12 August 2011 — Information Clearing House

Take The Pledge
“I pledge that if any U.S. troops, contractors, or mercenaries remain in Afghanistan on Thursday, October 6, 2011, as that occupation goes into its 11th year, I will commit to being in Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., with others on that day or the days immediately following, for as long as I can, with the intention of making it our Tahrir Square, Cairo, our Madison, Wisconsin, where we will NONVIOLENTLY resist the corporate machine by occupying Freedom Plaza until our resources are invested in human needs and environmental protection instead of war and exploitation. We can do this together. We will be the beginning.”
http://october2011.org/welcome

Abbas Seeks NATO Role in Palestinian State
By Ma’an
President Mahmoud Abbas told visiting US Congressmen on Thursday that the security of the future Palestinian state will be handed to NATO under US command, his adviser said Friday.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28828.htm

Robbing Peter to Pay Israel
By Josh Ruebner
Constituents should be irate that members of Congress accept fancy trips from AIPAC-affiliates and contributions from AIPAC-inspired political action committee (PACs) that result in the United States prioritizing weapons to Israel above our basic economic rights.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28829.htm

NATO’s “Qana Massacre” at Majer, Libya
By Franklin Lamb
NATO used the same tactic that Israel used during the two Qana massacres.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28827.htm

Life In An Age Of Looting
By Phil Rockstroh
“Some will rob you with a sixgun and some with a fountain pen”
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28820.htm

A Parasite On The World
By Paul Craig Roberts
The entire world suffers from the Americans’ inability or unwillingness to put their house in order.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28823.htm

Austerity Is Bad for Business
By Ellen Brown
It used to be that when the Fed chairman spoke, the market listened; but the chairman has lost his mystique. Now when the market speaks, politicians listen.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28819.htm

The Hijacked Crisis
By Paul Krugman
What we’re seeing now is what happens when influential people exploit a crisis rather than try to solve it.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28821.htm

The Video Congress Does NOT Want You To See!
Video
Many have had the sneaking suspicion that our elected “leaders” in Congress are not going to Washington D.C. to represent us…but for their own personal gain.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28818.htm

“Super Congress” Designed for One Purpose
By Jane Hamsher
It is designed to protect members of Congress from the electoral repercussions of cutting Social Security and Medicare benefits.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28822.htm

‘Kids for cash’ judge gets 28 years in Pennsylvania bribery case
By Associated Press
Mark Ciavarella Jr took $1m in bribes from the builder of two detention centres in return for filling them with juvenile offenders.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28825.htm

Calling All Robin Hoods and Maid Marions:
By John Perkins
Like Robin Hood, we live in a time of turmoil. The feudal lords once again are exploiting We the People, and chaos has ensued. It is time for change.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28824.htm

Syria crackdown kills at least 13:
Syrian security forces opened fire Friday killing at least 13 people as thousands of anti-regime protesters rallied in flashpoint cities after the Ramadan weekly prayers, rights activists said.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/1146748/1/.html

The real question on Syria: Why no war crimes indictments yet?:
Crackdowns on the scale of Syria’s have prompted action by the International Criminal Court elsewhere. The ICC opened an investigation against Qaddafi just three weeks into Libya’s uprising.
http://bit.ly/mTCVco

Turkey fears NATO attack on Syria:
Turkey is taking measures to enforce security on the Syrian border, Zaman reports. Turkey fears refugees from Syria, especially if NATO attacks Syria
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/news/politics/16796.html

Iran seeking alliance to protect Syria against U.S. meddling:
Top Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi held a meeting with Nabil el-Arabi, secretary general of the Arab League and former Egyptian foreign minister, in which he called for the establishment of an axis to protect Syria against U.S. intervention.
http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=245982

Two warring ideologies and U.S. hypocrisy:
Some countries depict themselves as committed to the universal human values, but when those values come into conflict with their national interests, they demonstrate hypocritical behavior.
http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=245987

