Matt Taibbi

More from this clever young man:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-isnt-wall-street-in-jail-20110216?page=1

(see also 'Sub-prime explained' on this blog.)

General Petraeus

I've had a scrap of paper on my office wall for nearly a year now - a result of something I heard on the internet a while ago which struck a chord with me. It says: 'Prediction: General Petraeus for US President 2012'. I'd almost forgotten about it, until I saw this little,snippet, about him resigning his post in Afghanistan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElcyLLn3uXQ

Long-term planned military coup for USA?

http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2011/02/wayne-madsen-gen-petraeus-resigns-from.html

End of Dollar as Reserve Currency

More from the Global Settlement people. Apparently the dollar will be replaced some time this year as reserve currency, which is BIG news! There are rumours in the MSM about the SDR's of the World Bank, which would be more of the same, but more interesting and intruiging is this plan, which will level out the playing field much more, and is being pushed by the Chinese:

http://global-settlement.org/cms/node/6

Plus, here is a sobering hour-long presentation about the consequences of a dollar devaluation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vFAvrv8srE

IDF to Locate in E Jerusalem

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/haaretz-probe-idf-base-to-be-built-in-east-jerusalem-1.343540

Privatisation - UK

We've seen it before, but not on such a scale, and the vast majority of British people don't have a clue how serious this is. It is a continuation of the consolidation of wealth that we are witnessing around the world, where the assets of the general public get sold off to private investors, and the money raised does not even go back to the people who owned the original asset, but into Government coffers and pretty quickly, into off-shore tax-havens. At the same time the Government is using public money to pay out huge bonuses to banks, leaving the public with the bill - a double whammy if ever I saw one.

What will it take for the British to revolt?:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/8113973/Channel-Tunnel-rail-link-sale-begins-UKs-big-sell-off.html

Kenneth O'Keefe

Here's an interview with an American who has denounced his US citizenship and was on the aid to Gaza flotilla that was attacked by the Israeli Army. The BBC give a typical 'attack-poodle' performance, but he stays calm and eloquent to the end, and makes some great points:

http://eddieleaks.org/ken-okeefe-bbc-hardtalk/

New Anti-semitism

An excellent interview that tells it like it is: any criticism of Israel is seen as anti-semitism, and it is political suicide to find fault with Israeli policies. Here we have a dose of the truth, that should be shared and discussed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnRsM1FgVeY&feature=player_embedded

Also, here is a good book, written by an Israeli academic and author:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ethnic_Cleansing_of_Palestine

Palestine - latest news

http://af.reuters.com/article/tunisiaNews/idAFLDE71C0KP20110213?sp=true

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-palestinian-cabinet-to-resign-in-wake-of-mideast-turmoil-1.343218

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-hopes-mubarak-resignation-won-t-affect-bilateral-peace-accord-1.342823

Sub-Prime Explained

Here is a good presentation by Matt Taibbi, wherein he explains in easy-to-understand terms what actually happened with the banks and their predatory lending practices that lead to the sub-prime fiasco. Institutionalised greed with everyone spining and spinning and scared to get off, this fiscal mess has now spiralled out of control:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKLI2gqy-4g&feature=player_embedded

Algeria

Webster Tarpley's latest radio podcast is here, where he asserts that all of these 'revolutions' are instigated by the CIA as part of a long-term plan to destabilize the region. I have a lot of respect for Tarpley, but can the CIA really orchestrate 2 million people on the streets of Cairo? Do they have that much influence? It does appear, however, that the Egyptian Army General was in Washington two weeks ago. Ho-hum. We just have to keep watching and waiting, to see what the end-game is here:

http://tarpley.net/world-crisis-radio/

Here's the latest on the up-rising in Algeria:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/algeria/8320772/Algeria-shuts-down-internet-and-Facebook-as-protest-mounts.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d56f1c2c415511f,0

Pensions as Ponzi's

In the US there are 10,000 baby-boomers retiring every day.......and as this article makes very clear, there is not enough money in the system - let alone what has been syphoned off for other schemes - to keep this boat afloat. The writing is on the wall, folks - make your own plans for retirement:

http://theautomaticearth.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-12-2011-pensions-treasuries.html

Palestine/ISM

The latest blog entry from a friend in Palestine, working for the International Solidarity Movement:

