Month: May 2013

Veterans Today: Sexual Abuse Pervasive In The U.S. Military (Video)

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America’s Military Unwilling to Confront Sex Crimes


If Only the Real Figures were so Low!

– Sexual Abuse Pervasive in the Military (video) (Veterans Today, May 28, 2013, by Gordon Duff, Senior Editor):

The US military has become a culture of rape, prostitution and violence.  The West Point Motto, “Duty, Honor, Country” is not just a joke, it is a criminal lie.


YouTube Added: 28.05.2013

Description:

Sexual assaults in the military are pervasive and indicative of a diseased military culture.

Hungary Torches 500 HECTARES Of GM Corn To Eradicate GMOs From Food Supply

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Don’t miss:

– Seeds Of Death: Unveiling The Lies Of GMO’s (Full Documentary)

– Hungary torches 500 hectares of GM corn to eradicate GMOs from food supply (Natural News, May 29, 2013):

When it comes to protecting the public from GMOs, Hungary knows how to get the job done: set fire to the fields growing GM corn!

Read moreHungary Torches 500 HECTARES Of GM Corn To Eradicate GMOs From Food Supply

China’s Growth Forecast Lowered By IMF

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Nothing coming from China is real.

All economic numbers are totally ‘massaged’ to the upside, whereas power consumption is collapsing.

– China’s growth forecast lowered by IMF (Guardian, May 29, 2013):

China needs ‘continued liberalisation and reduced government involvement’ in economy, says deputy IMF managing director David Lipton

China needs to make a “decisive push” to launch new market-oriented reforms and has to control rapid credit growth that could lead to financial problems, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.

The fund trimmed its growth forecast for China this year from 8% to 7.75% because of weaker global demand but said the Chinese economy should remain robust.

Read moreChina’s Growth Forecast Lowered By IMF

10 Under-Reported Realities In The US Labor Market

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– 10 Under-Reported Realities In The US Labor Market (ZeroHedge, May 29, 2013):

Beneath the unemployment rate and headline jobs number is a world of labor market signals that few, if any, ever take the time to look at. ConvergEx’s Nick Colas analyzes 10 under-reported signals to look for alternative clues about the direction of the job market and, in his words, the results aren’t pretty. We’re still 2 years away from full employment at the current pace of job growth, and more people are entering the labor force for the first time since the 1980s, adding to already fierce competition for open positions.  Not to mention over 7% of those not in the labor force actually want a job right now (also intensifying competition), and the rate of job growth isn’t enough to offset the number of unemployed workers with expiring benefits.  On the plus side, the number of re-entrants to the labor force is at a 4-year low.  And for those who do have a job, average wages are higher than ever. However, the majority of the analysis shows the labor market remains stubbornly resistant to improvement – despite talking heads belief in ‘taper’ing on improvements.

Via Nick Colas of ConvergEx,

Note from Nick: We love “Top Ten lists.”  Can’t get enough of them, really.   Today Beth offers up one such collection, dedicated to the current state of the U.S. labor market.  Looks like she could have had a “Top 17” or “top 22” list, but here are her best 10…

Read more10 Under-Reported Realities In The US Labor Market

Student Loan Bubble? Just Discharge It!

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– Student Loan Bubble? Just Discharge It (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

By now everyone knows that the biggest portion of US household debt, besides mortgage debt, is a towering $1+ trillion in student loans, more than total outstanding credit cards or car loans, which is problematic for three main reasons: it is increasing at an unprecedented pace due to lax Federal lending standards, delinquent loans are soaring and are now well over $100 billion and rising at a pace of tens of billions each quarter, and it can not be discharged. At least that is conventional wisdom. But while points 1 and 2 are indisputable (and deteriorating), it is point 3 that is the more troubling for an entire generation of young men and women who are afraid to splurge on levered purchases such as houses due to an already insurmountable debt overhang, and a job market that is hardly hospitable to young entrants. Luckily, there may now be solution stamped in US case law.

Read moreStudent Loan Bubble? Just Discharge It!

