Global News

IMF Boss Christine Lagarde Quizzed By Detectives In France Over £270 Million Corruption Case Involving French Businessman

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– IMF boss Christine Lagarde quizzed by detectives in France over £270million corruption case involving French businessman (Daily Mail, March 19, 2014):

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde was today questioned by judges in Paris over a corruption scandal.

The Court of Justice of the Republic, a special tribunal qualified to judge the conduct of politicians, believe the 57-year-old may have abused her position as finance minister to help a controversial businessman.

Ms Lagarde is said to have allowed the equivalent of some £270million to be awarded to Bernard Tapie, a convicted football match-fixer and tax dodger who supported her governing UMP party.

Read moreIMF Boss Christine Lagarde Quizzed By Detectives In France Over £270 Million Corruption Case Involving French Businessman

No, Government Computers Won’t Suddenly Be Vulnerable To Hackers On April 8; They Already Are

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– No, Government Computers Won’t Suddenly Be Vulnerable To Hackers On April 8; They Already Are (TechDirt, March 17, 2014):

The Washington Post has an article about how, even though it’s long been known that Microsoft is sunsetting support for Windows XP on April 8th of this year, about 10% of US government computers still run XP. Because of this, the article declares that government computers running Windows XP will be vulnerable to hackers after April 8. While technically true (they will be vulnerable after April 8th) what would be a hell of a lot more true is to actually note that they’re extremely vulnerable to hackers today and have been just as vulnerable for years. Microsoft sunsetting its support doesn’t change that one way or the other.

Read moreNo, Government Computers Won’t Suddenly Be Vulnerable To Hackers On April 8; They Already Are

Top 10 Powerful Quotes From Putin’s Historic Crimea Address – Full Speech (Video)

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– Top 10 powerful quotes from Putin’s historic Crimea address (RT, March 19, 2014):

In perhaps the most pivotal address of the post-Soviet era, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the West to cut the bull on two decades of double standards and put the Cold War to rest. Here are the top 10 moments from his barn-burning address.

When Putin welcomed the West to the concept of international law:

quote-1

When Putin said that, despite the stereotype, it’s the West who’s acted like a bull…or bear… in a china shop:

Read moreTop 10 Powerful Quotes From Putin’s Historic Crimea Address – Full Speech (Video)

Serfs Up – Average Healthcare Premiums Have Soared 39%-56% Post Obamacare

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Obamacare-screws-middle-class

– Serfs Up – Average Healthcare Premiums Have Soared 39%-56% Post Obamacare (Liberty, Blitzkrieg, March 18, 2014):

It’s been a couple months since I last updated readers on the epic disaster that is Obamacare. In case you need a refresher, here is the last article I published on the law: Computer Security Expert Claims he Hacked the ObamaCare Website in 4 Minutes.

Moving along, we now have some details on the average premium increase for non-Obamacare health plans following the implementation of the law, and the results are not pretty. According to a cost report from eHealthInsurance, premiums have increased by between 39%-56%.

More from The Washington Examiner:

Americans buying health insurance outside the new Obamacare exchanges are being forced to swallow premiums up to 56 percent higher than before the health law took effect because insurers have jumped the cost to cover all the added features of the new Affordable Care Act.

Read moreSerfs Up – Average Healthcare Premiums Have Soared 39%-56% Post Obamacare

Every Ponzi Scheme Always Comes To An End: China’s Housing Problem In One Chart

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– China’s Housing Problem In One Chart (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

The one problem with every Ponzi scheme is that it must constantly grow, in both demand and supply terms, for the mass delusion to continue. The other problem, of course, is that every Ponzi scheme always comes to an end…. which may have just happened in China where as the chart below shows, as of this moment at least, the supply side to the Chinese housing ponzi (and recall that in China the bubble is not in the stock market like in the US, but in housing) has slammed shut.

