Month: August 2013

U.S. Spy Agencies’ ‘Black Budget’ For Fiscal 2013: $52.6 Billion

by

– U.S. spy network’s successes, failures and objectives detailed in ‘black budget’ summary (Washington Post, Aug 29, 2013):

U.S. spy agencies have built an intelligence-gathering colossus since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, but remain unable to provide critical information to the president on a range of national security threats, according to the government’s top-secret budget.The $52.6 billion “black budget” for fiscal 2013, obtained by The Washington Post from former ­intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, maps a bureaucratic and operational landscape that has never been subject to public scrutiny. Although the government has annually released its overall level of intelligence spending since 2007, it has not divulged how it uses the money or how it performs against the goals set by the president and Congress.

The 178-page budget summary for the National Intelligence Program details the successes, failures and objectives of the 16 spy agencies that make up the U.S. intelligence community, which has 107,035 employees.

Read moreU.S. Spy Agencies’ ‘Black Budget’ For Fiscal 2013: $52.6 Billion

In Stunning Move UK Parliament Rejects Syria Military Strike, BUT Obama ‘Willing To Go It Alone’

by

– In Stunning Move UK Parliament Rejects Syria Military Strike, Obama “Willing To Go It Alone” (ZeroHedge, Aug 29, 2013):

Moments ago the UK House of Commons, in a razor thin vote, rejected the Cameron proposal for military action in Syria with a vote 285 to 272. Cameron promptly said he would respect the will of the House of Commons and UK Defense Secretary Phillip Hammond confirmed there would be no UK military intervention in Syria. Incidentally, this may have been the best outcome for an already humiliated British premier who will avoid being dragged into an unpopular war having both sided with his greatest ally, the US, and also relented and listened to the voice of the people. More importantly, the “people” in the UK actually had a voice, which is more than can so far be said about developments in the US. And speaking of the US, the NYT reports that even as the Syrian war “option” is slowly being shut out for staunch US allies (except for France of course), that Obama is “willing to move ahead with a limited military strike on Syria even while allies like Britain are debating whether to join the effort [ZH: and have now voted against it] and without an endorsement from the United Nations Security Council” citing senior administration officials.

The ETA for a unilateral move by Obama may be as soon as Saturday:

Read moreIn Stunning Move UK Parliament Rejects Syria Military Strike, BUT Obama ‘Willing To Go It Alone’

Russia Calls For Urgent UN Security Council Meeting

by

– Russia Calls For Urgent UN Security Council Meeting (ZeroHedge; Aug 29, 2013):

Somehow we doubt that Putin just folded…

Some more from BBG:

  • RUSSIA CALLED FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING, DIPLOMAT
  • 5 PERMANENT COUNCIL MEMBERS U.K., U.S., FRANCE, CHINA, RUSSIA
  • FIVE PERM. SEC. COUNCIL MEMBERS TO MEET AT 2:30P

Read moreRussia Calls For Urgent UN Security Council Meeting

U.S. Finally Admits What Ron Paul Said: ‘Nobody Knows Who Set Off The Gas’

by

– US Finally Admits What Ron Paul Said: “Nobody Knows Who Set Off The Gas” (ZeroHedge, Aug 29, 2013):

The AP reports that US intelligence officials are admitting that linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack is no “slam dunk,” as opposed to Obama (and Kerry) who are ‘unequivocal’ of the fact.

Via AP,

The intelligence linking Syrian President Bashar Assad or his inner circle to an alleged chemical weapons attack is no “slam dunk,” with questions remaining about who actually controls some of Syria’s chemical weapons stores and doubts about whether Assad himself ordered the strike, U.S. intelligence officials say.

…

an intercept of Syrian military officials discussing the strike was among low-level staff, with no direct evidence tying the attack back to an Assad insider or even a senior Syrian commander, the officials said.

So while Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday that links between the attack and the Assad government are “undeniable,” U.S. intelligence officials are not so certain that the suspected chemical attack was carried out on Assad’s orders, or even completely sure it was carried out by government forces, the officials said.

