Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Logan Act: Secrecy, Sovereignty, Democracy and Freedom of Speech


The Logan Act (US federal law, 1799), like the US Fourteenth Amendment (1868), falls into the category, I would say, of ambiguous legislation, which may be applied to serve the interests of the people, or alternately, to strip the people of their rights and deprive them of their interests. It must therefore be amended, as with the Fourteenth Amendment, in order to clarify its intent and application. I am not a lawyer or legislator, but these are my thoughts, and I believe they are worthy of serious consideration.

The Logan Act should allow citizens to hold discussions or correspondence with foreign nations' peoples, governments or representatives, but not as official representatives of the US government unless duly authorized, and not in secret – this would thereby give the protection of sovereignty which was intended, while upholding freedom of speech, assembly and association.

Allowing small groups of powerful men to meet secretly to discuss affairs of state pertaining to one or more nations is undemocratic and unwise, and leads easily to the tyranny of the few over the many. The closed door meetings of the Security and Prosperity Partnership, which seek to integrate the laws, regulations, economies, military, security and intelligence of Canada, the US and Mexico, as well as the secretive meetings of elite clubs such as the Bilderberg group, CFR and Trilateral Commission are four clear examples of such meetings which undermine the democratic process and leave open wide, the door to oligarchic anti-democratic rule.

Absence of checks on such extra-parliamentary, unaccountable and anti-democratic concentrations of power constitute grave and immediate threats to the functioning of democratic processes, to national sovereignties, as well as to the rights and freedoms of citizens in the US and other nations. Let the super-rich and corporate elite have their clubs. But let us not be so foolish as to allow them secretive meetings pertaining to national and international affairs of the greatest importance. Open the doors, if they wish to discuss. Power confers responsibility, not the prerogatives for skirting and avoiding accountability. This applies equally to economic power as to political power, if not more so – or, at least it will when we choose to exercise our common sense.

At the same time, banning citizens’ discussion with foreign nations or foreign citizens is clearly in violation of basic principles of human rights and freedom. To say for example that a US Senator, or any US citizen, is forbidden to speak with a member of a foreign government, and will be sanctioned, censured or imprisoned for doing so, as some tried to impose recently, is clearly draconian, unconstitutional, illegal, immoral, anti-democratic and antithetical to the principles of freedom.

The clarification recommended here would resolve both dilemmas.

Alternately, the previously proposed HR 6252 would vacate the law, rendering it next to useless, while Steve King’s proposed amendment would make it, as described above, draconian and unconstitutional as well as incompatible with basic rights and freedom.

This is a law which presently may be of service or of harm to the people, and no clarity is presently available within its current framing. It must therefore be amended, and it can be argued compellingly, immediately so. The significance of the act is in terms of two not unrelated realms, that of basic freedoms, and that of unchecked concentrations of un-elected and unaccountable, undemocratic powers. It is vital that both of these be addressed, and this act must be amended, along with other measures which must be taken, in order to accomplish this.

In the meantime, if the Logan Act can be utilized to protect the sovereignty, rights, freedoms and interests of the people of the United States, then of course it should be utilized immediately for that purpose. Though it is in need of clarification, it may even now be a vehicle to advance the public interest over the special interests of the highly influential corporate lobby. It would seem obvious that this should begin at once.

In sum, clarification and proper utilization of the Logan Act, the Fourteenth Amendment – stripping corporations of the unconstitutional and illegitimate, absurd claim to personhood – along with strengthening and full utilization of the competition and anti-trust laws, would go a considerable way to protecting the democratic process, the Constitution, and the sovereignty, rights and freedoms of the citizens of the United States, all of which are now under attack, and are in very real and immediate danger of being submerged by a transnational un-elected, undemocratic, unaccountable “defacto world government” – as the leading business journal in the Western hemisphere, the Financial Times, has itself described the emerging global corporatist order.

It is not too late to act, and all the tools and peaceful means at the disposal of the citizenry must be rallied and utilized in defense of freedom. There is no time to lose. A new form of tyranny is undeniably arising, and swiftly so.


People involved with the American Freedom Agenda, people opposed to the SPP and NAU, note this. It may be one more tool for protecting democracy and freedom from the rapidly encroaching corporate rule.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_Act

http://jtoddring.blogspot.com

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Saturday, August 18, 2007

NAFTA with Guns - Defeating the SPP

SPP Forum and Protest August 19-21

The SPP threatens our environment, social programs, civil liberties, sovereignty and the foundations of democracy. The MAI was killed, and full corporate rule averted. Now we must do the same with the SPP. Time to act! Get informed. Get involved. Send this to everyone you know.

The RCMP, Surete du Quebec and US Army, who are providing security for the SPP meeting between Bush, Harper and Calderone this Sunday to Tuesday (Aug.19-21), have prevented a public discussion forum from being held in the nearby town of Papineauville. This is a good indication of the anti-democratic nature of this "Security and Prosperity Partnership." Fortunately, we still have freedom of speech. So speak up while you can. The internet is now the most powerful media and communications tool the public has. Let's use it.

JTR


The best overview I've seen to date:

The SPP Meeting in August -- and Preparations to oppose it


For further background search this blog for other SPP articles.


Integrate This!
Call to Action Against the SPP! August 19-21

http://www.canadians.org/integratethis/


Poster: Share, print and post this everywhere!

http://www.canadians.org/integratethis/summit/Forum_Aug07.pdf


Attention law students, lawyers and legal professionals:
BCCLA Call for Legal Witnesses

http://www.bccla.org/montebello.htm


Ride-Share to Ottawa & Montebello, Aug. 19

http://www.canadians.org/integratethis/summit/travel.html


An activist camp and gathering: Un Campement

http://www.uncampement.net/?q=en


Still in doubt? Read the following:

Canadian Sovereignty in Jeopardy: The Militarization of North America
by Michael Chossudovsky, Center for Research on Globalization,
August 17, 2007
http://www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=6572


Related article, reprinted from PEJ.org:


The RCMP, the rogue states, and the SPP Summit

Pej.org news - Joan Russow (PhD) Global Compliance Research Project. It is reported by the Council of Canadians (see below) that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and U.S. Army have blocked a public forum on the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) which was to take place during the SPP summit in Montebello, Quebec on August 20 and 21. If the RCMP is ever going to be credible in the eyes of the public, the RCMP must be perceived to be the enforcer not of the whims of the corporate sector but of fundamental peremptory norms to which most states in the world adhere.

www.PEJ.org


After months, if not years, of the RCMP engaged in range of questionable practices which culminated in the resignation of the Commissioner Zacardelli, the New RCMP Commissioner William Elliot is taking the RCMP to a new
level of ignominy. Before assuming the position of Commissioner of the RCMP, William Elliot, -a “terrorist expert” - in his various capacities, under Transport and Public Safety ministries has been playing a sycophantic role to his US counterparts. Now, with his first act as the RCMP Commissioner he demonstrates that, rather than enforcing the rule of law, he is willing, by denying the Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Association, to violate both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international human rights instruments, such as the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights to which Canada, US and Mexico are signatories. .

