The New World Order Update: Apr 27, 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

If You Are Against Raising The Debt Ceiling You Are Part Of Al-Qaeda?

Are you against raising the debt ceiling? If so, according to former Bush Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill you are actually part of al-Qaeda. Yes, seriously. During an interview on Bloomberg TV the other day, O'Neill actually made the following statement: "The people who are threatening not to pass the debt ceiling are our version of al-Qaeda terrorists. Really. They're really putting our whole society at risk by threatening to round up 50 percent of the members of the Congress, who are looney, who would put our credit at risk." For a high ranking Bush administration official to equate Tea Party activists with al-Qaeda is extremely frightening. Just remember what the Bush administration did to anyone supposedly associated with al-Qaeda. They shipped them off to Guantanamo Bay and waterboarded them into oblivion. It also shows how out of touch the Bush administration really was with the conservative base of the Republican Party. The Bush administration ran up record setting deficit after record setting deficit and now any conservatives that dare to want some assurances that we are actually going to do something about our rampant debt problem are labeled as "al-Qaeda terrorists". Of course the Obama administration is essentially doing the exact same thing. The current Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, has been running around frothing at the mouth and declaring that we are going to experience financial armageddon if the debt ceiling is not raised. This whole episode is yet another example that shows what a fraud the false left/right political paradigm in this country really is.

The debt ceiling is one of the only points of leverage that the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has available. If the Republicans want to make a stand on the national debt, they need to do it somewhere. John Boehner already caved badly when it came to the 2011 budget. The Republicans are running out of opportunities to make a statement before the 2012 election.

Not that Boehner and the rest of the "establishment Republicans" are much interested in seriously cutting the budget. If they were, they would have done it during the Bush years.

But there are millions of Americans (and a few members of Congress) associated with the Tea Party movement that are deeply troubled by our soaring budget deficits and that desperately want something done before it is too late.

If the U.S. government keeps running up debt like it is right now, it is going to completely destroy our economy. America has a debt problem unlike anything ever seen in the history of the world. If left unchecked, it is going to destroy the economic future of our children and our grandchildren.

Something needs to be done.

Yes, if the debt ceiling is not raised, the financial world will throw a fit. There may even be a bit of a panic. But you can't really blame those associated with the Tea Party for wanting some assurances about getting the debt under control before agreeing to raise the debt ceiling yet again.

Our national debt is a horrific national crisis. It threatens to destroy everything that our forefathers built.

But members of the political establishment such as former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill don't have much patience for those that want to question the status quo.

Look, when any member of the Bush administration uses the words "al-Qaeda" in relation to a group of people you need to pay careful attention.

Do you remember how the Bush administration treated anyone that was accused of being part of al-Qaeda? The following are some of the kinder things that they would do to them according to official U.S. government memos....

*Forced nudity
*"Walling", which is slamming a prisoner into a wall
*"Cramped confinement" which means "placement of the individual in a confined space"
*Stinging insects placed inside "a confinement box"
*Waterboarding - one of the memos actually admits that "the use of waterboarding constitutes a threat of imminent death"
*Sleep deprivation for several days
*Sleep deprivation while wearing a diaper
*The use of "stress positions" to cause "muscle fatigue"
*"Dietary manipulation"
*Facial and abdominal slapping

There are a lot worse things that they would do to "members of al-Qaeda" but they cannot be printed in this space.

So when Paul O'Neill says that you are part of al-Qaeda, let's just say that he does not plan to invite you out for a Sunday picnic.

This is yet another example of how dirty politics in America is becoming. Liberals hate conservatives and conservatives hate liberals. They both hate libertarians and libertarians hate them. America is a deeply, deeply divided nation and hatred and bitterness are growing at a staggering pace.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is absolutely drowning in debt and the plans put forward by both the Democrats and the Republicans are total jokes. Nobody seems to have any idea how to get out of this mess.

We have accumulated the largest mountain of debt in the history of the world and we expect our children and our grandchildren to pay it off.

What we have done to future generations is absolutely inexcusable.

In a previous article on U.S. government finances, I detailed some absolutely horrifying statistics about U.S. government debt....

#1 If you divide the national debt up equally among all U.S. households, each one owes a staggering $125,475.18.