…

Perhaps more concerning…

Read moreU.S. Finally Admits What Ron Paul Said: ‘Nobody Knows Who Set Off The Gas’

Nothing Better To Do: NSA Goes After Parody T-Shirts

by

– Nothing Better to Do – The NSA Goes After Parody T-Shirts (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 28, 2013):

Throughout history, one of the ways in which the human spirit has overcome or dealt with the brutish forces of authoritarian regimes has been through the use of humor. As such, it is no surprise that clever Americans from sea to shining sea have figured out ways to mock the NSA while also making a dollar or two. One of these folks is Dan McCall, founder of politically themed T-shirt company Liberty Maniacs. Several days after the spy scandal erupted, Dan created a shirt that read NSA: The only part of the government that actually listens. See below:

Pretty hilarious right? Well, the NSA didn’t find it particularly funny and, in fact, according to the Daily Dot this is what happened:

“Within an hour or two,” as McCall told the Daily Dot, Zazzle emailed him to say the shirt had been removed from the Zazzle site. (Zazzle didn’t respond to the Daily Dot’s request for comment, nor did the NSA.

Zazzle’s first email, which McCall forwarded to the Daily Dot, said in part:

Read moreNothing Better To Do: NSA Goes After Parody T-Shirts

Young Teachers Are Now So Broke They Are Taking 2nd Jobs … As Prostitutes

by

– Across America, Young Teachers are So Broke They are Taking 2nd Jobs…As Prostitutes (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 28, 2013):

I suppose they should’ve just bought stocks. Welcome to the recovery.

From CBS in Detroit:

So, what are some Detroit women doing to offset their struggles in the classroom? Well, they’re becoming “sugar babies” of course —  seeking financial assistance from wealthy men online.

In the Detroit School District alone, 201 teachers are moonlighting as sugar babies to offset wage cuts and job losses, according to dating website SeekingArrangement.com.

Brandon Wade, the website’s founder and CEO, said the average public school teacher registered on the site is between the ages of 28- and 33-years-old, and asks for approximately $3,000 a month in financial assistance from her sugar daddy.

While the number of Detroit school teachers registered on the website might be shocking to some, it’s actually less than the national average. Wade said the Philadelphia City School District has the highest number of teachers registered on the website at 674, followed by Miami-Dade School District with 507.

Awesome economy we’ve got going.

Read moreYoung Teachers Are Now So Broke They Are Taking 2nd Jobs … As Prostitutes

Video of the Day: Team America F*ck Yeah!

by

WTF

– Video of the Day: Team America F*ck Yeah! (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 28, 2013):

In case you haven’t seen this in a while, or ever, it seems an appropriate thing to share on the verge of good ol’ red, white and blue preparing to start World War III for no reason. So grab a bud, open that box of McDonald’s chicken wings, turn on that HD plasma and prepare to launch some freedom missiles. We’re about to kill a bunch of people in order to stop the killing of a bunch of people. What could be more American than that?

I can’t hear you…USA! USA!

Assad Warns: ‘Syria Will Never Become A Western Puppet State’ (Full Interview)

by

– Assad Warns: “Syria Will Never Become A Western Puppet State” – Full Interview (ZeroHedge, Aug 27, 2013):

President Bashar al-Assad stressed that “Syria is a sovereign country that will fight terrorism and will freely build relationships with countries in a way that best serves the interests of the Syrian people.” As Syrian TV reports, in an interview with the Russian newspaper of Izvestia, President al-Assad stressed that “the majority of those we are fighting are Takfiris, who adopt the al-Qaeda doctrine, in addition to a small number of outlaws.” On the alleged use of chemical weapons, President al-Assad said that the statements by the US administration, the West and other countries were made with disdain and blatant disrespect of their own public opinion, adding that “there isn’t a body in the world, let alone a superpower, that makes an accusation and then goes about collecting evidence to prove its point.” Al-Assad stressed that these accusations are completely politicised and come on the back of the advances made by the Syrian Army against the terrorists.

Here is the full content of the interview:

Q1 Interviewer: Mr President, the most pressing question today is the current situation in Syria. What parts of the country remain under the rebels’ control?

Read moreAssad Warns: ‘Syria Will Never Become A Western Puppet State’ (Full Interview)

Into The Night With Garry Kasparov And Billionaire Peter Thiel Discussing The Future Of Technology (Video)

by

Flashback:

– Bilderberg 2013: Full List Of Attendees:

  • Peter A. Thiel, President, Thiel Capital

– Ron Paul’s Biggest Supporter Is Bilderberger, International Financier Peter Thiel

For your entertainment.

Israel Deploys Missile System Near Border With Syria

by

– Israel deploys missile system near border with Syria (PressTV, Aug 28, 2013):

The Israeli regime has deployed its missile system near its border with Syria as the rhetoric of war against Syria gains momentum.