The Chinese To Buy America’s Pork: Shuanghui Group Agreed To Acquire Smithfield Foods For About $4.7 BILLION

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Flashback:


Remember the 16,000 dead pigs found in Shanghai’s Huangpu river?

– China Pulls 1,000 Dead DUCKS From Sichuan River:

The news comes as the toll of dead pigs pulled from Shanghai’s Huangpu river passed 16,000.

So the conditions under which our food is produced …

@Amazon.com: Eating Animals

… will certainly not improve.

Bon appétit!

– China’s Shuanghui to Buy Smithfield Foods (Wall Street Journal, May 29, 2013):

Chinese meat producer Shuanghui Group agreed to acquire Smithfield Foods Inc. for about $4.7 billion, striking what would be the largest takeover of a U.S. company by a Chinese buyer—should it get past what is likely to be heavy regulatory scrutiny.

Shuanghui agreed to pay $34 per share for Smithfield, the world’s largest hog farmer and pork processor, marking a 31% premium to Smithfield’s Tuesday closing price of $25.97. Including debt, the deal values Smithfield at $7.1 billion.

Read moreThe Chinese To Buy America’s Pork: Shuanghui Group Agreed To Acquire Smithfield Foods For About $4.7 BILLION

Haunted By The Last Housing Bubble, Fitch Warns ‘Gains Are Outpacing Fundamentals’

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Related info:

– NYT On The Housing Recovery: ‘Homes See Biggest Price Gain in Years, Propelling Stocks’ – ZeroHedge: 3 Big Banks Halt Foreclosures In May, Keeping The ‘Recovery’ Dream Alive

– Haunted By The Last Housing Bubble, Fitch Warns “Gains Are Outpacing Fundamentals” (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

The last week has seen quite dramatic drops in the prices of a little-discussed but oh-so-critical asset-class in the last housing bubble’s ‘pop’. Having just crossed above ‘Lehman’ levels, ABX (residential) and CMBX (commercial) credit indices have seen their biggest weekly drop in 20 months as both rates and credit concerns appear to be on the rise. Perhaps it is this price action that has spooked Fitch’s structured products team, or simply the un-sustainability (as we discussed here, here and here most recently) that has the ratings agency on the defensive, noting that, “the recent home price gains recorded in several residential markets are outpacing improvements in fundamentals and could stall or possibly reverse.” Simply put, “demand is artificially high… and supply is artificially low.”

Read moreHaunted By The Last Housing Bubble, Fitch Warns ‘Gains Are Outpacing Fundamentals’

NYT On The Housing Recovery: ‘Homes See Biggest Price Gain in Years, Propelling Stocks’ – ZeroHedge: 3 Big Banks Halt Foreclosures In May, Keeping The ‘Recovery’ Dream Alive

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What can you say?

– Homes See Biggest Price Gain in Years, Propelling Stocks (New York Times, May 28, 2013):

Americans are in a buying mood, thanks largely to the housing recovery.

The latest sign emerged Tuesday as the Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller home price index posted the biggest gains in seven years. Housing prices rose in every one of the 20 cities tracked, continuing a trend that began three months ago. Similar strength has appeared in new and existing home sales and in building permits, as rising home prices are encouraging construction firms to accelerate building and hiring.

The broad-based housing improvements appear to be buoying consumer confidence and spending, countering fears earlier this year that many consumers would pull back in response to government austerity measures.

…

– Keeping The ‘Recovery’ Dream Alive; 3 Big Banks Halt Foreclosures In May (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

What is the only thing better than Foreclosure Stuffing to provide an artificial supply-side subsidy to the housing market? How about completely clogging the foreclosure pipeline, by halting all foreclosure sales, which is just what the three TBTF megabanks: Wells Fargo, JPMorgan and Citi have done in recent weeks. Under the guise of ‘ensuring late-stage foreclosure procedures were in accordance with guidelines’, the LA Times reports that these three banks paused sales on May 6th and all but halted foreclosures. Perfectly organic housing recovery – as we noted earlier… and guess what states the greatest number of ‘halts’ are in from these banks – California, Nevada, Arizona – exactly where the surges in price have occurred.

