Under the Radar: Ten Warning Signs for Today

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/8876

Under the Radar: Ten Warning Signs for Today
by Heather Wokusch | Jul 22 2007


1. Protest war, lose your property?

On July 17th, The White House quietly announced an Executive Order entitled "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq." Among other developments, it gives Bush the power to "block" the property of people in the US found to "pose a significant risk of committing" an act of violence which might undermine "political reform in Iraq."

The terms "significant threat" and "act of violence" are unclear. If you attend a demonstration against Bush's definition of "political reform in Iraq" would that count? How about writing an angry letter to the editor?

The vague language also includes outlawing "the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order." What if you donate to an anti-war group which, outside of your knowledge, has been blacklisted by the government? Does that mean that your property can be "blocked"?

Similar to the Patriot Act, the potential implications are staggering.

2. Market meltdown

Economic fallout from the subprime mortgage market collapse has extended further, with prominent investment company Bear Stearns admitting last week that two of its hedge funds, once estimated at $1.6 billion, are now of "very little value."

Meanwhile, the prestigious Bank for International Settlements released a statement warning that the global economy could be facing a Great Depression, and that the dollar in particular "remains vulnerable to a sudden loss of private sector confidence."

Fasten your seatbelts.

3. Escalating US military operations in Pakistan

more...

[snappyturtle]

1. Haven't read the rest of the article but, aren't three enough!

Off to read the rest of the article. Guess I'm safe because I fastened my seatbelt after reading #2.

[bahrbearian]

5. How about number 4

4. Loose nukes

It was recently reported that the US had quietly removed 130 of its nuclear warheads from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. That still leaves over 350 US warheads across Europe, but the question remains: what happened to the Ramstein nukes? The Pentagon and German Defense Ministry aren't talking, and it can't necessarily be assumed that the warheads have been destroyed. Shuffled to some different country with less stringent weapons controls or hidden away for use in future conflicts perhaps -- who knows.

Meanwhile, in late June, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to fund by $66 million the production of even more nuclear warheads.

[snappyturtle]

11. We were thinking the same thing at the same time....see #7! n/t

[unhappycamper]

2. Thanks for posting.

:thumbsup:

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Whew. This article is disquieting and will be bookmarked. What a stunning litany.

:kick: MKJ

[Grandrose]

4. Amazing! K&R

Thanks for posting. :thumbsup: :kick:

[StClone]

6. Schwarzenegger VP bit is way off

Arnold can never be VP under the current Constitution requirement that the President be a U.S. born citizen. AS VP he would be a heart beat from the White House. I believe the Republican plan was to be in power and amend the U.S. Constitution to allow him as Prez in 2008. Now they are looking further down the road.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

8. True, that particular one seemed to be thrown in to make it 10. I was already aware

of Murdoch's power grab, the increase in military action by Musharref in Pakistan, I had a basic understanding of the conflict between Turkey and the Iraqi Kurds, although this is first I've read of plans to dam the Tigress, possibly aided and abetted by China.

And, the market's instability, teetering on the rickety housing market, seems fairly well known. I just heard about the property seizure executive order on Friday...http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/07/20070717-3.html

I'll be calling my rep, again, on Monday to discuss this idiotic crap and why in the hell is Congress just letting this stand.

The Ramstein nukes, no link in the paragraph, it would be prudent to attribute, if possible. Certainly this should be investigated further.

GPS? I hadn't heard, however, I would like to know further the implications of this development, if as described.


Good article. MKJ

[snappyturtle]

7. Read the rest of the article....whew! Mind boggling.....here's pt. #4:

"4. Loose nukes

It was recently reported that the US had quietly removed 130 of its nuclear warheads from Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. That still leaves over 350 US warheads across Europe, but the question remains: what happened to the Ramstein nukes? The Pentagon and German Defense Ministry aren't talking, and it can't necessarily be assumed that the warheads have been destroyed. Shuffled to some different country with less stringent weapons controls or hidden away for use in future conflicts perhaps -- who knows.

Meanwhile, in late June, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to fund by $66 million the production of even more nuclear warheads."

Not something I want to think about before bedtime.

[whistle]

10. Those were deliberately put there by past administrations and our own military

[whistle]

9. Does America really know how to be a single Super Power?

...I don't think our government can responsibly handle that role and the majority of Americans just don't fathom the awesome responsibility of being the only Super Power in the world. Ron Paul and his libertarian ilk want the return of American isolationism. The neocons want American Imperialism and rule by absolute force. Democratic candidates talk as though ending the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars will bring out peace and understanding as the factions within these countries destroy one another while America stands aside and watches from afar.

So I ask, can America accomplish anything but utter world destruction without the cooperation and direct involvement of the three other most populous and resources laden countries of the world: China, India and Russia? That I think is the key to where we must focus for the next 25 to 50 years and eventually linking the rest of the world into cooperative relationships and trade agreements throughout the rest of this century.