Propeller.com Stories commented on by berkeley

Peter Lee: Plutonium Generator in the Ganges?

bruhaha — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 01:56:04 EDT

For the U.S. intelligence establishment, the Cold War was a time of certainties: Communism had to be stopped; no cost was too great, no technological obstacle was insurmountable. And, in the case of gaining information on China's missile program, no mountain was too high.

Channel: Science Tags: Plutonium India Gherkas Nanda Devi Nanda Kot Himalayas radioisotopic thermal generator radiation Sherpa China spy

The Tragic Failure of the Prague Spring

berkeley — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:07:29 EDT

But Czechoslovakia's experiment became its tragedy on the night of August 21, 1968, when the armies of fellow Warsaw Pact countries invaded. Students in Prague graffitied on a building wall, "Lenin, wake up, they've gone mad."

Channel: News Tags: czechoslovakia alexander dubcek

President Bush To Attend Olympic Opening

digitalfever — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:11:23 EDT

President George W. Bush will attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games in Beijing, the White House said Thursday.

Channel: News Tags: prsident bush olympic games whitehouse

More Homeland Insecurity

berkeley — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:05:54 EDT

In another bizarre twist to Washington's often illegal, irrational "war on terror", peaceful, lawful human rights campaigners are now apparently being refused entry to the US -- without any right of appeal.

Channel: Politics Tags: dhs Noordin Mengal britain law 1984

American President Pleads Guilty to Hopeless Idealism

berkeley — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:21:59 EDT

Or perhaps after working with Torquemada Cheney all these years, W. simply feels more at home in a monarchy. At the end of dinner he posed under a portrait of Elizabeth I in the drawing room and gayly promised: "This is going to be my White House Christmas card."

Channel: Politics Tags: bush britain gordon brown

The end of the culture wars?

Radiofreeeuropa — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:47:28 EDT

Hot-button politics has turned out to be cumulatively disastrous for America. Politicians warred over narrow, symbolic issues while real problems that didn't fit the culture war paradigm - lack of access to healthcare, global warming, the US occupation of Iraq grew and festered. Have the electorate finally had enough of the BS?

Channel: Politics Tags: Bogus Politics Slight Of Hand Campaigning Milking the Toad Counterfeit Culture Wars

High gas prices threaten to shut down rural towns

STONERS — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 11:32:57 EDT

This community may be an extreme example of how rising gas prices are hitting rural Americans particularly hard, but people in small towns from Maine to Alaska are in a similar bind as those here.

Channel: Money Tags: High Gas Prices Threaten Shut Down Rural Towns

Bringing Down Bear Stearns

_kam0_ — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:15:51 EDT

On Monday, March 10, the rumor started: Bear Stearns was having liquidity problems. In fact, the maverick investment bank had around $18 billion in cash reserves. But soon the speculation created its own reality, and the race was on to keep Bear's crisis from ravaging Wall Street.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: Bear Stearns Wall Street money conspiracy

Why floods could bring America to its knees

berkeley — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:02:38 EDT

Like a lot of other activities in American life these days, agribusiness is unreformable along its current lines. It will take a convulsion to change it, and in that convulsion it will be dragged kicking-and-screaming into a new reality. As that occurs, the US public will have to contend with more than just higher taco chip prices.

Channel: Food Tags: iowa floods oil prices food supply

Myth: Israel's Strike on Iraqi Reactor Hindered Iraqi Nukes

berkeley — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:56:51 EDT

Many claim that the Israeli bombing of the Iraqi Osirak reactor delayed Iraq's nuclear bomb program. But the Iraqi nuclear program before 1981 was peaceful, and the Osirak reactor was not only unsuited to making bombs but was under intensive safeguards.

Channel: Politics Tags: israel iraq osirak reactor war

U.S. court ruling on Arar enables gov't to send foreigners to torture, says lawyer

berkeley — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:39:38 EDT

"He's rightfully angered that he cannot get justice, and that not only can he not get justice, but that his being sent to torture has now been in vain because he can't even stop the government from doing it to someone else."

Channel: Politics Tags: maher arar canada syria torture dhs alberto gonzales john ashcroft law

Photo of 5 month old's bottom deemed pornographic by supermarket

_kam0_ — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:06:57 EDT

Gail Jordan asked her local Asda to transfer a photographic print of her son as a five-month-old baby on to a cake for his 21st birthday party? Asda, however, did not just think this was embarrassing. They thought it was positively sinister, becausethe print revealed the naked bottom of the infant David Jordan.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: family children paedophilia hysteria UK supermarkets

'The United States is not a republic anymore', says Gore Vidal

berkeley — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:18:58 EDT

They would never have risen unless they were buying elections as they did in Florida in 2000, as they did in the State of Ohio in 2004. These are two open thefts of the Presidency. When I discovered that this did not interest the New York Times or the Washington Post or any of the press of the country I realized our day was done.

