The Australian blogger Syd Walker writes:

When I first heard a commentator speak of ‘ethnic cleansing’ I felt a  strong sense of revulsion…. How utterly absurd to use a phrase that embodies a vile notion beyond all civilized norms! What on earth is clean about attacking, destroying, rape and pillage, violence and refugees?

Syd Walker is right, of course. It´s a terrible term. For similar reasons I feel the same revulsion, when I hear another term, the word: “Holocaust”.

The word comes from two Greek words meaning: “total burning” . Today, when you hear it in English or any other language, it is nearly always used as a description for the Nazi crimes against the Jewish people during WWII. We are told, it is used to remind us that the Nazis have cremated the bodies of those Jewish people who were killed or died in German concentration camps during WWII.

But although the Greek words just mean a “whole and total burning”, in some countries, like Germany, this word is protected by law to be used for one thing and one thing only,  the Nazi atrocities against Jews (not even the atrocities against other concentration-camp prisoners).

You can go to jail in Germany for minimizing Nazi crimes, if you use the word “Holocaust” for the firebombing of Dresden or Tokyo and other German and Japanese cities.

In those raids British and American bombers were ordered to unload incendiary bombs in a predetermined manner over those cities, so it would create a total fire-storm, burning the inhabitants, men, women and children alive or cooking them in the heat of their bomb-shelters.

Neither are you allowed to use the word “Holocaust”  for the total annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and for the deaths of those people who were killed inside those cities simply evaporated or for the deaths of those who in the months thereafter died in terrible agony from radio-active inner burns.

You may not use the word for describing the death of the people in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia who were burned alive in their villages and towns with Napalm bombs thrown down from American planes.

You may not use the word, when you talk about the people who have been killed in Iraq or Lebanon or Gaza in a rain of chemical weapons, burning them inside in their lungs and outside on their skin.

The “Holocaust” is special.

It may only describe the suffering of the Jewish people, victims of Nazi atrocities during WWII. This suffering was so “extraordinary and without comparison” that it turned the Nazis into incomparable “monsters”. And this extraordinary suffering turned the allies, fighting the Nazis into “saints”, who could do no wrong. They were fighting  the “good war”.

And because WWII was the “good war” for the saintly allies, their enemies were no longer human but “monsters”. Every man, woman and child of them, those “monstrous” enemies deserved whatever the allies handed out to them.

And because WWII was the “good war”, every other war thereafter becomes also “a good war” when the same allies fight it.

And all of their enemies are the new “Nazi-monsters” all over again, and again and again… and those enemies deserve whatever is thrown at them. Today those enemies are Iraqis, Afghanis and Pakistanis, in between they are Gazans and Lebanese, tomorrow maybe Iranians.

And those “monstrous” enemies from both genders and all ages are being “burnt alive and totally” to prevent a new “Holocaust”.

A few  years ago, however, I did, for the first time, read this word in another meaning. It happened in church, in English Mass, where from the old English Bible translation, I was singing  Psalm 40, scheduled for this particular day:
Sacrifice or oblation you wished not
but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
then I said, “Behold I come.

In the written scroll it is prescribed for me.
To do your will,
O my God, is my delight,
and your law is deep within my heart!”

Psalm 40:6

By Ian Pannell BBC News, Kabul

Allegations of abuse and neglect at a US detention facility in Afghanistan have been uncovered by the BBC.

A number of former detainees have alleged they were beaten, deprived of sleep and threatened with dogs at the Bagram military base.

The BBC spoke to 27 ex-inmates around the country over two months. Just two said they had been treated well.

The Pentagon has denied the charges and insisted that all inmates in the facility are treated humanely.

All the men were asked the same questions and they were all interviewed in isolation.

Ill-treatment

They were held at various times between 2002 and 2008. They were all accused of belonging to or helping al-Qaeda or the Taliban.

BAGRAM AIR BASE Base built by the Soviet military in the 1980s Around 600 people are held Prisoners are classified as "unlawful enemy combatants' Officials react to Bagram 'abuse' Foreign detainees 'have US right' Bagram: US base in Afghanistan Afghan ex-prisoner speaks of fear

None was charged with any offence or put on trial - some even received apologies when they were released.