Via The LA Times,

Sales of homes in foreclosure by Wells Fargo & Co., JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. ground nearly to a halt after regulators revised their orders on treatment of troubled borrowers during the 60 days before they lose their homes.

Read moreNYT On The Housing Recovery: ‘Homes See Biggest Price Gain in Years, Propelling Stocks’ – ZeroHedge: 3 Big Banks Halt Foreclosures In May, Keeping The ‘Recovery’ Dream Alive

Top IRS Officials, Whose Agency Was Under Investigation For Targeting Conservative Groups, Visited The Obama White House More Than 100 Times In 2 Years

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– Lawmakers zero in on IRS meetings at White House (Examiner, May 23, 2013):

Top IRS officials, whose agency was under investigation for targeting conservative groups, visited the Obama White House more than 100 times over two years while the probe was going on, far more often than in previous administrations and frequently enough that Republicans suspect White House officials knew about the targeting.

Lawmakers now investigating the Internal Revenue Service practice zeroed in on those nearly weekly White House meetings to determine whether an IRS official — or someone higher up in the administration — had approved the targeting and whether it was politically motivated.

The frequent meetings also raised questions about the White House’s claims that it couldn’t have instigated the targeting of conservative groups because it took a hands-off approach to the tax agency, going so far as to describe it as independent of the administration even though it’s part of the Treasury Department.

Read moreTop IRS Officials, Whose Agency Was Under Investigation For Targeting Conservative Groups, Visited The Obama White House More Than 100 Times In 2 Years

Operators Of Global Currency Exchange ‘Liberty Reserve’ Ran $6 BILLION Money-Laundering Operation Online

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www.libertyreserve.com:

– Online Currency Exchange Accused of Laundering $6 Billion (New York Times, May 28, 2013):

The operators of a global currency exchange ran a $6 billion money-laundering operation online, a central hub for criminals trafficking in everything from stolen identities to child pornography, federal prosecutors in New York said on Tuesday.

The currency exchange, Liberty Reserve, operated beyond the traditional confines of United States and international banking regulations in what prosecutors called a shadowy netherworld of cyberfinance. It traded in virtual currency and provided the kind of anonymous and easily accessible banking infrastructure increasingly sought by criminal networks, law enforcement officials said.

Read moreOperators Of Global Currency Exchange ‘Liberty Reserve’ Ran $6 BILLION Money-Laundering Operation Online

Syria Goes Hot: Russia To Deliver Weapons, Deploys Air Defense; Israel Warns Russia; Obama Demands No Fly Zone

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– Syria Goes Hot: Russia To Deliver Weapons, Deploys Air Defense; Israel Warns Russia; Obama Demands No Fly Zone (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

Those who were intently following the USDJPY pair formerly known as the stock market today missed the biggest news of the day: the proxy war in Syria just went hot, following a confluence of news, first that Russia insisted “it would deliver anti-aircraft missiles to Syria despite international criticism, as fears of spillover from the conflict grew” and in logical retaliation to yesterday’s decision by Europe to lift an arms embargo to the Al Qaeda-supported, Qatari mercenaries operating in Syria, also known as “rebels”, leading Israel’s defense minister Moshe Yaalon to immediately signal that “its military is prepared to strike shipments of advanced Russian weapons to Syria“, while back in the US “the White House has asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for a no-fly zone inside Syria that would be enforced by the U.S. and other countries such as France and Great Britain, two administration officials told The Daily Beast.” And just to make it very clear that Russia is absolutely not bluffing, it announced overnight that its four regiments of S-300 air defense systems have been deployed at the Ashuluk firing range in southern Russia as part of another snap combat readiness check of the Russian armed forces “The missions will be carried out in conditions of heavy electronic warfare to test the capabilities of the air defense units to the highest limit.” And to think: the threat of a global war, over some natgas pipelines from Qatar to Europe, and a threat to Gazprom’s monopoly.

From AFP:

Russia insisted Tuesday it would deliver anti-aircraft missiles to Syria despite international criticism, as fears of spillover from the conflict grew after three Lebanese soldiers were killed in a border-area attack.