#2 The federal government has borrowed 29,660 more dollars per household since Barack Obama signed the economic stimulus law two years ago.

#3 During Barack Obama's first two years in office, the U.S. government added more to the U.S. national debt than the first 100 U.S. Congresses combined.

#4 In the new budget that the Obama administration has proposed, the U.S. government would spend 3.7 trillion dollars in 2012 and by 2021 the U.S. government would be spending a whopping 5.6 trillion dollars per year.

#5 The U.S. government currently has to borrow approximately 41 cents of every single dollar that it spends.

#6 The total compensation that the federal government workforce earned last year came to a grand total of approximately 447 billion dollars.

#7 The U.S. national debt is currently rising by well over 4 billion dollars every single day.

#8 The U.S. government is borrowing over 2 million more dollars every single minute.

China unveils rival to International Space Station

China unveils rival to International Space Station | World news | The Guardian

Model of China's homemade Tiangong 1 space station at Airshow China

12 more Yemeni protesters shot dead

PressTV - 12 more Yemeni protesters shot dead

Yemeni security forces have opened fire on anti-government protesters in the capital, Sana'a, killing at least 12 demonstrators.

Nearly 130 others were also injured on Wednesday after security forces fired live bullets as well as tear gas on anti-government protesters that demanded the immediate ouster of Yemeni ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Ten of the wounded are reported to be in serious condition.

Mohammed al-Ibahi, a doctor at the scene of the shooting, said many of the dead and wounded suffered gunshot wounds to the head and torso, AP reported.

Clashes between protesters and security forces in the southern Yemeni city of Aden also left one protester and two soldiers dead.

The fresh wave of anti-Saleh protests come amidst opposition calls for a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience to bring down Saleh, who has been in power for 32 years.

Oops Wrong House: Cops Mistakenly Confront a Judge, Her Family at Gunpoint

Oops Wrong House: Cops Mistakenly Confront a Judge, Her Family at Gunpoint - BlackListedNews.com

April 27, 2011

Print Version

Source: NBCMiami

Broward Circuit Court Judge Ilona Holmes, her sister and her sister’s family says they were ordered at gun point by several Broward Sheriffs Deputies on Easter Sunday to come out of her sister’s home with their hands up.

It was no evening of peace for the Deerfield Beach family, who’d just finished dinner with friends and family, and sent extra Easter dinner to a needy family connected with their church. Then, at 8:20 p.m., police got a call about a possible burglary next door. But a bad address caused police to go to the wrong home.

“Do I feel safe?” asked Carmita Scarlett, the homeowner and sister of Judge Holmes. "No, absolutely not. No, no. So much confusion, so much anger. So much, almost like, resentment. You know, ‘you made the mistake and,’ I told them, ‘I'm the victim and you're upset with me?’”

The call to police said there might be a burglar inside 235 Southwest 4th Street. But there is no 235. Only 236 and 230.

Arriving police outside spotted someone inside 230 – Neville Scarlett was in the kitchen cleaning up the Easter dinner plates - and thought he might be the burglar.

He was not.

Moments earlier, the same person who called police also called the Scarlett’s to warn them about a possible burglar outside. Fearful, Carmita lowered the kitchen window shade. That’s when she heard someone hit the window with something metallic. She says she saw a gun pointed directly at her.

"There's a man with a gun and he's going to shoot me!!" yelled Carmita. “I thought it was the robber!" Her sister, Judge Holmes, came running to the kitchen. The judge carries a legal firearm and immediately pulled it out and held it in her hand.

"She said ‘Who are you!? What are you doing?!’ He said ‘this is BSO.’ She said, ‘this is Circuit Court Judge Ilona Holmes!!’” Carmita said.

"'I'm the owner of this home. I'm Carmita Scarlett. Why are you at my home?’ I kept saying that. They said ‘put your hands up and come outside,'" she said.

