Freedom's Phoenix Feature Articles

Woolrich London Killing: Terrorism or False Flag?

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:13:33 GMT

Read more on this subject: WAR: About that War
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Woolrich London Killing: Terrorism or False Flag? by Stephen Lendman Reports said two assailants hacked a British soldier to death. He's been identified as Lee Rigby. He was killed in broad daylight. It was several hundred meters from southeast London's Woolwich Royal Artillery barracks. Weapons included a machete type knife. Alleged attackers remained on the scene. They did so until police arrived 20 minutes later. Why wasn't explained. Killers don't usually stay around to be captured. Both assailants were shot and apprehended. They were hospitalized for treatment. One allegedly said "(w)e must fight as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Britain's ITV news aired an edited video clip. Allegedly an onlooker filmed it. How whoever did so happened to be on site wasn't explained. Odds against it are huge. So is remaining unscathed. Assailants don't take kindly to being caught in the act. The clip showed a young Black man with blood dripping
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Wall Street Journal Urges War on Syria

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:11:58 GMT

Read more on this subject: Syria
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Wall Street Journal Urges War on Syria by Stephen Lendman Perhaps publishing it was strategically timed. It comes with John Kerry in the Middle East. He'll be there through Sunday. He met with foreign ministers of 11 so-called Friends of Syria countries and opposition group representatives. In Jerusalem, he discussed Syria with Netanyahu. At the same time, the suspicious Woolrich London killing occurred. Another article suggested a possible false flag. The Journal op-ed urges war on Syria. So did others discussed below. On May 22, Journal editors gave Jack Keane and Danielle Pletka feature op-ed space. They took full advantage. They headlined "How to Stop Assad's Slaughter." Keane's a retired general. Formerly he served as US Army's vice chief of staff. Pletka is the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) foreign and defense policy studies vice president. AEI has enormous influence. It advances Washington's imperial agenda. It's consistently hawkish. It was a
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Platinum and Palladium: A Fundamental Shift

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:57:37 GMT

Read more on this subject: Casey Research Articles
Feature Article by Jeff Clark
Platinum is a precious metal, as is palladium, though to a lesser degree. However, like silver, both are also industrial metals. Unlike silver, it's their industrial use that is the primary price driver for both platinum and palladium � and that use is undergoing a fundamental shift. The largest source of demand for platinum and palladium is the automotive industry, for use in autocatalysts. In turn, the fortunes of the auto industry are sensitive to the health of the world's major economies. We've been bearish on platinum-group metals for years, primarily because we weren't convinced a healthy � much less roaring � world economy could be sustained when so many governments continue spending beyond their means. We reconsidered the market last year, when strikes in South Africa � home to 75% of global platinum production and 95% of known reserves � threatened supplies. But as we wrote last December, the strikes ended without great impact on long-term supply. Since then, however, the
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Israeli "Pillar of Cloud" War Crimes

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:28:46 GMT

Read more on this subject: Israel - Palestine
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Israeli Pillar of Cloud War Crimes by Stephen Lendman On May 8, B'Tselem published a report titled "Human Rights Violations During Operation Pillar of Defense: 14 - 21 November 2012." Israel's Operation Pillar of Cloud (aka Cloud Column/Pillar of Defense) was naked, premeditated aggression. Previous articles discussed it. "And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire; to give them the light; to go by day and night:" Exodus 13.21. Israel apparently believes Almighty God sanctifies cold-blooded murder. World community inaction lets Israel get away with crimes of war, against humanity and genocide. Naked aggression is called self-defense. Palestinian self-defense is called terrorism. Claiming either doesn't wash. Israel does it repeatedly. Slaughtered civilians bear testimony to imperial crimes. On November 14, Israel murdered Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari. A missile struck hi
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Iraq Today: America's Imperial Legacy

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:20:45 GMT

Read more on this subject: Iraq
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Iraq Today: America's Imperial Legacy by Stephen Lendman US imperial wars reflect mass slaughter, widespread destruction, ecocide, resource theft, exploitation, unspeakable human pain, suffering and misery, as well as permanent occupation. Washington came to Iraq to stay. US military and other security elements infest the region. It's the oil and unchallenged Middle East dominance, stupid. The price of imperial arrogance is unconscionable. Ordinary people bear the cost. Countries are laid waste. Victims suffer most. Iraqis understand. America's war remains one of history's greatest crimes. Iraq was the region's most developed country. The cradle of civilization no longer exists. A militarized giant free trade zone replaced it. Raping and plundering Iraq continue daily. Ordinary Iraqis have no say. They're victimized, exploited and shut out. They've lost all rights. They're aliens in their own country. Imperial priorities matter most. Washington's a scourge on humanity.
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Mission Creep Toward Full-Scale War on Syria

