Clipmarks | masbury's clips

An Iranian voice

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:41:53 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Demonstrates the affect of US policy on Iranians who disapprove of their leaders

Clip Source: iranfacts.blogspot.com

These men sicken me

but as long as my country is threatened, sanctioned and isolated, I will be standing with them.

Tags: war on terror, politics

McCain's 30-second flip-flop on Hagee

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:30:47 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Pastor who blames Katrina on gays, calls Catholicism "the Great Whore"; probably a mistake, but glad to have it, McCain says.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

McCain Flip-Flops In 30 Seconds: Hagee Endorsement A ‘Mistake,’ But ‘I’m Glad To Have’ It»

Last February, hard-line conservative evangelical Pastor John Hagee endorsed Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) candidacy for president. Despite Hagee’s history of controversial and bigoted comments –- such as calling Catholicism “The Great Whore” and blaming Hurricane Katrina on gays –- McCain said he was “very honored” to receive the endorsement, one which he also reportedly sought.

McCain’s double-talk on Hagee went a step further yesterday on ABC’s This Week

first agreeing that it was a “mistake” to accept it, but less than 30 seconds later saying he is “glad” to have it:

STEPHANOPOULOS: So was it a mistake to solicit and accept his endorsement?

MCCAIN: Oh, probably, sure. […]

STEPHANOPOULOS: So you no longer want his endorsement?

MCCAIN: I’m glad to have his endorsement. I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything. And thanks for asking.

Tags: mccain, hagee, politics

Exxon-Mobil most profitable company for 5th year straight

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:26:29 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: No recession there.

Clip Source: thinkprogress.org

Exxon Mobil ranked as #1 most profitable company for fifth year straight.»

Oil giant Exxon Mobil takes second place on the new Fortune 500 list, with first place going to Wal-Mart. Exxon Mobil, however, was the most profitable company for the fifth year in a row, “raking in a record-breaking $40 billion in 2007 earnings.”

Tags: business, news

Network "military analysts" got talking points from Pentagon

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:23:23 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: While being paid by military contractors. NY Times breaks a major story ...

Clip Source: www.dailykos.com

Yesterday the New York Times carried an in-depth, documented report on a propaganda war that has been waged against the American people

the Pentagon has been sending out a cadre of military analysts to blanket the airways with "favorable news coverage of the administration’s wartime performance."

They are the retired military officers that appear on every network and cable news show as paid analysts to explain the intricacies of war to us

what we weren't told was that they have also been working for the White House, the State Department and the Justice Department, receiving briefings from high level government officials, including Dick Cheney, before heading to the T.V. studio to offer their "personal opinion"

And what's worse, these "experts" not only regularly receive their talking points from the administration, they also represent:

...more than 150 military contractors either as lobbyists, senior executives, board members or consultants.

It is nothing less than propaganda for profit

Tags: military, media, news, pentagon

Torture Victim's Records "Lost" at Gitmo

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:16:01 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Admits Gen. Dunlavey. Inmate sexually harassed, forced to perform dog tricks, given enemas. And the proof has disappeared.

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

The former head of interrogations at Guantánamo Bay found that records of an al-Qaida suspect tortured at the prison camp were mysteriously lost by the US military, according to a new book by one of Britain’s top human rights lawyers.

Retired general Michael Dunlavey, who supervised Guantánamo for eight months in 2002, tried to locate records on Mohammed al-Qahtani, accused by the US of plotting the 9/11 attacks, but found they had disappeared.

The records on al-Qahtani, who was interrogated for 48 days - “were backed up … after I left, there was a snafu and all was lost”, Dunlavey told Philippe Sands QC, who reports the conversation in his book Torture Team, previewed last week by the Guardian. Snafu stands for Situation Normal: All Fucked Up.

Saudi-born al-Qahtani was sexually taunted, forced to perform dog tricks and given enemas at Guantánamo.

The CIA admitted last year that it destroyed videotapes of al-Qaida suspects being interrogated at a secret “black site” in Thailand.

Tags: guantanamo bay, gitmo, torture, war on terror, news

Maryland pitches local food in school cafeterias

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:09:22 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: State legislature opens doors for local produce

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

That’s because schools aren’t set up to accept local produce, leading to a Byzantine national food distribution grid where apples from Maryland end up in schools in South Carolina but aren’t served in local ones.

“The trouble is that major school systems, to get what they want, they deal with a wholesaler. They want a one-stop shop,”

A bill awaiting the governor’s signature aims to change that. It’s part of a national Farm-To-School movement that’s headed to Maryland to encourage more local produce on cafeteria trays.

The twin missions of boosting local farmers while trimming fuel costs for shipping food long distances has found unanimous approval from Maryland legislators.

The bill would start a “Maryland Homegrown” week in school cafeterias and encourage schools to teach children about local agriculture through farm field trips.

Oklahoma started serving locally grown melons in a few schools in 2002, and now that state’s melon program has grown to hundreds of schools.

Tags: food, politics, news, agriculture