Thanks to Naked DC for pointing out the latest donation pitch, tweeted earlier today:
There are ninety-seven more days of campaigning still to come. Bottoms up!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Put Down That Beer, POTUS Needs $5
A month or so ago, the Obama re-election campaign suggested that newlyweds should cut out the wedding gifts and ask their guests to instead send the equivalent in donations to Obama.
Thanks to Naked DC for pointing out the latest donation pitch, tweeted earlier today:
There are ninety-seven more days of campaigning still to come. Bottoms up!
Thanks to Naked DC for pointing out the latest donation pitch, tweeted earlier today:
There are ninety-seven more days of campaigning still to come. Bottoms up!
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9 comments:
TSB: I've been wondering for the past week why news re: Syria has become so sparse. You have to admit Pepe keeps it interesting!gwb
Pepe Escobar
It took Reuters quite a while to be allowed to report that US President Barack Obama had approved an intelligence finding [1] letting the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) loose in its support for the weaponized "rebels" fighting for regime change in Syria.
By now even fishermen in Fiji knew about this "secret"
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NH03Ak04.html
TSB: It's starting to look like somebody did in Prince Bandar in Riyad. If so this could be the beginning of "Arab Spring" in Saudi Arabia? gwb
Bandar is a mysterious presence, and maybe a depressive personality, but I doubt he's dead. However, he is liquidating his real estate holdings in the USA, for whatever that's worth:
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/prince-bandar-bin-sultan-tries-to-sell-kalorama-apartment-for-1-million-under-market-value.php
I can't see the Kingdom having an Arab Spring. The KSA is unique in the Middle East in that it was 100% created by its Saud family rulers. It was never ruled by a European colonial power, nor did it have its borders drawn up at the Paris Peace Conference, nor was it ever the subject of a UN Resolution or a League of Nations Mandate, nor was it a British protectorate (like Kuwait) or 'Trucial Sheikhdom' (like Bahrain and Oman), nor is it a revolutionary state. I can't think of another place like that in the Middle East.
The Kingdom has historical legitimacy that the Libyan and Egyptian old regimes didn't, plus sheer longevity. It's lasted 80 years, which is eleven years longer than the Soviet Union lasted. Because it's a family business, the owners want to preserve it for future generations instead of cashing in for a short-term gain.
My guess is there will be evolutionary change as the monarchy passes to younger hands, and the domestic opposition will continue to be accommodated or co-opted. Personally, I think that is a better alternative than what they have now in Libya and Egypt.
Pepe Escobar says this Debka story is "fanciful" but what intrigues me is 1) that Bandar's deputy was apparently killed in a blast and 2) the extent of Al Quaeda's involvement in the Syrian fight against Assad. gwb
http://www.debka.com/article/22225/Saudi-silence-on-intelligence-chief-Bandar’s-fate-denotes-panic
So far as I know, the only report of an explosion at a government building in Riyadh comes from a single unsourced story in a Yemeni news service, which was repeated by Iran's Press TV news but by no one else. Some people interpret the lack of any other news as proof, on the theory that the Saudis secretly control all the news media.
I'll wait and see.
Thanks for the research TSB! I couldn't find where that came from.
gwb
TSB: This Reuters post was taken down before I could read it.
Lawyers threatens Obama with NDAA (anti-terror) law for funding AlQaeda in #Syria #Libya
4 Aug 12
Somebody seems to think there are a lot of AlQaeda pouring into Syria and that we are willing to help them. Pepe suggests this bit of genius won't turn out well. gwb
GWB: I hadn't seen that news yet, but I'll keep an eye out. I don't know about the merits of a lawsuit like that, since we are vetting which Syrian opposition groups get assistance (that's according to all the major news media, who say they get up-to-the-minute leaks) and presumably that would prevent us from directly arming AQ types.
I think the administration is still holding short of direct lethal assistance, and is just facilitating others who do that. Plus, reportedly, the Treasury Department has issued a license for the Syrian Support Group (a Washington-based opposition group lobby) to send money directly to the internal Syrian opposition.
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/08/01/inside_the_administration_s_new_approach_on_syria
I agree this will end badly, and especially so for the Alawi and Christian Syrians.
Thanks TSB! Very informative. Did you know that according to Farhid Zakaria "WE" have a problem in Syria? In case you might wonder who "WE" are he explains towards the end that "WE are THE HUMANITARIANS" (I think FZ decided the above wasn't selling and took it down.)gwb
Wasn't that a great song from the 70's?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_Champions
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