Uponnothing.co.uk

Here In Reality have produced an ‘Axis of Corporate Evil’, connecting 6 large corporations and a few rich men in ‘what appears to be an attempted corporate takeover of America’. To view the chart, and learn about the connections visit the Axis here. Whilst on the subject or corporate evil i’ll give a mention to Halliburton Watch, a news feed on everyones favourite greed-fuelled destroyer of humanity.

Which then leads nicely to the next story: the cost of war in Iraq, a war in which Halliburton have profiteered from at the expense of Iraqi contractors to the tune of over $10 billion - of which ‘Pentagon auditors found that Halliburton failed to account adequately for $1.8 billion in charges for feeding and housing troops.’ A Study by the Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy In Focus has released a report titled: ‘The Iraq Quagmire: The Mounting Costs of War and the Case for Bringing Home the Troops’ has been released on the 31/08/05. The study details some staggering figures including:

- According to current estimates, the cost of the Iraq War could exceed $700 billion. In current dollars, the Vietnam War cost U.S. taxpayers $600 billion.
- Operations costs in Iraq are estimated at $5.6 billion per month in 2005. By comparison, the average cost of U.S. operations in Vietnam over the eight-year war was $5.1 billion per month, adjusting for inflation.
- Staying in Iraq and Afghanistan at current levels would nearly double the projected federal budget deficit over the next decade.
- Since 2001, the U.S. has deployed more than 1 million troops to Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Broken down per person in the United States, the cost so far is $727, making the Iraq War the most expensive military effort in the last 60 years.

It also details social costs:

U.S. Budget and Social Programs: The Administration’s FY 2006 budget, which does not include any funding for the Iraq War, takes a hard line with domestic spending— slashing or eliminating more than 150 federal programs. The $204.4 billion appropriated thus far for the war in Iraq could have purchased any of the following desperately needed services in our country: 46,458,805 uninsured people receiving health care or 3,545,016 elementary school teachers or 27,093,473 Head Start places for children or 1,841,833 affordable housing units or 24,072 new elementary schools or 39,665,748 scholarships for university students or 3,204,265 port container inspectors.

The full report is well worth a read, and the report was found via the article: ‘Iraq War Costs Now Exceed Vietnam’s’ by Jim Lobe over on Antiwar.com.

Lawrence M. Ludlow has written an extensive essay on ‘Machiavelli and U.S. Politics’ which intentions are thus:

Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence in 1469, and he held a number of legal-diplomatic posts in the Florentine chancery before his death in 1527. He wrote The Prince in 1513, dedicating it to Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici, grandson of Lorenzo the Magnificent. It is not surprising that The Prince both reflects and reinforces the Florentine trend toward despotism. It is an essay on how to maintain political power at all costs. It is considered infamous because in it Machiavelli argued that politics writes its own rules and must not be limited by other standards of behavior or morality.

The infamous reputation of The Prince is puzzling, however, because it appears to be a source of perpetual inspiration in Washington, D.C. It defines the actions, if not the rhetoric, of that city’s politicians and their army of supporters, dependents, and fawning sycophants. To illustrate the widespread influence of The Prince, we shall explore a few of the topics that Machiavelli addressed in his treatise. In each case, we shall also observe the following three-part pattern. In the very core, nestling at the root of our current policies, we shall find an unsavory lie. In turn, this will be shrouded by embarrassing hypocrisy as politicians shamelessly evade the implications of their lies so that they can achieve their goals. Finally, acting as an outer hard-candy shell that never seems to melt away under the heat of close scrutiny, the hypocrisy itself will be cloaked in a plausible half-truth. This last element is trotted out for public consumption and promptly absorbed in preparation for the next series of lies, hypocrisies, and half-truths. Together we shall discover that — much more than God, country, and apple pie — the unsavory trinity of lie, hypocrisy, and half-truth has become synonymous with the American Way, at least as far as politics is concerned.

It really is worth serious reading, and serious thought, as it addresses a fundemental truth we are all, at some level, aware of: that we are merely pawns in a game being played by unscrupolous leaders. However, to an extent as ’simple’ people we are part of the problem:

There is more truth… in Machiavelli’s appraisal of the “true believers” and sycophants who surround every power-hungry politician. Judging by the performance, not the promise, of today’s welfare-warfare state and its failed social programs and costly military ventures, the category of “simple” must include the following groups: citizens who believe governments can keep them safe from terrorists by stirring up hatred with interventionist foreign policies; parents who rely on public schools to educate children and on the insane war on drugs to keep them sober; citizens who believe that dependency on government handouts is a steppingstone to self-reliance; churchgoers who confuse political poses and outward shows of piety with genuine religious devotion; and, of course, soldiers who believe they are “fighting for freedom” as they destroy cities, dismiss innocent victims as “collateral damage,” and bankrupt their own country for a disgraceful bunch of politicians playing a bloody game of global hegemony with other people’s lives and treasure.

