Stuart Jeanne Bramhall's Blog: The Most Revolutionary Act , page 1258
September 8, 2016
Unpaid Saudi Guest Workers Starving as Bosses keep Billions Owed
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Saudi “guest workers” from foreign countries treated as virtual slaves.
The exploitation of migrant workers is turning into a full-fledged humanitarian crisis.
Dawlat Khan has worked as a health and safety officer for the construction firm Saudi Oger in Saudi Arabia for nearly eight years, but his experience took a turn for the worse 8 months ago when his monthly salary of US $2000 abruptly stopped.
RELATED:
India SendsFood Aid toStarvingCitizens in RichSaudi Arabia
According to The Middle East Eye (MEE) Khan is only one of some 50,000 Saudi Oger employees who have not been paid since last summer. The kingdom’s largest private company reportedly owes employees US $800 million in back pay.
Living in a work camp where rent is US $133 per month, Khan has to rely on friends for food and accommodation costs. Most crucially, like many migrant workers in the country, Khan’s family is reliant on his earnings in the kingdom.
Unpaid workers in Saudi beg their…
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9/11’s Second Wave: Cancer and Other Diseases Linked to the 2001 Attacks Are Surging
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As many as 400,000 people are estimated to be affected by diseases, such as cancers, and mental illnesses linked to September 11.
Leah McGrath Goodman reports for Newsweek:
[…] Placido Perez is one of the thousands fighting deadly diseases as a result of exposure to Ground Zero. Doctors with the World Trade Center Health Program, which the federal government created in the aftermath of the attacks, have linked nearly 70 types of cancer to Ground Zero. Many people have fallen victim to cancers their doctors say are rare, aggressive and particularly hard to treat. “The diseases stemming from the World Trade Center attacks include almost all lung diseases, almost all cancers—such as issues of the upper airways, gastroesophageal acid reflux disease, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, panic and adjustment disorders,” says Dr. David Prezant, co-director for the Fire Department of the City of New York’s World Trade Center Medical Monitoring Program.
With the exception of the Civil War battle of Antietam, more American lives were lost on September 11, 2001, than on any other day…
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How the CIA Used LSD to Destroy the New Left
Drugs as Weapons Against Us: The CIA’s Murderous Targeting of SDS, Panthers, Hendrix, Lennon, Cobain, Tupac and Other Activists
by John L Potash
Trine Day LLC (2015)
Book Review
Drugs as Weapons Against Us is a virtual encyclopedia of the global drug trade. Author John L Potash devotes special attention to the long involvement of the British and US government in illegal trafficking – for the political and financial benefit of the elite families who control these governments. Most of the book focuses on MKUltra, the top secret CIA program devoted to developing and experimenting with mind altering drugs such as LSD, MDA (an ecstasy precursor), STP, PCP and scopolamine.
Although CIA Director Richard Helms ordered all MK-Ultra records destroyed in the mid-seventies, 30,000 pages of documents were preserved in the CIA Finance Department. Meticulously researched and footnoted, Drugs as Weapons relies on an extensive variety of sources, including the 30,000 pages, FOIA releases, police files, whistleblower statements, media and alternative media investigations and other prominent researchers such as Peter Dale Scott, Alfred, McCoy, Alex Constantine, Catherine Austin Fitts, and the late Gary Webb and Michael Rupert.
Using MKUltra to Target Leftists and Radical Pop Stars
As the title suggests, Potash is mainly interested in the CIA’s use of LSD (with the help of British intelligence, which ran a parallel MKUltra program at the Tavistock Clinic) to “neutralize” leftists and activist pop stars, such as Paul Robeson, Mick Jagger, Abbie Hoffman, Brian Jones, Janis Joplin, John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.*
Like many activists, I am well aware of the CIA’s historic role in heroin trafficking in Southeast Asia and in cocaine trafficking in Latin America. However prior to reading Drugs as Weapons, I was totally unaware they were also responsible for most of the LSD produced between 1955 and 1973 – for the specific purpose of “neutralizing” the New Left in Berkeley, at Columbia University and elsewhere. This particular MKUltra project was conceived in response to a 1962 Rand Corporation study recommending that getting left wing leaders hooked on LSD could “cause them to resign or become inactive.”
The Haight Ashbury was a CIA Invention
I was particularly horrified to learn about the LSD distribution network MKUltra agents set up in the Haight Ashbury to lure Berkeley students away from the nationally influential Free Speech movement. The latter, originally formed in 1957 to protest the anti-democratic activities of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s House on Un-American Activities Committee, went on to inspire the national anti-Vietnam War Movement.
In addition to various MKUltra scientists and agents, the CIA also relied on a number of high profile personalities – LSD guru Timothy Leary (an admitted CIA asset), author Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), and Grateful Dead band members – to promote and distribute LSD as an alternative to organizing against the Vietnam War.
