Like the first of anything created, thismagazine was equal parts labor of loveand teeth pulling. I conceptualized thismagazine about 3 years ago, when Mer-cury Soapbox was really starting to takehold and build a collaborative art commu-nity, because of a conversation with somecreative friends about how to find artists,musicians and artisans. We agreed thatcrawling the net for creatives that wereproactively promoting themselves couldbe tedious and overbearing, and you dontalways find the caliber of artist you arelooking for. “So why not a magazine?” Isaid. “One that’s about, and full of, emerg-ing talent and their work?” And just likethat, MSMag was born. Well. Not just like that. From that dayon, our task was to meet and collaboratewith as many creative people as humanlypossible, help them to build their respec-tive bodies of work, and help them to builda fan base of their own. Ultimately, we want Mercury SoapboxMagazine to be a place where creativescan see/hear/experience other creativesthat they’ll eventually work with, find outwhat work creatives are doing and find outhow to support one another. Thanks forreading, and we’ll see you next time! Mercury Soapbox Family TUEMOVSAEECGROT!!YHN!OINSNEECCOITNDWETIHTIHS
mercurysoapbox issue unoMercury• music.......................................................................6• books........................................................................9Sho Recap• creation show........................................12Soapbox• words by rachel khona............26• jbf customs............................................... 28• chris carr...........................................................30• a-1...............................................................................36• words by nick zakharov..........40 The covers of this issue were created LIVE during our Creation Show. The front cover is the collaborative work of CERN ONE (YMI) and Marthalicia Matarrita, and the back cover is the work of Sole Rebel.
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mercurysoapbox - 6music @kikoacunningham is one half of Briggz & Cunningham and a bass afficionado. KikoArtoisCunningham.tumblr.com 5 top must cop albums of 2011 Drive Soundtrack - Various Artists You will not find a sexier soundtrack, this year. Great to start off your night with. Great to dance to. Great make out music. Arctic Monkeys - Suck It & See These guys know how to make great rock music. Smart, tasty hooks. Good lyricism. Awesome album. Class Actress - Rapprocher I love what singer Elizabeth Harper does on this album; a soon to be electro-pop classic. Cool synth work, from her partners in crime. A really sexy, good time. Little Dragon - Ritual Union This band just has first class musicianship. Yuki- mi’s sublime voice. Hakan’s great melodic choices, on keyboard. Fredrik’s solid bass work. Erik’s impeccable drumming. Dope album. Neon Indian - Era Extrana This artist also did a dope e.p., this year, with The Flaming Lips. I choose the full length l.p. An album full of colors. Simply wonderful!
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@RuthNineke is the author of five self- bookspublished books, a snarky blog andan upcoming full length novel. She’salso much, much smarter than you. www.RuthNineke.comWhen I was asked to write a book review for Mercury Soapbox Magazine there was no hesitation inmy response. Of course I would! I knew exactly which books I wanted to share: Storm Constantine’sEnchantments of Flesh And Spirit, and A Planet Named Treason by Orson Scott Card. With our cur-rent cosmic situation running remarkably on schedule what better use of my energy than to spreadthought-provoking literature?Both titles are Fantasy/Sci-Fi. Both main characters are young men who undergo dramatic shifts bothmentally and physically, their lives and destinies instantly changed. In both stories the characters em-bark on journeys, where they must leave behind their homelands and learn new ways of living. In A Planet Called Treason, societies exchange different goods for metal. Treason’s inhabitants have been banished to the planet gen- erations ago, and metal is the most coveted commodity among them. When the main character, Lanik Mueller – next in line for the throne of his kingdom, is discovered to be a “rad” (short for radical regenera- tive) he is sent into exile to avoid being harvested. Muellers naturally possess regenerative powers allowing them to regrow injured body parts. During puberty their abilities are a little uncontrollable, but this usually