The Chilcot Report 7-7-2016

7, July 2016                           The Chilcot Report

In a classic example of British bureaucratic overkill, the ‘long awaited’ commission of Enquiry into the run up to the Iraq war, was made public. Four times longer than ‘War and Peace’ – a full 12 volumes containing 2.6 million words taking seven years to complete added nothing new that was not contained in the infamous ‘Downing Street Memo’. As it turns out, The Chilcot Report erroneously attributed the Iraq war on flawed intelligence. Not true. The war was launched on manufactured ‘intelligence’ to justify removal of Saddam Hussein by falsely incriminating him with the 9/11 attacks, and manufacturing WMD’s. Ahmad Chalabi, an Iraqi exile, described contemptuously as “Curveball”, a convicted sex offender and low level engineer, became the sole source for much of the bogus information used to justify the invasion. Drawings of aluminum tubes were presented as Saddam Hussein’s mobile weapons labs. Chalabi convinced the gullible Bush administration that the tubes were centrifuges for enriching uranium  and thus constituted proof, the ever elusive ‘smoking gun,’  that Saddam remained determined to acquire nuclear weapons.

While Blair amasses millions from speaking and consulting fees, Bush paints pretty pictures on his canvas and Cheney enjoys fly fishing, Iraq lies in ruins, and ISIS becomes a multi-headed monster metastasizing to all corners of the globe. It is time Blair traded his Saville Row suits to prison garbs and Bush and his co-conspirators, head to Riker’s maximum security prison to atone for their many sins.

Clinton’s private email server 7-6-2016

6, July 2016                            Clinton’s private email server

It appears evident that FBI director, James Comey, buckled under political pressure in his failure to indict Hillary Clinton. The statute relative to national security is unambiguous, namely “it is a crime to remove national defense information from its proper place of custody, even though negligence.”

Contrary to Clinton’s repeated assertions, she sent and received top secret information using her unsecured email system, a system far less secure than Google Gmail.  Top Clinton aides warned her of their concerns only to be told in the most haughty and arrogant way ‘never to bring up the subject again’. This shows extreme lack of judgement bordering on criminality where she chose to jeopardize national security for her personal convenience. According to the New York Times, Clinton corresponded with people whose accounts had been hacked allowing them to glean top secret information.  Public officials must be held to a higher standard and fully accountable for any transgressions. Comey erred in giving Clinton a free pass. The FBI’s image has been severely tarnished. As one commentator astutely observed, “Justice isn’t blind – it merely averts her eyes from Hillary Clinton.”  

Bahrain 7-3-2016

3, July 2016                              Bahrain

In 2011 the people of Bahrain revolted against their autocratic ruler flooding the streets demanding political reform. Saudi Arabia responded to Bahrain’s call for help sending in troops who ruthlessly crushed the revolt. A few courageous citizens continue to speak out but are now in mortal danger of losing their citizenship which is a common ploy to silence critics.

The latest victim is the spiritual head of the Shia majority, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim. A large number of human rights activists have suffered a similar fate. Protests are banned in Manama, the capital, while new draconian laws have been passed to discourage dissent.

In gestures of outright hypocrisy, western PR firms responded to Bahrain’s request to clean up its image reaping tens of millions of dollars in contracts. The UN’s demands for reform were contemptuously ignored by Bahrain’s foreign minister who tweeted “We will not waste our time listening to the high commissioner who has no strength or power.” Juan Méndez, the UN’s special rapporteur on torture responded bitterly, “Bahrain is shielded from criticism by Britain which is building a naval base in the kingdom, and America, which keeps its Fifth Fleet there.” British arms sales to Bahrain have increased significantly over the past five years. In another statement of mindless cowardice, Philip Hammond, Britain’s foreign secretary, wrote approvingly of Bahrain’s “commitment to continuing reforms.” A shameful act of abandonment by Britain and the US who put their interests ahead of the democratic aspirations of the people of Bahrain.

Turkey 7-1-2016

1, July 2016                                  Turkey

Once seen as a poster child for Islamic moderation, Turkey is rapidly descending into a polarized society. Like much of the Islamic world, Erdogan’s grip on power is tightening and intolerance and violence is growing. 

Closeted in his huge 1,000 room mansion, he perceives critics as the enemy.

