democracynow.org – The CIA’s drone campaign targeting suspected militants in Pakistan has killed dozens of civilians who had gone to rescue victims or were attending funerals. So concludes a new report by the London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism. It found that since President Obama took office three years ago, as many as 535 civilians have killed, including more than 60 children. The investigation also revealed that at least 50 civilians were killed in follow-up strikes when they had gone to help victims. More than 20 civilians have also been attacked in deliberate strikes on funerals and mourners. We speak to Chris Woods, award-winning reporter with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. “We noted that there were repeated reports at the time, contemporaneous reports in publications like New York Times, news agencies like Reuters, like CNN, that there were these strikes on rescuers, that there were reports of an initial strike and then some minutes later, as people had come forward to pull out the dead and injured that drones had returned to the scene and attacked rescues,” Woods says, “We have been able to name just over 50 civilians that we understand have been killed in those attacks. In total, we think that more than 75 civilians have been killed specifically in these attacks on rescuers and on mourners, on funeral-goers.”

To watch the complete daily, independent news hour, read the transcript, download the podcast, and for the additional Democracy Now! reports about Pakistan, visit http://www.democracynow.org/tags/pakistan

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9

The Confederation and the Constitution

1776-1790

1. Pre-Reading Information

   1. American Revolution

      • Not a radical revolution/total change didn’t happen. Not many disturbed

      • Changes affected social customs, political institutions, ideas about society, government, and gender roles

2. The Pursuit of Equality

   1. Social Democracy

      • DOI: “All men created equal”

1.  
   1.  

      • Reduced property holding requirements for voting + men/women who weren’t wealthy demanded to be called Mr/Mrs. Boss, not master, Primogeniture removed

1.  
   1.  

      • 1784 ship of Ind. Servants released in NY, due to status violating democratic ideals

        • 1800 servitude gone

      • Continental Army officers formed exclusive hereditary orders, Society of the Cincinnati

      • Further stimulated by growth of trade organization for artisans/laborers

   2. Separation of Church and State

      • Congregational Church still remained in authority, Anglican Church → Protestant Episcopal Church, and was disestablished

      • Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson + co-reformers, 1786, separated religion and government VA

   3. Slavery

      • Philadelphia Quakers 1775 anti-slavery society. Cont. Congress. 1774, called for abolition of slavery, which most colonies responded +, & several north states abolished slavery outright

      • States south of PA didn’t abolish slavery + North/South had laws discriminating African Americans:Being barred from having property, holding certain jobs + educating children, and anti interracial marriage laws came up

      • Didn’t knock out slavery because didn’t want fragile union to collapse

   4. Woman’s rights

      • Low woman’s rights, NJ 1776 for a time allowed to vote, but most doing woman’s work at time

      • Civic virtue- Unselfishness of citizen for public good , and women taught these virtues to kids

2. Constitution Making in the States

   1. Continental Congress 1776

      • Called to write new constitution, RI/CT retouched their charters, others had republic spirit

      • MA- Special Convention, drafted constitution then submitted final draft to people for ratific. , once adopted 1780, couldn’t be changed except by another constitutional convention

   2. State Constitutions

      • State constitutions had a lot in common with each other. British tradition = constitutions not written document but collection of laws,customs,precedents

      • Americans invented something different, documents = contracts defining power of gov’t + authority from people, not from royal seal/king

      • State constitutions, intended to rep. Fundamental law. Included bills of rights, guaranteeing liberties, new legislature annually, weak executive/judicial branches.

      • All states legislature given most power, but Paine + Americans disagreed

      • Democratic character of new legislature demonstrated from recent enfranchised poorer western districts, had major effect like moving capitals westward(NY, VA, NC, NH, SC, GA)

3. Economic Crosscurrents

   1. Economic Changes

      • States seized control of crown lands, Loyalist holdings confiscated + cut up into small farms

      • Roger Morris’s estate NY was cut up into 250 parcels, accelerating spread of economic democracy, which preceded political democracy.

      • Stimulus given to manufacturing by the prewar non importation agreements, and later by the war itself. Good imported to Britain cut off. America remained nation of farmers

      • Americans barred from British + British West Indies, fisheries disrupted, and bounties for ships stores had ended.