If the RCMP is ever going to be credible in the eyes of the public, the RCMP must be perceived to be the enforcer not of the whims of the corporate sector but of fundamental peremptory norms to which most states in the world adhere. . The RCMP should be concerned that the SPP summit that the RCMP is so intent on protecting is one with at least two leaders who have seriously violated fundamental norms expressed in Conventions such as the Convention against Torture, and the Geneva conventions.

If the RCMP is to be credible, the RCMP should refuse to be an instrument of the US army, and should act to oppose the Security and Prosperity Partnership which further entrenches the licence to violate not only the fundamental human rights of freedom expression and assembly , but also key legally biding environmental, labour, social justice obligations and commitments.


The RCMP should also be concerned that the three countries have either failed to sign and ratify international agreements related to preventing war and conflict, to guaranteeing human rights, to ensuring social justice, to preserving and protecting the environments, or failed to enact the necessary legislation to ensure the implementation and enforcement of these agreements.

But no, the role of the RCMP has become to protect leaders of states which conspire to undermine the rule of law, and to prevent citizens from acting to protect the commons and the common good.

Pej.org news - Joan Russow (PhD) Global Compliance Research Project



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


RCMP and U.S. Army block public forum on Security and Prosperity Partnership


The Council of Canadians has been told it will not be allowed to rent a


municipal community centre for a public forum it had planned to coincide


with the next Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) summit in


Montebello, Quebec on August 20 and 21.


The Municipality of Papineauville, which is about six kilometres from

Montebello, has informed the Council of Canadians that the RCMP, the Sûreté

du Québec (SQ) and the U.S. Army will not allow the municipality to rent the

Centre Communautaire de Papineauville for a public forum on Sunday August

19, on the eve of the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership Leaders

Summit.

"It is deplorable that we are being prevented from bringing together a panel

of writers, academics and parliamentarians to share their concerns about the

Security and Prosperity Partnership with Canadians," said Brent Patterson,

director of organizing with the Council of Canadians. "Meanwhile, six

kilometres away, corporate leaders from the United States, Mexico and Canada

will have unimpeded access to our political leaders."

As well as being shut out of Papineauville, the Council of Canadians has

been told that the RCMP and the SQ will be enforcing a 25-kilometre security

perimeter around the Chateau Montebello, where Stephen Harper will meet with

George W. Bush and Felipe Calderón on August 20 and 21. According to

officials in Montebello, there will be checkpoints at Thurso and Hawkesbury,

and vehicles carrying more than five people will be turned back.

Founded in 1985, the Council of Canadians is Canada's largest citizens'

organization, with members and chapters across the country. The organization

works to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on

fair trade, clean water, safe food, public health care, and other issues of

social and economic concern to Canadians.


http://www.canadians.org/media/DI/2007/11-July-07.html

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Wednesday, April 11, 2007

The SPP: Stealth Coup?

The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) is an issue that is heating up rapidly among grassroots popular movements as well as the general citizenry - ironically, on the right in the U.S. and on the left in Canada.

The SPP is an agreement signed in March, 2005 by then heads of government of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, George Bush, Paul Martin and Vicente Fox. According to the official U.S. government SPP website, the agreement is not a treaty or trade deal, but a "dialogue."

Documents obtained from the Pentagon under the Freedom of Information Act state that the SPP is "a broad and ambitious" plan to create "full regulatory harmonization" and "deep integration" of the economies, military, intelligence, laws and regulations of the three nations.

A council of 30 CEOs - 10 to represent each nation - has already been created: the North American Competitiveness Council (NACC). The NACC will form policy and "brief" Congress and Parliament.

In the U.S. and Canada, citizens groups are beginning to take notice, and are appalled. The SPP is being viewed by critics, both on the right and the left of the political spectrum, as a serious threat to sovereignty and democracy. All evidence points in this direction. The fact that it is being carried out in very secretive ways, with no Congressional or Parliamentary debate or oversight, only adds to the perception that this is a deeply anti-democratic agenda.

J. Todd Ring

April 11, 2007

For more information on the SPP, here are a few of the best articles and resources available:

INTEGRATE THIS! A Citizen’s Guide to Fighting Deep Integration

* Secret Banff Meeting of CEOs and the Defense Establishment : Militarization and the Deconstruction of North America

*** ZNet |Economy | Power to the People (In Suits)

Fast-Track to Fascism: The SPP in a Nutshell


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Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Towing the Line with the Mainstream Media

"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."
- Benjamin Franklin

“The media serve the interests of state and corporate power, which are closely interlinked, framing their reporting and analysis in a manner supportive of established privilege and limiting debate and discussion accordingly.”

Noam Chomsky


As Chomsky accurately pointed out – merely stating what should be obvious – the major media set the boundaries of acceptable discussion. They serve the function, among others, of saying in effect, “Thus far, and no further.” To step outside these parameters is thus implicitly portrayed as stepping off the edge of the earth. Beyond these bounds we enter the irrational, lunatic fringe. However, as also should be obvious, the bounds of discussion are extraordinarily narrow. Five corporations control network media in the U.S., six in Canada. They share a common perspective and present an extremely narrow range of views. Major issues are framed within a common lens of spin, omission of certain critical, salient facts, and outright distortion. Other major issues are not covered at all, or buried on page 39, in a minor note, right next to a recipe for oatmeal porridge or some other riveting feature. It should go without saying that if we allow the corporate media to set the parameters of discussion, we are lost.

Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the media.

