John Dolva

I agree. Thank you for sharing that, Robert. There's lots to mull over. Initially the first paragraph leading to the overall question re Navy as a recuring theme. Imo, one must therefore also consider the merchant navy which if one does again comes across parallels. There is another paralell. Remember (and this is also directed at those who might read this sort of stuff 30 odd years hence when there will be precious few left who actually do remember) that the merchant navy has had a significant political role. so the fight was often in this arena.

I'm impressed by the maturity of John and the moderatng team, yet again. There is hope in the field of Education.

further on this: (from Granma) Women under-represented in decision-making positions Anneris Ivette Leyva WE are not born women, we become women, Simone de Beauvoir's existentialist philosophy told us, a long time ago. Since that poorly understood warning, we have continued leaning a few things… wrong. How many women feel the weight of conservative judgments disqualifying us as good mothers and loving wives, when we attempt to assume these roles along with others, in some kind of proportion? How many women report that they can manage positions of significant responsibility and visibility thanks to those who at home "understand and help," as if it were a great favor? Expectations of women have not changed much since the French author wrote her book The Second Sex, denouncing the subordinate position of women with this title. At the time, her contemporaries learned that the meaning of life lay in being a good mother and better wife, learning to carry out household chores and devoting oneself to satisfying the desires of others, regardless of the effect on one's own happiness. Sixty-three years after this landmark literary work, it remains difficult for society to overcome what is traditionally learned and facilitate women's access to positions of greater responsibility, even within those sectors where they constitute the majority of the qualified personnel. Given that these positions generally require more time and commitment, there are those who, 'considering' that a candidate is married, or has children, do not even offer female candidates the opportunity to choose. At the same time, given the opportunity of a promotion, some women limit themselves, fearing they might not be able to fulfill the responsibilities they have been taught to consider more important, at home. NO PREDETERMINATION Since the cultural emancipation created in Cuba by the literacy campaign more than 50 years ago, universal access to all levels of education and the support of the Revolution incorporating 'housewives' into the country's economic life, Cuban women and men have known, but not grasped, that the social distribution of work is not naturally predetermined. It is the mechanism through which relations of power are reproduced – in this case patriarchal – with some positioned above others, incompatible with the goals of a society in which the struggle for liberation and justice is valued. One of the innumerable expressions of clear prejudice is that, as of September, 2011, eight years after the approval of the maternity Decree-Law 234 which offered men the opportunity to take paternity leave, after the exclusive breast-feeding period – thus facilitating mothers' return to work, perhaps given her greater prospects for professional or economic development – only 96 fathers had taken advantage of this option. A large portion of this group had done so only because they had no choice, given the mother's illness or death, according to a report published in Granma January 27, based on information provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It is paradoxical that such an advanced law, in comparison to others around the world protecting women workers' maternity rights, should remain largely unused. But if something is acknowledged by experts on the issue and the country's authorities, it is that these kinds of ground-breaking efforts cannot be left to spontaneity. The cultural inertia which relegates women to the 'weaker sex' category must be answered with the determination to become something different, to shake off the guilt which ties us to an ideal in which frustration is justified, since everyone else comes first, and concentrate on our own empowerment. It is significant that despite constituting 66% of the technical and professional graduates at the intermediate and higher levels of education in the country, the number of women who exercise decision-making power in the areas of human resources, economics and finances, does not exceed 40%, according to data available at the end of 2011. In bodies such as the Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Institute (INDER), the Ministries of Steel and Metal, Communication and Agriculture, the figure does not reach 15%. In Tourism, it barely reaches 9% and, according to information from the National Statistics Office (ONEI), among those employed in 2008 in sales, hotels and restaurants, 50% are women. At the same time, as a fundamental result of recent government efforts, seven entities have been able to ensure than 50 to 70% of their decision-making positions are held by women: the Ministries of Labor & Social Security, Education, and Finances & Prices; the Supreme Court; the offices of the Attorney General and the Comptroller General, as well as the Central Bank of Cuba. No doubt, comparing these figures with those from previous years, the progress made by women in access to territory once considered exclusively the province of men is evident. However, in this area, the 'outstanding debts' remain greater than those 'paid in full.' According to information published by ONEI in its Cuban Women, Statistics and Realities report, women represent 81.4% of graduates from medical schools and constitute a majority, 58%, among practicing doctors in the country. Nevertheless, we rarely see a woman leading a large research center or hospital. For some time now, according to the above source, the percentage of female graduates in Economics has surpassed the 50% mark, but they are infrequently found directing enterprises or budgeted state entities, How many of us, visiting one of these, have asked for the administrator or director, expecting a priori that a man will be sitting behind the desk? The women ministers, deputy ministers, heads of department and management teams needed to close this power gap, can be found among those never even considered, despite their merits; and also among those who said 'no' beforehand or gave up a position because the other woman underneath their skin, the one holding a broom and wearing an apron, held sway. No one can deny the reality of family responsibilities, but this concerns all human beings. If it is true that behind anyone who takes on a significant public commitment there is someone who helps in private, gender does not necessarily predispose women to playing one role or the other. POLITICAL WILL AND FEMALE ATTITUDES As has already been stated, the struggle against pre-established 'truths' cannot be left to spontaneity. The empowerment of women must be understood as a strategy directed toward men, who often resist given chauvinist thinking -justified with the best of intentions – and toward women, who as daughters of their times and culture, have not escaped patriarchal logic, despite being victimized. This is not about awarding a position to a woman because of her gender per se, or in order to fulfill a political directive, without considering qualifications. Female leaders must be prepared to meet the requirements of one or another position. They could be hurt even more, left incapable of fulfilling a responsibility for which they were not correctly evaluated. Of course, after decades of overlooking women, an explicit, intentional policy is needed, which goes beyond subjectivity, seeking among women, the ones who are capable. Surely, many will be found. In his report to the 6th Party Congress, President Raúl Castro Ruz identified this as a challenge in the effort to improve socialism in Cuba, which will define the future. In a strong self-critical statement, he said, referring not only to women, but to youth, Blacks and those of mixed race, "We have not consistently responded to the innumerable directives communicated by Fidel, since the first days of the revolutionary victory and over the years, because the solution to this imbalance was included in agreements adopted at the transcendental 1st Party Congress and the four which followed, and we did not assure their implementation." At the political level this commitment can be promoted, while attitudes among women must be reinforced. There is no justice, 100 years after March 8 was declared International Women's Day to honor the struggle for women's rights, if for many women this means the paltry privilege of receiving a flower in the same hands with which they complete assigned tasks, or with which they place the plates on the table and later pick up. PRINT THIS ARTICLE Obviously some will question the relevance of this on this section of the ed forum. Those who follow some of my other posts in other sections will find that a lot of it is a kind of quest for a synthesis. I don't get much input (online anyway) so much of it ids an unguided ramble through various aspects of the things that shape our world. A major focus of late is to try to understand why why things happen the way they do and often the answer lies in understanding the past. The above piece offers various bridges as diverse as the Cuban Central Bank aand also contributes to a better understanding of what exactly the United States (and others) have against Cuba. (apart from loss of revenue at some point, though the US support for it's terrorists probably is a compensation of sorts). I think part of the answer to that lies in aaaaan understanding that the rtevolution has a date in Granma, the 54'th year of the revolution. Get that? The Revolution in its 54th year. Afa Cuba goes sovereignty and respect for that sovereignty is paramount : so that the revolution can continue! Many goals have been reached, many are yet to be achieved but the will to do so remains Revolutionary. I think this is what sets Cuba apart Therein : The Reason. I'd like to add, of course, that it is necessary that every person to do their bit to ensure that Yankee Imperialism does not succeed in destroying this Idea.