Channel: Politics Tags: empire police state privacy nsa unitary executive imperial presidency gore vidal

Zimbabwe opposition accuses Mossad of helping Mugabe

berkeley — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:49:49 EDT

Ibbo Mandaza, a senior member of Makoni's campaign team, told the Mail & Guardian that the voters' roll had been manipulated to favor the ruling ZANU-PF and that the format of the voter's roll was devised by the Mossad on instructions from the Zimbabwean government.

Channel: News Tags: mugabe elections israel mossad zimbabwe

The Anthrax Letters: The Finger Points atÃ;Â Whom?

populist — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:38:21 EDT

The "person of interest" was Steven Hatfill, identified by attorney general John Ashcroft as a potential suspect because he had worked at the Army's infectious diseases laboratory at Ft. Detrick, Maryland from 1997 to 1999.

Channel: Politics Tags: anthrax fbi government hatfill ashcroft

Executive Order:Continuing Certain Restrictions To North Korea And North Korean Nationals

eugenegerard — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:28:04 EDT

Couched in a directive about handling relations with Noth Korea, George Bush declares Martial Law.

Channel: Politics Tags: Martial Law National Security North Korea Dictatorship

Iran-Contra's 'Lost Chapter'

ameliog — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:23:55 EDT

As historians ponder George W. Bush's disastrous presidency, they may wonder how Republicans perfected a propaganda system that could fool tens of millions of Americans, intimidate Democrats, and transform the vaunted Washington press corps from watchdogs to lapdogs.

Channel: Politics Tags: gwb bush neocons conservative movement

If Terrorists Rock the Vote in 2008

berkeley — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:37:20 EDT

What would be the optimum timing, from the campaign's perspective, for this terrorist attack - before or after the convention? Would the attack be most useful if it took place in a red state, blue state or swing state?

Channel: Politics Tags: mccain lies media election

Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis?

GregD — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:29:31 EDT

Scientists at the Department of Agriculture's research campus in Beltsville, Md., are simulating how increased levels of carbon dioxide will affect how weeds grow 30 or 40 years from now.

Channel: Science Tags: weeds global warming climate change propeller eco news

Bush's war on Iran has already started

Natureboy — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:12:00 EDT

The administration has greatly escalated "covert operations" against Iran in the past year, according to a revelatory New Yorker piece by Seymour Hersh.

Channel: News Tags: Bush war Iran Iraq Seymour Hersh

All Too Human

TrueProgressive — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 02:51:42 EDT

Thursday was the day that two Bush administration lawyers appeared before a House subcommittee to answer questions about their roles in providing the legal framework for harsh interrogation techniques that became torture and shamed the US before the rest of the world.

Channel: Politics Tags: Iraqi War Torture John Yoo

Berlusconi is back and more brash than ever

berkeley — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:27:12 EDT

Having elected Berlusconi, the Italian public does not share his concern about the judiciary. Recent polls show the usual preoccupations with salaries and pensions, with only 3.4 per cent interested in the magistrature. His anti-immigration policies are popular, with large majorities favouring the demolition of gypsy camps around Rome.

Channel: News Tags: italy berlusconi elections corruption

US settles with anthrax mailings subject Steven Hatfill for $5.82 ...

techgirl — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:04:52 EDT

The former Army scientist who was the prime suspect in the deadly 2001 anthrax mailings agreed Friday to take $5.82 million from the government to settle his claim that the Justice Department and the FBI invaded his privacy and ruined his career.

Channel: Health & Fitness Tags: anthrax

Report: Iran to hit Israel if attacked

STONERS — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:46:45 EDT

The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that Tehran would respond to an attack against it by barraging Israel with missiles and controlling a key oil passageway in the Persian Gulf, said a newspaper report published Saturday.

Channel: News Tags: Iran To Hit Israel Attacked Missiles Oil Passageway

The Disadvantages of an Elite Education

idyll — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:21:59 EDT

It didn't dawn on me that there might be a few holes in my education until I was about 35

Channel: Family Tags: education class ivy league

America Is the Rogue Nation

idyll — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:02:08 EDT

One gets the impression that there are some people in Washington who believe that Israel or the U.S. can bomb Iran's nuclear reactors, fly home, and it will be mission complete.

