President Barack Obama and other leaders have stressed that the greatest victims of Islamic extremism are not Christians and Jews but Muslims. This week produced another tragic example. Yemen’s top Salafi cleric Samahan Abdel-Aziz, also known as Sheikh Rawi, was found in the southern port city of Aden, Sudan after he gave a sermon denouncing the Islamic State and Islamic extremism. He had been tortured before he was killed.
Aden was liberated by government forces in July but the city remains volatile and dangerous. Affiliates of extremist groups like al-Qaida and the Islamic State groups are active in the city.
Abdel-Aziz was kidnapped by gunmen outside his mosque late Saturday after he gave a sermon denouncing al qaeda and the Islamic state. He appears to have died for his effort to protect his faith from the extremism of these terrorist organizations. I do not know much about the views of this cleric, but the fact that he was murdered after a sermon shows the grotesque view of these extremists. They are unwilling to tolerate even clerics who hold opposing views. The murderers appear to believe that Allah will reward them to not just torture but the murdering of people who hold opposing views on the meaning of Islam.
PR
Yes, Australia signed the trade deal with their largest trading partner, China, in the fall of 2015. So the peeling off continues.
Maybe it is time for Congress to hold some hearings. Or not.
Anybody planning on attending a town hall out there? It might be a great question to ask Trump, or Cruz, or Rubio.
Oy! po, you make my head hurt.
False flags are Hillie territory. Please don’t bother me with that again.
Lew Rockwell is slime in my book. The antisemitism is a deal breaker. End of story. And I strongly oppose his Fed policy.
I know what a terrorist attack would do. 9/11/01. And those two murderers in San Bernadino. 9/11 was the worst. We recovered in days from an attack in the heart of NYC in the heart of the financial district – at least in getting operational again.
But it brings up a point that always upsets me. We gotta stop the hysteria. We’ve got to be like London in the blitz. We make these attacks one hundred times worse because everyone thinks everyone is going to die and all is lost. We need some damn backbone. But our damn leaders at so intent on…what?….I don’t know want they intend. To look like a hero? To become the Incredible Hulk? All they succeed in doing is increasing the terror. How about some Keep Calm and Carry On? Europe has been dealing with terrorist attacks for decades and they seem to handle it much better than we do.
And yes, the US has had a great big fat hand in the ME (and South America) but you twist it a million crazy ways without any supporting historical evidence and all leading back to the Saudis. I need a whole lot more than just you saying it is so. And you don’t help your case by saying the US is helping ISIS in order to do something, something. That is an extraordinary charge and requires extraordinary evidence.
And what are our African incursions? I count N Africa as part of the ME. Didn’t we leave Africa to the Brits, French, Belgium (they were a real treat) Cuba, and the Portuguese? And wherever the Boors were from.
We’ll have to wait and see about this BRIC deal. Of course Russia and China would like to see it succeed. They’ve got a long way to go.
Syria was Syria until it wasn’t Syria? Yeah, with the Assad brutal dictatorship. Dictatorships don’t fare too well in Arab Springs. We all wait to see what will become of the Saudis…and Jordan.
Oy. My head hurts more.
L, we can refuse the evidence but that does not mean it does not exist.
Regarding false flags, do you remember the supposed sarin gas attacks on civilians by Assad? Right after Obama called the use of chemical weapons his red line? And while inspectors were right there in Syria? Obviously that was the roar behind the call to bomb Syria. Those of us who were familiar with the process of deception knew there was no way the sarin gas was from Assad. Come to find out, the consensus is that it was from Turkey and it was the rebels and it was for the purpose of dragging us into the conflict full blown.
As for the malaysian plane blownup above Ukraine? We were told it was the RUssian rebels…seems more and more clear it was the Ukrainians. Some of us knew it already.
As for 9/11, there are still more unanswered questions than answered. We knew there were 2 planes. Other than that, the debate is still raging about whether or not there was controlled demolition of the buildings , in addition to the planes.
And as for san bernardino, is there anything we know that isn’t from the official report? And how do we reconcile the various odd things about that report with the fact that an actual witness saw 3 white men? h t t p://w w w . cbsnews.com/videos/witness-describes-the-san-bernardino-shooting/ (I put spaces between the http and www to fool the filter)
As I said above, false flag operations are the world’s oldest warfare tactic right after “”assault!””.
