Thursday, April 26, 2007

South American Energy Summit
Russia Decrees Merger of Two Pipeline Companies
Pentagon Withholds Fox Footage in Friendly Fire Cases
After Tillman Death, Army Clamps Down
Bill Moyers Probes Press Handling of Iraq
How TPTB (The Powers That Be) Manipulated the Press on the Envirodisaster of 9/11 (Corollary to an earlier Bill Moyers report on press)
Kucinich's Articles of Impeachment Against Cheney
Carbon Gas as Source for Ethanol
Species Vulnerable Even in Protected Habitat
Infusion of Cash for Seed Crop Preservation
Seed Bank's Billionth Seed
National Security Implications of Climate Change
China Creates Artificial Snow
Why prevent drought and pollution in the first place when you can always find someone who'll come up with a technofix? Never mind what the side effects of that technofix may later turn out to be. With its recent announcements also of inventions of artificial rain and an artificial sun, China is preparing for some major contingencies./ Jenna Orkin
China: Growth Trumps Climate Change
Millions Face Famine as Crop Disease Spreads
25 % U.S. Bee Colonies Gone
The Sun in 3D

Ohio Asks Election Board Members to Quit
States Rebel in Droves Against Real ID

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

April 26, 2007

Please bear with me and read this. This is my conspiracy theory comment regarding security and law enforcement in Indiana over the next several weeks.

If you're keeping up with your news, the Indy Star reported that a nuclear attack response drill will be taking place in Indiana, starting on April 30th and lasting about three weeks. Here's a comment from the article, followed by the link:

"The event will trigger the deployment of 1,000 Indiana National Guard troops, more than 2,000 active-duty military personnel, local and state police officers, and other officials."

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/LOCAL18/704170364

That report came out a little over a week ago.

Five days ago, a report came out in The Sunday Times that states the following:

"AL-QAEDA leaders in Iraq are planning the first “large-scale” terrorist attacks on Britain and other western targets with the help of supporters in Iran, according to a leaked intelligence report.

Spy chiefs warn that one operative had said he was planning an attack on “a par with Hiroshima and Nagasaki” in an attempt to “shake the Roman throne”, a reference to the West. Another plot could be timed to coincide with Tony Blair stepping down as prime minister, an event described by Al-Qaeda planners as a “change in the head of the company”."

Note the part where it says "other Western targets". Here's the link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1687360.ece

Now, recall that the London subway bombing attacks on 7/7 took place at the same time that bomb response/rescue drill teams were assembling outside of each of the bombed stations. The response members were shocked that an actual event was taking place that was identical to their training exercise - even down to the specific stations chosen for the drill. Here’s a link to the story. It's an invaluable reference to actual events:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/coincidence%20of%20bomb%20exercises/109010

And then, recall that during the attacks on 9/11, NORAD, NEADS, and other officials were confused because the terrorist attacks coincided with a NORAD drill called Vigilant Guardian, which simulated an air attack in the US. This coincided with Vigilant Warrior, which was a live-fly hijacking exercise. The following quote is from the following link:

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

"The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States investigated the possibility that Vigilant Guardian preparations compromised the military's response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. They concluded that the exercise may have had, in fact, the effect of expediting the response to the attacks.

FAA and military officials reported trouble discerning the war game operations from the actual attacks. After being notified of the first hijacking, General Larry Arnold originally thought it was part of the exercise,[1] [2] as did NEADS Commander Col. Robert K. Marr Jr.[3] and his deputy Lt. Col. Peter J. Milanoski, who said "everybody" at NEADS first thought the attacks were part of Vigilant Guardian.[4] On page 17 of the 9/11 Commission Report when Boston center calls NEADS (Northeast Air Defense Sector), the response from NEADS was "is this real world or exercise?". According to the 9/11 Commission's staff statement No. 17,[1] "During the course of the morning, there were multiple erroneous reports of hijacked aircraft in the system."[2] For instance, page 26 of the Commission's final report documents FAA's report of a "phantom flight 11" at 9:21,[3] 35 minutes after the real flight 11 crashed into the WTC and even longer after the war games are alleged to have been aborted. However, General Ralph Eberhart told the 9/11 Commission “it took about 30 seconds” to make the adjustment to the real-world situation (note 116 to chapter 1)."

