Is the Sky Really Falling?

Dollar Hysteria

By MIKE WHITNEY

The real reason the dollar will lose its role as the world's reserve currency is because US markets, which until recently provided up to 25 percent of global demand, are in sharp decline. Export-dependent nations--like Japan, China, Germany, South Korea--already see the handwriting on the wall. US consumers are buried under a mountain of debt, which means that their spending-spree won't resume anytime soon. On top of that, unemployment is soaring, personal wealth is falling, savings are rising, and Washington's anti-labor bias assures that wages will continue to stagnate for the foreseeable future. Thus, the American middle class will no longer be the driving force behind global consumption/demand that it was before the crisis. Once consumers are less able to buy new Toyota Prius's or load up on the latest China-made widgets at Walmart, there will be less incentive for foreign governments and central banks to stockpile greenbacks or trade exclusively in dollars.

General McChrystal Criticized for Afghanistan Comments

McChrystal described the White House strategy proposal, which Vice President Biden has been advocating in public remarks, as one that would lead to Afghanistan becoming "Chaos-istan." Asked if he would support it, the general replied, "The short answer is no." McChrystal later remarked, "Waiting does not prolong a favorable outcome. This effort will not remain winnable indefinitely, and nor will public support."

"According to sources close to the administration," reported the UK Telegraph on Monday, "Gen McChrystal shocked and angered presidential advisers with the bluntness of a speech given in London last week. The next day he was summoned to an awkward 25-minute face-to-face meeting on board Air Force One on the tarmac in Copenhagen, where the president had arrived to tout Chicago's unsuccessful Olympic bid."

Situation NORML 2009

Reconciling Medical Pot Use and Legalization

By FRED GARDNER

At this point DeAngelo would have the reform movement push for legalization by advocating reclassification of cannabis as an over-the-counter drug. “At dispensaries all across the country,” he concluded with a flourish, “we will stop asking for medical cannabis identification, and simply ask for adult identification. We will flip the switch at the dispensary door, and all adult Americans will have what hundreds of thousands of Californians now have: free, safe, and affordable access to cannabis.”

Banks 1, America 0

by Dean Baker

"The most recent data from the commerce department shows that the financial industry profits now account for more than 31.5% of all corporate profits. This is a higher share than at any point during the housing bubble years. Of course, it is not that hard to make profits when you get to borrow money from the Fed at almost no interest and then lend it back to the government at 3.5% interest."

Iranian Nuclear Issue

Gareth Porter: POLITICS: New Doubt Cast on U.S. Claim Qom Plant is Illicit - IPS ipsnews.net

Top Things You Think You Know About Iran That Are Not True

by Juan Cole

"Remember the Maine!"

I listened to about 5 mins of "Forum" on KQED this morning and decided to take few mins to send the host the following:

Dear Yellow Journalist,

your show is part of a systematic disinformation campaign reminiscent of
what we saw in 2002-03 (and 1964, 1898, 1848, etc...) the media always
plays a key role setting the ground for American aggression- whipping up
the 'spirit of mars,' if you will. You could at least have give some
recognition to Juan Cole's recent piece on "what you think you know
about Iran." The facility was not secret and the Iranians disclosed it
first. Cole points this out, and Gareth Porter's reporting details it.
When was the last time Iran started a war? Not since it was Persia....
When was the last time the US or Israel started a war? The idea that MAD
does not work with Iran because Iran is 'not a rational actor' draws on
a racist logic. See Cole on this. You could at least start with some
valid premises if you wanted to be seen as a truly 'middle-brow' yellow
journalist.

I tune in to this show every few months for a few minuets, and then I'm
reminded of why I never listen.

You're a joke and you will be remembered as such.

Gilad Aztmon: Vengeance, Barbarism and Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds

Gilad Aztmon: Vengeance, Barbarism and Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds

Basterds as critique of Zionism?

Shared via AddThis

Revenge Fantasy: Tarantino Scalps His Audience

By HARRY BROWNE