Many allegations of ill-treatment appear repeatedly in the interviews: physical abuse, the use of stress positions, excessive heat or cold, unbearably loud noise, being forced to remove clothes in front of female soldiers.

In four cases detainees were threatened with death at gunpoint.

"They did things that you would not do against animals let alone to humans," said one inmate known as Dr Khandan.

"They poured cold water on you in winter and hot water in summer. They used dogs against us. They put a pistol or a gun to your head and threatened you with death," he said.

"They put some kind of medicine in the juice or water to make you sleepless and then they would interrogate you."

The findings were shown to the Pentagon.

Lt Col Mark Wright, a spokesman for the US Secretary of Defence, insisted that conditions at Bagram "meet international standards for care and custody".

Col Wright said the US defence department has a policy of treating detainees humanely.

"There have been well-documented instances where that policy was not followed, and service members have been held accountable for their actions in those cases," he said.                                                      More.........................

By Eddie Wrenn
Last updated at 11:56 AM on 25th June 2009

Framed by a circle of clouds, this is a stunning illustration of Nature's powerful force.

A plume of smoke, ash and steam soars five miles into the sky from an erupting volcano.

The extraordinary image was captured by the crew of the International Space Station 220 miles above a remote Russian island in the North Pacific.

Enlarge  

Bird's eye view: Safe from harm, NASA scientists look down on the Sarychev Peak volcano as the dramatic eruption takes place. The force of the blast sends clouds scattering

The round hole in the clouds is thought to have been caused by the shockwave of the initial explosion. At the centre lies the billowing mushroom tower of grey and brown ash.

For volcano experts, the most exciting part of the image is the layer of smooth white cloud that caps the plume - a little like a layer of snow on a mushroom.

This cap of condensed air is created from the rapid rising and then cooling of the air directly above the ash column. When moist, warm air rises quickly it creates a cloud.

As the ISS continues its perfectly-timed flyby, the eruption continues unabated. The perfect 'plume' at the top of the volcano implies there is no shearing wind, which would have disrupted the pattern

Stretching behind the volcano lies the vast shadow caused by the eruption, as the blast continues to grow

This cap, which meteorologists call a pileus cloud, is already beginning to break up in these images - and would have vanished soon afterwards.

Far below, a thunderous line of light grey cloud can be seen falling down the sloping sides of the volcano. 

Posted by sakerfa on June 25, 2009

You would think that causing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression might have repercussions. You would think being a major factor in the destruction of around 40 percent of the world’s wealth might get you in trouble. You would think being the cause of the worst housing crisis in history — with millions of people losing their homes because of you — might force a restructuring of how Wall Street does things.

You would think that. But you’d be wrong.

For Wall Street’s lobbyists in Washington, it’s business as usual. Since Barack Obama took office, the bankers have succeeded in pushing through bogus “stress tests” of financial institutions’ solvency, escaping tougher government oversight, and steamrolling attempts to give working-class borrowers a break.

Even the much-hyped limits on CEO pay are being rolled back. In mid-June, Barack Obama lifted a five-month-old limit on executive compensation at financial firms that took federal bailout money. Apparently, only $500,000 a year in salaries and other perks was just too much of a sacrifice for the financial system to bear. Instead, Obama has established a “special master of compensation,” who will decide on pay to top executives at banks still reliant on government money.

While having a “special master” oversee pay might sound like a big deal, the banks aren’t sweating it. “Our people kind of thought it was a non-event,” one unnamed executive of a large bank told the Washington Post. “I don’t think there are worries about it on Wall Street.” And, the executive added, “It’s not like the horrible and unethical action from Congress, where they were putting artificial caps on pay or trying to steal back bonuses.”

The sense of entitlement on display in comments like these is staggering — as if the “wizards” of Wall Street deserve the billions in compensation showered upon them in the past decade for producing what has proved to be fictitious wealth, while destabilizing the economy and destroying the lives of people across the U.S.

