Former President Jimmy Carter has joined civil libertarians in denouncing President Barack Obama for his “widespread abuse of human rights” by authorizing drone strikes to kill suspected terrorists. Obama has continued the drones strikes despite the public demand of Pakistan and other countries that he stop the attacks on sovereign territory. While the United States would never tolerate such attacks on our soil and would treat them as an act of war, Obama officials have said that the attacks will continue so long as it views them to be in our national interest. Carter also denounced Obama’s continued use of Guantanamo Bay, his continuation of abusive surveillance programs, denial of privacy protections of citizens and other violations.
While avoiding the direct mention of Obama’s name as opposed to referring to his Administration, Carter cited the clear violations of 10 of the 30 articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in a New York Times op-ed on Monday that the “United States is abandoning its role as the global champion of human rights.” He noted that we are not only violating international law but that “[i]nstead of making the world safer, America’s violation of international human rights abets our enemies and alienates our friends.”
Since January 2009, we have carried out an estimated 265 drone strikes in Pakistan alone — killing at least 1,488 people (1,343 of them considered militants).
The United States now routinely commits acts that would be deemed acts of war against other nations. For example, consider the recently reported computer virus unleashed by U.S. and Israeli intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program reportedly caused explosions at a critical plant and damaged the entire program. The use of Stuxnet and later Flame has been heralded as a great success — even the later now appears to have spread to other nations causing disruptions. The use of “cyber missiles” differs little in impact from a bombing raid or an assassination on foreign territory. In this case it caused an explosion — a classic form of sabotage. Imagine Iran sabotaging a U.S. nuclear plant. Not only is the use of these virus an obvious act of aggression, it has denied the U.S. the moral authority to object to current attacks by China and North Korea. We have started a cyber war. Just as with our torture program, our objections to the conduct of nations like China is viewed as blatant hypocrisy abroad.
Carter’s public condemnation highlights the widening gap between the Administration and civil libertarians — some of whom are unwilling to vote for a president who has committed such violations as well as publicly refused to allow CIA employees to be prosecuted for torture (let alone Bush officials). The current presidential race presents the greatest ethical challenge for civil libertarians in decades with good people falling on both sides of this ongoing debate.
Source: ABC
Absolutely loved President Carter’s article.
But I disagree with your statement that the “current presidential race presents the greatest ethical challenge for civil libertarians in decades.” There is no ethical challenge. A civil libertarian, in my opinion, can’t vote for either of these two men (Obama and Romney). What this presidential race does offer, unfortunately, is one of the bleakest outlooks for civil libertarians in recent memory.
For the past three years I have been struggling to figure out just where Barack Obama is coming from. While it is true he is of African descent, his cultural and social upbringing is about as far from the experience of the average African-American citizen as you can get. I suspect that is part of what is confusing about him. The only thing he has in common with most Americans of color is the color of his skin. There the commonality ends. Can one imagine a Fredrick Douglas or Martin Luther King, Jr. making the same policy decisions as the current occupant of the White House?
I agree about the ethical dilemma the fall elections pose. Since I live in a solid red state, it will probably not matter whether I vote or not. However, I cannot see voting for Mitt Romney because, frankly, he scares me to death. We have a choice between a man with soaring rhetoric but who turns a blind eye to crimes against humanity, and a man who does not care about anything but he and his friends getting more and more obscenely rich. I guess I will probably have to go with the inspiring speaker over the mannikin in an Armani suit.
I vehemently oppose drone strikes… but this person named Jimmy Carter blasting “widespread abuses of human rights” — is he related to the Jimmy Carter who called the Shah of Iran his favorite world leader, but literally helped murder Oscar Romero, and backed Pol Pot?
I see the ethical conflict a little differently. We are comparing the proven acts of one individual with the campaign rhetoric (and associated blather surrounding it) of another. As 2008 should have proved, campaign rhetoric–no matter how beautiful–and a dollar will get you a ride on a suburban bus. One guy has betrayed those who care about civil liberties, the other is a cipher about whom we may be “scared to death”t. Reality vs, at most, possibility. You don’t convict someone for war crimes they might commit but for those they have committed.
While President Carter correctly for the most part I believe asserts the Universal Declaration of Human Rights properly in applying this to GTMO and other abuses by the administration, I am curious if he considered fully Article 30 which reads…
* Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.
