This Week in the World Affairs Brief:
UKRAINE’S PHONY COUP—SHADES OF SOVIET PAST
The sudden collapse of the pro-Russian Ukrainian government this week is a too-good-to-be-true win for the protesters. No one in either the mainstream or alternative media is questioning the glaring contradictions about what happened during the supposed “coup” this past weekend. Who gave the orders for all of the riot police to melt away and leave their posts? The almost totally disarmed opposition easily took control of the city and just walked up to the presidential villa. Who gave the orders to the pro-Russian Party of Regions, who wielded the majority in parliament, to suddenly switch their votes to join their political enemies in unanimously ousting President Yanukovych (who, knowing what was coming, had already left)? It certainly wasn’t the opposition. This all smacks of the same staged “collapse of communism” that supposedly toppled multiple soviet-controlled governments that still had fully functioning police, army and security forces.Lots to talk about this week. You can request a one-time free sample of the briefs by sending an email to editor@worldaffairsbrief.com.
Also:
- Venezuela Killing Demonstrators Too
- Government Shills Trolling the Internet
- AZ Governor Caves to Political Correctness
Daily News
Officials silent on mass release of detainees
posted by askousen - Friday, March 7 2014
...Still, ICE has refused to turn over details about the vast majority of the more than 2,200 detainees released at the end of last February, including the total taken back into custody, how many remain free and whether any committed crimes after they were released.
At the time of their release, all were facing deportation.
ICE's refusal to fully disclose information about the released detainees and what happened to them has frustrated critics concerned that they put the safety of Americans at risk. — USA Today
Are Russia's Security Agencies At War (With Each Other)?
posted by askousen - Friday, March 7 2014
After a period of relative calm, Russia's fractious security agencies are once again at odds with each other. Against the backdrop of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Mark Galeotti assesses the prospects of a new intra-elite turf war breaking out in Moscow. — ISN - Zurich
How Google Is Trying to Protect Your Drug Supply
posted by askousen - Thursday, March 6 2014
...Google, in particular, does not have a clean record in dealing with international online pharmacies. The company previously allowed Canadian sellers to advertise through its AdWords program, targeting American consumers and illegally importing drugs into the U.S. A settlement was reached in 2011, in which Google forfeited $500 million and agreed to a set of measures to ensure reporting of counterfeit drug sales to the federal government.
Google is now a member of the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies, a nonprofit formed in 2011 with the mission of promoting secure online pharmacies through "education, enforcement, and information sharing." This involves both limiting the visibility and accessibility of rogue sellers, and educating consumers about identifying safe online pharmacies.
Other CSIP members include Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, Visa, American Express, UPS, and more. — National Journal
Ukraine Protest Leaders Hired Kiev Snipers
posted by askousen - Thursday, March 6 2014
Western officials repeatedly condemned the ousted Yanukovych government for snipers who fired on protesters in Kiev, but it turns out those snipers were actually hired by the protest leaders themselves and told to kill people on both sides to drum up more unrest.That was revealed by Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet in a leaked conversation with European Union foreign policy head Catherine Ashton. Estonia confirmed the authenticity of the leaked conversation. — Antiwar.com
Russia Today news anchor Liz Wahl resigns live on air over Ukraine crisis
posted by askousen - Thursday, March 6 2014
An American anchor for the Kremlin-funded news channel RT has quit on air and accused the network of "whitewashing" Moscow's military intervention in Crimea.
Liz Wahl, a Washington-based correspondent for RT-America, part of the network formerly known as Russia Today, told viewers on Wednesday she was resigning because of its coverage of President Vladimir Putin's actions in the Ukrainian region. — The Guardian
"Behind The Kiev Snipers It Was Somebody From The New Coalition" - A Stunning New Leak Released
posted by askousen - Thursday, March 6 2014
..Earlier today an even more shocking recording has been "leaked" this time one between the always concerned about human rights EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and Estonian foreign minister Urmas Paet, in which it is revealed on tape that all those photos of horrifying deaths of Ukrainians by snipers during the last days of the Median stand off, were in fact caused not by Snipers controlled by Yanukovich, but that the snipers shot at both protesters and police in Kiev were allegedly hired by Maidan leaders! — Zerohedge.com
Russia reports ballistic missile test amid Crimea tension
posted by askousen - Tuesday, March 4 2014
...The Topol was fired at 22:10 (18:10 GMT), the defence ministry in Moscow said, adding: "The aim of the launch was to test a promising intercontinental ballistic missile payload."
The nuclear-capable missile reached its target successfully, it said.
Tests of the missile, one of Russia's newest, are not unusual but the timing of the launch if confirmed, is likely to alarm observers of the crisis with Ukraine. — BBC
Judgment day for Marine handcuffed over Facebook post
posted by askousen - Tuesday, March 4 2014
You write something on Facebook that someone in the government doesn't like. The result? You’re in handcuffs and taken to detention in a mental institution.
No charges, no rights, no freedom.
Not in America, you say?
But that's almost exactly the scenario that is being defended by a federal judge, who now has dismissed a complaint filed over a veteran's treatment.