There is more detail at the preceding link.

So, now we have a nuclear response drill in Indiana, we have reports that a "Hiroshima" type event will take place very shortly in the West - Blair is expected to step down in a matter of weeks and the report says it will happen BEFORE Blair steps down, and we have precedent for drills that coincided with the largest terror attacks on US and British soil.

Add the following to this mix:

From American Conservative Magazine:

"The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons."

Here's the link:

http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article3.html

Then there was the following recent testimony to Congress by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Link:

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/testimony/2007/BrzezinskiTestimony070201.pdf

"A plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran involves Iraqi failure to meet the benchmarks; followed by accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure; then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the U.S. blamed on Iran; culminating in a "defensive" U.S. military action against Iran that plunges a lonely America into a spreading and deepening quagmire eventually ranging across Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan"

And last weeks unreported comments to Congress by GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul - who is running on a Constitution platform:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d8MIENVtKw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eprisonplanet%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fjanuary2007%2F160107Paul%2Ehtm

The truth is that Iran, like Iraq, is a third-world nation without a significant military. Nothing in history hints that she is likely to invade a neighboring country, let alone America or Israel. I am concerned, however, that a contrived Gulf of Tonkin- type incident may occur to gain popular support for an attack on Iran.


So, in summary, we're getting warnings from all directions on a pending attack. We have precedent for those attacks coinciding with planned drills that match the events, and we have precedent of government manufacturing a crisis to go to war (look up National security Archive "Gulf of Tonkin").

A lot of unnerving pieces seem to be occurring, and it's worth keeping in mind over the next few weeks. I pray that my assessment is wrong, but I can't avoid considering that it's a possibility.















Read the following:

Please bear with me and read this. This is my conspiracy theory comment regarding security and law enforcement over the next several weeks.

If you're keeping up with your news, the Indy Star reported that a nuclear attack response drill will be taking place in Indiana, starting on April 30th and lasting about three weeks. Here's a comment from the article, followed by the link:

[quote]"The event will trigger the deployment of 1,000 Indiana National Guard troops, more than 2,000 active-duty military personnel, local and state police officers, and other officials."[/quote]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/LOCAL18/704170364

That report came out a little over a week ago.

Five days ago, a report came out in The Sunday Times that states the following:

"[quote]AL-QAEDA leaders in Iraq are planning the first “large-scale” terrorist attacks on Britain and other western targets with the help of supporters in Iran, according to a leaked intelligence report.

Spy chiefs warn that one operative had said he was planning an attack on “a par with Hiroshima and Nagasaki” in an attempt to “shake the Roman throne”, a reference to the West. Another plot could be timed to coincide with Tony Blair stepping down as prime minister, an event described by Al-Qaeda planners as a “change in the head of the company”."[/quote]

Note the part where it says "other Western targets". Here's the link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1687360.ece

Now, recall that the London subway bombing attacks on 7/7 took place at the same time that bomb response/rescue drill teams were assembling outside of each of the bombed stations. The response members were shocked that an actual event was taking place that was identical to their training exercise - even down to the specific stations chosen for the drill. Here’s a link to the story. It's an invaluable reference to actual events:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/coincidence%20of%20bomb%20exercises/109010

And then, recall that during the attacks on 9/11, NORAD, NEADS, and other officials were confused because the terrorist attacks coincided with a NORAD drill called Vigilant Guardian, which simulated an air attack in the US. This coincided with Vigilant Warrior, which was a live-fly hijacking exercise. The following quote is from the following link:

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

[quote]"The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States investigated the possibility that Vigilant Guardian preparations compromised the military's response to the terrorist attacks on September 11. They concluded that the exercise may have had, in fact, the effect of expediting the response to the attacks.