Interestingly, I was of those who refused conspiracy theories adamantly, but then something happens that looks just…off, and to research it opens up some similarly suspicious events, along with a whole web of interconnecting between things.
Frankly it is sufficient to know that the most profitable export for the oligarch is war and energy, and the latter requires the former to be obtained and maintained. There is a reason that we are only bombing countries with a lot of energy, and often it starts with bribing leaders to go against the needs of their population for the sake of the energy corporations.
So here is a list of false flag operations http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article24799.htm
And as for Africa, here is your answer. http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176070/tomgram%3A_nick_turse,_america's_empire_of_african_bases/
Is there a link between Boko Haram and our expanding presence in Africa? The similarities with ISIS in Syria are pretty striking. The idea that the Nigerian’s army, better equipped than almost any other African army, can be so ineffective against such a small force as Boko Haram, which has no obvious sources of funding yet is also very well equipped is pretty odd.
As for 9/11, it led directly to the current state of this country, with expanding military presence around the globe, with increased pentagon budget, with increasing deficit and the attacked dent in our social and structural coverage, with increasing religious, ideological and racial polarity, with expanding state incursion into our freedoms and privacy, and yes, with the our nearing bankruptcy.
Now San bernardino, though much smaller in scope is being used to further strip us of our privacy rights…
If France, the land of freedom has turned into a police state after the Paris attacks, where constitutional changes are being pushed to strip some of their citizenship, imagine what will happen next here when the next 9/11 happens. In light of the trump rethorical currently prevalent, forgive me to be doubtful that we’ll just stay calm and carry on.
PR
The Telegraph link with the headline ’70 Year Dominance Is Coming to an End: requires some serious readjustment in my non-expert opinion.
He reports the 2013 BRIC GDP as 29.6 Trillion. The 2015 BRIC GDP was 16.5 Trillion. Pretty serious decreases.
The guy also talks about the possibility of bit-coin being part of a basket of reserve currencies. That’s crazy talk.
Take a look at the largest GDPs. The US KILLS Russia, India, Brazil! The author was forecasting China being within spitting distance of the US. US 2015 was 17.9 Trillion and China was 11.3 Trillion according to the following link:
http://www.statista.com/statistics/268173/countries-with-the-largest-gross-domestic-product-gdp/
If those stats are accurate, that’s not spitting distance.
My reading is Halligan doesn’t like the Fed and our ability to print money and he could even have a sad we are off the gold standard. I disagree. He does have strong arguments that the imperious IMF and World Bank need some serious reforms and their shenanigans are causing these countries to want to peel off from complete reliance on the US reserves. I keep wondering if Obama is trying to correct this with his Asia pivot and what role does the TPP play in all this. All this is much beyond my pay grade. I also wonder if Congress is paying attention to this and if they intend to act or just the usual inaction.
Bottom line, maybe the currency competition is unavoidable but this agreement is just 6 months old and most of these countries are having tough economic times. We should hardly fear, or believe just yet, the scare headline of 70 Year Dominance Coming to an End. These headline writers are all just writing for clicks. Most all employ ‘aggressive, combative words.
Lastly, do not lose sight that the United States has the largest GDP in the world – by far. Look at that damn chart. And then I want you all to say: Thanks Obama!
L, yes, we are neither Syria nor Haiti but though this Haiti was always that Haiti, this Syria was never that Syria. Right now it would not take much for things to go haywire in this country. When a snow storm shuts a whole city down, imagine what a terrorist act would do?
AS for Lew Rockwell yes, I was chided by another commentator before…I did not know who he is but his site is an aggregator like information clearing house and truthdig, sometimes pretty interesting articles among the drivel…and some good ones on health too.
As for the religious, political and economic history of the ME, it certainly cannot be explained just by “”US propping up governments””, it is however a good start.
From Africa to South America, from Indonesia to the ME (including all of these theocracies) the US was either a creative force or a supporting one. It is quite well documented 🙂
Yes, the Palestinians too although, regarding the Kurds, I suspect that every bomb that goes off in Turkey is erdogan’s, another false flag operation.
As for the dollar, the reason oil prices were so low to begin with is the US recruited their allies, the saudis to lower them greatly in their ongoing attempt to sink Russia economically, while Nato sinks them militarily. The Saudis were glad to oblige, for they can out-sale everyone, and this enabled them to sink the shale oil industry in the US and canada, and even affect their rivals in South america.