Noam Chomsky

It is now a matter of public record that the U.S. government has contracted out to Haliburton subsidiary KBR to build detention centers in America. KBR itself announced this in their own press release, stating that the contract is “open-ended” in terms of time-frame and scale. This should be worrisome. We remember that detention centers have been built – and used – before. In the U.S. and Canada during the second world war, the Japanese detention centers left a horrible and grotesque legacy. And of course, we have the chilling memory of the Nazi prison camps. When the U.S. government, already moving rapidly in the direction of fascism, as any sane observer recognizes, starts building detention centers, we should take this as noteworthy. This is newsworthy, or nothing is. But if the major media don’t cover it, then we all feel it is unacceptable to talk about it.

It is now a matter of public record – not theory – that the executive branches of the U.S., Canadian and Mexican governments, along with at least three extremely powerful corporate lobby groups, have begun, under the signed agreement called the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), what is being called a “dialogue” to create “full regulatory harmonization” and “deep integration” within “Fortress North America” in “the new security environment.” This is a program that is far more broad and ambitious than NAFTA, CAFTA or the FTAA, yet it is being met with almost complete silence by the mainstream media. Are we to then accept that such a major program, which is being carried out without Congressional or Parliamentary oversight or debate, which will redefine the economies, military and security structures, laws, regulations, borders and political process of the three nations, is not fit for public discussion, is not a legitimate topic of debate or dialogue, is beyond the range of acceptable discourse? The answer is, of course - or should be - obvious.

If we concede to the major media setting the bounds of discussion, and thus accept that these are the limits to rational or legitimate dialogue, then we have conceded defeat. Must we accept such narrow and arbitrary terms on the bounds of sane and reasonable discourse? What are we, men and women, or cattle?

“Half the American population no longer reads
newspapers: plainly, they are the clever half.”
- Gore Vidal

“If words were invented to conceal thought,
newspapers are a great improvement of a bad invention.”
- Henry David Thoreau

“I find it so difficult to dispose of the few facts which to me are significant, that I hesitate to burden my attention with those which are insignificant. Such is, for the most part, the news in newspapers and conversation.” - Thoreau

“Trying to be a first-rate reporter on the average American newspaper is like trying to play Bach's St. Matthew Passion on a ukulele.” - Ben Bagdikian


“If you don't want to work, become a reporter. That awful power, the public opinion of the nation, was created by a horde of self-complacent simpletons who failed at ditch and shoemaking and fetched up journalism on their way to poorhouse.” - Mark Twain


“Newspapers are unable, seemingly, to discriminate between a bicycle accident and the collapse of civilization.” - G B Shaw


"The average newspaper, especially of the better sort, has the intelligence of a hillbilly evangelist, the courage of a rat, the fairness of a prohibitionist boob-jumper, the information of a high school janitor, the taste of a designer of celluloid valentines, and the honor of a police-station lawyer." - HL Mencken


“If you're not careful the media will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” - Malcolm X


“The most effectual engines for [pacifying a nation] are the public papers…[A despotic] government always [keeps] a king of standing army of newswriters who, without any regard to truth or what should look like truth, [invent] and put into the papers whatever might serve the ministers. This suffices with the mass of the people who have no means of distinguishing the false from the true paragraphs of a newspaper.”

- Thomas Jefferson, 1785


“I really look with commiseration over the great body of my fellow citizens who, reading newspapers, live and die in the belief that they have known something of what has been passing in the world in their time.” - Thomas Jefferson


“The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he who’s mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false.” - Thomas Jefferson


As my father used to say, if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you follow? Or more directly, if everyone else is content to eat shit sandwiches, do we have to do the same? Why do we tune into the corporate media at all? Surely we are more intelligent than this. I believe most are. And polls show that the great majority of people have a pretty clear sense of what’s going on; and further more, have a high degree of skepticism about the major media. Why then do we continue to tune in, to eat this stuff up, or to allow the mass media to define the parameters of debate and discussion? I have to guess, or conclude, that it is a matter of group think. Heaven forbid that we deviate from the herd.


“In matters of style, swim with the current;
in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”

- Thomas Jefferson


As every intelligent observer knows, mainstream media in Canada and the U.S. are either corporate owned or corporate dominated, due to dependency on advertising revenues. As such, we cannot be surprised to find a very narrow range of perspective and a remarkable commonality of spin across the mass media, with disinformation, distortion and omission of vital information being the norm.

The independent media in general do an excellent job of broadening the range of discussion and covering issues that are under-reported by the corporate media monopolies, but there are areas where the independent media also fall short. The SPP is one glaring example.

What I’d like to suggest is that we keep the obvious in mind at all times: if we are writers, bloggers, independent journalists or media workers, or for that matter, anyone who is involved with or interested in the actual goings on in our world, we must not allow the mainstream media to set the parameters of legitimate public discourse.

Nor can we allow the mainstream media – the corporate-dominated media – to set the tone. The tone in the mass media is tepid, timid, blasé, and not truly objective at all. The media gets itself worked up into a frenzy in order to vilify the proper enemies, or pronounce the corporate party line, but when it comes to reporting or commenting on the short-comings or failures of business as usual and the party line, the best they can muster is a valium stupor of spiritless, apathetic hand-wringing – and this only when the far more common response of rationalization, justification, spin and denial are not the reaction. Genocide in Africa, the race toward ecological self-destruction, risk of nuclear confrontation over Iran or other conflicts, the institutionalization of war crimes as defined by international law, the legalization and routine, systemic use of torture, the destruction of constitutional rights and liberties: these are just a few examples of subjects that demand more than a luke-warm response; at least, that is, if we are to retain our human decency, if we are to address ourselves to the issues in a sane or humane manner, or if we are to introduce into the debate and discussion any of these qualities.

Call it like it is. Euphemistic, wishy-washy reporting and commentary smacks of either intellectual timidity or simple laziness, as well as moral cowardice. The people I admire most in terms of writers are those who have a marked intelligence, or more simply, a basic clarity of mind, and far more importantly, a deep sense of compassion, combined with a willingness to frankly speak the truth, even when it is unpopular to do so. Chomsky, and even more so, Thoreau, come to mind along with others. What we need to hear more of is people speaking plainly and intelligently, with compassion, and also with spine. Journalism that sparks little more passionate response than three day old porridge is not what we need. The usual skirting of issues and bland hedging, is about as effectual at addressing the issues we face as is making love in a wet suit.

