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Michael Collins is a writer in the DC area who researches and comments on the corruptions of the new millennium. His articles focus on the financial manipulations of The Money Party, the abuse of power by government, and features on elections and election fraud. His articles can be found athere. His website is The Money PartyRSS
Thursday, January 5, 2012 Sectarian Conflict Flares in Iraq
Excellent analysis by Brian M. Downing. Here is a key passage: "As sheiks lost patronage and revenue from Saddam's state and young men were unceremoniously demobilized from the army, Dulayim tribal networks played important roles in the anti-US insurgency of 2006-2008, providing recruits and leaders and supply links."
Thanks to Paul Bremmer's Bush policy of dismantling the army and massive unemployment, a fertile field has produced a crop of fighters with plenty of time for violence.
Thursday, November 17, 2011 SYRIA ON THE BRINK The beginning of the end (1 comments)
The Syrian government's challenge to the opposition movement has been significant. The assaults on citizens have taken thousands of lives and the country seems fractures. Saudi Arabia is now part of the anti-Assad coalition while Iran supports the regime. It looks like the end for Assad, given the persistence of opposition despite the brutality of the regimes tactics. (N.B. Even though Syria is shooting at civilians, there is NO UN mandate for NATO military aggression.) Well written and concise summary, the type you won't find in corporate media.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 Police try to clear NYC park of Occupy protesters
The NYPD is clearing Liberty Park, one of the homes for Operation Wall Street participants in New York City. The crowd chanted "You don't have to do this." The excuse used was a need "to improve health conditions." This is part of a nationwide movement to stop occupy movements across the country. See, "This Beat Down is for Your Health - the Money Party Must Shut Down Occupy Movements" in OEN.
The excuses to squash First Amendment rights will include public health, fire hazards. Those rationales will escalate to allegations that the occupy participants are making "makeshift" weapons.
It's an outrage. What will the Obama Department of Justice do? Oh, sorry, they're too busy invading countries in Africa to pay attention.
Monday, October 24, 2011 Hidden Blessings For Us In Iraq Pullout By Brian M Downing
This article provides a clear outline for improved "diplomacy and tact" in the wake of the Iraq withdrawal. It's time to stop invading and attacking. Let's replace the current cast of vulgarians with some humanists and help create a foreign policy based on respect for others and benefit for the people the United States. What a concept!
Friday, September 9, 2011 Erdoğan's misinterpreted remarks on escorting aid vessels touch raw nerves (1 comments)
The statements by Turkish President Erdogan on Turkish warships and future Freedom Flotillas were combined in a misleading way, according to the full interview translation. "Some of his quotes were compiled later both by Al Jazeera and Reuters in a way that implied these quotes had followed each other, the same officials said." (from the article).
This article is from Today's Zaman, an English Language daily. It is an excellent source for an understanding of events and politics in Turkey.
Thursday, August 19, 2010 anaxarchos: The Middle Class (2 comments)
Capitalism does not elevate" it expropriates and impoverishes. Its urban slums and shanty towns are a step down from the rural, quasi-capitalist material it begins with. Worldwide, it expropriates wealth from the many instead of creating "prosperity".
Monday, July 12, 2010 Richard Charnin: 25 Questions for Nate Silver
Twenty five questions on elections and election fraud for Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com and the New York Times.
Saturday, March 13, 2010 Abandon All Hope - Lehman Report
If you think Wall Street and the big banks are capable of reform, think again. This is the conclusion you are forced to when reading the report of the Examiner responsible for investigating the Lehman Brothers collapse and bankruptcy.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 For G-20, Pittsburgh became a police state
Government officials decided a massive, preemptive police presence was necessary to avoid the raucous demonstrations that marred past economic summits. They established a virtual police state that quickly extinguished any spark of dissent, and a federal court ruling gave them free rein to do so.
Sunday, September 6, 2009 Climate change: melting ice will trigger wave of natural disasters (2 comments)
Scientists are to outline dramatic evidence that global warming threatens the planet in a new and unexpected way – by triggering earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches and volcanic eruptions.
Friday, July 31, 2009 A Thorough Investigation of the Financial Collapse by William K. Black
William K. Black outlines the requirements of a real investigation of the financial collapse by reminding us of how it was done in the Great Depression by the Pecora Commission. Black is a top legal expert on bank fraud and was the lead investigator of the Savings & Loan scandal of the 1980's.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 AIG Spoke but Gave No Answers
Along with the outrage at AIG for it's latest bad behavior, what is coming into focus is what looks like the effort to preserve the structure underlying the pricing of what the banks call their assets. There are questions which we all need to have answered.
Friday, February 13, 2009 American Citizens Summit - LIVE TV feed
This is the "transpartisan" citizens summit including Cynthia McKinney, Ron Paul and others who are working together outside of the beltway to improve the country. It's a live TV feed from RepublicMediaTV.
Sunday, February 8, 2009 All of Them Must Go
Naomi Klein is quite direct in comparing the crooked politicians in Iceland and those here. Drawing the logical ocnclusion, she says, "All of Them Must Go." Cheers for Naomi.
Sunday, December 21, 2008 Mr. Anonymous and the Not-So-Spontaneous Birth of the Libertarian Movement
A short history of the creation of modern conservatism and it's birth from foundations and second rate "scholars" propped up by right wing corporate interests. Real history about today's ugly realities.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 IPS Plan to Pay for Recovery
Now we're getting serious. Go right to the link. Why didn't our fearful leaders think of this?