A good argument can be made that Militants in Pakistan’s semi-autonomous tribal areas, or whatever the correct term is for this, are without question violating the terms of Article 30. So if that is to be accepted as being the case would not President Obama have the ability under this caveat to prosecute military action against these militants; even if irrespective of Pakistan’s protests to the matter.
Much of this lies in Pakistan’s lack of ability, whether this is actual or merely a great omission of effort, to control its problems within its border. To a certain degree any nation that allows lawlessless to continue unabated and this spreads out beyond their international borders cannot realistically expect that another nation won’t at least hold them accountable for the actions of their citizens and at worse will instigate a war against them. It is a matter of self preservation.
Some would argue that if the US and other countries decided tomorrow to stop the drone and other expeditions into other nations for the purpose of attack tomorrow would the militants have an sudden epiphany that the time has come to say farewell to arms and go about being responsible citizens? That is that their oppressors are gone and they can once again return to normal. Regrettably I don’t see this happening in many of these areas. I see rather the opposite as being more likely the case in the short term at least.
Another possibility is that if the US abandoned its adventure in Pakistan that the warlord feudalism would be rather benign and keep to itself. Again, aside from the oppressed people that live in this type of environment, I would worry that others might pump money and support to this group of people to recruit them as proxies to fight other conflicts with especially the West. Just like we did in the 80′s against the Soviets.
But in doing so it is without question we are losing the moral ground as our Professor mentions. I personally also agree that you have to take the moral and legal ground however painful it might be. But consider this. How well does morality protect you when your enemy is now at the gate. And what would it matter if you were the greatest beacon for freedom and rights in the world when you enemy has defeated you and extinguished the light of your lamp.
And when we have many other nations that want us to address the boogymen of the world and defer 99% of the cost and pain to us because they lack the backbone to do so themselves, it creates a difficult situation. Not one that is easy for any sitting president or world leader.
Certainly it would be best for all of humanity to bid a farewell to arms and embrace instead the notion that we are really all we got in this universe as so far we have discovered. But it is clear that I at least will not live long enough to experience this reunion of harmony. So I suppose it would only stand to reason we all should endeavor to make it better for those who will be born later while not allowing forces of evil to compromise our endeavors.
GOOD. You go Jimmah’.
Well done.
The MIC should be replaced with the Global Energy Initiative, feeding people sustainably and creation of sustainable energy instead of war. Then all human rights would be respected and humans could advance.
We still need detectives and investigations to track real terrorists, but we don’t need a standing army to deal with them.
We need to track loose nuclear material, things like that. We do not need a ground war anywhere, they only create more bad will and blow back.
While some, like Otteray Scribe “have been struggling to figure out just where Barack Obama is coming from,” those of us who understand that the background of a person makes the person what he or she is, know that Obama is a far Leftist, with all the standard beliefs, policies, and practices of a Leftist. Thus, as an ultra-Leftist, Obama long-term goals are to tax the middle class out of existence; eliminate freedom of speech; advance the cause of terrorism worldwide; take away guns from the middle class; and so on.
As for Jimmy Carter, he should be delighted that Obama has duplicated Carter’s act of turning over Iran to the Islamic Terrorists by turning over Egypt to the Islamic Terrorists. In many ways, Obama has bested Carter and has emerged as the worst president in the history of the United States. Carter was at least formerly known for holding that title, but now as a result of Obama seizing that crown, Carter will be forgotten, only to be mentioned in passing as a joke, like Millard Fillmore.
However, I have great hope for Obama. I believe that in his second term, he will plunge the US into the total abyss, becoming not just merely the worst president in US history, but ranking among the most vilified persons in history.
Hey, Plato. Getting your “news” from Fox News, I see. Obama has many faults, but being an “ultra-leftist” is not one of them. In some ways he’s to the right of Reagan. As for “worst president,” how about the man who started so much of this mess, namely Georgie W.
See, there you go again, blaming Obama. Who is this Carter guy anyway. Just some loser who stumbled in. Yeah, Fox tells me he’s a loser, not a real murkin. We’ll shoot any goddam foreigners we want to, and bad murkins too, wherever we feel like it. Get over it Carter-lover.
