Latest “Warning” From CHINA About HONG KONG’s “Interests”: CNN

The title of a recently released CNN article is “Pro-democracy activism NOT in Hong Kong’s interest, China warns” (Web-site/URL: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/01/world/asia/hk-rally-china-response/).

“As POTENTIALLY (?) hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens prepare to take to the streets in a now-annual display of public DISAPPROVAL (?) of Beijing’s interference in the city’s affairs, voices in China’s STATE-run press are warning that the protests are a BAD idea“. There are FOUR things to note right off the bat. First, “hundreds of thousands of Hong Kong citizens” WILL participate; there’s NO “potentially” about this. Secondly, this is MUCH MORE than “disapproval”. This is more like ANGER/DISGUST/RESENTMENT/FRUSTRATION (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI). On top of this, OF COURSE, “voices in China’s state-run press are warning that the protests are a bad idea” because this is what the Chinese government wants people to BELIEVE (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

“Hong Kong is governed according to China’s “one country, TWO SYSTEMS (?)” model, ENJOYING A HIGH (?) DEGREE OF AUTONOMY in its government, judiciary and legal systems under a leadership APPROVED BY BEIJING (?)” There are TWO things to note here. First, where are the “two systems” in Hong Kong? It seems like Hong Kong is being FORCED INTO “one country” alongside CHINA (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI). On top of this, what kind of “autonomy” is there in Hong Kong when EVERYTHING MUST BE “approved by Beijing?” Again, it seems like there is NONE.

“The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council emphasized on Monday (June 30, 2014) that the referendum is “ILLEGAL and INVALID” The following day (July 1 2014) the Chinese edition of the GLOBAL (?) Times, a STATE-run publication known for its UNCOMPROMISING op-eds, published an editorial warning that recent pro-democracy activities — including the referendum, as well as the upcoming rally and sit-in, are POLARIZING Hong Kong society”. Again, there are TWO things to note here. First, “The Global Times” should be renamed “the” CHINESE “Times”. On top of this, CHINA is “polarizing Hong Kong society” & NOT pro-democracy activists.

“The article urges Hong Kong people not to be “KIDNAPPED” by the radical opposition”. “Hong Kong people” are being “kidnapped” by BEIJING & THE COMMUNIST CHINESE GOVERNMENT.

“Another STATE MOUTHPIECE, the English-language China Daily, points out in an article that political forces calling for full autonomy in Hong Kong are ignoring economic realities”. “Without the mainland, (Hong Kong) would be left with only HALF of its TRADE, ONE-FOURTH of its FOREIGN INVESTMENT and VISITORS, not to mention only one-tenth of its water and food supply”, Again “state mouthpiece” only SPITS OUT PROPAGANDA.

“Weibo, China’s microblogging platform, showed a more diverse range of opinions on Hong Kong’s recent pro-democracy activities, with users in the mainland, with positions ranging from SUPPORT to scathing criticism of Hong Kong’s political aspirations”.

According to @lddldd0000. “Hong Kong people KNOW where their interest lies in and they DON’T need your (Global Times) PHONY kindness“.

“The view was echoed by @Pianyezhiqiu, who posted: “Residents in Hong Kong HAVE political IDEALS. They’re NOT like THE PUPPETS who only chase after benefits.”

“However, NOT all netizens were as tolerant of Hong Kong’s political experiments”. “The ‘referendum‘ ‘occupy central‘ such and such are AGAINST the Basic Law and therefore, the acts are INVALID and ILLEGAL“, said @ htkg2011″.

Finally, “User @Mingweizhe was a little more phlegmatic (unemotional)”. “Let’s IGNORE them. Let Hong Kong people HANDLE THEIR OWN BUSINESS“. Again, it’s HIGHLY UNLIKELY that China will allow this.

To conclude, let’s return once again to the title: “Pro-democracy activism not in Hong Kong’s interest, China warns”. This “warning” sounds like another THREAT and GOES AGAINST the aspirations of the Hong Kong people.

 

CHINA “Meddling” In HONG KONG Affairs…Again: Reuters

The title of a recently released Reuters article is “Hong Kong lawyers march in protest against PERCEIVED (?) China meddling” (Web-site/URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/27/us-hongkong-lawyers-idUSKBN0F20DY20140627).

