Puppet MastersS


Red Flag

'Obama has lost ability to govern'

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US President Barack Obama appears to have "lost his ability to govern" as the fight is going on between Congressional Democrats and Republicans over budget, says Bill Jones from Executive Intelligence Review.

The US government was partially closed down as of Monday midnight after the two houses of Congress failed to agree on the spending bill.

Jones told Press TV that if the Republican majority in the House of Representatives holds together opposing the Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare, anything that the Democrats would put forward will not pass the chamber.

Vader

NSA chief's admission of misleading numbers adds to Obama administration blunders

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© Evan VucciNational Security Agency Director Gen. Keith Alexander testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, before the Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
The Obama administration's credibility on intelligence suffered another blow Wednesday as the chief of the National Security Agency admitted that officials put out numbers that vastly overstated the counterterrorism successes of the government's warrantless bulk collection of all Americans' phone records.

Pressed by the Democratic chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee at an oversight hearing, Gen. Keith B. Alexander admitted that the number of terrorist plots foiled by the NSA's huge database of every phone call made in or to America was only one or perhaps two - far smaller than the 54 originally claimed by the administration.

Gen. Alexander and other intelligence chiefs have pleaded with lawmakers not to shut down the bulk collection of U.S. phone records despite growing unease about government overreach in the program, which was revealed in documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

"There is no evidence that [bulk] phone records collection helped to thwart dozens or even several terrorist plots," Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat and committee chairman, told Gen. Alexander of the 54 cases that administration officials - including the general himself - have cited as the fruit of the NSA's domestic snooping.

"These weren't all plots and they weren't all foiled," he said.

TV

SOTT Focus: BBC and doctors in Syria: shilling for Western Psychopaths in Power?

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Dr. Rola. What about the babies in incubators?
Two BBC news stories, one published on August 29th, the other on September 30th, contain video of an alleged Syrian government "napalm" attack on a "Syrian school playground" during the last week of August 2013. The September 30th video refers back to the original story, one month previously.

Both videos are from the same 'Panorama' investigative reporting program that aired on August 30th, the same day that the UK parliament rejected Prime Minister David Cameron's attempt to sanction the NATO bombing of Syria.

Both videos contain the testimony of an English doctor allegedly working with the supposedly humanitarian 'NGO' 'Hand in Hand for Syria'.

The doctor in question may be 'Doctor Rola Hallam', who appears to be a British ex-pat or 'exiled' Syrian woman or, perhaps, the daughter of Syrian 'exiles'.

Doctor Hallam appeared on BBC's Newsnight program on August 31st, one day after the UK parliament vote, to complain about the fact that Cameron's move to attack Syria had been rejected by the UK parliament.

Dollars

Obamacare Facebook erupts with citizen price shock

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On Thursday, the government's official Obamacare Facebook page was riddled with people expressing sticker shock over the government's high cost premiums after struggling for hours to wade through the technical failures vexing Obamacare exchanges all across the country.

"I am so disappointed," wrote one woman. "These prices are outrageous and there are huge deductibles. No one can afford this!" The comment received 169 "likes."

"There is NO WAY I can afford it," said one commenter after using the Kaiser Subsidy Calculator. "Heck right now I couldn't afford an extra 10$ [sic] a month...and oh apparently I make to [sic] much at 8.55/hour to get subsidies."

Another person shared a link found on the federal government's main Obamacare page listing premium estimates for small business employers:
The information is not very complete as I don't see anything about deductible or other detailed info, but it does given an actual price as to the "Premium." It is VERY SCARY!! For example, my insurance plan right now for my spouse and I costs $545 a month with 100% coverage after my $2500 deductible. We are both 32 years old. When I looked at this site for 80% coverage it says it will be $954.78 a month!!!! So compare my old Plan: 100% coverage for $545 a month To New Plan: 80% Coverage for $945 a month. This is only only an estimate but it is VERY Scary for me to see this kind of increase in rates and reduction in benefits!

