Happy Independence Day

Declaration of Independence

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all persons are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among people,
deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.

That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends,
it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new government,
laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form,
as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes;
and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable,
than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism,
it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government,
and to provide new guards for their future security.

Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration, wrote this in a letter in 1787.

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.
The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is
wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts
they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions,
it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ...
And what country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not
warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as
to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost
in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from
time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
It is its natural manure."

Obama Administration Opposes new Iran Sanctions

Report: U.S. to block Iran sanctions at G8 summit by Shlomo Shamir at Hareetz

The United States is opposed to enacting a new set of financial sanctions against Iran that are due to be discussed in the G8 summit next week, diplomatic officials in New York reported Friday.

Wow! I keep saying that Obama hasn't brought any change, but this is really different. I'm amazed that after all the fuss and debate about Iranian elections that the US would change direction and oppose new sanctions on the Ahmadinejad regime just as it consolidates power after the elections.

Then I read the very last paragraph.

New sanctions could include forbidding western oil companies from maintaining commercial ties with Iran.

Oh, sorry, no change at all. The US government is still acting as the agent of the oil companies. It will support trade with an Ahmadinejad regime that maybe just stole an election and which definitely just gunned down peaceful protesters in the streets ... as long as that makes more money for the oil companies.

Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Same as it ever was

Unemployed Councils and Eviction Riots

Unemployed Councils and Eviction Riots from midtowng at Progressive Historians.

Follow the link and see how Americans organized themselves in the 1930's to resist the banks and the landlords.

The biggest myth that is constantly promoted in this country is that it has to be this way and that we are all powerless to change anything. Neither is true.

UN expert says Israeli seizure of aid ship a crime

UN expert says Israeli seizure of aid ship a crime from Reuters.

A U.N. human rights investigator on Thursday called Israel's seizure of a ship carrying relief aid for the Gaza Strip "unlawful" and said its blockade of the territory constituted a "continuing crime against humanity".

and ...

"Such a pattern of continuing blockade under these conditions amounts to such a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions as to constitute a continuing crime against humanity," Falk said in a statement released in Geneva.

Prior to leaving Cyprus, the ship was inspected by Cypriot authorities in response to Israeli demands to determine whether it carried any weapons, according to the U.N. investigator. "None were found and Israeli authorities were so informed."

"Nonetheless, the 21 peace activists on the boat were arrested, held in captivity and have been charged with 'illegal entry' to Israel even though they had no intention of going to Israel," Falk added.

Kafka would love this! The Israelis seize a ship in international waters that has no intention of entering Israel. It kidnaps all of those on board, and forcibly takes them to Israeli prisons. It then accuses them of 'illegal entry' into Israel.

To me, the best analogy to what's going on is the Somali pirates. In both cases, armed men in boats go out into international waters to hijack a ship and kidnap its crew and passengers. I suppose we are lucky that the Israelis aren't demanding ransom to release its victims. Instead, it is only holding them prisoner until they can try to force them to sign propaganda statements that Israel wants.

The good news is this. The Israelis say Ms. McKinney is being "uncooperative". I'll bet she is! You go girl!

Zelaya Postpones His Return

Zelaya Postpones His Return by Laura Carlson via AmericasMexicoBlog.

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya suspended his return to his country scheduled for tomorrow, July 2, awaiting the termination of a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the Organization of America States yesterday.

"The OAS has called for 72 hours (to re-establish President Zelaya in power) and we agree with this decision," Zelaya stated.

and

Rafael Alegria, leader of Via Campesina rural organizations in the country told the Americas Program in an exclusive interview this morning that protest movements are mobilizing throughout the country and awaiting the end of the 72-hour period.

"We are waiting to see if in the 72-hour period set by the OAS, we can achieve the re-establishment of the rule of law, to strengthen democratic processes that are taking place throughout all of Latin America."

Does this ship look dangerous?

ISRAEL SEIZES FREE GAZA VESSEL WITH NOBEL LAUREATE AND CYNTHIA MICKINNEY ABOARD from Progressive Review

Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the Spirit of Humanity, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.

What is 'dangerous' about this boat? It certainly doesn't look like a warship. Its purpose wasn't a secret. The ship was openly loaded with humanitarian supplies, ie, medical supplies, olive trees, children toys, etc. It was also carrying peace activists, including a US Presidential candidate and a Nobel Laureate. Given the nature of the boat, its cargo and its passengers, it was clearly no threat to anyone.

Yet, the Israelis stopped and boarded the boat, kidnapped those on board, and seized the boat and the humanitarian supplies.

Zelaya Says He Will Return to Honduras on Thursday

Zelaya Says He Will Return to Honduras on Thursday by Kristin Bricker via NarcoNews

Ousted Honduran President Manual Zelaya has announced that he will return to Honduras on Thursday. "I'm going to finish my four-year term, whether or not you coup leaders are in agreement," he stated.

Zelaya will return to Honduras accompanied by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, and a commission of Latin American presidents. The Argentine government has announced that its President Cristina Fernandez will accompany Zelaya to Honduras as part of the presidential commission. In a press conference following his speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Zelaya stated that Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa will also accompany him.

Colinas, Santa Barbara, Mayor Amable de Jesus Hernandez told TeleSUR that citizen caravans were being organized to travel from his region to the capital of Tegucigalpa on Thursday to receive President Zelaya.

Funny, I went to CNN just to see how they were covering the story. Of course, what they are covering is Michael Jackson. But, I had seen one article that they accredited to another website about 15 items down on their news list. So, I went back to go see if it mentioned this rather newsworthy event above. Nope. Its a piece about how some people are coming out in demonstrations supporting the US trained generals who staged the coup. Its absolutely amazing how bad CNN is.

Go to NarcoNews, SOA Watch for good news. Probably other sites as well. Foreign Policy in Focus is usually good, but they move at magazine pace so it might be a few days before stories appear there. The image in this post is from SOA Watch.

A tale of two coups

The image is from SOA Watch which has a lot of other good info and photos on their website. In case you don't know, "SOA Watch" is short for "School of the Americas Watch". The School of the Americas is a US military training institute that teaches the militaries and police of central and south America the finer points of torture, repression, death squads, etc. The leaders of the coup in Honduras were all trained by the US military at the School of the Americas.

Isn't it fascinating to see the difference in the corporate media coverage of the protests in Iran and the protests in Honduras. When a young lady gets killed by the Iranian state, they blast her name and picture all over the media. When two people are killed by the Honduras state which is now led by officers trained by the US, the details are buried at the bottom of stories. What's really important today is Michael Jackson. Not the fact that officers trained by the US leading a military that's largely funded by the US are killing their own citizens in the streets.

Obama is being careful so far. Actually, right now the Honduran people are getting the classic Obama-treatment. They get some nice sounding words from him. Meanwhile, he refuses to issue the one word that would help them. That word is 'coup'. Under US law, we have to discontinue aid to the illegal Honduran government and the Honduran military if Obama declares this to be a coup. Thus, that means that amongst all his pretty words about how he opposes this, the one word that you don't hear is 'coup'.

Also, awhile back I put NarcoNews on the links to the left. Whenever anything happens 'south of the border', that is an excellent source of information.