“Hong Kong lawyers dressed in BLACK marched through the city on Friday (June 27 2014) to protest against what they see as Chinese interference, a sign of growing concern about the rule of law in the Asian financial center and a further act of DISSENT against Beijing”. “dissent” is HEALTHY but of course, as we know, Beijing DOESN’T allow ANY “dissent”.  

“Britain returned Hong Kong to Communist Party-ruled China in 1997 under a “one country, TWO SYSTEMS (?)” formula, with THE PROMISE OF a high degree of autonomy”. China STILL interferes HEAVILY in Hong Kong’s legal system. “UNLIKE on the mainland, Hong Kong’s judiciary enjoys a level of independence similar to that in the West”. UNTIL RECENTLY that is. We also increasingly ONLY see the ONE COUNTRY component of “one country two systems”.

“But Beijing raised ALARM when it released a white paper this month (June 2014), spelling out ITS INTERPRETATION of the ONE COUNTRY, two systems model, in which it said being patriotic and “LOVING THE COUNTRY” is a basic requirement for the city’s administrators, including lawyers:. As we’ve said on numerous occasions “loving the country” is A FARCE. It also makes us wonder if “National Education” will be introduced in schools SOONER rather than later. China, as we know, ONLY sees “its interpretation” and NO ONE ELSE’S (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

According to Dennis Kwok, “a lawyer and a member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, who organised the march”, “The legal profession in Hong Kong will NEVER compromise on the rule of law” like CHINA wants. “We hope we are SENDING A VERY CLEAR MESSAGE” which, again, of course, as we know, OFTEN requires FORCE (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

“Barrister Martin Lee, one of the founders of the main opposition Democratic Party, listed A NUMBER of nationalities of lawyers in Hong Kong and asked how they were EXPECTED to BE PATRIOTIC TO CHINA“. This EXPECTATION from CHINA is UNREASONABLE (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

“The Bar Association, which represents more than 1,000 barristers, also RAISED CONCERNS this month (June, 2014), saying judges and judicial officers should not be regarded as part of “Hong Kong’s administrators”. 

Finally, according to Arnout van Rijn, “CIO and APAC Equities Fund Manager at Robeco, a Dutch-based asset management firm”, “The rule of law IS being undermined, but is it being undermined in a way that is going to affect corporates? Not really“.

To conclude, let’s return once again to the title: “Hong Kong lawyers march in protest against perceived China meddling”. This ISN’T a “perception”; this is TRUE & is UNLIKELY TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON. 

HONG KONG: “Democracy Poll IN DEFIANCE OF BEIJING”: Reuters

The title of a recently released Reuters article is “Hundreds of thousands vote in Hong Kong democracy ‘poll‘ IN DEFIANCE OF Beijing” (Web-site/URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/22/us-hongkong-vote-idUSKBN0EX09K20140622).

“Nearly 600,000 votes have been cast in three days of an unofficial referendum on democratic reforms in Hong Kong, part of a civil campaign that has been branded ILLEGAL by the former British colony and by Communist Party authorities in Beijing”. Again, as we’ve mentioned on a number of occasions now, the question is not what’s “illegal” in China ( A LOT of things are), but rather what’s LEGAL.  

“Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with wide-ranging autonomy under the formula of “one country, TWO SYSTEMS (?)”, along with an UNDATED promise of universal SUFFRAGE“. There are TWO things to note here. First again notice “one country TWO SYSTEMS“. WHERE ARE these “two systems?” It seems as if Hong Kong is being FORCED INTO the COMMUNIST “system”. Secondly, because this “promise of universal suffrage” is UNDATED, “universal suffrage” has become “universal” SUFFERING. 

On Sunday (June 22, 2014), Anson Chan, “Hong Kong’s former top civil servant and a key SUPPORTER of the vote“, said: “What is the point of one man, one vote if at the end of the day, we HAVE TO vote from three PUPPETS or four PUPPETS ANOINTED by Beijing?” There is NO “point” in that.

“At one polling station, about 20 people from PRO-Beijing group Caring Hong Kong Power shouted at voters who braved the rain, urging them NOT to cast ballots” or more accurately THREATENING them “not to cast ballots”.

“You are sending your children to the BATTLEFIELD“, one shouted at a voter”.

“At a sing-along rally in support of the referendum on Friday (June 20, 2014), more than 100 people gathered in Central to sing “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from the musical Les Miserables“.