On Tuesday, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv has put its Patriot missile system on alert in north of occupied Palestinian territories where another missile system known as Iron Dome has been already operating.

Tel Aviv’s move comes after the US announced its plans to attack Syria.

Read moreIsrael Deploys Missile System Near Border With Syria

Watch Neocon Bill O’Reilly Get Schooled By Two Actual Military Men During His Show

by

FYI.

– Watch Neocon Bill O’Reilly Get Schooled by Two Actual Military Men During His Show (Liberty Blitzkrieg, Aug 28, 2013):

There aren’t many figures in U.S. media who have done more harm to the nation as a result of their incorrect, imbecilic and irrational platitudes than Fox News neocon fixture Bill O’Reilly. In case you forgot, Mr. O’Reilly was one of the most vocal supporters of the Iraq war, and was adamant in his conviction that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) as he beat the nightly war drums. The man is dangerous disgrace to his profession, the U.S. constitution and pretty much the human species. Only in America can a chicken-hawk like Mr. O’Reilly who has helped cause so much death and destruction still be on the air after having been so wrong on so many important issues.

First let’s remember this from 2004.

From the New York Daily News:

Fox News flamethrower Bill O’Reilly shocked fans and foes alike yesterday by apologizing for accepting President Bush’s claim that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. “I’m sorry,” O’Reilly said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” in a stunning mea culpa. “I think all Americans should be concerned about this, for their families and themselves, that our intelligence isn’t as good as it should be,” he said. O’Reilly was one of the loudest voices calling for Saddam Hussein’s ouster at the “We report, You decide” network and called him a “killer with huge stocks of anthrax and other deadly weapons.

Fast forward a few years and apparently Bill has no problem accepting the claims of the current administration based on zero proof. The man simply never met a war he didn’t want to get involved in. Pretty easy when you never get your hands dirty.

Iran Approves Bill To Sue US Over 1953 Coup

by

Related info:

– CIA Finally Admits It Is Behind Iran’s 1953 Coup:

From CNN:

…

“The military coup that overthrew Mosadeq and his National Front cabinet was carried out under CIA direction as an act of U.S. foreign policy, conceived and approved at the highest levels of government.”

The document was declassified in 2011. The institute published it Monday after obtaining it through a Freedom of Information Act request.

…

– Iran approves bill to sue US over 1953 coup (The Guardian/AP, Aug 28, 2013):

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) â?? Iran’s parliament gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill requiring the government to sue the U.S. for its involvement in the 1953 coup that overthrew the country’s democratically elected prime minister.

The bill follows the release of newly declassified documents offering more details of how the CIA orchestrated the overthrow of Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh 60 years ago.

It calls for setting up a committee to study the issue and provide a report within six months before legal action is launched against the U.S. government in an international court.

Of 196 lawmakers attending the session of parliament, 167 voted in favor of the bill while five opposed it. The session was broadcast live on state radio.

Read moreIran Approves Bill To Sue US Over 1953 Coup

White House: Possible Action On Syria ‘Not About Regime Change’ – As It Happened (The Guardian)

by

Oh, sure!

– White House: possible action on Syria ‘not about regime change’ – as it happened (Guardian, Aug 28, 2013):

• ‘The goal here is to make clear that this is unacceptable’
• On UK plan to hold Syria vote: ‘This is a different country’
• US secretary of defense: American forces ‘ready to go’

Iran’s Top Leaders Caution Against U.S.-Led Military Strike On Syria, Say Their Priority Is Averting A Larger War In The Middle East

by

– Iran’s leaders caution against U.S.-led military strike on Syria (Washington Poat, Aug 28, 2013):

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian officials on Wednesday warned against a possible U.S.-led military strike on Syria in the wake of an alleged chemical weapons attack there last week.While some Iranian lawmakers implied that any foreign military intervention in Syria would result in counterattacks on Israel, the Islamic republic’s top leaders say their priority is averting a larger war in the Middle East.

Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, Iran’s leaders have publicly said they favor a political rather than military solution to the violence and have consistently tried to take part in international efforts to resolve the crisis.

Many in the international community, however, question Iran’s intentions and its continued support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and they consider Tehran to be a main source of Assad’s financial and military support.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told the country’s new cabinet that any U.S. involvement in the Syrian crisis would constitute a “disaster for the region.” He warned that “the Americans will suffer damages similar to when they interfered in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

“Starting this fire will be like lighting a spark in a large gunpowder keg, with unclear and unspecified outcomes and consequences,” Khamenei said.

