tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991575329006872612024-03-05T20:22:30.123-07:00erich's blogerich's blog
A Blog focused mostly on Stewart Udall's quote:
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"<i><b>There is nothing comparable in our history to the deceit and the lying that took place as official Government policy in order to protect [the nuclear arms] industry. Nothing was going to stop them and they were willing to kill our own people.”
</b></i> <a href="http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh"> http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh</a>
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</p>
.erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-8097002070886155642023-06-21T09:24:00.000-06:002023-06-21T09:24:00.517-06:00<p> From </p><h2 itemprop="headline" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: 35px; margin: 10px 15px 13px 22px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serifl;">History of World War II: Operation Barbarossa, the Allied Firebombing of German Cities and Japan’s Early Conquests by Shane Quinn</span><br /><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serifl; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="https://www.globalresearch.ca/history-world-war-ii-operation-barbarossa-allied-firebombing-german-cities-japan-early-conquests/5763433">https://www.globalresearch.ca/history-world-war-ii-operation-barbarossa-allied-firebombing-german-cities-japan-early-conquests/5763433</a></span></h2><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 17.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Chapter XVII</span></b><b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 17.25pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;"><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Fallacy of Terror-bombing Urban Areas</span></b><b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Though remaining
unmentioned in official texts, the origins of the dubiously titled Cold War can
be traced to policies pursued by American leaders during World War II itself.
Following Nazi Germany’s calamitous defeat at Stalingrad in early 1943,
Washington’s ongoing construction of the atomic bomb was implemented with the
Soviets in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Three months before even
the D-Day landings US </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">General Leslie Groves</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, a
virulent anti-communist, confirmed in March 1944 that the atomic bomb was being
produced in order to “subdue the Soviets”, then an irreplaceable ally of the
West.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Aged 46, Groves assumed
charge of the US nuclear program in September 1942, and he proved a ruthless,
crafty figure who possessed huge power in his new position. Groves in fact held
control over every facet of America’s nuclear project, from the technical and
scientific aspects, to areas of production and security, along with
implementing plans as to where the bombs would be deployed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Less than six weeks
after the atomic attacks over Japan, on 15 September 1945 the Pentagon
finalized a list: Through which it expounded strategies </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.ie/books?id=J7hw0x0WEz4C&pg=PA532&lpg=PA532&dq=pentagon%27s+estimated+bomb+requirements+for+destruction+of+russian+strategic+areas,+september+1945&source=bl&ots=9S6x4w0l83&sig=ACfU3U1JicSUqjOCIaryFmhpJhMjhCO0gw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj9mLupuqfiAhUTqXEKHSAVBL4Q6AEwDXoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=pentagon's%20estimated%20bomb%20requirements%20for%20destruction%20of%20russian%20strategic%20areas,%20september%201945&f=false"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">to
annihilate</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> 66 Soviet cities with 204 atomic bombs, to be
executed through synchronized aerial assaults. This ratio averages at slightly
more than three bombs discharged upon each city.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">However, six atomic
weapons apiece were categorized to obliterate 10 of the Soviets’ biggest urban
centres, that is 60 bombs combined would be dropped over the following: Moscow
(Russian capital), Leningrad, Novosibirsk, Kiev (Ukrainian capital), Kharkov,
Koenigsberg, Riga (Latvian capital), Odessa, Ulan-Ude and Tashkent (Uzbekistan
capital). This alone would have gone a long way towards destroying the Soviet
Union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Yet it was the mere
beginning. Five atomic weapons each (35 altogether) were identified to
liquidate another seven large cities in the USSR: Stalingrad, Sverdlovsk,
Vilnius (Lithuanian capital), Lvov, Kazan, Voronezh and Nizhni Tagil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Continuing, four bombs
apiece (28 in total) were earmarked to desolate seven more significant urban
areas: Gorki, Alma Ata, Tallinn (Estonian capital), Rostov-on-Don, Yaroslavl,
Ivanovo, and Chimkent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In addition, three
atomic bombs each (36 combined) were marked down to eliminate 12 other notable
cities, ranging from Tbilisi (Georgian capital) and Stalinsk to Vladivostok,
Archangel and Dnepropetrovsk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Of these 36 Soviet
cities outlined to be blown up – requiring between three to six atomic bombs
per city – 25 of them belong to Russia, while the remaining 11 cities stretch
across the Ukraine, Georgia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan. The process of annihilation was to be directed not simply against
eastern Europe and Russia, but extending to Central Asia too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">All of the USSR’s
remaining 30 cities were highlighted as needing either one or two atomic
weapons each, split down the middle: 15 cities necessitating two bombs apiece
and the other 15 designated for one bomb each. Among these are yet more
countries and well known places such as Minsk (Belarusian capital), Brest
Litovsk, Baku (Azerbaijan capital) and Murmansk. The devastation was once more
to spread past eastern Europe, and beyond Russia itself as far as Turkmenistan,
where oil and gas rich Neftedag was to be hit with one atomic weapon.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">A few of the above
cities that the Pentagon was aiming to destroy are located in nations that have
since joined NATO, a US-led military organization – like those in Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania, whose capital cities were listed as requiring 15 atomic
bombs combined. The city of Belostok, in now NATO state Poland, was to be
struck with two atomic weapons. These programs, if followed through, would have
resulted in many tens of millions of deaths, far exceeding the loss of life
during the Second World War.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Moreover, in 1945 some
of the aforementioned Soviet urban regions were already lying in ruins
following years of Nazi occupation, such as Kharkov, Vilnius, Tallinn and
Rostov-on-Don. US atomic attacks over these places would largely have been
hitting wrecked buildings. The Soviet Union lost more than 25 million people to
Hitler’s armies, and was still reeling internally at war’s end.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Three weeks before
Groves was completing his atomic plans, a late August 1945 Gallup poll found
that nearly 70% of Americans </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://news.gallup.com/vault/191897/gallup-vault-americans-mindset-hiroshima.aspx"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">believed
the</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> atomic bomb’s creation was “a good thing”, with just
17% feeling it to be “a bad thing”. It can be surmised these opinions would
have altered somewhat, had the public been aware of what was occurring in the
corridors of power.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">One can but look on
aghast at the sheer devious and audacious nature pertaining to the proposed
demolition of 66 cities, across land areas spanning thousands of miles. In an
age before the Internet and convenient handheld technology, these in depth
stratagems would have required months of toil. The schemes may well have begun
formulation around the time of Groves’ March 1944 confession to nuclear
physicist </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Joseph Rotblat</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Groves was a driving
force behind the plan to eviscerate all Soviet industrial and military
capacity, with key assistance coming from </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Major General Lauris Norstad</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">. Yet high ranking
soldiers cannot undertake operations at this level without approval emanating
from elite political circles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As a consequence of
America’s nuclear programs dating to World War II, it is grossly and
historically inaccurate to suggest that the self-styled Cold War began in 1947
– as likewise are the claims that the Russians were to blame for resumption of
hostile attitudes and policies. The masses have been sorely misled on these
issues for more than seven decades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Despite its importance,
virtually the entire Western mainstream press (and most alternative media) have
continued ignoring the Pentagon’s 1945 plan to incinerate dozens of Soviet
cities. In isolation amid commercial media the British Daily Star newspaper, on
8 January 2018, </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/671738/Russia-War-US-Nuclear-Cold-Bomb-Soviet-Union-USSR-Declassified-Top-Secret-Documents-Atom"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">issued
a report</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> regarding US proposals “to completely wipe Russia off
the map” with “a stockpile of 466 bombs”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Nonetheless the 466
total was then not a realistic one, and such high bomb estimates were dismissed
by Groves himself as “excessive”, in his top secret memorandum to Norstad on 26
September 1945. Groves </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/1945-Atomic-Bomb-Production.pdf"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">also
outlined</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> in the same letter that, “It is not essential to get
total destruction of a city in order to destroy its effectiveness. Hiroshima no
longer exists as a city, even though the area of total destruction is
considerably less than total”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Relating to their
nuclear designs, Groves and Norstad had a most serious problem before their
eyes, and one that would infuriate them both; along with, as we shall see,
president </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Harry Truman</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">. In
late 1945, the US military held just two atomic bombs, and thoughts of
decimating the USSR at this point were that of a pipe dream.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Accumulation of the
necessary weapons was painstakingly slow, even for the world’s wealthiest
nation. By 30 June 1946, the stockpile of US atomic bombs had increased to
nine. Come November 1947 the arsenal had risen to 13 bombs, still remarkably
small.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Seven months previously
on 3 April 1947, president Truman, who was privy to proposals in wiping out the
USSR, was </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://books.google.ie/books?redir_esc=y&id=I3gvDwAAQBAJ&q=two+atomic+bombs#v=snippet&q=President%20Harry%20Truman%20himself%20wasn't&f=false"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">himself
informed</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> of just how diminutive the US nuclear stash was.
Truman “was shocked” to learn they had just a dozen atomic weapons, as he
presumed the Pentagon had amassed a far greater number. Such was the secrecy of
America’s nuclear program, few enjoyed intimate knowledge of the facts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">That same year, 1947, </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Winston Churchill</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> implored </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">Styles Bridges</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, a Republican senator visiting London, that an atomic bomb
be dropped on the Kremlin “wiping it out”, thereby rendering Russia “without
direction” and “a very easy problem to handle”. Churchill was hoping that
Bridges </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mYpF4Zvn7EMJ:https://www.rt.com/news/203691-churchill-nuke-russia-cold-war/+&cd=15&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">would
persuade</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> Truman to effectuate this action. During the recent
past, Churchill had received a royal welcome at the Kremlin and enjoyed a feast
with Stalin there in August 1942, before he returned to Moscow for further
meetings in late 1944. Three years later Churchill wished for the Kremlin to be
turned into dust.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Meanwhile by 30 June
1948, the US nuclear cache climbed to 50 atomic bombs, and from therein the
figures rocketed – come summer 1949, the US military finally held ownership of
over 200 atomic bombs, heralding the era of “nuclear plenty”. Groves was since
removed from his post, and even more dangerous individuals like </span><b><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none; padding: 0in;">General Curtis LeMay</span></b><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> became prominent in American
nuclear war planning.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In October 1949, LeMay
expanded the plans so as to include 104 Soviet urban zones to be destroyed with
220 bombs “in a single massive attack”, and another 72 held back for “a
re-attack reserve”. The 292 bombs allocated were available by June 1950.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">However, the preceding
year in August 1949, the global balance had irrevocably shifted, as Soviet
Russia successfully detonated an atomic weapon over a testing ground in
north-eastern Kazakhstan. Soviet acquisition of the bomb before 1950 came as a
nasty shock to Washington. It would prove a vital deterrent to American nuclear
designs, with the Russians having little choice but to follow suit and earmark
urban areas in the West, relating to their own nuclear war schemes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">America’s invention of
the hydrogen bomb in late 1952, quickly followed by the Soviets, dramatically
altered the scope and killing estimates of nuclear war. The humble atomic bomb
it seems was no longer of sufficient yield and underwent an “upgrading” as
humanity took a leap towards self-destruction.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The new hydrogen weapon,
or H-bomb, was hundreds of times more powerful than its atomic cousin, and by
the late 1950s H-bombs were being produced en masse by the Pentagon. Come
December 1960 – with the American arsenal now at a staggering 18,000 nuclear
weapons – it was calculated that practically every citizen in the Soviet Union
would be killed, either from the hydrogen bombs’ blast radius or through
resulting fallout. As was known, much of the radioactive poisoning would likely
be blown on the wind across Europe, further affecting Warsaw Pact states and
NATO allies.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Since 1950, the People’s
Republic of China was added to the US nuclear hit list, a country which then
consisted of over half a billion people; more than twice that of the USSR’s
populace; while the Chinese themselves did not obtain nuclear weapons until the
mid-1960s. Communist China and her cities were categorized to be levelled in
tandem with Soviet metropolises, bringing an overall predicted death toll to
hundreds of millions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Due to a combination of
deterrence, mutually assured destruction (MAD), and hefty portions of luck, no
such terrible programs were executed, during what has been described for over
70 years as the “Cold War”. Rather than a cold conflict, the post-1945 years
were organized for humanity to witness the hottest war in human history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Because of Soviet intelligence
reports, Stalin knew as early as four years prior to Hiroshima that America was
developing “a uranium bomb”. By confirming to the Russians they held a new
weapon of unparalleled destructive might Washington would furthermore, as
envisaged, hold greater influence in boardroom negotiations with the Soviets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h2 style="background: white; line-height: 26.25pt; margin-bottom: 9.75pt; margin-left: 16.5pt; margin-right: 11.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><br />
<br />
From<br />
</span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">History
of World War II: Operation Barbarossa, the Allied Firebombing of German Cities
and Japan’s Early Conquests<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h3 style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: 7.5pt; margin-left: 16.5pt; margin-right: 11.25pt; margin-top: 7.5pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif;">Global Research
E-Book, Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)<o:p></o:p></span></h3>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EBEBEB; line-height: 18.0pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">By </span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.globalresearch.ca/author/shane-quinn" title="Posts by Shane Quinn"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #3b4d81; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Shane Quinn</span></a></span><span style="color: #362f2d; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: #EBEBEB; line-height: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 9.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Global Research, June 17, 2023<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-36701583138597905232023-03-08T10:17:00.009-07:002023-03-09T07:12:40.500-07:00<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jeffrey Sachs on
Seymour Hersh, Nord Stream Bombing, Ukraine & the Cold War with China </span></b><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto;"><b></b></span></span><b style="background-color: transparent; color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto;"><a href="https://bit.ly/3kTLbCO">https://bit.ly/3kTLbCO</a></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1681s"><b><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1681s</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LENGTH</span></b><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>37minutes, 37
seconds</span><b><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;">Interview
topics: <br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=0s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">0:00</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=55s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">0:55</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Seymour Hersh's Article on Nord Stream <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=352s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">5:52</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Developments around Nord Stream <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=537s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">8:57</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Recent Developments on Ukraine <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=837s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">13:57</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> China's Peace Plan for Ukraine </span><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #065fd4; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=990s"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=990s"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">16:30</span></a></span></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Arguments against
Diplomacy & Negotiations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1324s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">22:04</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Germany's approach towards China <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1509s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">25:09</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Putin's suspension of the START treaty <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1681s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #0070c0; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">28:01</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Cold War with China<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-outline-level: 1;"><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu786h9wIgY&t=1987s"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">33:07</span></a></span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Vision & Multilateralism<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Thank you, guys, for tuning in today and welcome back to another episode of The
Source I'm your Host Zain Raza. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
today I'll be talking to Jeffrey Sachs about the war in Ukraine as well as the
cold war with China. Jeffrey serves as the director for the Center of Sustainable
Development at Columbia University where he holds the position of University
Professor, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the institution's highest
academic rank. He <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>is also one renowned
Economist, best-selling author, innovative educator, and a global leader in
sustainable development . Jeffries is recognized worldwide in advising governments
on economic reforms and as well as his work on the national agencies on debt
poverty reduction as well as Disease Control. Jeffrey and I already had a
fundamental discussion about the war in Ukraine so in case you missed it be
sure to check the link in the description as in this segment we will be
focusing on latest developments. Jeffrey welcome back to where the show.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jeffrey Sachs [JS]: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Good to be back with you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Zain Raza [ZR]:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
Let’s start with the Nord Stream pipeline which was bombed last year by an
unknown State actor. World-renowned
investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published an article last month detailing
how the U.S bombed the Nord Stream pipeline. In German mainstream media he was
largely dismissed as a conspiracy theorist or someone who can’t be taken
seriously. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the past decade or for
using Anonymous sources while in the U.S he was barely mentioned. Right after
that we interviewed him exclusively on our channel.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
And what I've done is simply explain the obvious. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> It </span>just was a story that was begging to be told
in late September of 2022. Eight bombs were supposed to go off. Six went off
under the water near Bonham Island in in the Baltic Sea in a rather shallow
area and they destroyed three of the four major pipelines in Nord Stream one
and two. And so, the meeting was convened to study the problem: What are we
going to do. Russia is going to go to War -how can we .. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This was three months before the war when it was the CIA, at
the National Security Agency State Department and the Treasury Department. The
Joint Chiefs of Staff had </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">representation, and this is a secret group. They were
meeting in the most secret place; they were meeting in a very secret offices
and I'm writing this obviously from inside. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Do you want us to give you recommendations
about what to do about stopping Russia that are reversible? More sanctions.
economic pressure we'd already been doing that. Or irreversible, being kinetic
bomb - bang bang. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Well, it was clear very early.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">:<br />
<br />
And for those who missed it be sure to check the link in the description. What
you make out of Seymour Hersh? Is he credible and can his account be trusted? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">:<br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
Of course he's credible. The account is correct. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has not been actually shown to be wrong in
any meaningful way. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The United States
did this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The German government should
explain to the German people what's going on. Period. This is not even a
mystery. The United States announced it would do it. The United States celebrated when it happened.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Victoria Newland who is the point person
of the U.S neoconservatives said that the administration is <i>delighted </i>that
Nordstrom 2 was a hunk of metal at the bottom of the sea.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">There are only two or three countries that could have done
this. I don't think Germany did this. I doubt it, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but if the if the German government did that
they should tell us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't think that
Sweden or Denmark did it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's in their
exclusive economic waters. The United States did it, warned it, celebrated it, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and anyone who understands U.S politics </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">at all knows that for many years this was an absolute cause
of the right wing to stop </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">his pipeline. Now the failure of the German government and
the media to discuss this goes to absolutely foundational issues of democracy because
right now the public is not informed about almost </span><b style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">anything </b><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">that is of
fundamental significance for our survival.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-indent: -0.5in;">The real
issues of the war in Ukraine, the real state of the war, the U.S blowing up the </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Pipeline. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">The
mainstream media think that it's perfectly appropriate not even to cover </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">these stories. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">And
by the way is this conspiracy theory? </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Yes,
it's a conspiracy. A conspiracy means that several groups work together to
carry out an illegal action. This is a conspiracy of U.S policy leaders,
probably together with the German government which probably knew about this in
advance or parts of it. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">I'd be very
surprised if the German government doesn't know about it in detail. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Now so yes this is a conspiracy uh and uh calling
it a conspiracy theory only makes clear no individual could have blown up the
north stream pipeline. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">This was a group.
This was a very hard thing to do. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">It's
70 meters below sea level; </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">it was
delayed detonation. If anybody knows about Nord stream, it’s encased in a
massive amount of concrete. This was a big operation. So a conspiracy, absolutely
yes.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">: <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">At the end of February you held a speech at the United
Nations security Council and stressed the need for an independent investigation
into who bombed the Nord Stream Pipeline. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How have major countries such as the United
States, Germany, the UK, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Russia and
China responded to this call and what do you think the international process
will be </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">if it ever turns out we are visible or an independent
investigation {shows] that it was the U.S?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH: </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well the Western countries don't want to talk about facts
investigation at all. The Russian government asked for an investigation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An independent U.N security council-led investigation,
not a Russian investigation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chinese
government supported Russia in this, and the United States said this is a
distraction. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From what I'm not sure
because it's a pretty Central issue to blow up a major piece of infrastructure in
international waters. It's not a distraction, it’s a major issue of a threat to
the peace which is the job of the U.N Security Council. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the Western governments right now </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">believe that the public does not need to know and in fact
should not know basic facts </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">right now, even as we head towards World War III. This is
not acceptable. Maybe I'm wrong, but the United States says no, don't investigate
it, that’s a distraction. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Well, I think
it's a distraction most likely from U.S culpability but to not investigate? </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">What </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">kind of attitude is that?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br />
And it is again I have to emphasize, fundamentally a threat to our Democratic
institutions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The German government doesn't
speak to the German people about this. The Bundestag can't get information. The
Swedish government went down to the crime scene and then announced that they would
keep their investigation secret from Germany and Denmark. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Duh. That’s it's a little strange. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or from the U.N security Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">If people think
that secrecy is safety right now, they really misunderstand what's happening. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>We are at the greatest risk of nuclear war
in modern history</b>.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are 90 Seconds To Midnight according to the
“Bulletin of The Atomic Scientist” . We've not had a crisis like this since the
Cuban Missile Crisis and our governments don't talk to the people like
grown-ups<span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">. <b>It's
propaganda and spin morning till night</b>.</span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
Let us now look into recent developments surrounding Ukraine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time I interviewed you debate on
Battle Tanks was still ongoing. Now it has become a </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">reality and training of Ukrainian soldiers on how to
operate these battle tanks is taking place on German soil as we speak. It is
expected that these tanks will go into operations sometime this month. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">The debate is now moving slowly to fighter
jets and the UK and Netherlands have for example voiced their support for
selling them. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">In UK's case they already
training Ukraine pilots. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">During German
Chancellor I've shown that at this visit last week at the White House the U.S
also announced another round of military assistance to Ukraine worth up to 400
million dollars. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">So far, the US has sent
30 billion dollars’ worth of military aid to Ukraine. Do you think more weapons,
especially fighter jets and military aid, could change the tide of war in favor
for Ukraine?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
Look, there's a bottom line which is that Russia has 1 600 nuclear warheads, and
if Russia were threatened with defeat- for example losing Crimea, it would
likely use them. So, the idea of the goals of the war, the tide of War, what
we're trying to do<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>makes no sense at all.
I don't want Zelenski to get us all killed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Zelenski says they retake every bit of
Ukraine as he defines it including Crimea, no thank you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of this makes sense. None of this is an
honest assessment about the sources of this war, the provocations on both sides,
the way to stop this war. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of it, all
of this Bluster not just Bluster that's the wrong word - all of this military
escalation cannot lead to success. Period. It can't. Because even if it led to
success on the battlefield it will lead to Global destruction, and there's a
very good chance it won't lead to success on the battlefield though I'm not the
right person to interview on that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
listen to bloggers and daily commentators on all sides. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Maybe Russia is going to make significant advances in the
next weeks. That's what many people say. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know, so I can't really judge but<b> <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">what I can tell you is what we
are doing makes no fundamental sense at all. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To have a war that threatens nuclear annihilation
so that NATO can expand is beyond Reckless</span></b>. To not have negotiations
right now after more than a year, <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">to know</span> though the media the mainstream media in Germany in the United
States don't cover it, <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">that
the negotiations came close to </span></span><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">success last March until the United States stopped them is
incredible</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">. Did <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>anybody investigate that carefully in the
mainstream media? Not at all. Not </span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Naftali</span><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Bennett, who committed what we call quote-unquote a gaffe, meaning
a politician that accidentally speaks the truth. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said in his interview that they were close
to an agreement. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was acting as a
mediator in March 2022 and the United States blocked it. And then he said that
he thought it was a mistake but that maybe it was important for the U.S to
stand up to China. Mind you this is also another Trope in Washington right now.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't know if people in Berlin hear it,
but this is a not even a war about Ukraine. Who cares about Ukraine? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mitt Romney says this is to show China and he
says it's great, this war. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No U.S bloodshed
this is what's really going on and so I don't know what these weapons are going
to do except we can be sure that they will kill people. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">And if they are successful quote unquote on the ground,
they will bring us closer to nuclear war.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">And people should
understand the U.S motivations. <b><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">The U.S motivations is to be number one in the world and that's the
beginning and the end of it</span></b><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"> and if that means war with Russia that's war with Russia.
If that means war with China, that's war with China.</span> That's what Germany
has signed on to unconditionally without asking a question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You mentioned China in negotiations on the anniversary of
the Russian invasion of Ukraine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>China
proposed a 12-point peace plan to end the war in Ukraine. The German media were
quick to denounce this plan by stating that it supports Russia's position and
interests and does not respect Ukraine's territorial Integrity . How do you
view this peace plan? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can China be
trusted especially since the best considers China not to be a neutral actor and
suspects it of supporting Russia's war with weapons?<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
No matter what is said </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annalena_Baerbock"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Baerbock</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> and her colleagues will denounce any talk of peace.