China housing starts

Source: BofA

Netanyahu Orders Israel Army To Prepare For Possible Military Strike Against Iran In 2014

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China and Russia will defend Iran.

netanyahu-speaks-at-un-about-iranian-bomb

– Netanyahu Orders Israel Army To Prepare For Possible Military Strike Against Iran In 2014 (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

Back in 2013 it was Syria where the world was gearing for imminent military action after a relentless series of false flag provocations by the United States (intent on securing a Qatar gas pipeline to Europe) which in the last minute was deftly diffused by Vladimir Putin. In 2014, it was the Ukraine’s turn, and after a prolonged campaign orchestrated by Victoria Nuland and the US State Department (again) which succeeded in the now traditional violent coup (see Egypt and Libya), once again saw Putin victorious, after yesterday’s annexation of the all important Crimean peninsula, achieved without the firing of one shot. So now that Putin has succeeded in trouncing the US twice in a row, it is time to poke some old, well-known geopolitical wounds, such as Iran. And who better to do it than Israel, where as Haaretz reports, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon have ordered the army to continue preparing for a possible military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities at a cost of at least 10 billion shekels ($2.89 billion) this year, despite the talks between Iran and the West, according to recent statements by senior military officers.”

To be sure there is a tangible benefit for all those involved: moar war means more military spending means more “broken windows” means more “GDP.”

Read moreNetanyahu Orders Israel Army To Prepare For Possible Military Strike Against Iran In 2014

John McCain’s 11-Step Plan To Impose ‘Costs’ On Russia

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John-McCain-AIPAC

– John McCain’s 11-Step Plan To Impose “Costs” On Russia (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) released the following statement on the need to provide greater support to Ukraine and impose additional costs on Russia in the wake of the Russian government’s annexation of Crimea today… clearly seeking the diplomatic way out…

Statement by Senator John McCain on Ukraine

“In response to the Russian government’s annexation of Crimea today, the United States should provide greater support to Ukraine and impose additional costs on Russia, including:

Read moreJohn McCain’s 11-Step Plan To Impose ‘Costs’ On Russia

Ukraine Folds? Prepares To Evacuate Citizens From Crimea

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– Ukraine Folds? Prepares To Evacuate Citizens From Crimea (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

While Ukraine’s leaders have on one side threatened retaliation and will not stand for Russia’s annexation of Crimea, they have also suggested that they should be compensated for the loss of the region. However, the latest headlines from Interfax suggest that the Ukraine government has to some degree given up hope…

  • *UKRAINE GOVT ADOPTS PLAN TO EVACUATE CITIZENS FROM CRIMEA: IFX
  • *UKRAINE TO SETTLE CRIMEAN CITIZENS ELSEWHERE IN COUNTRY: IFX

While no details are known on the timing – or whether this includes the military – it certainly appears like Ukraine has ceded the region to Russia (leaving it tough for western sanctions to achieve anything now).

Russia Launches Military Aviation ‘Drills’ Near East Ukraine

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mig29-01

– Russia Launches Military Aviation “Drills” Near East Ukraine (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

Just days before the annexation of Crimea, while promising that they would not instigate actions to antagonize the West, Russia launched a massive unscheduled military drill. Now, with Crimea under their pro-Russian forces control, and despite promises that Putin seeks to go no further than Crimea, the Wall Street Journal reports that Russia will begin unscheduled military aviation exercises in regions bordering Ukraine. The crews will be practicing “actions during airstrikes” on enemy military targets, communications jamming, air defense and attacks by military jets, the spokesman said.

Via WSJ,

Russia will begin military aviation exercises in regions bordering Ukraine, Interfax news agency reported citing a spokesman for the military Wednesday.