Read moreIran’s Top Leaders Caution Against U.S.-Led Military Strike On Syria, Say Their Priority Is Averting A Larger War In The Middle East

Iran Warns: Strike On Syria Would Lead To Retaliation On Israel (New York Times)

by

Hmmh.

If true, then that would be WW3.

Now look at this article from the Washington Post:

– Iran’s Top Leaders Caution Against U.S.-Led Military Strike On Syria, Say Their Priority Is Averting A Larger War In The Middle East (Washington Post, Aug 28, 2013):

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian officials on Wednesday warned against a possible U.S.-led military strike on Syria in the wake of an alleged chemical weapons attack there last week.

While some Iranian lawmakers implied that any foreign military intervention in Syria would result in counterattacks on Israel, the Islamic republic’s top leaders say their priority is averting a larger war in the Middle East.

…

– Strike on Syria Would Lead to Retaliation on Israel, Iran Warns (The New York Times, Aug 28, 2013):

Iranian lawmakers and commanders issued stark warnings to the United States and its allies on Tuesday, saying any military strike on Syria would lead to a retaliatory attack on Israel fanned by “the flames of outrage.”The warnings came against a backdrop of rising momentum among Western governments for a military intervention in the Syrian conflict over what the United States, Britain, France and others have called undeniable evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces used banned chemical weapons on civilians last week, killing hundreds. Mr. Assad has accused the insurgents who are trying to topple him of using such munitions.

Iran, which itself came under chemical weapons assault by Iraq during its eight-year war in the 1980s, has been a loyal ally of the Syrian government. Iranian hard-liners often say Syria is Iran’s first trench in a potential war with hostile Western powers. Iran has blamed Israel for the conflict in Syria, saying Israel is trying to bring down Mr. Assad.

“In case of a U.S. military strike against Syria, the flames of outrage of the region’s revolutionaries will point toward the Zionist regime,” the semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Mansur Haqiqatpur, an influential member of Parliament, as saying on Tuesday.

Read moreIran Warns: Strike On Syria Would Lead To Retaliation On Israel (New York Times)

Nigel Farage: UK Govt Keenest Of All On Syria Intervention, Decision Already Made

by


YouTube Added: 28.08.2013

– UK govt keenest of all on Syria intervention, decision already made – Farage (RT, Aug 27, 2013):

The British government is the most enthusiastic country in the entire international community to get involved in Syria, and the decision on intervention has already been made, believes leader of UK Independence Party Nigel Farage.

The UK Parliament is to be recalled on Thursday to discuss possible responses to an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria last week. The country’s Prime Minister David Cameron called on Tuesday for “specific” military action against the country, adding that so far no decision has been made on possible responses. He also pointed out that the UK is not considering getting involved in a Middle East war.

However, as Nigel Farage told RT, the government has already made its decision. The reported build-up of warplanes in Cyprus proves that, he added.

RT: UK parliament has been recalled to discuss the response to the alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria. But why now, why not wait until the UN investigators – who are on a fact-finding mission in the country – finish their job?

NF: From the very start it’s been the British Government, particularly William Hague and David Cameron, who throughout the entire international community, have been the keenest to get involved in Syria. You know, whether it’s arming the rebels or now, as we see today, the build-up of warplanes in Cyprus, preparations for cruise missile attacks. The British Government has been the keenest of anybody to intervene in Syria. So, that’s why they are not prepared to wait.

I also think that it’s unlikely that they will get a resolution passed through the United Nations Security Council.

Read moreNigel Farage: UK Govt Keenest Of All On Syria Intervention, Decision Already Made

SAS Hunting Syrian Missiles As Allies Prepare For Bombing Blitz

by

Will they run into Russian “Spetsnaz” special forces (protecting Russian technology)?

Good luck then.

Flashback:

– Russia To Give S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missiles, The World’s Most Advanced Air Defense System & The TOC-1, The Most Developed Artillery Weapon Of Its Kind To Syria?

– Syria Says Russia Committed To S-300 Systems Contract – Russia Defends S-300 Deal

FYI.

– SAS hunting Syrian missiles as Allies prepare for bombing blitz (Mirror, Aug 28, 2013):

Cruise missile attacks and RAF raids are expected in response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons

British special forces were last night hunting Syrian missiles in readiness for Allied strikes which could start as early as tomorrow night.