        • Allowed to trade freely with foreign nations + subject to local restrictions

      • Yankees sail to Baltic/China. 1784 Empress of China, ginseng came into East Asia markets

      • War had spawned demoraliz. Extravagance, speculation + profiteering (as high as 300%)

      • State governments under too much debt to ever repay, inflation ruining citizens Congress failed at curb economic laws. Better off before war than after. New rich class of profiteers

4. A Shaky Start Toward Unity

   1. Creating and Operating a New Central Government

      • Hard to setup a new government of a new type. American was not very unified

      • Political system left to experimentation/innovation, and mass confusion

      • 1786 British goods hit American market hurting War-baby American industries

      • All colonies similar in government, + G. Wash, J. Madison, J. Adams, T. Jefferson, A. Hamilton, political leaders

5. Creating a Confederation

   1. Second Continental Congress

      • Conference of ambassadors, states were essentially sovereign, raised armies/navies, and taxed

      • Before decl. Independence 1776, asked committee for written constitution. Articles of Confederation = finished product, 1777, + translated into French after Saratoga for French supp.

        • Not accepted by all 13 states until 1781

      • 6 states had no holdings past Allegheny mountains, and 7 were favored with enormous acreage. Those with Allegheny lands could sell and pay debts, but those w/o had to heavily tax

      • Unanimous approval of AoC required, and VA held out until March 1, 1781. Congress pledged to dispose these vast areas for the “common benefit”. Agreed to carve from the new public domain where “republican states” would be admitted into with complete equality. Later redeemed in Northwest Ordinance of 1787

      • Fertile public lands transferred to central gov’t +westward pioneers purchased land from federal government

6. The Articles of Confederation: America’s First Constitution

   1. Articles of Confederation

      • 13 states linked together to deal with common problems, Congress chief agency of gov’t, not executive/judicial branch.

      • Each state had a single vote, any bills dealing with important subjects required 9 votes, and amendments req. unanimous ratification. Unanimity almost impossible, amending process unworkable.

   2. Congress

      • Congress weak, designed to be weak, suspicious states didn’t want American Parliament to take their newly acquired privileges

      • Two handicaps of Congress, no power to regulate commerce => states establish different/conflicting laws about taxes/navigation. Couldn’t enforce tax-collection program either. Asked states to contribute their share on voluntary basis, only got ¼ of what they asked for

      • National gov’t in Philadelphia, could not command/control/coerce independent states , could not act upon citizens, could not protect itself against indignities. 1783 group of angry PA soldiers demonstrated in front of Ind. Hall, and Congressmen forced to flee after no help.

      • Less effective than Continental Congress

      • AoC loose model of what confederation out to be like. T. Jeff. “Heaven and hell”

      • Stepping stone to current Constitution, outlined general powers exercised by central gov’t like treaty making + postal service

7. Landmarks in Land Laws

   1. Congress of the Confederation

      • Succeeded in passing supremely farsighted pieces of legislation

        • Related to the public domain recently acquired by states known as Old Northwest

   2. Townships

      • Land Ordinance 1785, said acreage of Old Northwest sold to pay national debt.

      • Was to be divided into townships 6 miles square, split into 36 sections, 16th section sold for benefit of public schools. Northwest = Orderly, Ohio River = Chaos

      • Northwest Ordinance of 1787, came to grips about how country should deal with colonies. There would be 2 evolutionary stages, where area would be subordinated to federal gov’t. After 60,000 people there, it could become a state. Slavery banned in Northwest

8. The World’s Ugly Duckling

   1. Foreign Relations

      • British refused to make commercial treaty or repeal Navigation Laws. Lord Sheffield argued that they would win back American trade anyways. Closed Brit West Indies to Americans

      • Brits intrigued by Allen brothers and sought to annex Vermont to Britain. Redcoats stayed in north to trade with Indians and to keep Indian support in order to defend Canada

      • Grievances against Britain made Americans mad, and they demanded that US impose restrictions on British imports to America, but Congress could not control commerce.

      • Spain unfriendly to new Republic, owned mouth of the Mississippi, and 1784 closed it to American commerce. Also owned GoM + Florida.

      • Natchez on disputed soil held important fort. Brits + Spanish + Indians prevented American from having effective control on ½ its territories

      • French demanded repayment of money loaned during war, and placed trade restrictions

      • North African pirates ravaged Mediterranean commerce + enslaved Yankee sailors. British purchased protection for their own subjects, including Americans, until independence.