Banana Peels Can Purify Water From Copper, Lead and Industrial Waste

Banana Peels Can Purify Water From Copper, Lead and Industrial Wastes | Truth Is Scary

Posted: Apr 27, 2011 1:47 PM EDTPublished on April 27, 2011 by admin · No Comments
PreventDisease.com
To the surprisingly inventive uses for banana peels — which include polishing silverware, leather shoes, and the leaves of house plants — scientists have added purification of drinking water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. Their report, which concludes that minced banana peel performs better than an array of other purification materials, appears in ACS’s journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
The slippery yellow skins are better known as a comedic prop, but now research has demonstrated they have a capacity to absorb lead and copper from river water. Previously, other plant materials such as peanut shells and coconut fibers had been tried, but minced banana peels did the trick better.
Researchers also found minced banana peels could be used repeatedly to purify water contaminated by industrial plants and farms – up to eleven times – and still be effective. In their study paper titled “Banana Peel Applied to the Solid Phase Extraction of Copper and Lead from River Water: Preconcentration of Metal Ions with a Fruit Waste” they also noted the very low cost of banana peels and the fact there is no need to prepare them chemically for the water purification procedure.
Gustavo Castro and colleagues note that mining processes, runoff from farms, and industrial wastes can all put heavy metals, such as lead and copper, into waterways. Heavy metals can have adverse health and environmental effects. Current methods of removing heavy metals from water are expensive, and some substances used in the process are toxic themselves. Previous work has shown that some plant wastes, such as coconut fibers and peanut shells, can remove these potential toxins from water.
To Read Entire Article CLICK HERE

Freedom Watch with Ron Paul: Why I Want To Be President

Barack Obama Sat Back And Watched For Two And A Half Years, Ignoring Leg...

Bill would cap gas prices in South Carolina

WCIV-TV | ABC N

Posted: Apr 27, 2011 1:47 PM EDTUpdated: Apr 27, 2011 1:47 PM EDT

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- A North Myrtle Beach legislator has introduced a bill that would cap gas prices in South Carolina at whatever the average wholesale price is on June 1.

Democratic state Sen. Dick Elliott of North Myrtle Beach said the bill he introduced Wednesday is needed because gas prices are slowing the state's economic recovery.

Elliott's bill would put any excess charges by retailers above the wholesale gas price into a trust fund. The Legislature would decide how to use the money to benefit citizens.

The proposal is a longshot. Monday is the deadline for bills to get to the House to be considered this year.

US gasoline settles at 33-month high on stock draw

US gasoline settles at 33-month high on stock draw | Reuters

NEW YORK, April 27 | Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:42pm EDT

(Reuters) - U.S. gasoline futures settled at their highest level in 33 months on Wednesday, lifted by government data showing gasoline inventories fell for the 10th week in a row last week, dropping to their lowest level since August 2009.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, RBOB gasoline for May delivery RBK1 was up for the fifth day and settled at $3.4194 a gallon, gaining 6.22 cents, or 1.85 percent, after trading from $3.3473 to $3.4250. The settlement was the highest for front-month gasoline since the July 14, 2008 close at $3.5577. (Reporting by Gene Ramos)

Ralph Nader: Pressure Obama with primary

Ralph Nader: Pressure Obama with primary - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com

By JENNIFER EPSTEIN | 4/27/11 2:57 PM EDT

Ralph Nader is convinced that Barack Obama will win reelection in 2012, but that won’t stop him from trying to organize a slate of Democrats in the coming months to challenge the president in party primaries next year.

Nader told POLITICO on Wednesday that he is working on bringing together about half a dozen presidential candidates who could “dramatically expand a robust discussion within the Democratic Party and among progressive voters across the country.” Each would focus on a specific issue where the far left says Obama hasn’t done enough, including the environment, labor and health care.

Ron Paul CNN April 27 2011

US doctors 'hid signs of torture' at Guantanamo

US doctors 'hid signs of torture' at Guantanamo - Americas, World - The Independent

By Steve Connor, Science Editor

Wednesday, 27 April 2011

REUTERS

Detainees said they were beaten and sexually assaulted by captors

ENLARGE

Drug cartels still using Central American military arsenals from ‘Iran-Contra’ era

Drug cartels still using Central American military arsenals from ‘Iran-Contra’ era (supplied by the U.S. Government) : Deadline Live With Jack Blood

By TIM JOHNSON
McClatchy Newspapers

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WASHINGTON — Crime groups in cahoots with venal army officers are looting military arsenals in Central America, giving them powerful weapons that allow them to outgun police and challenge the region’s regular armies.