Victoria Newland and her colleagues will denounce any talk of peace the British
by the way are the most irresponsible. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>have nothing to add but they love war
because they still think they're the British Empire, I'm sorry to say. So, they're
the <i>most </i>violent of all and they have nothing to add to this story. So,
this is denunciations because the neocons are afraid that somebody will talk
about peace. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">China didn't say anything about territorial settlements. It
said to negotiate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What China said was
to respect the security interests of all sides. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horror, horror.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You know what it means? It means that China knows that NATO
enlargement is a threat to Russia - as it is by the way in part because the
United States is expanding NATO to Asia. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>China sees it in its own neighborhood. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does NATO, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization,
invite East Asian leaders now? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does
Jen Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of NATO, say NATO must shift to China? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, when China talks about the legitimate
security interests of both sides that's actually right. <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">It's in all of our security interests by the way
that NATO stop enlarging because it's bringing us to the brink of the Third
World War.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The positions that I usually made against diplomacy most
only by a German </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">foreign minister </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annalena_Baerbock"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Annalena Baerbock</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> or German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and I'm quoting Olaf
Schultz here, “Wanting peace does not mean submitting to a bigger neighbor. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Ukraine stops defending itself it will not
mean peace but the end of Ukraine.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>End
quote. How would you respond to this argument?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">SH </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Negotiating isn't submitting yourself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Negotiating is negotiating. <b>Shame </b>on
confusing negotiating with submission. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who's
talking about submission? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We're talking
about negotiating. We're talking about negotiating issues like NATO enlargement.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that submission? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that's common sense. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You keep the two sides away. And Chancellor
Schultz should go brush off the German archives about all the German promises
made to Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990 about NATO not moving one inch Eastward. Well
Chancellor Schultz is responsible for those commitments too. Let’s have
negotiations. Let's have discussion. I'm not talking about submission. <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">The idea that negotiations are
the same is submission is truly one of the most confused misrepresentations of
our time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President John F Kennedy said
it exactly right in his inaugural address in 1961 January 20<sup>th</sup>. <b>“
Let us never negotiate out of fear but let us never fear to negotiate.</b></span><b>”</b>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why is chancellor Schultz fearful of negotiating?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't understand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You go and you discuss but you discuss like
grown-ups. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don't just send tanks or
aircraft or threats of escalation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You sit
down and negotiate. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Chancellor
Schultz has said he would </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">alk, continue to talk to Putin. Why doesn't he tell his
colleague Joe Biden ” you talk to Putin too.” </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">We've been at this for more than a year and Biden has had picked up the
phone one time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There hasn't been one
meeting between the two.</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">When the
opportunity was broached by the Indonesians the United States rejected it around
the G20 last year. </span><b style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">The
U.S is fearful of negotiating because maybe some truths would come out in the
negotiating; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>maybe some of the provocations
would come out in the negotiating; maybe the U.S role in the overthrow of the
Ukrainian government in 2</span></b><b><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">014 would come out;
maybe the failures of Germany to enforce the Minsk to agreement that it was
responsible for as co-guarantor would come out</span></b><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">; maybe there
would be some truths that would be discussed at the negotiating table but they
are afraid to negotiate and <b>to equate peace with submission or negotiation
with submission is a blatant falsehood.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Another point that is voiced very strongly
in the media here by leading figures in the European Union such as Ursula von
der Leyen regularly said Russia is violating international order, law and that
diplomacy that takes into consideration territorial concessions will only incentivize
as when I send file signals to authoritative states that they can invade any
country whenever they want without any repercussions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore they usually state no decision can
be made without Ukraine's consent. How do you respond to this argument? <br />
<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">JS:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
Well, Ukraine should understand that to save itself it should not be the cannon
fodder for the U.S to try to show China how big and strong the U.S is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ukrainians first and foremost should read
Mitt Romney's op-ed piece, How wonderful this war is. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At a small </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">cost and without any U.S blood we get to show how big and
strong we are. The </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Ukrainians are the losers in this. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula_von_der_Leyen">Ursula von der Leyen</a> isn't defending Ukraine
in this. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">She's defending the United
States in this. </span><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-highlight: yellow; text-align: left;">The U.S is
using Ukraine. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It's not defending
Ukraine</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">. It's using Ukraine.</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">It
gets to weaken Russia without any loss of U.S blood. Read Mitt Romney. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Senator Romney very clear. He’s explaining to
the American people what a great deal this is. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">We get this war, it doesn't cost us very much,
no U.S blood so let's defend Ukraine. Let's stop defending U.S neoconservatism.
</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Let's stop defending U.S hegemony. Let's
defend Ukraine and let's defend peace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Z.R.:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Germany has shifted its position on many issues recently. Inside
of the United States we saw a U-turn with Ukraine for example where Germany was
initially skeptical about Ukraine's membership into NATO Before the War started.
Now there's a split also between how to approach China. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the U.S is starting to impose bans on
Chinese trade, Germany is being hesitant as China is one of its biggest trading
partners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Goods worth around 298 billion
euros were traded between Germany and China in 2022 alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In your assessment, should Germany also draw a red line in
case China decides to support Russia militarily?<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">JS:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Germany should understand what's going on right now. What’s
going on right now is that the U.S political class thinks that the real issue
in in the world is U.S hegemony or dominance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's what Germany's buying into right now. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could perfectly get along with China. Perfectly
if we stop the militarism. If we respect the one China policy, if we </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">have normal trade rather than trying to bust China's
economy. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-highlight: yellow;">The U.S has been e</span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">ngaging in
unilateral hostile actions to break China's economy for years now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Does anybody watch this in Germany? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does anybody understand what's really going </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">on? I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe the media is just
completely sucking their thumbs and absolutely brain dead. I don't know what's
going on in German media. But the German people should understand what this is about.
Is Germany's role to defend U.S hegemony? </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">That's the bottom line. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">I don't think so. I think Germany's role is to
defend G</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">ermany's security, European security and that comes
through peace. That comes through coexistence. Are we going to wish China away
like uh the media and the hardliners want to wish Russia away? Are we just
going to close our eyes wish three times and China won't be there anymore.</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">You know people need to understand what this
is about. And what this is about is the U.S leader, these neocons, </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">can't get it t</span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">hrough their head that the U.S can't run the world anymore.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p style="background-color: #fcff01;"> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But Germany can't figure that out enough to keep its
economy going, enough to say don't blow up our pipeline, enough to say we have
a major trading partner with China? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don't know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the media doesn’t
explain anything but if people would look they'd understand what this is about
and what's really in Germany's interest and what isn't in Germany's interest. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Russian President Vladimir Putin in his annual state of
nation address announced the suspension of this strategic arms reduction treaty
also known as START that aimed to cap the number of strategic nuclear warheads
that the United States and Russia could deploy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why do you think Russia is endangering the secure the globe by doing
away one of the most important treaties signed in human history?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">JS:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">They said that they don't want inspections right now because
they are at war with the United States. They said that they would abide by the
treaty but that they don't want inspections under the treaty so this was a very
specific thing involved with the war but there's a more General point on
nuclear arms and that is the United States broke the diplomacy towards nuclear
arms control by unilaterally abandoning the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in
2002 which is one of the provocations that put us on this path to war. And on
other treaties as well- the Intermediate Nuclear Force agreement so this is
terribly dangerous. And war is terribly dangerous between the U.S and Russia
because it's the two largest nuclear weapons countries. More than 1,600 deployed
nuclear weapons on each side and that's why <b>The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists</b>
has said that we are 90 Seconds To Midnight not just because they felt like it
but because they're analyzing and trying to communicate with the public.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Did the German mainstream media cover that story? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I doubt it, but this is what's going on and <b><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">when we look at the background
to this, we can see that the obstacle to peace and coexistence is the drive for
U.S hegemony</span>. </b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by the way
this is if you follow it, it's all in the open. People should read, as
distasteful as it is, Robert Kagan’s book</span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/16/books/review/robert-kagan-jungle-grows-back.html"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">”
The Jungle Grows Back”</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because
Kagan believes that all progress in the world is due to the U.S leadership. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well it's worse than a cartoon. But Kagan
happens to be the husband of Victoria Nuland who's the point person for all of
this.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">This <b>IS </b>the neo-context. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People should read it to understand what's
going on. Is this really Germany's vocation to support this simple-minded extraordinarily
dangerous point of view?<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Z.R.:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
Let us now switch to latest developments surrounding China. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many analysts say that we are ready in a cold
war with China. We had a recent balloon incident over the U.S which the U.S
shut down and claimed was a surveillance device while the </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Chinese claim it was a meteorological one.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The U.S on the other hand is expanding its present in South
China Sea by establishing four military bases in the Philippines. Both
countries also hold regular military exercises amid rising tensions with China.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>U.S and Japan officials have also stated
that they will expand the military cooperation including improving Japan's
military striking abilities as well as improving the US's Marine capability in
Okinawa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In your view is U.S protecting
democracy and freedom in the region and enforcing international order or is
there another agenda play here that we do not hear in the political and media
discourse?<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">J.S.:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
What the U.S is doing in East Asia is what the U.S did in Ukraine and it's
going to lead to the same kind of War. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
of course to understand that you have to follow events. Clearly the media won't
tell you but the media didn't tell us about the overthrow of Yanukovych, the media
didn't tell us of what Victoria Newland was doing. It took a Russian intercept
of her phone and people should listen to it even till today because who was
engaged in the overthrow of Yanukovych? It was Victoria Newland </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">speaking on the phone not only with the U.S ambassador to
Ukraine </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_R._Pyatt"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Geoffrey
Pyatt</span></a> <span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">but talking about her conversations with none other than
Jake Sullivan and Joe Biden. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">So, it was
the three of them back in February 2014. Well, we took a decision in the United
States. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">I don't say we the American
people because the American people aren't allowed to know anything or ask
anything about any of this but the neocon leadership took a position in 2014 that
China's continued economic rise was against U.S interests.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">You can even read these texts if you pay attention. For
example, there were a specific texts by </span><a href="https://www.cfr.org/report/revising-us-grand-strategy-toward-china"><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Robert
Blackwell</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> a former colleague of
mine at Harvard who wrote that it's no longer in America's interest China's
rise writing back in 2015. I was shocked when I read it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a deliberate statement okay. <span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">We now need to oppose China's
growing prosperity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, how you how
are you going to get peace out of that?</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, the United States started to introduce
unilateral trade measures in violation of every agreement that we have
including the World Trade Organization which the U.S has thrown away </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">as if it's a piece of trash. And then under Biden
everything has become worse because the U.S now tries to break any Chinese
Enterprise that is in technology. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">The
U.S has stopped the export or tries to stop the export of any high-tech Goods
because it may have a military use. It may and now the US is it's going to
really protect American Security. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Apparently,
we're going to close down Tik Tok a dire threat to the American people and so
this is what's going on.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">It's
mind-boggling. It is step by step the path to a war.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> And by the way the American neocons are quite open about
it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to expand. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be ready for war. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to have the war in Ukraine to show
China that we're tough. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we aren't
tough in </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">Ukraine they'll think we're weak. You know in other words
we're sending hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to death, destroying Ukraine
cities instead of sitting at the negotiating table to work out some non-NATO
enlargement in Russian withdrawal so </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">that we can show how tough we are to China. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">My God. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">By the way, I've been through this for more
than 50 years because when I was young everything they're saying now about
Ukraine and China they said about Vietnam. It’s the same story. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">We have to be tough. We can’t pull out of
Vietnam. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">We have to in the end kill more
than a million people. Why? Because of the domino effect, what would happen to
America's prestige. Nonsense then nonsense today, unbelievably destructive, and
really, I hope the German people can figure this out.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">To my last questions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps it is possible to end this interview
in a positive note that gives people a vision for the future for those that
believe in a multi-polar world.They believe in multilateralism and in a world
where all countries treat each other with respect. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What advice would you give to people that are
watching this video and would like to realize this vision. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">JS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">First</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">, we have a United Nations Charter. We should tell the U.N Security
Council which yes includes Russia and includes China and includes the U.S and
includes Britain and France. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You go into
the room. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We lock the door just like the
Vatican locks the door on the Cardinals at the conclave and you come out when
there's white smoke above the 38th floor meaning that you figured out a way to peace.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a U.N. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's use the U.N. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's the purpose of the United Nations Security
Council. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sound bites, not pointing
fingers,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but getting down to the work of
Peace. That’s the first thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: yellow; background: yellow; color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-highlight: yellow; mso-ligatures: none;">Second,</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> we have a Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It
celebrates its 75th birthday today. Let's honor that. Let's understand by the
way those rights include economic rights. That people have the right to health,
that they have the right to education, that they have the right to social protection,
that they have the right to food, that they have the right to a safe
environment. Let's live like human beings and like grown-ups, and let's
understand by the way we don't need a hegemon, we don't need the United States,
which is four percent of the world population, thinking and acting like it
leads the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">We need cooperation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need the European Union standing up for
decency and for Europe not for U.S hegemony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need the United States to cooperate not to pretend or imagine that it
leads; that the world depends on the U.S leadership. It doesn't. It depends on
U.S cooperation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to sit together
with Russia and China and the African Union and the Latin American countries
and talk about the real things of need to the people of this world meeting
basic economic needs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having enough uh
to have a healthy diet, having the kids in school, having people with access to
Health Care.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Well, I'm an economist that has studied this for 40 years. We
could easily do all of this. We're rich enough. If we would stop piling the
trillions into destruction, we could easily meet everybody's human needs and
economic and human dignity. <br />
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">ZR:</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Jeffrey Sachs, well renowned Economist and best-selling
author, thank you so </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">much for your time today. </span><span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">
<br />
</span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">JS:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />
<br />
Great to be with you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I'm your host Zain
Raza. See you guys next time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-74947514683011406942023-03-07T13:44:00.000-07:002023-03-07T13:44:04.479-07:00<p> <span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Jose Vega Explains the Next Steps for Anti-War Activism</span></p><span style="line-height: 107%;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><h1 style="background: white; color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-top: 0in;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa0NQUUVCRDhRRGQ5eWFpSlBSSTNqb1pQX3lOZ3xBQ3Jtc0ttcURUbXRaMzBoQXVSY1RzTU5rSWwxUGg0SWhYbWN0cW9lLWJldm5yejluOVBfSUVvbWRULS00WkFFcXpiLWxTV1Bkc0Y1aWc3dmxkTzVZWmlHMmFaYjdUMnBpcWh2bEw0MXI1YXFKNGZiZGhHRm8yYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Frageagainstwar.com%2F&v=ZItp7lJhwiw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%; text-decoration-line: none;">https://rageagainstwar.com/</span></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItp7lJhwiw"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZItp7lJhwiw</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">LENGTH</span></b><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> 4 minutes, 38 seconds 80
lines , 22 paragraphs, </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Unidentified
<a>woman</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="color: red; font-size: 8.0pt;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msocom_1" id="_anchor_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1">[ek1]</a><!--[endif]--> </span></span><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Over the
next couple of weeks we're going to be getting ready to go and protest at our
Congressional Representatives offices. We're
going to train you with the help of Jose here so that you can go out and help
us affect meaningful change and actually get some bills passed and get some
things repealed so that we can get out of this miserable hell <a>machine</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msocom_2" id="_anchor_2" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_2">[ek2]</a><!--[endif]--> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">My walk
is going off. [Woman hands mike to man- Nick?]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Man [Nick]?</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<br />
<br />
All right, so what we're going to be doing in a few weeks from now is we're all
here in DC now but we're all going to go back to our congressional districts
after this. We're gonna go back home and
what we're going to do is we're gonna do sit-ins. We're gonna have another day of action but
it's gonna be back where all of you are<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">. So we're going to
do a day of action where everybody's going to go to their member of Congress</span>
is how they're either their home or their congressional district office you're
going to do a sitting you're going to protest there and we're gonna bring it because
the war is something that has been brought to our house hasn't <a>it</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msocom_3" id="_anchor_3" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_3">[ek3]</a><!--[endif]--> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> ?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">We can't
avoid the war<a>.
We didn't get a vote</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msocom_4" id="_anchor_4" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_4">[ek4]</a><!--[endif]--> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">. None of us voted to start this war- to start a
third world war. None of us are cheering
for a nuclear war. That's not our choice. Well<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">they
need to feel that so we're gonna bring it right there and so get ready for that
more coming from that in the next few days .<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Turning
it over to Jose. <br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: red; font-size: 12pt;">Jose Vega:</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Now for
a couple minutes. Okay. Hi all. Can we
hear from Nick and Angela<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">putting
this together? Yeah. I'm really happy to
see all of your faces here and I also want to give thanks to Diane Sayer. She ran against killer Chuck Schumer and I
worked on her campaign. And you know
people always ask me like how do you how do you just start doing that? How do you just stand up and start going after
politicians?<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">Well,
the truth is I'm an American citizen and I know what that means. You know
there's an old saying that goes<span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">: “Know where you stand and then
stand there”.</span><br />
<br />
And where are we standing today a hundred years ago this Lincoln Memorial was
constructed and inside there's a sentence from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
which says that “ we highly resolve that government of the People by the people
and for the people shall not perish from the Earth.”<br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">How do
you actually do that? My answer is <b>WE </b>have to be that free government
that we intend to preserve to improve or to create. <b> We</b>, not our elected representatives, are the fourth branch of government. We are
not congressmen, we are not judges, we are not the executive branch. We are more than that. We are the people. We are not a political party. We are the people and we have the
responsibility not to be divided in the face of Injustice. What we do in America affects the whole world.