further on this: (from Granma) Women under-represented in decision-making positions Anneris Ivette Leyva WE are not born women, we become women, Simone de Beauvoir’s existentialist philosophy told us, a long time ago. Since that poorly understood warning, we have continued leaning a few things… wrong. How many women feel the weight of conservative judgments disqualifying us as good mothers and loving wives, when we attempt to assume these roles along with others, in some kind of proportion? How many women report that they can manage positions of significant responsibility and visibility thanks to those who at home "understand and help," as if it were a great favor? Expectations of women have not changed much since the French author wrote her book The Second Sex, denouncing the subordinate position of women with this title. At the time, her contemporaries learned that the meaning of life lay in being a good mother and better wife, learning to carry out household chores and devoting oneself to satisfying the desires of others, regardless of the effect on one’s own happiness. Sixty-three years after this landmark literary work, it remains difficult for society to overcome what is traditionally learned and facilitate women’s access to positions of greater responsibility, even within those sectors where they constitute the majority of the qualified personnel. Given that these positions generally require more time and commitment, there are those who, ‘considering’ that a candidate is married, or has children, do not even offer female candidates the opportunity to choose. At the same time, given the opportunity of a promotion, some women limit themselves, fearing they might not be able to fulfill the responsibilities they have been taught to consider more important, at home. NO PREDETERMINATION Since the cultural emancipation created in Cuba by the literacy campaign more than 50 years ago, universal access to all levels of education and the support of the Revolution incorporating ‘housewives’ into the country’s economic life, Cuban women and men have known, but not grasped, that the social distribution of work is not naturally predetermined. It is the mechanism through which relations of power are reproduced – in this case patriarchal – with some positioned above others, incompatible with the goals of a society in which the struggle for liberation and justice is valued. One of the innumerable expressions of clear prejudice is that, as of September, 2011, eight years after the approval of the maternity Decree-Law 234 which offered men the opportunity to take paternity leave, after the exclusive breast-feeding period – thus facilitating mothers’ return to work, perhaps given her greater prospects for professional or economic development – only 96 fathers had taken advantage of this option. A large portion of this group had done so only because they had no choice, given the mother’s illness or death, according to a report published in Granma January 27, based on information provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It is paradoxical that such an advanced law, in comparison to others around the world protecting women workers’ maternity rights, should remain largely unused. But if something is acknowledged by experts on the issue and the country’s authorities, it is that these kinds of ground-breaking efforts cannot be left to spontaneity. The cultural inertia which relegates women to the ‘weaker sex’ category must be answered with the determination to become something different, to shake off the guilt which ties us to an ideal in which frustration is justified, since everyone else comes first, and concentrate on our own empowerment. It is significant that despite constituting 66% of the technical and professional graduates at the intermediate and higher levels of education in the country, the number of women who exercise decision-making power in the areas of human resources, economics and finances, does not exceed 40%, according to data available at the end of 2011. In bodies such as the Sports, Physical Education and Recreation Institute (INDER), the Ministries of Steel and Metal, Communication and Agriculture, the figure does not reach 15%. In Tourism, it barely reaches 9% and, according to information from the National Statistics Office (ONEI), among those employed in 2008 in sales, hotels and restaurants, 50% are women. At the same time, as a fundamental result of recent government efforts, seven entities have been able to ensure than 50 to 70% of their decision-making positions are held by women: the Ministries of Labor & Social Security, Education, and Finances & Prices; the Supreme Court; the offices of the Attorney General and the Comptroller General, as well as the Central Bank of Cuba. No doubt, comparing these figures with those from previous years, the progress made by women in access to territory once considered exclusively the province of men is evident. However, in this area, the ‘outstanding debts’ remain greater than those ‘paid in full.’ According to information published by ONEI in its Cuban Women, Statistics and Realities report, women represent 81.4% of graduates from medical schools and constitute a majority, 58%, among practicing doctors in the country. Nevertheless, we rarely see a woman leading a large research center or hospital. For some time now, according to the above source, the percentage of female graduates in Economics has surpassed the 50% mark, but they are infrequently found directing enterprises or budgeted state entities, How many of us, visiting one of these, have asked for the administrator or director, expecting a priori that a man will be sitting behind the desk? The women ministers, deputy ministers, heads of department and management teams needed to close this power gap, can be found among those never even considered, despite their merits; and also among those who said ‘no’ beforehand or gave up a position because the other woman underneath their skin, the one holding a broom and wearing an apron, held sway. No one can deny the reality of family responsibilities, but this concerns all human beings. If it is true that behind anyone who takes on a significant public commitment there is someone who helps in private, gender does not necessarily predispose women to playing one role or the other. POLITICAL WILL AND FEMALE ATTITUDES As has already been stated, the struggle against pre-established ‘truths’ cannot be left to spontaneity. The empowerment of women must be understood as a strategy directed toward men, who often resist given chauvinist thinking -justified with the best of intentions – and toward women, who as daughters of their times and culture, have not escaped patriarchal logic, despite being victimized. This is not about awarding a position to a woman because of her gender per se, or in order to fulfill a political directive, without considering qualifications. Female leaders must be prepared to meet the requirements of one or another position. They could be hurt even more, left incapable of fulfilling a responsibility for which they were not correctly evaluated. Of course, after decades of overlooking women, an explicit, intentional policy is needed, which goes beyond subjectivity, seeking among women, the ones who are capable. Surely, many will be found. In his report to the 6th Party Congress, President Raúl Castro Ruz identified this as a challenge in the effort to improve socialism in Cuba, which will define the future. In a strong self-critical statement, he said, referring not only to women, but to youth, Blacks and those of mixed race, "We have not consistently responded to the innumerable directives communicated by Fidel, since the first days of the revolutionary victory and over the years, because the solution to this imbalance was included in agreements adopted at the transcendental 1st Party Congress and the four which followed, and we did not assure their implementation." At the political level this commitment can be promoted, while attitudes among women must be reinforced. There is no justice, 100 years after March 8 was declared International Women’s Day to honor the struggle for women’s rights, if for many women this means the paltry privilege of receiving a flower in the same hands with which they complete assigned tasks, or with which they place the plates on the table and later pick up. PRINT THIS ARTICLE

and that which is within ones self is akin to a new religion (or the new opiate), the altar of fiat based debt that many worship at the altar of on a daily basis, even Sundays, the ATM (or whatever bank instrument most convenient) for some sort of absolution that will never come...

off hand.drawing on the Conclusion part of the Thesis - he recognised some inherent flaws in Capitalist Democracy and sought ways to Unify a Nation but avoid Totalitarianism. this can be seen as expressed in his later attempts to create a Moral force in the United States that all Citizens can, while in separate groupings, accept a Unity. ( personally I think this is a necessarily flawed position that is much like the thinking of the Second International which was the basis for the various Labour governments in the Western world. The flaw is that Capitalism itself inevitably transforms into Totalitarianism, albeit with lots of bling, ) this attempt to reconcile diametrically opposed interests inevitably brings contradictions to the fore. Nevertheless, having an understandably naive faith in the system he had been brought up in he choose a course of action that became an inevitable expression of that contradiction and the natural progression of the development of Capital reacted. So this is the beginning of the 'Killing of America' in order for Capital to rule. It also highlighted the contradiction between Cuba and the Soviet Union which in relation to the angolan conflict for example, and in latin america where Cuba found itself at odds with Soviet supported groupings which was characterised by Cubans as a betrayal of the fundamental principles that the CCCP was founded on. It also by now sought an ultimately irreconcilable appeasement with Capital. The result was the fall of the Soviet Union and the unbridled Imperialism of US Ruling Interests expressing itself today throughout the world as an unprincipled or Immoral grab for more and an unstoppable eradication of anything in the way: iow the very Totalitarianism Kennedy was concerned about..

