Libya in Flames!

While Libya lies in flames, with thousands of men, women and children, driven by desperation, trying every day to cross the Mediterranean — and many of them will lose their lives – Italy’s President Giorgio Napolitano issues this warning: "Beware of the outbreaks all around us," starting with the "persistent instability and fragility of the situation in Libya.” (aletheiaonline.it, July 12)

He forgets, and with him almost all the government officials and politicians, that Italy itself played a key role in 2011 in the “outbreak” of the war against Libya, of which the massacre of migrants is one of the consequences.

On the southern shores of the Mediterranean, across from Italy, there was a state — documented by the World Bank itself in 2010 — which maintained "high levels of economic growth,” with an average increase in GDP of 7.5 percent per annum, which recorded "high indicators of human development," including universal access to primary and secondary education, and for 46 percent of the population, also at the university level. Despite income disparities among individuals, the standard of living of the Libyan population was significantly higher than that of other African countries. Bearing witness to this fact was that nearly two million immigrants, mostly Africans, were working in Libya.

This state, in addition to being a factor of stability and development in North Africa, had used its investments to facilitate the emergence of organizations that one day might have made the financial autonomy of Africa possible: the African Investment Bank, based in Tripoli; the African Central Bank, with headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria; the African Monetary Fund, based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

After having funded and armed hostile tribal areas in Tripoli, which caused the "Arab Spring" in Libya to assume from the outset the form of armed insurrection, and thus provoking the government’s response, they waged a war that destroyed the Libyan state in 2011: in seven months the U.S./NATO Air Force carried out 10,000 attack missions, unleashing more than 40,000 bombs and missiles.

Italy participated in this war, using its bases and military forces, tearing up the Treaty of Friendship, Partnership and Cooperation between Italy and Libya. "In the memory of the liberation struggles and April 25” - President Napolitano declared on April 26, 2011, “we could not remain indifferent to the bloody reaction of Colonel Gadhafi in Libya: That’s why Italy adhered to the plan of action of the coalition under the aegis of NATO." (Wall Street Italia, April 26, 2011)

During the war in Libya, its enemies infiltrated special forces, including thousands of Qatari commandos, and at the same time funded and armed Islamist groups, which up until a few months before had been called terrorists. It is significant that the Islamic militias of Misrata, which lynched Gadhafi, now occupy the airport in Tripoli.

In this framework, the first nuclei of ISIS formed, and moved to Syria, where they built the bulk of their strength before launching the offensive in Iraq. They acted as a de facto instrument of the U.S./NATO strategy to demolish these states through covert war.

"It is now clear,” said President Napolitano, “that every failed state inevitably becomes a center of accumulation and global spread of extremism and lawlessness." (quirinale.it, June 18)

It only remains to be seen what the "failed states" really are. They are not nation-states such as Libya, Syria and Iraq, states located in areas rich in oil or with an important geo-strategic position, which are wholly or partly outside the control of the West, and which were then demolished by war. They are in fact the major states of the West, which, betraying their own constitutions, have failed as democracies and returned to nineteenth-century imperialism.

by Manlio Dinucci

Translation
by John Catalinotto

Source
Il Manifesto (Italy)

France may ban Muslim veil in universities amid ‘escalating tensions’

Momentum is growing in France for a ban on wearing religious symbols in the country’s universities. A new report recommends prohibiting students from wearing religious symbols, such as Christian crucifixes, Jewish Kippah skullcaps and Muslim headscarves.

Due to “escalating tensions in all sectors of university life” the High Council of Integration (HCI), a research institute founded by the French government, has made 12 recommendations to ease religious tensions among students.

The report’s key proposal would prohibit wearing religious symbols in “lecture theaters and [other] places of teaching and research in public areas at universities,” Le Monde reported.

In 2004, France passed a law banning schoolchildren from wearing religious symbols, but the law excluded universities. The decision, the report claims, has proved successful in reducing problems stemming from religious differences in schools.

Now the HCI wants to see the same rules applied to universities.

source...

Germany's Geographic Challenge.

Published on Feb 18, 2013 : Stratfor examines Germany's need to maintain territorial unity inside the country and preserve a balance of power across Europe.

Intense Involvement in Africa.

Published on 18 Jan 2013 : World police protecting corporate interest.

Tuareg & AQIM fought on opposite sites in Qaddafi's Libya? But is on same side in Mali? Mali : Is it about Gold & preventing China into Africa?

Dublin flies the EU Presidency flag

Published on Dec 31, 2012 : The European Union flag and that of the Irish Republic were raised simultaneously at an official ceremony at Dublin castle on Monday morning to mark the start of Ireland's six-month term as president.

The flag-raising ceremony celebrates three milestones: the beginning of Ireland's seventh EU presidency, the 40th anniversary of the country's EU accession and the European Year of Citizens.