9. The Horrid Specter of Anarchy

   1. Economic Storm Clouds

      • System of raising money was failing, public debt piling up + nations credit evaporating

      • States were getting out of hand quarreling over boundaries + taxing things from one another

      • Shay’s Rebellion 1786, led by Capt Daniel Shay, impoverished farmers losing land due to mortgage, wanted state to issue paper money, lighten taxes, and suspend property takeovers

      • MA authorities raised a small army, killing the movement in Springfield, but passed debtor-relief laws

      • Republicanism had fed an insatiable appetite for liberty that was fast becoming license. Civic virtue not good enough. A strong central government was needed, instead of republicanism

      • Wealthy conservatives wanted a strong central government, and poor wanted anarchy. But everyone agreed Confederation needed strengthening

      • Nearly half the states had not issued paper $$. 1789 overseas shipping regained place in world

10. A Convention of “Demigods”

    1. Control of Commerce

       • VA calls for convention at Annapolis, MA, 1786. 9 states appointed delegates, 5 represented

       • Hamilton called for Congress to summon convention to meet in Phili next year, to bolster AoC

    2. Meeting in Philadelphia

       • Every state chose a representative(Except RI), who were appointed by voters. When one of them mentioned restricting federal office to major property owners, he was denounced for interweaving republican constitution a veneration for wealth”

       • Quorum of 55 emisaries from 12 states convened @ Phili May 25 1787. Session held in secrecy

       • Most emissaries were lawyers, and most had helped write constitutions in their own state

       • G. Wash elected chairman. J. Mad. 36 at time, “Father of the constitution”, Hamilton = 32, 5 hr speech

       • Many revolutionary leaders of 1776 were not there, like Jefferson, Adams, and Paine

11. Patriots in Philadelphia

    1. The Delegates

       • Were a conservative body, none from poorer debtor group, 19/55 owned slaves, nationalists. Desired firm, dignified, and respected gov’t

       • Delegates determined to preserve union, forestall anarchy, ensure security of life and property against dangerous uprising.

12. Hammering out a Bundle of Compromises

    1. A Daring Step

       • Delegates decided they would scrap old AoC, instead of revise. Said that representation in House + Congress should be based on population, but small NJ said that Congress should have the same amount of people. The two sides got into a deadlock

       • House of Representatives = Based on population, Senate = 2 people per state. All tax bills/revenue measures had to originate in the house

       • New Constitution provided for a executive in the presidency. President was to have broad authority, + to be able to veto legislature. President allowed to wage war but Congress was the one who declared war

       • Constitution was a bundle of compromises. Method of electing president was with Electoral Colleges rather than directly. Large states had advantage in first round of voting, small states had a larger voice of no candidate got a majority of electoral votes and the election thrown to HoR

         • Election by House happened twice, 1800 + 1824

       • Slaves decided to be considered 3/5 of a power (“3/5 compromise”). Most states wanted to shut down slave trade, but SC + GA protested. Left issue untouched until 1807.

13. Safeguards fro Conservatism

    1. Delegates Clashes

       • Delegates agreed over the majority of things, members of Cont Congress saw eye to eye, demanding sound money + protection of private property. Politically in agreement about 3 branches system with checks and balances, and convention eventually virtually unanimous

       • Federal judges appointed for life, president indirectly appointed by Electoral College, Senators chosen indirectly by slate legislature. Only in HoR were people allowed to choose by vote

       • New charter contained democratic elements, 2 main republican ideas, that the only legitimate government was based on the consent of the governed, and the power of government limited. Virtue of people, not authority, was the guarantor of liberty, justice, + order

       • End of 17 weeks, May 25 – Sept 17, 1787, only 42/55 remained to sign Constitution. 3/42 refused to, returning to states to resist ratification. No member of convention 100% happy

14. The Clash of Federalists and Anti-federalists

    1. Acceptance

       • Since Framing Fathers knew that RI would veto the Constitution made it so that 9/13 states needed so that Constitution becomes supreme law in their lands

       • This way framers could get popular sanction for their handiwork, and a divided Congress could submit the doc to the states on this basis, w/o recommendation

       • American people surprised that a new document had come out instead of a revised AoC. Anti-federalists who opposed strong federal gov’t were against the federalists who favored it

       • Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee led anti-federalists. Included state right devotees,back country dwellers,and one horse farmers(poorest classes basically), also by debtors

       • Federalists had more power + influence, including G. Wash + B. Frank. Most who lived by seaboard, were wealthier, and controlled the press. 1780’s 12/100 were antifederalist

       • Antifederalists thought Constitution was going to take power away from the common folk, and that there was no bill of rights.