FAA and military officials reported trouble discerning the war game operations from the actual attacks. After being notified of the first hijacking, General Larry Arnold originally thought it was part of the exercise,[1] [2] as did NEADS Commander Col. Robert K. Marr Jr.[3] and his deputy Lt. Col. Peter J. Milanoski, who said "everybody" at NEADS first thought the attacks were part of Vigilant Guardian.[4] On page 17 of the 9/11 Commission Report when Boston center calls NEADS (Northeast Air Defense Sector), the response from NEADS was "is this real world or exercise?". According to the 9/11 Commission's staff statement No. 17,[1] "During the course of the morning, there were multiple erroneous reports of hijacked aircraft in the system."[2] For instance, page 26 of the Commission's final report documents FAA's report of a "phantom flight 11" at 9:21,[3] 35 minutes after the real flight 11 crashed into the WTC and even longer after the war games are alleged to have been aborted. However, General Ralph Eberhart told the 9/11 Commission “it took about 30 seconds” to make the adjustment to the real-world situation (note 116 to chapter 1)."[/quote]

There is more detail at the preceding link.

So, now we have a nuclear response drill in Indiana, we have reports that a "Hiroshima" type event will take place very shortly in the West - Blair is expected to step down in a matter of weeks and the report says it will happen BEFORE Blair steps down, and we have precedent for drills that coincided with the largest terror attacks on US and British soil.

Add the following to this mix:

From American Conservative Magazine:

[quote]"The Pentagon, acting under instructions from Vice President Dick Cheney’s office, has tasked the United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) with drawing up a contingency plan to be employed in response to another 9/11-type terrorist attack on the United States. The plan includes a large-scale air assault on Iran employing both conventional and tactical nuclear weapons."[/quote]

Here's the link:

http://www.amconmag.com/2005_08_01/article3.html

Then there was the following recent testimony to Congress by Zbigniew Brzezinski. Link:

http://www.senate.gov/~foreign/testimony/2007/BrzezinskiTestimony070201.pdf

[quote]"A plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran involves Iraqi failure to meet the benchmarks; followed by accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure; then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the U.S. blamed on Iran; culminating in a "defensive" U.S. military action against Iran that plunges a lonely America into a spreading and deepening quagmire eventually ranging across Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan"[/quote]

And January, 2007's unreported comments to Congress by GOP Presidential candidate Ron Paul - who is running on a Constitution platform:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d8MIENVtKw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eprisonplanet%2Ecom%2Farticles%2Fjanuary2007%2F160107Paul%2Ehtm

[quote]The truth is that Iran, like Iraq, is a third-world nation without a significant military. Nothing in history hints that she is likely to invade a neighboring country, let alone America or Israel. I am concerned, however, that a contrived Gulf of Tonkin- type incident may occur to gain popular support for an attack on Iran.[/quote]

So, in summary, we're getting warnings from all directions on a pending attack. We have precedent for those attacks coinciding with planned drills that match the events, and we have precedent of government manufacturing a crisis to go to war (look up National security Archive "Gulf of Tonkin").

A lot of unnerving pieces seem to be occurring, and it's worth keeping in mind over the next few weeks. I pray that my assessment is wrong, but I can't avoid considering that it's a possibility.

Rice Farmer said...

Certainly this is all very suspicious. Note this item:
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/ID27Ak02.html
We see here that AQ is the pretext for unlimited war. What it comes down to is that US elites can have "al Qaeda" strike wherever and whenever they like. So it's no surprise that a "leaked intelligence report" would warn about plans for "large-scale" attacks.

Not related to this, but here's something of interest: At an upcoming meeting in the US, Japan and the US are expected to ink a "General Security of Military Information Agreement." The US will also press Japan to spend more on defense so that US troops can be redeployed in regions with more oil.

illyia said...