How the Opium Trade Created America’s First Millionaires
Potash begins his book with important historical background on the origins of the global drug trade, which he traces back to 1500 and which European elites relied on heavily to finance imperial expansion and colonization. He also recounts the history of important Wall Street families – the Cabots, Cushings, Bushes, Astors, Russells, Pierponts (JP Morgan’s family) – who all owe their immense wealth to the opium trade the British involuntarily forced on China via the Opium Wars. The investment of these families in illegal drug trafficking continues to the present day, as evidenced by the involvement of all major US banks in multibillion dollar drug money laundering.
The Russell family, who would go on to found Yale and the Skull and Bones Society, openly used a skull and bones pirate flag on their opium trading ships.
The Vietnam War: Protecting Wall Street Drug Interests
Potash also carefully details the special relationship between these Wall Street families and the intelligence agency they founded during World War II (the OSS, which became the CIA in 1947) to protect their special interests. This comes out really clearly in the chapter in which Potash traces the origins of the Vietnam War. He makes a really strong case that this war (which began in the late fifties as a CIA intervention) stemmed directly from CIA determination to protect Golden Triangle opium production from efforts by nationalist leaders in Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to eradicate it.
One of Mao’s first acts after winning control of China was to destroy the country’s vast opium network. With the support of the CIA, the nationalist Chinese generals who had controlled it moved their networks into Burma, Laos and Thailand.
The Link Between CIA-backed Nazi War Criminals and Colombian Cocaine
In a similar vein, the CIA assisted Klaus Barbie and other Nazi war criminals it smuggled out of Germany in setting up a cocaine production and distribution network in Colombia and later the Afghan Mujaheddin in turning their country into the world’s largest producer of heroin.
Potash makes a compelling case that the proximate cause for the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in October 2001 was the Taliban’s successful eradication of opium production earlier that year.
*The cases of radical pop stars and activists targeted with LSD and other drugs (in many cases along with witnesses and key investigators) Potash examines include
Paul Robeson – African American singer whose career was destroyed when he was involuntarily dosed with LSD and committed for two years to a psychiatric hospital, where he received 54 electroconvulsive treatments,
Richard Wright – African American writer involuntarily dosed with LSD who later died under extremely suspicious circumstances.
Elvis Presley – became addicted to amphetamines and narcotics after covert intelligence officer became his manager.
Mama Cass Elliott – died under mysterious circumstances at age 32 after starting to date an international drug smuggler with suspected intelligence links.
Abbie Hoffman –introduced to LSD by roommate who worked for Army Intelligence research LSD effects on unconsenting GIs.
Mick Jagger – involuntarily dosed with LSD and subject to numerous drug frame-ups and two unsuccessful Hell’s Angels (working closely with US intelligence) assassination attempts.
Brian Jones – subject to numerous drug frame-ups and intense phone harassment and stalking prior to 1969 murder (which police covered up as “accidental” drowning).
Jimi Hendrix – intelligence-linked manager strongly implicated in death related to involuntary drugging.
Janis Joplin – introduced to amphetamines and heroine via intelligence-linked boyfriend, died after “friend” slipped her a bolus of pure CIA heroin.
John Lennon – involuntarily dosed with LSD and framed on bogus cannabis charge. Lennon’s alleged assassin Mark Chapman had strong intelligence links and appeared to be under influence of scopolamine.
Bob Marley – involuntarily injected with the cancer-causing chemical methlychoanthine (via a copper wire hidden in boots gifted to him by CIA asset Carl Colby) and subsequently died of fibrosarcoma.
Kurt Cobain – involved in heavy drug use by his wife Courtney Love, who had shadowy underworld and intelligence connections. Cobain allegedly shot himself in the head with a shotgun after consuming so much heroin he would have lost consciousness before he could pull the trigger.
Huey Newton – initiated into heavy cocaine use by girlfriend/undercover agent. Witnesses maintain he was shot after a failed attempt to kidnap him, discrediting police disinformation about “a drug deal gone bad.”
Tupac Shakur – multiple assassination attempts and police frame ups. Coerced, as part of a bail agreement, into signing with Death Row records (see The FBI War on Rap). The latter was run by Los Angeles police intelligence unit and heavily involved in drug and gun trafficking. Killed in drive-by shooting instigated by US intelligence.
Eminem – initiated into heavy drug use via undercover intelligence “friends” after helping Afeni Shakur (following Tupac’s assassination) to record many of Tupac’s songs.
Originally published in Dissident Voice
September 7, 2016
Push Back Against Totalitarianism
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Supporting Microsoft’s quest to put a stop to the US government’s habit of demanding access to customers’ digital records in court-ordered secrecy, Apple, Google, and Mozilla (among many others) have joined an amicus brief in support of a Microsoft lawsuit against the federal government over its controversial use of gagging orders.