Quite. It is our belief in the validity of a fundementally corrupt system that allows it to continue, against the reality of which even the most ardent flag-waver must surely gain a fleeting glimpse of once in a while. A proving point for the reality of how and for whom the state operates, and how the belief of it’s citizens remains is surely the situation in Iraq - a conflict openly built on lies and hypocrisy, funded by the taxes of the poor and the dramatic reduction of social welfare. Yet, whilst some ’simple’ people have taken up active opposition to Bush and Co., a solid proportion still seem to believe in the validity of his presidency allowing the corrupt regime to continue.

A recent poll put Bush’s approval rating on Iraq at 40 percent, indicating that in spite of everything 40% of America’s population - meaning 118,293,654 people - still approve of the president’s war in Iraq, which in turn supports Machiavelli’s assertion that ‘people’ can be classed as ’simple’. For if this many people can maintain belief in a war as corrupt as the system itself, then they really do deserve the people they elect, and the consequences of any decisions made by the elected. It is just a shame that the 60% who do not approve of Bush and Co. have no power to get rid of him, for the time being at least.

Ludlow, however, does shift some blame from the common person by explaining gullibility:

Even more important than the willingness of the press to play “follow the leader,” the uncritical populace — “educated” in government-controlled schools — eats up a steady stream of propaganda. The willingness to believe lies (even after they have been exploded) and to trust government authorities is a testimony to the true product of government-controlled schooling: blind obedience.

Indeed, how can we fight the society, when we are explicitly schooled by it and within it?

Anyway, that can be left for another post. Moving on Justin Mckeating has announced an end to summer apathy with a welcome return describing Britain as having a ‘Home Secretary with a moral compass so wayward you could use it as a ceiling fan’. Read the full post here. He has also drawn attention to the situation in Uzbekistan, on behalf of the Blog for Uzbekistan pledge, again, read the full post here.

The US is defending the shooting of a Reuters journalist claiming:

“That particular car looked like cars that we have seen in the past used as suicide bombs. It wasn’t a new car, it was an older model car … And there were two local nationals inside the car.

“Our soldiers took appropriate measures. We mourn the loss of life of all humans … But our soldiers are trained to respond in those situations.”

So i guess the message to all the Iraqi’s out there is don’t drive an old car, or look like a local, you could be shot because of it. Perhaps to drive safely you should paint the car with the Stars and Stripes, and hang larrge flags out of the windows, although safety is not guarenteed, as friendly fire in Iraq is an American speciality.

And finally of course some news on the hurricane from Mark Hancock, read his plea for aid here. AlterNet address Why The Levee Broke:

Washington knew exactly what needed to be done to protect the citizens of New Orleans from disasters like Katrina. Yet federal funding for Louisiana flood control projects was diverted to pay for the war in Iraq.

At least Bush is consistant in his response to any event, with his first instinct being to send in the national guard to shoot looters, I guess once the area is secure from such terrorists then he’ll contract out a reconstruction contract to Halliburton.

Britain has offered substantial aid, but it is conditional, in order to receive aid America must:

1, Contract all reconstruction work to large British corporations - and be prepared to pay billions in unidentifiable ‘expenses’.
2, Pay back said loan over next 50 years with extortionate interest.
3, Allow privatisation to British firms of everything in America.
4, Must become a democracy, beginning with an immediate regime change bringing in a Pro-UK president (preferably a puppet regime run from Westminster), giving big trade favours to the UK.
5, Must prove themselves willing to aid the UK in the War on Terror.
6, Must allow British ‘forward operation posts’ to be built around the country.

Then, perhaps one day, America can be free…

If you are lucky enough to employed in job that slows down on a Friday, and you have some spare time for reading, then why not try some of these articles. Each article has been handpicked from bloggers all across the globe for your enjoyment and/or education.

Musings from Middle England: Blood On Our Hands - Remembering Hussein and Israfil

Hussein, 26 years old, was a gay man who fled Iran and came to Britain. He had already spent three months in prison in Iran for being gay and feared execution if he was sent back.
In June 2004 the Home Office refused to grant him asylum and was going to send him back to Iran.
So he killed himself.
A private death in an Eastbourne car park was preferable to a public hanging in an Iranian square.
The Coroner said the asylum refusal was the ‘obvious motive’ for his death.