15. The Great Debate in the States

    1. Acceptance

       • Special elections held in various states for members of ratifying convention, elected based on pledges for or against Constitution

       • 4 states quickly accepted the Constitution. PA #2 on list of ratifiers, first large state to act, but not until irregularities had been employed by federalist legislature in calling a convention, including forced seating of 2 antifederalist members

       • MA, 2nd most populous state, held Boston ratifying convention. Included Shaysites and antifederalist majority, + Samuel Adams. Absence of BoR alarmed anti F’s, but assured that first Congress would add one, and ratification was then secured in MA 187 to 168

       • 3 more states fell into line, last being NH, who first had anti F majority, but then secured ratification still.

       • Document officially adopted June 21, 1788.

16. The Four Laggard States

    1. Virginia

       • Anti F opposition, incl Patrick Henry saying he fears to document will warrant death to liberty

       • With NH about to ratify, Union was about to be formed, and VA could not be comfortable as an independent state, and eventually ratified after an exciting debate

    2. New York

       • Heavily anti F state convention

       • Hamilton favored stronger central gov’t, but he used his personality to whip up support for federalism. He also joined John Jay + James Madison in making a series of article for NY papers. (designed as propaganda). (The Federalist)

       • NY finally yielded after realizing they couldn’t prosper w/o the Union

    3. The Other States

       • NC/RI rejected the Constitution

       • Last 4 states eventually ratified because they had to in order to be safe.

17. A Conservative Triumph

    1. Minority triumphs

       • Triumphed in American revolution, and overthrowing the AoC , 11 ratified and 2 stayed in the cold

       • Only ¼ adult males had voted for delegates. If the Constitution had been submitted to manhood-suffrage vote would have probably been defeated

       • Conservatism victorious, safegaurds placed against mob-rule , while republican views from the Revolution stayed. Federalists believed that if they set American on the right course, they could restore economic/political stability

       • Architects of Constitution conserved principle of republican government through redefinition of popular sovereignty. Federalists believed every branch of gov’t represented the 

Billions of dollars have been spent to build these state-of-the-art facilities, which have not been made operational. Why? What are these detention facilities going to be used for and more importantly, for whom were they built to detain?

There have been many curious theories being discussed on the internet and on conspiracy websites such as AlexJones.com and PrisonPlanet.com just to name two of these sites; as to why and for what purpose these largely non-operational government facilities will be used for in the very near future. The thing is, there is a conspiracy being carried out, but not by those openly and publicly speaking out about them, but by members of the NWO and an elite shadow government.

Concentration/Detention Camps in America

Concentration camps in America are only the tip of this sinister NWO conspiracy however. Apparently, a new order of business is now being carried out to deal with the future of detainees that the New World Order ruling class deems unfit to participate in their socialist Utopian society. Their endgame solution is designed to cutoff the head of their perceived enemy and creates an air of fear in anyone else that might consider opposing the New World Order’s ruling class and public policies.

Prolonged Detention Just Passed into Law by Obama Administration for potential terrorists

Some people might say “Poppycock” about these conspiracies, because no government or elite ruling class political leaders would ever attempt to carryout any such thing as extreme as this, but what if they are and they are setting the stage right under the public’s nose? It will be too late to fight when the new social machine is fully operational.

Who Might These so-called Terrorist Be as Identified by U.S. Homeland Security Department?

Civil war might very well indeed brake out in American cities and states, but only giving the government the accuse to declare Martial Law and ordering the U.S. Military to crush the upraising or in the case that the members of the U.S. Armed Forces refuse to carry-out shoot-to-kill orders against their fellow citizens, then the NWO and the U.S. Government will order foreign troops possibly from Russia, China and Germany to crush the resistors on American shores and lands. Sounds like a crazy conspiracy theory; sure it must if one has not investigated the information.

Guillotines in America 

(Watch this video at your own risk)

Warning this video contains graphic images that are not suitable for children under the age of 18 years old! A link is provided, so that interested adults can watch the video without young children present. This video could cause some people to have nightmares if they are sensitive to graphic violence and death. The images on this video are real and should not be viewed by young children.

Yes, the word is that for several years now high ranking government agencies have secretly been flying and shipping in foreign troops to America in the event Martial Law is ever declared. These troops will be ordered to conduct door-to-door firearm confiscation from American citizens and if these troops are comforted with resistance, then they have been given legal right to kill to carryout their duties. Once the guns are confiscation and the civil war has been crushed, then the New World Order ruling party will usher in a new global law system, economic system and religious order that every person on the planet will be forced to live under or if refused then off to the detention camp they’ll go.

Foreign Troops in America

Video #2

Open Message to U.S. Police and Military

For most people reading information such as contained in this article might believe this is just another crazy, insane conspiracy wacko, but what if – the conspiracy theory is not a theory at all, but real important information that could prepare you for what is coming in the very near future. Only time will tell who is telling the truth.