sorts itself out. Those who don’t outgrow the growing phase are sent to harvest their extra parts in exchange for metal. Because of his status Lanik becomes a spy instead, his mission to discover what the Nkumai are trading for metal. The Nkumai are militarily the strongest tribe of people on the planet. Through his journey Lanik learns the secrets of many other nations on the planet and gains new powers to help him save his own people. He must leave behind the ones he loves, but finds in the end they were willing to wait for him, because they believed in his return. Enchantments of Flesh And Spirit introduces a young man named Pellaz. He’s taken awayfrom his family and home, almost entirely by the seduction of another mannamed Calanthe. Cal isn’t actually a man though. He’s part of a new race ofhermaphrodite beings. Around the time of humanity’s downfall – thanks towar and destruction – Wraeththu evolved from an unspecified mutation.Their legends and myth spread throughout the region, but no government ormilitary had appeared to put them down. Pell decides to leave with Cal forImmanion – one of the greatest Wraeththu cities. Along the way Pell is turnedinto a Wraeththu and learns more about his new race, eventually rising to ahigher status within it. There’s a love story between Cal and Pell, even thoughPell has a child with another Wraeththu. This is explored more in the othertitles in the series on Wraeththu.Aside from the fantastic premise of both these tales I find the basic ideas ofeach to be relevant to our current events. Both focus on a character whosegreater societal situation has a clear and direct impact on his personal life. Thehappenings of the world around Lanik and Pellaz are no longer some externalthing, separate from them but become a direct part of their lives. As changehappens to them each learns to accept truths faster, and embrace their per-sonal powers fully. The idea of fear is replaced with the quality of curiosity, each story progressing asour protagonists build new information into what’s already come before.It seems to me that we are now in the busiest, most exciting, times of our lives. The collective con-sciousness is processing information more rapidly than perhaps we knew it could adapt to. Asindividuals we are always ripe for receiving knowledge. I dare say we are never not seekingknowledge. And how lucky that these days there is so much of it coming at us! There’s so muchwe are doing and saying, as we process and share.Each of us is clearly the main character in our own lives. And what goes on within ourcommunities, and governments, and our world is not separate from us. Individuals are always chang-ing, and evolving - though random genetic mutations aren’t the thing yet – we are always in posses-sion of the opportunity to learn to think differently, and experience life in a new way. Acceptance ofthat also allows us to impact the world we live in, as it impacts us, as we are not actually immune to orisolated from the larger whole. mercurysoapbox - 9
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WELCOME BACK! trying to set up photos by patricia koo, errol basdeo, lauren pasculli, isaac betancourt-sabillionIt had been about the live streaminga year and a half performances fromsince the last show. Nicole VerhammeBut that last one (of Golden Boy)was a doozy. A and Justina SotoMcKibben Street and the Salvationhot box of bodies, Armband. Ultimatelycheap beer and failing, and apologiz-rock & roll, it was ing profusely, wewonderful in its frenetic kineticism kicked off the musical part of thebut what it lacked in art it made show. Bookended by deep houseup for in dancing and great rock phenom DJ Eugene, the line uptalent. We took some time off to was chock full of talent: ART, Lifemeet a ton of new people, create on Impact, Corona, spoken wordsome new ideas, set a few things from Octavia Almonte and Leein motion but now we’re back, Ann, followed by a preview fromand the Creation Show was proof Adrienne Mack Davis, a shortpositive. set from Jay Spade, and a mindAs the artists (photographer/ blowing set from the unstoppablepainter Patricia Koo, photogra- Progress. We had a great time andpher/videographer kept it going forErrol Basdeo and HAPPY HOLIDAZEmixed media artist - our beneift showLee Ann Irrizary) on December 16th,put the finish- which hosted art,ing touches on music, a toy drivetheir exhibits and AND a food drive.started to greet Stay Tuned for thefriends coming in, next show/project!we were having a SEE YOU ALLtiny meltdown SOON!!