"Another weekend goes by full of protests and demonstrations. On Friday I went to An Nabi Saleh – the weekly demonstrations there apparently appearing (albeit heavily sanitized) in a recent Louis Theroux documentary – and yesterday to Beit Ummar. Both demonstrations were notable for the relative calm and the restraint of the Israeli army, although in An Nabi Saleh their actions may better be described as a change of tactics than a reduction of force. The military there has been criticised of late for using excessive force – An Nabi Saleh being reputed to be the most dangerous of demonstrations – and, perhaps due to increased media focus, seemed to tone down their efforts at ‘crowd dispersal’. Indeed, it was over an hour-and-a-half before the few soldiers stationed near the city launched any tear gas or shock grenades, and this was only after provocation from the shabab. More worrying was how quickly afterwards you could hear the slight thud of live ammunition, but this – it appears in retrospect – was mainly as a warning, as no one was seriously injured. There were about six detentions, although the three internationals were released immediately after the army withdrew. I’m not as sure as to the fate of the Palestinians.

Similarly, the demonstration in Beit Ummar – also against the continued land grab of the settlers – was relatively calm. A demonstration normally characterised by low turnout and high arrest count, this time (thanks, no doubt, to the large number of television cameras) ended with only a single temporary detention and neither tear gas nor sound bombs used to disperse the crowd. The protestors made it to the perimeter fence of a nearby settlement, the protest leader – Egyptian flag in hand - was able to say his piece for the cameras and, afterwards, everyone was able to go home following what was a genuinely peaceful demonstration. I did note, however, at one point all the soldiers had in their hand a tear gas canister, but it seems their commander thought it more prudent not to give the order to release them whilst the media was present.

Outside Hebron, in the small village of Al-Bwayre, Palestinians are having further problems as the Israeli government gave orders for a nearby illegal outpost –an illegal illegal settlement – to be dismantled, which left around three settler families homeless and very, very angry. They took this out on locals by cutting electricity and pelting their homes with rocks, and their anger and threat of retaliation was such that Israel actually deployed a number of troops to protect the Palestinians – although of course the locals had little faith in the protection of the troops. As such, the ISM and other international groups in Hebron have made sure there has been a constant international presence in the village since the dismantling of the outpost a few days ago.

Last night, it was mine and Bastian’s turn to spend the night with a family there, and so in the evening we set off, sleeping-bags in hand, to the outskirts of Hebron. Once there, we realised we had no idea exactly which house we were meant to go to. Speaking little Arabic, wandering aimlessly around a village after dark with settlers on one side of us and scared Palestinians on the other was not the most comfortable situation, so one of the workers from another organisation – half-Palestinian himself and proficient in Arabic – came out to help us. By the time he arrived, we’d located the house and were with the family, but were nonetheless grateful that he could introduce us and break the linguistic ice which is usually so easily broken with alcohol. Through his Middle Eastern humour though you could tell he was a little worried, as he’d noticed en route that the military presence had completely vanished, and there was now only a low stone wall between the Palestinians and the settlers. And us, of course; an eccentric-looking Frenchman and myself. We drank tea, spoke politics, and laughed, before he left to write up a report on the situation for the UN. The villagers had our phone numbers, and we had our cameras; if any settlers came, we were to ring everyone we knew, and document all we could. That is all we could realistically do in this strange and volatile situation. Bastian and I got into our sleeping bags and settled down for what was to be a cold and uneasy night in the village of Al-Bwayre.

Morning came and, thankfully, nothing had happened. The kids played in the yard, the goats bleated, and the valley looked serene in the morning sun. We packed up and left, checking that they were expecting people back for the school patrol at half-one. Back to Hebron for coffee, bread and hummus, a shower, and rest. Tonight, the village will have as its protection two old ladies from the Christian Peacemaker Team. I sincerely hope tonight is as peaceful as the last, and that my friend’s appeal to the UN to take action on these illegal outposts is successful. I also hope the old dears take enough blankets with them, because that night time air bites a tough chill."

Islamophobia

In a thinly-disguised but coordinated cross-Europe attack, various 'leaders' say 'multiculturalism' has failed (Cameron, Sarkozy, Merkel). They fail to mention the daylight robbery and wealth redistribution that has taken place from the poorest members of society to those at the top, and instead are using classic Macchiavellian divide-and-rule tactics. You'd think everyone would see this for the blatant racism it so obviously is, but unfortunately many people seem unwilling or unable to apply critical thinking:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/09/cameron-scapegoating-muslims-toxic-impact

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/07/editorial-david-cameron-multiculturalism-edl?intcmp=239

Mubarak

This falls into the 'never believe anything until it has been officially denied' camp! Here's a quick up-date from a friend in Palestine on today's historic event:

Mubarak falls and the Middle East celebrates.

