This morning the Senate approved the Health Care bill. Now for two more steps and by the end of 2014 insurance companies will not be able to pull coverage from the sick, or pull that preexisting condition bullshit. Medicare will expand to help cover the poor and the struggling. Prescription drug prices and over all coverage will fall. After negotiators from the House and the Senate meet to form a final bill, it will be given to President Obama to sign it. I don't see him vetoing the bill, unless he sticks by his guns and insists the bill have a public option. The approved Senate bill did not have a public option. But if we are going from Obama's "sticking to his guns" record, he'll most likely just sign whatever is in front of him. I'd rather he refuse to sign till we get a public option, but we'll find out what happens. The good news is that there will now be stronger restrictions on Health insurance companies.
Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!
24 December 2009
22 December 2009
A Dialogue Between a Senator and a Citizen
A while back I had written Senator Christopher Bond about discouraging him from supporting the escalation of troops in Afghanistan. While it took him awhile to write back, which I was surprised he did (he's got a lot going on), I was glad to get a response. Though it was not the response I was looking for. So I wrote him back, with more questions countering his points he made. I don't have a copy of the original letter I wrote him. It was most likely short and just stated my opinion. I do have his letter and my response, which I will share with you all. If he writes back, I will share that when it arrives.
Dear Mr. Brown,
Thank you for contacting me to express your views on the current situation in
Iraq and Afghanistan. In tandem with my responsibilities as your U.S. Senator and as the father of a U.S. Marine scout sniper who served two tours in Iraq, I remain committed to supporting our troops and bringing them home as soon as possible.
Before American forces liberated Iraq, murder and mass graves were a way of life under Saddam Hussein. Despite our initial success in defeating the brutal dictator's forces, a poor and misdirected military strategy allowed the insurgency to gain momentum.
Now, thanks to the counterinsurgency strategy put in place by Secretary Gates and current Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Petraues there has been steady progress and American troops have returned home. As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I understand that while the progress is impressive, our efforts are far from over. Protecting the fragile peace and honoring the sacrifice our troops have made will be no easy task, but it is one we must achieve for the Iraqis and our own security.
This is a critical point for the Government of Iraq. The Status of Forces Agreement negotiated by President Bush and ratified by the Iraqis calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011. Going forward, President Obama must continue to listen to our military commanders on the ground because they understand the strategy better than any official sitting behind a desk thousands of miles away.
American warfighters' new mission will be supporting and training the Iraqi army, law enforcement, and civil servants. This missions change increases the importance of Iraq's own national security forces. There have already been dramatic improvements among the National Army and police, but we must continue them as they maintain the security necessary for the political process to catch up. Also, after years of war and neglect, much of Iraq's infrastructure has been destroyed and in too many communities basic necessities like clean water are still out of reach. Providing development assistance will help the Iraqis improve their own lives and is one of the most effective ways we can prove our good will.
The right strategy going forward is equally important in Afghanistan. Recently, I joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House for an Afghanistan strategy session with President Obama. The President's assurances that he would not return to a counter-terrorism strategy - what I refer to as the "fire and fall-back" approach - is promising. We have seen the deadly consequences of this approach over the last eight years in both Iraq and Afghanistan - innocent civilians being killed and terrorists flooding back into areas as soon as the military leaves.
I am hopeful that the President's promise will mean a renewed commitment to the counterinsurgency strategy he initially supported in March this year. This strategy, outlined by our highest military commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, allows our troops to eliminate terrorists and then stay to protect the civilians and establish a safe community.
Also, McChrstyal's strategy employs "Smart Power" the combination of military might with diplomatic and development efforts. Smart Power is critical to providing the people in Afghanistan the tools needed to earn a good living. One of the most effective weapons against terrorism is a paycheck.
We have seen the success of this Smart Power strategy in the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. For over a year the Missouri National Guard's Agriculture Development Teams have been building relationships and trust at the local level, influencing hearts and minds to reject the negative influence of the Taliban while they provided necessary security to prevent the Taliban from retaliating against cooperating farmers and their projects. Our citizen-soldiers have helped Afghanis build irrigation systems and sells for clean water and make a living through harvesting high value alternatives to opium poppies. As a result, poppy production in Nangarhar has been virtually eliminated and 10 other states are now sending their specialized teams to provinces throughout Afghanistan.