Interesting, Granma has an article on Cuban Cigars. I haven't read it but it's still listed on the front page of the english online version. This is just for a bit of flavour. Women have always played a very significant role in progressive social change, particularly so in Cuba where the impetus of the Womens movement has a leading role. While this is a tribute to Che it is also an acknowledgement of his wish that when he died someone would pick up his rifle. Someone does, she gathers a large group of women and this group in turn gather the rest of the people in carrying the 'torch' of Che. Which ultimately is not a rifle but an idea. It is this idea, not Che, Fidel or any particular person, that the Yankee Imperialists strive so to eradicate. Hasta Siempre: Nathalie Cardone - Che Guevara

I don't know it is known what package it is. It ended up at the Dead Letter Office (presumably because of the wrong address and didn't emerge till some time after the assassination. Harrys initials are on it.) Why put a non existent address on an envelope. If it is the back the TO label is on the other side and maybe in returning, forwarding whatever it was meant to end up there to be found. It's odd. I don't think there is a such a street anywhere in the United States.

It's important to mention another thing. It has bearings in past periods in history that humanity finds itself in this sort of situation. Of course indentured slavery is nothing new. In some places the indebtedness is generational and status quo that some elements of western society is only recently becoming aware of through direct experience. This explains the means whereby acts are institutionalised with the sole purpose of positioning for a spread of awareness and the growing realistation that it is within the class itself that unity must be built because it is only through that that alternative power mechanisms can be created that have a chance of defeating the real enemy, that which is within ones self. It is critical that any calls that appeal to any form of racism, or sexism ... , be rejected en masse.

Another weird notion I has at the time was that 601 west could be an address but like the rest not a real address and 601 is 2 blocks east of 401 (yes my mind works in mysterious ways) . However there is the 'plinth' next to the pond so I ditched that one but in the meantime came up with another odd notion. This package is irrelevan except possibly insofar as indicating a 'dropped' red herring as part of some fall back thing. What I don't know. OR it's a multi layered coded message and decoding it could be a good idea. Strange that the other side of the enveloped has never been photographed.

Kicking cousins teach history through hip hop Sunday, March 11, 2012 By Mat Ward Big Luke, left, and Darah. Photo by Vanessa Morris for Sail Or Die. When Aboriginal rapper Darah Morris uploaded his first music video, "Aboriginal Style", to YouTube, it became an instant hit. Then it got deleted. "After 15,000 views on YouTube it got removed for 'inappropriate content', which I find really ridiculous," he tells Green Left Weekly. It's a familiar story. South Australian Aboriginal rapper Caper recently had the video for his song "How Would You Like To Be Me?" banned by Facebook after a complaint, despite the song gaining high rotation on daytime radio. A video recently uploaded to YouTube for Aboriginal rapper was also reported by one viewer for "inciting hatred against white Australians". This is despite the fact the song had been played on Triple J for years. But Morris, known simply as Darah to fans, was undeterred. He uploaded his video again and went on to record a whole album in the same vein. This included . "'Australian History 101' is my favourite song on the album," he says. "It was really important for me to do this song because the history of Aboriginal people in Australia since colonisation was never taught in my school. I find that a lot of people have opinions but don’t actually know the history. “So I am really trying to present a brief overview of the history so that people can be in a better position to really start to engage in dialogue. "It’s not about pointing fingers or dwelling on the past ― it’s really about understanding the present. The first step to any type of conciliation is for people to understand exactly what has happened to get us to the current situation that we are in." It's a history that so appalls Darah that he feels no attachment to the Australian accent. Instead, he uses an American vocal style he picked up after he spent some time living in the US. "The English language and the Australian dialect was forced on our people,” he says, “so it really doesn't hold a special place in my heart like it does for some people. "For me, the Australian dialect, much like the Australian flag, serves as a constant reminder that my people have been dispossessed, displaced and forced to follow the culture of our invaders. “If I could rap in my native language I would, but aside from a few words, which I do use in my rhymes, my language no longer exists. "The United States is definitely another colonial imperialist country with its own history of mass genocide and oppression both of the indigenous people and of the African peoples brought to the country as slaves. "I would also note that Aboriginal people have had a long history of identification with the struggles of African-American people and also embraced transnational cultural exchange, long before hip-hop. “So as far as the accent, while the African-American dialect may signify a loss of their original cultures for African-American people, for Aboriginal people embracing the accent along with the music is a way of embracing their struggle as part of our own struggle, while at the same time rejecting the immediate colonial culture present here in Australia." However, he holds nothing against Aboriginal rappers who use an Australian accent, and has produced and released a storming album by one who does just that. Message From A Black Man by Big Luke sets biting, incisive Aussie vocals to Darah's heart-melting soul samples. "Luke Edwards is my cousin," says Darah. "We have known each other our whole lives and we grew up together in Shepparton, Victoria." Big Luke's height and looks resemble that of his father's famous brother, Kutcha Edwards. A tower of soul power, the award-winning Kutcha was chosen by journalist John Pilger to sing at his Sydney Peace Prize lecture at the Opera House. But Luke had not developed his own talent, spending a couple of years "working down the mines in Perth", before his skills were picked up by Darah when he got him to help out with the chorus on "Aboriginal Style". "At the time he didn’t have any intention of rapping," says Darah. "But after I did the video for the song we started getting a lot of really good feedback. “I got Luke to do a couple more verses on the Aboriginal Style album that I was working on and, just getting more positive feedback, we went ahead and put together Luke’s album. "For Luke, it wasn’t really like he was trying to get into the rap game. I just always wanted to hear him on a track 'cause he has such a strong voice and I know he has a lot to say. We just sat down and went through the beats and he picked out the ones for the album. “I had one beat that I specifically wanted to show him for a song he had written and it was funny because when we were going through the beats he chose the same one. The song came out to be , and it was such a powerful song we did a video for it and everything really just took off from there." On the song, Big Luke spits: "Look at these convicts selling our land, making it bank, we should roll over parliament in a motherxxxxing tank. I'm sick of seeing our people getting treated like xxxx, so you punks that are racist just get back on the ship. “What do we want? Land rights! When do we want it? Now! What do we have? xxxx all, I'm gonna shout it loud." Luke, who also raps about having friends of all races, tells GLW: "I was just getting some stuff off my chest, like Blacks fighting Blacks, being proud of your culture, racism, tribes fighting over land. Just a wide range of what goes on in the Black community. “It’s just my views on things, just my outlook on life as I see it from where I’m standing." Like Darah, Big Luke often references the black, red and yellow of the Aboriginal flag in his songs. Darah cites the flag's co-creator, Gary Foley, as one of his heroes. "I would have to say Gary Foley is definitely a personal inspiration for everything he has done and for maintaining such a strong voice speaking out against the oppression of Aboriginal people," says Darah. "There are so many people who have played such significant parts in our history, but you won’t learn about them in your high school history class." High school history classes also won't teach that Big Luke's main inspiration, his uncle Kutcha, was named Indigenous Person of the Year at the 2001 NAIDOC Awards. He also won a Deadly Award for Male Artist of the Year the same year. "He has been an inspiration to me since I was a little boy," says Big Luke of his relative, who was removed from his family as a child. "I have looked up to him not only as a singer but as a role model for all Aboriginal people. “A lot of our elders paved the way for us and I am really thankful to them." He pays tribute to them on his track “Elders”, which also features Darah’s other cousin, Cappa AK of The Egoz. The band was a founder of Payback Records, the Aboriginal hip-hop label started by Aboriginal AFL player for Essendon, Nathan Lovett-Murray. But despite their elders teaching them life‘s lessons, Darah and Luke have forged their own path in music. The pair have a real DIY ethic, putting together both albums on only a laptop and a USB mike in a no-frills approach that British political rapper Speech Debelle has called "Studio Backpack Rap". They have also bypassed labels by releasing them straight onto the web as free downloads. Says Darah: "It’s really important to me because a lot of times the voices of Aboriginal people and definitely Aboriginal youth in Australia are marginalised and filtered by the media and misrepresented to support the views of whatever writer or reporter is telling the story. “So with the music we make, you are getting our voice straight from the source.” And there’s plenty more to come. "Right now I’m putting together a compilation/group album, South Side Kings, with some of my friends and family from Melbourne and Shepparton, so that should be available real soon,” says Darah. “After that, myself and Big Luke are working on some new projects we are hoping to have done by July. The aim is really to constantly improve and just keep on moving to higher levels with each project. “The first album, Aboriginal Style, was kinda like a warm-up and now we are ready to really get out there and represent and just take over."