A federal court dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Rutherford Institute on behalf of Brandon Raub, a decorated Marine. The nonprofit legal group said in a statement Monday that Raub "was arrested by a swarm of FBI, Secret Service agents and local police and forcibly detained in a psychiatric ward for a week because of controversial song lyrics and political views posted on his Facebook page.' — WND
DHS allows German home-schooling family to stay in US
posted by askousen - Tuesday, March 4 2014
A German home-schooling family facing deportation following the Supreme Court's refusal to hear their appeal is being allowed to stay in the U.S.
The Department of Homeland Security has granted the family "indefinite deferred status," their attorney confirmed to Fox News. — Fox News
Team Obama wins fight to have Christian home-school family deported
posted by askousen - Tuesday, March 4 2014
Uwe and Hannelore Romeike came to the United States in 2008 seeking political asylum. They fled their German homeland in the face of religious persecution for homeschooling their children.
They wanted to live in a country where they could raise their children in accordance with their Christian beliefs.
The Romeikes were initially given asylum, but the Obama administration objected - claiming that German laws that outlaw homeschooling do not constitute persecution. — Fox News
Crimean Authorities Confirm Takeover of Military Units
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
Ukraine's autonomous region of Crimea confirmed Sunday that the majority of Ukrainian military units stationed on the Crimean peninsula have expressed their support of legitimately elected Pro-Russian authorities.
Earlier reports by Russian media about peaceful takeover of the military units by forces loyal to the Crimean government were denied by the Ukrainian defense ministry. — RIA Novosti
In Crimea, Russians demand that Ukrainian troops swear allegiance
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
The tense military standoff in Crimea continued Monday as Ukraine's army and naval forces were blockaded by invading Russian troops and supporters, at some sites demanding that the Ukrainian units surrender their bases and swear allegiance to the Kremlin and Russia's armed forces. — LA Times
No Supreme Court review for local laws against harboring illegal immigrants
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
The Supreme Court on Monday refused two cases dealing with city ordinances aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from obtaining local housing or jobs. That lets stand lower-court rulings that the laws are impermissible. — CSM
Ukraine orders full military mobilisation following Putin's "declaration of war"
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
Ukraine has ordered a full military mobilisation after what the country's president has described as Russia's "declaration of war."
Thousands of Russian troops have entered Crimea, seizing Ukrainian military bases and entering into a face-off with Ukrainian troops.
President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour in Moscow's biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War.
"This is not a threat: this is actually the declaration of war to my country," Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said in English. — UK Mirror
Boy Scout policy banning gay leaders causes Disney to halt donations
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
...Though Disney doesn't provide money to the Boy Scouts' national or local councils, the Burbank-based company with major theme parks in Anaheim and Orlando, Fla., provides small grants to local troops and packs, said Deron Smith, a Boy Scouts spokesman.
"We believe every child deserves the opportunity to be a part of the Scouting experience and we are disappointed in this decision because it will impact our ability to serve kids," Smith said in a statement.
The grants have been given through a Disney program that would donate money to the Scouts in exchange for volunteer hours completed by its employees. — LA Times
No longer loyal to Scouts, boys join Trail Life
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
...Trail Life has established units in more than 40 states, mostly from Boy Scouts and parents who feel their old organization has lost its way. It has about 600 units up and running or in the process of registration, executive director Rob Green said. As many as half of those who have expressed interest were not affiliated with the Boy Scouts beforehand, Green said.
It is still a tiny movement compared to Scouting, which has nearly 2.5 million youth members and remains a powerful force in American life, even with a 6 percent drop in membership last year. — Houston Chronicle
Hagel's 'Defense Cuts' Are Smoke And Mirrors
posted by askousen - Monday, March 3 2014
...Nevertheless, although the neocons make a big deal about this small cut in military personnel, in reality these are not military cuts at all. These are token proposed cuts in troop levels which Congress won't allow the administration to do anyway. What Hagel proposes is not cuts, but instead a shift in spending away from personnel and toward new high-tech weapons which are favored by and profitable to the military-industrial complex. — Ron Paul/Prison Planet
Rand Paul Drives Libertarian Politics Toward the Top
posted by askousen - Friday, February 28 2014
...compared to Ron Paul, Rand Paul is far closer to the conservative model of the GOP, circa Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater. Rand Paul is not - in his public persona anyway - reflexively anti-empire in the way his father is.
Thus, despite the wailing and gnashing of teeth about Rand's so-called libertarianism, Rand is far better positioned to win the nomination than his father ever was. The GOP - and thus the larger political establishment - can live with him and are likely confident of "working" with him as they eventually did with Reagan. — The Daily Bell
Whispers persist that Hillary won't run: Health may be worse than disclosed
posted by askousen - Friday, February 28 2014
If you listen to the chattering class in Washington, D.C., Hillary Clinton is a virtual certainty for the 2016 Democratic nomination, and the front-runner in the next presidential race.