Thu, 23 May 2013 07:19:29 GMT

Read more on this subject: Syria
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Mission Creep Toward Full-Scale War on Syria by Stephen Lendman On May 20, Secretary of State John Kerry headed back to the Middle East. It's his fourth regional visit since January. On May 21, he met Oman's Sultan Qaboos. An air defense system/weapons sale, Syria, and related issues were discussed. On May 22, he met with foreign ministers of 11 so-called Friends of Syria countries. He did so in Amman. Opposition group representatives also attended. Among other issues, they discussed the US/Russian proposed peace conference. A Geneva June 10 date is scheduled. Reports suggest both Syrian officials and opposition representatives will attend. At the same time, mixed messages were sent. On the one hand, senior opposition members said participation's conditional on Assad stepping down. He has no intention to do so. Syrians alone must decide who'll lead them. It's their right. On the other hand, one senior opposition member said no decision on Geneva was reached. "B
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Obama's War on Free Expression

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:10:51 GMT

Read more on this subject: Police State
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Obama's War on Free Expression by Stephen Lendman It's the most fundamental right. Without it all others are endangered. Obama's waging war to destroy it. He's done so throughout his tenure. He targeted AP. He did so unjustifiably. A previous article discussed it. It was lawless intrusion. It intimidates journalists, potential whistleblowers, valued sources, and others. It warns them against challenging or disclosing information Washington wants kept secret. Obama's done it numerous times before. He's waging war on truth. He's targeted more whistleblowers than all previous administrations combined. Bradley Manning and Julian Assange are best known. Others faced similar abuse. Fox News reporter James Rosen is another target. Headlines just revealed it. Since around 2010, his phone records were monitored. They were obtained for a defined period. His emails were read. His personal movements were tracked. At issue are fundamental constitutional rights. They've been eroding
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Won't You Be My Neighbor - AquaDome (UPDATE)

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:21:49 GMT

Read more on this subject: Events: Arizona
Feature Article by Ernest Hancock
The picture immediately above and below is our first GeoDesic Dome "The MoneyDome" Below is a description of the construction of a double dome that is joined by a doorway. One Dome has two entrances and Dome #2 has a single entrance in addition to the door that connects the two domes. We have almost 2 acres to work with but we are trying to find out how much food can be produced in an area the size of a small backyard. This area on the side of our home is where our neighbors can see it, it's easy for us to access from our home and we can use our small Waterfall Pond for the 'tilapia' fish that supply the plants food (that clean the water for the fish). By pumping the water so that it returns to the top of the water feature Donna still gets benefit of the waterfall's sound and the water gets aerated. Another part of the water feature (that wasn't operational when we moved in) could allow us to also pump some of the water in
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The Cold, Hard Facts Behind Funding Your Retirement

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:35:58 GMT

Read more on this subject: Casey Research Articles
Feature Article by Dennis Miller
Many folks are afraid they simply won't be able to retire � or stay retired � when and how they planned. We can talk about retiring later, taking a part-time job, and cutting back on expenses, but those are only partial solutions. Of the seniors who are still working, very few are earning as much as they did at their peak. Their life savings still needs to make up the difference. I receive a lot of letters from very concerned baby boomers and retirees who are watching their principal erode every year, but they don't know what to do about it. Unfortunately, some have unrealistic expectations. I received a note from a woman in her early 70s who had fired her stockbroker (for good reason), and asked if there was a basket of mutual funds she could invest in that would do the trick. I had to tell her that there simply are no "set it and forget it" solutions anymore. When our parents retired, CDs earned enough interest to keep their portfolios afloat. As long as they had saved
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Are Japanese Bonds Signaling Trouble?

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:48:15 GMT

Read more on this subject: Economy - International
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Are Japanese Bonds Signaling Trouble? by Stephen Lendman A previous article discussed the disconnect between soaring markets and troubled economies. Liquidity driven markets only skyrocket so long. What can't go on forever, won't. No one's sure when. Eventually the music stops. When that happens, watch out. Signals provide clues. Fed governors hint at slowing QE. Some analysts think by yearend or sooner. Bond prices affect other markets. Spiking Japanese sovereign yields (JGB) suggest trouble. On May 18, The Japan Times headlined "JGB yield spikes raise alarm bells," saying: "Is it a sign of a full-fledged economic recovery or a looming catastrophe in the monetary making?" On April 5, the benchmark 10-year JGB perhaps bottomed at 0.315%. From there it surged. On May 17, it hit 0.92%. It pulled back. It resumed rising. On May 21, its yield was 0.88%. At the same time, demand for 40-year debt waned. Yields closed at 1.955%. It's their highest lev
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The Campaign to Free Castle Keene, a Modern Robin Hood Moment