Amazon, Google, Apple… Fox News join Microsoft in US gag orders fight
The likes of Apple, Google, and Mozilla—among many others—have put their names to an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit Microsoft filed against the federal government over its controversial and continued use of gagging orders.
Voting 3rd Party Will *Not* Elect the Greater Evil
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John Laurits does the math.
Greetings, my sisters, my brothers, & my others —
Today, I’m writing to you about the math of the
general election
, as well as why that math tells us that the vast majority of you can vote your conscience without being a “spoiler” & electing whoever the greater evil is (which is
pretty debatable
, by the way). It’s true! This is not my opinion — this is
arithmetic!
It is my sincerest hope that this article will help to put a decisive end to all of the public vote-shaming & bullying that’s been going around these days — so, if you’ve been bullied or pestered online lately for supporting Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or anyone else, worry not — the math is with you.
And I’ll show youwhy — follow me!
Making Sense of the Insane Math
of the US Presidential Elections
As I’ve explained quite…
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Iowa Landowners Sue to Stop Dakota Access Construction, Say Pipeline Provides No Public Service
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Iowan landowners join indigenous activists in opposing Dakota Access pipeline.
In addition to facing large-scale resistance by Indigenous activists in North Dakota, the Dakota Access pipeline is also facing legal resistance in Iowa, one of four states through which it passes. We go to Des Moines to speak with Bill Hanigan, an attorney representing 15 Iowa landowners who are contesting the project’s use of eminent domain under the guise that it would provide a public service, even as it threatens to pollute the state’s farmland and water supplies.
Source: Iowa Landowners Sue to Stop Dakota Access Construction, Say Pipeline Provides No Public Service
September 6, 2016
Children, Mauled as Private Mercenaries Attack Native American Pipeline Protest*
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Without warning, private security henchmen showered demonstrators with pepper spray and released their dogs — at least six people were bitten, including a young child.
Children, Mauled as Private Mercenaries Attack Native American Pipeline Protest*
By Claire Bernish
A private security firm guarding the highly controversial construction of $3.8 billion oil pipeline turned mercenary on Saturday, unleashing vicious attack dogs against a sizable crowd of peaceful protesters — including women and children.
Members of the Standing Rock Sioux and at least 100 other Native American nations as well as activists and advocates peacefully chanted“water is life” while guards held dogs nearby to intimidate the crowd. Without warning, these security henchmen showered the demonstrators with pepper spray and released the dogs — at least six people were bitten, including a young child.
Called the Dakota Access Pipeline by those responsible for its construction — and an evil, immoral usurpation and exploitation by those who know better — the project is slated to span four states, stretching 1,172 miles, but threatens the reservation’s water supply…
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Brazil Coup Govt Unleashes Wave of Repression on Protesters
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Brazil: chaos in the streets.
Telesur | 05 September, 2016
100,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Sao Paulo demanding the coup regime vacate the presidency and call snap elections.
State security officials, working on behalf of the coup regime in Brazil, unleashed a wave of repression against a 100,000 person strong demonstration Sunday in the city of Sao Paulo opposing the ouster of Dilma Rousseff.
In what was the largest rally since the consolidation of the coup earlier this week, demonstrators called for Michel Temer to step down and for snap elections to be held.
The demonstration was reportedly peaceful until the Military Police attacked the crowd with teargas as people began to disperse and demonstrators headed for metro entrances.
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Brazil’s Largest Social Movement Occupies Govt for Land Rights
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Brazilian people fight back against US-instigated coup.
Telesur | 05 September, 2016
Brazilian social movements and unions launched a three-day national action on Sept. 5, 2016 to demand rights for landless people. | Photo: MST
The MST is spearheading a national mobilization demanding rights for landless people and resisting the neoliberal rollback under the Temer government.
More than 1,000 activists from Brazil’s largest social movement occupied the Ministry of Planning in Brasilia Monday morning to demand authorities address the needs of rural and farming communities. The protest kicked off a three-day national action bringing together thousands of demonstrators fighting for the rights of hundreds of thousands of landless families in the South American country.
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How the Soviet Collapse Enriched a Few and Destroyed Millions
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Milton Friedman-style “shock therapy” allowed a few oligarchs to buy off the Soviet bloc’s wealth for cheap, as hundreds of millions suffered from economic depression along with the kind of extreme inequality that continues to this day.
Telesur | 06 September, 2016
To mark the 25th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union, teleSUR looks at how the biggest selloff in human history destroyed the lives of millions.
Historians and economists on the left and right might argue over whether the Soviet Union’s state-controlled economy was better for its nearly 300 million citizens, but the facts cannot be denied: “shock” therapy, designed with close guidance by Western economists, allowed a few oligarchs to buy off the bloc’s wealth for cheap as hundreds of millions suffered from economic depression along with the kind of extreme inequality that continues to this day.
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