The military is an institution within itself.  Especially in the Marine Corps, it is critical to have bearing at all times.  We are a small group of people with a calling to join specifically this branch.  From the moment you step on the yellow foot prints, your bearing will be noticed both by your peers and Drill Instructors.  I will give you a brief explanation of how, who, what, where and why it is important to have and keep your military bearing at all times. 

Who:  Whether in uniform or civilian attire every single person will know that you are a United States Marine.  There is something special that distinguishes us from every other service member.  We have a dress code in/out of uniform.  In uniform, we are conditioned to notice the slightest imperfection about someone else’s uniform, which includes our own.  Endless hours are spent preparing our uniform for inspections that occur on a monthly basis.  These inspections are essential to the mission because they keep us sharp and ready for anything.  There is a reason we are “the nations force in readiness.”  Back to the who, it is the job of the leaders appointed over us to make sure your uniform and personal appearance are in tip top shape.  It’s simple, every Sunday wash your uniform and groom it for the next day.  This process includes cutting all the lose IP’s and other unnecessary imperfections noticed that are out of place.    

What:  What is important in order to look professional in the Marine Corps?  First and foremost, while in uniform avoid these simple bad habits.  Keep your hands out of your pocket, don’t chew gum, never walk and talk or text on your cell phone, no chewing tobacco, don’t smoke and walk, be stationary.  These are just a few things that are not considered to be professional in any sense of the world, especially while in the Corps or any military uniform.  Marines have a good eye and catch this right away, so avoid them at all costs. 

Where:  The Marine Corps is a job like no other.  You are considered a Marine twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  You are the face of the institution, so please carry yourself as professional as possible.  This is especially true when your are “out in town” during your off time or liberty.  Every Friday, a safety brief will be conducted to remind you of all the risk that are out there.  Your leadership will also give you a rundown of “proper civilian attire.”  Once you arrive to the fleet, the people within the small towns that surround the base will know who you are.  Plus, a lot of your leadership shop, eat out, attend movies, and other activates with their families in these towns.  THEY WILL NOTICE IF YOU’RE OUT OF REGULATIONS.  The term that is used during every safety brief is “don’t be the one.”  So please don’t be the one, especially if you’re taking the time to read this article. 

Why:   I’ve mentioned this before, but you, as a Marine, are the face of the institution.  Everyone is looking at you all the time, so this is WHY professional military bearing is so important.  Remember, the military is a volunteer force, so if you’re not willing to change your appearance, the transition will be that much harder.  Once you accept that there is a reason for all the little stuff, your time in the military will be a little easier.  Military life isn’t at all easy, but if you take the proper step and advice from others, it could be a bit more pleasant. 

How:  From the time you arrive at boot camp, condition yourself to adjust to the early hours and wake up just before the “alarm” goes off.  This will give you plenty of time to handle the little things that you missed the night before to make your uniform look perfect.  Yes, perfection is a possibility and it will take you some time to adjust.  Once you get it down the possibilities are endless and before you know it you’re a Cpl or even a Sgt.  Meritorious promotion will be knocking at your door.  

With his coming into office, we looked up to him to defend the integrity, pride, values and honour of the Black race. The Black race world over and indeed Africans are known for maintaining integrity. They are known to cherish ideals and values that uphold dignity of man. They are conservatives of the cultural ideals and value inherited that is why extended family life still thrives in the continent. They believe and uphold sanctity of marriage as ordained by God. They strongly believe that marriage is between opposite sex and not the propagation of this age which to me is the idea from the pit of hell.

Recently, the Nigerian Senate criminalized gay marriage and imposed jail terms on those that not only practice it but also those who support and witness it. The passage of the law attracted condemnation from many quarters including Britain and the United States of America. Many of the advanced countries threatened Nigerian that they will withdraw their aid and support for Nigeria. This is arrant nonsense and neo-colonialism. Reacting to the threat of some of these advanced countries, the president of Nigerian Senate, David Mark, said that the criminalization of gay in Nigeria is irrevocable.