OS:
“While it is true he is of African descent, his cultural and social upbringing is about as far from the experience of the average African-American citizen as you can get.”
YEP!!!
A lot of people don’t understand that,its not a bad thing but there is much diversity in the African American community and you also have to understand he grew up with totally different Family visuals than most A,As.
Wow….. I sit til the cores get this news……
Maybe all that’s left to hope for is our quick demise—-all of us. Many of the comments here suggest such an outcome.
CARTER blames the public
========================
“This development began after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and has been sanctioned and escalated by bipartisan executive and legislative actions, without dissent from the general public.”
Otteray Scribe exculpates Obama
===============================
“We have a choice between a man with soaring rhetoric but who turns a blind eye to crimes against humanity..”
NB It could be a misunderstanding of what turning a blind eye means as to Obama being accouuntable for ordering drone strikes. Clarification desired.
Let us not be distracted and debate the messenger, but the message he carries.
Will civil libertarians have a candidate to express their will in voting for. Neither of these two will do.
Will civil liberties seriously influence this election.
NO.
Can hardly see either of them playing this card, not anyone else doing so effectively—in spite of Carter’s try.
Who do you choose: the devil you know; or the ephemeral “maybe I do and maybe I don’t” promises of ones who’s intents are clear.
So it is now up to politics. Not civil liberties or human rights.
The only rights we support are: “I got my rights”.
idealist, It is up to the SUPERPACS, and it is even more so after the re-affirmation of the Citizens United decision yesterday in another 5-4 ruling. Kennedy seems to side with the liberals on matters like immigration but when it comes to the rights of corporations he is firmly on Robert’s side.. At least Obama does not believe that corporations are people as his opponent does. I think the election tilts toward Romney as his SUPERPACs are raising more. I don’t think Planned Parenthood can compete with the Koch Brothers and Karl Rove when it comes to money. There are other issues.
Let’s see if Obama lives up to the standards you have stated and turns down the superpac money……. Then we will know which gutter he lies in…..
Carter never gave voters the warm and fuzzy “Morning in America” feeling voters seem to be looking for. He is a hard task master and very prickly and short in person. But he has always demonstrated rock solid values, principles and character. I remember him lugging his own garment bag and turning the thermostat down in the WH.He did away with the absurd WH livery that Nixon invented for non-military door keepers, etc.. People laughed at him, but I didn’t. Carter lost re-election due to massive (18%) inflation and other economic problems, which had no control over (see his absurd wage and price control attempts), as well as some dirty tricks by Reagan’s people on the timing of the Iran hostage release.
Look at Carter’s career post presidency and contrast it with any other ex-president in US history. Unlike the current occupant of the Oval Office, Carter earned his Nobel Peace Prize.
I read Carter’s Op-Ed piece in the NYT and agree 100%. I hate voting for Obama, but the prospect of Mitt is terrifying. What a dilemma. However, I feel forced to vote for Obama despite his abyssmal record if only to prevent Mitt from appointing yet another rightwing hardliner to the SupCt. Ginsburg will not remain on the court for another 4 years I suspect. I doubt Scalia, Thomas or Kennedy will resign unless there are health issues I don’t know about. Roberts and Alito are both young and healthy. I wish we could get Thomas kicked off for conflicts of interest re his idiotic wife, but that will never happen.
.
There is a tendency in our analysis to put all the corruption into one basket, the president, the administration, congress, or the courts.
Another hypothesis sees group dynamics calling the shots at a higher level than the offices in the three branches of government.
The book Private Empire lays the control at the level of very big money international corporations involved in oil and munitions (“I am not an American company.”).
The government serves as the tool for extracting the wealth of the 99%, then transferring it to the 1%, which is why there is no longer any traditional American humane sentiment:
(Carter Editorial, NYT). Someone has to say these things because not saying them exacerbates the problems.
Swarthmore Mom,
Nice to hear from you. My lighthouse in the darkness.
I will naturally bow to your assessment. Money has (always?) decided before, with a big help from the Sct
to bushjr. “There are other issues.”, you say. Yes, and am aware of some of yours.
But being the eternal pessimist, I think that a majority will say: “To hell with the others, I got mine and want to keep it. And I know who supports that.”
