Dan Lyons

OBAMA DEMANDS CHINA CUT HUGE EXPORTS
But China is now our main creditor;
if they quit buying US treasuries,etc.,
We’d be in a horrific place.
CbS.news/31jan

If our treasuries shrink in value,
(e.g if our dollar gets devalued)
all holders of them will suffer--
but the nationes who sell first will suffer less.

OBAMA’S PROTECTIONISM: ‘Buy American!’ provisions in stimulus bill
Criticized by trade partners, could lead to similar measures in other nations.
NEWS YAHOO/31JAN

Once again: US imports more than it exports (trade deficit) /So even if it
Exports less from foreign tariffs (explicit & hidden) it will come out ahead in terms of jobs If it can cut imports.

Other nations will move toward protectionism
Even if US doesn’t. World Depression looms.

By April, Obama must present an Afghan strategy to NATO allies,
(increasingly disenchanted by the project).
Karzai democracy hasn’t worked (Afgh has never had a working democracy).
Will we install a dictator?
What is our goal? To prevent another 9/11 by preventing QaedaFrom hiding out in Afgh?
Or will this be too costly in lives and money?
CSMONITOR/30JAN
Qaeda has plenty of other havens (e.g., Somalia, Yemen…)
So we won’t gain much for homeland security by
Fighting on in Afgh.

We should bug out of both Iraq & Afgh, and spend the money
On beefing up homeland security at home !

US AIRSTIKES HELP TALIBAN,
Says GATES, top Pent honcho !

He also says we MUST stop drug-
Production—Karzai’s govt. probably won’t.

"We now have NO ORGANIZED STRATEGY."
BALTIMORE SUN/27JAN

FULL PAPAL SOLIDARITY WITH JEWS.
SAYS Maledictus I(a former Hitler soldier).

Muslims won’t be surprised, not after
He publicly denounced MOHAMMED !

EFFECTIVE TALIBAN PROPAGANDA:
They propagate claims of US killing civilians;
General:”They say we kill civilians—but THEY do !”
Interviewer: “You both do.”
Gen:”We try to avoid it; they do it deliberately.”
CBS/28JAN

But US bombs villages, knowing it’s inevitable that civiliansWill be killed./
And between 2 versions of a killing,
Ordinary Afghans will believe other Afghans,
Not the infidel invader.

MEGATECH HAS RUINED WORLD (till 3000)
Temp will stay high NO MATTER WHAT WE DO NOW/
Rising sea-levels, widespread draughts.
NEWS.YAHOO/28JAN
For argument that megatech does MORE HARM THAN GOOD,
goto lamar.colostate.edu/~dlyons
Then click on chapter two.

‘MOST CRITICAL TIME EVER IN AFGH’
says Think-tank. /
Valid elections may not be possible.
Both Canada & Holland think of pulling out.
US wants more English help, but…
LONDON TELEGRAPH/28JAN

BENEFITS OF PROTECTIONISM:
Wherever IMPORTS OUTWEIGH EXPORTS (as in US),
Then tariffs make sense, to mimimize imports.

/Granted, other countries will do the same—
But the jobs saved here by tariffs
Will be greater than those lost by lower exports.

/Anyway, in times of world depression,
Other countries will restrict imports
Whatever we do, so we can’t lose by
Restricting our own imports.

PROFLIGATE PENTAGON BLOCKS ADEQUATE STIMULUS
Why can’t govt.budget ADEQUATE stimulus?
Because it’s wasting one thousand millions of dollars a year
On Pentagon—its ships/planes useless vs. individual terrorists.

ALLIES CAN’T MINGLE WITH AFGHANS
When Canadian troops try, Taliban shows up right afterwards
To warn civilians against cooperation.
GLOBE&MAIL/28JAN

US MUST FIGHT IN AFGH. WITHOUT CANADIANS:
US HONCHOS SAY AFGHAN.CAMPAIGN WILL TAKE 10 YRS—
BUT OUR STAUNCHEST ALLY .CANADA. WILL PULL OUT IN 2 YEARS !