I can see some possible mistakes in emphasis, however, discounting that, some recent events when viewed in historical context ''properly arm the 'new revolutionary' so that it does not become prey to the whims of the 'new aristocracy' in order to prevent a descent into fascism.'' bears elaborating on. France is now emerging as a possible point at which a repetition of the past does not occur. It's not the only example. It's a global phenomena that I suggest is systemic. With the far right weighing in with demands that align with the interests of French Debt Slaves a situation may develop that sees the nation descending into that which ultimately is certainly not in the interests of the Debt Slaves. It will be interesting (to me anyway) what happens to the left.

That's ok, Scott. I hope to learn more too. My personal opinion is that The Alliance for Progress as an example of using a fundamental Socialist aim, Agrarian Reform, in a Capitalist endeavour and how it therefore is bound to fail in its perceived objectives even though Fidel has on a number of occasion stated that the AfP was the greatest threat to the survival of the Cuban Revolution. It is no longer. US economic terrorism is. However on that note, that latest on Socialist reform is now taking shape following the nationwide grassroots contributions (latest Congress papers) to the next steps in the transformation (and strengthening) of Cuba into a viable sovereign alternative to US style Imperialism.

fixed link (for now) Venga Boys Superfly Slick Dick http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU7qeiTGMRA&feature=autoplay&list=AVGxdCwVVULXdcJnJtJCdeUCkH44Zr59lw&lf=list_related&playnext=16

Here's an interesting (to me) piece that helps to gain understanding in many matters. Greek Bond Swap is precursor to Global Fiat Currency Revaluation (Explained) 09 Friday Mar 2012 Posted by Frank's Blog in depression, economic collapse, economic transition, fiat currency, Freedom, gold, hyperinflation, national debts, rich elite, silver, tangible assets., Uncategorized ... Greek 'Default'...I mean 'Credit Event' The current Greek bond swap offer, will mean that investors holding Greek bonds (debt), will have to accept a revaluation and a swap for some new bonds (new debt) that will now mature in the distant future and with less returns. I’d be pissed if I was a bond holder because they can’t even invoke their insurance they bought for such a default, the Credit Default Swap‘s. This is criminal and unlawful but this is the new norm out there in the world isn’t it. The rule of law, supply and demand and the free markets are no longer. ... To keep it simple for this post, this ‘Credit Event’ which we are forbidden to call a ‘Default’, which what it actually is, is no different than the coming global revaluation of ALL fiat currencies. There will be more ‘regional’ defaults in Europe and all over the world before the powers that be (TPTB) make the big decision to revalue ALL currencies all over the world. The U.S. will be the grand daddy of them all. The one difference and possible positive aspect to the coming fiat revaluation in comparison to this Greek ‘Bailout’ by way of even more fiat currency to be paid out at a later date (kicking the can down the road), is that the coming fiat currency revaluation and resulting new currency to be adopted, will be backed by precious metals like gold and silver…possibly even platinum, nickel and copper as well. As I’ve written about many times before, fiat money (it’s currency really, not real money), always ends up going to its intrinsic value of near zero. You can end up burning it or wiping your ass with it once it collapses so I guess it’s not completely worthless. It’s paper after all. The reason, again as I’ve written about ad nauseum, is because of the mathematical certainty and exponential debt growth needed to keep such systems running the global economy. Currency is in effect debt. So if you paid off all of the debt there would be no currency left in circulation. It’s just math and it’s just fact. That’s the bottom line no matter what you hear. It’s written in the currency act and the financial administration act if you’re brave enough to read through the legal terminology and jargon…yes, I have read them in their entirety, hence my clarity on currency as debt and gold as money. US Debt Note Once you ‘get’ it you won’t look at money the same way again. Those paper dollars in your pocket are not money, they’re debt notes. Only gold and silver are money, again written the currency act and they are traded on the currency desks on the exchanges, not on the commodity desks. Yes, we could call these metals commodities as well, but their primary role is money and has been for thousands of years. Just like paper is also a commodity but they also call paper dollars money. That’s the mass delusion that the TPTB have convinced the masses to believe. This is not conspiracy or crazy talk. It is fact and is written in the law. But most people don’t even know the laws exist or even care to know how or why they exist or how they work. Funny seeing as though money is the medium that dictates every move in our modern lives. This Greek ‘Default’ will be the first of many, many upcoming defaults of whole nations. Think about it. We have become so numb to this economic crisis that even when an entire country defaults now, the markets barely flinch. This is the most scary thing I can think of because all it is creating is the most massive global debt default human beings have ever seen. Talk about heads in the sand. They say it’s just ‘fear’ causing the markets to go down…you think!! Fear is good and it’s what keeps supply, demand and valuations in check. So if we shouldn’t have fear in the markets, then that means they would always go up forever and ever and we will all be able to keep creating wealth without work and let our money ‘work for us’? That’s mass delusion and ridiculous thought processing. We’re not that dumb are we? No, we are just very complacent and willfully ignorant. ...more... Follow link to Frank's Blog

Tom, I know you are asking for ideas on the possible meaning of that label in terms of code. I did indeed speculate on this some time ago. I'd like to mention some other thoughts I had on this matter in light of some recent posts so it's not meant to divert but rather to take the opportunity to mention some other possible leads, though I haven't got anywhere significant except in a suggestive way. - what particularly interested me about this is beacuse of the USPO connection, Harry Holmes etc, PI's their chain of command etc.. Secure Communications is essential in a Coup. The history of the USPO itself proves that. Postal Departments during the Civil War, the confederates and the unions and then its reunion. Therein one can reasonably (imo) argue that remnants of that division remained just as many never accepted that the Civil War was over. J.E Day was sacked by Kennedy over a racial issue I know it has been sanitized to various other vague reasons, in mid '63. The USPO is central, a hub, in the assassination research. I know it's off the map. Out of sight out of mind. However HDH > Helms is a hop and skip as is HDH to Hoover and what HDH called ''the Agencies'', even more so to Fritz, a pal. (I still would like to see a complete list of the DCC membership list) - as I perused the MSC files there were a couple of things that over time seemed to often be mentioned. Funnily enough timber and textiles (also real estate but that's a different story.) That led to some addresses in New Jersey and now defunct or absorbed businesses. Possibly one that may never have existed. - this led to speculation about what I found to be cloth sizes that interestingly fitted nicely with the internal dimensions of the envelope. - another being that the revolver would also have fitted. There are sufficient creases in the envelope photo to speculate about something a bit bulky. therre's more but I'm a bit weary at the moment. I'll add as it comes to mind. BTW I've disabled the email notification so if anyone ever want me personally to comment on anything and I've missed it PM me. I usually hang around here for a while last thing so that's the time to 'talk' to me. (not that I expect many takers of course). Anyway carry on..er.. and Good Job. Everyone. - I think there is good reason to think that is the back of the envelope -

Just some more thoughts that may seem unconnected. I'm looking for a synthesis. I certainly appreciate input from some educator who can point out where I'm wrong. In the meantime. Fiat, Debt and therefore credit and therefore creditors and back to fiat is being demonstrated in how the economic crisis is being handled on a global level. It's interesting that credit seems unending and the debt that ensues, paid in fiat, sovereignty or otherwise continues as a running patch work and more and more people are having their personal fortunes in life controlled by that credit, debt cycle when it is not in their interest to do so. (of course, Interest fits in there too) I wonder what would happen if the spending on war was dramatically reduced? I wouldn't be surprised if that would be the ruling paradigm people would actually find that that is in their real interest.