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:05:20 GMT

Read more on this subject: Government
Feature Article by Melinda Pillsbury-foster
Lauren Carario started it, putting coins in the parking meters of autos in danger of being ticketed in around 2007 or 2008. It was not an all the time thing, but something she did because she thought it was wrong to fine people for parking on the streets for which they pay. The people are the government, after all. No one asked them if they wanted to fine themselves. Sometimes from small impulses large things grow. Feeding the meters has continued by others following her example, on and off, since Lauren's first impulse. About a month ago, things heated up. In the last two weeks the peaceful Evolution of Robin Hood has captured national, and international, attention as Keene filed a law suit against activists, naming, among others Graham Colson. In response, Graham and others went down to the City Hall to talk to City Attorney Tom Mullins, who refused to hold a discussion on camera, ignoring the public's right to know. The City of Ke
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Reinventing Guatemalan History

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:11:54 GMT

Read more on this subject: Police State
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Reinventing Guatemalan History by Stephen Lendman History reinventors support despots. Social democrats are vilified. Crimes of war, against humanity and genocide are sanitized. They're whitewashed. They disappear in plain sight. Wall Street Journal columnist Mary O'Grady tried reinventing Guatemalan history. She failed. More on that below. Washington tolerates no independent governments. Left of center democratic ones are most vulnerable. In 1953, the CIA's first coup deposed Iran's Mohammad Mosaddegh. At the time, The New York Times called him "the most popular politician in the country." Reza Shah Pahlavi replaced him. A generation-long reign of terror followed. In 1954, Washington ousted Guatemala's Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. In 1952, Truman authorized CIA action. Eisenhower followed through. Paramilitary subversion and psychological warfare forced him out. Carlos Castillo Armas replaced him. Death squad justice followed. So did decades of genocide. More on th
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Supreme Court Colludes with Monsanto

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:10:31 GMT

Read more on this subject: Food
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Supreme Court Colludes with Monsanto by Stephen Lendman It's no surprise. Michael Parenti calls America's High Court its "autocratic branch." It's notoriously pro-business. It's longstanding. In Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railway (1886), it granted corporations legal personhood. More recently, in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes et al (June 2011), it denied longstanding sexual discrimination class action redress. It overruled a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision doing so. In AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion (April 2011), it did so two months earlier. It blocked class action redress claiming fraud. The company's wireless subsidiary charged sales tax on cellphones it advertised as free. Two California courts rules for plaintiffs. The High Court overruled them. In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled for money power over democratic governance. One dollar = one vote. Corporations and PACs can spend all they want. D
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America: A Modern-Day Sparta

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:58:21 GMT

Read more on this subject: WAR: About that War
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
America: A Modern-Day Sparta by Stephen Lendman Permanent war is longstanding policy. America deplores peace. Throughout its history, it's waged war annually at home and/or abroad. Today it does so globally. Giving peace a chance is loathed. Direct or proxy wars rage in multiple countries. "Yes we can" reflects Obama's pro-war, pro-imperial, pro-ravage, plunder and dominate agenda. He prioritizes it. He abhors human rights, equity, justice, and other democratic values. Rogue leaders operate that way. Rule of law principles are spurned. Constitutional protections no longer apply. Any nation, organization or person designated a state enemy is targeted. "Change you can believe in" is polar opposite of what most people expected. America's empire of bases is global. US special forces operate in over 120 countries. Proxy death squads supplement them. CIA agents and assets are everywhere. Washington's Blog said America's waging 74 wars. It's "f
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Guantanamo Force-Feeding Constitutes Torture

Mon, 20 May 2013 06:56:03 GMT

Read more on this subject: Police State
Feature Article by Stephen Lendman
Guantanamo Force-Feeding Constitutes Torture by Stephen Lendman Guantanamo detention constitutes torture, abuse and ill-treatment. Long-term detention compounds it. Force-feeding increases unconscionable pain and suffering. Doing so violates core rule of law principles. Around 130 of 166 Guantanamo detainees refuse food. They're hunger striking for justice. They began in February. They passed 100 days. They'd rather die than endure injustice. Their only escape route is death. Pentagon officials at first maintained silence. Belatedly they admitted what's well-known. They consistently downplayed it. Now they admit 102 detainees refuse food. At least 130 are involved. Obama dismissively said nothing. His belated acknowledgement reflected disdain for their pain and suffering. Thirty or more hunger strikers are being force-fed. Doing so constitutes torture. A previous article explained. Detainees are restrained in chairs. They're called "padded cells on wheels.&quo
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