A report by Austin Ogannah in www.thewillnigeria.com on Gay/Lesbian ban: Obama dares Nigerian Senate, Issues Presidential Memo, noted that, “Nigerian is a conservative nation with very strong traditional values though THEWILL believes it has a sizeable number of lesbians and gay who would rather remain in the closet than openly declare that they are gay. Senate President, Senator David Mark who Thursday defended the bill passed with overwhelming majority in the Senate told the visiting German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dorothee Janetzke – Wenzel that the ban on same sex remains ‘irrevocable.’ Senator Mark maintained that the ban would remain in spite of threats by foreign nation to withdraw assistance to Nigeria. It is unfair to tie whatever assistance or aid to Nigeria to the laws we make in the overall interest of our citizens otherwise we are tempted to believe that such assistance comes with ulterior motives. If the assistant is aimed at mortgaging our future, values, custom and ways of life, then they should as well keep their assistance.”

The memo issued from the office of President Obama titled “FACT SHEET: Working to advance Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Persons Globally, sees the discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender persons as a global challenge. If this becomes a global challenge, I wonder why we have different nations and why each nation has its own law. It should have been one law for all the nations of the world. Nations exists which are people of the same values, idea, orientations, customs, etc. If we as a nation cannot maintain our values, beliefs and customs because of what others believe and because of crumbs they give as assistance, then it means we have lost our identity as a people.

President Obama who knows the conservative nature of Africans and now is intimidating Nigeria and other Nations that are anti lesbians and gay is very unfortunate. All our hope in a leader that will defend the dignity and integrity of the black race has been dashed. Obama we are disappointed that you could not understand your people. If you have acted on pressure from men and women who have lost their conscience, just because you want to be re-elected, then know that the tears of people you want to abuse will certainly hunt you. Know also that you may not get that re-election. I can’t imagine myself coming to America to behave against the laws of the land. Human Rights should be within the context of people’s beliefs, customs, values and ideals. In some countries, carrying gun is not prohibited. But that does not mean that such will go to another where they do not carry gone and carry his gun up and down.

Protection of the rights of LGBT Persons Globally should be within the context of the laws guiding the nations where they are. If I love to kill, I feel it is not a right because it is against the norms and laws of the land. That there are people who are gays or lesbians does not mean that every other person must accept them. In a situation where majority of the people say no to it, for sake of sovereignty and peace, it should be like that. OBAMA LET NIGERIANS BE. DO NOT INTIMIDATE US. WE HAVE VALUES, CUSTOMS ANS TRADITIONS WE VALUE. WE HAVE SHAME AND CONSCIENCE. YOU PEOPLE CAN PRACTICE YOUR GAY IN USA AND LET US BE. We may be poor but we are not insane. We may be poor but we have conscience. Long live Nigerian Senate! Long live Nigerian National Assembly! Long Live Nigerian nation! Long live Nations that hate sin! Long live Nations that call sin sin and do not paint it names!  Long live all people who stand for truth! Long live all who have not lost their conscience!         

Source

George Washington set five precedents as the first President of the United States of America.

1. The first precedent that George Washington set was that he accepted a paycheck (around 12,000 dollars) for serving as President. From that day forth presidents had a salary. Now at around $420,000.

Source

2. The second precedent George Washington set was by not staying in office for over two terms, even when he was offered a third. This brought forth an official limit of two terms that a President could serve.

Source

3. The third precedent he set was that he retained the formality of the presidency and made it an honored respected position by having himself called called His Excellence. The presidency is now one of the most formal and respected positions one could be in.

Source

4. The fourth precedent he set was neutrality in foreign affairs. Before foreign relations became a necessity for countries’ economies and militaries and such America was neutral.

Source

5. The fifth precedent he set was that he handled domestic problems with force, such as during the whisky rebellion. Nowadays our executive branch uses force commonly to settle domestic problems, although the US military may not be used for that purpose.

Source

The war in Iraq is perhaps one of the most criticized war in the history of America. It was not only met with critics outside the US, but also from the home front. It was a war that gained absolutely no legitimacy. At least in Afghanistan they had an excuse and the world supported them then. It was waged on the pretext that there would be weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq, but it turns out, there was not a single weapon found. There was no excuses for the United States. The Iraqis were not involved in 9/11, Osama Bin Laden was not hiding in Iraq, Iraq did not finance 9/11 and nothing could be traced back to Iraq.

Except Britain, nobody helped the US in its war in Iraq. NATO had made it very clear that it would have nothing to do with America’s whims and fancies. In fact, France was dead against having a war waged in Iraq. The only countries who would give some form of assistance were the Kuwaitis and the Saudis.

Operation Iraqi Freedom as they called it, launched in 2003, was a military success no doubt. The preceding 1991 Gulf War had already rendered Saddam Hussein’s Iraq absolutely crumbled. Many of his soldiers had abandoned and surrendered to the Americans, their weaponry was captured or destroyed and his economy crumbled due to the crippling sanctions put against him and his regime. It would be wrong to claim that it was easy to invade Iraq, but nevertheless, it was made easier due to the weakening of the Saddam regime.