The weapons run the gamut from assault rifles to anti-tank missiles, some of which the U.S. supplied during regional conflicts more than two decades ago. The slippage from military armories occurs regularly.

The feared Mexican organized crime group known as Los Zetas has stolen weapons from military depots in Guatemala three times in recent years, Guatemalan Deputy Security Minister Mario Castaneda told an anti-narcotics conference in early April in Cancun, Mexico.

In February, U.S. prosecutors unsealed a five-count indictment against a retired army captain from El Salvador for allegedly selling or offering C-4 plastic explosives, assault rifles, grenades and blasting caps to undercover agents.

U.S. diplomatic cables obtained by WikiLeaks and passed to McClatchy Newspapers show that American envoys have repeatedly voiced concern over lax controls on military weapons depots in Guatemala and Honduras.

One cable from June 2009 carries a simple message line: “Rogue elements of Guatemalan military selling weapons to narcos.”

The cable was sent after a narcotics raid on a warehouse south of Guatemala City on April 24, 2009, when agents clashed with “a number of heavily armed Zetas,” leaving five agents dead. Inside the warehouse, the unit found 11 machine guns, a light antitank weapon, 563 rocket-propelled grenades, 32 hand grenades, eight landmines and abundant ammunition in crates with the seal of a Guatemalan military industrial facility.

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Full Article

Dollar Falls as Bernanke Unsure When Monetary Stimulus to Unwind

Dollar Falls as Bernanke Unsure When Monetary Stimulus to Unwind - Businessweek

April 27, 2011, 4:32 PM EDT

STORY TOOLS

By Allison Bennett

April 27 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar dropped to a 16-month low against the euro after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke said in his first press conference after a policy decision that he’s unsure when monetary stimulus will unwind.

South Africa’s rand rallied against all of its most-traded counterparts after gold surged to a record as the greenback weakened. The dollar slid for a seventh consecutive day versus the euro as Bernanke said the central bank will likely continue reinvesting maturing debt after its $600 billion bond-buying program expires in June.

“His language does not provide enough to change the dollar’s downtrend,” said Jessica Hoversen, an analyst at the futures broker MF Global Holdings Ltd. in New York. “The Fed believes that accommodative policy is still necessary, long-run inflation expectations remain stable and growth fragile.”

The dollar depreciated 0.9 percent to $1.4783 versus the euro at 4:19 p.m. in New York, from $1.4644 yesterday, after touching $1.4795, the weakest level since December 2009. The U.S. currency pared its gain versus the yen, advancing 0.7 percent to 82.10 yen after earlier rising 1.5 percent. The euro advanced 1.6 percent to 121.35 yen, from 119.42.

The rand rose as much as 1.3 percent to 6.5876 versus the dollar. Gold futures advanced to a record $1,530.30 an ounce on speculation the Fed will be slow to raise borrowing costs, boosting the metal as an alternative to the dollar. Gold and platinum account for a fifth of South Africa’s exports.

Fed on Inflation

The U.S. currency dropped earlier against the euro after the Fed said in its statement that a pickup in inflation is likely to be temporary. Bernanke told reporters that the end of the Fed’s bond-buying program probably won’t have a “significant” effect on financial markets or the economy.

“Bernanke is very much staying to script,” Boris Schlossberg, director of research at the online currency trader GFT Forex in New York, said via e-mail. “The longer-term implications of the first press conference are that the Fed will remain stationary for the time being while the rest of the G-10 with the exception of Japan is moving toward a more tightening bias.”

North American Perimeter Security and the Militarization of the Northern Border

North American Perimeter Security and the Militarization of the Northern Border - BlackListedNews.com

By Dana Gabriel - Be Your Own Leader

With the release of a U.S. Congressional report that found only a small fraction of the border with Canada was being adequately monitored, there is now more focus being placed on the northern border. As a result of increased scrutiny, there are efforts to militarize and expand surveillance on the Canada-U.S. border. The new found attention is also attributed to a proposed trade and security perimeter agreement between the two countries which promotes a shared approach to border management.