“Pro-BEIJING newspapers, Chinese officials and Hong Kong business tycoons have STRONGLY CRITICIZED the Occupy Central campaign, saying it will HARM Hong Kong”. This group of “business tycoons”, of course, includes STANLEY HO, who, as we know,  is FIERCELY ANTI-DEMOCRATIC/PRO-CHINA (Web-site/URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_Macau_cultural_exchange).

Finally, “Activists say it is a PEACEFUL movement, demanding a “GENUINE choice” for Hong Kong voters”.

To conclude, Hong Kongers CONTINUE TO “defy Beijing”, AS EXPECTED (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI) and AS THEY SHOULD

RAND PAUL vs. DICK CHENEY: CBS

The title of a recently released CBS News article is “Rand Paul: BLAME DICK CHENEY for Iraq violence, NOT Obama” (Web-site/URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rand-paul-blame-dick-cheney-for-iraq-violence-not-president-obama/).

“Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., offered some bipartisan backup to President Barack Obama on the subject of Iraq Sunday (June 22 2014), saying many critics who blame the president for the FEROCIOUS Islamist insurgency there, like former Vice President Dick Cheney, should TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR“. “The…Islamist insurgency” in Iraq IS INDEED “ferocious”.  

Speaking on NBC‘s “Meet the Press”, Paul continued: “I DON’T blame President Obama. Has he really got the solution? Maybe there is NO solution“.

“Paul said those who have questioned the president’s approach to the recent surge in violence should ask the same questions of those who supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq”: “Were they right in their predictions? Were there WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION there? Was the war won in 2005, when many of those people said it was won?” The “weapons of mass destruction” of course was orchestrated by GEORGE W. BUSH. “They didn’t, really, I think understand THE CIVIL WAR that would break out“. WOW.RAND PAUL,a TEA PARTIER,is on OBAMA’S side? 

“Cheney and other conservative hawks have been relentless in their criticism of the president in recent days, saying Mr. Obama INVITED THE CHAOS (?) in Iraq by withdrawing all of America’s troops in 2011 and that he’s failing to stop it now by DITHERING and DISSEMBLING in his public response“. OBAMA “invited the chaos in Iraq?” Groups like al-Qaeda in Iraq and ISIS DID NOT EXIST prior to the 2003 invasion. On top of this, as far as “dithering and dissembling” is concerned, CHENEY ALSO DID THAT during his political career making this yet another/the latest example of “We think they made us mad; they think we made them mad and here we go” (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

“In an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal this week”, Cheney wrote: “Rarely has a U.S. president been so WRONG about so much at the expense of so many. TOO MANY times to count. Mr. Obama has told us he is ‘ENDING‘ the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — as though WISHING MADE IT SO. His rhetoric has now come crashing into reality...he ABANDONED Iraq and we are watching American defeat SNATCHED FROM THE JAWS OF VICTORY  (?)” There is NO “victory” for the current Iraq war.

“But the response — from Paul and other critics of the 2003 invasion who preach caution in response to the recent violence — has been equally loud and clear: You’re kidding, right?”

According to Sen. Barbara Boxer, also speaking on “Face the Nation”, “That is SICK, when you really look back at the record. The FACT is, what we’re seeing now is an outgrowth of that bad policy the neocons got us in, that crowd, on FALSE PRETENSE (of WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION) that said, go in there. And, AS A RESULT, ISIS was born. Let’s face that FACT. It was Vice President Cheney and Condi Rice (former National Security Adviser & Secretary Of State CONDOLEEZA RICE) working for George W. Bush and Rumsfeld and all those folks — that’s just like, you know, A NIGHTMARE COME BACK TO HAUNT ME, just frankly — who are basically telling us, get right back in there again. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DON’T want it. The President DOESN’T want us in“. The key here is: THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SICK OF WAR.

“PBS host Tavis Smiley said on “Face the Nation” that it is “BEYOND TROUBLING” to see the “REVISIONIST history” from neoconservatives who pushed the 2003 invasion, but now BLAME the president for the chaos“. “The President CLEARLY…HAS made mistakes since he’s been president, on a number of foreign policy fronts. But to lay ALL of this at his feet and to forget how we got in this mess in the first place, as if the clock started THIS WEEK on Iraq, is SICKENING“. BINGO.

“Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., told ABC News that Cheney is SINGULARLY UNQUALIFIED to advise anyone on Iraq”. “Why don’t we go get the guy who wrecked the Exxon Valdez and ask him about, you know, how to RUN AN OIL TANKER? I mean, THERE COULDN’T BE A WORSE PERSON to offer views on what to do next” than DICK CHENEY.

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., offered perhaps the pithiest response on Wednesday (June 18, 2014) to Cheney’s offered advice”: “Thanks, but NO THANKS“.

“Cheney, though, didn’t cede an inch to his critics on Sunday (June 22 2014), defending his push for the 2003 invasion and reiterating his CONDEMNATION of the president during an interview with ABC News“.

“I was A STRONG SUPPORTER then (2003) of going into Iraq, I’m a strong supporter NOW (2014). Everybody knows what my position is. There’s nothing to be argued about there. But if we spend our time debating what happened 11 or 12 years ago, we’re going to miss the threat that is GROWING and that we DO face“. Again this “threat” WOULDN’T EXIST if we HADN’T gone into Iraq on a false premise in 2003.

“He singled out Paul for criticism, saying the senator simply doesn’t understand the nature of the threat posed by terrorism”.

“Rand Paul, with all due respect, is basically an ISOLATIONIST. He DOESN’T believe we ought to be involved in that part of the world (the Middle East). That didn’t work in the 1930s, it sure as heck won’t work in the aftermath of 9/11, when 19 guys armed with airline tickets and box cutters came all the way from Afghanistan and KILLED 3,000 of our citizens”

So, this is an article about DICK CHENEY vs RAND PAUL with others chiming in.

Latest Report Of ELECTION FRAUD In AFGHANISTAN: Reuters

The title of a recently released Reuters article is “ACCUSATIONS of ELECTION FRAUD gather pace in Afghanistan” (Web-site/URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/22/us-afghanistan-protests-idUSKBN0EX0D320140622).

“The party of Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah broadcast audio on Sunday (June 22, 2014) that it said showed mass fraud had been committed in an election that aims to transfer power democratically in the country for the first time”.

“The audio purports to show that INDEPENDENT (?) Election Commission (IEC) Secretariat head Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhil made phone calls to officials in several provinces ordering them to stuff ballot boxes using code words”. The ” INDEPENDENT Election Commission, of course, is NOT “independent”. There are NO TRUE “independents” in the world anymore. In other words, all of us have our own BIASES.

“While Amarkhil denies the allegations and the Independent Election Complaints Commission is investigating, the broadcast could STOKE FURTHER PROTESTS across the country supporting Abdullah’s decision to withdraw from the vote”. So, there are “protests” in AFGHANISTAN once again.

“The election comes at a delicate time as most foreign troops will exit by the end of the year (2014), leaving behind a STILL STRONG Taliban insurgency and DEEPENING ECONOMIC CRISIS“. Here’s the conundrum that Afghanistan is facing right now. They DON’T like the Taliban who have been wreaking havoc since 2001, BUT they DON’T completely trust foreign coalition troops either. On top of the POLITICAL “crisis” is an “ECONOMIC crisis”. When people are HUNGRY,it is IMPOSSIBLE for a country to be POLITICALLY stable for very long. 

“Abdullah, former leader of the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, last week recalled his observers monitoring the ongoing count and said the outcome of the run-off with former finance minister Ashraf Ghani on June 14 (2014) would be illegal”.

 According to Abdullah’s campaign manager Baryalai Arsalai, “Today (June 22, 2014) we are releasing documents which show Amarkhil has organized CHEATING and FAVORED one candidate (Ghani). In the coming days, we will release more documents to the public“.

“In one example, the voice instructs the person on the other end of the line to “STUFF the sheep properly“. The word “sheep” is interpreted by Abdullah’s staff as code for “ballot box“.

“The authenticity of the audio was denied by Amarkhil, who told the Wall Street Journal on Sunday (June 22 2014) that he did not recall the conversations and “would NEVER talk like that“. Reuters was not able to reach him for comment”.

According to Tahir Zahir, a spokesman for Ghani, “It is VERY EASY to duplicate someone’s voice, but a body with AUTHORITY and the election complaints commission should investigate its authenticity“. This reminds us of CANDACE SCHAEFFER‘s presentation on LITERATURE REVIEWS when she says the purpose of the literature review is to find out who’s talking the LOUDEST and with THE MOST “authority” (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5ESD58XUGk). 

