AIPAC and "civilized norms"

AIPAC's response to Obama's search for support for an assault on Syria is rich in irony.

By citing "civilized norms," the AIPAC crew invite examination of how the states of Israel and the USA conform to those civilized norms.

America has staged a series of illegal foreign adventures from Vietnam to Central America to Iraq to Libya and beyond. Those adventures have cost millions of innocent lives around the world. America has absolutely no claim to virtue in its conduct over the past 60 years.

Israel's heavy handed conduct in the occupied territories, her relentless policy of colonizing those territories, the outrageously disproportionate response to any real or imagined threat from any real or imagined enemy, all place that country firmly outside any so-called civilized norms.

Yet the America Israel Public Affairs Committee seek to justify an attack on a sovereign nation that has not attacked either of them on the grounds that Syria has violated civilized norms?

Utterly outrageous!

Over-amped cops taze Toronto granny

The Toronto Police Service policy of "shoot first, taze later, then ask questions," is spreading to the GTA.

Today's showdown between the cops and a 80 year old great-grand-mother is the case in point.

What the hell is that all about?

I've met some damn crusty 80-year-old women who can shout 'n cuss and maybe throw a pot in your direction, but I simply cannot comprehend how a rough-and-tough 200 lb cop in body armour would have felt threatened...

Cops aren't what they used to be.

Google mutates next level of branding's evolution

Cross-branding is not exactly a new idea, but Google seems to be taking it to the next level with this gambit.

The next generation android operating system is going to adopt the brand recognition of a popular chocolate bar. It melds the artificiality of internet society with the artificiality of industrially processed eating products.

Brilliant!

Heady days for the Oaf of Tobruk

Or "le twat," as he is known in France.

If you're at all acquainted with the folks at the so-called "Foreign Policy Initiative" you'll realize that "le twat" is in good company, namely the company of the same blood-thirsty gang of dipshits who couldn't get Bush Jr. into Iraq soon enough back when they called themselves the Project for a New American Century.

BHL is still chuffed by his glorious rout of the forces of darkness in Libya, and all things considered, finding the disco dandy's name on the list of the usual suspects prescribing more war for America should not come as a surprise.

What should be a surprise is that the man retains any credibility anywhere on the media spectrum. From the disaster that is Libya to the disaster that is Mali to the fact that Francios Hollande still doesn't have his spurs, how is it possible that any serious person cares what imbecilities tumble from the lips of the aging buffoon?

The "credibility" of the USA

I was listening to Senator McCain pontificate on the grave disservice the first black president is doing to the nation by not invading Syria right away.

According to war monger #1, Obama is "undermining the credibility" of the US.

Where in the world does the Senator imagine that America retains any credibility?

The Saudi's have been going behind Uncle Sam's back to pursue their own agenda.

Ditto Qatar and the Gulf gang.

Nobody trusts Obama in the Holy Land.

The Generals in Egypt thumb their nose at America even as they keep taking the billions in aid.

India? Pakistan? China? Does any serious person believe America still has clout over there?

As for Russia, Putin's contempt for Obama is almost palpable, and no wonder.

Everybody in Russia understands who runs Russia.

Everybody in America knows Obama doesn't run America, let alone anything else.

Here is the list of who still believes in America's credibility;

• mainstream news platforms in the NATO states
• Francios Hollande
• the Free Syrian Army

... and two out of three of those are faking their faith.
 

World fired up about Canadian mining companies

They're fired up in Romania.

They're pissed off in Athens, and they're pissed off in Peru.

In fact, no matter where you go in the world, chances are you can find pissed off locals protesting yet another Canadian mining venture.

That's why the recent Harper government initiative to tie foreign aid to Canadian mining companies is guaranteed to destroy what little is left of the goodwill that the "Canada" brand enjoyed on the world stage as recently as a generation ago.

That was then.

Now we're a nation state in name only, one that exists to provide legal cover to some of the most rapacious mine operators on the planet.

But what do we care? As long as they pay a little tax here and leave their toxic mess somewhere else, everything is hunky-dory!

And labeling subsidies to those mining conglomerates "foreign aid" is what's known as a win-win in neo-liberal political circles.

Tony and the tyrants

Here's Tony with his good friend Assad.

Here's Tony with his good friend Gadaffi.