Read moreRussia Launches Military Aviation ‘Drills’ Near East Ukraine

Russian Forces Storm Ukraine Naval Base In Crimea: Klitschko Calls For Ukraine Troop Withdrawal

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– Russian Forces Storm Ukraine Naval Base In Crimea: Klitschko Calls For Ukraine Troop Withdrawal (ZeroHedge, March 19, 2014):

It only makes sense that now that Crimea is officially Russian territory once again, that the Russians would do with it as they see fit. Which they did. Overnight Russian troops and unarmed men stormed Ukraine’s naval headquarters in the Crimean port of Sevastopol and raised the Russian flag in what Reuters described as “a tense but peaceful takeover that signals Moscow’s intent to neutralize any armed opposition.” Russian soldiers, and so-called “self-defense” units of mainly unarmed volunteers who are supporting them across the Black Sea peninsula, moved in early in the morning and quickly took control.

Keep in mind that this took place the day after the Ukraine military authorized its forces to use weapons to defend themselves if attacked. Considering that they did not do that is only further evidence of just how seriously Putin and Russian generals take any attempts by Ukraine to “defend” itself.

Read moreRussian Forces Storm Ukraine Naval Base In Crimea: Klitschko Calls For Ukraine Troop Withdrawal

Has The World Gone Mad?

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– Has The World Gone Mad (Again)? (ZeroHedge, March 18, 2014):

A few select headlines from the day that made us, well, wonder…

  • OBAMA’S GOAL IS FOR RUSSIA TO STEP BACK IN CRIMEA, LEW SAYS (hope and change?)
  • CHINA SHOULD LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS OVER HOME PURCHASES: SEC. NEWS (but, but, but the reforms?)
  • DONETSK GOVERNOR (AND BROTHER) HAD MOAT DUG OUT ON RUSSIAN BORDER (and filled with crocodiles?)
  • BEIJING TO SPEND 20M YUAN TO CHANGE WEATHER TO CUT SMOG: DAILY (winning the war on weather and hence the economy)
  • PUTIN SPOKESMAN SAYS UKRAINE FORCES MUST CHOOSE SIDES: BBC (hhmm, tough decision)
  • FLAHERTY SAYS DECISION TO LEAVE POLITICS WAS NOT RELATED IN ANY WAY TO HIS HEALTH (just being pissed off)
  • CARNEY SAYS LOW RATE ENVIRONMENT IS CONDUCIVE TO COMPLACENCY (and water is wet and we’ll keep doing it)
  • IRS INFORMS EMPLOYEES OF PERSONAL INFORMATION DATA BREACH (shame really)
  • UKRAINE FAILS TO SELL DEBT AT DOMESTIC AUCTION: FIN MIN. (but TSLA did – shoulda sold stock)
  • BANK OF CANADA’S POLOZ SAYS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT RECENT ECONOMIC SOFTNESS IN CANADA IS ALL DUE TO THE WEATHER. (wait what?)
  • ESTONIA’S PRESIDENT ILVES SAYS EU RESPONSE “SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT THE PRICE OF GAS” (what else is there?)
  • U.S. TREASURY CORRECTS TICS DATA RELEASED EARLIER TODAY (#Ref/0)
  • KERRY SAYS PUTIN SPEECH “DIDN’T JIBE WITH REALITY” (YouTube reality?)
  • UKRAINE MAY SEEK COMPENSATION FOR CRIMEA ASSETS: PETRENKO (we don’t recognize it unless you pay us?)
  • MERKEL SAYS NO CHANGE IN RUSSIA G-8 STATUS FOR NOW (nope, they’d have to really cross the red line)
  • RUSSIA FELT ROBBED BY BREAKUP OF SOVIET UNION, PUTIN SAYS (uh oh)
  • CYPRUS OPPOSES MORE SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA: FOR’N MINISTER (RIK) (just capital controls is good)
  • SUGA: WILL DEAL APPROPRIATELY WITH PUTIN’S PLANNED JAPAN VISIT (umm what?)
  • PUTIN: RUSSIA WILL NEVER SEEK CONFRONTATIONS IN WEST, EAST (fingers crossed?)
  • JAPAN HALTS TALKS WITH RUSSIA ON VISA ISSUANCE (and nobody cared)
  • WHITE HOUSE CARNEY “I WOULDN’T IF I WERE YOU” INVEST IN RUSSIA (what do you think of TWTR?)
  • JAPAN DISPLAY STARTS TRADING 15% BELOW IPO PRICE IN TOKYO (shoulda IPO’d in USA)
  • VIETNAM DELAYS SOME BAD DEBT CLASSIFICATION UNTIL APRIL 2015 (will all be fixed by then)
  • SUGA: ABENOMICS WILL WITHOUT DOUBT LEAD TO ECONOMIC REVIVAL (yep no dooubt about it)