By implementing General McChrystal's Smart Power, counter insurgency strategy, we can bring American troops home in victory and put Afghanistan on a road to peace, but only if we act without delay. Unfortunately, time is not on our side and I believe we must commit more troops now.
Ultimately, if we allow the Taliban and al Qaeda to reestablish terrorist safe havens across the country, no strategy will be successful and al Aqaeda will have the same Afghan base of operations that orchestrated the 9-11 attacks.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views with me. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
U.S. Senator
My response.....
Dear Senator Bond,
Thank you for responding to and addressing my concerns with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I am grateful for your son’s and your contributions to our national security, because I believe both of your hearts are in the right place. Though, I am sad to say. I do not believe your actions will bring about the results you wish for.
As much as I wish I could believe we entered Iraq to free the people from their ruthless dictator, I know this is not true. For if it is, I ask you, when do we plan on sending military aid to the Sudan, Ethiopia, the Congo, or to reestablish the democratically elected leader of Honduras? If we did go into war with Iraq to free the people from a horrible dictator, why were we told that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction? I understand that he was a horrible person, but then why did we put him in power? You don’t just become a mass murderer over night. It seems we were alright with him being a mass murderer, as long as he was our mass murderer. I do not agree with this mafia mentality of foreign policy.
Horrible mistakes have been made in Iraq since its creation as a British mandate, by the League of Nations in 1921. Since then it has been overthrown dozens of times, from dictator puppets, public uprisings, British invasion, CIA coups, and now the military arm of the American Empire as invaded, currently occupying against the people’s will. We cannot undo the past, but we can change our future foreign policy. You mentioned that the infrastructure is ruined and must be rebuilt. I agree whole heartedly, but does a military presence rebuild infrastructure? What if we spend the money we are using to occupy the country on paying for the rebuilding of the infrastructure, instead of forcing a new broke government to take out loans from our banks and then pay our business to rebuild their country? Is this fair? I know this is not how America conducts its wars, but shouldn’t it be?
Thirdly, are these wars just? We have killed more civilians, in both Afghanistan and Iraq, than “insurgents” (or “freedom fighters” depending on your perspective). We are the ones responsible for the destruction of the infrastructure in both countries, not the “insurgents.” We are responsible for both killing and destroying the lives of children. I don’t know if you loose sleep over this Senator Bond, but I do. Just being conscious that my tax dollars pay for the bombings of homes, schools, and hospitals makes it hard for me to call myself an American. Are we just in doing this? Did killing Bobby, really make a greater life for Suzy because she doesn’t have to live under the Taliban or Saddam Hussein? If it did, well what about Bobby’s life, doesn’t he deserve to live?
Despite the justness of the war, you seem to agree that we need to leave… sometime. I myself believe that eight years in Afghanistan, and six years in Iraq, is long enough to know we can’t have the kind of win, our government is looking for. We beat Hussein, we won, why are we still in Iraq? It cannot be to built infrastructure, guns do not build schools. Yet you say this new strategy “Smart Power” that General McChrstyal wants to implement will work better than the counter-terrorism strategy of “fire and fall-back.” It seems like it should. “Fire and fall-back” was an obvious attempted to make an endless war, something to push the economy. It is no secret that our economy is build around war, it is our back bone. This makes me suspicious of this “Smart Power” strategy, especially since we are sending Blackwater on covert missions in Pakistan. Not to mention the increasing drone attacks in Pakistan as well. Did you know that when children are playing in Pakistan and they see a drone fly over their head they scatter and run. When the children are in groups the drone will sometime identify them as a target and bomb them. Can you imagine having your own little children so afraid to just play outside? This “Smart Power” is supposed to use diplomatic and development efforts, as well as military force. Where are the diplomatic and development efforts? Diplomatically, are you referring to U.S. troops bribing the Taliban, and other war lords, with U.S. tax payer money in order for safe passage through the Afghanistan territories? Developmentally, is all we have done is given farmers another crop besides poppy to grow? This is a step, but we are yet to even begin to rebuild the schools and hospitals we began bombing eight years ago. I’m sorry I do not see these efforts in progress, if you can provide examples I would be gracious to receive them.
Senator Bond I am thankful for your response to my first letter, and am hoping for a response to this one. Hopefully through this dialogue we could both gain an understanding from each man’s perspective. But at this time I do not stand behind the American Imperialism I see today. Our country and our world believe in the concept of self-determination. Invading other countries, either militarily or covertly, goes against this belief. I believe in promoting democracy, but if America is to truly do this, we must not do so only militarily. We must stop supporting puppet Presidents who keep power by corrupting the voting system, i.e. Egypt. We must be a beaming light in supporting Human Rights for the whole world to see. We set the example for the world, maybe that’s why it’s such a violent place right now.