As for legislation aimed at stemming the kinds of predatory lending practices that helped exacerbate the housing bubble and ultimately triggered the financial crisis, Senate Banking Committee Chair Christopher Dodd recently said, “We’ve got a lot on our plate. We’ve got other things to do.”

Apparently, however, one of those “other things to do” was not passing “cramdown” legislation — a measure that would have enabled bankruptcy court judges to lower the principal on existing mortgages for homeowners facing foreclosure, thereby helping people to keep their homes. In that bill, defeated in early May, the Senate sided with banks over homeowners by a 51-45 margin.

Housing rights activists estimate the legislation could have staved off 1.7 million foreclosures and preserved $300 billion in home equity. Nevertheless, a dozen Democrats in Senate voted against it.

“Instead of defending ordinary Americans, the majority of the senators went with the banks,” said the Center for Responsible Lending in a statement. “Yes, the same banks who have benefited so richly in the [$700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP] bailout.”

Meanwhile, the Treasury Department was celebrating the fact that 10 banks would be paying back TARP funds — insinuating that the financial system is on stable enough ground that the government could begin backing off.                               More........................

By Nisreen El-Shamayleh

The al-Waleed camp houses about 1,500 Palestinian refugees who fled Iraq's capital, Baghdad June 20, 2009 In a series of special reports, Al Jazeera examines the plight of refugees across the globe to mark Refugee Day on Saturday, June 20. In the past few years, the Palestinians' 61-year-old tragedy has been given a new dimension. The Palestinian refugees of Iraq, who became victims of persecution and violence before being chased from their Baghdad homes after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, are among the world's most vulnerable communities. The tents of al-Waleed camp in the deserts of Iraq near the Syrian border offer the only home to about 1,500 Palestinian refugees who had been living in the Iraqi capital. The isolated camp was set up in 2006 by the refugees themselves as they had nowhere to flee to except the closest no-man's land. Precarious conditions The stranded refugees live in precarious conditions and have been unable to gain entry into any neighbouring Arab country. In video Palestinians 'stranded' in Iraq refugee camp Residents say they have been harassed and persecuted by armed groups as well as US and Iraqi forces since the fall of Saddam Hussein's government. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), there are about 34,000 Palestinians in Iraq. As many as 23,000 of them are registered with the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Baghdad. The Palestinians' flights to Iraq occurred mainly in 1948, 1967 and 1991. Many of those who arrived in 1948 after the creation of the state of Israel were treated exceptionally well under Saddam's government, causing some Iraqis to resent and envy them. Some say that immediately after the fall of his government, the refugees began to be seen by Shia groups and government forces as collaborating with Sunni anti-government fighters. Before the 2003 US-led war on Iraq, Palestinians had been well integrated into society, having Iraqi nationality and full civil rights and even speaking Iraqi dialects. But as soon as violence and lawlessness reigned in Iraq, armed groups started targeting Palestinians in the Baghdad neighbourhoods of Baladiyat, al-Hurriyah and Iskan. Since March 2006, a steady flow of  Palestinians has been leaving Baghdad. People arrive at al-Waleed camp on a regular basis and most come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Health problems These vulnerable people fled the murders of their family members and death threats only to face horrendous conditions in the desert. The tents are overcrowded and leave residents vulnerable to extreme weather conditions The camp suffers from poor hygiene and an absence of medical care amid extreme weather conditions. Children, women and the elderly have died due to the lack of adequate healthcare. The nearest hospital is four hours drive' away along a dangerous route. The tents are overcrowded and many residents have chronic respiratory ailments, high blood pressure, diabetes and heart problems. Tents fill with water when it rains, and temperatures can fall below freezing in the winter. In the summer, temperatures above 50C have been recorded, while sandstorms, fires, snakes and scorpions all present dangers. With no sewage system, waste water runs openly through the camp, leading to a higher occurrence of disease and infections among children who play between the tents. In November 2008, the camp was moved to a gated area with improved security, running water and electricity and a health clinic employing two doctors. Children attend a makeshift school on the old site, run by teachers who are also refugees. Isolation from the outside world presents severe schooling difficulties. The destitute residents remain exclusively dependent on international aid and humanitarian assistance. Unforgiving location Desperate to draw international attention to their suffering, the refugees have staged open sit-ins in the past three years, demanding that Arab and international leaders find an immediate and durable solution for them through resettlement in a Western country. Children at the camp attend a makeshift school run by teachers who are also refugees Although there have been some improvements in facilities recently, the tents have not turned into more solid structures due to the fear that such a set-up would encourage permanent settlement and need longer-term solutions in one of the most unforgiving locations of the world. Last year, the Iraqi ministry of displacement and migration called on all Palestinians at al-Waleed to return to their homes in Baghdad, promising them financial compensation, assistance and protection. But the ultimate goal of the camp's residents is to get out of Iraq as soon as possible without getting hurt. The UNHCR has two permanent field staff in the camp, and through its implementing partner, Islamic Relief International, it provides assistance in the form of food, non-food items, healthcare and education. However, the camp was never meant to be a permanent settlement. There is an urgent need for these refugees to be resettled in order that they can find security, a permanent living status and rights. Destination Europe The UNHCR has conducted a vigorous search for homes for the refugees and is negotiating with a number of countries that might be able to offer asylum. In 2008 and 2009, 375 people left for resettlement in Iceland, the UK, the US, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Norway. Last April, 59 residents were temporarily moved to Romania before being resettled in a third country through the UNHCR, based on an agreement between the Romanian government, UNHCR and IOM. Another 1,200 refugees are also expected to move to Romania temporarily before being resettled in the US. The UNHCR is seeking resettlement for all the 433 families living at the camp. But the goal of relocating every resident by the end of this year remains far from being achieved.