OCTAVIA SHARES WORDS CERN AND BOBBI PHOTOSHOPPIN DJ EUGENE ROCKIN LOVE FOR THE MASSES SETTING UP JAY SPADE RIPS ADRIENNE MACK DAVIS KILLIN IT LEE ANN GOES IN PROGRESS TEARS IT DOWN THE CROWD WATCHING
CORONA ROCKS ACOUSTIC MINDS BEING BLOWN LIFE ON IMPACT JAMS ART PERFORMSercurysoapbox bellevill nj my pillow “iifwtikfwritinehtdieeennvnoge,fIprsfwrosueaimInt’stvcbyeaelemr”bodueuicennhndto poet book- tears on “cysoawohnmeuod’rewreabstlaotwbhraeateelcylnsasohdutfieistpore..ur new york city alternative/indie rock demo brooklyn clasically trained singer/songwriter vans warped tour/fighting for futures/bring it back stage “realizing that art was harlem something that I was painter really good at instead art battles of like social studies or something”
brooklyn “the biggest challenge mercurysoapboxfilmmaker/photographer is overcoming fear ofdp of “Bottle Service” doing something. once you jump that hurdle, you just keep going”“it’s not gonna washington heights be as good if singer/songwriterit isn’t that raw” working on albumbrooklyn/queens “when i was a little kid,photographer i always was stealinggetting back to painting the cameras, taking all the family photos”“my biggest challenge dnoecwumjeresnetay rian/poet is staying motivated, book- indigo, there’s other staying on task” colors in the rainbowwashington heights culgt“ueirnleoe,vrteahlhe, iimpl-oohvvoeepmthineent”lyricistworking on mixtape queens fusion band playing showswashinton heights “i gst‘ocitraalamfrunrtysiegeedernyxiwduag.rstisitremhilndfoyrguiteeotpxnoobduee”ttryrapperThis Is Light Mixtape new york deep house dj track on mixcloudmavqiunsuedureaadnllrsaoignrgtisns8t th i“bfMuetyesslteephllroffesidtseteytsthhbterilnuebgcsitssgieogadenres,btsyhecutlhhfgaeedl.lew”efnoegraletd,.,
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mercurysoapbox - 26 The Graveyard By Rachel Khona After I graduated college I decided I didn’t really want a job so I decided to move to L.A. and become an actress. Of course that meant I had to get a job waiting tables since that’s what every wannabe actress does . So I marched up to Sunset Boulevard and got myself a job at the restaurant in the Standard Hotel. Since I was brand spanking new, I usually got to work the super fun overnight shift from 11 pm to 7 am. This of course meant that I got to meet every loser and derelict whoring themselves out on Sunset Boulevard as opposed to all the celebrities and bigwigs (Dave Navarro, Metallica, Steven Soderbergh, Christina Aguilera, Denise Richards) my coworkers got to see during normal hours. The biggest celebrities I saw were Heidi Fleiss and Tom Sizemore. So one night these slutty “Wow, that uniform is really hot. girls decided to stop in at the ripe That’s cuter than anything we old hour of 4:30 am. Besides the have to wear,” said Zebra pants. requisite gigantic plastic boobs, “I want to get one of those for one of them sported a shiny work.” black vinyl bustier and zebra print leggings (and this was before “Oh….. What do you guys do?” I Rachel Zoe put Lindsay Lohan in a asked thoroughly perplexed. What pair of leggings and made them kind of job would find a yellow all the rage) while the other one diner dress acceptable attire? was wearing a short see-through Their boss must be very liberal. white strapless dress and white heels. Bad move. Only Pamela “We work at the Body Shop down Anderson can pull that off and the street,” White dress said. still look hot. If you look like the product of multiple generations of I was confused, were they incest, it’s not going to work. mechanics? Half-dressed girls fixing cars? Maybe even doing I was practically asleep so even car washes? That’s not a bad though I found their taste in idea. I should open a Body Shop clothing highly questionable I was too. thrilled to have someone wake me out of my stupor. I figured they “Oh, what’s that?” I asked. had just finished clubbing and wanted a bite to eat. “It’s a strip club,” said White dress. “Hi, we would like a table for two,” Ohhhhhhhhhh. Now it was ALL Zebra pants said. This was kind of coming together. There was a strip comical, as there was no one in club down the street. That makes the restaurant. a lot more sense than the whole mechanic scenario. “Sure sit anywhere. Do you want “That’s festive. Have you decided to start off with something to what you want to order?” drink?” I asked. They placed their orders which “Just menus right now,” strapless I actually remembered to enter dress said. into the computer unlike most