GATES SAYS ‘GIVE UP ON AFGHAN DEMOCRACY’,
AIM ONLY AT DENYING TERRORISTS AN AFGHAN HAVEN.
LATIMES/28JAN
/But once people taste the illusion of democracy,
they’d be furious to hear we’ve abandoned that ideal—

and Quaeda will be sure they HEAR about Gates’
remark—that this is foreigners’ war to protect themselves,
not a war to help Afghans.
--GATES HIMSELF says that this perception
means Afghans will drive us out, as they have
driven out every invader since Alexander the Great.

O.pushes war over Afghan development
He’ll leave development to Eur.allies—
But will they pick up the baton?
NYTIMES/28JAN

An awful dilemma: Gates noted that
If Afghans don’t see the war as ‘theirs’,
Benefiting them, then they’ll drive us out
As they have driven out every invader
Since Alexander the Great. So development
Is essential.

But Taliban sets out to destroy every
Civil advance—so US has to weaken
Taliban first. But can we?

US TURNS ON KARZAI
(who criticizes US for killing civilians).
US will work with provincial leaders
instead of central govt.
UNITED PRESS/28JAN

But if Afghans agree with Karzai,
This move will alienate them further.

RABBIS DROP TIES WITH POPE:
After he welcomed back Holocost-denying bishop.
UNITED PRESS/28JAN

This Pope belonged to Hitler youth, then
Hitler army, Granted both were involuntary…
But he should have learned about special evil
While in Hitler youth. Then he should have
Fled Germany before he could be drafted.

TALIBAN TAKE OVER SWAT VALLEY—
A NEW PAK. CONQUEST
/1000 PROTEST GOVT. TIES W/AMERICA.
/Cbs news./27JAN

WHOSE WAR?
NO MORE THAN 30K EXTRA TROOPS TO AFGH.
Says Gates.
Afghan people must see it as THEIR war;
Else we’ll be driven out just as every other
Foreign force was driven out..
Reuters/27jan

Our airstrikes already convince
Afghans that this is foreigners’ war.

NATO LOSING VS. TALIBAN
says think-tank.
Unless all NATO forces agree on what counts as ‘success’,
Many countries may pull out.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/27JAN

More Afghan civilians killed/
These killings undermines ESSENTIAL attempts to line up Afghans on our side.
/Nytimes/26JAN
US gives different accounts of these killings—
But what Afghan would believe these infidel invaders?

2 IRAQ COPTERS DOWN/ 2 DOWN/
4 GIs dead.
Since ’03, 36 copters have been shot down.
Nytimes/26jan

THOUSANDS OF AFGHANS PROTEST VS. US

Angry over the killing of civilians
NYTIMES/25JAN

Pakistan Pres. Says US airstrikes vs. Pak. Are counter-productive.

PROBLEMATIC USE OF TRIBAL MILITIAS:
Afgh is mountainous area the size of Texas.
Even with 30K added GIs, this area can’t be protected.
So the plan was to imitate the success in Iraq,
Arming the locals.
But Afgh. is famous for warring tribes.
(indeed, the chaos from these wars was what helped
the Taliban take over much of Afgh. The people preferred
tyranny to anarchy.)
So the plan has been postponed.
WASH POST/23JAN
It would be interesting to find out whether the area
now controlled By Taliban is greater than
the area so controlled before our invasion!)

TALIBAN DODGE AIRSTRIKES
They’ve learned to attack, then disappear before planes arrive..
Like all terrorists, they attack from civilian areas
So planes will bomb civilians, enrage Afghans even more.
USATODAY/22JAN

They recognize that US wants to minimize GI casualties,
So we use airstrikes excessively.

NEW US TROOPS WILL INCREASE VIOLENCE
Taliban get bolder.
CBS NEWS/22JAN

WHERE NATO TROOPS AREN’T, TALIBAN ARE.
The foreigners have ceded large parts of Afgh to Taliban.
Simply because they lack the troops to hold those regions.
NYTIMES/22JAN

Will only 30K added GIs change this dilemma?
Obama's commitment to Afghan war was foolish.

NO MORE CANADIAN TROOPS TO AFGH
Most Canadians oppose this war;
Canada set on pulling out.
THE HINDU/ 22JAN

LIMITED EFFECTIVENESS OF KILLING
PETRAUS SAYS WE MUST IMPROVE WELL-BEING
OF AFGHANS TO WIN VS. TALIBAN.
/LONDON TIMES/21JAN

BUT CAN WE DO THIS IN LESS THAN 20 YEARS?