“In western Herat province, hundreds of Abdullah supporters gathered and chanted “death to IEC” and “Fraudsters must be tried”.

“Protesters made their way to the Herat governor’s office and around 60 BURNT their voting cards IN PROTEST“.

According to Abdul Rahman, “a protester who burnt his voting ID in Herat”, “We are TIRED OF fraud and we are against it” obviously. “We had the right to cast one vote and when the Independent Election Commission (IEC) DOES NOT RESPECT our right, then there is no need to have a voting card. We will not participate in elections any more.”

Finally, “In northern Kunduz province, armed men from Abdullah’s campaign FORCIBLY shut down the election office, Amir Amza Ahmadzai, head of IEC in Kunduz, told Reuters“. This is the latest example of the FORCE & PAIN TECHNIQUE (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).   “We have already sent an official letter to the police, but they HAVEN’T responded yet” AS EXPECTED (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

To conclude, there is MASSIVE fraud in Afghanistan,just like in any UNDEMOCRATIC country/society.

 

ISIS Recruiting WESTERNERS: NBC

The title of a recently released  NBC News article is “ISIS Jihadists Send Video Message to English Speakers: JOIN US” (Web-site/URL: http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/isis-jihadists-send-video-message-english-speakers-join-us-n137281).

“A new ISIS propaganda video that drew attention Friday (June 20 2014) for featuring English-speaking jihadists is a carefully crafted message meant to demonstrate the group’s popularity and strength, experts tell NBC News“.

“In the video, at least FIVE fighters sit in a wooded area, with the black flag of ISIS planted in the ground behind them. Three of the fighters speak to the camera, ALL of them speaking English”.

According to “one fighter, who is identified as BRITISH“, “We have BROTHERS from Bangladesh, from Iraq, from Cambodia, Australia (and the) UK”.

According to “another fighter, who is also identified as BRITISH“, “All my BROTHERS, COME TO jihad. Feel the HONOR we are feeling, feel the HAPPINESS that we are feeling“. This seems like a RECRUITING call and this BRITISH guy clearly seems to be PROUD of himself.

The first fighter went on: “We have participated in battles in Sham and we will go to Iraq and fight there in a few days“.

According to Laith Alkhouri, “a senior analyst with Flashpoint Global Partners, (speaking) of Al Hayet Media Center”, “It preaches specifically to FOREIGN fighters, especially to those in THE WEST“. 

Finally, according to Brian Fishman, “a fellow at the New America Foundation”, “A release in English is going to get them more play in our media” obviously. “They STUDY us. They study us CLOSELY. They know that when there is a release in English, we not only talk about it more, we reflect on what it MEANS” again obviously. 

ISIS Recruiting WESTERNERS: Los Angeles Times

The title of a recently released Los Angeles Times article is “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) aims to recruit WESTERNERS with video” (Web-site/URL: http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-isis-video-20140620-story.html).

“The slickly produced video, titled, “There is no LIFE without JIHAD,” opens with a montage of five men trudging through a tranquil, leafy setting before convening in a semicircle. Their names signal origins in Yemen, Iraq, India and elsewhere”. “There is no life without Jihad” is an EXTREMELY DISTURBING philosophy.

“A man identified as Abu Muthana al-Yemeni, who says he comes from Britain, says, “Allah has made this the BEST of his lands” and “chooses the BEST of people to do this“. He boasts that ISIS has the most foreign fighters among the different militant groups.

“Another member of the group says these fighters “understand no borders” and have participated in battles in Syria. He says they will go to Iraq in a few days and are also willing to go to Jordan and Lebanon with the goal of “making Allah’s word the HIGHEST” in the lands they claim for an Islamic caliphate”.

“No problems,” he says, “wherever our sheikh sends us“.

“The video was posted the same week that ISIS claimed to have SLAUGHTERED 1,700 Iraqi soldiers and posted gruesome images on social media to back up the assertion”.

“More disturbing photos followed, including ones showing rows of men lying in shallow trenches as an ISIS fighter sprays them with gunfire”.

“One caption boasts of the “killing of the HERDS … that have escaped from the military base“. The word “herds” suggests that ISIS treats people like ANIMALS. 