In either case, if we allow the mainstream media to set the parameters of debate, the framing of the issue, the bounds of discussion; or to set the tone of public discourse - then we are lost.

As should be self-evident, the relevant facts and evidence must be brought forth, even if this is outside the bounds of discussion as defined by the dominant corporate-controlled media; and the tone of our dialogue must be at least somewhat more impassioned than what is set as the norm of reasonable discussion by the same dominant media forces. To do otherwise is to lose before beginning.

Effective action, or even simple integrity, can be based only upon truth, and courage to speak the truth. It also requires a willingness to meet the issues of the day with more than a banal and blasé spiritlessness, pretending to objectivity, neutrality or “balance”. We need to break the barriers of the media monopolies, and firstly, within our own minds and discourse.

J. Todd Ring

April 10, 2007


Useful links:


Manufacturing Consent

Necessary Illusions

Thoreau's "On Civil Disobedience"

Amazon.com: Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies: Books: Noam Chomsky

Democracy Now!

Free Speech TV

Big Picture TV

oneworld tv<

Project Censored

Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

Who Owns The Media?"

Your Media: Preserve Freedom, Diversity, Independence

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

North America: Timeline to a Fascist State

"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land,
it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."

- James Madison

“Behind every great fortune is a great crime.”
- Balzac

The imperial adventure of Bush and company that may soon be launched against Iran could spell the final blow to democracy at home. Here’s how.

“Common sense tells us the war in Iraq soon will spread to Iran. Fear of imaginary nuclear weapons or an incident involving Iran– whether planned or accidental– will rally the support needed for us to move on Muslim country #3. All the past failures and unintended consequences will be forgotten.

Even with deteriorating support for the Iraq war, new information, well planned propaganda, or a major incident will override the skepticism and heartache of our frustrating fight. Vocal opponents of an attack on Iran again will be labeled unpatriotic, unsupportive of the troops, and sympathetic to Iran’s radicals…

I smell an expanded war in the Middle East, and pray that I’m wrong. I sense that circumstances will arise that demand support regardless of the danger and cost. Any lack of support, once again, will be painted as being soft on terrorism and al Qaeda… I worry that before we can finish the war we’re in and extricate ourselves, the patriotic fervor for expanding into Iran will drown out the cries of, “enough already!....The agitation and congressional resolutions painting Iran as an enemy about to attack us have already begun.”

- U.S. Representative Ron Paul

“Bush is the amalgamation of all the hideous and sad parts of the Republican Party. He is a Republican Frankenstein. He has the temperament of Barry Goldwater, the integrity of Richard Nixon, and the brains of Dan Quayle.

And we trust this guy with his finger on the button?

God help us all if he bombs Iran. And if you think he's not that stupid, you haven't been paying attention.

He says the idea of bombing Iran is "wild speculation." He also said we weren't wiretapping anybody without a court order. He says we're trying diplomacy first. That's exactly what he said about Iraq when we found out he was planning for the war all along. He says Iran is a gathering threat…

Now, who do you trust more -- George Bush or General Anthony Zinni? General Zinni is the former head of US Central Command. He said he saw no evidence of Iraqi WMD before the war. He thought we didn't have enough troops to get the job done right. And now he thinks going into Iran is an even worse idea. Is there a single American who really believes George Bush knows better than General Zinni?”

- Cenk Uygur, If You Liked the Iraq War, You’ll Love the War on Iran

The U.S. is set to attack Iran. Of this there is little question. There are doubts as to whether the military generals, or the people of the United States, will go along with it (Congress at this point is irrelevant, having neutered itself) – in fact, many military, intelligence and high level political elites are dead set against it, along with the majority of the population. Yet the neoconservatives and their timid “opponents” in the Democratic party appear to be blithely unconcerned with popular opinion, or that of any dissenters.

But how can the U.S. government get away with this – even domestically? More to the point, are they wiling to take such a great risk – a risk of complete loss of legitimacy at home, not to mention the fall-out world-wide – in order to achieve their goals of further dominance of energy reserves in the Middle East (which, by any rational assessment, is the true motive)? Even within the military, support for such imperial adventures is failing. Seventy-two percent of our troops now serving in Iraq say it’s time to come home. Two thirds of Americans oppose war on Iran. Senator Joseph Biden has warned that an attack on Iran would provoke a constitutional crisis in America. The crisis of legitimacy is deepening, and widening. U.S. political elites risk losing all if they push further with this “long war” agenda.

All indications are that they are willing to take the risk. It must be viewed therefore, as an act of desperation. The empire is falling, the emperor is in a panic, his minions and acolytes are fearful in the extreme, and desperate measures are perceived to be necessary to avoid total loss.

A gambit is in the offing, and it is a gambit of the greatest proportions and the greatest magnitude of danger to humanity. The U.S. government is set upon invading Iran, using nuclear weapons – “all options are on the table,” is the chorus we hear from Bush, Edwards, Hillary and other apparatchiks - against a relatively small and weak nation - though a much more formidable foe than Iraq, which it cannot subdue - in order to secure control of world oil reserves. In doing so, it will risk the unfolding of WWIII. Russia and China, both superpowers, and both nuclear powers, have entered into a formal military and economic alliance with Iran. Russia and China also have eyes set on the strategic prize of Iranian oil. The U.S. and NATO, backed by the EU, are willing, apparently, to risk global war in order to make a desperate bid to control the world’s energy reserves.

The Western empire of the U.S. and Europe is, after all, being eclipsed rapidly by the BRIC alliance – Brazil, Russia, India and China – and the business and political elite do not want to face the loss of their global economic dominance, which is rapidly slipping away.

“Madam Federal Chancellor already mentioned this.The combined GDP measured in purchasing power parity of countries such as India and China is already greater than that of the United States. And a similar calculation with the GDP of the BRIC countries – Brazil, Russia, India and China – surpasses the cumulative GDP of the EU. And according to experts this gap will only increase in the future.”

- Vladimir Putin, President, Russian Federation,

to the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy, February 2007

The U.S. economy is now a house of cards, its negative balance of payments, deficit and debt spiraling wildly out of control, beyond the realm of even imagination. The U.S. dollar is sinking, and will in all likelihood collapse in the near future.