This point shows uselessness of Pentagon,
Which is just a killing machine (& money-making machine).

ISRAEL: WE MAY HAVE USED PHOSPORUS ILLEGALLY.
GUARDIAN/21JAN

WE CAN CLEAR BUT NOT HOLD 30k US troops can win every battle—of course we can, with 1st-world weapons and airstrikes. But we can’t hold the territory won..
Will we be able to, with only 30k more troops?
(Soviets couldn’t with 150k troops.)
SEATTLEPI/21JAN

CAN GOP TURN LIBERTARIAN?

Like GOP, libertarians hate the idea of taxing the rich to help the poor.
Indeed, this is the central theme of both groups.
Both groups oppose gun control.
But the libertarians also oppose punishing abortion,
And discrimination against gays & lesbians.

If the GOP gives up their devotion to ‘social conservatism’
(bigotry) then they’d lose the loyalty of the dumb ordinary
bigots who vote against their own economic interests,
voting for the party of the Wealthy.

Wealthy Republicans may be the smartest Americans—
But unwealthy Republicans are certainly the dumbest.

The wealthy after all are a very small minority of voters.
Libertarian candidates get very few votes.
So it would be suicide for GOP to give up their
Bigotry stands.

But in the seeming present Depression, these ordinary
Bigots are so threatened with destitution that they
Forget about their hate-luxury and begin to vote
Their pocketbooks. For now at least, it seems
The GOP is doomed.

“QUIT DEMANDING MORE PAKISTANI HELP
VS. TALIBAN’
says top Pak. Mil. Honcho. “We have sacrificed more
in this battle than any of our critics.”
WASH POST/20JAN

AFGHAN NATION MAY RISE UP VS. FOREIGNERS
Says honcho.
Pres. Says killing of civilians
is a main source of instability.
(Corruption of Karzai’s govt. is also a big problem.)
REUTERS/20JAN

PAKISTAN AGAIN CLOSES US SUPPLY ROUTE
After Pak. Soldiers killed by Taliban.
NEWS.YAHOO/19JAN

PEOPLE FROM 70 COUNTRIES denounce Israel AND AMERICA.
Latimes/19jan

That’s part of the cost of our slavish obedience to
Israeli politicians.

“A PRODUCT OF CIRCUMSTANCE “
(Gazan civilian death caused by indiscrimate Isreaeli attacks)
says Israeli honcho.
Google.news/
How’s that for black humor?

HARDENED KABUL STREET BOMBED
In spite of many checkpoints, walls.
6 GI casualties.
LATIMES/18JAN

INDONESIAN IMAM CALLS FOR JIHAD VS. ISRAEL
REUTERS/18JAN
This illustrates the folly of Israeli atrocities, further enraging1000 millions of Muslims worldwide.
“Well, they already hate Israel..so what did Israel lose?”

There are 3 levels of terrorist-support:
The outside circle just talks support, takes no action.
The middle circle offers money, and hides terrorists.
The inside circle of ‘hard-men’ willing to die and kill.

Each added degree of rage moves some in outside circle
To middle circle,
and adds some in middle circle To inner circle.

Israel pulls back to city edge:
Is this mark of coming unilateral truce?
Or is it retreat from bloody city warfare?
www.presstv/16jan

BRAIN ‘PUNISHES’ NON-CONFORMITY
When a person differs from majority in his group,
Brain signals error-message, and reward part weakens.
CNN.COM/16JAN

Obviously I don’t have a normal brain—
Thank God, when majority is so often just wrong.

IRAQ PARTITION ON THE WAY:
Constitution allows de facto secession of South Iraq, just like the Kurds.
Biggest Shia party plans ‘autonomous region’.
MSNBC/16JAN

I’ve said all along that this is inevitable and beneficial.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28696622/

ISRAEL USES PHOSPORUS VS. CIVILIANS
So say witnesses.
GUARDIAN/16JAN

“WE CAN’T KILL OUR WAY OUT OF THIS TERRORIST THREAT!”
says a sensible Brit honcho. But there is no OTHER way, either, that we can eliminate these individual terrorists.