To conclude, let’s return once again to the title: “Islamic State of Iraq and Syria aims to recruit Westerners with video”. TWO AUSTRALIANS have already been recruited (Web-site/URL: https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/24287019/australian-militants-abu-yahya-ash-shami-and-abu-nour-al-iraqi-identified-in-isis-recruitment-video/). 

NOURI AL-MALIKI “under pressure” AS USUAL: Fox

The title of a recently released Fox News article is “Iraq’s prime minister al-Maliki under pressure amid militant offensive” (Web-site/URL: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/06/20/iraq-prime-minister-al-maliki-under-pressure-amid-militant-offensive/).

“Iraq’s Shiite prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, embattled by the militant offensive sweeping his country’s north, faces growing calls for him to be forced out of office as Al-Qaeda inspired insurgents press (ever) closer to (the capital) Baghdad”.

“Nouri al-Maliki, who rose from relative obscurity to the country’s top political office in 2006, has seen his credibility CHALLENGED by the Sunni militants of the Al Qaeda-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS)”. We have to wonder IF al-Maliki has ANY “credibility” given that he has done almost NOTHING to stabilize IRAQ. 

“With the country NOW IN TURMOIL, al-Maliki’s rivals have mounted a campaign to force him out of office, with some angling for support from Western backers and regional heavyweights. On Thursday (June 19 2014), their effort received a MASSIVE (?) boost from President Barack Obama”. Iraq has been “in turmoil” since 2003 when the United States invaded ON A FALSE PREMISE of WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTIONS. 

“Obama STOPPED SHORT of calling for Nouri al-Maliki to resign, saying “IT’S NOT OUR JOB to choose Iraq’s leaders“. But, his carefully worded comments did all but that”. The President is saying “It’s not our job to choose Iraq’s leaders”, but the United States is HEAVILY involved in Iraq’s affairs once again.

“Only leaders that can govern with an INCLUSIVE agenda are going to be able to truly bring the Iraqi people together and help them through this crisis“. NO government is ENTIRELY “inclusive”. In other words, in every government there will be a MAJORITY and minority party (except in ONE-party societies of course).   

“We’ve said publicly, that whether (al-Maliki) is prime minister or any other leader aspires to lead the country, that there has to be an agenda in which Sunni, Shiite and Kurd ALL feel that they have the OPPORTUNITY to advance their interest through THE POLITICAL PROCESS“. Unfortunately, as we know, “the political process” in IRAQ is A DISASTER/MESS.

“Al-Maliki, who has long faced criticism for not making his government more inclusive, went on a diplomatic offensive this week, reaching out in a televised address to try to regain support from the nation’s DISAFFECTED Sunnis and Kurds”. “disaffected” = DISILLUSIONED and when people are disillusioned they tend to act in IRRATIONAL ways or at least in ways they WOULDN’T behave under NORMAL circumstances. However of course, things in IRAQ HAVEN’T been normal for such a LONG time now. “His CONCILIATORY (?) words, coupled with a vow to teach the militants a “lesson,” came as almost all Iraq’s main communities have been drawn into A SPASM OF VIOLENCE not seen since the dark days of sectarian killings nearly A DECADE ago”. “conciliatory” and “teach the militants a lesson” is a VERY STRANGE combination indeed. In fact they DON’T go together. “conciliatory” people seek PEACE THROUGH DIALOGUE while “teach the militants a lesson” must be done through VIOLENT means and as we know, IRAQ has seen TOO MUCH “violence” over the last 10+ years (since 2003). 

“Mohammed al-Khaldi, a top aide to outgoing Sunni speaker of parliament, Osama al-Nujaifi, said: “We have asked the Americans, Britain, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran to work toward DENYING al-Maliki a new term. The Shiite bloc MUST FIND A REPLACEMENT for him“. WOW It’s EXTREMELY ironic that America, SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN can be mentioned in the same sentence/breath because as we know, SAUDI ARABIA and IRAN are UNDEMOCRATIC countries.

“A leading Sunni tribal chief also said al-Maliki has to GO“. “Sheik Ali Hatem al-Suleiman told The Associated Press in the northern Kurdish city of Irbil”. “I think that most of Obama’s speech, but not all of it, it was SHALLOW and didn’t address the heart of the matter.The REAL problem in Iraq is AL-MALIKI HIMSELF. U.S. policy cannot rely on a PARALYZED man who has lost control of Iraq, when he is the one who took Iraq to this point“. al-Suleiman seems to be OUTSPOKEN in his OPPOSITION to OBAMA & MALIKI.