of the time when I just forgot. “Hey, give those back!” IProbably because no one else screamed, running after her.was there. About ten minutes latertheir orders were ready. I promptly “No!” she yelled as she ran out todelivered them, checked on the valet.them, and went back to downingcoffee behind the counter. Fuck this dumb bitch. I might have been naïve, but I was noWhen they finally finished eating, doormat. I will take those LuciteI asked them if they needed heels and clock her in the faceanything else and gave them their with them. I ran after her.check. I ran the credit card andpicked up the signed copy. There “Wait!! Don’t give her the car!” Iwas NO tip. OK in all fairness, I yelled at the valet.know I am probably one of theworst servers to ever walk God’s She spun around angrily andearth, but this time I actually did a glared at me. good job! I didn’t fuck up a singlething! And as women who survive “That stupid bitch stole theon tips, I was appalled that they ketchup and mustard!!! She can’tcould be so callous. I was hurt; I have her car back until she returnsreally thought we had bonded it. And by the way, she didn’t tipover my uniform. me, so don’t count on a tip.” I yelled.Fuck them. It was now 5:15 am Iam working for shit, and I had no The valet looked us tiredly. “Givepatience. Shit is going down. back the ketchup. ….Nicely.”“Excuse me, was there something She angrily fished the ketchup outwrong, because I noticed there of her bag and handed it to thewas no tip.” valet who handed it to me.“The service wasn’t really any “Happy?” she snapped.good,” Zebra pants stated bluntly. “Fuck you.” I turned on my heel“Ummm, you’re the only and walked away. Except thatcustomers in here. The service has I didn’t. I hid inside the hotel’sbeen amazing.” frosted doors. As the girls got in the car, I walked back outside.“Whatever, we’re not tipping you. As they pulled away I hurled theWe’re out of here.” With that, ketchup bottle at the car, whichthe dumb whores got up and landed on the back windshieldstarted to run out. As I stood there and splattered everywhere. Iincredulously, I saw Zebra pants sprinted back into the hotel, ranreach behind the counter and down the stairs and hid in thegrab the ketchup and mustard basement. They never found me.on the way out. So she’s not justa lying coke-snorting stripper, Rachel Khona is a nationally publishedshe’s also a klepto. That biyatch writer and performer from New Jersey.needed to forget about stealing Check out her work and blog atketchup and steal herself a real www.rachelkhona.comnon-polyester outfit from Barney’s. mercurysoapbox - 27
mercurysoapbox - 28 Jake Ferrato, a@kjabfcustoms, is an upcoming hat and sneaker customizer, a style trend blazer with a great eye for colors, patterns and materials. Where are you originally Where do you get your inspira- photos by jbfcustoms.com from? tion? What about for fabrics, designs, color schemes? Akron, Ohio Everywhere... A lot of it is just what I How did you get started in fash- want to see done, and what people ion/customizing? What made you tell me they want to see done. think you should get into it? Are there other areas of fashion I started painting shoes back in my you’d like to move into? junior year of high school. I did that just because I wanted cool shoes I’m looking into getting into and I didn’t wanna pay for the SB backpacks. releases, etc. They didn’t make those in my size either (14) so it Whats your favorite piece you›ve just made sense. From there it has made so far? continuously evolved into what you see today. My favorite shoes are the Jet Life Blazers (so exclusive I don’t even How hard was it to spread the own a damn pair) And my favorite word about your work? hat thus far is the Grizzlies one I did. That was and still is difficult. As the What piece of advice could you small artist it’s tough to get bigger give future and current designers/ blogs/websites that really drive traffic customizers? to pay attention. Social media has been a great way to help with pro- Be consistent, and keep your work motion, though. in view. Do you have regulars visitors/cus- Whats the next step for you and tomers? your work? I like to think so! hahaha! I know I Selling out of boutique shops seems have a few repeat customers, and to be what’s happening next, as well there’s the people that always really as getting into some new products. show support on Twitter. Thank you to all such people. Did you have to make a transition between selling works in person and selling them online? I’ve really never sold in person, so I’ll probably making that transition in reverse in the future.