We should concentrate on HOMELAND DEFENSE, (MINIMIZING ATTACKS, AND DAMAGE) spending on it somewhere as much as we spend on USELESS PENTAGON.

SUPPOSE US WERE ROCKETED FROM MEXICO:
I suppose Americans would go crazy, even if damage was slight.
Similarly, I understand Israelis going crazy over rocketing.
But I don’t approve of their hysterical reaction to a few,
Fairly harmless rockets.

US MAY INVADE MEXICO says US army flaks.
Mexico is collapsing, so we’ll have to start ANOTHER war.
LondonTelegraph/16jan

BinLaden says it’s a war, so it is?
Brit flak disagrees with honcho who points out that
Conflict with individual terrorists should not be called ‘war’,
Which term legitimizes pointlessly attacking countries.
LONDON TIMES/16JAN

MASS-MURDER TO WIN ELECTION
Perhaps Israel will cut back on slaughter after Israeli election.
GLOBE&MAIL/16JAN

UN AFGHAN HONCHO OPPOSES STRATEGY CHANGE
‘We don’t implement strategy, then blame the strategy.”
Situation deteriorating.
NEWS.YAHOO/16JAN

AFGHAN TROUBLES:
--US plans to bring in 20k more troops, organize local militias to fight Taliban.
But that’s just what Soviet did before they were pushed out. (they had far more troops
Than US will have, even after increase.)

--Afghans deeply resent US airstrikes, killing civilians.

--Kabul govt. is corrupt and ineffective (and Karzai criticizes US publicly.)

--When new troops arrive, level of violence will spike,
enraging Afghans ever more.

WASH POST/16JAN

4 AFGHAN DISTRICTS CONTROLLED BY TALIBAN:
In these, Kabul govt ‘does not exist’, says Afghan honcho.
CHINA NEWS/15JAN

DOES INTENTION COUNT IN JUDGING MURDER?

Catholic hierarchy says you can kill patients as long as your INTENTION in giving
Heavy morphine doses is not to kill, but to relieve pain.

Defenders of Israel say intentional torture (e.g. by US) is wicked,
But not unintended (tho perfectly foreseeable) wounding (i.e., torture)
Of civilians in war.

Nonsense.

TALIBAN CLAIMS THEY SHOT DOWN COPTER
Containing top general.
NEWS.YAHOO/15JAN

Once again, we should suspect either side's claims of success vs. other side.

But Afghans will believe Taliban.

‘WAR ON TERROR’ TERM A MISTAKE
says Brit Honcho/GUARDIAN/15JAN
‘We can’t kill our way out of this threat.”

GENERALS PLANNED TO LEAVE IRAQ MORE SLOWLY—
BUT NOW THEY’RE PLANNING TO LEAVE FASTER,
TO SATISFY OBAMA. /NYTIMES/15JAN

ISRAELIS BOMB UN HQ,
WITH WHITE PHOSPORUS !

DESTROYING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS
OF RELIEF FOODS./GOOGLE.NEWS/15JAN

ISRAELIS SHELL MEDIA BLDG/ FOX NEWS/15JAN

‘FIGHT FOREIGN INFIDEL INVADERS’ say Taliban recruiters.
This works.
NEWS.YAHOO

ISRAELI SOLDIERS SAY
HORRIFIC WHITE PHOSPORUS WAS USED;
OFFICERS DENY THIS.
/LONDON TIMES/14JAN

US,PAK.INTERESTS CLASH
Says Pentagon honcho.
NEWSWEEK

LONG-TERM PROBLEMS FOR 300,000 VETS
Seizures, aggression, dementia for GIs with
Brain injuries.
LATIMES/13JAN

The costs for these stupid wars
will persist thru our lifetimes.