Finally, “Al-Maliki has been adopting CONCILIATORY (?) language in recent days toward Sunnis and Kurds. He said the militant threat affects all Iraqis, regardless of their ethnic or religious affiliation, and called on Iraqis to drop all “Sunnis and Shiites” talk. The ongoing crisis, al-Maliki said, had made Iraqis rediscover “NATIONAL UNITY (?)” Again, unfortunately, as we know, “national unity” still seems to be a LONG way off.

To conclude, let’s return once again to the title: “Iraq’s prime minister al-Maliki under pressure amid militant offensive”. OK, al-Maliki is “under pressure”, but will Iraqis be able to FORCE HIM TO RESIGN/OUT?

REYNOLDS HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING: CBS

The title of a recently released CBS News article is “Student and teen gunman DEAD in Oregon school shooting” (Web-site/URL:http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gunfire-reported-at-oregon-high-school/).

“A STUDENT victim is DEAD and the male gunman is ALSO DECEASED after shots were fired Tuesday morning (June 10, 2014) at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Ore., east of Portland, Troutdale Police Chief Scott Anderson said”.

“A law enforcement official tells CBS News (that) the shooter was also A STUDENT “.

“Officers responded to the school shortly after 8 a.m. (June 10 2014). Police said the SUSPECT was found dead in a school bathroom, slumped on a toilet and that he likely KILLED HIMSELF “.

“The situation is now STABILIZED, according to police” THANKFULLY.

“Police spokesman Sgt. Carey Kaer said police used a robot with a camera to investigate and discovered the SUSPECT was dead. Kaer also said the SHOOTER was a male teen”. This reinforces RICHARD MARTINEZ‘s claim again that TOO MUCH attention is being given to the KILLER and NOT enough is being said about the VICTIM(s) (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KyZyB5VjhE).

 (Speaking) at a brief news conference Tuesday (June 10, 2014)“, Anderson said: “I’m VERY, VERY SORRY for the family and for all the students and everyone who will be impacted by this TRAGIC incident“. This is the latest “sorry” to come AFTER a rampage. 

According to Reynolds School District Superintendent Linda Florence, “(speaking) at the same news conference”, “This is a VERY TRAGIC day, one that I had HOPED would NEVER, EVER be part of my experience“. EMPTY RHETORIC.

According to Troutville Mayor Doug Doust, “This has been a VERY UNSETTLING day for our precious city…. My heart goes out to all the families“. More EMPTY RHETORIC.

“KOIN reports a student inside the 2,800-student school tweeted just after 9 a.m. that while some students had been evacuated, “MOST” were on lockdown. One student reportedly told a parent the shooting began in the school’s gymnasium, though police have not been able to confirm specific details”.

“Freshman Daniel DeLong, 15, said while waiting after the shooting that he saw a physical education teacher at the school with A BLOODIED SHIRT “. “I’m A LITTLE SHAKEN UP. I’m just WORRIED“, AS EXPECTED (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI). “He said he was texting friends to make sure they were all okay”. “It just, like, happened SO FAST, you know?” 

“Freshman Morgan Rose, 15, said she was hunkered down in a locker room with another student and two teachers”. “It was SCARY in the moment now knowing everything’s okay“. There’s another expression of FEAR.

Finally, “Following the shooting, President Obama reflected on gun violence in a Tumblr chat Tuesday (June 10 2014), saying, “We’re THE ONLY DEVELOPED COUNTRY WHERE THIS HAPPENS and it happens now ONCE A WEEK. …I mean, our levels of gun violence are OFF THE CHARTS, there’s NO ADVANCED DEVELOPED country on earth that would put up with this“.

“He said one of his biggest regrets during his five-and-a-half years in the White House is “the fact that this society has not been willing to take some basic steps to keep guns of the hands of people who can do just, unbelievable damage“. This is all because of THE NRA.

What DOESN’T “rile” CHINA? Reuters

The title of a recently released Reuters article is “Hong Kong’s democracy ‘referendum‘ likely to RILE China’s ommunists” (Web-site/URL: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/18/us-hongkong-vote-idUSKBN0ET2YB20140618).