Russia countered by selling to China and India. and by further diversifying their portfolio of exports.
Now that Russia is bypassing the dollar in its trading with China, AND creating its own trading block with China, India, Iran and still recruiting other neighboring countries, and heading to south America too, the dollar finds itself unused in a growing block of global trade. Furthermore, Russia is rejoining its former states of the USSR into an Eurasian trading block.
The answer to that, is the US pushing for the TPP and the recruiting of more countries into the asean trading block.
One has to read on the history of the dollar as global trade currency to realize that rather than it being a divine decret, it was a dishonest scheme that would ultimately have to be fought. And, ironically, it started with Saudi Arabia.
PR
Glanced at the Japan link. It’s from 2012! How has that agreement fared? Is it still in effect? Think of all the troubles both Japan and China have dealt with since then.
The bulk of that article is written above my pay grade.But one thing occurs to me — this may be one of the issues that caused Obama to pivot to Asia.
Brazil is a mess. It’s in recession.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2015/11/21/heres-why-brazils-economy-is-getting-killed/#5a29e739d18e
They are an unlikely challenger to the US dollar.
The BRIC agreement just went into effect in August 2015. Six months of activity and you’re (maybe) implying the US dollar is in danger?
Russia’s economic result for 2015 was bad according to a guy from Heritage. (I linked them just for fun. Heritage is right winger stuff). Note the sinking of the ruble.
http://www.heritage.org/research/commentary/2015/11/russias-economy-what-do-the-numbers-tell-us
Only allowed two links. I will have to look at Japan on another comment.
PR
You have sent me a lot of good stuff and I am anxious to read it all and to do additional reading to see where the BRIC economies stand today. I think Brazil is struggling as is Russia. And didn’t Abe just have some financial setbacks and they are running negative interest rates. Sounds like a problem to me…
For your consideration…
2014 is a long time ago for oil based economies and China. Oil was over $100 then – now it struggles to stay above $30. China is suffering from a big slowdown and I feel (not know) that Russia was the primary driver of this bank effort.
The first article I looked at (and haven’t finished) spent many paragraphs on the 70 year strength of the US dollar and the launching of this NEW effort. Success is based on absolutely NOTHING when this article was written. The agreement hadn’t even been signed yet! Anyway, it seems the BRICS were unhappy with the IMF (is that the same as being unhappy with the US?) and decided to start their own bank – the New Development Bank or NDF. The agreement was signed in the summer of 2014. Not a lot of history there to determine how they are faring. Again, I have my doubts for the reasons I stated above. And I am no expert at all, but the agreement called for what seems to me to be a small capitalization from each country for an IMF competitor.
I just wanted to let you know I appreciate the links, I intend to read them and comment. But it could take some time because there is a lot for me to read and learn.
And here is one about Australia planning to do it, too:
http://www.ibtimes.com/sorry-mates-strictly-business-australia-wants-cut-out-us-dollar-trade-china-1161287
Here is one about Japan bypassing the dollar:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/NF02Dh01.html
Here is a link with Brazil bypassing the dollar (2014): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/liamhalligan/10978178/The-dollars-70-year-dominance-is-coming-to-an-end.html
L’Observer,
The last articles I read on the matter were from a few years ago, so, yes, it is somewhat dated. I was trying to clarify what Po meant regarding the ruble. I am about to put my kids to bed, but I will try to find the info on Japan and Brazil.
And we’ve got just the someone to ‘set the spark off”.
Trump wins SC!
I can’t find one with Tom L doing the singing, but this is a bit better version of ‘They’re Rioting in Africa”.
It’s amazing. I bet this was written in the 50s but boy is it timely!
https://youtu.be/L8-BI89mb9A
po
To b fair wouldn’t you have to include any Palestinian attacks upon Israeli citizens? Also, I think the Kurds are now blowing things up in Turkey. You missed that one.
It’s Tom Leher gone mad…
https://youtu.be/x2UqCjoo2oM
PR
Yes, that is the section.
Someone is buying oil from Syria? Maybe the better question is who is still working on oil rigs in Syria? Further, I would suggest that not much reliable information is coming out of Syria – hasn’t Assad barred most journos and lord knows I wouldn’t depend on any rebels to keep me safe.