Cruise missile attacks and RAF raids are expected in response to the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons.

A military source said: “It is vital they find every missile site that could threaten British ships or RAF jets and they will probably be taken out by missiles fired from offshore. The risk of capture to these special forces units is off the scale and nobody can be trusted in Syria.”

Read moreSAS Hunting Syrian Missiles As Allies Prepare For Bombing Blitz

22 Reasons Why Starting World War 3 In The Middle East Is A Really Bad Idea

by

– 22 Reasons Why Starting World War 3 In The Middle East Is A Really Bad Idea (Economic Collapse, Aug 27, 2013):

While most of the country is obsessing over Miley Cyrus, the Obama administration is preparing a military attack against Syria which has the potential of starting World War 3.  In fact, it is being reported that cruise missile strikes could begin “as early as Thursday“.  The Obama administration is pledging that the strikes will be “limited”, but what happens when the Syrians fight back?  What happens if they sink a U.S. naval vessel or they have agents start hitting targets inside the United States?  Then we would have a full-blown war on our hands.  And what happens if the Syrians decide to retaliate by hitting Israel?  If Syrian missiles start raining down on Tel Aviv, Israel will be extremely tempted to absolutely flatten Damascus, and they are more than capable of doing precisely that.  And of course Hezbollah and Iran are not likely to just sit idly by as their close ally Syria is battered into oblivion.  We are looking at a scenario where the entire Middle East could be set aflame, and that might only be just the beginning.  Russia and China are sternly warning the U.S. government not to get involved in Syria, and by starting a war with Syria we will do an extraordinary amount of damage to our relationships with those two global superpowers.  Could this be the beginning of a chain of events that could eventually lead to a massive global conflict with Russia and China on one side and the United States on the other?  Of course it will not happen immediately, but I fear that what is happening now is setting the stage for some really bad things.

The following are 22 reasons why starting World War 3 in the Middle East is a really bad idea…

Read more22 Reasons Why Starting World War 3 In The Middle East Is A Really Bad Idea

Dennis Kucinich: Attack On Syria Would Make U.S. ‘Al-Qaeda’s Air Force’, Obama Administration Rushing Into Potential ‘World War Three’

by

– Dennis Kucinich says attack on Syria would make U.S. “al Qaida’s air force” (Cleveland.com, Aug 28, 2013):

Former Cleveland congressman Dennis Kucinich, who has met repeatedly with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, was quoted yesterday in a Capitol Hill newspaper as saying that a U.S. military strike on Syria would turn the U.S. military into “al Qaida’s air force.”Kucinich, a fervent opponent of U.S. military engagement in Iraq – told The Hill that intervention in Syria would ensnare the United States in another war and embolden the Islamist militants fighting Bashar Assad’s regime.

“So what, we’re about to become Al Qaida’s air force now?” Kucinich told the publication. “This is a very, very serious matter that has broad implications internationally.”

According to the Hill, Kucinich also “raised doubts” about claims the Syrian military – which is controlled by Assad – killed hundreds of people with chemical weapons last week. He accused the Obama administration of “rushing” into a potential “World War Three” based on questionable evidence.

“This is being used as a pretext,” he said in the interview. The verdict is in before the facts have been gathered. What does that tell you?”

Read moreDennis Kucinich: Attack On Syria Would Make U.S. ‘Al-Qaeda’s Air Force’, Obama Administration Rushing Into Potential ‘World War Three’

82 House Members Say Obama Needs Approval From Congress On Syria

by

See also:

– Here’s What Candidate Obama Said About Military Intervention In 2007

– 82 House members say Obama needs approval from Congress on Syria (The Hill, Aug 28, 2013):

Eighty-two lawmakers, including 13 Democrats, have signed a letter that says President Obama would violate the Constitution by striking Syria without first getting authorization from Congress.

The number of signatures on the letter has more than tripled since Tuesday, highlighting bipartisan interest and growing momentum in ensuring a role for Congress in any decision to use force in Syria.

“Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution,” states the letter, spearheaded by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.).

Read more82 House Members Say Obama Needs Approval From Congress On Syria

BREAKING NEWS: Russian And Chinese Representatives Withdraw From UN Security Council On Syrian Crisis

by

– REPRESENTATIVES OF RUSSIA AND CHINA LEAVE UN SECURITY COUNCIL SESSION ON SYRIA – TV (Interfax, Aug 28, 2013)