Sincerely,
Daniel Joseph Brown
We'll see what happens next.
Dear Mr. Brown,
Thank you for contacting me to express your views on the current situation in
Iraq and Afghanistan. In tandem with my responsibilities as your U.S. Senator and as the father of a U.S. Marine scout sniper who served two tours in Iraq, I remain committed to supporting our troops and bringing them home as soon as possible.
Before American forces liberated Iraq, murder and mass graves were a way of life under Saddam Hussein. Despite our initial success in defeating the brutal dictator's forces, a poor and misdirected military strategy allowed the insurgency to gain momentum.
Now, thanks to the counterinsurgency strategy put in place by Secretary Gates and current Commander of U.S. Central Command, General Petraues there has been steady progress and American troops have returned home. As the Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I understand that while the progress is impressive, our efforts are far from over. Protecting the fragile peace and honoring the sacrifice our troops have made will be no easy task, but it is one we must achieve for the Iraqis and our own security.
This is a critical point for the Government of Iraq. The Status of Forces Agreement negotiated by President Bush and ratified by the Iraqis calls for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraqi territory no later than December 31, 2011. Going forward, President Obama must continue to listen to our military commanders on the ground because they understand the strategy better than any official sitting behind a desk thousands of miles away.
American warfighters' new mission will be supporting and training the Iraqi army, law enforcement, and civil servants. This missions change increases the importance of Iraq's own national security forces. There have already been dramatic improvements among the National Army and police, but we must continue them as they maintain the security necessary for the political process to catch up. Also, after years of war and neglect, much of Iraq's infrastructure has been destroyed and in too many communities basic necessities like clean water are still out of reach. Providing development assistance will help the Iraqis improve their own lives and is one of the most effective ways we can prove our good will.
The right strategy going forward is equally important in Afghanistan. Recently, I joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers at the White House for an Afghanistan strategy session with President Obama. The President's assurances that he would not return to a counter-terrorism strategy - what I refer to as the "fire and fall-back" approach - is promising. We have seen the deadly consequences of this approach over the last eight years in both Iraq and Afghanistan - innocent civilians being killed and terrorists flooding back into areas as soon as the military leaves.
I am hopeful that the President's promise will mean a renewed commitment to the counterinsurgency strategy he initially supported in March this year. This strategy, outlined by our highest military commander on the ground, General Stanley McChrystal, allows our troops to eliminate terrorists and then stay to protect the civilians and establish a safe community.
Also, McChrstyal's strategy employs "Smart Power" the combination of military might with diplomatic and development efforts. Smart Power is critical to providing the people in Afghanistan the tools needed to earn a good living. One of the most effective weapons against terrorism is a paycheck.
We have seen the success of this Smart Power strategy in the Nangarhar province in Afghanistan. For over a year the Missouri National Guard's Agriculture Development Teams have been building relationships and trust at the local level, influencing hearts and minds to reject the negative influence of the Taliban while they provided necessary security to prevent the Taliban from retaliating against cooperating farmers and their projects. Our citizen-soldiers have helped Afghanis build irrigation systems and sells for clean water and make a living through harvesting high value alternatives to opium poppies. As a result, poppy production in Nangarhar has been virtually eliminated and 10 other states are now sending their specialized teams to provinces throughout Afghanistan.
By implementing General McChrystal's Smart Power, counter insurgency strategy, we can bring American troops home in victory and put Afghanistan on a road to peace, but only if we act without delay. Unfortunately, time is not on our side and I believe we must commit more troops now.
Ultimately, if we allow the Taliban and al Qaeda to reestablish terrorist safe havens across the country, no strategy will be successful and al Aqaeda will have the same Afghan base of operations that orchestrated the 9-11 attacks.
Thank you for taking the time to share your views with me. If I can be of further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Christopher S. Bond
U.S. Senator
My response.....
Dear Senator Bond,
Thank you for responding to and addressing my concerns with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I am grateful for your son’s and your contributions to our national security, because I believe both of your hearts are in the right place. Though, I am sad to say. I do not believe your actions will bring about the results you wish for.