Has the world gone totally mad?

And then there’s this:

Putin Says U.S. Guided By ‘The Rule Of The Gun’ In Foreign Policy

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– Putin says U.S. guided by ‘the rule of the gun’ in foreign policy (Reuters, March 18, 2014):

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Monday of being guided in its foreign policy not by international law but by the “rule of the gun.”

“Our Western partners headed by the United States prefer not to be guided by international law in their practical policies, but by the rule of the gun,” he told a joint session of parliament.

“They have come to believe in their exceptionalism and their sense of being the chosen ones. That they can decide the destinies of the world, that it is only them who can be right.”

Israeli Airstrikes Kill 1 Syrian Soldier, Wound 7

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– Israeli airstrikes escalate tensions with Syria (AP, March 19, 2014):

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli warplanes unleashed a series of airstrikes on Syrian military posts early Wednesday, killing one soldier and wounding seven in one of the most serious clashes between the countries in the past four decades.

The airstrikes came in retaliation for a roadside bombing a day earlier in the Golan Heights that wounded four Israeli soldiers on patrol along the tense frontier with Syria. The overnight raids marked a sharp escalation of activity for Israel, which largely has stayed on the sidelines during Syrian President Bashar Assad’s battle against rebels trying to topple him.

It is unclear which of the many groups fighting in Syria may have planted Tuesday’s bomb. But Israel has said it holds Assad responsible for any attacks emanating from his country, and accused his forces of allowing the attack to take place.

“Our policy is clear. We hurt those who hurt us,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Assad would “regret his actions” if attacks continue.

Read moreIsraeli Airstrikes Kill 1 Syrian Soldier, Wound 7

Bit Rot: The Internet Never Forgets,? Or Does It?

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– Bit rot: The Internet never forgets,?? or does it? (Al Jazeera, March 18, 2014):

Planned obsolescence and flipping bits may be putting our digital archives at risk

At The Guardian’s 2013 Activate conference in London, the computer scientist and Internet founder Vint Cerf, when asked about the future of libraries in the digital age, expressed concern. “I am really worried right now about the possibility of saving bits but losing their meaning and ending up with bit rot,” he said. “You have a bag of bits that you saved for a thousand years, but you don’t know what they mean because the software that was needed to interpret them is no longer available or it’s no longer executable … This is a serious, serious problem, and we have to solve that.”

“Bit rot”? The term is nightmarish, conjuring images of a computer system gone haywire, cannibalizing itself from the inside. The phenomenon it describes — the self-erasure of computer bits, caused by aging software’s obsolescence, leading to an irrevocable loss of data — directly contradicts the popular belief that digital data are permanent. Comparatively, the fire at the Library of Alexandria was more straightforward.

Read moreBit Rot: The Internet Never Forgets,? Or Does It?

Malaysia Airlines Pilot Filmed Being Trained In Boeing 777-200 A Month Before Flight Disappeared

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– Malaysia Airlines pilot filmed being trained in Boeing 777-200 a month before flight disappeared (New York Daily News, March 16, 2014):

Fariq Abdul Hamid was filmed for a segment on CNN flying from Hong Kong to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Hamid, 27, was a co-pilot on Flight MH370, which mysteriously vanished on March 8.