• Jamie Doward, Gaby Hinsliff and Mark Townsend  
  
• The Observer, Sunday 21 June 2009

• A confidential record of a meeting between President Bush and Tony Blair before the invasion of Iraq, outlining their intention to go to war without a second United Nations resolution, will be an explosive issue for the official inquiry into the UK's role in toppling Saddam Hussein.

  The memo, written on 31 January 2003, almost two months before the invasion and seen by the Observer, confirms that as the two men became increasingly aware UN inspectors would fail to find weapons of mass destruction (WMD) they had to contemplate alternative scenarios that might trigger a second resolution legitimising military action.

  Bush told Blair the US had drawn up a provocative plan "to fly U2 reconnaissance aircraft painted in UN colours over Iraq with fighter cover". Bush said that if Saddam fired at the planes this would put the Iraqi leader in breach of UN resolutions.

  The president expressed hopes that an Iraqi defector would be "brought out" to give a public presentation on Saddam's WMD or that someone might assassinate the Iraqi leader. However, Bush confirmed even without a second resolution, the US was prepared for military action. The memo said Blair told Bush he was "solidly with the president".

  The five-page document, written by Blair's foreign policy adviser, Sir David Manning, and copied to Sir Jeremy Greenstock, the UK ambassador to the UN, Jonathan Powell, Blair's chief of staff, the chief of the defence staff, Admiral Lord Boyce, and the UK's ambassador to Washington, Sir Christopher Meyer, outlines how Bush told Blair he had decided on a start date for the war.

  Paraphrasing Bush's comments at the meeting, Manning, noted: "The start date for the military campaign was now pencilled in for 10 March. This was when the bombing would begin."                                                       More........................
  

By Allan Hall  Last updated at 2:35 PM on 19th June 2009

Unmasked: Adolf Hitler's virulent hatred of the Jews led to the Holocaust, which claimed six million lives

Adolf Hitler's obsessive hatred for Jews was sparked by his experiences after World War One, according to a new book.

Respected historian Ralf-George Reuth argues the dictator blamed them for both the Russian revolution and the collapse of the German economy.

The claim is a stark contrast to previous theories that Hitler's anti-Semitism was spawned on the back streets of Vienna when he was a down-and-out in the lead up to 1914.