We were in the service taxi from Ramallah to Hebron when the news came through: after over a fortnight of protests the Egyptian dictator, Hosni Mubarak, stepped down. We were on our way back from the weekly demonstrations at An Nabi Salah, when the taxi came alive as people finally got confirmation that the protests in Cairo not only were over, but had all been worth it. Despite his bizarre statement last night, hours delayed, in which he still refused to bow to the demands of the people and step aside, tonight he finally bit the bullet and offered his resignation.

He has ceded power to the military and the Supreme Court, who now have to help draw up a new constitution and hold on to the country until elections free and fair elections can be held. In truth, there is a long and troublesome road ahead for the people of Egypt, but Mubarak’s resignation does put an end to the chaos that has been seen across the country, and also stokes the fire of revolution which is beginning to burn in the Arab world.

This is just a short post, as I wanted to get something out today. I’m knackered after today’s demonstration, and have one to go to in Beit Ummar tomorrow, so want to go and collapse on a bed for the next few hours. I will write more when the time is better but, for now, know that something wonderful has happened this evening in the north of Africa and, hopefully, some great things are about to happen across the Middle East.

Directed Energy Weapons (2)

Here is Wiki's page on them. To be sure, the research has continued, under the black ops Military budget, and can occasionally be seen in public places, like tasers to stun us uncooperative members of the public, and the latest 'Active Denial System' which I believe was used against the G20 protesters in Toronto recently, or at least rolled out. What does it do? It can fry you from a distance. Nice. Also, as this Wiki page says (rather coyly), they were used in Iraq, with horrific and unreported consequences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directed-energy_weapon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDoLPD3XfDU&feature=related

Directed Energy Weapons

I'm a regular commenter on Max Keiser's economic and political blog, but for some reason, any posts I make on this topic are not printed, whereas other comments I make are. Hmm, odd, but anyway, here is a copy of my recent post in answer to another commenter's post about the exponential increase in earthquakes:

'The proximity of a brown dwarf would certainly explain the almost EXPONENTIAL increase of Earthquakes and Volcanoes over the last few years' MirrorMirror

Much more likely explanation: Directed Energy Weapons:

http://drjudywood.com/articles/DEW/StarWarsBeam7.html#DEW

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5625257&c=ASI&s=AIR (see para 10, where US is trying to blame China, whilst not admitting to doing it themselves)

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=20369

http://cui.unige.ch/isi/sscr/phys/antim-BPP.html

Global Settlement Foundation

This links to the blog entry below 'Our troubles are over!', and is the origin of those two conference calls. There is apparently going to be a revaluation of currencies with a massive redistribution of wealth and a write-off of certain debts, with those people unable to prove the source of their wealth losing it all. Is it all an elabote hoax, or are there some good guys out there, fighting on behalf of the little guy? Only time will tell, and I've got everything crossed:

http://global-settlement.org/cms/node/6

Controlling Geoengineering

Looks like we're starting to make some headway: from being called conspiracy theorists (yawn) to the set-up of a body looking into the governance of geoengineering. Excellent!

http://www.srmgi.org/

Louis Theroux and the Ultra Zionists

This documentary was on TV recently. You have the settlers' opinions, from the horse's mouth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTszskhUrd0&feature=player_embedded

Pilots for 911 Truth

There is a gathering momentum to this movement, with architects, engineers, physicists, fire-fighters and now pilots asking probing questions about what happened on that day, nearly ten years ago, that changed the course of history:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUbVbmpblFk&NR=1&feature=fvwp

This is in five parts.

PS For the record, mobile telephone calls were not possible from planes to ground, in 2001.

Jews against Zionism

There are many Jewish people trying to work for peace, and who support the Palestinian cause, and who are also against Zionism. Here is an interesting little video which proves the point, outside the AIPAC conference:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dSHl3C9kgY&feature=player_embedded

Precious Metals Manipulation

Here's a video by a man whose life has been threatened for exposing the market manipulation in the PM prices - he upset some people in high places:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-92A2rYoB0

http://www.gata.org/

Tahrir Square, Egypt

Here is a copy of an e-mail sent to friends and family of an Egyptian who lives in Kuala Lumpur, but who flew home in solidarity with other Egyptians, to join the demonstrations. Eye-witness testimonies like this are the best media:

"Dear Friends,

Yesterday I went to Tahrir square with my whole family, Mom, dad and my two younger sisters.

As we approached the square we watched thousands marching towards the square, many of whom carried bags with food for protesters.We got down and marched with them till we reached a long queue of people who were getting inspected by regular youth before entering the square, to make sure no weapons or any harmful material. The military was there as well and checked our ID's.