So why are we the people doing nothing
to stop our unjust Wars? The bankers of Wall Street, City of London, the ( ? ) , the Bank Rollers and the War Profiteers hate you/us
as much as they hate Vladimir Putin or Xi Jinping and maybe more. Judge them by their deeds and if you don't
believe me look at our cities. They are
in they are destroyed and it's even worse now.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">You know
I'm from the Bronx in New York City and we used to say it's burning but look
what's happening in Ohio. It's burning down too. Will you, the people, rise up to stop it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">And so
to close I would like to say that we have <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">to listen to other nations and reject the idea that war
is a form of diplomacy.</span> Martin Luther
King who spoke here and is with us here on the mall made the point that there
is such a thing as being too late. It is not yet too late but only if we unite
above party ideology and personality. <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">We have to establish<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">principles for a new strategic and development
architecture that treats All Nations equally.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"> And only when we remember that we are the
people, that we have the responsibility to reverse injustice, foreign and domestic,
will we create something better- a more perfect union. If we do our job we will be the government
that we and the whole world wants to see.<br />
<br />
So let's get to it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: yellow; color: black; font-size: 12pt;">foreign</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt;">[Applause]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 7.5pt;">English
(auto-generated)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoCommentText"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomoff" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msoanchor_1">[ek1]</a>AOne of the two organizers? Can anyone identify her? </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Angela?</span></p><p class="MsoCommentText"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoCommentText"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomoff" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msoanchor_2">[ek2]</a>[ Nick]</span></span>Offers
training to protest at local Congressional Representatives office,</p>
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<p class="MsoCommentText" style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomoff" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msoanchor_3">[ek3]</a><!--[endif]--></span></span>Proposes
sit-ins in local Congressional Offices. </p><p class="MsoCommentText"><span style="color: #0f0f0f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p> I (erich) think this idea should be explore. Some in this group have experience with protesting at local Congressional Offices, and certainly should Pols show up in our neighborhood, using that event to break the ceiling on </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">admitting</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> dissent in a narrative/discussion is an action I would support.</span></span></p>
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<p class="MsoCommentText"><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomoff" href="https://d.docs.live.net/c4e72c5a3f36c964/Desktop/Jose%20Vega%20Explains%20the%20Next%20Steps%20for%20Anti-War%20Activism%20-%20Transcript.docx#_msoanchor_4">[ek4]</a><!--[endif]--></span></span>Part
2. of Jose's talk: War happening w/o our vote/consent. Sit-ins<o:p></o:p></p>
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<!--[endif]--></span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-1642925900545739692021-04-02T08:20:00.000-06:002021-04-02T08:20:01.124-06:00<p> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you all for your work. This note is to address a SERIOUS problem, ie the role of TPTB to control what one can learn by doing internet searches, and the bias FOR LANL and AGAINST opposition to pit production.</span></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Try searching for </div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Los Alamos Reporter No vote from RCLC on Support for HM 63</div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">in Google, one gets <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Los%20Alamos%20Reporter%20No%20vote%20from%20RCLC%20on%20Support%20for%20HM%2063&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS862US862&oq=Los%20Alamos%20Reporter%20No%20vote%20from%20RCLC%20on%20Support%20for%20HM%2063&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64j69i60l2.1060j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&fbclid=IwAR1RirMllzTYBMfsqtvFzAh9Rpo23UsNIjm-4ubVGZkUaufig1VJDlMRFpg" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/search...</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Ie the ONE article reporting on the ONE time the RCLC considered addressing ( As a support for a non-binding House Memorial to STUDY the relationship between LANL and N NM poverty simply CAN't be found using GOOGLE.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here is what one gets using <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR1vAZv49PkPU_n5QZF7zQMSmFshgt_eApAjYlXL_TSookfZ9qcLnli3tZA&h=AT3wmKElBRPP5sLygoVPzwWmoSGpnrOX66Liz5opec2fRGVZBs0cjS_Oox5oiK9mfv7SLLAenzTEWtGeCeSRxli3CKStotKekKfnScu6FYOlfijHOCBRtnoXN-jfFUdfPA&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT10KAYqsBqOQ4DnCRD4BtI-eS7Jpd6pxCg-_00_4NbCMuL5qxE_leLIyuftXF1ZUgLRENqrOIFhL0_jB6dP4Lq2kQMwfmKX1yP_EukT120-RgmxRLg5J1O14LvOWEbAIuTx8gdJVS3WmqupVnU-RQg2KN4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">duckduckgo.com</a></span></div></div><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One simply CANNOT find THAT CRITICAL article using google. It is the FIRST hit on duckduckgo,com</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl py34i1dx gpro0wi8" href="https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Los%20Alamos%20Reporter%20No%20vote%20from%20RCLC%20on%20Support%20for%20HM%2063&t=hd&va=o&ia=web&fbclid=IwAR1TUZlvuAJZ-9MuXRrrk9NlUgBO7aJQzYF_PP4TaTh7a_VxHfvasRK1go4" rel="nofollow noopener" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation;" tabindex="0" target="_blank">https://duckduckgo.com/...</a></span></div></div>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-63592179465917522472018-05-24T08:11:00.001-06:002018-05-24T08:11:15.253-06:00Jay Coghlan What’s Not in NNSA’s Plutonium Pit Production Decision <div class="gE iv gt" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; cursor: auto; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; padding: 10px 0px 3px;">
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<span class="gD" data-hovercard-id="jay@nukewatch.org" email="jay@nukewatch.org" name="Jay Coghlan" style="color: #222222; display: inline; font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;">Jay Coghlan</span> <span class="go" style="color: #555555; vertical-align: top;"><span aria-hidden="true"><</span>jay@nukewatch.org<span aria-hidden="true">></span></span></h3>
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<b>nuclear watch</b> <b>new mexico</b></div>
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<b><i>FOR </i></b><b><i>IMMEDIATE RELEASE</i></b><i> May 10, 2018</i></div>
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<b>Contact</b> Jay Coghlan, Nuclear Watch NM, 505.989.7342, c. 505.470.3154, <a href="mailto:jay@nukewatch.org" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">jay@nukewatch.org</a></div>
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Scott Kovac, Nuclear Watch NM, 505.989.7342, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://scott@nukewatch.org&source=gmail&ust=1527257186081000&usg=AFQjCNHxaPFPpFRQZmWN5ed-PFXtIxiXTA" href="http://scott@nukewatch.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">scott@nukewatch.org</a></div>
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<b>What’s Not in NNSA’s Plutonium Pit Production Decision</b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Santa Fe, NM –</span></i></b>Today the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)<b><i> </i></b>announced:</div>
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To achieve DoD’s [the Defense Department] 80 pits per year requirement by 2030, NNSA’s recommended alternative repurposes the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina to produce plutonium pits while also maximizing pit production activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. This two-prong approach – with at least 50 pits per year produced at Savannah River and at least 30 pits per year at Los Alamos – is the best way to manage the cost, schedule, and risk of such a vital undertaking. </div>
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First, in Nuclear Watch’s view, this decision is in large part a political decision, designed to keep the congressional delegations of both New Mexico and South Carolina happy. New Mexico Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are adamantly against relocating plutonium pit production to South Carolina. On the other hand, South Carolina Senator Lindsay Graham was keeping the boondoggle Mixed Oxide (MOX) program on life support, and this pit production decision may help to mollify him. This could also perhaps help assuage the State of South Carolina, which is suing the Department of Energy for failing to remove plutonium from the Savannah River Site as promised.</div>
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<b>But as important is what is NOT in NNSA’s plutonium pit production decision</b>:</div>
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• There is no explanation why the Department of Defense requires at least 80 pits per year, and no justification to the American taxpayer why the enormous expense of expanded production is necessary.</div>
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• NNSA avoided pointing out that expanded plutonium pit production is NOT needed to maintain the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear weapons stockpile. In fact, no production of plutonium pits for the <u>existing</u>stockpile has been scheduled since 2011, and none is scheduled for the future.</div>
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• NNSA did not mention that in 2006 independent experts found that pits last a least a century. Plutonium pits in the existing stockpile now average around 40 years old. The independent expert study did not find any end date for reliable pit lifetimes, indicating that plutonium pits could last far beyond just a century.</div>
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• NNSA did not mention that up to 15,000 “excess” pits are already stored at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, TX, with up to another 5,000 in “strategic reserve.” The agency did not explain why new production is needed given that immense inventory of already existing plutonium pits.</div>
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• Related, NNSA did not explain how to dispose of all of that plutonium, given that the MOX program is an abysmal failure. Nor is it made clear where future plutonium wastes from expanded pit production will go since operations at the troubled Waste Isolation Pilot Plant are already constrained from a ruptured radioactive waste barrel, and its capacity is already overcommitted to existing radioactive wastes.</div>
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• NNSA did not make clear that expanded plutonium pit production is for a series of speculative future “Interoperable Warheads.” The first IW is meant to replace nuclear warheads for both the Air Force’s land-based and the Navy’s sub-launched ballistic missiles. The Obama Administration delayed “IW-1” because the Navy does not support it. However, the Trump Administration is restarting it, with annual funding ballooning to $448 million by 2023, and “IW-2” starting in that same year. Altogether the three planned Interoperable Warheads will cost at least $40 billion, despite the fact that the Navy doesn’t support them.<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-808528269437957044__edn1" name="m_-808528269437957044__ednref" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span class="m_-808528269437957044MsoEndnoteReference">[1]</span></a></div>
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• NNSA’s expanded plutonium pit production decision did not mention that exact replicas of existing pits will NOT be produced. The agency has selected the W87 pit for the Interoperable Warhead, but its FY 2019 budget request repeatedly states that the pits will actually be “W87-like.” This could have serious potential consequences because any major modifications to plutonium pits cannot be full-scale tested, or alternatively could prompt the U.S. to return to nuclear weapons testing, which would have severe international proliferation consequences.</div>
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• The State of South Carolina is already suing the Department of Energy for its failure to begin removing the many tons of plutonium at the Savannah River Site (SRS). NNSA’s pit production decision will not solve that problem, even as it will likely bring more plutonium to SRS.</div>
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• The independent Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board has expressed strong concerns about the safety of plutonium operations at both the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="m_-808528269437957044__GoBack"></a>LANL and SRS, particularly regarding potential nuclear criticality incidents.<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-808528269437957044__edn2" name="m_-808528269437957044__ednref" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span class="m_-808528269437957044MsoEndnoteReference">[2]</span></a> NNSA did not address those safety concerns in its plutonium pit production decision.</div>
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• Politicians in both New Mexico and South Carolina trumpet how many jobs expanded plutonium pit production will create. Yet NNSA’s expanded plutonium pit production decision does not have any solid data on jobs produced. One indicator that job creation will be limited is that the environmental impact statement for a canceled $6 billion plutonium facility at LANL stated that it would not produce a single new Lab job because it would merely relocate existing jobs. Concerning SRS, it is doubtful that pit production could fully replace the jobs lost as the MOX program dies a slow death. In any event, there certainly won’t be any data on the greater job creation that cleanup and renewable energy programs would create. Funding for those programs is being cut or held flat, in part to help pay for nuclear weapons programs.</div>
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• Finally, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that major federal proposals be subject to public review and comment <u>before</u> a formal decision is made. NNSA’s decision does not mention its NEPA obligations at all. In 1996 plutonium pit production was capped at 20 pits per year in a nation-wide Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). NNSA failed to raise that production limit in any subsequent NEPA process, despite repeated attempts. Arguably a decision to produce 80 pits or more per year requires a new or supplemental nation-wide programmatic environmental impact statement to raise the production limit, which the new dual-site decision would strongly augment. This then should be followed by whatever site-specific NEPA documents might be necessary.</div>
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Jay Coghlan, Nuclear Watch Director, commented, “NNSA has already tried four times to expand plutonium pit production, only to be defeated by citizen opposition and its own cost overruns and incompetence. But we realize that this fifth attempt is the most serious. However, we remain confident it too will fall apart, because of its enormous financial and environmental costs and the fact that expanded plutonium pit production is simply not needed for the existing nuclear weapons stockpile. We think the American public will reject new-design nuclear weapons, which is what this expanded pit production decision is really all about.”</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-808528269437957044__ednref" name="m_-808528269437957044__edn1" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span class="m_-808528269437957044MsoEndnoteReference">[1]</span></a> See 2012 Navy memo demonstrating its lack of support for the Interoperable Warhead at <a class="m_-808528269437957044moz-txt-link-freetext" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.nukewatch.org/importantdocs/resources/Navy-Memo-W87W88&source=gmail&ust=1527257186082000&usg=AFQjCNFBGA2UyXNbszjKDkltBSBCH7K2zA" href="https://www.nukewatch.org/importantdocs/resources/Navy-Memo-W87W88" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.nukewatch.org/<wbr></wbr>importantdocs/resources/Navy-<wbr></wbr>Memo-W87W88</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#m_-808528269437957044__ednref" name="m_-808528269437957044__edn2" style="color: #1155cc;" title=""><span class="m_-808528269437957044MsoEndnoteReference">[2]</span></a> For example, see <i>Safety concerns plague key sites proposed for nuclear bomb production</i>, Patrick Malone, Center for Public Integrity, May 2, 2108, <a class="m_-808528269437957044moz-txt-link-freetext" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/02/safety-concerns-nuclear-bomb-manufacture-sites/572697002/&source=gmail&ust=1527257186082000&usg=AFQjCNGzyYgl-GtEaVT87OPRNgEKAqVrew" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2018/05/02/safety-concerns-nuclear-bomb-manufacture-sites/572697002/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.usatoday.com/<wbr></wbr>story/news/nation/2018/05/02/<wbr></wbr>safety-concerns-nuclear-bomb-<wbr></wbr>manufacture-sites/572697002/</a></div>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-23996308507387393872018-05-24T08:03:00.002-06:002018-05-24T08:03:25.277-06:00Comments on Taos LANL Resolution, per previous emails. To Taos Cleanup Resolution working Group<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I tried to recall this email (you should have received my revised, final email last night). But it was accidentally sent prematurely, removing this part. It was recalled within seconds, but may have gone out anyway. So you should have it, as reference i case it matters. I have o secrets, except when it comes to "acting in the streets" when I don't want to make it easy to counter civil disobedience. In regards to that, I remind folks that were not involved, many in this group were part of winning the "Most Patriotic Prize (w/ $250) in the 2014 Arroyo Seco Fourth of July Parade organized by Rivera Sun in which Jeanne Greene, Marilyn Hoff, Rick Brown, Sigrid Erika also played major roles. Pics </span><a href="http://bit.ly/2s60YiY" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, </span><a href="http://bit.ly/2s8UWNQ" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /><br />
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<span class="gmail-">Thanks Marilyn, who said:</span><div>
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<span class="gmail-">" <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Well, since new and different versions of how to say </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><span style="color: red;">we don't want any more plutonium pits </span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">keep popping up I thought I might as well chime in."<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> Hopefully it also answers Jeanne on the issue of "decoupling'' earthquakes from pit production. </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I don't want ANY more pits, at LANL or anywhere. And it has LITTLE to do with earthquakes or safety or toxicity, although they severely amplify COSTS of such a terrible idea. And as Kathy Sanchez and Marian Naranjo, have stated better, the CANCER of the soul and heart and mind outweigh the cancer of the toxins, even under earthquake conditions. It has turned us into an immoral nation, glorifying violence and the transfer of resources from the poor to the rich, from nature to ego. The IDEA of Nuclear weapons to me is a SICK, MENTALLY INSANE, concept and was started on lies under the auspices of US HEGEMONY and US World Empire. It continues even past the realization the US Empire is crumbling, the desire to build more pits now driven primarily by money. To me nuclear weapons are essentially Auschwitz on STEROIDS, and every bit as insane.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hence MY insistence on a resolution I can support that doesn't condone pits IF the earthquake issue is solved- Others are of course free, to express " </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: bold;">we don't want any more plutonium pits" PRIMARILY </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">under a toxicity, health impairment issue coupled to earthquakes, but I don't see it that way. The earthquake issue has already been partially solved by moving a large part of pit production to South Carolina. If ALL pit production moves to SC, would THAT solve your concerns??? Because of the </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/07/20/the-really-big-one" style="color: #1155cc; font-size: 12.8px;" target="_blank">Cascadia Fault </a><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">and my families presence in NW Portland, my having lived in So Calif for 12 years and knowing of the engineering responses available there and in Japan, I have no doubt the LANL earthquake issues could be "adequately" addressed (the , ie NOT be an impediment, if TPTB decide LANL is the place for pit production, and if "too costly at LA" pit production can simply be moved. And if not, since letters from DFSB to the Sect of DOE do not have to be revealed, and are often long delayed when they are, LANL can simply claim the DNSFB has stated "seismic safety concerns have bee resolved, but due to National Security issues, we cannot share that finding with you". Then what?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">As Suzie confirmed by calling the DNFSB, they do NOT regulate,they are part of the Executive Branch. they report directly to the DOE Sect, ALL Five members are appointed by the President. While I fully support the sense that the earthquake safety issue is important, and that present and future health risks are reprehensible and unnecessary. I just listened to two hours (the first of Three sessions_ of the last public hearing of the DNFSB in Santa Fe, (Wednesday, June 7, 2017) on seismic issues at LANL. the agenda and video is <a href="https://www.dnfsb.gov/public-hearings-meetings" style="color: #1155cc;">here</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I think (wishful?) that we are on the same page re Nukes, but this resolution is taking more time than I can justify, and I continue to be bothered by what I see as EGO, the unwillingness to find ways to include the City Council/Manager as a partner in this process. So I wish you all the best, and ***DO*** thank you for your efforts to ban nukes, if that is in fact the ultimate goal. At the VERY beginning I expressed concern that our efforts must "move fast enough to matter" , and this is what I meant. I see little to no fwd progress from the Taos Resolution of a decade ago, and all sorts of detail/micro-management (false precision) rather than a few simple statements from the HEART, expressing a concern, and asking for relief.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I hope pride can be swallowed, a consensus reached among VERY soon among the group. I hope you are willing to ask the Council for help and advise on how to pass a resolution, and compromise on changes (simply leave out what they are unwilling to support; NOTHING needs to be in there that YOU don't support- it may simply not be as strong a statement (you may not have as much Council support) as is optimal. Don't discard the "Good", by demanding the "Perfect". Starting from another's detailed expression, and trying to massage it to conform to one's own views is extremely problematic. I am a bad judge of whether to try to salvage the considerable work that has been invested here, or to start over. It does seem to me you are close to consensus, and I hope it does express what is in your hearts. I wish you the best in your endeavors.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Attached is an email exchange at the start of this, copied verbatim with the exception of removing the quotes around intern which I did not realize, at the time, </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> was offensive</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> - a mistake I took the liberty to correct.</span><br /><br /><div class="gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-gE gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-iv gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-gt" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12.8px; padding: 10px 0px 3px;">
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<span class="gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-gD" name="marigayl@netzero.net" style="color: #222222; display: inline; font-size: 12.8px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;"><a href="mailto:marigayl@netzero.net" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">marigayl@</a></span></h3>
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Thanks, Erich. I totally agree with everything you wrote. It's all about the moola for the multinationals and trickledown to all the nuclear butlers and handmaidens. Increasingly dangerous the more we are lulled to complacency.</div>
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Marilyn<div class="gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-yj6qo gmail-m_3052330992157697822m_7171394602092330971gmail-m_3308096875327916097m_2166856004697459242m_-107691696380732133m_-1668335643482602763m_4945281308496087811gmail-ajU" style="margin: 2px 0px 0px; outline: none; padding: 10px 0px; width: 22px;">
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<br /><br />---------- Original Message ----------<br />From: <a href="mailto:erichwwk@gmail.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">erichwwk</a><br />To: "<a href="mailto:marigayl@netzero.net" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">marigayl</a><br />Cc: Susann McCarthy, Jeanne Green , Scott Kovac , Cathie Sullivan<br />Subject: Re: Fw: BEST ARTICLE I'VE READ IN YEARS ABOUT UC, LOS ALAMOS AND MUCH MORE<br />Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2018 15:27:32 -0700<br /><br /><div dir="ltr">
Thanks. Good. I remember Will well from his days as an LASG intern [orig. quotes removed], and especially a RRW meeting he took over from DOE when they tried to impose their silly short response limits from the public. THAT occasion made me aware of how vulnerable DOE is when confronted with a critical mass of opposition. Hopefully a similar effort will be mounted before we all self-destruct. We do have ourselves "a situation".<br /><br />That said, one also needs to understand the level to which not only the Nuclear Weapons industry, but the ENTIRE MIC has degenerated into a self serving bunch of elite politicians and weapons manufacturers, where no other course is seen but to transfer wealth from the public to the MIC. An article that spells out that broader picture quite well is <a href="https://thesaker.is/newly-revealed-russian-weapons-systems-political-implications/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">THIS ONE</a>, by "the Saker". IMHO, too few recognize how this US focus on PROFITS, rather then on Military Defense, has left the US seriously vulnerable militarily. And DANGEROUS, if the U.S. response to this vulnerability is DENIAL, thinking the miniscule Russian economy and defense expenditures somehow allows this silly selfishness, and what is needed is to "act tough" and from "a position of (phantom) strength".<br /><br />Closer to home we see the breakdown the Saker mentions at LANL, where the RCLC no longer pretends to focus solely on economic development and cleanup, having discarded the intentionally ambiguous fig leaf (ensure adequate funding for DOE missions) under which it lobbied for nuclear weapons funding while claiming at home it did not, for one that explicitly states in its <a href="https://regionalcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2017-Federal-Legislative-Priorities.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Legislative Agenda</a> "Nuclear Posture Modernization" MUST be made a legislative priority. How else to support the slush funds, high incomes, and grants for exotic "economic speculation" by the RCLC staff, and bribery to local officials?<br /><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/2tCks28" style="color: #1155cc;">Daniel Ellsberg says pretty much the same</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
"You would not have these arsenals, in the U.S. or elsewhere, if it were not the case that it was highly profitable to the military-industrial complex, to the aerospace industry, to the electronics industry, and to the weapons design labs to keep modernizing these weapons, improving accuracy, improving launch time, all that."</blockquote>
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"What’s it all for? It is for [military] service share of the budget. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Grumman, Northrop. Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, as one after another official has put it, from James Baker to others. Profits, as I say, jobs, and campaign donations. It’s embedded in all 50 states of the union, one way or another, in the various expenditures, and very hard to get rid of. Almost impossible. I just don’t see that you can say it’s impossible."</blockquote>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2GxsBH4" style="color: #1155cc;">Gar Alperovitz </a>deals directly (as does <a href="http://bit.ly/2mZgU3t" style="color: #1155cc;">Stewart Udall</a>) in the impact the lies and coverups about the building and dropping of the bomb have done, and continue to do, to undermine US culture and turn the US into a government based on lies and greed:</span><br /><br />" <span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Mercury Display A", "Mercury Display B"; word-spacing: 0.3px;">History is rarely simple, and confronting it head-on, with critical honesty, is often quite painful. Myths, no matter how oversimplified or blatantly false, are too often far more likely to be embraced than inconvenient and unsettling truths. Even now, for instance, we see how difficult it is for the average US citizen to come to terms with the brutal record of slavery and white </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Mercury Display A", "Mercury Display B"; word-spacing: 0.3px;">supremacy that underlies so much of our national story. Remaking our popular understanding of the “good” war’s climactic act is likely to be just as hard. But if the Confederate battle flag can come down in South Carolina, we can perhaps one day begin to ask ourselves more challenging questions about the nature of America’s global power, and what is true and what is false about why we really dropped the atomic bomb on Japan</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Mercury Display A", "Mercury Display B"; font-size: 20px; word-spacing: 0.3px;">"</span></div>
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the US problem is MUCH deeper than being left with a dangerous toxic legacy and an unsafe and incompetent NL. We have a situation where the desire of old men to "save face" and "save wealth" could start a process from which there is no return.<br /><br />Thanks for listening.<br /><br />Best, erich <br /><br />PS There are <span style="color: grey; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; white-space: nowrap;">A<a href="http://bit.ly/2x8K9cp">bout 24,900 results </a></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2x8K9cp">on a google search </a></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2x8K9cp">of LASG .org and earthquakes, going back to 1997</a><br /><br />PSS the <a href="http://www.taosgov.com/legalordinances/resolutions/2008/08-24.pdf">2008 JOINT ToT and Tco Res</a> address health issues thus:<br /><br /><div style="color: #500050;">
WHEREAS, plutonium pits are used as the " triggers" for weapons of mass destruction</div>
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and plutonium creates health and environmental hazards; and</div>
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WHEREAS, the governing bodies of the Town of Taos and Taos County do not support the creation of further health and environmental hazards related to nuclear weapons for the citizens of Northern New Mexico; and<br /> health and environmental hazards related to nuclear weapons for the citizens of Northern New Mexico;<br /><br />Two whereas difficult to counter? And simple to understand?<br /><br />Love, erich</div>
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On Sat, Mar 10, 2018 at 1:17 PM, marigayl wrote:<br /><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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This article comes with the recommendation of Cathie Sullivan, whom I knew as a highly knowledgeable anti-nuke ally on the board of directors of the Los Alamos Study Group back when I worked for LASG oh so many years ago. A recommendation from her is a recommendation indeed.</div>
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Marilyn<br /><br />---------- Forwarded Message ----------<br />From: Cathie Sullivan<br />To: marigayl, Gail Haggard<br />Subject: BEST ARTICLE I'VE READ IN YEARS ABOUT UC, LOS ALAMOS AND MUCH MORE<br />Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2018 21:21:03 -0700<br /><br /><div dir="ltr">
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Hi Marilyn and Gail,</div>
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This article, though very long, has got to be one of the best summaries and overviews of Los Alamos Lab I ever come across. It appeared in Counterpunch and I recommend it highly. You will better understand UC's role and the intentional effort of military contractors to DOE </div>
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/ NNSA to direct, increase and control weapons funding. But there is much else here- almost an education in the topic in one go!</div>
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Cathie</div>
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<a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2018/03/08/the-university-of-nuclear-bombs/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.counterpunch.org/2<wbr></wbr>018/03/08/the-university-of-nu<wbr></wbr>clear-bombs/</a></div>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-73457642096134367552017-01-22T18:49:00.000-07:002017-01-23T07:59:46.671-07:00Edward Snowden: “I think the focus on Trump is a mistake. ...<div class="western" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Edward Snowden. 1-15-2017 @ 3:33:36 as part of a München acTVism <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">EVENT: Edward Snowden, Jeremy Scahill, Jürgen Todünhöfer, Paul Jay, Richard Wolff & Srećko Horvat <br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1UkGRkcynE">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1UkGRkcynE</a></span><a href="http://bit.ly/2iSHgok"></a><br />
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<b>
“I think the focus on Trump is a mistake. </b>
You can look anywhere, look at any newspaper, look at any sort of public
commentator; you can see all of the criticisms of the Trump policies, of the
administration, all of the issues that they have there. They’re clear, they’re
obvious. Yes, we are in uncharted times. Yes, we are facing a period, not just
of localized risk, but of systemic risk.
But what should we actually be looking at, right? <b>Faith in elected leaders, to fix our problems
is THE mistake….; that we keep repeating</b>. <br />
<br />
When President Obama was elected to the White House, when President Obama was
elected to the White House he said ALL of the right things. Right? He said he was going to make a more equal
America, we were going to move into a period of co-operation, rather than
partisanship. He said he was going to close Guantanamo on day one of his
administration; it’s still going to be open on his last day of his Presidency.
He said there was going to be no more warrantless wiretapping in America: we
don’t do that. We don’t need that. That’s not who we are. And in fact he
expanded it. He made it worse. It went
deeper. It got better, it got more sophisticated, it got more pervasive. And it
continues. Right? If we’re hoping for a champion, if we’re
waiting for a hero, we will be waiting forever.
Because<b> it’s not a politician that you’re looking for, it’s the people
in this room. It’s YOU, it’s the person sitting next to you, </b>all of us have a
responsibility we can’t fix by ourselves as individuals. But we don’t need
to. <br />
<br />
What we have to do is make one change. A small change. A positive change that
can be replicated, that can be shared. We need to create our ideas; we need to
think about these problems. <b>We need to identify, not that Trump is a bad
person, but WHY he is so threatening, and we need to start creating defenses
for it.</b><br />
<br />
Moreover, we need to realize that defense is not enough. WE need to create an
offense, for free and open society. We need to recognize that one of the
central problems right now, is one of debate.</div>
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<a href="http://bit.ly/2iSHgok">http://bit.ly/2iSHgok</a></div>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-11429601899623652632016-11-16T19:55:00.002-07:002017-03-24T07:09:25.451-06:00John Kirby, US State Dept. Spokesperson, I know the Russians bombed FIVE Hospitals. Just can't tell you WHICH Hospitals, or in what Cities these hospitals are.<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/index.htm"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #185a9c; font-family: inherit; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Press Relations</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>»<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/index.htm"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #185a9c; font-family: inherit; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">Daily Press Briefings</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>»<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/index.htm"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #185a9c; font-family: inherit; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">2016</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>»<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/11/index.htm"><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #185a9c; font-family: inherit; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">November</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>»<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: inherit; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2016/11/264370.htm" title="Daily Press Briefing - November 16, 2016">Daily Press Briefing -
November 16, 2016</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 8.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt;">
<span style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "arial";">Video of 11-16-16 Press Briefing is here: <a href="http://video.state.gov/en/video/5213130994001">http://video.state.gov/en/video/5213130994001</a><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="officialsname"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt; padding: 0in;">John Kirby</span></b></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt; padding: 0in;"><br />
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</span><span class="dailypressbriefing"><b><span style="border: none 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9.0pt; padding: 0in;">Daily Press Briefing</span></b></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="location-"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt; padding: 0in;">Washington, DC</span></b></span><b><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 9pt; padding: 0in;"><br />
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 8.5pt;">November 16, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: "verdana";"><b>ANOTHER instance of accusations that Russia bombed not two hospitals, but this time five. Sorry, can't say where the hospitals are, even in what city, but "trust us"WE KNOW." How?? Because "reliable sources tell us.<br /><br />Watch, listen, and decide for yourself. I have put time markers on the relevant sections.<br /><br /><br />____________<br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="transcript"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; padding: 0in;">T</span><span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "verdana"; padding: 0in;">RANSCRIPT:</span></b></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="DEPARTMENT"></a><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">2:07 p.m. EST<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Afternoon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[break]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="SYRIARUSSIA"></a><b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Can we go to Syria? [ 17:53 ]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 17:56
]QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Okay. First of all, can you clarify what is going on in terms of
where the Russians are bombing? I mean, some say in Aleppo, but there is no
evidence that there is any bombardment of eastern Aleppo by the Russians. There
is bombardments of Idlib and Homs and so on, and the countryside of Homs. So
first of all, if you have information on where they are bombing and what is
going on there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[18:18] MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Well, I don’t have – as you know, Said, I don’t have specific
tactical information about Russian military operations in terms of grid points
and locations on a map. We – I would say, though, that we have seen additional
airstrikes now in Syria by Russia and by the regime, to include what has been
reported to be – and we have no reason to doubt this because of the sourcing
that we’re getting – that five hospitals and at least one mobile clinic in
Syria were struck by --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 18:13]
QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Can say which city the hospitals were in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">What’s that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 19:14 ]
QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Which city were the hospitals in?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I don’t have the exact location. But – so five hospitals and one
mobile clinic. And by all counts, it looks like they were deliberately
targeted, all in the span of just the last day or so. It’s also worth noting
that despite Russian claims that it halted airstrikes in the past month or so
--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 19:40
]QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Twenty-eight days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- yeah – they’ve allowed no food or humanitarian assistance into
east Aleppo. And the regime and Russia have now let Aleppo’s residents starve,
all while seeking praise from the international community for halting
indiscriminate strikes for three weeks. Again, five hospitals and at least one
– maybe more – mobile clinic. That doesn’t sound to me like a halt in
indiscriminate attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Can you give us a specific --
{ where is this said? By whom? ]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 20:12 ] QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Now the Russians are – excuse me, just let me --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Sorry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[20:16 ] QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- follow up with a couple of things. The Russian defense
ministry claims that it is actually the rebels who are – or the terror groups
who are holding back the aid, they are disallowing the public from reaching
that humanitarian aid. And in fact, they’re saying that there was some sort of
demonstration by the public and that was crushed brutally by the different
militant groups and so on. And so I want – how do you sort out after all this
kind of conflicting information and so on – how do you get your information on
this case?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[20:51 ] MR
KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, look, it’s a very fluid situation and our knowledge is
imperfect. That’s why we say I have seen – we’ve seen reports of these things.
