they (the CIA) acted on a false information."
"Friday morning's strike killed eight men, five women and five children (emphasis added by Vox), Pakistani intelligence sources told CNN. Three homes were targeted."

Related story:
Thousands of Protesters Tear-Gassed After US Airstrike Deaths in Pakistan

We're just spreadin' love all over the world.

- Vox

Pension 'crisis' is a myth

Another Juan Gonzalez report. - Vox
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/382000p-324354c.html
"Sure, City Hall and the MTA are right to claim that during the past two years employer contributions to pension plans jumped dramatically.
But they never tell you that employer contributions to all city pension funds plummeted steadily for more than 20 years, until they reached nearly zero."
"The booming stock market of the 1990s created such huge returns for pension funds that many employers, including the city, virtually stopped contributing new money."
"Even in those years when City Hall virtually stopped paying, most city employees were still required to pay at least 3% of their own salaries into the pension system. The surplus was so huge that both Giuliani and Gov. Pataki backed major benefit increases for city unions in 2000.
Then the market tanked."
"Pensions are not out of control," said John Murphy, former director of the city's main pension fund. "They're the most predictable type of expense. Some people just don't want to pay their bills."

- Vox

US army in Iraq institutionally racist, claims British officer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1684561,00.html
"Brig Aylwin-Foster says the American army's laudable "can-do" approach paradoxically led to another trait, namely "damaging optimism". Such an ethos, he says, "is unhelpful if it discourages junior commanders from reporting unwelcome news up the chain of command"."

This guy makes some interesting observations & opinions. Here is the full report.

- Vox

NO CHILD'S BEHIND LEFT: THE TEST

Interesting article by the irreverent Greg Palast.
"If you have any doubts about what the test is measuring, look at the next question, based on another part of the text, which reads (and I could not make this up):"

"Most young tennis stars learn the game from coaches at
private clubs. In this sentence, a club is probably a
"F baseball bat
"G tennis racquet
"H tennis court
"J country club"

My Stevie Wonder List

ok ok ok. Inspired by Mags, here is my much anticipated top-ten Stevie songs, not necessarily in order (but I tried):

If you really love me (duet)
Goldenlady (the intro is the best)
All I do ("I'd light a candle every dayAnd pray that you'll always feel this way, And pray that our love will forever be new", probably my favorite lyric)
Superwoman/Where were you when I needed you
I don't know why (POWERFUL song, I think his most under-recognized)
Fingertips (a classic)
Knocks me off my feet
Don't You Worry Bout a Thing
As
That Girl
My Cherie Amour
Overjoyed
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
Send one your love
Hey Love
Stay Gold
You Will Know
Love Light In Flight
I Ain't Gonna Stand For It (the country music Stevie)
Rocket Love

Well, there you have it: my, ahem, top-ten favorite Stevie Wonder songs. Obviously, it was too hard for me to keep it to 10. And I still could've put more on.

- Vox

Venezuela to Expand Fuel Discounts to U.S.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VENEZUELA_US?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=INTERNATIONAL
"CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuela said Friday it will expand a program to provide discounted home heating oil to low-income Americans, bringing savings to some Indian tribes in Maine."
"Venezuelan-owned Citgo Petroleum Corp. has already begun selling cheaper fuel in some areas of Massachusetts and New York City as part of a plan by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to aid poor communities that he claims are neglected by Washington."

Buy CITGO and you're likely to be helping fellow Americans. Buy any other gas and you're likely stuffing the pockets of fat-cat oil company chiefs and their partners (politicians).
Even if you questions Chavez' motives, you have to ask: with the record breaking profits other oil companies are making (remember the $100 million in profit last quarter?), why don't we see this type of program from them?

- Vox

My Lai Hero Hugh Thompson Jr. Dies at 62

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_THOMPSON?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US
"Early in the morning of March 16, 1968, Thompson, door-gunner Lawrence Colburn and crew chief Glenn Andreotta came upon U.S. ground troops killing Vietnamese civilians in and around the village of My Lai."
"They landed the helicopter in the line of fire between American troops and fleeing Vietnamese civilians and pointed their own guns at the U.S. soldiers to prevent more killings."

Just thought this was worth a post. The My Lai story is one of the most under-acknowledged part of our history; totally ignored and distorted by the war-mongers. This story of what Hugh Thompson reportedly did, I only thought stuff like this happened in the movies. RIP to a man of great courage.

- Vox

Commander-in-Chief = Omnipotence

WELL-PUBLICIZED are the presidents sound-bites denouncing torture. Little-publicized are his actual deeds supporting and encouraging it. Don't be fooled, be informed. - Vox
Bush could bypass new torture ban
"''The executive branch shall construe [the law] in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President . . . as Commander in Chief," Bush wrote, adding that this approach ''will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President . . . of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.""
..."This means Bush believes he can waive the restrictions, the White House and legal specialists said."
..."Some legal specialists said yesterday that the president's signing statement, which was posted on the White House website but had gone unnoticed over the New Year's weekend, raises serious questions about whether he intends to follow the law."

Once again I say GWB and his criminal cronies have no respect for the law.

- Vox