Ireland's prime minister, Enda Kenny has said that he is determined to deliver, "solutions" to a range of issues.

But Dublin has said its main priority will be to get the European economy back on track with boosting jobs and growth the top of its agenda.

If EU leaders can agree early next year on the 27-member bloc's budget Ireland will then be charged with steering it through the European Parliament.

Silencing the messenger / whistle blower!

Greece arrests editor for 'Lagarde list' leak | Published on Oct 28, 2012 by AlJazeeraEnglish : Greek police arrested the editor of a weekly magazine for publishing a list of more than 2,000 names of wealthy Greeks who have placed money in Swiss bank accounts, police said.

The so-called "Lagarde List", which led to the arrest of editor Costas Vaxevanis on Sunday, was given to Greece by French authorities in 2010 with names to be probed for possible tax evasion - has been a topic of heated speculation in the Greek media. It is named after International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde, who was French finance minister when the list was handed over.

Will it be Law? men to pee sitting down!

Left Party wants men to pee sitting down

11 Jun 12 | The Left Party in Sörmland is taking a stand to ensure men take a seat when emptying their bladders in the county council's own toilets.

According to the party, there are two very important reasons for the proposal encouraging men to sit instead of stand when they urinate.

One reason has to do with hygiene and a desire to ensure that no one who uses the toilets at the county council's offices will be required to walk through puddles or residue left by stray urine which happens to splash out of the bowl and onto the floor when male employees pee standing up.

The Left Party also cites medical research it claims shows that men empty their bladders more efficiently when they are seated.

The improved bladder evacuation not only reduces the risk for prostate problems, according to the party, but also helps men who sit rather than stand achieve a longer and healthier sex life, the local Folket newspaper reported.

As a first step in its quest to get men to take a seat, the Left Party proposes labeling toilets which are designated for men who absolutely want to remain standing when they pee.

The Left Party's Viggo Hansen, a substitute member of the county council and the man responsible for the proposal, wants the office toilets to be genderless and as a result, is pushing for the "sit-down only" requirement.

He insisted, however, that the move doesn't represent political meddling in people's bathroom habits.

"That's not what we're doing. We want to give men the option of going into a clean toilet," he told Sveriges Television (SVT).

source

At Present it's the biggest Proxy War!

Syrian Conflict a Proxy War, Driven by Internal Struggle

Published on Aug 28, 2012 by TheRealNews : Rami Khouri: The rebellion against the dictatorship is the primary driving force, but all the global and regional powers trying to control the outcome.

Syrian Military is Winning - Ziad Fadel - Syrian Commentator

Published on Aug 27, 2012 by 108morris108 : Today's helicopter loss in Damascus is nothing - Look how many Copters the American's have lost in Afghanistan

The war will take a long time, already Aleppo Lattakia and Damascus are pretty much cleaned up. Western Media is lying ...

UK Lib Dems ready for Labour coalition.

UK Labour leader Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (from L)

The British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has expressed his openness to a possible future Liberal Democrat coalition with the Labour party after the next general election in 2015.

Speaking to the Sunday People, Clegg declared that his party would do its “duty" if it turned out that governing with Labour was the only way to form a government in the UK. 

He also stressed that in the case of Labour winning the most seats but falling short of a Commons majority, he could work with Labour’s leader, Ed Miliband, and that “personal likes and dislikes” were irrelevant. 

"If the British people, like they did last time, say no-one has won, then I'll be open to working with other parties," Clegg said. 

Being asked if he could do business with Miliband, he replied, “If the British people said that was the only combination which could work would be those two parties, in the same way as after the last election the only combination which could work was Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, it would be obvious that Liberal Democrats would need to do their duty." 

Meanwhile, Business Secretary Vince Cable indicated his readiness to succeed Clegg, whose party’s popularity has decreased since going into government with the Tories in May 2010. 

Earlier on June, a survey for the Sunday Express by pollsters Angus Reid showed that Britain’s Labour party has opened largest lead since December 2002, being put 14 points ahead of the Conservatives. 

Moreover, according to the poll, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats with support levels of 29 percent and 9 percent respectively, were put behind the Labour's 43 percent support. 

Original news :

Assange asks for political asylum in Ecuador

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (pic) has requested political asylum and is under the protection of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, according to the site's Twitter.

Ecuador's foreign minister Ricardo Patino says Assange has taken refuge in the South American nation's embassy in London and is seeking political asylum.

"Ecuador is studying and analyzing the request," Patino told reporters in Quito.

The country's embassy in London has also confirmed the information and released a statement on its website. 

"While the department assesses Mr Assange’s application, Mr Assange will remain at the embassy, under the protection of the Ecuadorian Government.