As much as I wish I could believe we entered Iraq to free the people from their ruthless dictator, I know this is not true. For if it is, I ask you, when do we plan on sending military aid to the Sudan, Ethiopia, the Congo, or to reestablish the democratically elected leader of Honduras? If we did go into war with Iraq to free the people from a horrible dictator, why were we told that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction? I understand that he was a horrible person, but then why did we put him in power? You don’t just become a mass murderer over night. It seems we were alright with him being a mass murderer, as long as he was our mass murderer. I do not agree with this mafia mentality of foreign policy.
Horrible mistakes have been made in Iraq since its creation as a British mandate, by the League of Nations in 1921. Since then it has been overthrown dozens of times, from dictator puppets, public uprisings, British invasion, CIA coups, and now the military arm of the American Empire as invaded, currently occupying against the people’s will. We cannot undo the past, but we can change our future foreign policy. You mentioned that the infrastructure is ruined and must be rebuilt. I agree whole heartedly, but does a military presence rebuild infrastructure? What if we spend the money we are using to occupy the country on paying for the rebuilding of the infrastructure, instead of forcing a new broke government to take out loans from our banks and then pay our business to rebuild their country? Is this fair? I know this is not how America conducts its wars, but shouldn’t it be?
Thirdly, are these wars just? We have killed more civilians, in both Afghanistan and Iraq, than “insurgents” (or “freedom fighters” depending on your perspective). We are the ones responsible for the destruction of the infrastructure in both countries, not the “insurgents.” We are responsible for both killing and destroying the lives of children. I don’t know if you loose sleep over this Senator Bond, but I do. Just being conscious that my tax dollars pay for the bombings of homes, schools, and hospitals makes it hard for me to call myself an American. Are we just in doing this? Did killing Bobby, really make a greater life for Suzy because she doesn’t have to live under the Taliban or Saddam Hussein? If it did, well what about Bobby’s life, doesn’t he deserve to live?
Despite the justness of the war, you seem to agree that we need to leave… sometime. I myself believe that eight years in Afghanistan, and six years in Iraq, is long enough to know we can’t have the kind of win, our government is looking for. We beat Hussein, we won, why are we still in Iraq? It cannot be to built infrastructure, guns do not build schools. Yet you say this new strategy “Smart Power” that General McChrstyal wants to implement will work better than the counter-terrorism strategy of “fire and fall-back.” It seems like it should. “Fire and fall-back” was an obvious attempted to make an endless war, something to push the economy. It is no secret that our economy is build around war, it is our back bone. This makes me suspicious of this “Smart Power” strategy, especially since we are sending Blackwater on covert missions in Pakistan. Not to mention the increasing drone attacks in Pakistan as well. Did you know that when children are playing in Pakistan and they see a drone fly over their head they scatter and run. When the children are in groups the drone will sometime identify them as a target and bomb them. Can you imagine having your own little children so afraid to just play outside? This “Smart Power” is supposed to use diplomatic and development efforts, as well as military force. Where are the diplomatic and development efforts? Diplomatically, are you referring to U.S. troops bribing the Taliban, and other war lords, with U.S. tax payer money in order for safe passage through the Afghanistan territories? Developmentally, is all we have done is given farmers another crop besides poppy to grow? This is a step, but we are yet to even begin to rebuild the schools and hospitals we began bombing eight years ago. I’m sorry I do not see these efforts in progress, if you can provide examples I would be gracious to receive them.
Senator Bond I am thankful for your response to my first letter, and am hoping for a response to this one. Hopefully through this dialogue we could both gain an understanding from each man’s perspective. But at this time I do not stand behind the American Imperialism I see today. Our country and our world believe in the concept of self-determination. Invading other countries, either militarily or covertly, goes against this belief. I believe in promoting democracy, but if America is to truly do this, we must not do so only militarily. We must stop supporting puppet Presidents who keep power by corrupting the voting system, i.e. Egypt. We must be a beaming light in supporting Human Rights for the whole world to see. We set the example for the world, maybe that’s why it’s such a violent place right now.
Sincerely,
Daniel Joseph Brown
We'll see what happens next.
17 December 2009
11 December 2009
Yards and Gods Compilation Release
Even though I assume the only people reading this already know about the show. I am still going make a post about the show. The bands on the Yards and Gods label will be playing at Mojo's here in CoMo tomorrow 12-12. I had asked them to dedicate a song to people struggle for democracy in Iran, I don't know if they are still planning and doing so. Even if not, it will still be a great show, and there's free CD's. That's right free. So check it out.