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mercurysoapbox - 30 Chris Carr is a vibrant, daring and exciting photog- rapher. Soul-wise and unashamed, he pushes the imperfections perfectly to the surface of his imagery. Find him at Brooklyn Wildlife Where are you It is difficult to photos by chris carr. obviously. originally from? answer that Washignton DC 0 - 18, question in a straight work my way or Atlanta 18- 23, forward manner..It spread the news NY 23- 25, DC 25 - 29, depends on scope about my projects or NY 29 - 33 and expectation.. work. On the other It has taken me hand.. it is extremely How did you get a couple of years difficult to break started in to build the name through and have photography? What for my brand a platform as large made you think you but I have in no as the magazines should get into it? way maximized or newspapers or I went to school for technology, really well known history/sociology; communication and commercial I am fascinated certain innovations photographers.. I by interpersonal in running/managing don’t have a name dynamics, social a small business like nikola tamindzic groups and identity in this economic but he inspires me formation.. so environment. So, on because he moved photography is a one hand, it is easy- to NY, hit the scene, great medium for I use the internet.. started shooting documenting social I shoot really with Gawker and events, trends, interesting people within two or three issues, conflict .. the (they help promote years had two well human experience. by sharing on social known blogs and At different times I media sites and got into all types of was into landscape, telling friends), I shoot commercial and art flora, fauna, portraits, events and pass photography.. so I events, commercial out promo cards have a lot of work to work.. I love how or fliers, I always do. film photography have a camera is a mixture of with me so that chemistry and when I meet people magic.. and I think they immediately photography is my know what i spend way of managing my time doing.. the human condition and through my and mortality. experience as a mucisian I have How hard was it to met people that spread the word can help funnel about your work?
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Do you have regular usually, the more imperfection as well..customers? effort that I put in I am inspired by ourYes. I have a couple prior to the day of faults, our crookedof T shirt companies the shoot, the more teeth, or bags underthat hire me on smooth the shoot the eyes, shoesa regular basis actually goes. So with holes in them(Pockets Fulla Pillz sometimes the Don’t get me wrong,and One vs Many), research is looking at I also really enjoyI have some event other ad campaigns capturing beautyclients that have me for what NOT to do, and aestheticallyshoot their parties sometimes it is art awesomeon a regular basis, I history, sometimes it people, tattoos,shoot Shecky’s Girls is looking at a brand’s environmentalNight Out every year previous campaign landscapes, citiesand others like that. and making sure and the things thatThere are also people we don’t veer too stand out when youI shoot on a regular far away from their travelbasis.. my friends brand imagethat inspire me and Are there other areascertain models that Where do you get of art you’d like toalways link to make your inspiration? move into?some art What about for set yes - I would like to ups, lighting, make- shoot large formatDid you have to make up, color scheme? film..black and white.a transition between The inspirations are I would like to shootselling works in per- life, the world.. all videos, short filmsson and selling them the people I meet and eventuallyonline? and places I travel.. help produce indieNo.. i only sell works I know it sounds art movies. I amin person. But.. i am corny, but I am one already in a band,starting an etsy of those people that and at some pointaccount and I will would try to draw wheatpasting/be selling prints and you if I thought you collage and largeother items via my looked cool.. but I scale printmakingwebsite suck at illustration, so seem like they would photography allows be fun. And maybeWhat kind of research me to achieve the carving little raindeerdo you have to do for same goal. When I out of wood. I am notyour work? am driving through too bad at that.It depends. There is some mountaina lot of planning and town in Croatia.. Whats your favoriteart direction that how can I not take piece you’ve made sogoes into the shoots a picture. When I far?before we ever arrive am in some party in Honestly, I do noton location I tend Denmark with some have a favorite. I shotto conceptualize amazing people that a series of mockand discuss with I just met, eating Supreme ads withthe client, cast for hash brownies and my friend Amy thatthe models, locate drinking German a lot of people seemstylists, hair, make beer.. how else to like. and I recentlyup or etc.. and then would I remember did a couch surfingpull off the shoot. So it.. take a photo. I like portrait project that mercurysoapbox - 33