Russia and Iran have been big trading partners for years and for years they have been trading in rubles and rials. I don’t think there is a story there.
I don’t think the US has lifted the banking sanctions (thanks Congress) so any country’s trade with Iran is necessarily complicated and perhaps denies the use of dollars.
I’m not familiar with your reports. If you have a link I’d like to read them. I’ve found some that seem to be the source of your reports – but they are quite old and were driven by the sanctions which necessitated bilateral use of each country’s currencies. I can’t find anything current on Japan and Brazil.
So far, I remain very unconvinced that there is a serious challenge to the US dollar.
Tom Nash says:
If there were 353 reported terrorist attacks in 2015, then the 452 suicide bombings in 2015 are not considered “terrorist attacks”. The beheadings, throwing people off of buildings, etc. also not counted in the ” 353 reported terrorist attacks”.
——————————-
Tom, I must have forgotten to specify in the US. We were talking about domestic terrorism then.
As for what constitutes acts of terrorism, I would include every drone bombing we do that kills a civilian, and I would also include the hospital bombing we did in Kunduz. I would also include every act of harassment, fatal or not that that the IDF and settlers commit upon Palestinians.
I would include the genocide being committed by Buddhists in Myanmar upon the Rohinga, the killing of Kurds by Turkey, the bombing of Yemen by Saudi Arabia, any case of a cop shooting an unarmed civilian here in the US, and obviously every act committed by ISIS, but also the beheading, lighting on fire, throwing of bridges, kidnapping, dismembering, rapes and tortures that the Mexican cartels commit, and the same torture and extra-judicial killings the Mexican military commits….
L’Observer,
No worries. 🙂
Is this the section about the ruble to which you are referring:
“Actually, dollar is NOT very strong. it is artificially propped up right now. Even Iran, which is resuming selling oil, is not accepting dollar, just Euro or rubble. russia has agreed to sell oil to china for rubble too, which DEFINITELY challenges the pretodollar, and therefore the dollar.”
Po does not mean that the ruble is better than the dollar. Russia and Iran (and a bunch of other countries: Japan, Brazil, Syria, China) are bypassing using the dollar when they buy oil from Iran or Syria, using either gold or the ruble or some other currency. The dollar had been THE currency to use, the reserve currency, but now that some countries are using other currencies, that means they do not need the dollar and so do not need to have it on hand (thus threatening our status as the reserve currency: which is one thing that keeps the dollar strong and our goods cheap).
po
Do you think you can explain the complex political, social, and religious history of the ME and its current stability in a couple of sentences that are mostly rely on the “United States propped up…”? That seems to me to take a far too simplistic view of history that would offend most any high school teacher.
And I’d sure as hell would like to have a more elaborate explanation of what you mean when you say the US works through ISIS.
This is not a recommendation of a scholarly work, but “Charlie Wilson’s War’ was a fun read and the movie was great entertainment. Fun as it was, it does provide a bit of a look as to what you are talking about.
tnash
The noted CIA counter-terrorist official wrote a terrific article in Foreign Affairs in June stating “counter terrorism is a growth industry and offers life-long employment. I have headed a rigorous study which has defined all acts of terrorism and how often they have occurred…”
I think it is just the information you are seeking. Take a look at it* and let me know what you think.
*private joke
Po,
I did not realize the Saudi monarchy was on such shaky ground as to need to be propped up by us. I would be interested to read your sources.
Your hydroponics system sounds interesting. My cold frames are not near as cool. 😉
Prairie Rose
My apologies. I WAS cranky. Sorry.
I don’t know enough to argue any fine points on economics. But the United States dollar is the most stable currency in the world and when po started in on the viability of the ruble (vis a vis the dollar) when Russia is in all kinds of economic trouble, I was very annoyed. Again, sorry.
However…
it sounds like he is reading a bunch of Glenn Beckian BuY Gold (and my own prepared freeze dried jerky that will last for 1000 years) stupid ‘econmists’ who only want to get rid of the Fed and go back on the gold standard. They are right winger scam artists balanced budget nuts who really want to destroy social programs and shrink the government until they can drown it in the bathtub. In other words, not my favorite kinds of people.
However,
gardens ARE good things.