The U.S. went from being the world’s leading creditor to the world’s leading debtor – thanks to the Vietnam War, the U.S. oil production peak, and the Reagan and Bush military spending and rich-man’s tax cut extravaganza. Bush Jr. alone pushed up the debt by $3.3 trillion since 2001. Globalization has gutted U.S. manufacturing. Everything is imported from China now. The U.S. now exports Hollywood and weapons, and little else. The U.S. trade deficit is now $700 billion a year. The debt is now $8.8 trillion. That is over half of the total value of all American stock – which is valued at $15 trillion. Overseas investors are financing the enormous U.S. deficit, and they are beginning to balk. China alone now holds $1 trillion in U.S. currency – in cash. The U.S. has to bring in $2.8 billion dollars a day – mainly from China – just to keep afloat. Now the head of China’s central bank says, “we have enough” of U.S. currency. The tap is running dry, and nobody wants to keep buying U.S. treasury bills and currency to keep this debtor nation propped up. The writing is on the wall.

“Historically whichever country has been the world’s leading lender, deploying its capital for use around the world has always accrued a particular kind of influence in world affairs, whether it’s the Dutch in the 17th century, or before that the Spanish in the 16th century, or more recently the British from the mid 19th century through the twentieth century or the United States in the great part of the 20th century after World War I.

“Again and again it has always been the world’s leading lending country that has been the premier country in terms of political influence, diplomatic influence and cultural influence. It’s no accident that we took over that role from the British at the same time that we took over from the the job of being world’s leading lending country. Today we are no longer the world’s leading lending country. In fact we are now the world’s biggest debtor country, and we are continuing to wield influence on the basis of military prowess alone. As an American citizen, I hope that we can continue to do this but I have to observe that the tides of world history do not speak well for that strategy.”

“This is not a normal state of affairs. And it’s certainly not something we expect to see from the world’s richest country. Back when Britain was on top they were lending money to the world, but we’re borrowing from the rest of the world. Our current account trade deficit is now more than our defense spending and incredibly we’ve been borrowing from the rest of the world like this for several years now. I think we’re going to reach a point where the rest of the world decides that they don’t want to lend to us. And that can be kind of traumatic.”

- Harvard Economic Professor and former Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund, Kenneth Rogoff, speaking in the documentary film TIME-BOMB: America’s Debt Crisis, Causes, Consequences and Solutions. Time-Bomb

Rogoff spoke like a typically understated professor when he said the coming economic crisis may be “kind of traumatic.” When the U.S. dollar goes down (not if) the U.S. economy goes with it; and more, the global economy will collapse as well. Central banks around the world are selling off the dollar, but not fast enough – U.S. currency comprises over 60% of global currency reserves held in the central banks and other financial institutions world-wide.

The U.S. and EU – or at least the corporate elite and the investment class which dominates political policy, both foreign and domestic – feel the need to do something now, in order to secure their global position of economic predominance, or else concede defeat, and watch the BRIC alliance of Asia and the South take precedence.

Given all of this, it is easy to see why the U.S. and its NATO allies in Europe are acting so desperately, why they would even consider such a desperate plan. It is end-game.

Controlling the Middle East means controlling over 65% of world oil reserves. The world’s economy runs on oil. To control world energy reserves is to ensure – it is hoped – one’s dominance of the global economy. The Western business elite and their political lap dogs must strike now, before the U.S. goes bankrupt and can no longer afford such extraordinarily costly imperial adventures, and seize the world’s largest remaining energy reserves - taking the greatest of risks, hoping to come out the other side having retained global economic dominance, without too much loss.

Yet, even if the neoconservatives in Washington and their cowardly silent accomplices in the Democratic party are willing to take such enormous risk, how can they get away with it without losing all credibility, all legitimacy at home, and thus be swept from power shortly after? This must surely be a consideration as well.

The people pushing for this extremely dangerous gambit in Iran are not stupid – Bush may be, but his advisors are most certainly not; nor are they willing to risk all on plans that are not well thought-out – reckless maybe, dangerous certainly, insane, quite possibly, but well deliberated, without a doubt.

The consideration of popular discontent and backlash against such an extremely unpopular plan as to invade Iran, has certainly been given ample thought and deliberation. The clear majority of American people now want an end to the war in Iraq. They certainly have no desire to expand the war into Iran. Any such attempt to invade Iran would be met with great hostility and disgust at home.

The risk to political elites in engaging in such a perilous and arrogant game of global power politics is that even if they succeed in gaining control over the Middle East and its oil treasures, and therefore have a shot at continued global dominance, in launching such a brazen and deeply unpopular escapade they risk losing all power at home, in the heartland of the empire. A pretext, a cover, a smokescreen is clearly needed, or the neocons and their allies may lose even if they win.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship….voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

- Herman Goering, at the Nuremburg Trials, shortly before being sentenced to hanging for war crimes

“All war is based in deception.” - Sun Tzu

Therefore, in order to carry out this desperate plan to consolidate control over the world’s primary energy reserves, without losing power at home due to broad and deep-seated popular discontent and loss of legitimacy, it will be necessary to increase the sound and fury of the “War on Terror” to a true fever pitch, in order to whip the populace into such a frenzied state of panic that they will agree to almost anything, including the attack on Iran. All of this is unfolding now, and, judging by U.S. and NATO military build-up in the region, and by the statements being made by U.S. political elites, will likely unfold over the next few weeks to few months.

Remember that, “The events of Sept. 11, 2001, served as a trigger for full-scale enactment of the neoconservative program: the declaration of war on international terrorism and “the axis of evil,” the assertion of U.S. military superiority, the doctrine of preemptive war, the weaponization of space, etc... Support the new U.S. war or fall into the category of an enemy.”

- Sergei Plekhanov, The Nightmare Scenario

What would bring the “War on Terror” propaganda to a point where the people of the U.S. may be outraged and fearful enough to support yet another war, when the American people already want out of the present war with Iraq? Most likely, only another crisis, another “catalyzing event”, another 9/11, would be enough to gain support for an expansion of the war on the Middle East. This, it would seem by logical analysis of the present unfolding events, is the most probable scenario, given that the Washington neoconservatives and their allies, particularly the Western business elite, are in a desperate position of being rapidly eclipsed, are desperate to shore up and consolidate their global dominance, via control of world energy reserves, and are simultaneously in a deep crisis of legitimacy at home already, and are unwilling either to risk losing global dominance through inaction in controlling the Middle East, or to lose power through a deepening crisis of legitimacy at home. The solution is simple, and simply Machiavellian: attack Iran, but justify it by staging a terrorist attack on home soil, which is then blamed on Iran.