A month before he was a co-pilot in a bizarre plane disappearance, Malaysia Airlines pilot Fariq Abdul Hamid was happy to finally be getting his chance to fly a Boeing 777-200.

CNN aviation expert Richard Quest had coincidentally filmed a training session for the 27-year-old co-pilot of the Malaysia Airlines flight that mysteriously vanished after taking off March 8 from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia en route to Beijing.

Hamid told Quest he had 2,700 hours of flight experience and was transitioning to a wider aircraft. When asked about flying, the young pilot told Quest simply that he “just loved it.”

Read moreMalaysia Airlines Pilot Filmed Being Trained In Boeing 777-200 A Month Before Flight Disappeared

Researchers Predict West Coast Killer Whales Will Exceed 1,000 Bq/Kg Of Radioactive Cesium – Over 50 Bq/Kg In Humans Leads To Irreversible Lesions In Vital Organs

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Flashback:

– Prof. Yury Bandazhevsky: Over 50 Bq/Kg In Humans Leads To Irreversible Lesions In Vital Organs – CRIMINAL WHO And IAEA EXPOSED (Video)

THE END.

killer-whales

– Researchers predict west coast killer whales will exceed 1,000 Bq/kg of radioactive cesium — Over 10 times gov’t limit in Japan — Concern about harm to humans, sea life — Expert: People eating large amounts of fish may have levels similar to whales (ENENews, March 18, 2014):

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mar. 12, 2014: Ocean currents are driving those nuclear particles […] from Japan to our coastline, and more radiation is likely to be dumped into the ocean […] there is concern that the accumulation, especially of the long-lasting cesium-137, will eventually be harmful to sea life and us. […] certain models “suggest that in 30 years, Cesium 137 levels in (killer) whales will exceed the Canadian guideline of 1,000 becquerels per kilogram for consumption of seafood by humans — 10 times the Japanese guideline.” Scientists focus on whales because, like us, they are at the top of the food chain and eat a lot of fish. So, radiation levels in them is something like a “canary in a coal mine” for radiation pollution.

Read moreResearchers Predict West Coast Killer Whales Will Exceed 1,000 Bq/Kg Of Radioactive Cesium – Over 50 Bq/Kg In Humans Leads To Irreversible Lesions In Vital Organs

Scientists ‘Mystified’ Over Fukushima Radioactive Waste Found In Pacific Northwest – Washington Official: ‘I Have No Idea How It Could Get There’

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– Scientists ‘mystified’ over Fukushima radioactive waste found in Pacific Northwest — Washington Official: “I have no idea how it could get there” — Professor: We need to monitor if it’s building up in food web (ENENews, March 18, 2014):

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Mar. 12, 2014: It came from Fukushima, but how the heck it got so far up the Fraser River Valley in British Columbia has scientists mystified. […] [Krzysztof Starosta, of Simon Fraser University] said the big mystery, since they have just that one sample taken from a beach so far upriver, is how it got there. It could have been airborne, landed on a hill or mountain and been washed down to the river. […] When asked if a bird could have pooped it out there, he audibly shrugged. The mystery “indicates the need for further study,” he said. […] Ocean currents are driving those nuclear particles […] from Japan to our coastline, and more radiation is likely to be dumped into the ocean […] there is concern that the accumulation, especially of the long-lasting cesium-137, will eventually be harmful to sea life and us.

Read moreScientists ‘Mystified’ Over Fukushima Radioactive Waste Found In Pacific Northwest – Washington Official: ‘I Have No Idea How It Could Get There’

UK Government Wants ‘Unsavoury’ Web Content Censored

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UK Government Wants Unsavoury Web Content Censored

– UK gov wants ‘unsavoury’ web content censored (Wired, March 15, 2014):

The UK minister for immigration and security has called for the government to do more to deal with “unsavoury”, rather than illegal, material online.

