9/11:More Than Meets the Eye

by Richard Falk from 9/11 Blogger

Every so often attention is called anew to the doubts surrounding the true character of the events surrounding the 9/11 attacks. Recently, the report of the collapse of Building 7 represented such an occasion. Any close student of 9/11 is aware of the many serious discrepancies between the official version of what took place and the actual happenings on that fateful day in 2001. David Ray Griffin and others have analyzed and assessed these discrepancies in such an objective and compelling fashion that only wilful ignorance can maintain that the 9/11 narrative should be treated as a closed book, and that the public should move on to address the problems of the day.

To accept such a view is to acquiesce in what can be described at best as governmental evasiveness and irresponsibility, a resolve to leave the discrepancies unexplained.

Obama Stifles Hope of Change on Iran Relations

(What else would you expect from the guy who chose Zionist Extraordinaire and AIPAC hitman, Rahm Emanuel, as his Chief of Staff?)

from AntiWar.

After Tuesday’s election, Iranian citizens and officials hoped that President-elect Barack Obama’s victory was the beginning of a radical shift in US foreign policy with respect to Iran. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered a congratulatory statement to Obama, while Iranian MPs displayed an openness to the first significant improvement in relations between the two nations since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

And there was some cause for hope: Obama spent much of the presidential primaries chiding the Bush Administration for avoiding direct talks with Iran, and cautioned against talking about launching attacks on Iran.

But any hopes for major changes in the American stance toward Iran died pretty quickly when Obama publicly condemned the Iranian government, accusing them of developing a nuclear weapon and vowing an international effort against them, which he would not elaborate on until he takes over the White House in January.

Obama’s chief of staff choice favors compulsory universal service

from the Examiner

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, President-Elect Barack Obama’s choice for chief of staff in his incoming administration, is co-author of a book, The Plan: Big Ideas for America, that calls for, among other things, compulsory service for all Americans ages 18 to 25. The following excerpt is from pages 61-62 of the 2006 book:

It’s time for a real Patriot Act that brings out the patriot in all of us. We propose universal civilian service for every young American. Under this plan, All Americans between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five will be asked to serve their country by going through three months of basic training, civil defense preparation and community service. …

Change Takes a Backseat As Obama’s Cabinet Takes Shape

by Scott Creighton

Many names are being tossed around for Cabinet level positions at this stage of the Obama transition to the White House. Today, two separate articles should raise some serious concerns for the true “progressives” who worked so hard and gave so much to help Barack Obama win the election.

The stories detail a couple more potential Cabinet members as well as a growing trend in the now very Blue Dog Democrat and Democratic Leadership Council looking staff. And if you think it’s a bit “iffy” to have the republican branch of the democratic party in the White House, wait till you hear about the republicans he’s bringing with him (why settle for imitation when you can have the real thing?).