Amazing Speech By A War Veteran

Since this video speaks for itself, I will refrain from commenting on its contents. I will say, though, that viewers should keep an open mind when listening. This is a man that has been there and done that. That counts for a lot in my book.

It stands in sharp contrast to the mindless, idiotic commentary we hear on these topics every day in the mainstream media by people that don't have one iota of the guts displayed by this brave soldier.

"Anonymous" Interview on Al Jazeera

It's another day and yet another example of how Al Jazeera is taking CNN, BBC and other "top" news networks to school comes to light. Here is a video interview conducted with members of the activist hacker group Anonymous. Wearing the  Guy Fawkes masks, and probably using voice synthesizers, they comment on how they helped the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. They also emphasize how they go out of their way to not harm regular people during their operations. Impressive stuff.

Enjoy:



What's particularly hilarious is the story of HB Gary, a security firm whose CEO claimed he knew, and was about to expose, the identities of several leaders of the group. As you saw in the video above, that didn't end so well. Not only did they deface the site and publish thousands of internal company emails, but it now appears there might be a congressional investigation as reported by the Washington Post:

A group of House Democrats is calling on Republican leaders to investigate a prominent Washington law firm and three federal technology contractors, who have been shown in hacked e-mails discussing a"disinformation campaign" against foes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

In a letter to be released Tuesday, Rep. Hank Johnson(D-Ga.) and more than a dozen other lawmakers wrote that the e-mails appear "to reveal a conspiracy to use subversive techniques to target Chamber critics," including "possible illegal actions against citizens engaged in free speech."

The lawmakers say it is "deeply troubling" that "tactics developed for use against terrorists may have been unleashed against American citizens."

The call for a congressional probe marks the latest development in the controversy over tens of thousands of e-mails stolen from HBGary Federal, whose computer system was attacked in early February by members of a loose collective of unidentified hackers known as Anonymous.

Now, the embattled CEO of HB Gary has reportedly resigned his post!

They really should have apologized when they received this warning:



Oh well, some people only learn the hard way...

Report: Italian Mafia and Ukranian Mercenaries Helping Gaddafi

A disturbing piece of news is making its way through the blogosphere, and that is that mercenary Ukrainian pilots are flying Libyan MiGs to fire on protesters in Tripoli. The same source indicates the Italian mafia is involved in some capacity in aiding the beleaguered dictator. Here is the text of the report:


According to a STRATFOR diplomatic source in the region, Ukrainian pilots are flying Libyan MiGs to fire on protesters in Tripoli.


The source claims the Italian mafia is also assisting the regime of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and that boats operated by Italians have attacked demonstrators in Benghazi and Tripoli.


The source's information indicated that the Egyptian army has prevented a convoy of trucks carrying aid to Libya from crossing the border, as the Egyptian military is unhappy with potential regime change in Libya.


Meanwhile, demonstrators in Tripoli are planning to reach Bab al-Aziziyya, a bastion for the Libyan regime. The Libyan army unit that guards the road leading to Bab al-Aziziyya has joined the demonstrators, according to the source. The source's information has not been verified.


Additionally, Italian parliamentary sources have been quoted as saying that a large number of Italian air force helicopters and the navy have been ordered south. Also, all Italian air bases have been placed on alert according to the same sources.

Rare Syrian Protest - February 17 2011

On Thursday February 17, a shop keeper was trying to park his car near hi place of business in downtown Damascus, Syria. He was stopped by a traffic cop who insulted him and called him an ass. Typical verbal abuse by a tool of one of the most brutal dictatorial regimes in the Arab world. The man replied: " you would make 60 asses". The traffic cop then hit the man, still sitting in his car, with his stick. The man jumped out of the car to defend himself and engaged the assailant. At that point two other traffic cops came to the aide of their comrade and thoroughly beat the man...in the middle of the street.

Some people are really dumb.

The screams of the shopkeeper quickly drew other shopkeepers into the street who stood horrified at the sight they saw. Quickly and spontaneously, the shopkeepers closed their shops and marched into the street to confront the police. As word spread, approximately 4,000 people packed the narrow street demanding justice. The police had by then retreated into the doorway of a building and were completely surrounded. 

The crowd started chanting " The Syrian people will not be degraded". Soon enough police cars arrived on the scene and right after...the Minister of Interior! The minister then proceeds to plead with the crowd to be calm and patient, assuring them that justice will be served.

Here is the video:

Could the beating of this shopkeeper be the spark that ignites the passions of the Syrian people as was the case in Tunisia? Time will tell.

Ex-CIA Analyst, Ray McGovern, Beaten, Bloodied and Arrested

Well this is just sad.

In what can be described as the epitome of irony, ex-CIA senior analyst Ray McGovern was beaten, bloodied and arrested as he stood in silent protest at a speech by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week.