That day in Tahrir we numbered to at least 2 Million. Just observing the scene there seemed as if everyone had an unspoken determination to resist Mubarak's" divide and conquer" strategy.

Sunday was announced as the day of "martyrs" in commemoration of all the protesters who fell since the start of the revolution.

We witnessed the Sunday Coptic Mass and the Muslim Prayer, with both Father and Sheikh sending prayers of blessings for the people's uprising, and people marching and chanting with the Cross and the Qur'an.

Women and girls were hand in hand with men and boys who volunteered to clean up the square and run the field hospital.

Perhaps one of the most telling scenes was the marriage ceremony ( niqah) in the middle of the square between two people who allegedly met during the protests. The whole crowd joined in prayers for them. When the new bride spoke she said: "This square has turned into my home and all of you became my family, I will not find a people more precious than all of you to share my marriage happiness with than you".

I never felt safer in a crowd of 2 Million people in my life than yesterday.Sexual harrassment turned sadly into a reality that accompanied any public gathering in Egypt. This is the same Egypt where today I could stand alone in the middle of a crowd with men passing behind and in front of me without having the slightest fear and not even a single gaze or inappropriate remark.

A young man who accidentally was pushed slightly against my sister turned around and was extremely apologetic. When a group of us young women stood together ,young men gradually started forming a chain around us to protect us, as the masses of people increased.

Abdel-Halim Kandil, a famous political activist and coordinator of the Kefaya political pro-democracy movement, spoke to the crowds yesterday about the process of change, and that as we demand the change of the system we must change as well.

This change is already happening....

As I'm writing you this update, one of the Satellite TV channels is now posting the picture one by one of each martyrer who were killed in cold blood by the regime of Mubarak,most of them 16 and 17 year old, the youngest being killed is a 10 year old boy with two bullets in his body.Rest in piece my brothers and sisters...

Hadil

P.S: Please feel free to share my updates with my name to your contacts and on your blogs. Many thanks to your messages of support and solidarity and apologies for not being able to respond to each of them yet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update 1:

Dear Friends

Today I flew back to Cairo to join family and friends in this historic uprising againts Mubarak's despotic regime. A few of us on the plane found ourselves in tears just laying our eyes on Cairo as its lights appeared from the sky.

Many of my friends have been camping in Tahrir square all night, while others have been arrested and beaten and humilated.

Yet the determination and strength of everyone is like an earthquake that shook Mubarak's system.

On my way from the airport I passed by at least 10 security checks, including neighborhood watches from ordinary people who sat up all night ,set up fire to warm themselves in the cold and arming themselves with whatever weapons they could find againt thugs and secret riot police who try to terrorize and intimidate people.

I stayed up all night chatting with friends who have been going regularly to tahrir square, sharing stories upon which we cracked up laughing and stories whch made us shed tears.Two of them had just been released from secret police who caught them bringing much needed medical aid and cotton to injured protestors at the square.These were a group of 16-19 year old teenagers, yet this didnt stop the police from terrorizing and assaulting them.

Muhamad Haeikal one of the prominent Egyptian thinkers summarized the whole situation in one beautifull sentence " the ugliest of what is in Egypt tried brutally to kill what is most noble in it".

It was eye opening to all of us, especially the pro-democracy opposition activist like us, that while the world, then UN, the various Human development reports, were telling us how uneducated, poor, corrupt, violent and racist we are, it was amazing to see a humane, noble, conscious and aware people that is humbling to say at least. It is incredible to see how when our ruthless dictators loose their ground, a nobility and love for one own's country emerges.

A picture in the front page on one of the newspaper here was showing a picture of an army solider who was shedding tears beacuse he could not protect the proestors from the violent thugs. The picture is showing one of the protestors whiping away his tears.

Coptic Christians formed human chains around Muslims protecting them while they are performing their friday prayers.

The stories of heroism are incredible, this is the first time in our history we witness riot police being inspected by neighbourhood watch people.

A doctor was sharing, on the funny side, how an old man with more than 30 bones broken still insisted on coming to the square every day! He was begging the man not to return so he can give medical aid to others.

In the middle of all of this, Egyptians did not loose their sense of humor, people chanting and dancing in the millions " Mubarak went crazy' as the tanks stand behind them and try to terrorize them.

There were the stories of Azhar scholars and students joining the protestors in their cloaks , even though the only slogans they knew were from the times of resistance to the british colonial rule, people embraced them laughingly and warmly while carrying them on thier shoulders and chanting.

I will head to the Tahrir square in an hour. Please do share the updates with your contacts and media.