Should this sound like the ravings of a paranoid “conspiracy theorist” (to use that tired red herring terminology), it would be wise to consider the testimony of one of the pre-eminent establishment intellectuals of the U.S., before the Senate this February 1. Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brezinski stated clearly that the probable unfolding of events would include a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, staged by elements within the U.S. government, and blamed on Iran in order to justify the planned attack with a “defensive” cover.

“And I stress what I am about to say….[A] plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran [is]... Iraqi failure to meet the benchmarks, followed by accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure, then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the US blamed on Iran, culminating in, quote/unquote, ‘defensive’ US military action against Iran...”
- Zbigniew Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor, before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, February 1, 2007 (emphasis added)

This is not John Doe conspiracy theorist with his tinfoil hat – this is one of the leading long-term strategic planners for the National Security Council. We had better take such warnings seriously. It’s not often we get such a clear warning of imminent and grave danger.

Now, bearing this in mind, that the U.S. government is poised to make a grand escapade, an enormously dangerous gambit to secure Middle East oil reserves, and must create terror in order to create a cover and a pretext for such a war, which involves, in all likelihood, another 9/11; what else would another terrorist attack, probably of bigger proportions, entail? Well we don’t have to guess. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, U.S. General Tommy Franks was explicit. The next terrorist attack on the West will be the end of democracy. The Constitution will be suspended, and Congress will not likely be reconvened.

So, we are looking at the likelihood of an imminent attack on Iran, and the need to create a pretext in advance of any attack, which means, in order to pump up the War on Terror rhetoric and fears, quite possibly another 9/11. But we have Tommy Franks also saying that the next terrorist attack will be the end of democracy. So we may have a police state arising in the next few weeks to months, if we are to judge from these revelations. Horrifying, but a very real danger none the less.

There are many who cannot admit that such a scenario is possible. I would argue that such a response is willful naivete, judging by what we have seen before in history. There are great lengths that some will go in the pursuit of power, and the lust of gold. It would be wise never to underestimate the machinations of such Machiavellian men and women. Simply because the vast majority of us could never conceive of carrying out such ruthless and predatory acts, does not mean that there are not others who can – and do.

Add to this the statement by the U.S. Department of Defense’ number two official, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England, in two internal memos sent to high level civilian and military officials, December 5 and February 15, that the “Global War on Terror” is to be completed by October 2008 – just one month before the next U.S. Presidential election. (The contents of these memos were reported by the Washington Post on February 28.) Note that the memos specified that job performance ratings would be judged on these whether the targets were met: that is, their pay would be affected. We were told this was a war without end. Not that I’d like to see it continue, but if the plan is to have “completed” the war by October 2008, the question that arises is, just how do the neocons and their allies plan to complete this “global war on terror” in just a year and a half?

Intelligent observers have recognized that the “Global War on Terror” (GWOT) has served as a cover for imperial wars - in the Middle East primarily, in order to control world energy reserves – as well as for an attack on civil rights and democracy at home. While the executive powers of the White House have been greatly expanded, draconian legislation has been introduced that provides the unconstitutional and illegal “legal” framework for martial law and a police state.

The general direction of the GWOT has been to consolidate corporate power over government, primarily by influence over a government out of balance, with extreme and excessive powers transferred to the executive, to suspend or destroy the constitution, human rights and freedom, to destroy democracy and create the mechanisms for a fascist order, and overseas, to attempt to secure world dominance through control of world oil reserves. What makes us think the “completion” of the GWOT would be any different in spirit and direction that what we have already seen? The completion would thus be the culmination of these trends: consolidation of power at home, in the heart of the empire, which means full-fledged fascism, and consolidation of power globally.

Most Americans, along with the majority of the world, now know that Bush and company stole the U.S. Presidential election of 2000 that brought them to power. One has to ask, given the anti-democratic record of this administration, do they intend to leave? October 2008 the war on terror is planned to be complete. Do the neocons and their corporate backers have plans for the next 18 months that would preclude holding the next election? I hate to think, but it is more than plausible; it seems in fact, quite probable.

Add to this the statement in England’s memos that, "At noon on Jan. 20, 2009, many of the civilian Department of Defense (DOD) leadership positions will transition to a new Administration Team. This change, coupled with the normal rotation of military leadership, could disrupt many of the management process changes currently underway in the Department." Therefore, "it would be highly desirable to complete current projects by the summer/fall of 2008." A potential disruption in the continuity of efforts to pursue the GWOT objectives, is to be avoided.

Bush has also made reference to “institutional continuity”, with regards to the implementation of the SPP and the de facto corporate government of the new North American Council on Competitiveness. Just what did Bush reveal about the thinking of his corporate backers when he referred confidently to “institutional continuity”? The SPP, which by any reasonable estimation is the entrenchment and institutionalization of continent-wide corporate rule, is slated to complete full “regulatory harmonization” across the three nations of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico in 2007. A political tsunami may be expected as a result, as the citizens of the three nations realize what has been invoked in their names. In order to ensure “institutional continuity” of the new order - the trans-continental corporate state - a military regime may need to be in place, as the people of the U.S., Canada and Mexico are known by the political and corporate elite to be overwhelmingly opposed to any institutional change such as the SPP which seriously undermines sovereignty and democracy. It is time to consolidate power at home, or so the thinking of the political and business elite would seem to be.

The above is an analysis of probabilities. It is not prophecy, nor is it speculation. It is an examination of the best evidence and indications available. Former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski has stated that at least major elements of this scenario are likely. I don’t have a crystal ball, but given the best available evidence, the scenario outlined above is, I would say, highly probable. I hope, I pray, that I’m wrong, but I don’t think so. However, as Yogi Berra, or some other source of down-home common sense put it, “It ain’t over `till the fat lady sings.” More to the point, “It ain’t over `till it’s over.”

It’s two down, bottom of the ninth, and the bases are loaded. We need to bring out our heavy hitter. We need to bring out our best. And the best is not some heroic figure on a white horse. The best is the best in us all. Now it is time to draw up all that is good and decent in humanity; now it is time to shine.