A report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in February of this year, found that a substantial portion of the northern border lacked any effective monitoring and surveillance. It concluded that only 32 of the 4,000-mile border was under operational control. The findings were largely based on failures to better coordinate border cooperation and information sharing among the various agencies. A Press Release by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security stated that according to the study, “the risk of terrorist activity across the northern border is higher than across the southern border because there are active Islamist extremist groups in Canada that are not in Mexico, it is easier to cross the northern border because it is twice as long as the southern border, and DHS has a fraction of the law enforcement officers and surveillance assets on the northern border than it has in the south.” It went on to say, “The border with Canada is also dotted with large population centers and criss-crossed by numerous highways and roads, making it harder to detect illegal activities amid the large volume of legitimate trade and travel between Canada and the U.S. that is so important to both countries.”

There are many who would argue that not enough is being done to secure the southern border and with drug violence in Mexico showing no signs of letting up, somehow we are to believe that the northern border is now more dangerous. This appears to be another attempt to portray Canada as a terrorist haven. Despite what one might think really happened on 9/11, some have perpetuated the myth that the terrorists entered the U.S. from Canada reinforcing the belief that the northern border is not secure enough. It is interesting to note that the GAO report was made public just days before U.S. President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the declaration, Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness. The agreement will work towards establishing a North American security perimeter and will focus on easing travel and trade, increasing information sharing, as well as further integrating cross-border law enforcement operations.

Following the GAO report which identified security vulnerabilities along the northern border, a group of U.S. Senators from states that border Canada issued a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano. The Senators were urging the two federal agencies, “to further cooperate in combating the increased rate of drug smuggling across our northern border by deploying any and all available military radar technology to uncover and combat the smuggling of drugs by low-flying aircraft.” They pointed to Operation Outlook, a bi-national, multi-agency pilot project employed in the Spokane Sector from 2005 to 2008, which used military radar equipment. The initiative, “identified air-related smuggling trends and patterns and organizations active in cross border criminal activities.” Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) who signed the letter, later announced that Secretary Napolitano had agreed to deploy radar technology across the northern border as quickly as possible.

During testimony on March 9, 2011, before a Senate Committee, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano addressed security improvements made along the Canada-U.S. border. This included more border patrol agents and infrastructure enhancements. In addition, she explained, “we have continued to deploy technology along the Northern border, including thermal camera systems, Mobile Surveillance Systems, and Remote Video Surveillance Systems. We also successfully completed the first long-range CBP Predator-B unmanned aircraft patrol.” In February of 2009, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on the northern border and expanded the program in January of this year. The drones are equipped with infrared sensors and cameras that gather information. They are being used on surveillance missions to support counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism and border security operations. While U.S. drones have also been deployed on the southern border, it recently came to light that in some cases they have been flying over Mexico as part of deepening security cooperation between the two countries.

The Operational Integration Center (OIC) on Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Michigan, officially opened on March 24, 2011. The facility, “will provide a centralized location for CBP, along with federal, state, local and international partners, to gather, analyze and disseminate operational and strategic data in the Great Lakes region of the Northern border.” The intelligence gathering center features a high-tech control room where video from cameras and surveillance stations can be monitored, as well as live feeds from helicopters and UAVs. Among the various U.S. agencies, it will also include the participation of the RCMP who will pass on any pertinent information to Canada Border Services and the Ontario Provincial Police. The new center is intended to, “bring about an increased unity of effort among participating agencies and help maximize resource utilization. The OIC will also draw support from field assets, intelligence resources, and a variety of technologies.” This could be the first of many such facilities which will expand surveillance capabilities and further militarize the northern border.

Afghan officer fires on NATO troops, kills 9

Afghan officer fires on NATO troops, kills 9 - Yahoo! News

By RAHIM FAIEZ, Associated Press – 16 mins ago

KABUL, Afghanistan – Eight NATO troops and a contractor died Wednesday after an Afghan military officer opened fire in a meeting — the deadliest episode to date of an Afghan turning against his own coalition partners, officials said.

The Afghan officer, who was a veteran military pilot, fired on the foreigners after an argument. The shooting occurred in an operations room of the Afghan Air Corps at Kabul airport.

"Suddenly, in the middle of the meeting, shooting started," said Afghan Air Corps spokesman Col. Bahader, who uses only one name. "After the shooting started, we saw a number of Afghan army officers and soldiers running out of the building. Some were even throwing themselves out of the windows to get away."