Speaking of that, are they doing any polls on how folks ARE reasoning.
That it was up for re-affirmation is news. Would not have thought it possible in a new suit.
amityfessenden,
Love your moniker, and your post. Don’t know anything about what has happened after 1900. ?????
School was deficient, and my interest was solely on my life—-although a brief period of ACLU and McCarthy interest and our war in Korea did awaken me at 14.
Appreciate therefore your defense of Carter. Seemingly the only honorable one we have had since his time. But charismatic Charlie he was not. Why plain speech is trumped by garbage has always amazed me.
Hope to see more.
Cant get my comments on the Vance v. Rumsfeld case posted
you would think there is a wiretap on my computer….Professor
you comments on this important case please??
Jimmy Carter is right. Good to hear him say it.
Obama has doubled down on the policies and practices of Bush/Cheney. We had no business going into Afghanistan and Iran. We have no business staying. We have no business making drone attacks in Yemen, Somalia or anywhere else. The drones should go to the aircraft graveyard in Nevada and left there to rust out.
While I’ve been tempted to sit out the election for a lot of reasons, silence can be mistaken for consent. I’ll be making an anti-war protest vote for Jill Stein.
When Carter speaks the truth people flip out. Sadly being a humanitarian in the political arena appears to be a negative. I do miss the country of my youth, where we hoped for liberty and justice for all. I fear the country of my and my children’s future. The American commitment to democracy is increasingly bleeding out. I am afraid. Like Bush, Obama seems to be a nice enough guy, engaging and pleasant until his policies and secrecies are exposed. If we don’t do something now, where will our hope be?
The only honest thing for me to do with such conflict about this upcoming election, is to write in “Jimmy Carter” for President on my ballot.
@ Plato, as a leftist myself, I can assure you that Obama is not a leftist. He is a centrist Democrat, which is a far cry from a leftist.
Good on you Former President Jimmy Carter.
Atta boy, Jimmy. Always liked you, always will.
Blouise, I was on the Jimmy Carter national campaign staff in 1976 although earlier in the year I had supported Udall. It was the first time I was paid money to work on a campaign, and I was very young.lol When 1980 came around many of my friends were supporting Kennedy and I didn’t get involved. Reagan won in a landslide.
A. Dear Otteray Scribe — please STOP with your comments about “Americans of color” — last time I checked “white” (Caucasian) was a COLOR ….. When blacks or other ethnicities continue to use phrases like that — all they do is keep the wedge driven deeply into American society to keep the ethnicities divided instead of trying to unite this country against some of the evils it faces both externally and internally.
I guess you have forgotten BASIC English grammar — white or Caucasian, black, Hispanic, Irish, Italian, Vietnamese African etc. when describing Americans are all ADJECTIVES — modifiers of a NOUN. The operative word (noun)here is AMERICAN. IF we, as a nation, could STOP using some of the aforementioned adjectives and ONLY used the word American to describe ourselves we would be 10,000% better off in this country!!!!!
So PLEASE STOP — NOW !!!
B. Human Rights — Jimmy — OK I hear you — except for one thing. The Muslims coming out of Waziristan (sp I know …) are traveling across the border into Afghanistan and ATTACKING and KILLING US Soldiers / Marines etc etc. So I TOTALLY support Pres. Obama’s attacks on these lawless regions IF Pakistan is NOT going to do its job to stop it. After all, aren’t we still in both Iraq and Afghanistan to “install” peace and yet these lawless b*stards, with funding and arms from Iran continue to cross over and disrupt the peace process. Look at the stats — approx. 1300 out of 1400 deemed to be militants.
Also, has Pres. Carter forgotten the lessons of WW II. We held the German and Japanese populaces accountable for their support of their armies waging war. What is different here now??? Although some men and women may not cross over the border, those that do are certainly being supported by their tribes in terms of food, water, shelter, etc and we have every right to break that chain.
C. Re: Romney — I am middle middle class. IF Romney makes it in — I see a definite shift — once again — as the middle class takes on MORE of the tax burden as Willard Mittster Romney insures his rich buddies get richer at the middle class’ expense.
Who goes to the Daytona 500 and states as he’s walking thru the pit area — well I know several of the OWNERS –not the mechanics or god forbid the NASCAR DRIVERS — I know the OWNERS !!!! Yeah, more of your buddies with money contributing to his SUPERPAC !!!!