Love,

Hadil

Currency Collapse

"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value -- zero." Voltaire

Here's a 40-minute interview laying out the coming financial collapse, by a financial expert:

http://www.blip.tv/file/4731634

Israel & Democracy

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/02/201126123643463123.html

GEAB

Here's the latest from these clear-thinking folks, who are more often right than wrong:

http://www.leap2020.eu/GEAB-N-51-is-available-Systemic-global-crisis-2011-The-ruthless-year-at-the-crossroads-of-three-roads-of-global-chaos_a5775.html

Palestine/Egypt

Another blog entry from a friend in Palestine:

"Today, we enter the 12^th day of protests by people calling for the Egyptian dictator, Hosni Mubarak, to step down. Mubarak has confirmed that he will not seek another term in office, but to say that is to say to the thousands on the streets that he will not move anywhere until September – and this is completely unacceptable to those who have fought so hard to get this far. Even the US president, Barak Obama, has advised that he “listen to what is voiced by the people”; and whilst not explicitly calling for his resignation, his carefully-worded statement is unambiguous as regards to whether Mubarak has the option to stay any longer than absolutely necessary.

What Mubarak must do now is admit defeat and allow a temporary government to preside over the transition to what all hope will be an authentic democracy. A Palestinian I spoke to yesterday - a man I respect and someone who has seen all the worst of the occupation – doubted that anything significant would change: he believed that the people would be offered the vote, but all five names on the ticket would just be more puppets of the US. This was the first time I’d heard a Palestinian voice genuine doubt over the revolution we are seeing – most are too caught up in the euphoria of the moment – but this doubt is borne out of a cynicism formed after many, many fruitless years of violent and non-violent struggle.

Many, however, are optimistic, and a report in the Independent by Robert Fisk suggests that the prospective government and constitution will be negotiated on by a group of 25 political personalities who have both proved their ability and have the respect of the Arab people – including a Nobel Prize-winner, the chairman of the Arab League, an Egyptian-American who has advised Obama, and a professor of Islamic studies who is close to the Muslim Brotherhood. If these people can propose a political system which is acceptable to the Arab people and could be held in good repute throughout the rest of the world, then perhaps we may finally see a beginning to the end of this bastard conflict in the Middle East.

This afternoon, across the West Bank, demonstrations were held to show support for the protestors in Egypt. Here in Ramallah, hundreds gathered in the streets waving Egyptian, Tunisian, and Palestinian flags and chanted “Down with the regime!”, with implicit recognition that the dictators which have ruled across the Middle East are all united by characteristics which have become detestable to the people: the corruption of the leaders; the submission to the US; the disregard for the people; and the sheer, gratuitous wealth of the few who live amongst the devastating poverty of the many. We joined them, and waved our flags, and we shouted what we could. Whilst we were there the protests were peaceful, but as I write this a flash on Maan News states that the protest has been broken up by Fattah supporters. It should be remembered that the PA, too, stand to lose a lot if Mubarak is ousted."

Goldstone Report on Gaza

http://www.alternet.org/world/149792/goldstone_report_details_a_massive_crime_scene_in_gaza/

US Troops go to Egypt

Why?

http://www.businessinsider.com/senior-us-marine-says-multiple-platoons-are-headed-to-egypt-2011-2

Our Troubles are Over!

I'm going to stick my neck out here and post these two conference calls, as I think they are genuine. They concern a re-alignment of the world fiat currencies and an ending of the Federal Reserve's monoploy on printing money, an idea that has been in gestation for 20 years, worked out by the Chinese, who of course hold most of the US's dollar reserves. It's fascinating stuff, and if it's a hoax, it had me fooled:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHrBcRV2c7w

https://www.freeconferencing.com/playback.html?cn=94-43-28-63&e=2243221200000&cid=conferences%2F-17-65-6759-17-65-67-17-65-67-17-65-67126-17-65-67-17-65-6783-17-65-6753122121-17-65-67-17-65-670.mp3

Crime figures....down

http://oskynews.org/?p=9429

Middle East round-up from an expert in the Field

Interesting radio interview with General Hamid Gul of Pakistan - yes, that General Hamid Gul:

http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/67275

Chuck Baldwin

This is an incredible interview with an American Pastor, who tells so much truth I was embarassed for him! I hope he has a good flak-jacket, and I notice he's moving himself and his family out to the wilds of Montana: he must have certain ideas about what is going to happen to the USA:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY3H9le_FtI

The Origins of Modern Banking

Here's another very good film about the debt-based money system, and what is wrong with it, quoting many famous people throughout the ages who have tried to get us out of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U71-KsDArFM&feature=player_embedded#