Read moreSyria Goes Hot: Russia To Deliver Weapons, Deploys Air Defense; Israel Warns Russia; Obama Demands No Fly Zone

US Mint Resumes Selling One-Tenth Ounce Gold Coins … At A 40% Premium To Spot!

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– US Mint Resumes Selling One-Tenth Ounce Gold Coins… At A 40% Premium To Spot (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

When news broke a month ago that the US Mint had suspended selling one-tenth ounce gold coins, perhaps the most surprising news was that there were thousands of consumers willing to pay the exorbitant retail premium demanded by the US mint, with the resulting order deluge promptly sapping the mint’s stretched inventories. Well: we have good news – as of moments ago the US mint has once again restocked on the popular denomination (with a 20,000 production limit), and without a limit per household. The even better news: the coin will set you back just $195. This means a “tiny” 40% premium to spot. Is there indeed a massive disconnect between spot and physical as the Mint is telegraphing? Nah: must be all those shipping and wrapping costs for the fancy box the coin is put in. Oh wait, the gift box is another $5.95 per order. And no, it isn’t the shipping and handling either: that is another $4.95. In other words: the full delivery of one coin to your front door step would cost $200 per one tenth of an ounce. Oh well: we are fresh out of ideas then.

 

Eric Holder Under Investigation By House Judiciary Committee For Lying Under Oath

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– Eric Holder Under Investigation By House Judiciary Committee For Lying Under Oath (ZeroHedge, May 28, 2013):

With the euphoric market once again serving as a much needed distraction from far bigger geopolitical issues, many have forgotten the plethora of scandals the Obama administration has recently found itself engulfed in. This may change shortly, following news that the head of the US Department of Justice, Eric Holder himself, is now being investigated for lying under oath. Will he too receive an extended absence of leave (with pay) after pleading the fifth, or will the circle of lies slowly but surely start to unwind? Of course, in the New Normal it is probably not only expected, but given, that the chief legal enforcer is just a little more equal when it comes to the same justice he is tasked to enforce.

From The Hill:

The House Judiciary Committee is investigating whether Attorney General Eric Holder lied under oath during his May 15 testimony on the Justice Department’s (DOJ) surveillance of reporters, an aide close to the matter told The Hill.

Read moreEric Holder Under Investigation By House Judiciary Committee For Lying Under Oath

The Real Numbers: Half Of America In Poverty … And It’s Creeping Upward

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Don’t miss:

– 40 Statistics About The Fall Of The U.S. Economy That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe

– The Real Numbers: Half of America in Poverty — and It’s Creeping Upward (Alternet, May 26, 2013):

The Census Bureau has reported that one out of six Americans lives in poverty. A shocking figure. But it’s actually much, much worse.

The Census Bureau has reported that 15% of Americans live in poverty. A shocking figure. But it’s actually much worse. Inequality is spreading like a shadowy disease through our country, infecting more and more households, and leaving a shrinking number of financially secure families to maintain the charade of prosperity.

1. Almost half of Americans had NO assets in 2009

Analysis of  Economic Policy Institute data shows that Mitt Romney’s famous  47 percent, the alleged ‘takers,’ have taken nothing. Their debt exceeded their assets in 2009.

2. It’s Even Worse 3 Years Later

Since the recession, the disparities have continued to grow. An  OECD report states that “inequality has increased by more over the past three years to the end of 2010 than in the previous twelve,” with the U.S. experiencing one of the widest gaps among OECD countries. The 30-year  decline in wages has worsened since the recession, as low-wage jobs have replaced formerly secure middle-income positions.

3. Based on wage figures, half of Americans are in or near poverty.

Read moreThe Real Numbers: Half Of America In Poverty … And It’s Creeping Upward

Russia To Deliver S-300 Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense System To Syria ‘To Deter Foreign Intervention’

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– Russian arms ‘to deter foreign intervention in Syria’ (BBC News, May 28, 2013):

Russia says it will go ahead with deliveries of S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria, and that the arms will help deter foreign intervention.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the missiles were a “stabilising factor” that could dissuade “some hotheads” from entering the conflict.

Russia also criticised an EU decision not to renew an arms embargo on Syria.

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Mr Ryabkov said the contract for the S-300 missile systems had been signed several years ago.