America should be SUSPECT of ANYONE backed by Karl Rove or “Hush Bimbo” — (Rush Limbaugh). Hedge Fund managers like Romney make their MILLIONS by buying a corporation, cutting jobs to make it lean and mean — when the business shows a small profit — the managers go to a friendly bank — a la Goldman and borrow 100 to 200 million or more and pocket it all while the once profitable company is now saddled with the debt. If you are unfamiliar with these practices they have been going on since the 1980s with the likes of KKR et al. And if you missed it you’re BLIND.
D. Obama is NOT perfect — who is? But the Mittster WILL take Georgie W’s policies and make him look like a FOOL that he was as he makes the rich richer and the Middle Class more deeply in debt.
As a former soldier of 24 years service to our beloved country, I applaud Obama’s taking the fight to the enemy — whether it is with a drone or the STUXNET virus. Remember Iran wants to take us down they just haven’t declared all-out war.
E. Cyber War — Talk to China about them sending students to American universities in Computer Science courses especially and then they are brought home where they are forced to attack both the American military computer systems as well as private industry here in America as a price to repay the Chinese Govt. for their American education — partly subsidized by us as well. The Pentagon suffers approx. 3 MILLION cyber attacks A DAY.
Mittster will NOT be getting my vote in Nov. !!!!!!
I applaud Carter for his attempts to protect Human Rights — but we as a nation cannot protect Human Rights correctly until we as a nation are both SAFE and SECURE.
Go ahead, Mr. President — Sock It to ‘Em !!!!
Jimmy Carter is one of our few statesmen. He cares about you, and he says what he thinks. Appreciate him while he’s still here.
jongrif851, a few comments:
B. The folks from Waziristan are crossing the border to Afghanistan to kill U.S. citizens because U.S. citizens are in Afghanistan. There’s no justification for our citizens to be in Afghanistan.
No, “we” are not in Iraq and Afghanistan to instill peace, and never were. There is no peace process, only killing. The U.S.A. invaded both countries. The time to leave was long ago.
“Although some men and women may not cross over the border, those that do are certainly being supported by their tribes in terms of food, water, shelter, etc and we have every right to break that chain.”
And that’s justification for murdering everyone in the surrounding area. We do not have the right to break that chain, by Constitutional or international law. “We” do it because no one has the courage and the means to stop us.
Since the next generation will grow up as “insurgents”, we’re justified in killing all women to prevent it, correct? They’re growing up as “insurgents” because they’re being slaughtered. We create insurgents. They hate us, for good reason.
I don’t sympathize with the tribal religious/philosophical views of these people. I don’t have to, they live many thousands of miles away. Just go away, and leave them alone.
E. “…we as a nation cannot protect Human Rights correctly until we as a nation are both SAFE and SECURE.”
This nation will never be safe and secure until it stops invading small, nearly defenseless countries, and quartering troops in the majority of countries in the world. “Imperialist” sounds like an out-moded concept. It fits the U.S.A., perfectly.
Perpetual war brings neither safety, nor security. Perpetual war gives authoritarians in the U.S.A. an excuse to curtail our liberties.
Mitt Romney is a pathetic balloon-folding birthday clown and a spineless worm. Barack Obama is a pathetic balloon-folding birthday clown and a spineless worm. Hmmmmm. Which shall I waste my vote on?
The answer is, I shall vote for neither. I, and all Americans will be worse off after this unfortunite election. Neither birthday clown will lift a finger to restore our lost civil liberties. Neither birthday clown will protect Social Security. Neither birthday clown will veto the bill that will raise the eligibility age of Medicare to 67. Neither birthday clown will remove our troops from Afghanistan. Neither birthday clown will give Bradley Manning, or anyone else who exposes government wrongdoing, a fair trial in a civilian court. Neither birthday clown will stop the militarization of local police departments by the Federal Government. Neither birthday clown will protect the peoples’ right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Neither birthday clown will tell the American people the truth when it is easier and more convenient to lie.
When this sad election is over, I will be worse off. But I will have one thing left. I will know that I did not waste my vote on either of the two spineless worms. I did not give my precious vote to Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. I will still have my self-respect.
jongrif851, I was all set to reply but
Bob Kauten, thanks for the reply to jongrif851.