And I don’t have specifics for you. I don’t have specific locations --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But don’t you think it’s --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[21:09 ] MR
KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Hang on a second, I’m answering Said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Don’t you think it is important --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">We don’t
have that. I’m saying we’ve seen these reports.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 21:16 ] MR
KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">And they fly in the face of everything Russia says it’s doing in
Syria, and specifically in Aleppo. So I don’t have – I don’t have (inaudible)
on this and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to get into that anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But don’t you think it is important --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">So you would refute --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But, but --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[ 21:36] QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- the claim by the Russians that they have stopped or they had
a moratorium on striking Aleppo, eastern Aleppo, for the past 28 days? In fact,
all the while were – the militant groups were striking western Aleppo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[21:49] MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">So we’ve
seen – well, you’ve also seen reports that – about opposition groups that were
limiting or trying to be an obstacle to humanitarian aid and assistance. And
we’ve made it clear to the opposition groups that we communicate with and
certainly to nations who have influence over other opposition groups that these
reports are troubling and concerning and obviously to the degree they’re true,
that that obstruction should not occur. That said, it’s without question that it
is the regime and its Russian backers that have had the – by far, the most
responsibility for stopping the violence, for stopping the strikes, and for
allowing the aid to get in, which they haven’t done. I mean, I don’t know how
many times now I’ve been to this podium talking about the fact that no
humanitarian aid is getting into Aleppo and that hasn’t changed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Don’t you think it is --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">It hasn’t
changed one bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[23:01] QUESTION
[Gayane Chichakyan] :</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Sorry, don’t you think it is
important to give a specific list of hospitals that you’re accusing Russia of
hitting? Those are grave accusations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[23:08}MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I’m not
making those accusations. I’m telling you we’ve seen reports from credible aid
organizations that five hospitals and a clinic --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Which hospital --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">At least
one clinic --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[23:15] QUESTION
[GC] :</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">In what cities at least?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">[23:18} MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">You can go
look at the information that many of the Syrian relief agencies are putting out
there publicly. We’re getting our information from them too. These reports --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But you are citing those reports without giving any specifics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Because we
believe these agencies are credible and because we have other sources of
information that back up what we’re seeing from some of these reports. And you
know what? Why don’t ask --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">If you – exactly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Here’s a
good question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">That’s what I --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Why don’t
you ask your defense ministry --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">That’s what I was --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- what
they’re doing and see if you can get --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">If you give a specific list --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, no, no, no, no, no, no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">If you give a specific list of hospitals --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span lang="ES-MX" style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, no, no.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">My colleagues who are listening --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I’m supposed
to --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- hopefully would be able to go and ask Russian officials about
a specific list of hospitals that you’re accusing Russia of --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">You work
for Russia Today, right? Isn’t that your agency?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">That is correct. Yes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">And so why
shouldn’t you ask your government the same kinds of questions that you’re
standing here asking me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">When you level --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Ask them
about their military activities. Get them to tell you what they’re – or to deny
what they’re doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">When I ask for specifics, it seems your response is why are you
here? Well, you are leveling that accusation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, ma’am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">And if you give specifics --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, ma’am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- my colleagues would be able to ask --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">No, ma’am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- Russian officials.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Once again,
you’re just wrong. I’m not leveling those accusations. Relief agencies that we
find credible are leveling those accusations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But you repeat them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">So why
don’t you question them about their information and where they’re getting it?
And why don’t you question your own defense ministry?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Which organizations then? Which ones? Where should I look?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">We’ll get
you – we will get you a list of them after the briefing. I don’t have it right
here in front of me, but I’m happy to provide to you some of the relief
agencies that are telling us what they’re seeing on the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">And specifically on blocking aid within the 28 days that Russia
and Syria had stopped the airstrikes in eastern Aleppo, and I understand they
resumed by the – they were resumed by the Syrian military yesterday. Do you –
can you give any specific information on when Russia or the Syrian Government
blocked the UN from delivering aid? Just any specific information.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">There
hasn’t been any aid delivered in the last month.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">And you believe it was blocked exclusively by Russia and the
Syrian Government.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">There’s no
question in our mind that the obstruction is coming from the regime and from
Russia. No question at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Ma’am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I just have --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">John, can I just --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Yeah. Well --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Let me – hold on, just let me say: Please be careful about
saying “your defense minister” and things like that. I mean, she’s a journalist
just like the rest of are, so it’s – she’s asking pointed questions, but
they’re not --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">From a state-owned – from a state-owned --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But they’re not --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">From a state-owned outlet, Matt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But they’re not --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">From a state-owned outlet that’s not independent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">The questions that she’s asking are not out of line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">The outlet is (inaudible) --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I didn’t say the questions were out of line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Okay. I mean --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I didn’t say the questions were out of line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">All right. Okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Okay? But I’m not --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But I mean – oh no, I understand. But asking --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">I’m sorry, but I’m not going to put<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Russia Today</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>on the same level with the rest of you
who are representing independent media outlets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Well --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt;">
<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Do you have an issue with my question?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Well, hold on, but just --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">(Off-mike.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Look, there – well, we’ll talk about – we can talk about this
later offline --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Maybe I could ask my Iraq question.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- but just – the question is not an inappropriate question to
ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Didn’t say that it was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">All right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">But I also think it should be asked of their own defense
ministry --<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">QUESTION:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">MR KIRBY:</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">-- which they don’t do, which<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Russia
Today</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>doesn’t do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: inherit;">Said, did you
have one?<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-77505422388845392292016-11-09T14:04:00.005-07:002016-11-09T14:31:16.162-07:00Greg Mello, LASG, "Special Post-Election Bulletin 225: President-Elect Trump; letter to colleagues in government <h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Posted by GREG MELLO, <a href="http://lasg.org/">Los Alamos Study Group </a> <a href="http://lasg.org/">lasg.org</a> Nov. 6, 2016<br /><br />Special Post-Election Bulletin 225: President-Elect Trump; letter to colleagues in government </span></h2>
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<b><u><span style="color: red;">Reminder</span></u><span style="color: red;">: The Study Group will host a special talk and discussion on "</span><span style="color: #7030a0;">New Directions in Nuclear Disarmament</span><span style="color: red;">" on <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_130906001" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Friday, November 11</span></span>, at <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_130906002" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">6:30 pm</span></span> in Santa Fe at the Center Stage Performance Space, 505 Camino de Los Marquez (</span></b><span style="color: red;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://goo.gl/maps/fefTk6oufKt&source=gmail&ust=1478810752144000&usg=AFQjCNFIDWosnFPaGPW3HyGcvGofplcx3Q" href="https://goo.gl/maps/fefTk6oufKt" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">map</span></b></a><b>). <u></u><u></u></b></span></div>
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Dear friends – <u></u><u></u></div>
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Many of our members and friends are grieving this morning about the coming Trump presidency, with a majority in both houses of Congress, so many elderly Supreme Court justices, and some pretty terrible Trump policy statements during the campaign, e.g. about climate change and energy, just to pick two we believe are critical. We share some, but by no means all, of that grief. <u></u><u></u></div>
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A lot of the grief we see is over the demise of a country (and a democracy) which do not exist. That grief is good. It’s part of the awakening process, frankly. It is easy to be in denial about the state of the country today, its prospects, what the US has been doing in the wider world, and – most relevantly here – the degree to which Ms. Clinton was a kind of mafia candidate. The fact is, a lot of US “soft power” around the world derives from the corruption of foreign leaders, governments, and economies. The Clintons made that a two-way street. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Mr. Trump’s sometimes-loathsome personal qualities, fantasy policies (e.g. in economic affairs), shoot-from-hip temperament, and general inexperience blinded many people to the extensive pattern of what appear to be “high crimes and misdemeanors” – constitutional grounds for impeachment proceedings, in other words – which Ms. Clinton would have brought into the White House. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Barrels of ink have already been expended already today analyzing this election – and entire train-loads over the campaign season – so I will mention and quote from just a few articles that might shed some additional light on this event. In the process I hope to call your attention again to some of the information and analytical sources in the blogroll of <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://high%2520crimes%2520and%2520misdemeanors&source=gmail&ust=1478810752144000&usg=AFQjCNEV-xk5ptSLlOnML6ChO7WISDIteg" href="http://high%20crimes%20and%20misdemeanors/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Forget the Rest</a> (in the lower right-hand corner).<u></u><u></u></div>
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We find <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://consortiumnews.com/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752144000&usg=AFQjCNE-9ZIao5P9Bo1RhvUNWWyqoQcDhQ" href="https://consortiumnews.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>Consortium News</i></a> to be an unsurpassed source of objective analysis of foreign policy news. Last night Robert Parry wrote (in “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://consortiumnews.com/2016/11/09/why-trump-won-why-clinton-lost/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752144000&usg=AFQjCNH6mOBsqMg3auK2MIYqSRoGGxtoTQ" href="https://consortiumnews.com/2016/11/09/why-trump-won-why-clinton-lost/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Why Trump Won; Why Clinton Lost</a>”), <u></u><u></u></div>
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In the end, Hillary Clinton became the face of a corrupt, arrogant and out-of-touch Establishment, while Donald Trump emerged as an almost perfectly imperfect vessel for a populist fury that had bubbled beneath the surface of America.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The war choices of the neocon/liberal-hawk coalition have been disastrous – from Iraq to Afghanistan to Libya to Syria to Ukraine – yet this collection of know-it-alls never experiences accountability. The same people, including the media’s armchair warriors and the think-tank “scholars,” bounce from one catastrophe to the next with no consequences for their fallacious “group thinks.” Most recently, they have ginned up a new costly and dangerous Cold War with Russia.<u></u><u></u></div>
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So, the American voters have plunged the United States and the world into uncharted territory behind a President-elect who lacks a depth of knowledge on a wide variety of issues. Who will guide a President Trump becomes the most pressing issue today.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, Arizona. March 21, 2016. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)<u></u><u></u></div>
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Will he rely on traditional Republicans who have done so much to mess up the country and the world or will he find some fresh-thinking realists who will realign policy with core American interests and values.<u></u><u></u></div>
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For this dangerous and uncertain moment, the Democratic Party establishment deserves a large share of the blame. Despite signs that 2016 would be a year for an anti-Establishment candidate – possibly someone like Sen. Elizabeth Warren or Sen. Bernie Sanders – the Democratic leadership decided that it was “Hillary’s turn.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Alternatives like Warren were discouraged from running so there could be a Clinton “coronation.” That left the 74-year-old socialist from Vermont as the only obstacle to Clinton’s nomination and it turned out that Sanders was a formidable challenger. But his candidacy was ultimately blocked by Democratic insiders, including the unelected “super-delegates” who gave Clinton an early and seemingly insurmountable lead.<u></u><u></u></div>
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With blinders firmly in place, the Democrats yoked themselves to Clinton’s gilded carriage and tried to pull it all the way to the White House. But they ignored the fact that many Americans came to see Clinton as the personification of all that is wrong about the insular and corrupt world of Official Washington. And that has given us President-elect Trump.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://thesaker.is/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNHxPIVpnvqnBCuzb7aw4-_aJO8qDA" href="http://thesaker.is/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Saker</a>, a thoughtful and informed Russian/Swiss/Dutch/American political-military analyst with whom we often find ourselves in agreement AND disagreement, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://thesaker.is/trump-elected-as-president-risks-and-opportunities/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNGOXXFc__j__asZL9haEPtmh03ABw" href="http://thesaker.is/trump-elected-as-president-risks-and-opportunities/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">emphasizes Trump’s apparent foreign policy pragmatism</a>, first quoting Trump’s victory speech and President Putin’s immediate positive reply, saying: <u></u><u></u></div>
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This exchange, right there, is enough of a reason for the entire planet to rejoice at the defeat of Hillary and the victory of Trump.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Will Trump now have the courage, willpower and intelligence to purge the US Executive from the Neocon cabal which has been infiltrating it for decades now? Will he have the strength to confront an extremely hostile Congress and media? Or will he try to meet them halfway and naively hope that they will not use their power, money and influence to sabotage his presidency?<u></u><u></u></div>
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I don’t know. Nobody does.<u></u><u></u></div>
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…<u></u><u></u></div>
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Ideally, the next step would be for Trump and Putin to meet, with all their key ministers, in a long, Camp David like week of negotiations in which everything, every outstanding dispute, should be put on the table and a compromise sought in each case. Paradoxically, this could be rather easy: the crisis in Europe is entirely artificial, the war in Syria has an absolutely obvious solution, and the international order can easily accommodate a United States which would “deal fairly with everyone, with everyone — all people and all other nations” and “seek common ground, not hostility; partnership, not conflict“. The truth is that the USA and Russia have no objective reasons for conflict – only ideological issues resulting directly from the insane ideology of messianic imperialism of those who believe, or pretend to believe, that the USA is an “indispensable nation”. What the world wants – needs – is the USA as a *normal* nation.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The worst case? Trump could turn out to be a total fraud. I personally very much doubt it, but I admit that this is possible. More likely is that he just won’t have the foresight and courage to crush the Neocons and that he will try to placate them. If he does so, they will instead crush him. It is a fact that while administrations have changed every 4 or 8 years, the regime in power has not, and that US internal and foreign policies have been amazingly consistent since the end of WWII. Will Trump finally bring not just a new administration but real “regime change”? I don’t know.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Invariably, <i>Counterpunch</i> is helpful. See for example today's essay by James Luchte, "<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/09/trump-vs-the-national-security-establishment-will-there-be-a-revolution-in-us-foreign-policy/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNEB1dYHxaqIeXnMHTA77Ny_feX1Uw" href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/11/09/trump-vs-the-national-security-establishment-will-there-be-a-revolution-in-us-foreign-policy/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Trump vs. the National Security Establishment: Will There be a Revolution in US Foreign Policy?</a>" </div>
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As we wrote in <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/2016/Bulletin224.html&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNEP8rLjU2hPwqLD1WFZjHkLNRPGqA" href="http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/2016/Bulletin224.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Bulletin 224</a>, the incoming president faces a multifaceted, existential crisis. It is, above all, concerning this crisis that the liberal world is in denial. Raul Ilargi at <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.theautomaticearth.com/the-automatic-earth/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNEhICjBzh5FPHVd9PJ8QjWTRE8QrA" href="https://www.theautomaticearth.com/the-automatic-earth/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Automatic Earth</a> focuses on one aspect – the US economy – calling it the “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2016/11/america-is-the-poisoned-chalice/&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNHfLx5L1oohfkmc7LFuKRARtWUw-Q" href="https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2016/11/america-is-the-poisoned-chalice/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">poisoned chalice</a>” for any incoming president: <u></u><u></u></div>
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It’s private debt, consumer debt, that will offer the winner his or her poisoned chalice. With 94 million Americans not counted as part of the workforce, and untold million others in jobs that pay hardly or no living wage, with so many millions of jobs that no longer pay sufficient or even any benefits, consumer spending has nowhere to go but down.<u></u><u></u></div>
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In an economy where that spending is good for 70% of GDP -perhaps a bit less by now, a bad enough sign-, taking spending power away from people is deadly. The only way people have been able to either keep up appearances or even just make ends meet is going into debt.<u></u><u></u></div>
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In just 9 years, from let’s say Bear Stearns to roughly this summer, consumer debt in America has gone up more than 50% ex-mortgages. And it’s not as if it was low in 2007, quite the contrary. The graph shows us what the American economy has survived on. It’s as plain vanilla as that. It’s the only graph you need, all the rest is just decoration. And it’s every inch as scary as it looks.<u></u><u></u></div>
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There was a time when America worked for its money, for its homes, for its cars, its healthcare, for the education of its children. There was a time when America produced and sold enough to be able to afford all that. Those days are long gone. Today, the prospect is one of borrowing more money to be able to pay back what you borrowed yesterday.<u></u><u></u></div>
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As regards arms control, that community seems to function better with a Republican in the White House. The temptations of "access" and prestige can prove too great to overcome in a Democratic administration, as was the case under Obama. Not one single effective nuclear disarmament step has been taken so far under our Nobel Peace Prize winning President, while, during this administration, the liberal, agenda-setting Peace and Security Funders Group, the higher reaches of which blend seamlessly into the US foreign policy establishment, gave in the ballpark of $1.5 billion (with a “b”) in grants. <u></u><u></u></div>
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We got instead a trillion-dollar nuclear modernization program, a new nuclear arms race with Russia, and a total collapse of cooperation with that country in virtually all areas, from terrorism to nonproliferation. Oh wait: the US and Russia are cooperating in opposition to a treaty banning nuclear weapons. <u></u><u></u></div>
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<b>Letter to colleagues in government<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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Some of you may be interested in a letter we sent yesterday to some congressional and executive branch staff and others: “<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/press/2016/LASG_colleague-ltr_8Nov2016.html&source=gmail&ust=1478810752145000&usg=AFQjCNH3VbaqcdrQ8u9YwkMBPH-XOji8OQ" href="http://www.lasg.org/press/2016/LASG_colleague-ltr_8Nov2016.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Today begins a time when significant reforms in nuclear policy can be made</a>”.<u></u><u></u></div>
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In closing I can only repeat: it is very much a propitious time for major changes in policy -- nuclear weapons policy as well as others. Mr. Trump has proven he can turn on a dime. We have a lot of work ahead of us but his election has salutary aspects. In any case it is what it is, and is the terrain we are given. We hope you will take heart and see, with us, that the situation is just fine. <u></u><u></u></div>
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The trumpet of morning blows in the clouds and through<u></u><u></u></div>
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The sky. It is the visible announced,<u></u><u></u></div>
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It is the more than visible, the more<u></u><u></u></div>
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Than sharp, illustrious scene. The trumpet cries<u></u><u></u></div>
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This is the successor of the invisible.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "ms gothic";"> </span><u></u><u></u></div>
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This is its substitute in stratagems<u></u><u></u></div>
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Of the spirit. This, in sight and memory,<u></u><u></u></div>
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Must take its place, as what is possible<u></u><u></u></div>
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Replaces what is not.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Wallace Stevens, “Credences of Summer,” 1947 <u></u><u></u></div>
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Greg Mello, for the Study Group</div>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-9763820692059654132016-10-23T13:00:00.001-06:002016-10-23T13:00:26.229-06:00<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">
<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514322" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">October 23, 2016</span></span><u></u><u></u></div>
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<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514322" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514322" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;"><b>Los Alamos Study Group.</b> </span></span><b>Bulletin 223: Historic UN vote to mandate negotiation of treaty banning nuclear weapons</b></span></div>
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<b>1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>Historic UN General Assembly (UNGA) vote to mandate 2017 negotiation of treaty banning nuclear weapons to occur within next few days, probably this Thursday<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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<b>2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>A brief history of the nuclear weapons ban movement so far<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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<b>3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>Santa Fe planning meeting notes posted<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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That scrawny cry—it was<u></u><u></u></div>
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A chorister whose c preceded the choir.<u></u><u></u></div>
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It was part of the colossal sun,<u></u><u></u></div>
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Surrounded by its choral rings,<u></u><u></u></div>
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Still far away. It was like<u></u><u></u></div>
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A new knowledge of reality.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“Not Ideas about the Thing but the Thing Itself,” Wallace Stevens<u></u><u></u></div>
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Dear friends –<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b>1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>Historic UNGA vote to mandate 2017 negotiation of nuclear ban treaty<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/resolutions/L41.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHRUgxK-SJCOyiI8zYQu-okDK2mqw" href="http://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/resolutions/L41.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Resolution L41</a>, “Taking forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations,” with 48 co-sponsors as of two days ago, is coming to vote sometime between this Thursday, 27 October, and the following <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514325" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Wednesday, 2 November</span></span>. Citizen diplomats from around the world affiliated with <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNERlPhpgauhqagYivzy3df_0szOTQ" href="http://www.icanw.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">ICAN</a> who are gathered at the UN in New York), <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/draft-un-resolution-to-ban-nuclear-weapons-in-2017/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFOvhibI869LMMYWFVOKpMvwYFFhA" href="http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/draft-un-resolution-to-ban-nuclear-weapons-in-2017/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">believe</a> the most likely date and time for this vote is <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514326" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">this Thursday</span></span>, between 3:00 and 6:00 pm Eastern time.<u></u><u></u></div>
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It is a moment of high drama in disarmament affairs. For the UN to mandate negotiations to ban nuclear weapons – a process now happening, led by <i>non-</i>nuclear states – is unprecedented. It is the most significant development in nuclear disarmament since the end of the Cold War.<u></u><u></u></div>
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This resolution is all but certain to pass. Some 127 countries have<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/pledge/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNF3lcCVP0Tm31n03s3FFBpNP1xP1g" href="http://www.icanw.org/pledge/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">pledged</span></a> to support ban negotiations (or 139, counting the countries which <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Pledge-Vote-2015.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFxjeSYVJiRF0HQevMNnYwXCps0MQ" href="http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Pledge-Vote-2015.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">voted</span></a> for the same pledge in the form of an UNGA resolution last fall), about two-thirds of the 193 UN member states.<u></u><u></u></div>
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This negotiating mandate is a product of the rising multipolar world, as U.S. diplomats recognize to their horror and outrage. Much more than the legitimacy and status of nuclear weapons is in play. As we <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.pressenza.com/2015/06/npt-consensus-failure-a-good-thing-108-countries-pledge-to-help-ban-nuclear-weapons/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNETb8cIU4Y5bFqXHVDXafhPWxMELg" href="http://www.pressenza.com/2015/06/npt-consensus-failure-a-good-thing-108-countries-pledge-to-help-ban-nuclear-weapons/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">wrote</a> last year,<u></u><u></u></div>
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“…the ban process is not just about nuclear weapons. It’s also about power and initiative in world affairs – who has it, and who does not. The ban process, as opposed to other [purely] hypothetical disarmament paths (steps, building blocks, comprehensive binding disarmament treaties, and all other processes which nuclear weapon states can veto) is about <i>who decides</i> whether nuclear weapons are legitimate.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The Washington Post <span class="m_-7799878472321445677MsoHyperlink"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/un-nuclear-conference-collapses-over-wmd-free-zone-in-the-middle-east/2015/05/22/8c568380-fe39-11e4-8c77-bf274685e1df_story.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFaHKYW5r-HzYtk9DLJpCb7LVNJDw" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/un-nuclear-conference-collapses-over-wmd-free-zone-in-the-middle-east/2015/05/22/8c568380-fe39-11e4-8c77-bf274685e1df_story.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">called</a></span> the ban process an “uprising among civil society groups and the coalition of 107 [now <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/pledge/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNF3lcCVP0Tm31n03s3FFBpNP1xP1g" href="http://www.icanw.org/pledge/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">127</a>] states, which are seeking to reframe the disarmament debate as an urgent matter of safety, morality and humanitarian law.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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A ban treaty would stigmatize and prohibit nuclear weapons, closing the “legal gap” stemming from nuclear weapon state practice and their associated assertion in diplomatic and legal fora that nuclear weapons are completely legitimate weapons – for them, and them only.<u></u><u></u></div>
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It has always been a stated UN goal to eliminate nuclear weapons, going back to the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHsk2OdKStQW_680uNPLRepHOyMOw" href="https://www.un.org/disarmament/wmd/nuclear/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">very first resolution</a> of the UNGA in 1946. (It passed unanimously, since it was toothless; text and statements <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.un.org/fr/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol%3DA/PV.17&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNGEdugLYiOxFKwwd243-egDVICdbg" href="http://www.un.org/fr/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/PV.17" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>.)<u></u><u></u></div>