Contrary to common Western misconceptions, Erdogan’s military is not attacking ISIS but is waging a relentless against the Kurdish Workers’ Party, the PKK, which has fought an intermittent insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s.

A number of towns in Turkey’s southeast are under curfew and resentment and anger towards Erdogan’s authoritarian rule is growing. He is playing a dangerous game of appeasement allowing ISIS fighters to move across the border to their Syrian stronghold, Raqqa.

Erdogan’s double dealing has confounded the Americans who depend on Kurdish fighters to curb the menacing presence of ISIS.

Turkey has suffered geographic bad luck situated in an extremely violent region with millions pouring across its border.  But Erdogan’s prickly and erratic personality has not helped. In an effort to project himself as a strong leader he has continued to wage war on the Kurds and has jailed dissidents who challenge his rule.

Western nations are well aware that Erdogan holds a winning hand. Any threat or challenge to his rule will be accompanied by closing the borders with Syria unleashing millions of migrants into Europe.

Refugees 6-27-2016

27, June 2016                                 Refugees

Central American refugees attempting to escape from conflict zones have been severely hampered in their efforts by a tacit agreement between President Obama and Mexican President, Peña Nieto. The U.S. has funded Mexico with $86 million to halt the upward migration. A large number of these refugees are forced to work for cocaine gangs at the point of a gun threatened with certain death (often including members of their families) if they refuse.

Sadly, Obama’s soaring rhetoric and compassion on the plight of refugees does not match his behind the scene policies. In practical terms we have successfully bribed the Mexican government to do our dirty work in stemming the flow of refugees from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. This has undoubtedly solved a political crisis but in humanitarian terms it has been a monumental disaster for some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Many repatriated refugees face certain death killed with the gang number carved on their chests as a warning to others.  According to the Migration Policy Institute the U.S. has deported 800,000 to Central America including 40,000 children. Last year, Mexico accelerated its deportation program expelling more than five times unaccompanied children than the prior year which the Obama administration heralded as a great success. Salva Lacruz, coordinator Human Rights Center in Tapachula described U.S. polices as “reeking in hypocrisy”. We need far better programs rooted in real compassion more especially because of past US polices which fomented much of the instability in Central America. 

Brexit 6-25-2016

25, June 2016                           Brexit

Britain’s historic decision to leave the European Union has sent shock waves across the Continent, rattled entrenched political establishments and plunged stock markets across the world. This was a major miscalculation by Prime Minister David Cameron and a major victory for his arch rival, jester golden boy, Boris Johnson. Cameron only floated the idea of a referendum to placate the right wing ’leave’ members of his own party. The decision also highlights the power of the anti-establishment, xenophobia nationalist parties across Europe. This also reflects the growing anger of many Americans trapped in low paying jobs with a dismal future. A rising tide does not raise all boats – too many have washed ashore.

Brexit has given a major boost to the anti-immigrant U.K. Independence Party. As one dismayed pro-Europe castigated his ‘leave’ compatriots, “your hatred for Europe exceeds your love for your grandkids”. Trump’s supporters are exactly like the ‘leave’ storm troopers. However, on the flip side Britain has carelessly allowed too many immigrants which have overburdened its social services. It has a population of 660 people per square mile compared to the USA, 85. A word of comfort for those Brits looking for new leadership. We have just the man for you who happens to be in your neck of the woods, whacking golf balls in bonnie Scotland. He will round up all those pesky immigrants, make fantastic deals with trading partners and make Britain Great Again!   

Is Trump Guilty of Tax Fraud 6-16-2016

16, June 2016                       Is Trump Guilty of Tax Fraud

For months, presumptive Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump has played coy and refused to release his tax returns.

According to Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, David Cay Johnston of the Daily Beast, new evidence has emerged that Trump didn’t pay any taxes and may have committed tax fraud. His investigation showed that in 1984 Trump reported zero income and $625,000 expenses, with no receipts and no documentation.

During the hearing, which lasted two days, the CPA and lawyer who had done Trump’s tax returns for years, claimed that although their signature appeared on the return they stated under oath they had not prepared the tax return. This appears to be strong evidence that Trump had in fact forged his tax return to avoid paying taxes. The case should be reopened and thoroughly investigated and if Trump is found guilty of tax fraud he should serve a long prison sentence and pay a heavy fine. In the meantime he should release his current tax returns online so that all his adoring fans could see the true nature of their Pipe Piper.