Tag Archives: Winning Hearts & Minds

More Dangerous Than Iran?

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“At least two-thirds of the Pakistani population considers the United States an enemy, making it one of the largest hotbeds of anti-American sentiment in the world.  The country’s extreme poverty, Muslim extremism, religious hatreds and periodic political upheavals are, in many ways, reminiscent of the conditions prior to the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, once America’s staunchest ally in the region.  Most worrisome of all, Pakistan is a nuclear power with 12 times as many nuclear warheads as North Korea.  Like North Korea, it has never signed the global Treaty of the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. But unlike North Korea, it has the ability to drop its bombs on its enemies.”

http://www.moneyandmarkets.com/dangerous-iran-72830

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Dallas Puts the Brakes on Hard-Working Mechanic

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“Hinga Mbogo immigrated to Dallas from Kenya to live the American dream—but Dallas officials had other plans for him.  City officials are demanding that Hinga stop repairing cars at his popular shop, Hinga’s Automotive Company, because it doesn’t fit in with their plans to reimagine the up-and-coming neighborhood. The city barred Hinga from using his land for auto repair and told him to close his business after letting an ‘amortization’ period pass.  Dallas officials are using this technique to avoid compensating Hinga for the time and money he invested in his business and property. So even though the city is wrenching away this hard-working mechanic’s livelihood, the city isn’t paying him a dime.”

http://www.ij.org/dallas-puts-the-brakes-on-hard-working-mechanic

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We’re a year into the unofficial war against Isis with nothing to show for it

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“This Saturday marks one full year since the US military began its still-undeclared war against Islamic State that the government officials openly acknowledge will last indefinitely. What do we have to show for it? So far, billions of dollars have been spent, thousands of bombs have been dropped, hundreds of civilians have been killed and Isis is no weaker than it was last August, when the airstrikes began.  But don’t take it from me – that’s the conclusion of the US intelligence community itself. As the Associated Press reported a few days ago, the consensus view of the US intelligence agencies is that Isis is just as powerful as it was a year ago, and they can replace fighters faster than they are getting killed.”

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/08/unofficial-war-isis-nothing-to-show-for

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Cliven Bundy will be held accountable, Interior secretary says

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“Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy will be held accountable for the federal land grazing fees and penalties he owes, a top federal official said.  Bundy became a national figure in April 2014 when he and scores of supporters got into an armed standoff with federal law enforcement officers over his cattle’s years of alleged unpaid grazing on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, whose department includes the BLM, says Bundy will eventually have to answer for what he owes the federal government, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.  The BLM says he owes more than $1 million. But Bundy does not recognize the federal government’s authority to collect.”

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246103-cliven-bundy-will-be-held-accountable-interior-secretary-says

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Lessons from the drug raid that burned a Georgia toddler

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“Combined, both cases cost the local governments well over $3 million in settlements. Ayers got $2 million. The toddler’s family got $1 million (which might cover the child’s medical expenses). The alleged drug transaction that led to the investigation ending in Ayers’s death was for $50 worth of cocaine. The transaction that nearly led to the death of the toddler was for $50 worth of meth. A dead pastor, a widowed wife, a fatherless baby, a disfigured toddler, $3 million in settlements, who knows how much money spent on investigations and legal fees . . . all over $100 in alleged drug sales.  The raids will go on. And so will the body count.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/07/27/lessons-from-the-drug-raid-that-burned-a-georgia-toddler/

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Symbol of Pinochet abuses, Chilean woman says justice is now coming

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“At the time, the burning attack drew condemnation worldwide and strained relations with U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s government, which demanded a full investigation and judicial action.  In his testimony, [former soldier] Guzman denied the two were victims of their own firebomb, calling it ‘a total lie’ by the military.  In all, 40,018 people were killed, tortured or imprisoned for political reasons during Pinochet’s dictatorship, according to official figures. Chile’s government estimates 3,095 were killed.  About 70 military officials have been jailed for crimes against humanity and some 700 more are facing trial. Pinochet died in 2006 under house arrest without ever being tried.”

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/07/29/symbol-abuses-under-pinochet-regime-scarred-chilean-woman-says-justice-is-now/

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Our Immigration System Is Leaving Iraqi and Afghan Translators to Die

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“The news media’s focus on illegal immigration prevents crucial dialogue on something more important: legal immigration.  Launched in 2007, the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program provides visas to Iraqi and Afghan interpreters who face an ‘ongoing serious threat’ in their own countries because of the ‘faithful and valuable service’ they rendered to the U.S. government. It is a straightforward program with bipartisan support.  However, SIV is a bureaucratic mess; restrictions and backlogs have stranded former U.S. allies overseas, where they and their families are targeted for harm even though they were promised visas as part of their recruitment.”

http://fee.org/anythingpeaceful/detail/our-immigration-system-is-killing-our-allies

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General Rebellion and Media Choices

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“Retired generals frequently land jobs with Wall Street or defense contractors, through which they can convert their military knowledge into substantial income. At least one is going a different direction, though. Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn appears uninterested in a lucrative second career.   When August arrives, will Washington’s compliant media report that one of Obama’s own top generals says drones are a ‘failed strategy’? They will if they are interested in promoting a healthy public debate. In other words, don’t hold your breath. The corporate-owned TV networks and national newspapers know who keeps the dollars flowing. Rebel generals who don’t toe the party line are not on the list.”

http://www.thedailybell.com/news-analysis/36429/General-Rebellion-and-Media-Choices/

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Retired General: Drones Create Terrorists; Iraq War Helped Create ISIS

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“Retired Army Gen. Mike Flynn, a top intelligence official in the post-9/11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, says in a forthcoming interview on Al Jazeera English that the drone war is creating more terrorists than it is killing. He also asserts that the U.S. invasion of Iraq helped create the Islamic State and that U.S. soldiers involved in torturing detainees need to be held legally accountable for their actions. Prior to serving as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Flynn was director of Intelligence for the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/07/16/retired-general-drones-create-terrorists-kill-iraq-war-helped-create-isis/

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UberPOP halts service in France after clampdown, protests

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“After fierce protests last week by licensed French taxi drivers who argue it threatens their livelihood with unfair competition, France took two executives from California-based Uber into custody and said they will face trial in September.  France’s legal clampdown was the latest setback for Uber in Europe. An Italian court in May banned unlicensed car-sharing services, two months after a German court issued a similar ban and imposed stiff fines for violations of local transport laws. Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the decision but said France’s licensed taxis needed to improve the quality of their service, often criticized by locals and foreign visitors.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/03/us-france-uber-idUSKCN0PD0Y320150703

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