We need our best, and we need it from every last one of us. It will take the best of our courage, compassion and dedication to bring this sad era of corporatocracy and cynical fascism, swiftly to a close, and defeat it in its infancy. It will take the transcending of our perceived limitations. It will take us coming together in a spirit of kinship across humanity.

It will take our best. Now is the time to shine. Corporatism must be defeated. The attack on democracy must be defeated. Imperial warfare must now come to an end. The world has had enough. Enough!

"The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force."
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) 3rd American President


"Force is the vital principle and immediate parent of despotism."
- Thomas Jefferson

"If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest." - Thomas Jefferson

This is hardly the spirit of the Bush administration, nor is it the spirit of the neoconservatives or neoliberals that now “lead” – or rather, dominate – the Western world. It is, however, a spirit we would be wise to heed. And it would be wise to heed such words of common sense, and not just kind, moral, compassionate or just. To do otherwise would be to risk our own self-annihilation. Chomsky was right: it is now a matter of choice between hegemony or survival.

It may be that another pretext for the war in Iran – a Gulf of Tonkin event - will be found. It may be that the British sailor incident will be sufficient pretext. I doubt this will be enough in itself, but in any case, the completion of the GWOT, which is scheduled for this year according to the U.S. Defense department, will likely require a lock-down on power at home. And the full implementation of the overwhelmingly unpopular SPP and NACC will also likely require the suspension of liberties and the invocation of martial law in order to ram it through, along with a “catalyzing event” of sufficient magnitude to justify such extreme measures.

I don’t see how the power elite can pull off an expansion of the war in the Middle East, and more importantly, the completion of the GWOT, which by any reasonable analysis is a war on democracy, or the implementation of continental corporate rule via the SPP and NACC, without another major “catalyzing event” – to use the language of PNAC. Thus it would seem we should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

It may be that the new Pearl Harbour, the catalyzing event to spell the end of democracy at home, as Tommy Franks baldly described, will come not before an attack on Iran, but after, in apparent or actual response. Whatever the order of events, such an event is likely, and the results have already been predicted by Franks.

If we are lucky, and we work hard, we may be able to stop the war on Iran before it begins. Maybe the Bush administration and its backers will decide the risk at present is too great, and at least postpone the adventure. The thugs at the helm may also back down from launching another terrorist attack, for the moment – particularly if war against Iran is going to be postponed, or if another pretext for war is found or created.

I doubt either of these will be the case, but in any event, the war on democracy is very real, very deliberate, and escalating: whatever happens, democracy must be defended – at home, not overseas. Likewise, imperial warfare is an abomination on the face of the planet: it is time for the age of empires to end. This may not be as far off as it seems. Whatever happens in the interim, we must remain strong. The future is in our hands. It is not too late to reclaim our dreams.

We have faced the threat of fascism before. Our fathers and grandfathers fought this beast sixty some years ago. We defeated fascism before, and we will defeat it again.

How did we get to this point? First of all, we failed to head the warnings of Jefferson and others, two hundred years ago, that concentrations of financial power, particularly the new corporate aristocracy, were a grave and imminent threat to democracy.

Secondly, you could say, it is simply a matter of class – that “c” word that no-one likes to talk about. The elite of the investment class, which is now globalist, and has little allegiance to any particular nation, has gained such awesome power, that they feel they can make a bid for all power.

At the same time, the elite investment class also clearly recognizes that, while they dominate the economic and political spheres at present, they face a world-wide, deep and growing crisis of legitimacy. The global poll conducted by the World Economic Forum in 2002 showed, to the great disappointment of the Western financial and political elite, that business and political “leaders” now have about as much legitimacy and confidence in the eyes of the people, as used car salesmen and lawyers.

The power elite, to use sociologist C. Wright Mills’ expression, recognize that they presently have more power than ever before, but that that power is simultaneously highly vulnerable, unstable, tenuous and threatened. Thus, the power elite must consolidate power in the heart of the global financial empire now, while they still may be able to do so, before they watch themselves either slowly be eclipsed by the rising East and South, or be cast from power more swiftly by a collapse of legitimacy at home.

A third and more minor element in the drift toward fascism is the 1947 – 1954 CIA recruitment of 7,000 Nazis. While Europe was undergoing what was called “de-Nazification,” America was quietly undergoing Nazification. This in no small way has led the U.S. to where it is today: leader in the world in the war on democracy and freedom.

With America having gone the furthest, the fastest, in losing democracy, freedom and human rights, it may turn out that it is America that takes the lead in turning the tide, and restoring authentic democracy and freedom – and not overseas, by military aggression, but at home, and by example.

The war on democracy will ultimately fail. The people of the Western world have been steeped in the values of freedom, democracy and human rights for over two hundred years. When it finally sinks in that all of these things, which we now take for granted, are being stripped away, the people will not take it lying down. That I can assure you.

In the near term, however, I see insufficient resistance to this most obvious trend toward a police state. I think, at the time of this writing at least, that the powers that now threaten democracy and freedom at home, may in fact have some short-term temporary success. If this is the case, it will be a nightmare. I also believe that whether or not the powers that threaten democracy and freedom at home achieve the success they seek, even temporarily, there will be a very ugly time arise if they even make the attempt. Any end-game act of trying to lock down power at home, will bring in a very dark age. And I think we are in for an end-game attack.

The power elite may back down. I just thought a heads up was in order, in case they don’t.


Further information: articles and videos


The emergence of fascism in the West:

General Tommy Franks calls for Repeal of US Constitution

*** Habeas Corpus Your words are lies Sir - YouTube - olbermann 10-18-06

Eisenhower warns us of the military industrial complex. - Video: 1961 Farewell Address

The Secret Government: PBS video

Power of Nightmares - BBC Documentary

Mind Control: America's Secret War - History Channel Documentary

***Bush Moves Toward Martial Law

Habeas Corpus, R.I.P. (12/15 - 2006)

Demolishing Democracy At Home and Abroad - Noam Chomsky video

The Return of Total Information Awareness - Bush Asserts Dictatorial "Inherent" Powers

Examples of the president's signing statements - The Boston Globe

Air Force chief : Test weapons on testy US mobs - Sep 12 ...