08 December 2009
Climate Change
Great edition of Democracy Now! today, reporting from Copenhagen. I embed it, check it out if you have the time. Good news is the EPA has ruled that six gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, endanger the environment and public health. This will give the EPA the ability to regulate greenhouse gases, under the authority of the Clean Air Act. Yay! for America taking a step in the right direction on climate change. But is it to little to late? The rest of the world is having a climate change council in Copenhagen. With Obama only making a guest appearance, and he's already decided that a binding treaty will not come out the council.
I hadn't realized climate change was getting this bad. The country of The Maldive Islands is being washed away by the rising oceans. This country is only 7 feet above sea level. Meaning in the next hundred years there will be less than 3 feet of the island above sea level, if the oceans are to continue rising at this speed.
As covered in this edition of Democracy Now! is where these oceans are getting their water. An indigenous Alaskan is interviewed as she describes the melting of the permafrost in the Arctic. Making it hard for them to continue their way of life.
I had no idea it was getting this bad. At this point it doesn't matter anymore if humans are the main contributers to the problem, or if its a natural earth cycle. We know the oceans are rising and the ice sheets at the poles are melting. We do contribute to the rising temperatures, regardless if we are the leading force doing so. We must cut back emissions, it will help. While we cannot control the climate of the planet, we do contribute to it.
07 December 2009
Iranian Movement Still Alive
Protesters today were met by police assaulting them with tear gas and batons, inside the city of Tehran, Iran. A group of mostly students took to the streets again this morning chanting anti-government slogans in response to the June 12 election. There were disputes on rather the election was handled fairly, or if the vote counting was handled unfairly by the party in power. The Iranian government cut the internet down to a trickle, to try and stop the protesters means of organization; and their ability to tell the outside world that the movement is still alive. It will be six months since the event on 12-12. On this day United4Iran is organizing a world protest through celebrating the arts, to show global solidarity with the Iranian people.
Support Freedom and Civil Rights for all humans on this planet. Visit United4Iran today and see what you can do to support the people.
06 December 2009
Lost Season 6
Added a count down at the bottom of the page till the Season 6 premiere of Lost. Only 58 day left.
EDIT: But it doesn't really seem to be working....
I'll try and fix it later. I need to stop procrastinating and write a paper.
EDIT: But it doesn't really seem to be working....
I'll try and fix it later. I need to stop procrastinating and write a paper.
04 December 2009
Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization
"The hipster represents the end of Western civilization – a culture so detached and disconnected that it has stopped giving birth to anything new."
Just finished reading this essay by Douglas Haddow for Adbusters. Really good stuff. I'm currently working on an essay with a similar direction, but its far from done. So enjoy this article for a nice little critique of the Hipster generation.
Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization
Just finished reading this essay by Douglas Haddow for Adbusters. Really good stuff. I'm currently working on an essay with a similar direction, but its far from done. So enjoy this article for a nice little critique of the Hipster generation.
Hipster: The Dead End of Western Civilization
03 December 2009
Informative Post
I'm just about done with school. A couple papers and few finals will finish this part of the journey. When I finish I plan on trying to make one post a day, a reality. But luckily for you (since you are reading this), I am not a consistent person. So the reality will be that I will be posting more often, in an attempt to post once a day. Just don't let me know that, or else I'll succumb to the true reality and go back to posting whenever I feel like it.
I suppose since this is an informative post, this is a perfect chance to explain the purpose behind this blog. I felt the need to began this blog in order to bring more attention to news stories that can easily fall through the cracks due to our news-media-corporate-government conglomerate. I will also be using this space for to add my perspective to our postmodern culture, as well as just posting things I'd like to share. Rather they be serious or entertaining.
And finally I've added some sites and blogs I frequent. All the blogs I could find from my dr.mario family, Democracy Now! (if you don't listen to Amy in the mornings, please start), and my friends' label Yards and Gods (whose having a compilation release show Saturday the 12th, here in CoMo at Mojo's). If I've forgotten your blog/website and if you'd like it to posted here, please leave it in the comments and I'll add it immediately. On the other side of the scale, if I'm sharing your blog/website and you'd like me to stop, just leave a comment as well.