Henman, I agree that voting for either of the choices is a wasted vote, however, please vote. Not voting is tacit consent to the devastation that either of the two major candidates will give us. I’m voting for Jill Stein as a statement of anti-war sentiment. The more people who vote for an anti-war candidate – find one that you like – the louder we will be.
Dear Bob Kauten,
I do agree we should not have invaded Iraq — but Afghanistan / Osama Bin Laden — they HAD to go after 9/11 I guess you forget that the soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghan are only following orders — you DO know that correct?
They had nothing to do with President Cheney (I am correct here as well ..) / VP Bush and SecDef Rummie’s Decision Making Process. And yes, they are trying to instill peace despite your denial (a river in Egypt)
I wish that we could bring them all home tomorrow but that is impossible. However, once again, those fighters coming across the border are supported at home in Waziriztan in many ways and I see no difference between their support and that given the German armies in WWII. Hence, despite being “civilians” (in name only) — sorry they’re fair game.
HenMan,
You are very much on target and in touch with the voter apathy……
Carter is backed up by the U.N.:
(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/21/drone-strikes-international-law-un“>UN Says Drones Illegal).
———————————————————–
jongrif851 1, June 26, 2012 at 2:51 pm
… Jimmy — OK I hear you — except for one thing. The Muslims coming out of Waziristan (sp I know …) are traveling across the border into Afghanistan and ATTACKING and KILLING US Soldiers
=====================================
U.S. soldiers kill 6,570 of themselves each year via suicide.
That is more than all the fictitious enemies have done in a decade of mindless wars.
Have you forgotten that Saudi Arabia did 79% of 9/11 and nothing has come of that.
The places you do your jingoism on, both Iraq and Afghanistan combined, did at most only 21% (Iraq did zero BTW).
bettykath-
In the 2008 Wisconsin primary I wrote-in Dennis Kucinich for President. In the general election, I voted for Obama with no enthusiasm at all on the theory of “the lesser of two evils” (which I now reject). The “lesser of two evils” is evil, and should not receive anyone’s vote.
In the 2012 Wisconsin primary I wrote-in Dennis Kucinich for President again, and again was the only one in my community to do so. Maybe the only one in the State of Wisconsin to do so. But, it was not a wasted vote because I voted for a man worthy of the Presidency. If the Democratic Party wants my vote in the future, they must run better candidates.
I also don’t buy the “Obama will appoint better people to the Supreme Court” argument. Obama will never appoint a hard-core Civil Libertarian to the Supreme Court. In my opinion, anything less is a bad choice.
Don’t worry, bettykath, I vote in every election. I will get some info on Jill Stein- I would like to be able to vote for an actual Progressive for a change. I grit my teeth every time I hear someone call Obama a Socialist. If only it were true!
BettyKath,
How big a ripple could be made? Might be an interesting alternative. Assuming peaceniks are divided between the two sides, that is to say. Could it bear a message to these clowns?? “Get the EFF out”. Bring them home.
As it is now it is chess. I think they see it as the only alternative to you or me—who nukes first.
Maybe so, but we ain’t winning hearts and minds.
Oddly I never get spat at here whenever my frequent greetings are made to foreigners and I say that I am American. They smile, with the exception of the Somalis—and they frown at everybody. Only a postman makes them smile.
Shano,
Thank you VERY much. I can’t get enough of Chomsky and did not know of Tariq Ali. How did you find it—assuming you googled.
found on Timothy Pools twitter, but I follow Wilileaks too,
(“hi cia/fbi/hs trolls).
Anonymous, the Occupy Movement and all hacker groups love Wikileaks. They believe that the Wikileaks cable dump is the spark that ignited Tunisia and the start of the Arab Spring.
The media has been captured by the 1%, the Multinationals, so we have very little real journalism these days.
More here from the Obama Administration that is under the radar:
http://www.examiner.com/article/obama-declares-national-emergency-and-issues-e-o-against-russian-assets
Shano,
Thanks for info that Wikileaks still seems alive. Is he still at the ecuadorian embassy?
As for the Executive Orer and the Examiner. Have you watched this source for awhile? There are very few independent channels today. Who is controlling this one?