Johnny Winter - Dallas (1969)(AUDIO ONLY)

Kony campaign won't help Uganda Sunday, March 11, 2012 By Tony Iltis Ugandan newspaper the Observer reported on March 2 serious allegations against Ugandan troops in the Central African Republic (CAR), where they have been present since 2007, chasing the remnants of the Ugandan militia, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The allegations include rape, child prostitution, arms dealing and the plunder of CAR’s timber and diamonds. Similar allegations have been made concerning the Ugandan army’s (the Ugandan Peoples Defence Force, UPDF) 1997-2003 intervention in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Observer said. The UPDF and its predecessor, the National Resistance Army (NRA), have also been accused of human rights abuses in Uganda including the use of child soldiers. See also: Who is KONY 12 to start a war? Behind KONY 2012 and Ugandan war criminals A few days later US “charity” Invisible Children (IC) released the video KONY 2012, which instantly became an internet sensation. IC was established in 2006 by three US filmmakers who had released a documentary the previous year about the atrocities of the LRA and its leader, Joseph Kony. The video demands its viewers “do something” to bring Kony to the International Criminal Court, which indicted him for war crimes in 2005. The film states its aim is to support the Ugandan military by supporting US military advisers in the country ― justified by the need to capture Kony, who has not been in Uganda since 2006. Millions have responded forwarding and retweeting the video and IC’s campaign. Criticism Despite its phenomenal success, the film has received criticism. These include the narcissism of the film-makers and the exclusion of African voices beyond a few stereotypical victims ― promoting the colonial myth of noble and competent Westerners saving Black African victims from Black African ogres. The blatant commercialism of the campaign ― “doing something” meaning buying something overpriced from IC ― has also been criticised, especially given the high wages of the three filmmakers and IC’s enormous expenses (more than a million dollars annually on travel), leaving only 30% of the money they raise going to Africa. Others have criticised the film’s lack of context and inaccuracies. One of these is not making it clear the LRA have not operated in Uganda since 2006 when they were driven out in a US-supported UPDF offensive. The film shows Kony with thousands of child soldiers behind him, but the LRA is now a remnant, with an estimated 200 remaining fighters. Furthermore, the focus on a single warlord takes the focus off the many other perpetrators of violence in one of the world’s most violent regions. This “dumbing down” of the message is more than just patronising to viewers. Most of the millions of people viewing and forwarding the video would be shocked to learn the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s government and military, who IC demand are given more arms to “get Kony”, are responsible for the same sort of atrocities as the LRA. US intervention The IC and KONY 2012 explicitly support US military intervention. When US President Barack Obama announced in October that the US had deployed 100 troops in Uganda, IC were quick to take the credit. It described it as “a huge victory for the hundreds of thousands of young Americans who have been lobbying Washington to take action”. US military policy is generally not determined by the moral outrage of “thousands of young Americans”. In 2003, millions of people, in the US and around the world, took to the streets fuelled by moral outrage to oppose the invasion of Iraq ― which the US carried out regardless. The war in Afghanistan is also deeply unpopular in the countries with soldiers helping occupy the country. Yet it continues. The reality is that a permanent military presence in the Great Lakes region of Africa has been a US policy goal for many years. The viral spread of KONY 2012 has been aided by prominent and supportive coverage in the mainstream media, celebrity endorsement and bipartisan support from US politicians. The reality is that IC are working to influence young people in the US and other Western countries on behalf of Washington’s war planners, not the other way round. KONY 2012 portrays the LRA as if it came from nowhere. In the 1970s, Uganda was ruled by Idi Amin, a tyrant whose regime killed at least 100,000 people. Amin came to power in an Israeli-backed military coup, but switched allegience to the Gadaffi regime in Libya. This, along with his personal brutality and eccentricities, made Amin the West's archetype of a psychotic post-colonial dictator. Having alienated the entire Ugandan political spectrum and launched irrational aggressions against neighbouring countries, Amin was overthrown in 1979 by invading Tanzanian troops and a broad coalition of Ugandan opponents. Uganda’s nightmare continued, however, as the coalition fractured along ethnic rather than political lines. DRC killings Between 1979 and 1986, 500,000 Ugandans were killed in what became known as the Bush War. In January 1986, Museveni’s NRA took the capital, Kampala. Museveni’s predecessor, Tito Okello was from the Acholi ethnic group from the north, who had been particularly persecuted under Amin. The invasion of Acholiland and crushing of pro-Okello forces was particularly brutal, even by the standards of the Bush War. The dislocation and resentment this caused led to an armed religious millienarian movement, the Holy Spirit Movement. This was crushed, spawning a number of smaller more violent, armed religious cults. One was Kony’s LRA. The LRA’s brutality alienated the support it initially had in Acholiland, but it retained its influence through terror. The focus of IC’s propaganda, as its name suggests, is on child soldiers. However, it was Museveni’s NRA that was the first armed group in Uganda to make widespread use of child soldiers. The December 15, 2002 British Sunday Times carried an interview with China Keitetsi who joined the NRA in 1984, when she was eight-years-old. Describing a massacre she took part in, still aged 8, she said: “When we got back to our camp, the prisoners were ordered to dig their own graves and some of our officers told us to spit in their eyes. The enemy was told that no bullets would be wasted on them … They were hit on their foreheads and on the back of their heads [with hoes] until they dropped into the graves and died.” Before the invasion of Acholiland the NRA had a better reputation than other armed groups with regard to treatment of civilians. However, this created more suffering for the child soldiers. Keitetsi explained: “Museveni wanted us to be different from the government soldiers. If we were caught taking money, we were shot. If we stole food, we were shot ... “I had to shoot my own friends, for stealing a sweet potato or cassava. That would be the last you saw of your friend, six bullets going into their bodies.” Keitetsi eventually left the army and fled Uganda because of sexual abuse. She was 12 when she first had to sleep with a much older male soldier. “It was not once. It was every night. It was an order. It was a duty you had to fulfil. I couldn’t say no.” Despite having previously professed Marxism, upon taking power Museveni adopted neoliberalism and allied with the US. He has, with US support, become a regional power. Between 1997 and 2003, Ugandan troops took part in the devastating war in the DRC. On October 1, 2010, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a report in which Uganda and its Congolese proxies (who made extensive use of child soldiers) were accused of mass rape, targeted killings of civilians and other crimes against humanity. IC has repeatedly pointed out that the LRA has killed tens of thousands. But their opponents killed millions in the DRC. Ugandan soldiers are no longer directly involved, but the war in the DRC continues. Rival militias backed by either Uganda, Rwanda or the DRC’s weak government fight over the ability to use forced labour to mine minerals such as coltan. The Congo War coincided with boom in demand for these minerals because of their use in consumer electronics such as mobile phones and personal computers. Most Congolese coltan is exported, by way of Rwanda or Uganda, to the US. One of several aspects of the KONY 2012 video that has outraged Ugandan commentators is it implies the LRA are still active in Uganda. Even the Ugandan government, which stands to benefit from IC’s campaign, has criticised this aspect. Africom The US military deployment is clearly not mainly to fight the LRA. One factor is the recent discovery of oil in Uganda. Also, the focus on working with the UPDF is due to its growing role as a US regional proxy. Since 2009, Ugandan troops have tried to impose a US-friendly order on Somalia, something not achieved by Ethiopian troops who invaded in December 2006 or a 1992-95 intervention by a US-led multinational force. More generally, the US is looking for an African nation willing to host the US military command for Africa (AFRICOM), which since its establishment in 2008 has been based in Germany. Competition for Africa’s resources with China (and to a lesser extent European powers such as France) is behind the US military interest in Africa. However, fighting al Qaeda, and now the LRA, make more palatable public justifications. Ugandan blogger Drew Ddembe wrote on March 8: “Today I have listened to lots of questions by really ignorant people! Just because they watched some 5 year old say Kony was a bad guy who made him sad, they believe they now know all about Uganda! “Kind of like all those people who try to tell you they know all about Uganda ― because they watched the Last king of Scotland.” Ddembe said: “This is activism pornography at its best! … Ugandans need to move on with their lives … not this time wasting white messianic crap! “People need help to get back onto their feet. To fight poverty. To access quality healthcare. America sent 100 US troops into the region not to fight or look for Kony but to safeguard its interests in the regions resources. Lets not delude ourselves!” Read more of Tony Iltis's articles. http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/50312