“We consider these supplies a stabilising factor and believe such steps will deter some hotheads from considering scenarios that would turn the conflict international with the involvement of outside forces,” he was quoted as telling journalists.

Russia’s envoy to Nato, Aleksandr Grushko, said Moscow was acting “fully within the framework of international law”, in delivering the arms.

“We are not doing anything that could change the situation in Syria,” he said. “The arms that we supply are defensive weapons.”

The BBC’s Jim Muir in Beirut says the Russian statement could be seen as an escalation. He says there had been reports that Moscow was holding back on delivering the arms, in exchange for an Israeli commitment not to carry out further air raids over Syria.

Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said the Russian missile systems had not yet left Russia.

“I hope they will not leave, and if, God forbid, they reach Syria, we will know what to do,” he said.

Read moreRussia To Deliver S-300 Anti-Aircraft Missile Defense System To Syria ‘To Deter Foreign Intervention’

Here Is The Very Long List Of U.S. Weapons Designs And Technologies Compromised By Hackers

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– A list of the U.S. weapons designs and technologies compromised by hackers (Washington Post, May 28, 2013):

Weapon designs and technologies compromised

The following is reproduced from the nonpublic version of the Defense Science Board report “Resilient Military Systems and the Advanced Cyber Threat”:

Table 2.2 Expanded partial list of DoD system designs and technologies compromised via cyber exploitation

SYSTEM DESIGNS

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

Patriot Advanced Capability-3

Extended Area Protection and Survivability System (EAPS)

F-35

V-22

C-17

Read moreHere Is The Very Long List Of U.S. Weapons Designs And Technologies Compromised By Hackers

Chinese Hackers Breach Top U.S. Weapons System Designs

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Update:

– Here Is The Very Long List Of U.S. Weapons Designs And Technologies Compromised By Chinese Hackers

?The charge by a defense panel comes a month visit by China’s president to Calif.


Chinese hackers have allegedly compromised the designs of top weapons systems, including the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, The Washington Post reports. This photo from Northrop Grumman Corp., shows a pre-production model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

– Confidential report lists U.S. weapons system designs compromised by Chinese cyberspies (Washington Post, May 28, 2013):

Designs for many of the nation’s most sensitive advanced weapons systems have been compromised by Chinese hackers, according to a report prepared for the Pentagon and to officials from government and the defense industry.Among more than two dozen major weapons systems whose designs were breached were programs critical to U.S. missile defenses and combat aircraft and ships, according to a previously undisclosed section of a confidential report prepared for Pentagon leaders by the Defense Science Board.

Russia Criticizes EU For Dropping Syrian Al-Qaeda Rebel Terroists Arms Ban

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Flashback:

–  U.S. 4 Star General Wesley Clark, Oct 3, 2007: ‘We’re Gonna Attack And Destroy The Governments In 7 Countries In 5 Years’ … ‘Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan And Iran’ (Video)

See also:

– Russia Sends At Least 12 Warships To Syria (Times Of Israel)

Information on the Syrian Al-Qaeda rebels down below.

– Russia Criticizes EU for Dropping Syrian Rebel Arms Ban (VOA Nrews, May 28, 2013):

Russia has criticized the European Union’s decision to amend its arms embargo on Syria, saying the move will hurt efforts to hold a peace conference aimed at ending the country’s violence.

The EU agreed Monday to keep sanctions against the Syrian government, but to allow weapons to be sent to the main opposition Syrian National Coalition.

Read moreRussia Criticizes EU For Dropping Syrian Al-Qaeda Rebel Terroists Arms Ban

Southern California Wildfire Burns 1,000 Acres; Thousands Flee

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– Southern California fire burns 1,000 acres; thousands flee (CNN, May 28, 2103):

Crews in Southern California struggled to get the upper hand on a fast-moving wildfire in Santa Barbara County early Tuesday.

Known as the White Fire, the blaze had already charred some 1,000 acres after getting its start Monday afternoon, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Andrew Madsen said. The flames were 5% contained.

Read moreSouthern California Wildfire Burns 1,000 Acres; Thousands Flee