Jenna, please let Michael know that his theories presented in Crossing the Rubicon are getting some attention, now.

I wish him well, but I also wish him back on line.

If things heat up in the investigation of prior knowledge of 9-11, I hope he will stand up and declare his knowledge of Northern Vigilance, Guardian, et al.

This could be a make-or-break-point for our nation. Bushco will do everything it can to hold on, and I know he and you know what that means better than I ever will. But if words of the techniques used to obscure the coming attack are mentioned, I pray he stands up, with the book filled with evidence beside him, and goes for "broke".

Obviously, leaving the country is a less-than-desirable option: So we must stand and fight while we can.

Thanks for keeping the light.

illyia

(And I hope that I am doing this for the last time! Talk about security... if we had this sort of security in the USoA, no one would need a government!... hmmm....)

Pandabonium said...

"Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed yesterday to forge a “multilayered relationship” beyond oil with the Middle East, hoping to herald a new era of ties between Tokyo and the region."

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=95563&d=29&m=4&y=2007

As Rice Farmer has pointed out, Japan is moving away from the US toward better relations with its neighbors, and here we see the Middle East as well.

It mostly has to do with energy, of course, but beyond that - made clear if you read the article.

I think it is indicative of how badly the US has mucked up international conditions on many levels.

Japan no longer sees that US in not providing a stable environment globally and so is increasingly making its own economic and diplomatic ties on a much broader and deeper level than it has so far in the post WWII era.

Rice Farmer said...

And here's an item to supplement Pandabonium's post.
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20070430TDY01004.htm

Rice Farmer said...

In this article
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/ww3/012706_deadman_walking.shtml
Mike said that the US and Israel cannot attack Iran. Lately there has been a lot of loud saber-rattling from the US, which was supposedly going to attack in April, but now suddenly we are told that Rice is prepared to speak with Iranian Foreign Minister Mottaki. After all that muscle-flexing and bellicose rhetoric, this. That's not to say there won't be an attack, but I agree it's unlikely, and that US and Israeli leaders really would have to be nuts.

Jenna Orkin said...

from 'therapeuter'

Dear Mike Ruppert:

I have read your account of the sabbotage of your office and like events that led to your escape to Venezuela, and about some of the "mysterious difficulties" you encountered here. I'm pretty sure that these were the works of the Department of Homeland Security, and not of FBI or CIA. I was once the biggest target of DHS and so I know their tactiques well. Many of their "agents" came out of jailhouse, and that accounts for the use of such techniques as bulgary and drugging and poisining and stealing, etc. (When they searched my place, they literally stole things; and they vandalized my foreign passport once; they care very little about laws, whether of this country or of other countries.) I have met many people from the other two agencies and I can assure you they are nice people who wouldn't have done that to you. (I'm not trying to deceive you.) I'm glad you decide to retire from your work; if your are lucky that can probably take you off the blacklist of DHS and spare your life. Rest well and don't think about the world anymore. Especially don't say bad things about CIA or FBI, for they are good people. I leave you with a short notice about DHS's new surveillance agents program so you and your colleagues can be aware of it.......
(quotation omitted)

Food Forestry said...

RE: SEED BANK STORAGAE ARTICLE

I've been a seed saver for years. There are many governmental resources here in the US for germplasm/seed storage. Here's a list of their locations/links:
http://www.ars-grin.gov/
npgs/rephomepgs.html

There are many open-pollinated seed sources available to the public as well. It is extremely important that gardeners and farmers (as well as researchers) have access to this vital genetic material for propagation and local supply.

Agriculture isn't all about biotech and big business - it's about local communities being able to fend for themselves, feed their citizens, and survive another 100 or 1000 years on what nature has so generously afforded us. See Wendell Berry for further commentary on sustainable and rational local agriculture.

Rice Farmer said...

Kazakhstan eyes uranium supply deal with Japan
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070501a1.html

This story was front-page news in today's vernacular press. Securing energy supplies is now considered that important.