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The political commitments being made in this process are <i>already</i>freshly stigmatizing nuclear weapons. They are bringing into diplomatic consciousness <i>and state policy</i> humanity’s inherent revulsion toward these most heinous weapons of mass destruction. In this process the prestige of nuclear weapons, their paralyzing mystique and their practical power in international relations, are already declining.<u></u><u></u></div>
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As of 21 October the 48 co-sponsors of L41 were:<u></u><u></u></div>
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Angola, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Namibia, Nauru, New Zealand, Nigeria, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Samoa, San Marino, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The resolution’s operative paragraphs mandate “a United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination,” to occur “from 27 to 31 March and from <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514329" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">15 June to 7 July 2017</span></span>, with the participation and contribution of international organizations and civil society representatives.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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Crucially, treaty negotiations would occur under General Assembly rules – that is, without a consensus requirement or veto option for a privileged few, “unless otherwise agreed by the conference.” Creating a negotiating forum without a <i>de facto</i> veto rule has been a major goal of the resolution’s sponsors and this is therefore unlikely to change.<u></u><u></u></div>
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L41 requires the conference to “submit a report on its progress to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session [autumn 2017], which will assess the progress made in the negotiations and decide the way forward” – by majority rule, again.<u></u><u></u></div>
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“The resolution,” as ICAN <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/draft-un-resolution-to-ban-nuclear-weapons-in-2017/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFOvhibI869LMMYWFVOKpMvwYFFhA" href="http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/draft-un-resolution-to-ban-nuclear-weapons-in-2017/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">notes</a>, “acts on a <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/support-for-a-conference-in-2017-to-negotiate-a-treaty-banning-nuclear-weapons/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHVSFe-A9xdaE5xhDLq3QWs05t9mw" href="http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/support-for-a-conference-in-2017-to-negotiate-a-treaty-banning-nuclear-weapons/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">recommendation</a>made in August by a UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament in Geneva. More than 100 nations participated in the working group, with an overwhelming majority expressing their support for the prohibition of nuclear weapons as a first step towards elimination.”<u></u><u></u></div>
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The basic case for a nuclear ban treaty can be found <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/why-a-ban/the-case-for-a-ban-treaty/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNEMEVn5YJD4FtQcGGoKoDKa5EPB2Q" href="http://www.icanw.org/why-a-ban/the-case-for-a-ban-treaty/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>, with links to further information.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Many may find the recent UN <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.facebook.com/LosAlamosStudyGroup/videos/1328699813840936/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNGZAO7Ub0qJYqdLQ0HJ1poP8kzLpQ" href="https://www.facebook.com/LosAlamosStudyGroup/videos/1328699813840936/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">press conference</a> on 14 October discussing the ban with Beatrice Fihn, ICAN’s Executive Director, and Professor <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.pace.edu/dyson/sections/meet-the-faculty/faculty-profile?username%3Dmbolton&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNEjhzshw-XIxYc1m1B72CKib2jkaA" href="http://www.pace.edu/dyson/sections/meet-the-faculty/faculty-profile?username=mbolton" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Matthew Bolton</a> from Pace University, to be both interesting and accessible.<u></u><u></u></div>
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ICAN staff have been <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/live-updates-from-the-first-committee-of-the-un-general-assembly/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNGTtw-DuhELu2aTVBvEZxdnr53L1A" href="http://www.icanw.org/campaign-news/live-updates-from-the-first-committee-of-the-un-general-assembly/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">live-blogging</a> highlights from the debate.<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFlb1IwHz1EDlLrss1VpmBQIDwiNg" href="http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Reaching Critical Will</a> (RCW) has captured and posted many countries’ statements <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/unga/2016/statements&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNF87Yidj6Iu_mRQxp4iIITUACagIQ" href="http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/unga/2016/statements" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Or you can cut to the chase and read Wildfire’s funny (but erudite, wholly accurate, and concise) analyses <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.wildfire-v.org/news.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNFe0vntw4LoSzIf2QnQN1s-K8Wj9A" href="http://www.wildfire-v.org/news.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Needless to say, the U.S. strenuously opposes any ban treaty and indeed the whole process, which it has vowed to boycott. <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514330" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">On Friday</span></span> <i>Foreign Policy </i>ran a good article by Colum Lynch (“<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/21/u-s-seeks-to-scupper-proposed-ban-on-nuclear-arms/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNEw1iavvProxp85OpFPvccmtwMT5w" href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/21/u-s-seeks-to-scupper-proposed-ban-on-nuclear-arms/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">U.S. Seeks to Scupper Proposed Ban on Nuclear Arms</a>”) on U.S. opposition, with this rather sad lede: “Almost eight years after President Barack Obama pledged in a landmark speech in Prague to seek “a world without nuclear weapons,” U.S. diplomats are mounting an aggressive campaign to head off a bid by non-nuclear states to ban such atomic arms.” One of Lynch’s anonymous informants spoke of threats: “Washington has warned states considering voting in favor of the resolution that a ban could jeopardize defense arrangements with allies around the globe.” The hostility and aura of threat in the statements of the U.S. and the U.K. in particular were hard to mistake.<u></u><u></u></div>
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What Lynch did not say was what Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/2016/Bulletin222.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNGq1GVLV-BhGKnbTF4IICzGvqrEMA" href="http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/2016/Bulletin222.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">told me</a> (Mello) in August: the U.S. fears the democratic “pressure” a ban will place on our allies, especially in Europe, to rid themselves of nuclear weapons, both physically and in terms of nuclear “umbrella” agreements, while little or no such “pressure” will appear in Russia or China.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Faith communities and ecumenical councils such as the World Council of Churches have been very active and effective participants in this process. Especially here in New Mexico it is important to note the very clear position of the Catholic Church. This past <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514331" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Monday</span></span>, for example, the Holy See called nuclear deterrence a “tragic illusion.” “Nuclear arms offer a false sense of security and the uneasy peace promised by nuclear deterrence is a tragic illusion,” said the Vatican, as the Catholic News Agency<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/10/20/vatican-calls-armed-nuclear-deterrence-tragic-illusion/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNH2_6IRaxJ943VaXcA1DZcKjm3BHg" href="https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/10/20/vatican-calls-armed-nuclear-deterrence-tragic-illusion/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">reported</a>. (Original statement <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/17Oct_HolySee.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHYvrTFIMm6oAMcmk9vYnp1grsvLQ" href="http://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/17Oct_HolySee.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a> in French.) “‘The indefinite possession of nuclear weapons is morally wrong,’ an affront to the ‘entire framework of the United Nations’ and a contradiction to its vocation of service to humanity and the global common good,” the agency reported. <u></u><u></u></div>
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<b>2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>A brief history of the nuclear weapons ban movement so far<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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With negotiations poised to begin soon, it might be good to very briefly review how we got here.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The first seeds of the ban campaign were sown in 2005, with an open letter to colleagues from prominent Malaysian physician Dr. Ron McCoy, a long-time nuclear disarmament expert and former president of the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.ippnw.org/index.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHHQuH1scsjQHO3yYBjZCuB5tTTaA" href="http://www.ippnw.org/index.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War</a> (IPPNW). In a speech to campaigners in Geneva this past spring Dr. McCoy recalled:<u></u><u></u></div>
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When I returned home on 24 May 2005, I was greeted with the news of the failed 2005 NPT Review Conference. As I mulled over the paralysis of the NPT process, it became clear to me that IPPNW and the disarmament movement had once again been led up the NPT garden path. The [nuclear weapon states] had staged another nuclear charade. Then the penny dropped! I realised that it was time to think out of the NPT box and formulate a different approach! <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514332" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">Four days later</span></span>, I emailed the following open letter to IPPNW affiliates:<u></u><u></u></div>
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<i>“There are lessons to be learnt from the landmines ban campaign. As you know, I have for some time been advocating lateral thinking and a new approach to nuclear disarmament, parallel to the deadlocked NPT process, which has once again been demonstrated at the UN this month, thirty-five years after the ratification of the NPT</i>! <i>Although I realise that nuclear weapons are not strategically similar to landmines, I nevertheless believe that IPPNW must coalesce with other groups, find the support of like-minded governments, and launch an ‘Ottawa-style process’ for the elimination of nuclear weapons…We can call it an International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, with the acronym ICAN. Let’s start working on this right now.”</i><u></u><u></u></div>
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An extraordinary number of responses came back, most of them supporting the formation of ICAN. When the incredibly inspiring Australian affiliate of IPPNW, the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW), secured generous funding from the Poola Foundation, it put together a dynamic team and programme and organised the launching of ICAN in Vienna on 30 April 2007 to coincide with the NPT Preparatory Committee Meeting that week in Vienna. ICAN simply took off after that!<u></u><u></u></div>
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I’d like to acknowledge the stalwarts of MAPW who made ICAN into such an effective, vigorous campaign. They are Tilman Ruff, Felicity Ruby (chief coordinator), Ian Maddocks, Sue Wareham, Bill Williams, Fred Mendelsohn, Dimity Hawkins, Tim Wright, and many others.<u></u><u></u></div>
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In a speech earlier this month at the launch of the special 2016 issue of the <i><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.icrc.org/en/international-review/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355244000&usg=AFQjCNHfyBVEBqaEZS_LwuvgZl2Swlil-g" href="https://www.icrc.org/en/international-review/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">International Review of the Red Cross</a></i> on the human cost of nuclear weapons, Dr. Tilman Ruff, a current co-president of IPPNW and recipient of the Order of Australia, made these pertinent remarks:<u></u><u></u></div>
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I am delighted to have been asked to share something about the current historic opportunity. Finally, seventy-one years after the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a treaty to outlaw the world’s worst weapons will be one significant step closer, should the UNGA First Committee adopt the resolution on<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/71UNGA-Taking-Forward-DRAFT-RESOLUTION-28-SEPTEMBER-2016.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNGftV7lJqhYrB4EkG0MlYKCcBPKhQ" href="http://www.icanw.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/71UNGA-Taking-Forward-DRAFT-RESOLUTION-28-SEPTEMBER-2016.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>nuclear disarmament negotiations</i></a> (.pdf). Reaching this game-changing milestone is largely a result of the humanitarian initiative in which our Red Cross Red Crescent movement has played a decisive role.<u></u><u></u></div>
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The <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNF4ZgEgZIx-Ma0OOGUa12Q9wHSBFQ" href="http://www.icanw.org/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons</i></a> (ICAN) of which I have the privilege of being the founding chair, was established in 2007 with the goal of uniting as many diverse civil society organizations as possible around the goal of a comprehensive, binding, universal treaty to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons, and to base the campaign on their appalling humanitarian effects. The humanitarian initiative really got moving with ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger’s <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.icrc.org/en/international-review/article/bringing-era-nuclear-weapons-end&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNHQKfEBLYwNOed9UjyoOYCIB1ioKg" href="https://www.icrc.org/en/international-review/article/bringing-era-nuclear-weapons-end" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>landmark address</i></a> to the Geneva diplomatic corps in April 2010, just before the five yearly Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. The governing bodies of the Red Cross Red Crescent movement have been calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons since September 1945. However, Kellenberger signaled that the humanitarian imperative to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons was not only unacceptably unfinished business, but an urgent humanitarian imperative, which would henceforth be a renewed priority for the world’s largest humanitarian network, including not only ICRC, but also the International Federation and national societies.<u></u><u></u></div>
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His speech gave the impetus for the recognition in the 2010 NPT Review Conference (consensus)<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2010/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNGPtDeC1X4gdk9f8zFCQRbpOkwcTA" href="http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2010/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>outcome document</i></a>, for the first time, of <i>“the catastrophic consequences of any use of nuclear weapons”</i>. This encouraged the Norwegian government in 2013 to hold the first-ever<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/humanitarian-efforts/humimpact_2013/id708603/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNFDSFoRFGAx87IdsSKmhltgCGigiQ" href="https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/foreign-affairs/humanitarian-efforts/humimpact_2013/id708603/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>international conference</i></a> dedicated to reviewing and updating the evidence on humanitarian impacts of nuclear weapons, and for the conferences <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/hinw/nayarit-2014&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNFbyYlu9WRXcI_b-eHHCR-JQ5o8MQ" href="http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/hinw/nayarit-2014" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>in Mexico</i></a>and Austria in 2014 which engaged the vast majority of the world’s governments and consolidated and extended this evidence.<u></u><u></u></div>
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These informed and motivated a series of resolutions in UN and NPT forums with growing support, drawing attention to the humanitarian dimensions crucial to nuclear disarmament; and the<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.icanw.org/pledge/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNEKkCRy1D8oONPZTCd43DbhJeswHw" href="http://www.icanw.org/pledge/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>Humanitarian Pledge</i></a>, initiated by Austria and now endorsed by 127 states, committing <i>“to cooperate with all relevant stakeholders … to stigmatise, prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons in light of their unacceptable humanitarian consequences and associated risks”; and to “fill the legal gap for the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons”.</i><u></u><u></u></div>
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The Pledge led to the creation of a special UN Working Group, mandated by the 2015 General Assembly to report back to the 2016 UNGA on<i>“effective legal measures required to attain and maintain a world free of nuclear weapons”</i>. The Working Group recommended … by a majority of over three to one that the UNGA <i>“convene a conference in 2017, open to all States, with the participation and contribution of international organisations and civil society, to negotiate on a legally-binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”</i>. This recommendation has now been taken forward in the form of a resolution submitted to the current UN General Assembly, to be voted on around the end of October. This will be both a moment of truth, and the most significant opportunity for a game-changing step to break the logjam in nuclear disarmament since the end of the Cold War more than a quarter of a century ago.<u></u><u></u></div>
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As we <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/Bulletin198.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNEtVSBXUbwZ56ouvwNrNHuQXyBJfQ" href="http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/Bulletin198.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">wrote</a> from the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/european-foreign-policy/disarmament/weapons-of-mass-destruction/nuclear-weapons-and-nuclear-terrorism/vienna-conference-on-the-humanitarian-impact-of-nuclear-weapons/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNGWA0ptlawYHbDsxre8f0B69uqH1w" href="https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/european-foreign-policy/disarmament/weapons-of-mass-destruction/nuclear-weapons-and-nuclear-terrorism/vienna-conference-on-the-humanitarian-impact-of-nuclear-weapons/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons</a> in December 2014, this campaign is different than others we have seen. <u></u><u></u></div>
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The effort to ban nuclear weapons isn’t appearing out of nowhere, but rather builds upon many fine efforts made over the decades since the Cold War. While actively incorporating the efforts of U.S. experts and many long-time campaigners, this is a movement in a new key. It can be distinguished from prior U.S. efforts we have known in these positive ways:<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>It is not based in the U.S. and not subject to the adverse political conditions that prevail here;<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Its leadership is a full generation younger than that in U.S. nuclear policy organizations, which by and large have not been successful in generational renewal;<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Its funding does not come from, nor is it hostage to, U.S. foundations;<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Its leadership is multinational, naturally diverse, and does not lie in any particular organization;<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Indeed instead of being “institution-centric” or even “network-centric,” which invariably lead to strong inside/outside dichotomies and turf battles, the campaign is organized around a clear moral vision and a clear political objective, namely a ban;<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Many of the leading organizations involved are not primarily or exclusively focused on nuclear weapons but rather on broader humanitarian and development objectives in peace and/or war; and most crucially,<u></u><u></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Achievement of a ban on nuclear weapons does not depend on the sympathy or even the participation of nuclear weapon states.<u></u><u></u></div>
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It is difficult to adequately express for U.S. audiences, and difficult to overstate, the all-around competence, intellectual and political clarity, good will, and zeal of the ICAN team. It far exceeds in all these ways anything we have seen before. It is a privilege to help however we can.<u></u><u></u></div>
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<b>Next time: Whither nuclear disarmament in the U.S.?<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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<b>3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></b><b>Santa Fe planning meeting notes posted<u></u><u></u></b></div>
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Despite competing with the final presidential debate, we had a pretty good turnout in Santa Fe on October 19 (thank you John and Denise!). Of course only ~1% of the people on this list-serve could be there, so we have posted the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/presentations/SantaFeUpdate%26PlanningMtg_19Oct2016.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNGyolntClNpurgljTM50ayHWFTk2Q" href="http://www.lasg.org/presentations/SantaFeUpdate&PlanningMtg_19Oct2016.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">slides</a> we used (including some we didn’t get to that evening).<u></u><u></u></div>
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In the interest of time we completely dropped the fundraising aspect of the evening, so I urge to please consider slide 7, some of which may be new to you (such as our newish corporate sponsorships with two fine solar companies).<u></u><u></u></div>
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We had a terrific discussion, but frankly <u><span style="color: red;">we are not getting across to our members the transcendent necessity for <i>organized</i>, <i>full-time</i>resistance and constructive action.</span></u> The climate crisis worsens year by year, with only a few years remaining before catastrophic positive feedbacks take over; our never-ending wars are expanding and intensifying week by week; our oil-based, highly-unequal economies are faltering, for <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2016/10/why-the-global-economy-will-disintegrate-rapidly/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNEKmVDcfkrR6YzlGlLYNVbcFgSCzg" href="https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2016/10/why-the-global-economy-will-disintegrate-rapidly/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">fundamental reasons</a> (also<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://lasg.org/wordpress/2015/02/06/turning-point-for-oil-and-us/&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNH_-alArVM1EkiNc9AGkIohvM1j_A" href="http://lasg.org/wordpress/2015/02/06/turning-point-for-oil-and-us/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">here</a>). I could go on.<u></u><u></u></div>
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This is hard to take on board for all of us, but we really do need to grasp that we are passengers in a climate vehicle heading rapidly toward the end of all things. There is no hope for anyone or anything without wresting control from the maniacs driving this bus. This will be painful but it has to be done.<u></u><u></u></div>
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I urge everyone to re-read our letter of <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.lasg.org/letters/2015/abq_21Apr2015.html&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNG16kwQFNaqZRbl3xZmW_Piz4Vtjg" href="http://www.lasg.org/letters/2015/abq_21Apr2015.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">21 April 2015</a>, which says in part: <u></u><u></u></div>
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Probably many or most of you saw Tim DeChristopher's letter to churches, "<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/articles/winterspring2015/lead-don%25E2%2580%2599t-follow-climate-justice&source=gmail&ust=1477335355245000&usg=AFQjCNHo0wByKAKbeKnwUs53AWEro0ETKw" href="http://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/articles/winterspring2015/lead-don%E2%80%99t-follow-climate-justice" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Lead, Don’t Follow on Climate Justice</span></a>," republished at Truthout. The same letter could as well have been written regarding nuclear disarmament, and many other issues.<br /><br />As we wrote earlier, we don't think we are going to win without creating more full-time or at least half-time occupations and careers for organizers, lobbyists, writers, and so on in political change in our communities.<br /><br />For many of us these political activities will be naturally combined with "transition" activities that generally fall under the Gandhian "constructive program." But the constructive program in all its forms is not enough, because there is a war going on. The Koch brothers want the resources you save, to put it bluntly. There won't be peace, and there won't be justice, and there won't even be a<span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1297514333" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span class="aQJ" style="position: relative; top: 2px; z-index: -1;">tomorrow</span></span> for millions of people and species unless we protect them and make those conditions.<br /><br />As we have said previously "we" need to offer jobs to capable young people <i>with whatever resources we have got</i> in order to accomplish particular, and as it will turn out, highly disruptive political goals. We are in an emergency situation. This quality is somehow missing from most of the political discourse we see on the left, here and everywhere. Where are the resources to do this? They are in our own homes and bank accounts and those of our friends and their friends, but the social and political "software" is largely missing. We are a society which bowls alone, as Robert Putnam wrote so long ago.<u></u><u></u></div>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-76016257290970420132015-01-09T08:59:00.002-07:002015-01-09T08:59:42.359-07:00Taos screening of "Forgotten Bomb" this Sat [Jan. 10] 7-9pm at Moby Dickens<div dir="ltr">
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For those living near Taos, NM interested in nuclear weapons and in particular, the myths surrounding these weapons and LANL’s role in promoting these weapons, there will be a showing of New Mexico’s Bud Ryan’s film, ”The Forgotten Bomb” (no charge) at Moby Dickens Bookstore 124A Bent Street, Saturday, Jan. 10 from 7-9 pm. The film producer, Bud ryan will be in attendance to answer questions.<br /><br />The film’s website is here: <a href="http://forgottenbomb.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://forgottenbomb.<wbr></wbr>com/</a></div>
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Facebook is here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/forgottenbomb" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.<wbr></wbr>com/forgottenbomb</a></div>
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The 2:09 minute trailer is here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjoIt3aoXHI" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.<wbr></wbr>com/watch?v=zjoIt3aoXHI</a></div>
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<br />Steven Okazaki, Director, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Light/Black_Rain:_The_Destruction_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">White Light, Black Rain</a>, has called this "The best big view of the subject I've seen...an amazing piece of work." I concur, as this is one of the few films that give a sense of the secrecy, censorship, and misdirection the late Stewart Udall called ““the most long-lived program of public deception in U.S. history.” <a href="http://amzn.to/1x3i2AN" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">[“Myths of August</a>”, 1998, p. 321] In the same book he wrote:<br /></div>
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<i>“I learned that war leaders who are given complete power to manage “war news” usually try to control how the histories of wars—and their role in those wars—are written. I learned to be wary of interpretations advanced by historians hired by generals to write official histories in the aftermath of wars. I learned also to be skeptical about self-serving statements in memoirs written by war leaders. And I finally learned that even after pertinent documents have been declassified there are instances when hidden decisions must be deduced from circumstantial evidence.”</i><br />In an earlier NYTimes [8 June 1993] interview of Stewart Udall stated: [ <a href="http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh</a>]<br /></div>
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<i><span style="background-image: initial; background-repeat: initial; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 17.6333332061768px;">"There is nothing comparable in our history to the deceit and the lying that took place as a matter of official Government policy in order to protect this industry," said Mr. Udall. "Nothing was going to stop them and they were willing to kill our own people…. "The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy," Mr. Udall said in a interview. "It induced us to conduct Government according to lies. It distorted justice. It undermined American morality. Until the cold war, our country stood for something.”<br /></span></i></div>
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If all this is of interest, this movie gives an excellent sense of the larger view of weapons, including interviews of Gar Alperovitz, Jonathan Schell, and George Shultz. In addition, the film explores the differing treatment of nuclear museums in the U.S. as opposed to overseas museums. It also documents how the “Myths of August”, the assertion that the atomic bomb helped end the war and save “a million lives” came into being, by using archival footage.</div>
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<br />This film is sponsored by <a href="http://www.loveinactionnet.com/">Taos "Love in Action</a>" and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MobyDickensBookshop">Moby Dickens bookstore</a>.<br /><br />Future films in this series are here: <a href="http://www.loveinactionnet.com/?p=154" style="border: 0px; color: #6611cc; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.loveinactionnet.<wbr></wbr>com/?p=15</a></div>
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<img class="CToWUd" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEglcSRnhVyekNwSTZuCIWXn_zkgAgkRM_hmYMmVsxfYM1xqx_rFfA4Q5rHEWyR_vHcno97Zp1UY9gbK5088ShyvIn8UKvasJ4oAHxf8MzWpEAiZgpDYJ8bqbAQkZOunNDPwKFFSwiLaFlyPEtT55Z2LuDnqWzz-RNqd0IC1=s0-d-e1-ft" /><br /><br />PS in posting to Taos Groups, Bonnie Korman wrote:<br /><br /><div style="font-size: 13px;">
Friends:</div>
<span style="font-size: 13px;">This film highly recommended, by me!</span><div style="font-size: 13px;">
Bonnie</div>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-90455442043718232122013-06-29T10:28:00.001-06:002013-06-29T10:29:44.313-06:00From LASG: Obama Administration Unveils 25-Year, $275 B Plan for Nuclear Warheads, Production Plants<div align="center" class="Heading1">
<b><span style="color: #660000;"><br /><br /><br />Obama Administration Unveils 25-Year, $275 B</span> Pl</b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>an for Nuclear Warheads, Production Plants</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Costly, Ambitious Plan at Variance with Obama’s Berlin Speech</b></span></span></div>
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Contact: Greg Mello, 505-265-1200, 505-577-8563</div>
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Albuquerque – Roughly contemporaneous with President Obama’s speech in Berlin expressing aspirations to nuclear disarmament, the administration released a $275 billion (B), 25-year <a href="http://www.lasg.org/documents/SSMP-FY2014.pdf" style="color: #9c3f23; text-decoration: none;">plan</a> (pdf) to maintain, design, and produce new nuclear warheads and build up U.S. warhead production capacity.<a href="http://lasg.org/press/2013/press_release_20Jun2013.html#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="color: #9c3f23; text-decoration: none;" title="">[1]</a><br />
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In its proposed cost and scope of work, this week’s plan eclipses all prior planning for U.S. nuclear warheads.<br />
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Among its other features the new plan would:</div>
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<li class="content9pt" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Replace all current warheads and bombs – even those currently being upgraded – with several new warheads and bombs in a so-called “3+2” stockpile plan;</li>
<li class="content9pt" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Build dozens of new design, testing, and production facilities, to cost tens of billions of dollars; and</li>
<li><span class="content9pt" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Require ever-rising spending at warhead production sites and labs,</span><span class="content9pt"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">from about $8 B today up to about $14 B </span><span style="font-size: 12.222222328186035px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.222222328186035px;"><br /></span></span>See more at:<a href="http://lasg.org/press/2013/press_release_20Jun2013.html#sthash.CglFHbv6.dpuf"> http://lasg.org/press/2013/press_release_20Jun2013.html#sthash.CglFHbv6.dpuf</a><br /><br /><a href="http://lasg.org/">Los Alamos Study Group</a></li>
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<br />erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-43638904446670316582013-01-28T15:58:00.003-07:002013-02-02T07:06:06.271-07:00“How The World Was Lost”<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">From:
</span><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“<a href="http://amzn.to/V03nE1">they thought they were free</a>”, Milton
Mayer, 1955</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> pp. 176-180<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another
colleague of mine brought me even close to the heart of the matter – and closer
to home. A chemical engineer by profession, he was a man of whom, before I knew
him, I had been told, “He is one of those rare birds among Germans—a European.” One day, when we had become very friendly, I
said to him, “Tell me now—how was the world lost”<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “That,” he
said, “is easy to tell, much easier than you may suppose. The world was lost
one day in 1935, here in Germany. It was I who lost it, and I will tell you
how. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I was
employed in a defense plant (a war plant, of course, but they were always
called defense plants). That was the year of the National Defense Law, the law
of ‘total conscription.’ Under the law I
was required to take the oath of fidelity.