But in private, rumors persist that the former Secretary of State may not even be capable of making it to Iowa and New Hampshire. Clinton, these skeptics often say, will not run for president again because of health concerns. — The Daily Caller
FT's Shocking Gold-Manipulation Glitch
posted by askousen - Friday, February 28 2014
...For those who have not seen it yet, the title of the article was "Gold price rigging fears put investors on alert," and it was written by someone called Madison Marriage.
The article made the astounding claim that, "Global gold prices may have been manipulated on 50 percent of occasions between January 2010 and December 2013, according to analysis by Fideres, a consultancy." — The Daily Bell
JPMorgan cutting jobs, slimming branches
posted by askousen - Friday, February 28 2014
In an effort to cut costs, the country's largest bank by assets said Tuesday that it plans to slash 8,000 jobs in its consumer and community banking division this year.
...The cuts at JPMorgan are also partly driven by a drop-off in mortgage financing. Of the 8,000 cuts, the majority will come from the mortgage banking side. While historically low mortgage rates led to a surge in home refinancings in recent years, the bank said in its fourth quarter earnings report that steadily rising interest rates have slowed that trend. — CNN Money
The Conspiracy Theory Is True: Agents Infiltrate Websites Intending To "Manipulate, Deceive, And Des
posted by askousen - Friday, February 28 2014
In the annals of internet conspiracy theories, none is more pervasive than the one speculating paid government plants infiltrate websites, social network sites, and comment sections with an intent to sow discord, troll, and generally manipulate, deceive and destroy reputations. Guess what: it was all true. — Zerohedge.com
Gov. Brewer's veto aimed at own party's right
posted by askousen - Thursday, February 27 2014
Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer slapped down the right wing of her own party, vetoing a bill pushed by social conservatives that would have allowed people with sincerely held religious beliefs to refuse to serve gays. — AZ Family
UK, US spies stored millions of Yahoo webcam images
posted by askousen - Thursday, February 27 2014
Britain's communications spy agency GCHQ and the US National Security Agency (NSA) intercepted and stored images from webcams used by millions of Yahoo users, the Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday.
GCHQ files leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden reportedly revealed how the Optic Nerve programme collected still images of webcam chats regardless of whether individual users were suspects or not. — TheNews.pk
US Downplays North Korean Launch of 4 Short-Range Missiles
posted by askousen - Thursday, February 27 2014
The United States is downplaying North Korea's launch of four short-range missiles off its east coast.
Pentagon spokesman U.S. Army Colonel Steve Warren Thursday confirmed reports of North Korean missile tests, but said the U.S. military does not consider the launch a provocative action. — VOA News
Secret U.S. Government Watchlist Forces Company to Place Hold on Orders
posted by askousen - Thursday, February 27 2014
...After Jones processed an "innocuous" order with Element 14, a large distributor of electronic and computer parts in Australia, he arrived at the company’s trade counter to pick up the goods only to be told that his order had been placed "on hold".
After confirming that the hold was not due to the parts being restricted or suspicious in any way, Jones was told, "that it wasn't the parts that had been flagged, it was my NAME that was flagged. And they said it was a US government watch list of some description." — Infowars.com
Supreme Court ruling expands police authority in home searches
posted by askousen - Wednesday, February 26 2014
Police officers may enter and search a home without a warrant as long as one occupant consents, even if another resident has previously objected, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a Los Angeles case.
The 6-3 ruling, triggered by a Los Angeles Police Department arrest in 2009, gives authorities more leeway to search homes without obtaining a warrant, even when there is no emergency. — LA Times
Obama Administration Ignores Russian Nuclear Violations
posted by askousen - Wednesday, February 26 2014
Russia is covertly developing and testing nuclear missiles in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the Obama administration to date has failed to hold Moscow accountable, according to arms control specialists. — Washington Free Beacon
Here Is The FT's Gold Price Manipulation Article That Was Removed
posted by askousen - Wednesday, February 26 2014
Two days ago the FT released a clear, informative and fact-based article, titled simply enough "Gold price rigging fears put investors on alert" in which author Madison Marriage, citing a report by the Fideres consultancy, revealed that global gold prices may have been manipulated on 50 per cent of occasions between January 2010 and December 2013.
To those who hve been following the price action of gold in the past four years, gold manipulation is not only not surprising, but accepted and widely appreciated (because like the Chinese those who buy gold would rather do so at artificially low rather than artificially high fiat prices) and at this point, after every other product has been exposed to be blatantly and maliciously manipulated by the banking estate, it is taken for granted that the central banks' primary fiat alternative, and biggest threat to the monetary status quo, has not avoided a comparable fate.
What is surprising is that where the FT article once was, readers can now find only this: — Zerohedge.com
Arizona bill raises complicated legal questions
posted by askousen - Wednesday, February 26 2014
The bill has galvanized business leaders and gay-rights supporters nationwide, united libertarians and Christian conservatives and stirred up a passionate debate on topics like religion and discrimination.
Opponents of the legislation, Senate Bill 1062, call it state-sanctioned discrimination because it provides legal protection to business owners who refuse service to gays. But those on the other side say it’s a relatively small change to an existing state law covering religious freedom. — Washington Post