Afghanistan : Eight NATO Occupation Force Troops Killed In Past Two Days:
Eight NATO service members have been killed in the past two days of fighting in Afghanistan, where the U.S.-led coalition is still mourning the deaths of 30 American troops and eight Afghans killed in the shootdown of their Chinook helicopter in the east, military officials said Friday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/afghanistan-nato-troops-killed_n_925165.html

U.S. Troops Fire on Afghan Police, Survivors Say:
NATO and Afghan forces are investigating a claim by the Afghan police that American soldiers fired on them for no reason, killing four officers and wounding two others, and inflaming tensions in southern Afghanistan’s Arghandab Valley
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/world/asia/12afghan.html?ref=asia

468 people in Pakistan murdered by US in last 7 months:
Despite Islamabad’s strong objection, American drones carried out 53 strikes in 2011 that killed 468 people in Pakistan’s tribal belt. Though a Lahore court has directed the Pakistani government to take measures to stop these attacks, the US does not seem to be letting up any soon.
http://bit.ly/n4xQbU

Three cops killed in Pakistan, Taliban commander escapes:
Suspected Taliban militants Friday ambushed a police convoy taking terror suspects for dental treatment in Peshawar, killing three policemen and driving off with the detainees that included a Taliban commander.
http://story.irishsun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/2411cd3571b4f088/id/825571/cs/1/

U.N. Condemns Mounting Civilian Deaths In Libya:
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon offered some of his strongest remarks yet on the subject, saying through a spokesperson that he was “deeply concerned by reports of the unacceptably large number of civilian casualties.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/libya-un-civilian-deaths_n_925675.html

South African president hits out at Nato over Libya: –
Nato allies could be seeking a regime change in Libya in a manner that is “unacceptable”, President Jacob Zuma told the Parliament of Burundi on Thursday.
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Politics/Zuma-hits-out-at-Nato-over-Libya-20110811

Captured intel officer says Gaddafi still strong: –
About 70 percent of Libyans in Muammar Gaddafi’s main stronghold Tripoli still support him and he is in no danger of falling anytime soon, a captured Libyan intelligence officer said on Friday.
http://bit.ly/nBBk9X

Former ‘rebel’ condemns NATO intervention in Libya:
What happened in February was the justification for NATO intervention. But few would have thought then that the events themselves are the result of manipulation by NATO.
http://bit.ly/rr7zqp

Abbas tells US lawmakers: NATO role in Palestinian state: —
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told visiting US Congressmen on Thursday that the security of the future Palestinian state will be handed to NATO under US command, his adviser said Friday.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=412599

Demonizing Hamas:
US halts aid to Gaza: US official:
He said all US partner organisations would suspend their activities funded by the United States until these are able “to operate without interference or harassment from Hamas.”
http://bit.ly/qDVv3Z

British Prime Minister Does a 180 on Internet Censorship:
After several days of destructive riots throughout the UK, British Prime Minister David Cameron is practically tripping over himself in his eagerness to sacrifice liberty for security.
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/08/british-prime-minister-does-180-internet

Facial recognition in use after riots: –
Chief Constable Andy Trotter of the British Transport Police said the sophisticated software was being used to help find those suspected of being involved in the worst unrest London has seen in a generation.
http://apne.ws/ngkBzK

China Central Bank Says Debt Level in U.S., Developed Nations ‘Worrisome’:
China’s central bank said that the U.S. faces “debt sustainability” risks in the medium- and long-term, the latest expression of concern from the nation that is America’s biggest creditor.
http://bloom.bg/mQl6Um

How JPMorgan Made Jefferson County Toxic:
The key to landing bond deals in Jefferson County, Alabama, was finding out whom to pay off. In one example, that meant a $2.6 million payment to Bill Blount, a local banker and longtime friend of County Commissioner Larry Langford.
http://bloom.bg/nEPet9

Michael Hudson: Rightly Disgusted at the Banks:
A bailout, like any other government expenditure, is a tax.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article28826.htm

Consumer Sentiment Plunges to 30-Year Low:
Confidence among U.S. consumers plunged in August to the lowest level since May 1980, adding to concern that weak employment gains and volatility in the stock market will prompt households to retrench.
http://bloom.bg/q5Sleo