Stock Down

Martial law and the economy: Is Homeland Security preparing for the next Wall Street collapse?

US default
© Unknown
Reports are that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is engaged in a massive, covert military buildup.An article in the Associated Press in February confirmed an open purchase order by DHS for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition. According to an op-ed in Forbes, that's enough to sustain an Iraq-sized war for over twenty years. DHS has also acquired heavily armored tanks, which have been seen roaming the streets. Evidently somebody in government is expecting some serious civil unrest. The question is, why?

Recently revealed statements by former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the height of the banking crisis in October 2008 could give some insights into that question. An article on BBC News on September 21, 2013, drew from an explosive autobiography called Power Trip by Brown's spin doctor Damian McBride, who said the prime minister was worried that law and order could collapse during the financial crisis. McBride quoted Brown as saying:
If the banks are shutting their doors, and the cash points aren't working, and people go to Tesco [a grocery chain] and their cards aren't being accepted, the whole thing will just explode.

If you can't buy food or petrol or medicine for your kids, people will just start breaking the windows and helping themselves.

And as soon as people see that on TV, that's the end, because everyone will think that's OK now, that's just what we all have to do. It'll be anarchy. That's what could happen tomorrow.
How to deal with that threat? Brown said, "We'd have to think: do we have curfews, do we put the Army on the streets, how do we get order back?"

Handcuffs

9 sentenced in Bahrain to life imprisonment over 'terrorism'

Bahrain protest
© AFPBahraini women hold a placard reading 'Stop dictatorship in Bahrain' as they take part in an anti-government protest in the village of Jannusan, west of the capital Manama, on September 27, 2013.
A court in Bahrain sentenced nine people to life in prison on charges of forming a militant group, manufacturing explosives and plotting attacks aimed at destabilizing the restive Gulf kingdom.

Four of the defendants were present in court for the verdicts and the remaining five, tried in absentia, saw an additional 10 years tacked onto their life-sentences for failing to turn themselves in.

Life imprisonment in Bahrain entails 25-years behind bars.

According to the Bahrain News Agency, the convicted men had turned a Manama warehouse into a bomb factory, where they had prepared explosives to attack security forces, civilians and private and public property "with the aim of undermining the stability of the country and harming its economic foundations".

Investigators say in searching the suspects' homes and other locations utilized in their plot, they seized highly explosive packs of nitro-glycerin and nitro-cellulose.

"A memory chip confiscated from suspects included video clips, lessons on manufacturing bombs and explosives, Al-Qassam-type rockets, anti-tank weapons and also methods for procurement of substances usable in making bombs. DNA tests and fingerprints from the locations were proven to be compatible with those of a number of the suspects," ANA continued.

Comment: The West remains silent on the suppression happening in Bahrain.


Dollar

China warns US 'clock ticking' on debt-ceiling

Capital Hill
© UnknownThe US government was forced to shut down its non-essential services on October 1 when the Republican-led House of Representatives refused to approve money for government operations.
China has warned the US that the prospect of Washington's first ever default over the debt-ceiling deadline could seriously harm Chinese economic interests.

In a Monday press conference, China's Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said "the clock is ticking" and politicians in Washington should "ensure the safety of the Chinese investments".
"As the world's largest economy and the issuer of the major reserve currency in the world, it is important for the US to maintain the creditworthiness of its Treasury bonds," Guangyao said.
The Chinese official said China has made clear its unease with the political impasse in Washington with the US government¸ which is in a partial shutdown due to a dispute between Republicans and Democrats on spending legislation.

Green Light

Cat and mouse game: Al-Libi was released by UK police after US embassy bombings

Al-Libi
© UnknownAl-Libi was released by British police a year after US embassy bombings.
Terror suspect Abu Anas al-Libi was released by British police in 1999, a year after he allegedly get involved in the twin attacks on US embassies in East Africa, it has been revealed.