HOW WILL NEW GIs BE USED IN AFGH?
WHICH PRIORITY? Securing border with Pakistan,
Or protecting population from Taliban attacks?
Some say latter goal is impossible.
LATIMES/13JAN

WHITE PHOSPORUS USED BY ISRAEL?
The most horrific weapon burns its way through live bodies.
LATIMES/13JAN

OBAMA DOESN’T SEE US AS TURNING TIDE—new troops are seen
Only as ‘buying time’ for complete re-evaluation of our Afghan war.
Setting up a stable democracy would be impossible
And unaffordable.
WASH POST/13JAN

TALIBAN ATTACKS WENT FROM 188 LAST YR
TO 315 IN ’08.
In ’07, they had a permanent presence in 54% of the country;
This year, 72%.
USATODAY/12JAN

AFGHAN TALIBAN ATTACK PAKISTAN
600 Taliban attack a lightly-defended Pakistani post.
Many of these posts have too few troops,
Because troops have been sent to India border.
WASH POST/12JAN

IRAN ATTACK COULD THREATEN GIS I N IRAQ
If Iraq Shias cut off supplies thru Basra, and enraged
Pakistanis cut off supplies thru Pakistan.

Also, Iran could restore super anti-vehicle mortars to Iraq resistance.

Also, oil prices would shoot up.

NO PENTAGON CUTS (from 1 million millions a year) because Congressmen won’t dare cut jobs ABC/11JAN
Pentagon spending gives far less bang for a buck
(than, say, education, bridge repair)
as stimulus.

Shia govt. failed in Anbar, says Marine general.
They gave money,etc, to Shia Basra,
But not to Sunni Anbar.
MSNBC/11JAN

Reconciliation still stalled; wait till Shias try to run Anbar !
Partition is the only solution.

IRAQ WAR WOULD BE ILLEGAL, UNJUST AND DISASTROUS,
Cardinal told Bush in ’02. (Cardinal just died).
Vatican has superb intelligence service.
Bush intelligence was very Incompetent.

MEDIA CHATTER ABOUT ‘RETURN OF BIG GOVT’ IN OBAMA’S STIMULUS PKG.

They’re silent about one million millions of $ to Pentagon every year,

MAJOR NON-MIL. PUSH NEEDED FOR AFGH
To stop growing Taliban power Says Petraeus
Nytimes/9jan

We should pull out of Afgh. Quaeda has plenty of other havens,
and they have havens already in Afgh.

NO US STRATEGY IN AFGH.
A think-tank says Bushies think only of short-term tactics.
Ignorant of Afghan culture.
NEWS.YAHOO/8JAN

SADR CALLS FOR IRAQ ATTACKS ON GIs
In revenge for US backing of Israeli attacks
On Gaza.
LATIMES/8JAN

TALIBAN WHOPPERS: Obvious lies about their damaging NATO troops,Equipment.
But remember: neither can you trust US,allies when they tell About Taliban casualties. Generals trained to kill are also willing to lie.
REUTERS/8JAN

KARZAI DENOUNCES US KILLINGS:
Reminds us that such killings of civilians
alienates Afghans.
US denies civilians killed.
What really happened? It doesn’t matter;
Afghans will believe Karzai before foreign invaders.
REUTERS/8JAN

MORE CIVILIANS KILLED? An Afghan official says family of 5 were killed by Brits;
Brits say they know of no civilians killed in operation.
NYTIMES/7DEC
WHICH WILL AFGHANS BELIEVE?

MANY AFGHANS BLAME US FOR GAZA
They note that US has not made Afgh secure,
US does not respect Afghan traditions,
US kills Afghan civilians in airstrikes—
And now US supports Israel in killing Muslims.
WASH..POST/6JAN

INDIA CHARGES PAK.GOVT. with conspiracy in Mumbai bombing.
This might well mean more Pak. Troops pulled out of taliban fight
And m oved to India border.
SEATTLEEPI/6JAN

TALIBAN SOLVES PROBLEMS 100 miles from Kabul.
Karzai govt. & US does NOT solve these problems.
Sunday Herald/5jan

100 suicide casualties near Shia shrine in Baghdad.
Google.com/4JAN
These attacks (by Sunnis) make reconciliation
Less probable.
Partition is likely solution.

US MAKING SAME MISTAKES AS SOVIET IN AFGH.
Says Russ honcho. “We tried to introduce socialism;
You try to introduce democracy. Neither invader asks
What Afghans want. They are still poor, but now also bombed.”
LONDON TIMES/3JAN