My reading of the text gives an entirely different interpretation. It is motivated as a way of insuring that funds are not prevented from being transferred to the Russian Federation to pay for the cost of the reprocessing of HEU stored there from missiles withdrawn from service in accordance with Star (?) treaties.
What is it that says the finance examiner’s interpretation to this will mean calling for a response from RF? Can’t find the connection.
Obama is perhaps caught with his pants down by someone, it isn’t the first time for any President. And lacking the time to dicker from a law from Congress, he reaches for the tool previously provided by law. He says he can kill Americans by XO, so why not this? He at least has a law to point at, which he does not in the XO killings.
If it was for George or for him I don’t know.
There are two unsnswered questions, who could and would attempt to take over such monies; and what else is Obama planning to do with his emergency powers.
Those powers are considerable already, including the “drafting” of men, women and children for forced labor, mass movement of populations arbitrarily to concentration camps (don’t recall what they call them, but some corp is making over 300 million a year in “preparedness” payments only. Under FEMA I believe.
Good luck with your work.
And my regards as usual to the boys listening in.
Sleep well tonight America, your intelligence is watching over you.
How big a ripple? I don’t know. But the vote counters on the various campaigns don’t worry about the 60% who don’t vote. However, if enough of those who usually stay home and those who normally pick the lesser evil actually get out and vote but vote for someone else, the vote counters on the campaigns and those picking the candidates will want to know why the sheeple are no longer acting like sheep by voting lesser evil or not at all.
My one vote might not mean much, but when added to my neighbor’s vote and your vote, and your neighbor’s vote, and …. pretty soon you have enough to make a real difference.
IMO, just staying home is giving tacit consent to the evil. Voting for someone besides the lesser evil sends a message. I don’t know how much is needed to effect serious change.
I’ve done write-ins when I had no other option figured out. In my experience, write-in votes rarely get counted. In some jurisdictions, write-ins are counted only if you jump thru some hoops before the election. It gives you satisfaction but doesn’t really send a message.
BarkinDog here. The Sparkin Dog commenter above is not from this dogpack. As to Carter. I recall being in the Far East during his term. He should have followed the advice of Saturday Night Live. Bomb, Bomb, Iran,
Carter, in his dotage is like a poodle that thinks his feces dont stink. Watch old Jimmy bug his eyes out in TV interviews when he is trying to make a point. This is the biggest ego tripper to get into and out of the Oval Office since FDR. At least FDR went out feet first. Did not bother to tell his Vice President that we had the Atom Bom either.
BettyKath,
Thanks for the info. Late from me, but u may see this.
Since voting, so far has not lead to betterment I am willing to go back to the alt. candidate signal. The anti-Vietnam was successful or not? Don’t know, but democracy is not working.
So carter finds fault with Obama…
Wasn’t that long ago when Carter was claiming that people who didn’t agree with every single aspect of Obama’s ideas and policies were obviously racist.
Hmm….
jeff,
Do you have a source for that assertion?
If Carter said “…that people who didn’t agree with every single aspect of Obama’s ideas and policies were obviously racist,” it should be easy for you to find that quote, right?
Thanks in advance!
Despite an arbitrary rule that any man killed by drones is declared an enemy terrorist, the death of nearby innocent women and children is accepted as inevitable. After more than 30 airstrikes on civilian homes this year in Afghanistan, President Hamid Karzai has demanded that such attacks end, but the practice continues in areas of Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen that are not in any war zone. We don’t know how many hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed in these attacks, each one approved by the highest authorities in Washington. This would have been unthinkable in previous times
Reblogged this on Somali UDHR Human Rights.
Like many of the people posting here, I am appauled at the President’s willingness to sanction drone strikes, refuse the prosecution of alleged torturers and the like. I voted for him in 2008 expecting a progressive agenda, and he has more than disappointed me. As such, I will be voting for Jill Stein of the Green Party. The Democrats will get my vote again once they begin resembling Dennis Kucinich more than Dick Cheney.
“Asked why opinion polls consistently rank Pakistan among the most anti-American countries in the world, Khar responded with a single word: “Drones.”"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/28/hina-rabbani-khar-drones_n_1922637.html
(Color me surprised. Laced with sarcasm.)