Al-Libi, who has been captured by US Special Forces in Libya earlier on Sunday, was reportedly arrived in Britain in 1995 and lived in Manchester after he was given political asylum in the UK.

There are reports that the 49-year-old suspect was arrested by the British police in 1999, a year after the bombings of the US embassies in Nairobi, kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Al-Libi, whose name was placed on the FBI's Most Wanted list, was released by the Metropolitan police and later fled the UK.

Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz said the serious questions over al-Libi being granted UK asylum would be raised with the Home Secretary Theresa May when she appears before British MPs next week.

The US Special Forces seized al-Libi in a commando raid in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.

Washington claims the abductee is linked to al-Qaeda and that he has been one of the masterminds behind the US embassy attacks.

Comment: Same game was seen with patsy Bin-Laden, who was killed over and over again. You don't want to kill a good enemy that you have spent good money to become the ultimate bogeyman in the eyes of the population. Just like you don't let the star in the TV soap operas die.


Hourglass

Oh really?! British extremists use Syria as training ground, UK Home Secretary says

British Home Secretary Theresa May
© UnknownBritish Home Secretary Theresa May
Extremists are using the Syrian civil war as a training ground before returning to the UK, British Home Secretary Theresa May has warned.

May said the Home Office was aware of some British nationals going to Somalia and Syria for terrorist training to fight alongside al-Qaeda-linked organizations.

"Some of those people are potential terrorists, some of whom may get training, and in some cases may engage in conflict and then potentially return to the UK," May told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

British Home Secretary also warned that the individuals could pose a potential threat if they return to the country.

The Home Office's comments come a few days after Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said terrorists from more than 83 countries are operating in Syria, killing innocent civilians and Syrian soldiers in the Arab country.

Comment: Britain has been very vocal in wanting to arm the terrorists in Syria. With well trained terrorists returning to Britain, there is all the more justification for more control and police powers.

As the Chancellor Sutler said in V for Vendetta:
What we need right now is a clear message to the people of this country. This message must be read in every newspaper, heard on every radio, seen on every television... I want *everyone* to *remember*, why they *need* us!
And what better way than first training and supporting the future "enemy" and then after they come home and start creating chaos and fear, to limit movement, freedoms and to hit the "terrorists" hard. It is already happening.

In the words of the Chancellor:
My fellow Englishmen: tonight our country, that which we stand for, and all we hold dear, faces a grave and terrible threat. This violent and unparalleled assault on our security will not go undefended... or unpunished. Our enemy is an insidious one, seeking to divide us and destroy the very foundation of our great nation. Tonight, we must remain steadfast. We must remain determined. But most of all, we must remain united. Those caught tonight in violation of curfew will be considered in league with our enemy and prosecuted as a terrorist without leniency or exception. Tonight, I give you my most solemn vow: that justice will be swift, it will be righteous, and it will be without mercy.



Headphones

'Brazil ministry spied on by Canada'

Petrobras
© AFP/Vanderlei AlmeidaThe facade of the Petrobras building in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 4, 2011. The US government spied on Brazilian state-run oil giant Petrobras, according to intelligence documents released on September 8, 2013 by Globo television.
A report says communications at Brazil's Mining and Energy Ministry has been spied on by Canadian intelligence services, as the country has mining interests in the South American nation.

The new disclosure was reported by Brazilian Globo television on Sunday and was based on leaked documents by US whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The documents showed that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had made a detailed outline of the Brazilian ministry's communications including phone calls, emails, and internet traffic.

Brazil's Mining and Energy Minister Edilson Lobao described the revelations as "serious" and said that it has possibly been spied on due to Canadian companies' mining interests in the country.
"There are many Canadian businesses interested in doing business in our country. If that is where the interest in spying comes from, to help certain business interests, I cannot say," Lobao stated.
Canada is not the only country to have spied on Brazil's Mining and Energy Ministry.