“Hong Kong holds a controversial “referendum” on democracy on Friday (June 20, 2014), a prelude to an escalating campaign of dissent that could shut down the former British colony’s financial district and further ANGER China’s Communist Party leaders”. The question is NOT what “angers China’s Communist Party”. Instead, It is what DOESN’T “anger China’s Communist Party?” Almost NOTHING.

“An AFFLUENT city of seven million that returned to Chinese rule in 1997, Hong Kong’s longstanding push for full democracy is reaching what could be BOILING point with tens of thousands expected to vote in the unofficial referendum for full democracy from Friday (June 20, 2014) until Sunday (June 22, 2014)”. As we know “boiling point” is DANGEROUS.

“While Beijing has allowed Hong Kong to go ahead with a popular vote for the city’s top leader (Chief Executive) in 2017, the most far-reaching experiment in democracy in China since the Communist takeover in 1949, senior Chinese officials have RULED OUT allowing the public to nominate candidates” AS EXPECTED (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI).

“Instead, Beijing insists a small committee of largely PRO-BEIJING loyalists choose who gets on the ballot, which would effectively render the ability to vote MEANINGLESS” which is EXACTLY WHAT CHINA WANTS.

“One of the founders of the Occupy Central protest movement, academic Benny Tai, hopes that its June 20-22 (2014) referendum will draw up to 300,000 people to strengthen the legitimacy of the group’s demands for a FAIR and REPRESENTATIVE (?) election in 2017 that would include opposition Democrats”. There are TWO things to note here. First what exactly is “fair and representative?” This is open to INTERPRETATIONS(Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI). Secondly, Benny Tai is an associate LAW professor at THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (Web-site/URL: http://www.law.hku.hk/faculty/staff/tai_benny.php).

“But a cyber-attack this week crippled the online voting system, meaning the organizers may have to rely on the results from 15 voting stations to be set up on Sunday (June 22, 2014) instead if it is not fixed by then”. This “cyber attack” was surely orchestrated by CHINA LOYALISTS. 

More specifically, Tai said: “AS I SEE IT, we are under such serious attack it shows exactly that Beijing is TAKING US SERIOUSLY“. “As I see it” is the latest INTERPRETATION (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI). “We are using the CIVIL (?) referendum to TELL Beijing what is our BASELINE , that is TRUE democracy must be something allowing electors to have GENUINE CHOICES“. There are TWO things to note here. First Hong Kong DOESN’T define the “baseline”; CHINA does. On top of this China has made it very clear that they will NOT allow Hong Kong to have “genuine choices”.

“Rita Fan, a senior Hong Kong delegate to China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress, said the Occupy protests would hurt Hong Kong and stoke Beijing’s MISTRUST of the city“. “I understand from listening to various people who are officials from the mainland that they DO NOT wish to see this happen, but they are NOT afraid IF it happens“. Fan is one of these “officials from the mainland” because Fan herself is A CHINA LOYALIST (just look at her record as LegCo President). “It only HURTS Hong Kong… If the Hong Kong police force is unable to contain the situation, then the international ratings agencies may consider that Hong Kong is politically NOT stable and that may affect our rating“. “politically not stable” is obviously NOT good.

According to Hong Kong-based risk consultancy, Steve Vickers and Associates, “Disorder that is too intense for the Hong Kong police to handle could justify deployment of THE PLA to RESTORE STABILITY. Such a scenario is unlikely, but would present a MAJOR threat to businesses and to Hong Kong’s AUTONOMY and reputation“. BINGO. “the PLA (presents) a MAJOR threat” to Hong Kong IN GENERAL.  

Finally, “Retired Chinese diplomat Zhou Nan said in June  that “we COULD NOT allow Hong Kong to turn into a base to SUBVERT China’s socialist regime UNDER THE GUISE OF democracy“. This is yet more evidence that China is DEFENSIVE (Web-site/URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgnAY_eXYbI) and obsessed with ANTI-“subversion”.

To conclude, let’s return once again to the title: “Hong Kong’s democracy ‘referendum’ likely to rile China’s communists”. The question is NOT what “riles China”. The question is: what DOESN’T “rile China?” The answer to that question is: NOTHING because (almost) EVERYTHING “riles China”.