*Private: Routine and systematic torture is at the heart of Americas war on terror | Columnists | Guardian Unlimited

* Top-Secret Torture - washingtonpost.com

* American Concentration Camps Soon? by Frederick Meekins

The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army - Los Angeles Times « Dissident

Noam Chomsky on Hegemony or Survival: America’s Quest For Global Dominance - audio

War on Terrorism Watch: CAUT Resource Website - Home Page

Global Ruling Class: Billionaires and How They ‘Made It’

* The Raw Story | Pentagon's number two suggests terror war will end in Oct. 2008

War on Iran:

YouTube - Brzezinski predicts provoking war with Iran.

If You Liked the Iraq War, You'll Love the Iran War

Olbermann, YouTube - Bush speaks before Iran war as he spoke before Iraq war

Iranians capture British sailors - Flashpoint for war?

Planned Attack on Iran : Bush Will Expand War Before Blair Resigns

Rep.Ron Paul on Iran: The Next Neocon Target « Dissident

Gary Leupp: Iran, a Chronology of Disinformation

Why is the US press silent on Brzezinski’s warnings of war against Iran?

Bush Faces Opposition on Iran Attack

Kucinich: 'Impeachment may well be the only remedy which remains to stop a war of aggression against Iran'

Bush Is About to Attack Iran: Why Can't Americans See it?

US Threats against Iran: War Plans and Pretexts in Place

The Next War: Public in the Dark about Government's Plans for War in Iran - Daniel Ellsberg

* "Cold War Shivers": War Preparations in the Middle East and Central Asia

Debating World Domination: Bilderberg Meets in Canada's Capital

ZNet |Foreign Policy | We Had a Democracy Once, But You Crushed It

StopIranWar.com

Scott Ritter warns an attack on Iran will also be the end of Democratic Party

YouTube - Brzezinski: Colonial war in post-colonial period does not work.

Truthdig - The Nightmare Scenario


U.S. Faces “Economic Armageddon”:

*** Former World Bank Chief Economist Predicts Global Crash within 24 months

* The Dollar's Full-System Meltdown

Time-Bomb

Economic " Armageddon " Predicted

Dollar Catching Asian Flu - Asia Times

OPEC sells the Dollar

Arab central banks sell dollar

As Dollar Plunges, Watch for US Government Bonds Sell -off - DEBKAfile –

The War To Save The U.S. Dollar - Trinicenter.com –

Fears for dollar as central banks sell US assets

BBC NEWS | Business | Is the global economy set for trouble?

Collapse of the Petrodollar Looming

Iranian Oil Bourse Opens for Business: A Final Step Toward US Dollar Collapse & Preemptive Nuclear Strike


An empire at twilight:

Superpower’s global dominance in question

50 Years After Suez, US Hegemony Ebbing Fast

"The United States is Terrified" - Noam Chomsky on Latin America's Move Towards "Independence and Integration"

The Crumbling Empire: Latin America and Asia Breaking Free of Washington's Grip - Noam Chomsky


The crisis of legitimacy:

Global corporate rule is now fragile

Confronting the Empire - Chomsky at the World Social Forum

The Global Crisis of Legitimacy of Liberal Democracy - Social and Economic Policy - Global Policy Forum

US generals ‘will quit’ if Bush orders Iran attack


9/11: Pretext for imperial war and the destruction of democracy

YouTube - Brzezinski predicts provoking war with Iran.

Looking for a Gulf of Tonkin-like Incident

** Senior Military, Intelligence, and Government Officials Question 9/11 Commission Report

9/11 Statement Signed by Prominent Americans

Scholars for 9/11 Truth

ONE IN 3 AMERICANS SAY U.S. AIDED 9/11 By THOMAS HARGROVE and GUIDO H. STEMPEL III - New York Post Online Edition: News

* Scientific Poll: 84% Reject Official 9/11 Story

* Radio Poll: 85% Of Canadians Believe 9/11 Inside Job

ABC News: U.S. Military Wanted to Provoke War With Cuba

National Security Archive - Pentagon Proposed Pretexts for Cuba Invasion in 1962

Venezuela's Chavez says Bush planned 9/11 attacks - video

War and Globalization - The Truth Behind September 11 - Google Video

Alex Jones, Bob Bowman at American Scholars Symposium - Google Video

The Pentagon's "Second 911"

North American Union: "New 9/11 crisis could be catalyst to merge U.S., Mexico & Canada."

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Friday, March 23, 2007

An Important Date for the Calendar!

Stop the Serfdom for the People Program! Actually, the SPP is officially called the "Security and Prosperity Partnership," but I like my title better, and I think it's a more honest name.

Please join this important international grassroots conference in Ottawa March 31 - April 1. Activists, journalists, political representatives and academics will be in attendance from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

This is possibly the most urgent issue facing the three countries of North America at this time. If we don't stop the SPP, there will be no Canada left, no sovereignty for any of the three nations, and no democracy: this is the institutionalization of corporate rule. Let's get it together, left and right, and all who support democracy over fascism, to stop this very quiet corporate coup. Even though few have yet heard of the SPP, momentum is already building to defeat it. This can be stopped. Get involved now.

On a lighter note, ever read Horton Hears a Who, by Dr. Seuss? Well, as in the Seuss story, we need every voice if we are going to win on this one. This is not a small event. The SPP formalizes the dominant power of big business over the political process. This is, quite frankly, the next step in the destruction of democracy in the Western world. Take action now. Stop the SPP.

If you have any doubt as to the significance of the issue, please see the excellent article by Toronto lawyer Paul Bigioni, below: Power to the People (in Suits).

If you are new to the SPP, one of the best introductions can be found in the Council of Canadians' Integrate This! A Citizen's Guide to Deep Integration, also linked below. I would urge everyone to take the time to investigate this issue for yourselves. It is of utmost urgency.


INTEGRATE THIS! Teach-In

*** ZNet |Economy | Power to the People (In Suits)

INTEGRATE THIS! A Citizen’s Guide to Fighting Deep Integration

NDP condemns Harper's push to sell out Canada

Fast-Track to Fascism: The SPP in a Nutshell

Full Implementation of Corporate Rule Via the SPP & NACC

North American Union: Time to Re-Focus

The Paranoid Right Is Partly Right

YouTube - CNN- Lou Dobbs: North American Union Update

*** YouTube - Lou Dobbs, CNN: 12 U.S. Legistatures Move to Oppose SPP

Connie Fogal: Canadians, we are losing our country - YouTube video

YouTube - Ron Paul on the North American Union

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