I said I would not; I opposed it in conscience. I was given twenty-four
hours to ‘think it over.’ In those
twnty-four hours I lost the world.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes?” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You see,
refusal would have meant the loss of my job, of course, not prison or anything
like that. (Later on, the penalty was worse, but this was only 1935.) But
losing my job would have meant that I could not get another. Wherever I went I should be asked why I left
the job I had, and, when I said why, I should certainly have been refused
employment. Nobody would hire a ‘Bolshevik.’
Of course I was not a Bolshevik, but you understand what I mean.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Yes,” I
said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I tried not to think of myself or my family.
We might have got out of the country, in any case, and I could have got a job
in industry or education somewhere else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “What I
tried to think of was the people I might be of some help later on, if things
got worse (as I believed they would). I
had a wide friendship in scientific and academic circles, including many Jews
and ‘Aryans,’ too, who might be in trouble.
If I took the oath and held my job, I might be of help, somehow, as
things went on. If I refused to take the oath, I would certainly be useless to
my friends, even if I remained in the country. I myself would be in their
situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> The next
day, after ‘thinking it over,’ I said I would take the oath with the mental
reservation that, by the words with which the oath began, ‘Ich schwöre bei
Gott, I swear by God,’ I understood that no human being and no government had
the right to override my conscience. My
mental reservations did not interest the official who administered the
oath. He said, ‘Do you take the oath?’
and I took it. That day the world was lost, and I was the one who lost it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Do I
understand,” I said, “that you think you should not have taken the oath?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But,”
I said, “you did save many lives later on.
You were of greater use to your friends than you ever dreamed you might
be.” (My friend’s apartment was, until his arrest and imprisonment in 1943, a
hideout for fugitives.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “For the
sake of the argument,” he said, “I will agree that I saved many lives later on.
Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Which
you could not have done if you had refused to take the oath in 1935.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And you
still think that you should not have taken the oath.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t
understand,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Perhaps
not,” he said, “but you must not forget that you are an American. I mean that,
really. Americans have never known anything
like this experience – in its entirety, all the way to the end. That is the point.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You must
explain, “I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of
course I must explain. First of all, there is the problem of the lesser evil. Taking
the oath was not so evil as being unable to help my friends later on would have
been. But the evil of the oath was certain and immediate, and in helping my
friends was in the future, and therefore uncertain. I had to commit a positive
evil, there and then, in the hope of a possible good later on. The good outweighed
the evil; but the good was only a hope, the evil a fact.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “But,” I
said, “the hope was realized. You were able to help your friends.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Yes,” he
said, “but you must concede that the hope might <i>not</i> have been realized – either for reasons beyond my control or
because I became afraid later on or even because I was afraid all the time and
was simply fooling myself when I took the oath in the first place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“But that is not the important point. The problem of
the lesser evil we all know about; in Germany we took Hindenburg as less evil
than Hitler, and in the end we got them both. But that is not why I say Americans
cannot understand. No, the important
point is – how many innocent people were killed by the Nazis, would you say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Six
million Jews alone, we are told.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,that
may be an exaggeration. And it does not include non-Jews, of whom there must
have been many hundreds of thousands, or even millions. Shall we say, just to be safe, that three
million innocent people were killed all together?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And how
many innocent lives would you like to say I saved?’ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You
would know better than I,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Well,”
he said, “perhaps five or ten, one doesn’t know. But shall we say a hundred, or a thousand,
just to be safe?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> I nodded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “And it
would have been better to have saved all three million, instead of only a
hundred, or a thousand?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Of course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “There,
then, is my point. If I had refused to take the oath of fidelity, I would have
saved all three million.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You are joking,” I said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Or that
others would have followed your example?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “No.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “I don’t
understand.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You are
an American,” he said again, smiling. “I will explain. There I was, in 1935, a
perfect example of the kind of person who, with all his advantages in birth, in
education, and in position, rules (or might easily rule) in any country. If I
had refused to take the oath in 1935, it would have meant that thousands and
thousands like me, all over Germany, were refusing to take it. Their refusal would have heartened millions.
Thus the regime would have been overthrown, or, indeed, would never have come
to power in the first place. The fact that I was not prepared to resist in 1935,
meant that all the thousands, hundreds of thousands, like me in Germany were
also unprepared, and each of these hundreds of thousands was, like me, a man of
great influence or of potential influence. Thus the world was lost.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “You are
serious?” I said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Completely.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-50318082481871524672013-01-28T08:33:00.001-07:002013-01-28T09:28:15.853-07:00How the world was lost -1935<br />
From The 1955 Book by Milton Mayer "they thought they were free", p. 176<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Another colleague of mine brought me even close to
the heart of the matter – and closer to home. A chemical engineer by profession,
he was a man of whom, before I knew him, I had been told, “He is one of those
rare birds among Germans—a European.”
One day, when we had become very friendly, I said to him, “Tell me now—how
was the world lost”</span> </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
“That,” he said, “is easy to tell,
much easier than you may suppose. The world was lost one day in 1935, here in
Germany. It was I who lost it, and I will tell you how.”</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
open up <a href="http://amzn.to/V03nE1">Milton's book at Amazon</a>, "look inside" with search term "chemical engineer" to learn how.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/V03nE1">http://amzn.to/V03nE1</a> <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-12955475786309969132013-01-28T07:12:00.001-07:002013-01-28T08:42:14.423-07:00Milton Mayer: They Thought They Were Free THE GERMANS, 1933-45 <br />
<h4>
<span id="btAsinTitle"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/They-Thought-Were-Free-Germans/dp/0226511928/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1JEHR0XGOYTQ9&coliid=I3SXQ87TUY9W6W"><span style="font-size: 1.7em;">They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: capitalize;"> </span></span></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.23em; font-weight: normal;"></span></h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
An Excerpt:</h4>
<h5 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</h5>
<h3 style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times Roman', serif;">
But Then It Was Too Late</h3>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 500;"><br /></span>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 500;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"What no one seemed to notice," said a colleague of mine, a philologist, "was the ever widening gap, after 1933, between the government and the people.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: 500;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="color: black; font-size: small;">"</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could not understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it.</span></span></blockquote>
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter.</span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Full excerpt, "<a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/511928.html">But Then It Was Too Late"</a></h3>
<h5 style="font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 500; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">
</h5>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="productDescriptionWrapper" style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 1em;">
<b style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Milton Sanford Mayer</b><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> (1908-1986) was a journalist and educator. He was the author of about a dozen books. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He studied at the University of Chicago from 1925 to 1928 but he did not earn a degree; in 1942 he told the </span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Saturday Evening Post</i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> that he was "placed on permanent probation for throwing beer bottles out a dormitory window." He was a reporter for the Associated Press, the </span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chicago Evening Post</i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, and the</span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Chicago Evening American</i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">. He wrote a monthly column in the </span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Progressive</i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> for over forty years. He won the George Polk Memorial Award and the Benjamin Franklin Citation for Journalism. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">He worked for the University of Chicago in its public relations office and lectured in its Great Books Program. He also taught at the University of Massachusetts, Hampshire College, and the University of Louisville. He was an adviser to Robert M. Hutchins when Hutchins founded the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mayer was a conscientious objector during World War II but after the war traveled to Germany and lived with German families. Those experiences [Primarily very extensive relationships he formed with ten individuals, centered around involvement with the burning of a synagogue on Nov. 8, 19349- which they didn't know] informed his most influential book </span><i style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-45</i><span style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">.</span><br />
<br />
The review, from his daughter:<br />
<br />
<div class="gry txtsmall hlp" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">
187 of 196 people found the following review helpful</div>
<div class="clearboth" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
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<div class="mt4 ttl" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-top: 4px; overflow-x: hidden;">
<span class="swSprite s_star_5_0 " style="background-image: url(http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/common/sprites/sprite-site-wide-2._V146303866_.png); background-position: -30px 0px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 65px;" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span style="left: -9999px; position: absolute;">5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> <a class="txtlarge gl3 gr4 reviewTitle valignMiddle" href="http://www.amazon.com/review/R29ZOJCS01EWTH/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0226511928&nodeID=283155&store=books" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 4px 0px 3px; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: middle;"><strong>The "M" in my name stands for "Mayer."</strong></a><span class="gry valignMiddle" style="color: #666666; vertical-align: middle;"> <span class="inlineblock txtsmall" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;">March 31, 2008</span></span></div>
<div class="mt4 ath" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; margin-top: 4px;">
<span class="gr10" style="padding-right: 10px;"><span class="txtsmall" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="gry" style="color: #666666;">By</span> <a class="noTextDecoration" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A2VP5OOKKLLCPV/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp" style="border: 0px; color: #996633; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: initial;">Julie M. Vognar</a></span></span></div>
<div class="txtsmall mt4 fvavp" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 4px;">
<span class="inlineblock formatVariation" style="display: inline-block;"><span class="gr3 gry formatKey" style="color: #666666; padding-right: 3px;">Format:</span><span class="formatValue">Paperback</span></span></div>
<div class="mt9 reviewText" style="font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 9px; overflow-x: hidden;">
<blockquote>
It is wonderful to see so many thoughtful and incisive reviews of my father's book. A few details that might interest you: 1) None of the "unimportant Nazis" he interviewed knew he was a Jew, which he was. 2) The book wasn't published in German for years after its original publication (we spent 1951 in the small town which Milton Mayer calls "Kronenberg," where he wrote the book, which was published shortly afterwards). 3) His German was awful! And, he said, this was a great aid in the interviews he conducted: having to repeat, in simpler words, or more slowly, what they had to say, made the Germans he was interviewing feel relaxed, equal to, superior to the interviewer, and this made them speak more freely. "Sehen Sie, Herr Professor Mayer, SO war die Sache," very patiently. ("You see, THIS is how it was...").<br />
He made one small, but dreadful mistake: There is a very common name in German, to which Milton Mayer added a suffix--because, with the suffix, it was the name of a great family friend (in fact, my boyfriend four years later) and used it fictitiously for one of the interviewees.. However: with the suffix, it's a very RARE German name, and, having given the general location and size of the town together with the rare German name, he really identified the interviewee as-our family friend-- who was quite upset. (He never told my father this, though.)<br />
My father was always a superlative interviewer; he said as little as possible, aside from encouraging the interviewee to go on talking. If someone seemed to be avoiding a subject he was really interested in, he would repeat the name of the subject the interviewee had abandoned, and look terribly keen and respectful.<br />
When my father was about 14, a wind blew in one of his ears while he was camping out, paralyzing one nerve in his face. For the rest of his life, he could only open, while speaking, one side of his mouth (and he had a very diabolical grin), and could never raise both eyebrows--always, he was raising one eyebrow! This gave him a very wise look, somewhat ironic at the same time, and made him appear even smarter than he was.<br />
My sister and I occasionally exchange "Misms." Things he used to say from time to time, some inherited from his father, and others from God knows where. Here are a couple (try them; they are very effective in many convrersations):<br />
"I left it in my other suit."<br />
"Been to the city and seen the gaslights."<br />
I don't think I have anything to add substantively to what has already been said in the excellent reviews, aside from these few personal details. <b>Milton Mayer died in 1986, and is survived by several real and step children, real and step grandchildren, and two great grandchildren (at least), all of whom, like him, are pacifists.</b></blockquote>
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<h3>
<a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo3626509.html">The Table of contents are here:</a><br /><br /></h3>
<h4 style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times Roman', serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: 300; margin: 0px;">
An excerpt from</h4>
<h4>
They Thought They Were Free: <span style="color: #ff1144; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times Roman', serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0.1em;">The Germans, 1933-45 by </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300;">Milton Mayer</span></h4>
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<a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/511928.html">But Then It Was Too Late</a><br /><br />"<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">"What no one seemed to notice," said a colleague of mine, a philologist, "was the ever widening gap, after 1933, between the government and the people"<br /><br />"</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">"What happened here was the gradual habituation of the people, little by little, to being governed by surprise; to receiving decisions deliberated in secret; to believing that the situation was so complicated that the government had to act on information which the people could not understand, or so dangerous that, even if the people could not understand it, it could not be released because of national security. And their sense of identification with Hitler, their trust in him, made it easier to widen this gap and reassured those who would otherwise have worried about it.</span></h3>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">"This separation of government from people, this widening of the gap, took place so gradually and so insensibly, each step disguised (perhaps not even intentionally) as a temporary emergency measure or associated with true patriotic allegiance or with real social purposes. And all the crises and reforms (real reforms, too) so occupied the people that they did not see the slow motion underneath, of the whole process of government growing remoter and remoter."</span></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Full excerpt </span><a href="http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/511928.html">here</a></h4>
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erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-6644856140839799932012-11-16T14:25:00.000-07:002012-11-16T14:25:19.197-07:00How Societies Retreated From Trust and Responsibility for Each Other - The Path Through the Atomic Bomb<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Seems like Oliver is
telling the story "</span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/16/oliver_stone_on_the_untold_us">The Untold History of the United States</a></span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">", </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">beginning with how the atomic bomb transformed
American Society , that I have been preparing to tell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Lindqvist">Sven Lindqvist </a></b> (born 1932) has written a trilogy on this,
taking the broader world view over a longer period beginning in 762 with the
Chinese invention of gunpowder. The story in the third book, "<b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-Bombing-Sven-Lindqvist/dp/1565848160/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352305333&sr=1-2">The History of Bombing</a></b>" is told in an interesting way:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
This book is a labyrinth with twenty-two entrances and no exit. While printed
in a chronological order, it is recommended to be read according to themes, and
thus skips around chronological with " >>"
suggesting the order the numbered
sections are recommended to be read.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Section 1.
BANG, YOU’RE
DEAD<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">"Bang, you're dead!" we said. "I
got you!” we said. When we played, it was always war. A bunch of us together,
one-on-one, or in solitary fantasies -- always war, always death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"> "Don't
play like that," our parents said, "you could grow up that way."
Some threat --there was no way we would rather be. We didn't need war
toys. Any old stick became a weapon in our hands, and pine cones were bombs. I
cannot recall taking a single piss during my childhood, whether outside or at home
in the outhouse, when I didn't choose a target and bomb it. At five years old
of age I was already a seasoned bombardier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;"> “If everyone plays war,” said my
mother, “there will be war.” And she was quite right – there was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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>> <b>Section. 166<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">166. [1939]
</span></b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif; font-size: medium;">When the Second World
War broke out on the first of September in 1939, I was seven years old and had just started school. Suddenly I realized
my father was already an old man. He didn't even know how to put out a firebomb. He wouldn't be able to get out of the
cellar of a house that had collapsed, he had no idea how to hide in the forest
and dig down into the snow. He was stuck back in the first World War, and if I
wanted to survive the second, the responsibility would be all mine. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>It's always puzzled me how societies moved from mutual cooperation, that Charles Darwin alleged was the most important inheritable characteristic for survival, to an Ayn Rand, dog eat dog, every man for himself mentality. Yes, I realize that Thomas Hobbes, in his Leviathan, 1651 wrote:</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> "..<i>...there be no Propriety, no Dominion, no Mine and Thine distinct; but only that to be </i></span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> every</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i> mans</i></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i> that he can get; and for so long, as he can keep it.</i></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><b>A Thread of my own making, to give a sense of how Sven Lindqvist tells a story.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<br />
1803. [#35-p13] </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Malthus: Principles of
Population (1803).</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> It is quite possible to solve
Europe’s food shortages temporarily by exterminating the native populations of
other continents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“If the United States of America continue increasing, which
they will certainly do, though not with the same rapidity as formerly, the
Indians will be drive further and further back into the country, till the whole
race is ultimately exterminated, and the territory is incapable of further
expansion.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But not Africa or Asia.<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“To exterminate the inhabitants of the greatest part of Asia
and Africa is a thought that could not be permitted for a moment.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1869. [ #45 p. 17 ] </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charles Dilke: Greater Britain
(1869). Bestseller</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
<br />
“<i>The
gradual extinction of the inferior races is not only a law of nature, but a
blessing to <br />
mankind.”</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1961. [ #315 p. 149 ]</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Several hundred professors: Open letter to US President Kennedy:<br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“By buying a shelter program that does not shelter, and
thereby believing that we can </span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> survive a nuclear
war, we are increasing the problem of war.”<br /><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Margaret Mead. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
U.S. was no longer trying to build a safe world, or even a safe country or a
safe city. No, the family sought instead an illusory security by creeping into
itself and pulling back from the world. The last station on that line was the
little hole in the ground where the family ducked and covered under attack from
nuclear weapons. <br />
<br />
<b>Margot A. Henriksen: Dr. Strangelove’s America: Society
and Culture in the American Age.<br /></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “</span></b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The armed, individual shelter is the logical end
of this retreat from trust and <br /> responsibility for others.”<br /><br /></span></i><b style="text-indent: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sven_Lindqvist"><span style="color: blue;">Lindqvist, Sven</span></a>: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/History-Bombing-Sven-Lindqvist/dp/1565848160/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352305333&sr=1-2"><span style="color: blue;">TheHistory of Bombing</span></a>.</i> 1999 </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 18pt; text-indent: 0px;">Translated <b>2001 </b>by<b> </b>Linda Rugg<b>. New Press</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-50893098944088426582012-10-08T06:54:00.000-06:002012-10-08T07:37:04.881-06:00Tea Party Crashes: The Most Unpatriotic Act by Susan Lindauer <h1 align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Posting here as facebook blocks link:</span></span></b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id=".reactRoot[27].[1][2][1]{comment1349700510495:2412691374}..[1]..[1]..[0].[2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" id=".reactRoot[27].[1][2][1]{comment1349700510495:2412691374}..[1]..[1]..[0].[2]."><span id=".reactRoot[27].[1][2][1]{comment1349700510495:2412691374}..[1]..[1]..[0].[2]..[5]"><a href="http://bit.ly/h7tq9t">http://bit.ly/h7tq9t</a></span></span></span><br /><a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig12/lindauer1.1.1.html">http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig12/lindauer1.1.1.html</a></span></span></b></span></h1>
<h1 align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />Tea Party Crashes: The Most Unpatriotic Act</span></b></span></h1>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;">
by Susan Lindauer<br />
<i><a href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/">The People's Voice</a></i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"> I confess
that since November I've been holding my breath, watching the clock
for how long Tea Party newcomers could hold out against the entrenched
Republican elite on Capitol Hill. Collapse was inevitable, however
I admit to feeling bitterly surprised at how rapidly they have thrown
in the towel.</span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">For the record,
most of the Tea Party quit their principles of liberty on February
14, 2011 – 20 days into the new Congress – when Tea Party
leaders abruptly abandoned their opposition to the Patriot Act and
voted to extend intrusive domestic surveillance, wire tapping and
warrantless searches of American citizens. In so doing, they exposed
the fraud of their soaring campaign promises to defend the liberty
of ordinary Americans, and fight government intrusions on freedom.
All those wide-eyed speeches that flowed with such thrilling devotions,
all of it proved to be self-aggrandizing lies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">The Tea Party
didn't even put up a fight. Briefly they rejected a sneak attack
to renew three surveillance clauses of the Patriot Act on a suspension
vote. That filled my heart with hope. One push from the Republican
elite, however and they went down with a loud thud.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">My disappointment
is particularly acute. Rather notoriously, I am distinguished as
the second non-Arab American to face indictment on the Patriot Act,
after Jose Padilla.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">My status was
pretty close to an enemy non-combatant. One would presume that I
must have joined some terrorist conspiracy? Or engaged in some brutal
act of sedition, such as stock piling weapons and munitions to overthrow
those crooks in Congress?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">You would be
wrong. I got indicted for protesting the War in Iraq. My crime was
delivering a warm-hearted letter to my second cousin White House
Chief of Staff, Andy Card, which correctly outlined the consequences
of War. Suspiciously, I had been one of the very few Assets covering
the Iraqi Embassy at the United Nations for seven years. Thus, I
was personally acquainted with the truth about Pre-War Intelligence,
which differs remarkably from the story invented by GOP leaders
on Capitol Hill.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">More dangerously
still, my team gave advance warnings about the 9/11 attack and solicited
Iraq's cooperation after 9/11. In August 2001, at the urging of
my CIA handler, I phoned Attorney General John Ashcroft's private
staff and the Office of Counter-Terrorism to ask for an "emergency
broadcast alert" across all federal agencies, seeking any fragment
of intelligence on airplane hijackings. My warning cited the World
Trade Center as the identified target. Highly credible independent
sources have confirmed that in August, 2001 I described the strike
on the World Trade Center as "imminent," with the potential
for "mass casualties, possibly using a miniature thermonuclear
device."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">Thanks to the
Patriot Act, Americans have zero knowledge of those truths, though
the 9/11 Community has zoomed close for years. Republican leaders
invoked the Patriot Act to take me down 30 days after I approached
the offices of Senator John McCain and Trent Lott, requesting to
testify about Iraq's cooperation with the 9/11 investigation and
a comprehensive peace framework that would have achieved every U.S.
and British objective without firing a shot. Ironically, because
of the Patriot Act, my conversations with Senator Trent Lott's staff
got captured on wire taps, proving my story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">You see, contrary
to rhetoric on Capitol Hill, the Patriot Act is first and foremost
a weapon to bludgeon whistleblowers and political dissidents. Indeed,
it has been singularly crafted for that purpose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">The American
people are not nearly as frightened as they should be. Many Americans
expect the Patriot Act to limit its surveillance to overseas communications.