I think this is a rational contribution by Norman. Perhaps a look at the scores over time can reveal anything unusual. I think a similar perspective re rules and reality can be applied to the handgun topic.

I think the following two articles from Granma helps to get a number of things in perspective. I N T E R N A T I O N A L Havana. March 8, 2012 Russia faces Western voracity Aliana Nieves Quesada THE United States is having a little harder time in its umpteenth attempt to eliminate another government. Once again, Washington has made use of its political arsenal – in order to later deploy its military – in Syria, under the usual pretext of defending civil rights. However the process of convincing the international community of the need for another war on the planet has come up against an adversary which until recently had not assumed this role, at least not as forcefully. This time, Russia has said no, that this is different, and has vetoed, along with China, two resolutions in the United Nations Security Council. The first was introduced by the European countries in October 2011 and the second, just weeks ago, by Morocco. It was precisely this body which approved NATO's armed intervention in Libya and it was the Arab League and other countries in the region which smoothed the way for Washington and the European Union, preparing the terrain. On that occasion, Russia abstained and NATO was able to attack with the blessing of the United Nations. In the case of Syria however, the approach has been different. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, has emphasized that the world has learned its lesson and that a country's internal problems should be resolved through dialogue, free of threats from abroad. Russia has worked diligently, insisting upon this objective. Russia's veto and the mediating role it has taken on between Damascus and groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, have shown that alternatives to military intervention exist. Historic links unite the two countries and Syria has been an important Russian associate since the days of the Soviet Union. Russia's only naval base in the Mediterranean is located in the port city of Tartus and Syria is the fifth greatest importer of Russian arms. Thus the country, along with Iran, has become a critical ally in the Middle East. Russia's actions contribute to some balance in the international arena, at a time when only allies of the West have benefited from the right to veto which the five permanent members of the Security Council possess. Thus, while there have been several media reports indicating that British and Qatari troops are delivering munitions and tactical support to opposition forces in the city of Homs, a communiqué from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the country intends to continue working with various opposition groups which have refused to participate in a national dialogue thus far, based on a variety of pretexts. "We believe that countries with much greater influence than the Russian Federation should also be working with these groups," the communiqué emphasized. "We are guided by a simple and clear purpose: It is unacceptable that the massacre of innocent people should continue, regardless of whoever is perpetuating it. The region needs peace, Syria needs peace. Foreign forces must promote dialogue, accords, reconciliation and avoid all interference and provocation." An expert on the Middle East, Ali Rizk, explained on the Russia Today television program that the intervention is a sign of the opposition forces' desperation. "The West is not interested in reaching a negotiated solution. This is about overthrowing a government which challenges its supremacy in the region." The U.S. government is taking advantage of the conflict to deflect attention from the crisis within its own borders and Obama is additionally hoping to garner the support generally afforded leaders involved in military conflicts, right before the country's presidential elections. In this case, Obama can exploit the situation in two ways. His strong anti-Russian stance could win votes among those who miss the heated confrontations between Nikita Khrushchev and John F. Kennedy during the Cold War. Additionally, he could attract patriotic voters with the promise of continuing to extend 'democracy' across the Middle East, drawing closer to the forbidden fruit desired by all those who have occupied the White House: Iran. PRINT THIS ARTICLE Syria: heralding a change in the international strategic situation? Ernesto Gómez Abascal* EVIDENTLY the Cold War ended in the final decade of the 20th century with the disappearance of the Soviet Union and the European socialist countries, but the U.S. plan of domination enshrined in the Project for the New American Century, drawn up by a group of neoconservative and Zionist strategists, remains in the minds of Washington politicians. However, Democrat and Republican priorities on the imperial agenda remain. These are: control of the Near East given its energy resources and strategic position, the elimination of governments who stand up to or interfere with its interests, and to exclude the emergence of new rival powers. While it is a fact that things have not been going well for the U.S. government in Afghanistan and Iraq, this has not resulted in a change of plans, but merely adjustments to the new conditions. Imperialism has many years of experience in methods of regime change, as we in Latin America know very well. In Libya, included for years on the list of seven countries whose governments had to be changed [1], the United States was initially successful, having taken advantage of some inconsistencies on the part of Muammar Gaddafi, and certain lack of popularity for the leader. Then came an intensive media campaign, Arab League cover and backing, which facilitated a UN Security Council resolution, and subsequently, a large part of the country's infrastructure was bombed by NATO aircraft, thousands of Libyans were killed, and a government subordinated to its interests was installed in Tripoli. Libya's large oil reserves are now more accessible to U.S. and European corporations, although the chaos created in the country has created an uncertain future. While this was taking place in Libya, the CIA and its allies in the NATO special services were working on the next country listed, Syria. It has been acknowledged that hundreds of Syrians were trained and armed in Turkey and other countries ill disposed toward the Damascus government, especially those of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and in areas of the Lebanon under the control the March 14 alliance (directed by the Hariri clan, pro-Saudi and linked to the French government). These Syrians are predominantly Sunnis and members of the illegal and extremist Muslim Brotherhood, but include mercenaries from other Arab countries, and commandos trained for special operations. These have received a large supply of modern armaments, sophisticated communications equipment and information via NATO satellite networks. The predominantly Alawite [2] Damascus government, a strong ally of Iran and a supporter of the Lebanese patriotic forces headed by Hezbollah, which controls power in Beirut, had genuine problems – as do all countries in the region and a large part of the world, including the most developed countries. These include repression, lack of democracy, and corruption, and this has provoked malaise within the population, leading to demonstrations initially encouraged by those in other countries of the region, and which were repressed particularly where they originated, in the southern city of Daraa, right on the border with Jordan. The media war machine immediately was immediately activated against Syria, as was the case with Libya. In Cuba, Venezuela and other Latin America countries we have become experts on how this operates, having suffered it for many years, and we also know how to combat it, despite disadvantageous material conditions given the enormous propaganda resources possessed by the enemy. Even with the abovementioned defects, the Syrian government was practicing a non-sectarian policy in the religious context and one of relative social justice, anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist. It has been an ally of progressive causes in the South and an obstacle to U.S. and Israeli plans in the region. Allegations intended to discredit it, to the effect that its policy of peace serves Israeli interests, have no serious foundation. Installing a pro-Western government in Damascus would propitiate a change of government in Lebanon and possibly another war there to eliminate the power of Hezbollah, an ally of Iran together with Syria, and viewed as enemies by the Sunni Gulf monarchies, who submit to Western policy in return for protection from an alleged Iranian threat, even though no war has been initiated by that country for centuries. If the plan concerning Syria is consummated, the Western powers would move against Tehran and, along the way, crush the resistance of Palestine, obliging it to accept crumbs of territory and the minimum rights which Israeli Zionists would be disposed to concede to the people. The U.S. "Grand Middle East" would be completed with its extension to Central Asia, and the siege of Russia and China would be laid. However, Syria is not Libya. Although its leaders have made undeniable errors and have acted slowly in response to the conspiracy and plans of its powerful enemies, thus losing a lot of time and ground, it would seem to have sufficient internal support and resources to stand up to its enemies and defeat them, albeit at a heavy price in terms of death and destruction. Apparently, a clear perception of this reality prompted Russian and Chinese representatives to use their veto in the February 4 Security Council vote on a resolution which – regardless of its text – as was the case with Libya – would open the gates to foreign intervention in order to destroy the country and impose a regime change. The highest authorities in both countries have clearly declared a red line and they are not prepared to allow a military intervention in Syria. The firm stand of Moscow and Beijing and the cooperation they are giving the Syrian government, appears to be starting to change the situation on the ground. The Lebanese army has been mobilized to the border in an attempt to prevent the entry of mercenaries and military supplies into the neighboring area of Homs, center of the anti-government uprising and whose capital city was intended to become the Benghazi of Syria. Syrian government forces have recently moved onto the offensive there. The Baghdad government, now closer to Iran's influence than to that of the United States, is also trying to prevent Sunni Islamic extremists – possibly linked to Al Qaeda and receiving funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar – from continuing to infiltrate into Syrian territory. Recent terrorist attacks on the Shiite population in various parts of Iraq would seem to be a message of protest from Saudi Arabia and the United States given the change in position in favor of Syria adopted by the Iraqi government. Turkey and Jordan, two other countries to have adopted belligerent positions against the Damascus government, are beginning to make more moderate statements. There are even signs of concern in Western capitals at the possibility of extremist Islamic forces linked to Al Qaeda coming to power in Syria in the case of the current executive being defeated. The situation is highly fluid and extremely complex, but if Syria succeeds in resisting this imperialist, and Zionist counterrevolutionary aggression, and if Russia and China remain firm, there could be a defeat of strategic magnitude. Iran would emerge strengthened and new alliances could be established to oppose imperialist plans of domination. The countries of the BRICS group, the newly independent countries of Latin America, especially the strong core members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), are in agreement with the principals of a foreign policy opposed to aggression, and would favor the negotiated solution to conflicts. They also defend justice, sovereignty and non-intervention, all of which could initiate the beginnings of a new multipolar balance in the world. The grave economic crisis affecting the major capitalist powers and the debilitation this implies, in conjunction with the indignados movement, could significantly contribute to this potential panorama. (Taken from Rebelión) * Ernesto Abascal was the Cuban ambassador to Iraq. PRINT THIS ARTICLE edit edit this is pretty much where, for some time, I've been thinking the key to the present situation the world finds itself in. It's a feature of many of my posts. I make no apology for being a Socialist.