Channel: Politics Tags: iran rogue nation

Whistleblower: Spy Bill Will Create Police State

jovial — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 00:27:02 EDT

Mark Klein, the retired AT&T engineer who stepped forward with the technical documents at the heart of the anti-wiretapping case against AT&T, is furious at the Senate's vote on Wednesday night to hold a vote on a bill intended to put an end to that lawsuit and more than 30 others.

Channel: Do No Evil Tags: Klein whistleblower spying wiretapping

Scientist Is Paid Millions by U.S. in Anthrax Suit

TechnologyExpert — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:22:14 EDT

The Justice Department announced Friday that it would pay $4.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by Steven J. Hatfill, a former Army biodefense researcher intensively investigated as a "person of interest" in the deadly anthrax letters of 2001.

Channel: News Tags: Antrax Lawsuit Justice Department

Russia's foreign minister warns against use of force on Iran

berkeley — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:02:42 EDT

Lavrov made the statement when asked to comment on an Israeli Cabinet member's statement earlier this month that Israel could attack Iran if it does not halt its nuclear program.

Channel: News Tags: israel iran war russia cheney addington

Yoo Won't Answer Whether President Can Bury Detainees Alive

tehranchik — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:22:50 EDT

Today, the authors of the Bush administration's torture policies, David Addington and John Yoo, are testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.

Channel: Politics Tags: Yoo Conyers president torture detainees buried alive

Gitmo Detainee's Lawyer 'Not Allowed To Tell Him' He's No Longer An 'Enemy Combatant'

berkeley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:53:01 EDT

Boy what a great question that is because my client doesn't know about this ruling because I'm not allowed to tell him. He's sitting in solitary confinement today. He has no idea what's happened as far as I know.

Channel: Politics Tags: scotus bush empire guantanamo torture 1984 law Huzaifa Parhat

Kucinich: 'We went to war for the oil companies'

TechnologyExpert — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:01:44 EDT

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who has introduced measures to impeach George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, said Thursday that oil executives who secretly met with the vice president in 2001 should be held criminally liable for pushing an illegal war.

Channel: Politics Tags: Bush Iraq Cheney Oil

Under Penalty of Punishment

populist — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:38:31 EDT

Bush and Vice President Cheney have refused to comply with numerous subpoenas, have instructed current and former staff not to comply, and have refused to enforce contempt citations arising out of their refusal to comply with subpoenas.

Channel: Politics Tags: bush cheney subpoena criminals

George Carlin's Last Interview

Neophile — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:59:13 EDT

Ten days ago, on Friday, June 13th, 2008, I had the extraordinary privilege of talking to George Carlin. As far as I know it was the last in-depth interview he gave before he passed away yesterday at age 71.

Channel: Celebrities Tags: george carlin interview

Security Matters: I've Seen the Future, and It Has a Kill Switch

Wil — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:48:45 EDT

It used to be that just the entertainment industries wanted to control your computers -- and televisions and iPods and everything else -- to ensure that you didn't violate any copyright rules. But now everyone else wants to get their hooks into your gear.

Channel: Gadgets & Tech Tags: Privacy Security Digital Manners Microsoft Kill Switches Schneier

Op Ed: Lies, damned lies and John McCain

berkeley — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:09:04 EDT

Sometimes he lies about more important matters. Responding to Democratic attacks that he voted with his Republican colleagues to block an investigation into the Bush administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina, McCain angrily replied that he'd voted in favor of every such investigation even though he didn't.

Channel: Politics Tags: mccain lies media

POW/MIA Families Alleged McCain Assault

jovial — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:16:33 EDT

On June 20, 1996, Senator John McCain allegedly assaulted a family member of a Vietnam War prisoner of war (POW) who was missing in action (MIA), as a group of about 15 family members of POW/MIAs watched in astonishment.

Channel: Politics Tags: McCain veteran assault madman

Airport Seized investigative reporter Laptops and Cameras Without Cause - Yahoo! News

Fedquip — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:19:40 EDT

Returning from a brief vacation to Germany in February, Bill Hogan was selected for additional screening by customs officials at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C

Channel: News Tags: Bill Hogan Dulles Airport investigative reporter

State-Sponsored Terror: British and American Black Ops in Iraq

berkeley — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 21:48:26 EDT

The United States government is planning to use "cover and deception" and secret military operations to provoke murderous terrorist attacks on innocent people.

Channel: Politics Tags: bush cheney rumsfeld gates empire war crimes murder

Israeli 'suicide cop': family refute claims that he killed himself

berkeley — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:41:19 EDT

The death of an Israeli guard who was shot in the head during a farewell ceremony for President Sarkozy of France continued to provoke debate yesterday as the family disputed claims that he committed suicide.

Channel: News Tags: israel sarkozy suicide lies