Rice Farmer said...

Cath had made a good point. Going local is the path to a more food-secure future. And Wendell Berry is a treasure! Simple truths stated so eloquently.

Rice Farmer said...

Two energy-related items on the evening news:
1. Today (May 1) gasoline went up 5 to 6 yen/liter.
2. Oranges are jumping in price on the international market because Brazil is replacing oranges with sugar cane to make ethanol.

And -- imagine driving your car from the southern tip of South America to Scotland!
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/04/24/ap3646372.html

Rice Farmer said...

Venezuela to quit IMF, World Bank
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-05/01/content_6050989.htm

On the heels of Ecuador. This is bad news for the US, which has been using the World Bank and IMF as tools to rip off Latin America. It's no wonder the US is turning to military power to "liberate" oil supplies.

Pandabonium said...

Illyia,

Hi. This is not an attack, just a clarification. Hopefully we're all friends here, yeah?

You said "Obviously, leaving the country is a less-than-desirable option: So we must stand and fight while we can.

I'm about Mike Ruppert's age and have been fighting "this" from within the USA for the last 25 years. I left the USA 3 years ago, and my life, and outlook on life, improved immediately. My only regret is that I did not leave sooner. The USA is NOT the best place to live in the world today - on many counts. Sorry. Just my opinion.

Mike left in an emergency, without having planned to, went to a place I don't think he would have gone had done more research, and suffered the consequences. (I think I understand his choice and I'm not criticizing him for it.)

While it does take lots of planning, and a lot more money than staying does, I would not call it "less than desirable".

Lots of countries in my own lifetime have gone through periods where staying was not the best choice - some of my ancestors, some of my in-laws from Southeast Asia...(who do you think populated the USA to begin with? aside from my other in-laws, the Native Americans, of course). And now is a time when many Americans may find leaving the right thing to do for themselves and their families.

Also, it is possible to leave AND continue fighting. It isn't an either/or situation.

We all must find our own path in this, and there are many different paths suited to different people in different situations. There is not one "right" response. I respect anyone who decides to stay and hope they respect my decision to leave.

That said, it would be great if Mike could get "back in action", I agree, but only if and when HE decides he is ready and willing to do that.

Anyway, I appreciate your comment for Mike and wish you the best in whatever path you decide to take.

Pandabonium said...

Rice Farmer - I don't own a car (I drive a bicycle), but my wife does.

When I told her about your news that gasoline in Japan was going up in price, she shrugged it off - until her car needed some and she found out you were right! Your credibility (and mine by extension) went up a notch. :D

Rice Farmer said...

Pandabonium -- The news here in Japan has been full of items on how oil companies jacked up wholesale prices as of May 1, so higher gas prices are a done deal.

This week in Japan is a string of holidays, and now we have news stories on people who have decided to rent videos or do something else instead of going for a drive.

Another bit of news is gas station bankruptcies. Stations are now finding it harder to pass on price increases to consumers. A whole chain of filling stations in my area just bit the dust.

Pandabonium said...

Rice Farmer - many of the gas stations here in the Kashima City area are changing over to self service pumps to save on labor costs. This happened in the US in the 1970's for the same reason - profits squeezed by higher oil prices.

Pandabonium said...

Yomiuri Newspaper-
"Bioethanol squeezes juice makers"
Orange juice prices rise 10% due to sugar cane for ethanol becoming more profitable than oranges.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20070430TDY08005.htm

And they've only just begun!

Hat tip, "Kurashi News from Japan" http://martinjapan.blogspot.com/

Rice Farmer said...

"East Asian Community" -- Here's a topic we hear more about these days. It's not going to be a community like the EU with a common currency (at least not yet), but East Asian and Southeast Asian countries are working out trade agreements that are creating a network-like fabric which is informally being called the "East Asian Community." Japan is jumping on the bandwagon and has already concluded "economic partnership agreements" with a number of countries, and is negotiating more. It looks to me like preparations for a more localized trade regime.