Historians have even speculated that he was partly-Jewish himself – or even that his mother died at the hands of an inept Jewish physician.

'Hitler’s Jewish Hatred; Cliché and Reality’draws on numerous archives to pinpoint the reasons behind the Holocaust, which claimed six million lives.

Reuth argues that what was probably lower middle-class bigotry shared by many at the time, morphed into murderous hatred for Hitler after 1919.

At the time almost half of all German private banks were Jewish owned, the stock exchange dominated by Jewish stockbrokers, almost half of the nation’s newspapers were Jewish run as were 80 per cent of chain stores.

It became fashionable to decry the loss of the war on Jewish financiers. 

But Hitler, according to Reuth, also blamed Jews for the Russian revolution, citing Leon Trotsky’s faith, as well as that of Marx whose theories he followed and even Lenin, who was one-quarter Jewish.

When a Soviet republic was declared briefly in Munich that year, argues Reuth, the die was cast for Hitler to demonise the Jews as bearing responsibility for the world’s ills.

'With World War One lost and Germany in financial ruin, with revolution threatening, he came to see the Jews as solely responsible for stock-exchange capitalism, which caused acute poverty and suffering when it faltered, and Bolshevism,' said Reuth.

'These two events were pivotal in shaping his views of Jews and his subsequent plan to murder them all.

'He bought into the rumours and the whispers that blamed Jewish capitalists for stabbing Germany in the back.

The final solution: Millions of Jews died at Auschwitz Concentration Camp, seen here after the war ended in 1945

'Then he saw that many Jews played prominent roles in the brief Soviet republic founded in Munich in 1919, against everything Hitler the nationalist stood for.

'The two events, together with the Russian revolution, coalesced to turn them, in his mind, into scapegoats for everything.

'But it was only after World War One, not before. I show that he had many Jewish acquaintances in Vienna, despite his writing in Mein Kampf that he was sickened by the sight of the Jews he saw there.'

Reuth draws on a wealth of archival material showing how Hitler fed off the intellectuals of the day to shape his belief.

He quotes Nobel prize-winning novelist Thomas Mann who wrote in 1919 that he equated the Bolshevik revolution in Russia with the Jews.

Ernst Nolte, a Berlin historian, expounded this theory over 20 years ago in a paper that was not given much credit at the time.

Reuth is a distinguished Nazi-era biographer who wrote an acclaimed book about Third Reich propaganda master Josef Goebbels.

Flashpoint? Reuth claims the role of Jewish people in the 1917 Russian Revolution was one of the triggers for his hatred

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1194194/Has-historian-finally-real-reason-Hitlers-obsessive-hatred-Jews.html

On October 7, 1940, Lieutenant Commander Arthur McCollum of the Office of Naval Intelligence submitted a memo to Navy Captains Walter Anderson and Dudley Knox (whose endorsement is included in the following scans). Captains Anderson and Knox were two of President Roosevelt's most trusted military advisors.

The memo, scanned below, detailed an 8 step plan to provoke Japan into attacking the United States. President Roosevelt, over the course of 1941, implemented all 8 of the recommendations contained in the McCollum memo. Following the eighth provocation, Japan attacked. The public was told that it was a complete surprise, an "intelligence failure", and America entered World War Two.

Click for full size image	Click for full size image	Click for full size image
Note the highlighted portion Click for full size image	Click for full size image	Click for full size image

This memo, which proves that the government of the United States desired to lure Japan into an attack, was declassified in 1994. It took fifty years for the truth about Pearl Harbor to be revealed. Will we have to wait that long for the truth of 9-11 to come out?

More about the Pearl Harbor Deception is at Pearl Harbor: Mother of all conspiracies (at least until 9/11)

THE BONES OF STATION H The remains of the radio intercept station on Oahu that picked up Admiral Yamamoto's order for the attack.

YOUTUBE - THE BONES OF STATION H Video of the remains of the radio intercept station on Oahu that picked up Admiral Yamamoto's order for the attack.                                         More..........................