Monday, June 29, 2009

Good demonstrators versus bad demonstrators

Just look at how demonstrators (in Honduras) are portrayed when they don't fit the foreign policy agenda of the US empire: "Hundreds of pro-Zelaya protesters, some of them masked and wielding sticks, set up barricades in the center of the capital, Tegucigalpa, and sealed off road access to the presidential palace." This is a popular movement that wishes to preserve democracy. Why is'it not getting the twitter and attention? And the demonstrators in Honduras are not chanting Allahu Akbar and are not calling for the return to the teachings of Khomeini.
(the Angry Arab)

46 comments:

  1. Clearly this is a case of the usual Western double standards and hypocrisy that bases its foreign policies on  its greedy interests more than anything else...

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  2. Bingo Marion, and the maximum exploitation of either target

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  3. US 'has agents working inside Iran'

    http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=14145


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  4. Journalism Rules are Bent in News Coverage From Iran

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/29/business/media/29coverage.html?_r=2&ref=business

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  5. Last weeek I posted a three parts out of a five part series of articles on the Khobar Towers bombing. The remaining two parts:

    FBI Ignored Compelling Evidence of bin Laden Role

    http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47363

    ****

    Freeh Became "Defense Lawyer" for Saudis on Khobar

    http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47376

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  6. I forgot to mention the other individual(s) involved, those on terra firma that swallow their swill - so you have everyone on a string for maximum exploitation.

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  7. Thanks for posting these, Marion. Really interesting article. If all this is true...what on earth is going on?

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  8. Obama is trying to help the Honduran President return to power. Unfortunately, most of the legislature opposes the deposed president and supports the new President, who happens to be the outgoing speaker of the legislature. The Supreme Court also authorized the coups. Early indications suggest that the coup has popular support (but then so did the 1953 coup in Iran and the 1973 coup against Allende.)

    Note that the deposed President heads the right of center party and campaigned on a right of center agenda while running for election. Recently, he became friends with Chavez in return for Chavez giving Honduras a lot of money. Hell, if Chavez gave my country money, I would become pro Chavez too.

    The deposed President seems to have been clever to be both pro American, pro Chavez, and pro business. As a result, America, Chavez and the international community are trying to reinstate him in power for the final year of his term. He is not allowed by the constitution to run for reelection.

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  9. Marion, most of the Quom Grand Ayatollahs seem to be opposed to Ahmenijad and Khamenei; including Montezeri and Senei. Why do you support Khamenei and Ahmenijad against the Quom Marjeya?

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  10. VZA, the Saudis are always up to their games. KSA has a vested interest in blaming their enemies (Hezbollah and Khamanei) versus their strategic assets (AQ linked networks and other assorted Takfiri.)

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  11. Fuck you Anand, why don't you go get a drink at the local cesspool. Now we have "tug of war" coup's...lol It is an offshoot of the "do it, deny it, condemn it - but make sure the president does not get back in" coup.  All the same stupid asses from this site have bellied up to the imperial bar, however I have not heard the full sound off yet - come on, we need some more dumb asses, lackies that lick imperial ass.

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  12. That may be, but why are we stupid enough to cover for them?

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  13. The Saudis have bought many members of Congress and the US establishment.

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  14. Waiting for the other shoe to drop:

    In Colombia, a referendum to pave the way for Uribe’s reelection still faces hurdles in Congress and already shows signs of fatigue among supporters. Cambio magazine explains that the chances to approve the legislation are slim, even with Uribe spending his political capital to move it forward. But Semana magazine says, “Uribe has radicalized his position about the referendum,” and that he sees it “as a matter of pride.”

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  15. anand,

    If most of the Quom Grand Ayatollahs are in fact opposed to Ahmadinejad and Sayed Khameini as you like to claim, than they should have influence within the Guardian council to have Sayed khameini removed and the election of Ahmadinejad by a majority of Iranians annulled,  don't you think?

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  16. Uribe has done a great deal of good for Columbia but, in my opinion, he should not seek a third term.



    "Another George, King George III of England, who was Washington's enemy, acknowledged his significance. The king asked the painter Jonathan Trumbull, freshly arrived from America, what he thought Washington would do when the war ended. "Go back to his farm," Trumbull replied. "If he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world," rejoined the king. And that is what Washington did, twice -- first when the war ended, and later after his second term."

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  17. anand
    Yesterday you admitted to knowing nothing about Honduras but today you come and you know it all making authorative statements!!!This is ridiculous!! Unless you're like that character in the movie(forgot the name) played by Travolta who learned portuguese in 15 minutes while he was driving?

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  18. Nice quote vza, did George Washington go back to his farm while the war was on? If he did it would be a complete surprise to me. Oh, that is right - it was after the war.

    So, let me ask a simple question. When you have an elite core that is threatening the life of the people - plus, the example was lifted from Uribe to Honduras in the article. FIRST, the issue of the referendum in honduras does not have "in the main" JACK SHIT to do with getting rid of term limits (that they would constantly use this line in this contry shows their complicity with the coup), but ridding the country of the yoke of oppression  through a constitution that ensures a corrupt - moneyed - group of asses who would do what they would do in the case of a mere referendum that asks the simple question of the PEOPLE for constitutional change - a consitution that was crafted during imperial oppression!