This is amazing stuff you are presenting, Paul. It could possibly go to the heart of the matter. Have you read the writings of that guy who kind of broke the story of ole' miss (was it the ghosts of mississippi?) anyway whoever it was wrote that Kennedy himself went so far as to order that no medals should be given out to no one, tho a number were proposed, involved in bringing the event to a successful conclusion so that soon after the much more virulent Alabama gov made a symbolic gesture and stepped aside. These (ole' miss) were very tense moments with Katzenbach staying in sometimes tenuous contact with the Kennedys throughout the event, reporting and passing on orders. I think Kennedy recognised the possible explosiveness of this situation. re the psych stuff. I think we're more or less saying the same thing tho I'd like to add that it was the enforced conflict that he probably lived with for most of his life expressed itself in various perhaps predicable ways not really that different from a psychopath becoming a model prisoner within the confines which to Walker was the Army. Have you come across the account where Walkers driver died in a possibly odd way and his surveillance of troops at station was a problem. Was that in the Overseas article?

Albino Blues . . . Johnny Winter - Mean Town Blues (1970)

America consists of many nations, the United States and Cuba included. The United States seeks yet again to impose its agenda... http://www.granma.cu/ingles/ SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS The exclusion of Cuba by the United States government is unacceptable and unjustified • Press conference held by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, March 8, 2012, "Year 54 of the Revolution" (Typographical version: Council of State) Gustavo Machín (Moderator) - Good morning to all those present. Minister of Foreign Relations Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla will give a statement to the press; I will therefore cede the floor to him. Bruno Rodríguez - Good morning. Congratulations to all of the women journalists who are present today. It is a pleasure to be here with you. I apologize for giving you such short notice, but surely you were following the news yesterday and understand that we are getting together as soon as possible, as soon as developments allowed this interchange. As you know, yesterday we had the pleasure of receiving in our country President Santos of Colombia, accompanied by his Foreign Minister. The President told us, in a very respectful and cordial manner, that consensus within the hemisphere has not been reached in order to invite Cuba to the 6th Summit of the Americas in Cartagena, which will take place next month. He has explained that Colombia wishes this situation to be discussed during the Cartagena Summit. He expressed his respect for the position of the countries which consider Cuba’s participation in these summits a necessity. He pointed out that this is an issue which has remained unresolved for many years and said that he sincerely hopes this uncomfortable situation is not repeated. I would like to express our gratitude for the efforts of Colombia, a country for which Cuba always desires the best. There have been no surprises; it has been "the chronicle of an exclusion foretold." Completely disrespecting Colombia, Latin America and the Caribbean, U.S. spokespersons have, from day one, decreed Cuba’s exclusion. Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, a sub-secretary and other State Department representatives expressed their veto even before the announced consultation could take place. With this disrespect and arrogance, the United States is offending the dignity of Bolívar’s Patria Grande and Our America as identified by Martí. I forcefully denounce the exclusion of Cuba by the government of the United States as unacceptable and unjustified. It is part and parcel of a policy of economic, political and media blockade which is genocidal, illegal and in violation of the human rights of Cubans, as made clear in that infamous memorandum issued by Mr. Mallory in April, 1960, and intended to cause hunger, desperation and undermine the people’s support of our government. The blockade is a crime, and an error, which has already lasted for more than 50 years. Esteemed colleagues, Cuba never asked to be invited to any of the so-called Summits of the Americas; it has never done so in the past and is not doing so now. We limited ourselves to responding that, if invited on the basis of equality, with full and equal rights, we would act according to our principles and the truth, with all due respect, as we always do. The position taken by countries within the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) is unanimous and firm in its demand that the blockade of Cuba end, and that the exclusion of Cuba from any hemispheric body, such as this so-called Summit of the Americas, end. The alliance is solid and unanimous in demanding unequivocally that this exclusion must end and that the issue be seriously addressed during the 6th Summit in Cartagena. It is also unanimous in its position publicly announced during the February 15 meeting of its Political Council and at the meeting of ALBA Foreign Ministers, to await the outcome of consultations underway at that time, which we heard about yesterday. As President Chávez announced in a valiant statement of solidarity yesterday, it is the responsibility of the ALBA Political Council, as charged by the Summit of ALBA Heads of State, foreign ministers will continue analyzing the situation, coordinating their actions and reinitiating consultation within the alliance and with other Latin American and Caribbean governments, without exception. Cuba’s position is that expressed by President Raúl Castro Ruz February 4, in Caracas, during the Summit of ALBA Presidents. He said there that Cuba would never have demanded it, but supports the proposal made by President Correa, Evo and other Presidents, to take action to end the exclusion of Cuba, a position we consider completely just. He said, "I want to thank you, President Correa, Evo and others, for these proposals… of vital importance. You are absolutely right. We would never have requested that such a measure be adopted, but are not going to forego supporting this one, which we consider completely just." These summits, as is known, began in Miami, in 1994. They were the platform for the development of the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), the United States’ plan to economically annex Latin America. In 2005, in Mar del Plata, Presidents Chávez and Néstor Kirchner, with the support of others and all of Our America, buried the FTAA. In April 2009, in Port of Spain, President Obama promised a new policy toward Latin America and the Caribbean. As for Cuba, he expressed his desire to take a new direction in relations between the United States and Cuba. What will President Obama say in this next meeting in Cartagena? These summits, like the sadly infamous Organization of American States (OAS), only serve to allow the United States to exercise its dominance. The most recent events demonstrate this. Additionally worth pointing out is that there has been talk of the possibility of a private meeting during the Cartegena Summit of Heads of State, to address the issue behind closed doors. I must say that this is not in the interest of Cuba. It is not acceptable to Cuba that this issue be discussed without its presence, in a private meeting between the government of the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean. Latin America no longer accepts this and is constructing a project based on sovereignty and regional integration, which the United States cannot stop, although it will try to do so. The presence of Cuba in Cartagena from a distance will be unmistakable, as it was in 2009. Martí, referring to the Pan American Conference in Washington which concluded in 1980, precisely during these April