The decision to consider Mr Assange’s application for protective asylum should in no way be interpreted as the Government of Ecuador interfering in the judicial processes of either the United Kingdom or Sweden", the statement says. 

The South American nation has already offered Assange residency, back in 2010. Deputy Foreign Minister Kintto Lucas said his country is "open to giving him [Assange] residency in Ecuador". Lucas also said Ecuador was "very concerned" by information revealed by Wikileaks linking US diplomats with spying on friendly governments. 

Julian Assange, the founder of whistleblower website WikiLeaks, has been under house arrest in the UK since 2010, after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant over allegations of sexual assault.

Swedish authorities accuse him of raping one woman and sexually molesting and coercing another in August that year, while on a visit to Stockholm to give a lecture. He claims both encounters were consensual, and maintains that the case is politically motivated.

Full report RT  |  19 June, 2012

RT interview : the Arab Springs, insights.

'US backed off Libya-style regime change in Syria'

Published on May 24, 2012 by RussiaToday : The Syrian regime has come under fire from a new UN report claiming both the government and opposition are committing gross human rights violations. It claims Damascus is responsible for the largest share of the violence, while rebels are accused of kidnapping civilians and torturing captured soldiers. Meanwhile, Amnesty International has slammed the UN Security Council as 'increasingly unfit for purpose' and too slow to act on Syria. The world body dispatched an observer mission to the country, where it's estimated around ten thousand people have been killed since March last year.

Author William Engdahl says however that Syria must be left alone to determine its own future.

The first in many years? - the Greek bank run.

Published on May 15, 2012 by ofInterestNZ ; Greek bank run, 700 mln euros, Withdrawn On Monday Moved to German banks.

Germans hold anti-capitalism protests.

15 Jan 2012 - democracy without Capitalism & a better world.

2012 : Occupy protests 'could intensify'

Uploaded by AlJazeeraEnglish on 30 Dec 2011 - Todd Gitlin, a professor of journalism and sociology at Columbia University in New York, spoke to Al Jazeera about the Occupy protest movement in the US. He said that the movement reflected "anger at the impunity with which the wealthy walked away from the consequences of having brought down the world economy." "It is anger at a system of inequality that has been entrenched and normal. There is a collective wish for a system that is more humane."

He also said he expects Occupy protests to intensify in 2012. "I think well see more attempts to take over buildings that have been foreclosed. We will also see protests directed at specific banks, at specific political candidates."

Which country's debt is 1000% of GDP?

UK has to get out of UE, UK need "financial sovereignty" to handle their terrible economic state. Otherwise UK will be next to go down under?

Uploaded by RussiaToday on 9 Dec 2011 Watch the full Keiser Report E221 on Saturday. This week Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, discuss central banks and governments 'saving the day' and hostage taking paper silver markets and gold for bonds in Japan. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Satyajit Das, author of Extreme Money, about the European debt crisis.

Britain and the rest of the EU poles apart.

Published on 9 Dec 2011 by Euronews - While not a total divorce the decision by Britain to go its own separate way clearly marks a fundamental split in the EU. If David Cameron was hoping for support from some of his fellow leaders to block the latest treaty pact, it was in short supply.

US Bill 1867 - Applied in Britain first?

UK used to list Iceland under their terrorist list during Iceland economic crisis and now listing their own citizens as terrorist during their own economic crisis?

Uploaded by RussiaToday on 9 Dec 2011 - Narco-terrorists, suicidal jihadists, and Occupy London? While few would see any connection between peaceful British activists protesting economic inequality and the world's most notorious terrorist groups, London police beg to differ.

EU celebrates 10th anniversary of the euro

Uploaded by EUXTV on 1 Dec 2011 - The European Union has produced this video to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the euro on the 1st of January 2012.

Coup by financial oligarchs in Eurozone?

'EU is showing its true nature as a dictatorship'

 Uploaded by NeedToAwaken on 12 Nov 2011 - This is a time of upheaval for the EU, with both the Greek and Italian PMs giving up their posts. The Paris Institute's John Laughland says that this undemocratic transfer of power is not going to save the euro. Laughland told RT that the people who have assumed power in Greece and are shortly to take the helm in Italy have never been elected. "These are men who have made their entire careers through garnering important appointments in places like the European Commission or European Central Bank. They have no democratic mandate at all," he argues. 

"What is so frightening about what is happening now, as the European Union and the euro enter their death agonies, is the way in which the European Union is showing its true nature as a dictatorship." After all, it is the euro that has effectively commanded these two prime ministers to leave office, not the people, says Laughland. "Papandreou had to leave office the moment he suggested the referendum on the debt package. Berlusconi had to leave office the moment he said that Italians had become poorer under the euro," Laughland recalls.