I suppose since this is an informative post, this is a perfect chance to explain the purpose behind this blog. I felt the need to began this blog in order to bring more attention to news stories that can easily fall through the cracks due to our news-media-corporate-government conglomerate. I will also be using this space for to add my perspective to our postmodern culture, as well as just posting things I'd like to share. Rather they be serious or entertaining.
And finally I've added some sites and blogs I frequent. All the blogs I could find from my dr.mario family, Democracy Now! (if you don't listen to Amy in the mornings, please start), and my friends' label Yards and Gods (whose having a compilation release show Saturday the 12th, here in CoMo at Mojo's). If I've forgotten your blog/website and if you'd like it to posted here, please leave it in the comments and I'll add it immediately. On the other side of the scale, if I'm sharing your blog/website and you'd like me to stop, just leave a comment as well.
24 November 2009
How The U.S. Funds The Taliban
In a recent investigative article by Aram Roston in The Nation (click title for link), he as exposed payments coming from the Department of Defense that are redirect as payments of an "insurance," much like the mafia accepts "insurance," to the Taliban. These payments are made from U.S. military officials to mercenary organizations, like the Watan Risk Management owned by Ahmad Rateb Popal interpreter for the Taliban and cousin to the current President of the Taliban government. Other mercenary groups are ran by various war-lords, some having ties to the Taliban and other insurgencies. Please read the article for further information.
This information seems to support the concept of the industrial-military complex, that we are driving towards constant war. I'm not sure how we can win a war, when we are economically funding the other side. I read this article today, just after hearing Obama will be sending more troops to Afghanistan. Call the White House today and say wtf? Phone #202-456-1111
This information seems to support the concept of the industrial-military complex, that we are driving towards constant war. I'm not sure how we can win a war, when we are economically funding the other side. I read this article today, just after hearing Obama will be sending more troops to Afghanistan. Call the White House today and say wtf? Phone #202-456-1111
12 November 2009
10 November 2009
Fox News Reports It's Mostly Not News
In the current "War" between Fox News and the White House, Fox News as came out stating the average consumer can tell the difference between the opinion page of a newspaper and the news section. Further declaring the hours of the day that Fox News has real (well as real as news can be on Fox) news and when it is opinion programming. You can get your news from Fox News 9 hours out of the day, between 9 A.M. and 4 P.M., then again between 6 and 8 P.M. This statement excludes every known "news caster" on Fox News: Hannity, Fox and Friends, Big Poppa Bear O'Reilly, and Mr. Sensitive himself Glenn Beck. Shouldn't we have some group that fact checks News organization. It seems it might help keep the actual truth out there.
Here's Jon Stewart's cover of this story:
Here's Jon Stewart's cover of this story:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| For Fox Sake! | ||||
| , | ||||
| ||||
25 October 2009
22 October 2009
Food
Just discover this kick-ass food site for delivery or just to look at restaurant menus around your town. It's at www.allmenus.com
Check it out.
Check it out.
CIA Ups Blog and Twitter Surveillance
Hi CIA guys! Enjoy the read.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/exclusive-us-spies-buy-stake-in-twitter-blog-monitoring-firm/
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/10/exclusive-us-spies-buy-stake-in-twitter-blog-monitoring-firm/
The PS2 War
Remember in 2000 when SONY was having "manufacturing issues" with their PS2, delaying shipment of the gaming system everyone couldn't wait to get their hands on. As it turns out they were short on a certain electric capacitors, made from tantalum which is able to withstand extreme heat. The release of the PS2 followed America's surge to have a cell phone in every hand, leaving tantalum hard to find. Making prices for tantalum sky rocket from $49.00 a pound to $275.00 a pound. Luckily for us, the ignorant masses of Western Civilization, SONY found a source of coltan, of which tantalum can be extracted, in the Congo. Not so lucky for the poor people of the area; who we will, once again, exploit. The Rwandan Army stormed their western neighbors, enslaving the local population, and forcing women and children to work in the coltan mines. The human rights group Towards Freedom, and newspaper The First Post, claim this illegal export of coltan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo has financed the recent conflict in the Congo that has resulted in death of an estimated 5.4 million people since 1998. SONY now claims they are no longer buying their tantalum, from sources that extract it from coltan ore mined in the Congo. Yet, most of SONY's gaming devices are assembled by separate companies and then sold to SONY, so they can't be to sure.
What is sure is that in the early 2000's when us gamers where killing people on the PS2, we were killing people in real life as well.
What is sure is that in the early 2000's when us gamers where killing people on the PS2, we were killing people in real life as well.
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