days, on April 19, has already written, "… after seeing with judicious eyes the antecedents, causes and factors involved in the meeting, one must say, because it is the truth, that for Hispanic America the time has come to declare its second independence." If this exclusion serves to deepen the consciousness of Latin American and Caribbean peoples as to the need for firm, concerted action by Our America, to advance with more resolve toward our complete and definitive independence, it is welcome. During these days, we Cubans will be here, confident and serene; as a symbol we will be commemorating the victory of Girón [bay of Pigs] which - we don’t know why - the U.S. President’s advisors have decided to make coincide, once again, with the Incomplete Summit of the Americas. Thank you very much. Moderator – The Minister has agreed to answer some questions about the issue which he has addressed. I would ask those who have questions to use the microphones to the sides and identify the communications media they represent. Andrea Rodríguez (AP) – Good morning, Minister. Bruno Rodríguez - Good morning, Andrea. Congratulations! Andrea Rodríguez – Thank you. Sir, there has been talk of consensus and that consensus was not achieved so that Cuba could be invited, but it is true that it also appears that there is no consensus among ALBA countries. That is, do you believe that the case of Cuba, and this special situation which has emerged in Cartagena, has broken down consensus within ALBA, leaving President Correa in an isolated position? At what point, then, are the ALBA countries in terms of Cartagena? Thank you. Bruno Rodríguez – I have not spoken about consensus, I have quoted the President of Colombia explaining his position as regards the issue. I have said, however, that ALBA has a solid, unitary position calling for an immediate end to the blockade of Cuba, which is fundamental, and in the demand for an immediate end to the exclusion of Cuba from these entities, called hemispheric, such as the Summit of the Americas, and that ALBA has a firm, unanimous position of concerted action and, as it stated - the February 15 statement by the Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is public – that it would reinitiate the coordination of its actions and contacts once the results of that consultation, which was underway, were known. The position of President Correa is totally supported by all of the ALBA Presidents, by all of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America, in demanding an end to this unacceptable exclusion and, most importantly, in demanding that the political, economic, media blockade of Cuba be ended now, immediately and unconditionally. The ALBA Foreign Ministers will continue to develop positions in regards to the way in which these issues are addressed during the 6th Summit in Cartegena. Rosa Tania Valdés (REUTERS) – Good morning. Minister, what we would like to know is, at the beginning when all the condemnation by ALBA related to Cuba’s participation began, some countries said that they were even willing to forego attending, in the event that Cuba was excluded, as has finally occurred. What I would like to know is if Cuba will ask ALBA countries to take a position in relation to this. Will the ALBA countries go to the Summit or not? Bruno Rodríguez – This issue is not new, nor is it a new position of the ALBA countries. You can find it in the Declaration made by the ALBA Presidents’ Summit which took place in Cumaná, in April of 2009, right before the 5th Summit which took place in Port of Spain. ALBA’s position at that time is exactly the same, it is solid, it is firm; it has been consistent over time. As President Raúl Castro Ruz said on February 4, Cuba would never have demanded a measure of this nature, but supports it firmly, because it considers President Correa’s forceful demand to put an end to this situation, as just and legitimate Néstor Pardiño - How can this new phenomenon be interpreted, a group of Latin American countries confronting the United States over the issue of Cuba? What comments can you make in regards to this? Bruno Rodríguez - Cuba expressed itself back in 2009. Fidel asked - as early as the 1990’s, with all the announcements made with great fanfare from the 1994 Summit in Miami - what purpose these summits might serve. Cuba was already excluded. He said at the time, if these summits provide an opportunity to discuss the real problems of Latin America and the Caribbean, the problems of peace, the problems of development, the problems of debt, the problems of just and equitable relations, the problems of access to markets, the problems of subsidies which destroy Caribbean economies, for example – if the real problems of terrorism were discussed, of drug trafficking, if they were to be discussed with the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean on an equal plane, perhaps these summits, even with Cuba excluded, would have served some purpose. But not if they only served to extend U.S. domination, to expand this interventionist presence, this interference in our states; if they served to extend and deepen this relationship of exploitation of our economies and our resources, resistance was necessary. Today, years later, the reality is completely clear, everyone knows, no one has any doubt, after having buried the FTAA, about the purpose of this type of summit and the exclusion of Cuba is probably the most notorious symbol. It is more evident that these summits are created in the image and likeness of their owner, which is the government of the United States and that they serve as its instrument to exercise domination in a totally undemocratic manner, disrespecting other countries which are equal, sovereign, and which do not accept being treated like a back yard. Patrick Hoffman (CNN) – Good morning. How are you? If Cuba does not want to participate in the summit, why are some ALBA countries, some Presidents, fighting for you to be there? Bruno Rodríguez - Cuba has said since 1994 that its exclusion from these summits is unjustifiable and unacceptable. Cuba was asked if it would attend, if it were invited. It was asked in 2009 as well. Cuba has always responded that, if invited as an equal with full rights, it would attend the Summit based on its principled foreign policy positions, in accordance with the truth and all due respect. The ALBA countries are denouncing this arbitrary, unsustainable exclusion, left-over from the Cold War era, inappropriate given the times, unfitting of the relationship which the United States supposedly wants to construct now with Latin America and the Caribbean, different from that of the 1990’s. Roberto Hernández (Prensa Latina) – Good morning, Minister. Has a date been set for the next meeting of the ALBA foreign ministers? Bruno Rodríguez - Not yet. We are in contact, in fact, we were in contact yesterday and we will continue to exchange impressions over the next few days. Sarah Rainsford (BBC) - Hello. I would like to ask what you consider the likelihood of Cuba being included in the next Summit. What might that depend on, what are the necessary conditions? Bruno Rodríguez – I believe that we all understand that an eventual invitation to Cuba, as the Colombian President has explained, depends on consensus. We all understand what ‘consensus’ means. Consensus on this issue means Washington’s authorization and this is a question which should be directed to the U.S. government. I don’t know what the U.S. government will do. What it has done, as of just yesterday, is reiterate its old, failed position, which has lasted 50 years, which does not work and someone should think about reconsidering. Thank you for your presence here this morning. Thank you very much.

'' What I can say for sure however, is that the fatal head shot was indeed fired at the actual point in time it is seen in the Zapruder film - at 313 '' to be more exact, the shot (whichever) was fired about a couple of frames previously.