    SECOND,  under the circumstances of continuous denial of the coup, condemning the coup - blah blah blah, by Obama, lets see if the President is restored. I doubt it, especially when this type of deception about the referendum is going on. I want you to remember this correspondence. Lets see if I am wrong this time, and even if he is restored a constitution which would have provided for the voice and the will of the people has been squashed, when nothing illegal was done.

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  19. anand 
    Yesterday you admitted to knowing nothing about Honduras but today you come and you know it all making authorative statements!!!This is ridiculous!! Unless you're like that character in the movie(forgot the name) played by Travolta who learned portuguese in minutes while he was driving?

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  20. anand  
    Yesterday you admitted to knowing nothing about Honduras but today you come and you know it all making authorative statements!!!This is ridiculous!! Unless you're like that character in the movie(forgot the name) played by Travolta who learned portuguese in minutes while he was driving!

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  21. TGIA,

    Honduras has had two major political parties over the last century, PNH (split out of PLH in 1902) and PLH (founded in 1891.) There appear to be few idealogical differences between the two parties, and both have headed the government many times. Both have traditionally been close to America. The PLH government seemed particularly close to America and the Contras in the 1980s:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Suazo_C%C3%B3rdova
    The last election result is:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honduran_general_election,_2005
    Zelaya seems to have run on a conventional, even conservative, platform in 2005. Later, he made friends with Chavez in return for money for his country (which seems like a smart move to me; he should get credit for getting money from both Chavez and America.)
    http://faustasblog.com/?p=13712

    As you might know, TGIA, there are 1 million Honduran Americans who send about $3 billion/year to Honduras in remittances. Honduras' population is only about 7.5 million. You might consider reading some Honduran American blogs.

    The fact that Obama and Hillary have been early in leading an international effort to support Zelaya (pushing Mexico, Colombia, and other conservative governments to join them) suggests to me that they like Zelaya.

    I have read about the history of Nicauragua and Honduras in the 1980s. Where I am unclear is the exact sequence of events in recent days. The Supreme Court seems to have asked the military to remove the president since he broke the law. Most of the legislature supported the action. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">This is very strange!</span> Perhaps the "Chosen One" can try to convince the Supreme Court and elected legislature to take back Zelaya until his term runs out (a few months from now.) That to me would be an optimal solution. Let's hope "the One" can pull it off.

    I'll admit to being surprised by how pro Zelaya Chavez was. I give Zelaya credit for winning Chavez' support, given that Zelaya is close to the US. I also give Obama credit for getting Chavez to support pro American countries and leaders.

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  22. Well thats alright, but I have a HUGE problem with statements made without a comprehensive understanding of the issue!!! I tend to believe that one is better off listening and learning than giving opinions based on assumptions and vague impressions!!!

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  23. In the same way I have a HUGE problem with statements such as "confiscating land below market parket price" which immediately give one the stamp of outlandish crackpottery!!!! Since confiscation already is akin to theft how can one put a market price on what has been stolen??? Or in the case of rape where it should be alright to rape as long as you're paying the raped a market price!!!

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  24. Poor Obama, nobody listens to him...

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  25. In the same way I have a HUGE problem with statements such as "confiscating land below market parket price" which immediately give one the stamp of outlandish crackpottery!!!! Since confiscation already is akin to theft how can one put a market price on what has been stolen??? Consider rape for example!! Should it be alright  as long as  the raped is paid the "market price"?!!

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  26. In the same way I have a HUGE problem with statements such as "confiscating land below market price" which immediately give one the stamp of outlandish crackpottery!!!! Since confiscation already is akin to theft how can one put a market price on what has been stolen??? Consider rape for example!! Should it be alright  as long as  the raped is paid the "market price"?!!

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  27. Has anyone read the current Honduras Consitution?  If you did, you would know why this could happen, and you would see it is a product of deep oppression forbidding a voice of the people - why it is a product of death squads and imperialism.

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  28. In the same way I have a HUGE problem with statements such as "confiscating land below market price" which immediately give one the stamp of outlandish crackpottery!!!! Since confiscation already is akin to theft how can one talk about a market price ??? Consider rape for example!! Should it be alright  as long as  the raped is paid the "market price" for a prostitute?!!

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  29. All the members of the guardian council are selected by Khamenei.

    I think you meant the"Assembly of Experts"?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_Experts

    The chairman of the Assemby of Experts, Rafsanjani, and many of the members tried to move against Khamenei after the elections. For a few days, Khamenei looked shaky. It now looks like Rafsanjani and many of the Grand Ayatollahs lost.

    Khamenei and Ahmenijad seem to have identified the Grand Ayatollahs who dislike them, isolated them, and weakened their influence within the regime. Some are even under house arrest.

    The Quom Grand Ayatollahs use to be infuential in the Assembly. This no longer appears to be true.