The nationalities of the eight NATO service members have not been released.

Five Afghan soldiers were wounded. At least one Afghan soldier was shot — in the wrist — but most of the soldiers suffered broken bones and cuts, Bahader said.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the shooting and offered his condolences to the relatives of the victims. He said those killed were trainers and advisers for the Afghan air force. The president ordered his defense and security officials to investigate the recent incidents to determine why they occurred.

Storm Prediction Center

Wednesday Morning Commoncents with Jay 04/27 by 98 5 WVER VE RADIO | Blog Talk Radio

US suspected BBC was a propaganda network

US suspected BBC was a propaganda network - Scotsman.com News

Published Date: 27 April 2011

By David Maddox

THE US government suspected the BBC of being a "possible propaganda media network" for al-Qaeda after a phone number for the World Service was found in the possession of several suspected terrorists.

The number was held by operatives fighting in Afghanistan and questions were asked about the corporations' involvement.

However, the BBC last night made it clear that the number was held by al-Qaeda operatives because they had been interviewed for stories.

A spokeswoman for the BBC said: "Independence and impartiality are at the heart of all BBC World Service output.

"The service has interviewed representatives of organisations from all sides involved in the Afghan conflict so it would not be surprising that a number believed to relate to the BBC Pashto service was in circulation."

It is not the first time in recent years that the BBC has been held in suspicion by the Americans, with particular hostility shown by the Bush administration.

Putin: Who authorized Gaddafi hit?

PressTV - Putin: Who authorized Gaddafi hit?

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) gestures as he speaks during a press conference with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen on April 26.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has criticized NATO over its military intervention in Libya, saying the West has violated the UN mandate by trying to kill Libyan ruler Muammar Gaddafi.

"They said they didn't want to kill Gaddafi. Now some officials say, yes, we are trying to kill Gaddafi. Who permitted this, was there any trial? Who took on the right to execute this man, no matter who he is?" Reuters quoted Putin as saying on Tuesday.

Putin's remarks come a day after NATO warplanes targeted a building inside Gaddafi's compound in the Libyan capital Tripoli.

After talks with his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen, the Russian premier said the so-called civilized societies have ganged up against Libya.

He seemed to be tacitly inferring that the West is attempting to gain control of the North African country's vast reserves of oil.

The Russian prime minister said that Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa, adding "It begs the question: is this the real source of interest of those who are brandishing their weapons now?"

Since the outset of airstrikes against Libya, Russia has repeatedly criticized the West, saying UN Security Council Resolution 1973, which authorized a no-fly zone over Libya to protect civilians, is “a call for a crusade” and has backfired by causing civilian casualties.

Washington Prepares War Against China

In the 1930s the US, Great Britain, and the Netherlands set a course for World War II in the Pacific by conspiring against Japan. The three governments seized Japan’s bank accounts in their countries that Japan used to pay for imports and cut Japan off from oil, rubber, tin, iron and other vital materials. Was Pearl Harbor, Japan’s response?

Now Washington and its NATO puppets are employing the same strategy against China.

Protests in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, and Yemen arose from the people protesting against Washington’s tyrannical puppet governments. However, the protests against Gaddafi, who is not a Western puppet, appear to have been organized by the CIA in the eastern part of Libya where the oil is and where China has substantial energy investments.

Eighty percent of Libya’s oil reserves are believed to be in the Sirte Basin in eastern Libya now controlled by rebels supported by Washington. As seventy percent of Libya’s GDP is produced by oil, a successful partitioning of Libya would leave Gaddafi’s Tripoli-based regime impoverished.

The People’s Daily Online (March 23) reported that China has 50 large-scale projects in Libya. The outbreak of hostilities has halted these projects and resulted in 30,000 Chinese workers being evacuated from Libya. Chinese companies report that they expect to lose hundreds of millions of yuan.

China is relying on Africa, principally Libya, Angola, and Nigeria, for future energy needs. In response to China’s economic engagement with Africa, Washington is engaging the continent militarily with the US African Command (AFRICOM) created by President George W. Bush in 2007. Forty-nine African countries agreed to participate with Washington in AFRICOM, but Gaddafi refused, thus creating a second reason for Washington to target Libya for takeover.

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