Executive Summary
Don't finance the bailout with more debt
Make Wall Street speculators pay now
Raise $900 billion in new revenue
Stimulate Main Street and the real economy
Friday, September 26, 2008 McCain Wins Debate
What a deal. McCain isn't going to the debate, but while he's not going, some ad agency develops an ad saying he's going to win the debate that he won't attend.
[[wins]]
There's no wonder that these people fouled up the economy. They don't even know when they're committed or not.
Saturday, September 13, 2008 Prison Diary from Accused Iraqi Agent S. Lindauer (1 comments)
Here is what happens when you demand a trial: 4.5 years of waiting and jail.
"Unfortunately, the attempt by Carswell staff and the Justice Department to forcibly drug me with Haldol into a stupefying condition is fairly normal there. I was targeted to stop me from claiming that I had performed as a U.S. Asset covering the Iraqi Embassy from Aug. 1996 onwards, as you know. ... abuse runs especially harsh for women of color."
Sunday, August 3, 2008 Tape excerpts of Ivins restraining order request
Duley: As far back as the year 2000, the respondent has actually attempted to murder several other people, either through poisoning - he is a revenge killer when he feels that he's been slighted or has had, especially towards women, he plots and actually tries to carry out revenge killing. He has been forensically diagnosed by several top psychiatrists as a sociopathic, homicidal killer."
Why wasn't he committed?
Sunday, August 3, 2008 Looking Closer at Jean Duley's Statements (Ivins therapist) (3 comments)
"As a physician who is called to assess psychiatric patients presenting to the ER, I find her statements troubling: if any of these psychiatrists diagnosed Ivins as homicidal, that physician would be required to start immediate proceedings for psychiatric hospital commitment. Patients who are a danger to themselves or others must not be allowed to carry out such activities. That is the law." So what held them back?
Saturday, June 7, 2008 "Reformer" - Crimes and Coverups of John McCain Part 1 (2 comments)
This article is a devastating start to a three part series that shows us the real John McCain - apologist and cover up artist for the WMD deception (part 1), the major financial swindles (part 2), and the Abramoff, etc. scandals most recently (part 3). It's time for truth about the real record. Researcher and writer Mark G. Levey provides a huge public service to all voters.
Friday, April 4, 2008 Former Governor Jesse Ventura: WTC Collapse A Controlled Demolition
From the article: "Former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura vehemently savaged the official 9/11 story on a syndicated national radio show today, saying the WTC collapsed like a controlled demolition and was pulverized to dust as he also highlighted the impossible 10 second free fall speed of the towers."
Saturday, March 29, 2008 When a Great Power Goes Mad
Investigative journalist Robert Parry lays it out - Bush-Cheney plus complicit press are "war criminals."
Wednesday, March 5, 2008 US Primary Voting Oddities: Democracy As A Train Wreck
Usually when covering elections its important to wait till the votes are counted before you write your election analysis. However when it comes to US elections in the 21st century this rubric no longer applies. After the dust settles from today's presidential primary races - "Super Tuesday II" between Obama and Clinton in Ohio and Texas - the lingering story will not be who won. Rather it will be the stench left behind ...
Thursday, January 31, 2008 FBI targets senior bankers in far-reaching sub-prime fraud inquiry
The Times of London summarizes as follows: "The FBI is investigating every level of the conspiracy that it believes perpetuated the housing boom and ultimately resulted in millions of Americans losing their houses, investment banks losing billions of dollars and the chief executives of Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns and UBS resigning." They're looking at a "CONSPIRACY" at "every level." Let's see if they deliver.
Sunday, December 9, 2007 Why parole a monster like Green (more of old "Huck") (5 comments)
He beat an 18 year old with martial arts weapons, raped & killed her. What does Huckabee do- paroles him. Huckabee is The Minister of Death!
Sunday, December 9, 2007 Murdered women's mothers blame Huckabee for his part in killer's release (1 comments)
They're speaking out! The victims of Huckabee paroled Wayne Dumond. Maybe they're upset because Huck was seriously warned that Dumond "would kill" if released. Well, he was released but had to leave the state. Missouri citizens are not at all appreciative of this Huck screw up, one of many.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 Is this Democracy? Florida's Democratic Party Convention
New Zealand's Rosalea Barker's insightful look into democracy Florida style. Her review of the machinations at the convention are priceless, particularly coming from one of the top rated democratic societies in the world (we're 39th;). If this is how things continue with Florida Democrats, put the tropical paradise in the Republican column for 2008.
Friday, August 10, 2007 Air Force Woman Could Be Convicted in Her Own Rape
The USAF Academy is charging a female cadet with "indecent acts" after she reported that three male cadets had raped her. The academy has recently been charged with religious intolerance for those other than fundamentalist Christians. There have also been explosive charges that the Academy ignores sexual assault charges brought by female cadets.
Monday, July 30, 2007 IMPEACHMENT: Where we're headed (2 comments)
When the owners of any organization or enterprise are profoundly and consistently dissatisfied with the performance of an executive, the executive is gone and gone quickly. We're at a point where the purported owners of this government, the citizens of the United States, can no longer tolerate inaction on the removal of the woefully inept and corrupt Bush administration.