James Brokenshire made the comments to the Financial Times in an interview related to the government’s alleged ability to automatically request YouTube videos be taken down under “super flagger” status.

Read moreUK Government Wants ‘Unsavoury’ Web Content Censored

Which Country Bought In 2 Months Nearly As Much US Treasurys As Its Entire GDP And Is Now TheThird Largest Foreign Holder Of US Treasurys?

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– Meet The Brand New, And Shocking, Third Largest Foreign Holder Of US Treasurys (Zerohedge, March 18, 2014):

Something hilarious, and at the same time pathetic, happened earlier today: at precisely 9 am the US Treasury released its delayed Treasury International Capital data (which was supposed to be released yesterday but was delayed because it snowed) which disclosed all the latest foreign Treasury holdings for the month of January. Among the key numbers tracked and disclosed, was that China’s official holdings increased from $1.270 trillion to $1.284 trillion, that Japan holdings declined by a tiny $0.2 billion, that UK holdings increased by $7.8 billion to $171 billion, and that holdings of Caribbean Banking Centers, aka hedge funds, declined by $16.7 billion. Here is Reuters with the full data summary (save it before this article is pulled).

So why is it hilarious and pathetic? Because just three short hours later, the Treasury – that organization that has billions of dollars at its budgetary disposal to collate, analyze and disseminate accurate and error-free data – admitted that all the previously reported data was in effect made up!

Read moreWhich Country Bought In 2 Months Nearly As Much US Treasurys As Its Entire GDP And Is Now TheThird Largest Foreign Holder Of US Treasurys?

Ukrainian Military ‘Authorized’ To Use Live Ammo For Self-Defense

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– Ukrainian Military “Authorized” To Use Live Ammo For Self-Defense (ZeroHedge, March 18, 2014):

So, “supporters” of one side that has promised not to escalate (but believes the region belongs to them based on an overwhelming vote) has killed a soldier from the other side (which has promised to respond) as he defended a military base for his country…

  • *UKRAINE DEFENSE MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MOTUZYANYK SPEAKS BY PHONE
  • *UKRAINE AUTHORIZES LIVE AMMO USE FOR SELF DEFENSE: MOTUZYANYK
  • *UKRAINE AUTHORIZES LIVE AMMO AFTER CRIMEA DEATH: MOTUZYANYK
  • *UKRAINE LIVE AMMO AUTHORIZATION IN CRIMEA ONLY: SENYK

Does that mean war has started?

The White House Has Been Covering Up the Presidency’s Role in Torture for Years

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Obama-bin-Bush

– The White House Has Been Covering Up the Presidency’s Role in Torture for Years (The Intercept, March 13, 2014):

The fight between the CIA and the Senate Intelligence Committee over the Committee’s Torture Report – which Dan Froomkin covered here – has now zeroed in on the White House.

Did the White House order the CIA to withdraw 920 documents from a server made available to Committee staffers, as Senator Dianne Feinstein says the agency claimed in 2010? Were those documents – perhaps thousands of them – pulled in deference to a White House claim of executive privilege, as Senator Mark Udall and then CIA General Counsel Stephen Preston suggested last fall? And is the White House continuing to withhold 9,000 pages of documents without invoking privilege, as McClatchy reported yesterday?

We can be sure about one thing: The Obama White House has covered up the Bush presidency’s role in the torture program for years. Specifically, from 2009 to 2012, the administration went to extraordinary lengths to keep a single short phrase, describing President Bush’s authorization of the torture program, secret.

Read moreThe White House Has Been Covering Up the Presidency’s Role in Torture for Years

US Military Veteran Fights For 4th Amendment At Home (Video)

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FYI.

veterans-against-police-abuse


Added: Mar 18, 2014

Description:

In this video Luke Rudkowski of WeAreChange talks to Rick Rynearson from Veterans Against Police Abuse. WeAreChange learns about about Rick’s fight for his freedom here in America as he takes a stand in defense of the Constitution. Are the government check points that are popping up around the US in line with our unalienable rights. What does the future hold for American citizens? Will Rick be successful in his court case or will unreasonable searches and seizures become the norm?