The real problem, however, started when the Americans secured Iraq militarily and had managed to remove Saddam from power. The problem was the after-effects of the war and the reconstruction of Iraq.

To begin with, the war started off with disapproval. George Bush managed to get the legitimacy to invade Iraq by a small margin. This created a sense of disagreement.

Iraq had already been attacked to its limits and the war had made it all the more worse. On top of that, America made several mistakes when it came to Iraq and the post-invasion revival was a nightmare precisely due to this reason.

To start with, the invasion was not planned well. Militarily speaking, the invasion went well and the country was secured in the hands of the Americans. They had planned to enter Iraq, find the Weapons of Mass Destruction and find Saddam Hussein. What would happen after America and its allies invaded Iraq was not considered. The plans for reconstruction wasn’t given enough priority. It was all about the military campaign.

Secondly, they did not get the right people for the Iraqi reconstruction. This was a Republican war, not an American war. The Democrats back in the United States was not on board with the idea of invading Iraq. The Iraqis had made it all the more difficult by not complying with the UN completely. When they did invade Iraq, the people that were recruited for the reconstruction were people who toed the line of the Republican party and not real experts. Middle East experts and Arabists had clearly warned the Republicans not to invade Iraq and that is precisely what the Republicans did.

This is perhaps the biggest reasons of America’s failure in Iraq. We see people who were in their 20’s who had just graduated college with absolutely no experience in their fields. Right then, they are assigned herculean tasks like setting up stock exchanges, figuring out their healthcare system and overhauling it and other such big tasks.

Thirdly, the lack of communication between the White House and the Americans on the ground in Iraq was another problem. President Bush had assigned Paul Bremer as the governor of Iraq on behalf of the Coalition Provisional Authority which was in charge of the Iraqi reconstruction. The White House bestowed all powers on him and they trusted him. He did not inform the White House about every single decision he took. He just took them and informed the White House later. This also caused some amount of friction between Paul Bremer and the Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfield and Colin Powell as well.

He made some really controversial decisions which could have been avoided had Bremer properly consulted the White House and its panel of experts. Especially the decision where he disbanded the Iraqi army through a CPA order. Had it not been for this decision, then perhaps the insurgency in Iraq wouldn’t have been so bad today.

As a result of that decision, many soldiers in the Republican Army of Saddam joined the insurgency. It was a very dishonourable and disrespectful decision and as a result, the soldiers joined the insurgency to fight the American rule. Had the army remained in place, then it could have been used to fight the already existing insurgency.

Fourthly, the decision to impose democracy by invading it was a mistake made by the Americans. Iraqis were not prepared for democracy, the experts had warned the Republicans about this and they ignored it. They needed this as an excuse to invade Iraq so that they could bring “democracy, liberty and freedom to the people of Iraq”. All of it sounded really good to people and made it sound just. The Iraqis were used to autocratic rule for years and years and suddenly thrusting them with democracy was not a wise move. Besides, as we have seen, the power sharing arrangements were a mess and to date, they haven’t been able to get consensus.

All these mistakes by the Americans have cost them dear and their war in Iraq is more or less a failure.

Copyright © 2011 Ashwath Komath

The old capitalism debate has been going on for a really long time. It is not easy to ascertain which system is best and by the look of it, the debate will go on for very long.

It is a fact that capitalism is ugly and ‘capitalism with a human face’ is a myth. Capitalism involves competition, and the competition may not necessarily mean fair. There is a lot of cutting corners and deception involved and capitalism is not at all clean.

Capitalism’s backbone is consumerism. Consumerism is how companies stay alive. Consumerism makes people want more and more. Consumerism capitalizes on the greed of the people in order to get them to spend more on goods and services. And consumerism’s focus is not on needs, its on wants and the human desire is like a bottomless pit.

All the advertising and the efforts is to entice people to buy more and spend more money.

People don’t necessarily need more than food, clothing, shelter and other basic needs, but consumerism ensures that you want more and more. This affects especially the middle class.

The middle class almost has its ends met sufficiently, but they will aim to get that big LCD TV or that expensive car or an expensive iPhone or solitaire diamonds. They will work harder, they will save up for these things. Again, there is no need per se to get these things, but its more of a status symbol than anything.

Capitalists count on consumerism in order to thrive. They want people to want more and that is why they advertise so much in order to keep fuelling the wants in people.