The year before, Israfil Shiri, another gay Iranian, died six days after setting himself alight in the offices of a refugee charity in Manchester. His asylum application had also been rejected. Unlike the mythical asylum seekers described in the tabloids, living the high life on state handouts, Israfil was both homeless and penniless, often sleeping in a wheelie bin. He was also in constant pain because, following his asylum refusal, he was unable to get medical treatment for a bowel complaint.

A must read article aiming much anger at Tony Blair’s supposed dedication to human rights.

Adventures of Mr Behi: Blogrolling filtered!

Iranian Telecom is famous for the filters it imposes over websites/weblogs that are containing what the government considers as “against morals of the society” or “against national security”. This costly activity has already cost Iranian government many million dollars to become reality and there is a little care about the legitimacy of the reasoning that should be there behind the filtering of each URL that is swept away from the sight of Iranian web surfers.

A little look at how filtering of blog sites seemed to have been stepped up after the election of the new president, in case anything negative was posted…

Iran Hopes: This Regime is Getting Bolder and Bolder

Yesterday, they hired a number of bullies to march in front of European embassies in Tehran “in protest against Europeans policies towards Iran’s nuclear program”. The mob burned the flags of France, Germany, and Britain. State News agencies, and newspapers (Kayhan, Jomhuri, etc.) claim that the protesters were ’students’. BUT THEY WERE NOT! They might have been pupils at regime’s schools of violence and hatred, but they certainly were not students in the proper use of the term. They were Basijis from Ashura squad (Gordan-e Ashura). They get money to do these things. One day they are ’students’, another day they are ‘volunteer suicide bombers’, the next day they are ‘law enforcers’, enforcing their law upon women who do not observe rules of their version of Islam.

Iranian regime enforces a very strict version of Islam upon the populace, something that is now happening in Iraq as well.

The Minority Report: Yesterday and Today: Nazis and the Righteous Right

If we take a look at pre-WWII Germany, we notice it has some things in common with the United States now. Start with the concept of exceptionality. Nazi ideology grew out of Germans’ belief that their country was uniquely privileged because it was uniquely valuable. This made them an exception to rules and norms. The average “Proud to Be an American” bumper-sticker-buyer believes the same thing. (I’m still waiting for some churchgoing patriot to notice that being born American is a gift of grace and to begin marketing “Humble to be an American” decals.) A belief in your country’s exceptionality takes you way out beyond the warm self-appreciation of patriotism; in naming your heritage “exceptional,” you cut your ties to the family of nations and set yourself above the rules. Our belief in our own exceptionality erodes the walls that hold back human greed, fear of otherness, and violence. Exceptionality makes the unthinkable possible, even reasonable.

An interesting look at how America is flirting with a racial ideology similar to that of Nazi Germany.

Raed in the Middle: Deadline: The Iraqi Constitution

Another two weeks!
Another two hours!
Another two minutes!

The Iraqi constitution committee is begging for another last minute, as if the world is ending tomorrow. With all the internal pressure (i.e. the daily insurgent attacks) and the external pressure (the US administration’s imposed deadlines), the committee finds itself between a rock and a hard place. The US ambassador to Iraq attends all the constitution meetings and gives the Iraqi stakeholders some printed “suggestions” to break the deadlock, while the Iraqi resistance’s assassinations and attacks are getting stronger and more effective.

The Iraqi “governments”, established and supported by the occupation, has spent the last couple of years collapsing. Every new day is a worse day; every yesterday is brighter than any tomorrow.

An Iraqi’s opinion on the stuttering formation of the Iraqi Constitution, and the general situation in Iraq, and the picture painted is very different to the brave new Iraq being touted by George Bush and Tony Blair.

Hell is other people: Menezes Exclusive: Police issue false statement against the de Menezes family and Menezes: Blair still spinning to save his job

Met officers placed ‘bulky jacket’ story in the press

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair is continuing an aggressive PR campaign in the face of his growing isolation and calls for his resignation over his officers’ killing of Jean Charles de Menezes. Interviews with Sir Ian appeared yesterday on BBC radio, and today in the News of the World, while Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, and the Deputy Leader of the Greater London Assembly publicly smeared the campaign by the dead man’s family and supporters.

Some general news on one of the biggest stories of the week.

Don’t Shoot: May I recommend

I have a confession to make. I am a book addict, I love books. Here are some of my favorite books that I would like to share with the rest of you.

Some books recommendations.

Tell Me a Secret: I found myself…

Sleeping in a grave-size space, defined by two walls touching both my head my and feet, and surrounded with human bodies touching me from both sides, in a way that hardly leaves any chance to move at all during the long… long night, in a 12 square meters room stuffed with 35 people trying to sleep, and to hold themselves together in order not to fight…
The whole thing started when I went to the university to pay my tuition fees…

The true story of an innocent person being arrested in occupied Iraq, he happens to be a blogger.