Yet while I was under indictment, Maryland State Police invoked
the Patriot Act to wire tap activists tied to the Chesapeake Climate
Action Network, an environmental group dedicated to wind power,
solar energy and recycling. The DC Anti-War Network was targeted
as a "white supremacist group." Amnesty International
and anti-death penalty activists got targeted for alleged "civil
rights violations."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">All of these
are American activists engaged in lawful disputes of government
policy. All of them got victimized by the surveillance techniques
approved by Tea Party leaders, because they pursued a policy agenda
that contradicted current government policies. The Tea Party swore
to defend the freedom of independent thinking in Congressional campaigns.
One presumes those promises are now forgotten until the next election.</span><br />
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 135px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><div align="right">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">I cannot forget.
I cannot forget how I was subjected to secret charges, secret evidence
and secret grand jury testimony that denied my right to face my
accusers or their accusations in open court, throughout five years
of indictment. I cannot forget my imprisonment on a Texas military
base for a year without a trial or evidentiary hearing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">I cannot forget
how the FBI, the US Attorneys Office, the Bureau of Prisons and
the main Justice office in Washington – independently and collectively
verified my story – then falsified testimony to Chief Justice Michael
Mukasey, denying our 9/11 warnings and my long-time status as a
U.S. intelligence Asset, though my witnesses had aggressively confronted
them. Apparently the Patriot Act allows the Justice Department to
withhold corroborating evidence and testimony from the Court, if
it is deemed "classified."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">I cannot forget
threats of forcible drugging and indefinite detention up to 10 years,
until I could be "cured" of believing what everybody wanted
to deny – because it was damn inconvenient to politicians in
Washington anxious to hold onto power.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">Some things
are unforgivable in a democracy. The Patriot Act would be right
at the top of that list. Nobody who has supported that wretched
law should ever be allowed to brag of defending liberty again. That
goes for the Tea Party. By voting to extend surveillance of American
citizens, they have abandoned the principles of freedom that brought
about their rise to power. They have shown their true face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;">It is a face
that we, the people, will remember. I, for one, have no intention
of allowing them to forget.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Reprinted
with permission from </i></span><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><a href="http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/">The
People's Voice</a></span></span></i>.<br />
<div align="right">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><i>February
17, 2011</i></span></div>
<div align="left">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, serif; font-size: small;"><i>Susan
Lindauer is a whistleblower indicted under the Patriot Act. She
is the author of</i> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1453642757?ie=UTF8&tag=lewrockwell&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=1453642757">Extreme
Prejudice: The Terrifying Story of the Patriot Act and the Cover
Ups of 9/11 and Iraq</a><i>.</i></span></div>
</div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-77418381464070829522012-03-08T09:40:00.000-07:002012-03-08T10:40:53.178-07:00On the ethics of the military coming to a public university and asking for help building weapons to kill peope<span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Letter by Herbert J. Hoffman, Phd describing the USAF recruitment effort at the University of New Mexico. Forward to the <a href="http://www.stopthewarmachine.org/">Stop the War Machine</a> members.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So far the Daily Lobo on campus has refused to run this letter from Herb.<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
<br />
I saw your article on the Air Force meetings being held at the UNM
Engineering Center and attended the last one (Friday, February 24,
2012). Given the venue, I was appalled at what I saw and heard.<br />
<br />
For two hours Air Force Officials gave power point presentations on
their projects related to war in space and talked about: the need to
harden space electronics against radiation from nuclear weapons
explosions; how to solve power and size problems for future space
weapons; on the need for new high tech weapons that would allow the
war-fighter to get around treaty restraints on the rules of engagement
in countries abroad. <br />
<br />
In the final presentation one chart presented how successful the Air
Force has been in reaching out to get high school students involved in
becoming future partners in war research.<br />
<br />
At the conclusion of the program, I asked a question about the ethics of
the military coming to a public university and asking for help building
weapons to kill people. Then the most amazing thing happened. <br />
<br />
The Air Force official on stage and then several UNM officials jumped up
to say that was not what they were doing, that they were just trying to
build better things like GPS systems and involve the University in
basic research [somehow not related to the explicit mission of the Air
Force]. Apparently they thought I did not know what I had witnessed and
heard.<br />
<br />
This is an example of the corruption of truth that occurs when military
research which is based around classified information, secrecy and
deception enters a public campus which is by its mission trying to work
in a transparent manner to increase the education of citizens and create
knowledge. <br />
<br />
I was astounded that military and university officials would just
outright misrepresent what I had just witnessed them doing. I thought
they might try to use the greater national defense theory argument or
the theory there is financial support for the university in doing this
war research, but they all just outright tried to deny what they were
doing and presenting -- seeming to think that was ok.<br />
<br />
When we realize that the new National Defense Authorization Act, just
signed by the president, which authorizes the military to detain without
a warrant and to hold American citizens without trial for an indefinite
time if they are considered a threat to the country, we need to be
alert to the danger each of us faces. <br />
<br />
In light of this development we have to take even more seriously what the university is doing in this partnership. <br />
<br />
When we consider that already existing space capabilities with
satellites and drones in use by these military officials have
assassinated American citizens abroad along with countless numbers of
other people it is not wise to allow this kind of lying, propaganda
presence on campus. It is a short step from what is being done with our
endless wars abroad to targeting people on campuses all in the name of
national security. What these research projects involve are building
the kind of technologies that could be used to do just that.<br />
<br />
It is time that the university community and the civic community had a
serious discussion and dialogue about the role of and risks to UNM --
and other institutions of higher learning -- in developing partnerships
with the military. <br />
<br />
I just came across a quote that frames much of my concern:<br />
<br />
"Our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an
artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an
incessant propaganda of fear." <br />
<wbr></wbr>General Douglas MacArthur<br />
<br />
<br />
Peace,<br />
<br />
Herbert J. Hoffman, Ph.D.<br />
Member, Veterans for Peace</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">***********</span></span><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
Thank to Herb for attending
that session, and for sharing with us what you experienced. Thank you, Robert, for
forwarding that letter to SWM. I hope you will consider also forwarding that
letter to the University President, and each of the UNM Regents. Common Dreams,
Counterpoint, Russ Baker, David Swanson might also be interested in giving the
public information it should have that a student organization is not (at least
yet) willing to help disseminate.<br />
<br />
Folks might be interested in what the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">International
Congress for the Education of Engineers</b>, convened at the Technical
University of Darmstadt in the Spring of 1947 had to say on the </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i><span style="font-family: Consolas;">"<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ethics of the military coming to a public
university and asking for help building weapons to kill people."</b></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b>and on recruiting university engineering students for the purpose of
developing </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Consolas;">"new high tech weapons that
would allow the war-fighter to get around treaty restraints on the rules of
engagement in countries abroad. " </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The possibilities of happiness for human beings through the
progress of technical sciences are beyond doubt. But equally real is the memory
of the horrors of the recent past, is the worldwide fear of the utter
destruction of all life by technical means - two deeply problematic aspects of
technical science. The Technical University was particularly concerned with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the definition of the task of the engineer
in this problem</b>, and this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">inevitably
required the definitive statement that those who do creative work in technical
science must be assisted to reach a state of mind and character which enables
them to be more aware than in the past of the perils to their work, and to
fulfill their moral obligations by learning to understand the exclusively
humanitarian aspects of their profession and their grave responsibilities.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The first plenary session: <b>TECHNICS AS AN ETHICAL AND CULTURAL TASK</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What does UNM offer to its students to help them realize
their ethical and moral responsibilities to work for humanity, in serving
mankind, rather than for autocracy and predation</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>?</b></div>
<span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-38845740649834231212012-02-03T08:22:00.000-07:002012-02-03T08:22:10.277-07:00BEER IS CHEAPER THAN THERAPY<a href="http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2012/02/beer-is-cheaper-than-therapy.html">http://space4peace.blogspot.com/2012/02/beer-is-cheaper-than-therapy.html</a><br />
or<br />
<a href="http://www.firsthandfilms.com/index.php?film=1000352">http://www.firsthandfilms.com/index.php?film=1000352</a><br />
<br />
A Dutch documentary about America and its endless wars and "warriors".<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 250px;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="3"> </td> </tr>
<tr><td class="main" colspan="3" style="padding: 5px 5px 5px 2px;"><a class="" href="http://www.firsthandfilms.com/index.php?film=1000352"><b>Beer is Cheaper Than Therapy</b></a></td></tr>
<tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding-left: 2px;"> <div align="left" class="main"> The Netherlands 2011, 55/78 min., HD<br />
A Zeppers Film & TV Production<br />
by Simone de Vries<br />
<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr><td style="padding-left: 2px;" valign="top" width="15"><div style="color: red; font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Geneva, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;">New</div></td><td class="main" colspan="2" height="15" style="padding: 5px;"> </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="fb_like_button"> </div><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.firsthandfilms.com/px/px.gif" width="263" /><br />
<b>‘I'm 22 years old and I must have killed 30 people. The same thing that you were given badges for, over in Irak, you would be considered a serial killer over here. That's a very weird thought to have running around in your head when it's dark, going to sleep or late at night.’<br />
</b> There is no place for doubt, sadness and fear in the American army. Back home, many soldiers struggle with these feelings. Beer is Cheaper than Therapy portrays what goes on behind the facade of heroism and the 'John Wayne mentality'.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.firsthandfilms.com/px/play-button.png">http://www.firsthandfilms.com/px/play-button.png</a>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-89886886272911411062011-11-29T20:09:00.000-07:002011-11-29T20:09:42.017-07:00UPdate: LASG v NNSA, DOE, LANL<big><b>U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver Denies Administration's Attempt to Quash Appeal of Lower Court Decision which Allowed Los Alamos Plutonium Facility to Proceed</b></big><br />
<br />
Contact: Thomas Hnasko, of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, L.L.P., <a href="tel:%28505%29%20660-3397" target="_blank" value="+15056603397">(505) 660-3397</a> mobile (<u>best this afternoon</u>), (505) 982-4554 office; Lindsay Lovejoy, <a href="tel:%28505%29%20983-1800" target="_blank" value="+15059831800">(505) 983-1800</a>; Greg Mello (505) 265-1200<br />
<br />
Today the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Judicial District <a href="http://www.lasg.org/CMRR/Litigation/10th%20circuit/Order_briefing_29Nov2011.pdf" target="_blank">ruled</a> (pdf) in favor of the Los Alamos Study Group on a motion by the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting dismissal of the Study Group's <a href="http://www.lasg.org/CMRR/Litigation/CMRR-NF_litigation.html" target="_blank">appeal</a> of a May 2011 decision by a New Mexico federal district court which allowed the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to continue working toward building a $4-6 billion plutonium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.lasg.org/" target="_blank">Study Group</a> had claimed, and still claims in this appeal and in a second lawsuit filed in New Mexico federal court, that NNSA and DOE have never written an applicable environmental impact statement (EIS) for the facility, called the "<a href="http://www.lasg.org/CMRR/open_page.htm" target="_blank">Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement Nuclear Facility</a>" (CMRR-NF), that the agencies involved are violating the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and that the project is proceeding illegally and must be halted while an applicable EIS is written. <br />
<br />
"This is good news -- very positive for us." said Study Group director Greg Mello. "The Tenth Circuit has decided to hear our appeal and the federal agencies, which we believe are grossly violating NEPA, must now explain themselves before a panel of senior judges in Denver." <br />
<br />
In a separate positive <a href="http://www.lasg.org/CMRR/Litigation/CMRR2/Order_Denying_MTT_Doc8_28Nov2011.pdf" target="_blank">ruling</a> (pdf) yesterday for Study Group in their second NEPA case in New Mexico federal court, the court denied DOJ's attempt to transfer the new case to the Honorable Judith Herrera, who had ruled against the Study Group in the first case, the case now under appeal. <br />
<br />
Mello: "Congress passed NEPA to require federal agencies to take a hard look at alternatives to projects that will endanger the environment. That "hard look" has never happened in this case. The project has ballooned to <i>ten or fifteen times</i> the original cost estimates, is going to be delayed at least 14 years, the nuclear stockpile has declined by half, the original <i>raison d'etre</i> for the project has largely evaporated -- and yet there are <i>no possible alternatives</i> to this massive project? This is NNSA's position, and it is absurd. There are, in fact, several reasonable alternatives, as many in government know. <br />
<br />
"Regardless of this, NNSA and DOE cannot decide to build this or any project without first producing an applicable EIS. Federal agencies cannot spend hundreds of millions of dollars implementing the first part of a project and then, and only when challenged, decide to write an alternative-free, post-hoc environmental report. Such practices, should they be allowed, would effectively eliminate NEPA." <br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">***ENDS***<br />
</div>-- <br />
<span>Greg Mello</span><br />
<span><a href="http://www.lasg.org/" target="_blank">Los Alamos Study Group</a> </span><br />
<span>2901 Summit Place NE</span><br />
<span>Albuquerque, NM 87106</span><br />
<span><a href="tel:505-265-1200" target="_blank" value="+15052651200">505-265-1200</a> office</span><br />
<span><a href="tel:505-577-8563" target="_blank" value="+15055778563">505-577-8563</a> cell</span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-38408518529147306492011-11-29T20:07:00.000-07:002011-11-29T20:07:43.950-07:00NYTimes Oped: A Nuclear Facility We Don’t Need By GREG MELLO<div class="timestamp">November 14, 2011 New York Times</div><h1><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/15/opinion/a-nuclear-facility-we-dont-need.html?pagewanted=print">A Nuclear Facility We Don’t Need</a></h1><h6 class="byline">By GREG MELLO</h6>Los Alamos, N.M. <br />
It has been over 20 years since the end of the cold war, and yet the United States continues to spend enormous sums on its nuclear arsenal and related programs. In fact, rather than looking for ways to save money in this budget-conscious time, the National Nuclear Security Administration is asking for even more money to build one of its most unnecessary projects yet: a second big plutonium facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. <br />
The facility, which the administration says it needs to produce more nuclear warhead cores, called pits, would cost between $4 billion and $6 billion to build, and roughly a quarter billion a year to operate. Strikingly, despite the decade (and about $450 million) spent developing the proposal, the administration still doesn’t have a firm cost estimate or a final design. That hasn’t kept it from asking for money, though: this year it is requesting an additional $270 million to continue planning, part of a proposed $621 million increase for warhead management. <br />
A better cost estimate may be available in early 2013, when the final design nears completion, though the administration hopes to begin construction long before that, in January 2012, if Congress allows it. Even after that, experience strongly suggests that further cost increases are likely between now and 2023, when the project is expected to finally come online. By then it will be needed even less than it is now; by the time it is completed the entire nuclear arsenal, except for cruise missile warheads, will have been successfully upgraded without this investment. <br />
The laboratory needs fewer grand ambitions, not more space. Its existing plutonium facility, which has about twice the space inside as the proposed one, already has a high-capacity manufacturing line that takes up just a third of the building. Why does the nuclear administration need to produce more pits, let alone at a faster rate? Scientists agree that the existing stock of pits will last a century or so without replacement. There are also large reserves of extra warheads and pits for each delivery system, more than enough to replace every warhead and bomb deployed. <br />
The nuclear administration says it needs more capacity to facilitate large-scale production of pits for “replacement,” i.e., to produce new types of warheads. It optimistically claims that such new designs can be certified in the absence of nuclear testing. The new building would be built to handle the large steel tanks needed for the explosive “subcritical tests” and “scaled experiments” that are considered helpful in certifying these otherwise untested replacement warheads. <br />
The new building would also house a large new vault containing “the plutonium stores of the nation,” as Don Cook, the administration’s deputy director, has said. Yet the administration already has nuclear storage facilities in South Carolina and Nevada, which are more than sufficient. Meanwhile, it is spending additional billions on other questionable plutonium facilities to dispose of excess plutonium around the country and is even emptying a large modern plutonium facility in Livermore, Calif. <br />
One reason the facility’s estimated costs continue to rise is a new appreciation of how the region’s seismic profile affects the design of the facility. The proposed facility would sit above a thick layer of loose volcanic ash, which amplifies seismic accelerations and provides little resistance to sliding. The entire Los Alamos laboratory complex sits on a fault system capable of shallow magnitude 7.3 earthquakes that give rise to sharp high accelerations. <br />
To top it off, the administration is still not even sure how to design the building: whether to anchor the bunkerlike structure deep in the mesa or let it “float” up near the surface, its upper part protected by earthen berms. <br />
There are alternatives — simpler, faster, cheaper and safer ones — but the nuclear administration refuses to examine them. For example, it could make better use of existing facilities, which were very costly to acquire and are very expensive to maintain and make safe, but which are not being used efficiently. But the nuclear administration and its predecessor agency within the Department of Energy have been continuously on the Government Accountability Office’s watch list of agencies most prone to waste and poor management since the list began 20 years ago. <br />
Even setting these criticisms aside, the case for building more nuclear weapons, at a time when the United States’ arsenal is already by far the most sophisticated and most expensive in the world is growing harder to make. The Congressional supercommittee, which will soon wrap up its plans for cutting federal spending, might or might not want to touch the politics of maintaining our nuclear arsenal — but cutting resources for this dangerous and unnecessary project should be something every member of Congress can get behind. <br />
<div class="authorIdentification"> Greg Mello is the executive director of the Los Alamos Study Group, a nuclear disarmament advocacy organization. <br />
</div>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-72080248471844245232011-06-29T07:55:00.000-06:002011-06-29T07:55:40.114-06:00Update on Los Conchas- LANL fire from CCNS<table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ"><tbody>
<tr><td class="gF gK"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf ix"><tbody>
<tr><td><div class="iw"><span class="gD" style="color: #00681c;">Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety</span> <span class="go"><a class="M87awb" href="http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=1311182" target="_blank">via</a> swcp.com </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td><td class="gH"><div class="gK"><span class="iD">show details</span> <span alt="Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM" class="g3" id=":1pn" title="Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 10:33 PM">10:33 PM (9 hours ago)</span> <span></span></div></td><td class="gH"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Hi All,<br />
One of the lessons of the Cerro Grande Fire, which burned over 47,000 acres during a two-week period in May 2000 in the same areas as the Las Conchas Fire, is that we can't trust the statements by the officials. Their statements and data eventually end up in reports that say that there was no exposure. For example, the Risk Assessment Corporation reported following the Cerro Grande Fire: <br />
<br />
</span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">The cancer incidence risk from breathing any LANL-derived chemical or radionuclide released to the air during the fire was less than 1 chance in 1 million. <br />
</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><br />
“Summary Report: Analysis of Exposure and Risks to the Public from Radionuclides and Chemicals Released by the Cerro Grande Fire at Los Alamos,” p . 7 < <a href="http://www.racteam.com/docs/Cerro_Grande_Fire_Summary_Report.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.racteam.com/docs/<wbr></wbr>Cerro_Grande_Fire_Summary_<wbr></wbr>Report.pdf</a> > <br />
<br />
But we know the opposite is true because of the stories people have told following the Cerro Grande fire. For example, communities that had never had a case of childhood leukemia began to experience those cancers; animals in the Embudo Valley aborted; and very rare cancers have grown in residents living in communities downwind and downstream of LANL. Many have died and we are so sorry. <br />
<br />
In that spirit, please check out the following website for photos and videos of the fire so that you can make your own decisions about whether to evacuate, or when to evacuate. Remember the six “Ps” - <span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://lacoa.org/PDF/ESP10/ESP_Bltn_Wildfires2-LACo_0410.pdf" target="_blank">http://lacoa.org/PDF/ESP10/<wbr></wbr>ESP_Bltn_Wildfires2-LACo_0410.<wbr></wbr>pdf</a><br />
</u></span><br />
</span></span><ol><li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">People and pets </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Papers, phone numbers and important documents </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Prescriptions, vitamins, and eyeglasses </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Personal computers (information on hard drives, memory and discs) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">“Plastic” (credit cards, ATM cards) and cash </span></span></li>
</ol><div align="CENTER"> </div><div align="CENTER"> </div><div align="CENTER"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: green;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span></span></span><span style="color: green;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>*** More *** </b></span></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">1. On the KOAT-TV website: </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><b>LOS ALAMOS, N.M. -- Dr. Michio Kaku </b>discussed his concerns Tuesday for the hazardous materials housed at Los Alamos National Laboratory.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">K</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">aku said around 20,000 to 30,000 barrels of plutonium contaminated waste is stored at the lab. That waste includes everything from gloves to fuel rods, according to Kaku.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">“P</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">lutonium is one of the most toxic particles known to science. A particle you can’t even see lodged in your lungs could cause lung cancer,” Kaku said. “What we’re worried about is what happens when the fires go right into these buildings and perhaps pop open some of these 55-gallon drums.”<br />
R</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ig</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">ht now, Los Alamos National Lab officials said dangerous materials in the lab are secure and do not pose a threat.<br />
Ka</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">ku</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> said no one has ever fully tested the lab under real fire conditions.<br />
“Wh</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">at</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"> happens if the fire spreads to the very heart of the laboratory? At that point, we have to cross our fingers hoping that ‘secure sites remain secure,’” Kaku said.<br />
Copyr</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>ight 2011 by KOAT.<span style="color: #0f0066;">com. All</span> rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<br />
</i></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;">Read more: <span style="color: #083399;"><a href="http://www.koat.com/news/28386019/detail.html#ixzz1QdMhPysZ" target="_blank">http://www.koat.com/news/<wbr></wbr>28386019/detail.html#<wbr></wbr>ixzz1QdMhPysZ</a><br />
</span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
2. <b>Bob Martin of KRQE-TV went up in a helicopter this afternoon. You can see the fabric tents at Area G in the foreground and the fire moving in that direction. <a href="http://www.krqe.com/dpp/weather/wildfires/bob-martin-special-aerial-web-report" target="_blank">http://www.krqe.com/dpp/<wbr></wbr>weather/wildfires/bob-martin-<wbr></wbr>special-aerial-web-report</a> <br />
<br />
3. </b></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">To view the fire and Area G from satellite on your computer,</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> go to the Nuclear Watch New Mexico blog to learn how to use Google Earth and the US Forest Service information to keep track of the fire. <span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://www.nukewatch.org/watchblog/?p=838" target="_blank">http://www.nukewatch.org/<wbr></wbr>watchblog/?p=838</a><br />
</u></span><br />
You want to focus on the red square areas north of State Road 4 and the location of the Area G fabric tents which store the 20,000 to 30,000 drums of plutonium contaminated wastes – about 3 1/2 miles northeast of the red squares. You can see the four tents west of White Rock. They are also south of the green east-west line. <br />
<br />
It appears the Google Earth updates the information about the fires across the U.S. by zooming out. Then you have to zoom back in to see if it has updated the Las Conchas fire. <br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
4. <b>And a big shout out and thank you to all of you who forwarded the Action Alerts to social media networks! </b> We are grateful because we while we can talk about transuranic waste at Area G, we don’t know much about social media tools. <br />
<br />
5. There was a press conference today. You can read about it at: <a href="http://www.lamonitor.com/content/press-conference-offers-hope" target="_blank">http://www.lamonitor.com/<wbr></wbr>content/press-conference-<wbr></wbr>offers-hope</a> <br />
<br />
6. </span></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Grande;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Los Alamos County Update - June 28, 2011 4:30 PM<br />
</b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2385/12079/" target="_blank">http://www.inciweb.org/<wbr></wbr>incident/article/2385/12079/</a><br />
Incident</span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">: Las Conchas Wildfire<br />
<b>Released</b>: 4 hrs. ago<br />
Los Alamos, NM - <b>The Los Alamos County Council will host a town hall meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) with White Rock residents and those who have been evacuated from Los Alamos</b>. A representative of the USFS will be on hand to answer questions about the fire. The meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the White Rock Baptist Church (80 State Rt 4). Atomic City Transit will offer bus service from the two shelters to the meeting. Bus pick up times are: 12:45 p.m. at the Santa Claran Resort Center and 1:15 p.m. at the Cities of Gold Hotel Conference Center.<br />
Media Advisory: Fire Chief Doug Tucker will give a Las Conchas fire update to the press at the Media Staging Area at 20th/Trinity at approximately 7 p.m. The County will continue to co-host Noon news conferences with LANL at the Media Staging Area until further notice.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
7. <b>Air Quality Issues</b> from the Incident Information System: <a href="http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2385/12058/" target="_blank">http://www.inciweb.org/<wbr></wbr>incident/article/2385/12058/</a><br />
<br />
8. <b>From Jean Nichols on Tuesday, June 28th in the evening:<br />
</b></span></span></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;">Today I was given a medical type mask (AOSafety 1050 Pleats Plus Particulate Respirator Medium Large N95 NiIOSH) <br />
<br />
It actually seems to help a lot when outside in the smoke, - at least it helps how my lungs feel. I believe these are the same kinds used in surgical situations. <br />