    If you want Marion, you could research the position of each Grand Ayatollah in Quom:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_marjas
    Most have been quiet recently. Perhaps out of fear? Perhaps because the Marjas are focusing more on spiritual matters, and less on questions of worldly politics? {which I appload by the way.} In any case most have not endorsed the election result, Khamenei or Ahmenijad post June 12th.

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  30. V, do you think that if Zeleya is reinstated, he should step down at the end of his term a few months from now? If so, then we are in agreement.

    It is very strange that the legislature, army and supreme court would remove the sitting duly elected president only a few months before he was going to retire!!! It is bizzare!

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  31. One other matter Mara, I did get a reallt good laugh out of the proposed Uribe/Obama conversation...lol  Especially in light of the condition of the people in Columbia. I do not know if it was a mercy for Obama to encourage him to leave, especially when the "free trade" pact takes starts going in earnest :)

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  32. One other matter Mara, I did get a reallt good laugh out of the proposed Uribe/Obama conversation...lol  Especially in light of the condition of the people in Columbia. I do not know if it was a mercy for Obama to encourage him to leave, especially when the "free trade" pact takes starts going in earnest. Also the concern in congress over the treatment of the labor unions :)   You posted this to make me laugh didn't you?

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  33. TGIA, you are right that eminent domain can be immoral. I am trying to let people know that Israel is arbitrarily using a type of eminent domain en masse inside the occupied west bank. I have yet to encounter an Israeli who wasn't embarrased when this was mentioned. Israelis would be irate if their property was eminent domained from them!

    In many cases, the confiscated property should be returned to the former Palestinian owners. In some cases (where for example a farm has been converted into a skyscraper), the Palestinian former property owners should get financial compensation with interest.

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  34. Akhi TGIA, stealing property is not rape! Stealing property is wrong, but it isn't rape.

    On Honduras, I remain very unclear on what happened in the last few days . . . which I freely admit.

    I had thought that Zelaya was a friend of America and was pleasantly surprised that he also such a close friend of Chavez. Good for Zelaya and the Honduran people. The compliment is sincerely meant.

    But then, Chavez is more sensible than many of his opponents give him credit for. As I have said many times, I like several aspects of Chavez.

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  35. Stealing property is wrong, but it isn't rape.
    -------
    No it's not rape, it's far worse. When the land is your only livelihood like in the case of the post you made that comment to the guy's life is finished.

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  36. It is a form of murdering life

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  37. thankgodimatheistJuly 1, 2009 at 1:43 AM

    you are right that eminent domain can be immoral.
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    Yeah, it can!!
    BTW, is this a cute name you guys found in order to justify theft of land again? Eminent domain!!!! It's like Climate change! Far less scary than global warming isn't it?
    I feel sick of this BS!

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  38. In America, when the government forcibly buys your property against your will, it is called "eminent domain." Its a big political issue. Often Americans get very angry when the government uses "eminent domain." The term is a technical legal term, that is easily understood by everyone. You can ask Yasmin about it.

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  39. thankgodimatheistJuly 1, 2009 at 3:37 AM

    I got that thanks..But the major problem here is that the govn't is a different issue altogether! We're talking about the settlers who are just grabbing the land without regard to whom owns it! It's like the "Wild West" where the colonists just make their own what's out there! This is one thing you don't seem to realise because you always talk about market price..

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  40. That perhaps explains why Uribe was against the coup in Honduras even though his nemesis (Chavez) was a friend of and influential in the deposed.

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  41. I've done much research on economic aspects of the garment maquiladora industry in the region.  I might post excerpts from a recent newspaper column I wrote on the subject if it becomes relevant to a thread here.

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  42. A friend and colleague analyzes the Central American reverberations of the Honduran crisis from the business perspective:
    http://www.youtube.com/v/btgKXaFY78s

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  43. TGIA, if settlers sieze land that belongs to Palestinians under Israeli law, then those settlers are in violation of Israeli law, and the settlement is illegal under Israeli law. When you read in the press about settlements that the Israelis regard as illegal, this is what they are refering to.

    So perhaps the argument should go like this:

    the Israeli government uses "eminent domain" type laws to confiscate Palestinian property on a massive and ongoing basis. Often this land is confiscated for no price at all or for a fraction of the market price of the property. Simultaneously Israeli settlers illegally occupy Palestinian private property and refuse to leave. The Israeli government often refuses to impliment Israeli law and leaves the Israeli settler squaters in Palestinian land. These cases are refered to by the Israeli government as "illegal settlements." Note that many of what the Israeli government calls "legal settlements" (at least forty some out of 120) use confiscated Palestinian property; property confiscated for no price at all or a fraction of its market value.

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  44. I am a big fan of Uribe. {Also Lula, Michelle Bachele, and Calderon.}

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  45. thankgodimatheistJuly 1, 2009 at 2:34 PM

    You're still pro Israeli all the same! How much more illegality are you ready to accept before you find the whole Israel enterprise as a colonial entity?

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  46. oops.  forgot to note is was in sp.

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