The topic of Mrs. Clinton's speech? Why freedom of expression of course!!

Here is a video interview with McGover, post attack and with bruises to show, with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now:




What's shocking is that Mr. McGovern is not a nobody in political circles. Here is an excerpt from his Wikipedia profile:

McGovern was a mid-level officer in the CIA in the 1960s where his focus was analysis of Soviet policy toward Vietnam. McGovern was one of President Ronald Reagan's intelligence briefers from 1981–85; he was in charge of preparing daily security briefs for Reagan, Vice President George H.W. Bush, the National Security Advisor, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Cabinet. Later, McGovern was one of several senior CIA analysts who prepared the President's Daily Brief (PDB) during the first Bush administration.

Upon retirement, McGovern was awarded the Intelligence Commendation Medal from Bush (which he later returned, see below^[1]) and worked for Washington-based non-profits before becoming co-director of the Servant Leadership School in Washington. Now, McGovern works with Tell the Word, the publishing arm of the Church of the Saviour in Washington, D.C.


However, McGovern also has a conscience:

McGovern has been an outspoken commentator on intelligence-related issues since the late 1990s.^[2] He was heavily critical of the government's handling of the Wen Ho Lee case in 2000.^[3] In 2002 he was publicly critical of President George W. Bush's use of government intelligence in the lead-up to the war in Iraq.^[4]

In 2003, together with other former CIA employees, McGovern founded the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity or VIPS. The organization is dedicated to analyzing and criticizing the use of intelligence, specifically relating to the War in Iraq. In January 2006, McGovern began speaking out on behalf of the anti-war group Not in Our Name. According to the group's press release, McGovern served symbolic "war crimes indictments" on the Bush White House from a "people's tribunal."

Here is a video of McGovern calling Rumsfeld out on the lies that led to the 2003 invasion of Iraq:

This man should be honoured for his service, consulted with because of his experience and respected for his opinions. He should be put on a pedestal!

It's a shame that's not the case.

From Bahrain to Saudi - Cracks Appearing

By now virtually everyone on the planet has heard of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt as well as the pro-democracy movements in several Arab countries.

One of the more vicious government reactions to these protests has been that of Bahrain. The government sent in the military which proceeded to brutally fire on the crowds with live ammunition. These military thugs were shooting to kill, generating many head and upper body injuries. In fact, the first two protesters killed were SHOT IN THE BACK!!!

So far there are at least 5 deaths and thousands of injuries reported.The bulk of the wounded are taken to the Salmaniya Medical Complex, which is struggling to cope with the volume of wounded.Doctors are appealing for medical supplies...

Keep in mind that Bahrain has a total security force of 20,000 and a population of almost 800,000 people. Additionally, and unlike Egypt, the military is reviled because it is made up of foreign expats from countries like Yemen, Jordan and Pakistan. They are MERCENARIES.

Yesterday the Gulf Cooperation Council (whose member states are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman) said they will go as far as using military force to protect the Bahraini regime and insure that protests don't spread to their countries. Oh and by the way , they sit on 45% of the world's crude oil reserves.

Today there are reports of Saudi military convoys entering Bahrain through the bridge that links the two countries. In this YouTube video, at the 0:50 mark, a driver captures part of the military convoy zooming past the traffic in a dedicated lane:




The unrest has spread to Saudi Arabia where today a small group of Saudi Shiites protested in the eastern province town of Awwamiya asking for the release of shiite political detainees who are being held in prison without trial.

Here is a YouTube video showing the small group of protesters and the line of police vehicles driving towards them as is captured by the driver:




Also today, Reuters is reporting that:

JEDDAH, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Saudi authorities have detained several activists who tried to set up the kingdom's first political party, human rights activists said on Saturday.

The top oil exporter and U.S. ally is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any form of public dissent, does not have an elected parliament or any political parties.

Saudi Islamists and opposition activists this month launched a political party called the "Islamic Umma" in a rare challenge to authority inspired by unrest triggering regime change in Tunisia and Egypt.

"There are four in custody now. Five were arrested, two were outside the country and the others were questioned and released," said Mohammed al-Qahtani, a Riyadh-based activist and head of the Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, who has been following the case.

By the way Jeddah is all the way on other side of the country in the western province on the Red Sea. It's inhabitants are almost 100% Sunni, not Shiite.

IT'S ON.

Mubarak Thugs Kill Lone Unarmed Protester!!!

This video is the reason why governments should fear the people and not the other way around. At around minute 1:35 you will see a lone, unarmed, male protester advance up the alley trying to prevent the police from firing on the protesters behind him by turning himself into a human shield. His arms raised he stares defiantly at the police, whose guns are trained on him.

Then their guns go off and he is murdered in plain sight.

I am speechless.