They are much more comfortable than full respirators or construction dust masks. You can buy them at Walgreens or other pharmacies. We should be asking the Governor or the Red Cross or FEMA or someone in Public Health to make them available to everyone who wants one, especially those with respiratory issues. They could be given out at the food banks this week. While they probably won't help with the serious radionuclides, I'm sure they will help with some of the other airborne particulates. <br />
</span></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Consolas,Courier New,Courier;"><br />
9. <b>From Sheri Kotowski of the Embudo Valley Environmental Monitoring Group on Tuesday June 28th in the evening:<br />
</b></span></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier,Courier New;">Hi Everyone,<br />
<br />
Here's an up date on Las Conchas Fire air monitoring.<br />
<br />
I spoke with NMED LANL Oversight at 2:30 PM. Steve Yanicak gave me the<br />
rundown of air monitoring that is happening in and around the lab. They are<br />
short staffed at the moment and they have a lot to do.<br />
<br />
NMED changed out filters this morning on AIRNET (low volume) stations<br />
(measuring gross alpha and beta radiation, isotopic uranium and plutonium,<br />
americium, strontium) on the perimeter of LANL and at the airport. They will<br />
have data back in seven days. They are also setting up high volume samplers<br />
that will be analyzed for the same constituents as AIRNET and also for heavy<br />
metals.<br />
<br />
The lab has put out 60 additional air monitoring stations. Turn around time<br />
on the data will should be very quick according to NMED Oversight. We should<br />
start seeing data soon. I will find out how the public can access this<br />
information.<br />
<br />
EPA is sending out 16 - 24 air monitoring stations. EVEMG is helping to<br />
locate a half a dozen of them up here north east of the lab and in the<br />
plume. They should be arriving tomorrow- Wednesday, and hopefully deployed<br />
very quickly. There will be one located at the Embudo Valley Library. Other<br />
locations are being worked out.<br />
<br />
EPA is readying the ASPECT aircraft to begin flying at regular intervals<br />
through the plume of the fire as early as tomorrow- Wednesday. This aircraft<br />
is specially fitted with monitoring equipment and will be measuring<br />
radioactivity as well as detecting other substances of concern.<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Courier,Courier New;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">The NMED Radiation Bureau is locating radiation detection equipment on the<br />
roof top of the hospital in Española, and at locations in Alcalde, Pojoaque<br />
and Nambe.<br />
<br />
I hope you find this information useful.<br />
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions. If I don't have<br />
answers hopefully I will be able to find someone for you to talk to.<br />
<br />
Please pass this information on.<br />
<br />
Take care,<br />
<br />
Sheri<br />
EVEMG<br />
<span style="color: #2405ef;"><a href="http://serit@cybermesa.com/" target="_blank">serit@cybermesa.com</a><br />
</span><a href="tel:505%20579%204076" target="_blank" value="+15055794076"><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" title="Call this phone number in United States of America with Skype: +15055794076"><span class="skype_pnh_left_span"> </span><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" title="Skype actions"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_flag_span" style="background-position: -5849px 1px !important;"> </span> </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">505 579 4076</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"> </span></span> </span></a> <br />
</span></span></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Courier,Courier New;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">10. Please share this email with others. And yes, our home page has been hacked; we’re working on it. <br />
<br />
Pray the Water Canyon fire line will hold the progress of the fire. <br />
<br />
Take care All,<br />
CCNS</span></span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-84531342792475604632011-06-27T15:56:00.004-06:002011-06-27T16:34:28.380-06:00Fire threatens Los Alamos- Mandatory evacuation ordered<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,Verdana,Arial;"><b>Update at <a href="http://www.sfreporter.com/santafe/blog-2859-photos-video-las-conchas-fire-1-mile-from-lanl.html">Santa Fe Reporter</a><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<span class="gI"><span class="gD" style="color: #00681c;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="gI"><span class="gD" style="color: #00681c;">From: Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety</span> <span class="go">ccns@nuclearactive.org</span></span><br />
<span class="gI"> Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 3:53 PM</span><span class="gI"><span class="go"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,Verdana,Arial;">Our main concern is that the Las Conchas fire is about 3 1/2 miles from Area G, the dumpsite that has been in operation since the late 1950s/early 1960s. There are 20,000 to 30,000 55-gallons drums of plutonium contaminated waste (containing solvents, chemicals and toxic materials) sitting in fabric tents above ground. These drums are destined for WIPP. <br />
<br />
We understand that LANL has been working since late last night to build a fire line in Water Canyon, between the fire and Area G. <br />
<br />
Over the last 26 hours the fire has grown from 0 acres to about 45,000 acres – about the size of the Cerro Grande fire in 2000.<br />
<br />
It has moved 12 miles in 24 hours, about two miles an hour.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">------ Forwarded Message<br />
<b>From: </b>Pat Leahan <<a href="http://patleahan@desertgate.com/" target="_blank">patleahan@desertgate.com</a>><br />
<b>Date: </b>Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:17:13 -0600<br />
<b>To: </b>Robert Anderson <<a href="http://citizen@comcast.net/" target="_blank">citizen@comcast.net</a>><br />
<b>Subject: </b>"Urgent - LA County NR - evacs - please distribute"</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica,Verdana,Arial;"><b>From: </b>"Garcia, Pamela" <<a href="http://Pamela%2EGarcia@mail.house.gov/" target="_blank">Pamela.Garcia@mail.house.gov</a>><br />
<b>Date: </b>June 27, 2011 1:59:37 PM MDT<br />
<b>Subject: FW: Urgent - LA County NR - evacs - please distribute<br />
</b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Please share this information.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Los Alamos County <br />
News Release<br />
Public Information Office<br />
133 Central Park Square <br />
Los Alamos, NM 87544<br />
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<hr align="CENTER" size="3" width="95%" /><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=a6fb861ad5&view=att&th=130d2c8dc4f8ce7c&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&zw" /><br />
</span><br />
<hr align="CENTER" size="3" width="95%" /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"> <br />
<br />
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE! <wbr></wbr> <wbr></wbr>June 27, 2011 1:45 p.m.<br />
<br />
Los Alamos, NM – Los Alamos County officials are reporting the fire is now threatening Los Alamos. They are ordering a mandatory evacuation which will begin and proceed in this order: Group 1: Western, Quemazon, Ponderosa; Group 2: North Community, Barranca Mesa, North Mesa; Group 3: East of Diamond and the remainder of the town site. White Rock is NOT being evacuated at this time. Residents in Los Alamos should NOT go to White Rock to stay in case it is later evacuated.<br />
<br />
Residents are urged to prepare now to be ready to go when their Group is called using Reverse 911. The best sources of information about Group releases for the evacuation will continue to be through news outlets. The County is first evacuating those residents who are the closest to the immediate threat of fire. Residents should wait for the automated Reverse 911 phone call. Once called, proceed in an orderly fashion to police control points and follow any additional instructions to safely leave the County. National Guard and State Police will be assisting with the evacuation process. <br />
<br />
Residents in Los Alamos in the Downtown, North Community, Quemazon, Eastern, and Western areas use either the Truck Route (East Jemez Rd) or Trinity Drive to NM502. Royal Crest residents would use the Truck Route to SR 4 to NM502. Residents on the mesas (North Mesa, Barranca Mesa) use the graded road in the bottom of Rendija Canyon, the same emergency route used during the Cerro Grande Fire in May 2000. The road has been graded today and the gate through San Ildefonso property to NM 502 is open. Take only your most essential belongings, including medication and pets. Large vehicles such as RVs should not attempt to use the road through Rendija Canyon due to the low water crossings in the road. The road is graded to accommodate passenger cars, trucks or SUVs, not oversized vehicles. Residents in White Rock should use SR 4 to NM 502 to evacuate if that becomes necessary.<br />
<br />
The Big Rock Santa Claran Event Center is open as a shelter for those who are voluntarily evacuating with no accommodations. Residents who have friends and family in the area are asked to relocate to stay with them in order to keep shelter space available for those who most need it. The County is coordinating with regional resources to open more shelters. Those without transportation should call 505-661-RIDE (Atomic City Transit, the County’s transit system). They will start arranging busses to pick up those who need bus service.<br />
<br />
Los Alamos County will continue to be on “essential services” only staffing on Tuesday, due to the continued need to address the emergency related to the wildfire. <br />
<br />
Residents are asked to seek information about the size of the fire or other general fire updates on the USFS webpage rather than calling the County. Links to public information about the Las Conchas fire can be found on the News page at <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.losalamosnm.us/" target="_blank">www.losalamosnm.us</a> <<a href="http://www.losalamosnm.us/" target="_blank">http://www.losalamosnm.us/</a>> </span>.<br />
<br />
A Joint Information Center is operational for media inquiries about the fire. Media should call <a href="tel:505-820-1226" target="_blank" value="+15058201226"><span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr" tabindex="-1"> <span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" title="Call this phone number in United States of America with Skype: +15058201226"><span class="skype_pnh_left_span"> </span><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_span" title="Skype actions"><span class="skype_pnh_dropart_flag_span" style="background-position: -5849px 1px ! important;"> </span> </span><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">505-820-1226</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"> </span></span> </span></a>.<br />
<br />
</span></span></span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-33424512234481878952011-05-14T11:13:00.002-06:002011-05-27T12:45:15.561-06:00NYTimes Article from which the Stewart Udall Quote comes<h1>O'Neill quotes Stewart Udall, from this NYTimes oped. </h1><h1><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">There is nothing comparable in our history to the deceit and the lying that took place as a matter of official Government policy in order to protect this [the nuclear arms] industry. Nothing was going to stop them and they were willing to kill our own people</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h1><h1> </h1><h1>Santa Fe Portrait; A Longtime Pillar of the Government Now Aids Those Hurt by Its Bombs</h1><div class="mod-nytimesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline">By KEITH SCHNEIDER<br />
<span class="pubdate">Published: June 09, 1993 NYTimes </span></div><div class="mod-nytimesarticlebyline mod-articlebyline" id="mod-article-byline"><span class="pubdate"><br />
</span></div><b></b>East of the Nevada Test Site, where the Government conducted atmospheric tests of atomic bombs, the town of Alamo, Nev., rises in the desert. In August 1978, at the urging of a cousin, Stewart L. Udall went to Alamo and listened to mothers tell of the dust and radiation from the blasts that settled over the town in the 1950's and of the children they had lost to leukemia.<br />
<br />
"Until then, there were a lot of people in that country who suspected a link, but they kept it to themselves," said Mr. Udall, who once was Secretary of the Interior for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. "They had been fed a steady diet of lies by the Government that there was no danger. That was my first trip to investigate, and I felt there was more to it, that it would be difficult and that we would be breaking new ground."<br />
<br />
It also nearly broke the spirit of an elder statesman of the Southwest and the Democratic Party, a man who wears his hair in unruly silvery waves these days and is almost never seen in anything other than cotton work pants and white sneakers. On a bright spring afternoon in his new adobe home overlooking Santa Fe and the Jemez mountains, Mr. Udall says he is happier than he has been in years as he finishes what may be his greatest work of a life full of achievements. Apology and a Promise<br />
<br />
<div class="float" style="clear: both;"><img alt="" height="1" src="http://nytimes.perfectmarket.com/pm/images/pixel.gif" width="1" /></div>Almost three years ago, the Government passed the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, a law that was a both a formal apology and a promise to compensate thousands of Americans who were injured or killed by the development and testing of atomic bombs. Hundreds of those people turned to Mr. Udall for help in the late 1970's, and he agreed to represent them as a public interest lawyer. They are finally receiving recognition for their suffering from the Government, though at a pace he calls unnecessarily slow and cumbersome.<br />
<br />
From a study decorated with the pictures of the Kennedy brothers, Robert Frost, William O. Douglas and other men of history who were his close friends, Mr. Udall is using his considerable stature and influence to change the system. He has appealed to the Clinton Administration to make the law as compassionate as it was intended to be. And he is beginning to get help from Congress<br />
.<br />
In early May, Representative George Miller, a Democrat of California and chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, asked Attorney General Janet Reno for an accounting of the compensation program and ways it could be improved. Recently, two Democratic lawmakers from New Mexico, Senator Jeff Bingaman and Representative Bill Richardson, began looking into problems in the program at the Navajo reservation in Shiprock.<br />
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The compensation law, which Mr. Udall helped to write and push through Congress, came 12 years after he began to uncover and prove one of the terrible secrets of American democracy: in the name of safeguarding the nation from the Soviets, the United States had knowingly exposed millions of its own citizens to harmful levels of atomic radiation. Signs of Fatigue<br />
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The hours of research and the miles of travel are b<span style="background-color: white;">e</span>ginning to show in a walk that is stiffening, fatigue that creeps up on him at odd times of the day, and the anger that flares in his eyes when he describes the Government's behavior.<br />
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<div style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">"There is nothing comparable in our history to the deceit and the lying that took place as a matter of official Government policy in order to protect this industry," said Mr. Udall. "Nothing was going to stop them and they were willing to kill our own people."</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div>Mr. Udall developed the evidence for such statements in pursuing three lawsuits he filed filed against the Government. The suits began to undermine the prevailing view that the American nuclear arms industry was safe. The point was made even stronger after Congressional investigations by Senator John Glenn, Representative Mike Synar, and other lawmakers in the 1980's. In 1988 nuclear weapons plants in six states, the heart of the industry, were shut amid protests by citizens and questions about the industry's safety and management that were raised by the Government's own nuclear engineers.<br />
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It will be left to historians to decide whether the collapse of the nuclear weapons industry played a role in ending the cold war and in decisions to begin disarming the American atomic arsenal. But some experts contend that an important part of that story begins with Mr. Udall. Byproduct of Arms Race<br />
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"He got America to recognize that there was a tragic human face associated with the arms race," said Robert Alvarez, an investigator on Senator Glenn's Committee on Governmental Affairs and co-author of "Killing Our Own" (Dell, 1982) a history of the nation's experience with the atom. "Stewart forced the atomic weapons industry to begin to fall under democratic control. And when it did, it led to further revelations that unraveled the consensus that had allowed the Government to operate without anybody questioning them."<br />
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Stewart L. Udall was born in 1920 in St. Johns, Ariz., the oldest son of six children raised by Louise Udall and her husband, Levi, a Mormon and self-educated lawyer who ended his career as Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. Mr. Udall and his younger brother Morris, a future Congressman and 1976 Presidential candidate, followed in their father's footsteps, opening a law practice together in Tucson in 1949.<br />
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The older brother won the first of his three terms in Congress as a Democrat from Arizona in 1954. His seat was taken by Mo Udall in 1961, when he was named by President Kennedy to become Secretary of the Interior, a job he commanded as only one man before him had, Harold L. Ickes, who served during the Depression, and none since.<br />
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From 1961 to 1968, Mr. Udall wrote or helped to write four landmark conservation laws, among them the 1964 Wilderness Act, which permanently safeguards tens of millions of acres of forest from logging, mining, and road-building. He established four national parks, 56 wildlife refuges, 8 national seashores and lakeshores, 9 national recreations areas and 22 national historic sites. Cold War History<br />
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Yet Mr. Alvarez and other nuclear experts who have followed his career say Mr. Udall's greatest work may have come after he left Washington, when he challenged the Government's nuclear warriors.<br />
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When the last lawsuit was concluded, Mr. Udall moved to Santa Fe two years ago to live next-door to his son Tom, who was elected New Mexico's Attorney General. Each morning Mr. Udall awakens early, pads into his study, and reckons with the country's cold war experience and his role in it in a book he is finishing, his fourth.<br />
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"The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy," Mr. Udall said in a interview. "It induced us to conduct Government according to lies. It distorted justice. It undermined American morality. Until the cold war, our country stood for something. Lincoln was the great exemplar. We stood for moral leadership in the world."<br />
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Until 1978, Mr. Udall said he had known little about the behavior of the officials inside the Atomic Energy Commission and its successor, the Department of Energy.<br />
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Then came the plea for help from his cousin in Alamo. Over the next decade, Mr. Udall, a team of other lawyers, and four of his six children investigated and litigated the three lawsuits asserting that Americans had been harmed by the Government's negligent management of the nuclear-arms industry.<br />
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The first suit was brought by thousands of men, women and children in the Southwest who said they had been harmed by radioactive fallout from the atmospheric testing of atomic bombs in the 1950's and early 1960's. The second was brought by families of Navajo men who had mined uranium for the Government and were disabled or killed by lung cancer caused by radiation in the mines. A third suit, still pending, was brought by workers at the Nevada Test Site. Power of Government<br />
Ultimately, the first two lawsuits failed because the Federal Tort Claims Act of 1946 gives officials broad discretion to carry out programs, whether or not they cause injuries. When the Supreme Court declined to hear the cases in the late 1980's, Mr. Udall said he was crushed.<br />
In the spring of 1988, Navajo leaders asked Mr. Udall to come to the reservation in northern Arizona to explain what happened. Mr. Udall said he could not face them. "They believed in me," he said slowly, the memory evident in the hardened corners of his mouth. "They believed in our system of justice. I had told them the courts would listen. It was almost as though I had lied about our system of justice. That if you were patient and persistent, there would be justice at the end. At that point I thought we had reached the end."<br />
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For months, Lee Udall said, her husband, normally a tower of energy and moral fire, moped around their house in Phoenix. Mr. Udall said he had been broken in spirit and in finances.<br />
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He even refused an appeal by a friend, former Representative Wayne Owens, Democrat of Utah, who called him in the summer of 1988 for help in writing a bill to compensate the victims. Mr. Udall told Mr. Owens he was too broke to pay for a plane ticket to Washington and too discouraged to be much help. "I thought it was another lost cause," Mr. Udall said.<br />
But Mr. Owens, who lost the election for a Senate seat last year, persisted. In 1989, Mr. Udall made the first of a number of trips to Washington to write the legislation and lobby for its passage. He helped build the coalition of western Republicans in the Senate, led by Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, Pete G. Domenici of New Mexico, and Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming, who were needed to persuade President George Bush to sign the law on Oct. 15, 1990.<br />
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Justice Department officials, who administer the program, point out that by fighting for his clients Mr. Udall will receive legal fees provided by the compensation law.<br />
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Mr. Udall acknowledges that he, his family and several lawyers who helped with the lawsuits have received $570,000 in fees from 57 victorious clients and that they stand to gain $1 million or more in fees. But he noted that the payments come after 14 years of work, and he said he had spent at least $200,000 of his own money investigating and litigating the cases.<br />
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"If the pot gets sweet at the end that's fine," he said. "Whatever I get I will have earned. That is a fact. But that has not been my permanent concern. I have a personal commitment to my clients. You start a job. You finish it."<br />
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As for the compensation legislation, Mr. Udall says it is a statement that only the United States is capable of making. "It shows the country is resilient," he said. "It shows a willingness to admit mistakes. We still have the ability to let our children see our triumphs and how we betrayed our ideals."<br />
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<a href="http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh" target="_blank">http://nyti.ms/mGXKuh</a><br />
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Why does his son Tom not display some of this integrity and stop feeding "this steady diet of lies by the government"?erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-899157532900687261.post-50650342949714969652011-04-25T09:11:00.000-06:002011-04-25T10:12:13.847-06:00Kirtland AFB officials release Fiscal Year 2010 economic impact statementOn Sun, Apr 24, 2011 at 9:17 PM, Robert Anderson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:citizen@comcast.net" target="_blank">citizen@comcast.net</a>></span> wrote:<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></span> <br />
<div align="CENTER"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><img src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=a6fb861ad5&view=att&th=12f8aa992828c213&attid=0.0.1&disp=emb&zw" /><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">April 22, 2011 Release #11-15 </span></span> </div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><b><u>Kirtland AFB officials release Fiscal Year 2010 economic impact statement<br />
</u></b></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – In Fiscal Year 2010, from Oct. 1, 2009 through Sept. 30, 2010, Kirtland Air Force Base entities infused nearly $7.8 billion into the economy nationwide. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In the local “Economic Impact Region,” which includes all counties within 50 miles of the base, the 2010 impact amount was $4.3 billion. That figure includes $2.2 billion in payroll and more than $2 billion in job creation and expenditures. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Col. Robert L. Maness, commander of the 377th Air Base Wing, the host unit at Kirtland AFB, said the base’s connections with the people and businesses of New Mexico are essential to performing the assigned functions of national security. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“The business relationships between Kirtland Air Force Base and our community partners are key factors in the success of the many missions underway here. In addition to enhancing our ability to carry out the duties entrusted to us, these relationships have cascading benefits beyond the base’s boundaries, as the dollar amounts in the economic impact statement indicate,” he said. <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Some highlights of the installation’s 2010 economic impact appear below: <br />
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">· </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Kirtland AFB is the largest employer in New Mexico, with more than 21,000 people working on base – estimated to be one of every 14 jobs in the state. <br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">· </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Small businesses were awarded $428 million in contracts. <br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">· </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Three major military construction projects totaling $30 million were completed or are in progress. <br />
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">· </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Air Force Research laboratory invests $3 million a year in New Mexico to provide science, technology, engineering and mathematics education outreach to students ranging from fifth grade through graduate school.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">****************************************************************************************** </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>This was my reply:</b></span></span><br />
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In his <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/11/opinion/11krugman.html?_r=1&hp" target="_blank">March 10, 2011 NYTimes oped Nobel Laurette Paul Krugman wrote</a>:<br />
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<div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Like anyone who writes regularly about what passes for economic and fiscal debate in American politics, I’ve developed a strong tolerance for nonsense. After all, if I got upset every time powerful people were illogical and/or dishonest, I’d spend every waking hour in a state of raging despair. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Yet there are still moments when I find myself saying, “They can’t really be that stupid,” or maybe, “They can’t really think the rest of us are that stupid.”</i></div> <br />
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This is one of those moments, when faced with sufficient economic nonsense, I find myself responding. <br />
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The major problem with this PR piece is not that the negative impacts have been excluded from measurement. It is what is being purported as being a "benefit/positive" is itself in fact a "cost/negative".<br />
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KAFB spins the money they TOOK from the community as an "infusion" rather than as the "extraction" it actually is. Labor is an INPUT INTO the production process, not an OUTPUT FROM that process. The $2.2 billion is a measure of what is LOST, not what is GAINED.<br />
<br />
....of the $7.8 billion that KAFB extorted, they claim to have "invested" (returned) $3million, or about 1/25 of 1% to the schools; and much of that likely is not for teaching how to live better, but how to kill better. So perhaps one hundredth of one per cent could be deducted from the $7.8 billion that former President Eishenhower would have labeled as theft.<br />
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That "contribution" pales in comparison to the contribution other criminals, such as Pepe Escobar, returned to his Colombian community, without causing nearly as much devastation. <br />
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KAFB is just one of many (LANL, SNL,CAFB, WSMR) military installations in New Mexico, one that by KAFB's own admission consumes one of every fourteen jobs. Could they have someone explain to the community whether they think that if ALL US citizens were employed at high paying military functions how they envision citizens are to live? Do they envision the U.S. being able to extort enough product from other nations in the manner former Executive Director of the Joint Economic Committee James Galbraith describes in his book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Predator-State-Conservatives-Abandoned-Liberals/dp/141656683X/ref=tmm_hrd_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1300916249&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Predator State"</a> ?<br />
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Perhaps those employed by KAFB should be forced to sharecrop, to be paid out of the proceeds of what they "produce"? A diet of bombs might reveal the dishonesty of such an accounting system.<br />
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<div style="margin-left: 80px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span></span><div style="margin-left: 80px;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;"><span> </span>“<i>Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense,</i></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><i> a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.</i></span> -<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">--Dwight D Eisenhower, 1953</span><br />
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</div><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><em>“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends</em> upon <em>his not understanding</em> it”<span> </span>-- Upton Sinclair</div></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><i> “The efforts of men are utilized in two different ways: they are directed to </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> the production or transformation of economic goods, or else to the </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> appropriation of goods produced by others” –Vilfredo Pareto</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> "What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know. It's what we know for </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i> sure that just ain't so"</i><i> --- Mark Twain</i></div></div><i></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b> </b><br />
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</span></span>erichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16681422881270765100noreply@blogger.com1