And this model is why many of the capitalistic economies thrive, especially those in the west. If you go to a supermarket in say, the United States of America, you’ll find it to be huge and the variety of products there is unbeatable. Within one product there will be several sellers and the amount of advertising on each product is crazy which drives more demand and more supply and more cash in the hands of the capitalists.

Consumerism as we know is a very selfish concept. The continuous hunger for material wants and the drive to actually achieve them is human greed.

It is because of intense consumerism that these economies flourish, the continuous consumption and the expansion of production and supply as a result brings a good economy in place. But it is important to note that these economies were built on greed and are currently living on greed and the international economic order as of today lives with this very principle.

But then there is this unique twist to this phenomenon.

It is these economies, which are helping other economies to develop in the form of loans, monetary aid, food aid, military aid, purchasing of bonds, investment, sharing of technical know-how and even charity.

The capitalist economies built on greed do show some benevolence to other economies.

Again, critics would bring a very valid point about getting something back out of the aid. Which is true, because

Loans are to be repaid anyway with interest, earning more money. Any monetary aid given to another country has some caveats and conditions to it for example increased market access, more favourable circumstances for trade which may give it an edge over other countries. As the saying goes that there are no free lunches, it is especially true for international relations.

But again, there are some things which cannot be answered. For example, why is the west spending so much money to give free medicines for people in Africa who suffer from various diseases like Malaria, Dengue and HIV/AIDS. What market access can people who don’t even have access to food give the west?

Why are there agencies like USAID, Red Cross and others which is mostly western-funded and why are they helping out in Africa?

Why is a country like the United States, the biggest economy in the world, investing in a country like Gambia and giving it aid, when its biggest exports happen to be peanuts and is the smallest country in Africa by landmass?

Other than a clean image, there is nothing much that this aid gives to the rich capitalist countries.

These are some contradictions of capitalism which cannot be explained.

Copyright © 2011 Ashwath Komath

Troops Home for the Holidays

Recently it has been reported that by December 31, 2011 all troops that have been deployed to Iraq and who have been fighting in Operation Iraqi freedom will be coming home.

The President of the United States of America made this weekly address on October 22, 2011 which can be viewed by the link down below from the Whites Houses Youtube Channel.

In this weekly address “President Obama discusses how the death of Moammar Qadhafi in Libya and the announcement that troops from Iraq will return home by the end of the year are strong reminders that the United States has renewed its leadership in the world.” (This is a reference from the information section of the youtube video).

Image via Wikipedia

My point of this article to you is this:

 Do not be fooled by what President Obama tells you. It was declared by President George W. Bush Jr. that the expiration date of the soldiers in Iraq would end by December 31, 2011 and not by President Obama. The President knows that his days in the White House are numbered and so he is trying to get has many votes as possible or many followers as possible before his time comes to an abrupt end.

Image via Wikipedia

I highly suggest to you as a nation to not be ignorant about the evil banters that are going on in our government today! Read as much as you can about both parties. Don’t just make an opinion based on the debates of the GOP candidates, but actually go to their websites and read up on each one.

The following links are the websites to each GOP candidate and I highly suggest that you go to each one and develop your opinion based on what you see there and keep in mind that you can also see several amateur videos on Youtube of each candidate that allows you to see a more live and truer character of each one:

http://www.michelebachmann.com/

http://www.rickperry.org/

http://www.hermancain.com/h

http://www.newt.org/

http://jon2012.com/

http://www.ronpaul2012.com/

http://mittromney.com/

http://www.ricksantorum.com/index.php

And you can also view more candidates at this following link:

http://2012.presidential-candidates.org/

I truly believe that there is no cure to stupid, but ignorance can be fought. Ignorance means that you have not been taught, but stupid means that you have been taught and still choose to go against what you’ve been taught.  

I was a young man that heard my call to duty the day when the towers fell and I joined the United States Marine Corps in 2006 and albeit I did not serve but 6 months before a medical discharge ended up being my fate, but I still stand by my brothers and sisters that serve this great country of ours.

I want them home probably as much as anybody else or perhaps more, but I do not want it to be sooner than it should. There are things that are not shared with the people and therefore leaving us victims to making decisions and opinions based on the unknown.

It is up to us as the people of this great nation to stand up and make our voices heard. It is up to us to learn and become informed. We cannot continue on thinking that the government will tell us all we need to know and we cannot keep putting our trust in the government or if we do this we shall meet all of our fates, and all of our doom!

Please look at the links that I have shared here with you and help yourself to become more informed.

God Bless you all and Lord Bless the United States of America.

And as always Happy Writing!!