For more information please visit:
http://www.veteransagainstpoliceabuse…

Ukraine PM: Crimea Conflict Has ‘Moved From Political To Military Stage’; 1 Ukraine Servicemen Killed In Crimea Attack

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– Ukraine Prime Minister Says Crimea Conflict Has “Moved From Political To Military Stage”; 1 Dead (ZeroHedge, March 18, 2014):

UDPATE: *UKRAINE SERVICEMAN KILLED IN CRIMEA ATTACK:RTRS CITING INTERFAX

More headlines, more buying fuel for the algos, and apparently another step closer to all out war:

  • CONFLICT IN CRIMEA HAS MOVED FROM POLITICAL TO MILITARY STAGE – UKRAINIAN PM YATSENIUK
  • UKRAINIAN PM SAYS HAS ASKED DEFENCE MINISTER TO ORGANISE URGENT MEETING WITH RUSSIAN, BRITISH, U.S. COUNTERPARTS
  • UKRAINIAN PM: “TODAY RUSSIAN SOLDIERS BEGAN SHOOTING AT UKRAINIAN SERVICEMEN. THIS IS A WAR CRIME”

What, still reading? Run, run, run to your nearest Virtu colocated terminal and BTFWWWIIID already!.

Translation: One killed Vladislav Seleznev one person was killed during the assault 13 fitz. This Ukrainian soldier was on duty on the part of the park.

Read moreUkraine PM: Crimea Conflict Has ‘Moved From Political To Military Stage’; 1 Ukraine Servicemen Killed In Crimea Attack

Another Escalation: US Freezes Diplomatic Relations With Syria, Orders Non-US Personnel To Leave Country

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– Another Escalation: US Freezes Diplomatic Relations With Syria, Orders Non-US Personnel To Leave Country (ZeroHedge, March 18, 2014):

Putin 2 – Obama 0, which means it is time to go back to the one place where it all started last year, and where Putin had his most resounding victory over the US foreign policy apparatus (at least until the Ukraine, where we trampled not only over Obama’s red line… again… but where nobody quite explained the “costs” to the ex-KGB leader): Syria.  Sure enough, with the US unable to respond in Crimea, has decided to take its fight back to where Europe’s natgas reliance on Gazprom product was first truly exposed.

The US can order non-US personnel around?

More from Reuters:

Read moreAnother Escalation: US Freezes Diplomatic Relations With Syria, Orders Non-US Personnel To Leave Country

Russian Forces Attack Simferopol Military Unit; Shots Fired, 1 Injured, According To Reports

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– Russian Forces Attack Simferopol Military Unit; Shots Fired, 1 Injured, According To Reports (ZeroHedge, March 18, 2014):

It seems, despite all the market’s belief that Putin would go quietly into the night once more, that the situation is escalating:

  • *GUNMEN STORM UKRAINE ARMY INSTALLATIONS IN CRIMEA: UKRAINE DEFMIN SELEZNYOV
  • *GUNMEN STORMING CRIMEA BUILDINGS SHOOTING IN AIR: SELEZNYOV
  • *UKRAINIAN OFFICER WOUNDED BY LIVE AMMUNITION, HAYDUK SAYS
  • *ATTACKS ON UKRAINIAN UNITS INCREASING: NAVY CHIEF HAYDUK

Of course, the big question now is how will Ukraine respond? Because attacking (and injuring) citizens sure seems like a red-line someone should not be crossing (although, as per the referendum, that region is now Russian).

 

Of course there is no confirmation that these are “Russian” troops per se but it is on the heels of news (via Slashdot) that:

Read moreRussian Forces Attack Simferopol Military Unit; Shots Fired, 1 Injured, According To Reports