mercurysoapbox - 34 produced some as a book (i plan to and your work? awesome images...I write one in a few A kickstarter to raise have shot a lot of years) would be this: money for an art events.. Rock the space.. I need to Bells, Scribble GO HARDER be able to curate Jam, Howards THAN a space, hang my HOmecoming, CMJ art, have shows for fest for the past 4 EVERYBODY my friends and do years, Winter Music whatever I want in in Miami, South For real.. I could talk terms of content.. by Southwest, about equipment, so that is on the Private listening or the market in NY plate for this spring. I parties, Martha or how to promote would also like to set Stewart Luncheons, yourself, or the up more corporate Senators and much politics/social scene event clients, more more.. It would be of photography or apparel companies impossible to say the artistic ethos and I need to find what I like the most.. and philosophy of a tattooist to follow photography as an for six months and What piece of advice art.. but at the end make some sick could you give future of the day.. the only art. Also my nude and current thing that matters artwork.. I need old photographers? is if you do what people and guys to Get a day job. haha.. you do to the fullest shoot nude.. take no, I am kidding.. The extent. your clothes off.. only advice I can say that wont be as long Whats the next step for you
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mercurysoapbox - 36 Adam Traore, photos by sean donnely melissa santiago aka A-1, is an extremely talented, verbose and prolific MC outta the west coast. @adamraps Where are you originally from? memorize the words to all kinds of various pop tunes. “Hit the road Born and raised in San Francisco Jack” by Ray Charles and “Obla Di California. Obla Da” by the Beatles stick out. I remember my Dad used to move what was your first exposure to the furniture out of the living room music? and play Michael Jackson cassettes for us and we would have these My mom used to play these oldies mixtapes for my sister and I when we were really little. We would
dance parties. The first cassette I music that was comin out of theever owned was a Bob Marley mix- bay at that time. When I startedtape my pops dubbed for me when getting into Nas and Wu Tang andI was like 6. stuff I started appreciating the art of lyricism and MCing more. ItWhen did you decide/realize you inspired me to write and try towanted to be a musician? freestyle. My friends started getting into it too and I’ve been rhymingI’ve always been really into art. I ever since.used to draw a lot in school andI adopted being an “artist” as my What was the first song you finished?identity early on. I guess music wasjust another form of art for me to I was in a group back in highschoolexplore and it just so happened to called “BlackMale” with 3 of mybe the one I stuck with. It prob- friends and we had a song calledably could have been anything “All of It” where we all just wentthough. back to back bustin verses. When I hear it now it sounds so amateur,How did you get started? but at the time it was the illest shit out! Nobody our age was touchinI use to listen to a lot of East Coast us lyrically back then. It was a lotrap in high school when I first of fun.started becoming a hip hop junkie.Before that I was all about Bay How do you go about beat selection?Area underground rap like An-dre Nickatina and Celly Cel and a For lack of a better description.. itbunch of other really grimy gangsta just has to grab you by the boo- mercurysoapbox - 37
mercurysoapbox - 38 boo. If it doesn’t get my attention I haven’t dropped any projects that within the first 30 seconds then I’m willing to call an “album” yet.. it’s on to the next. I produce a lot but I have two mixtapes out right of stuff too so I kind of have an now. One’s called “After School idea what works for me and what Special” and it’s a short tape that doesn’t. Some beats are really well has a 90’s television theme. The produced, but if I can’t hear myself newer one is called “The Book of on them then it’s a no go. Adam” and it’s just a collection of songs that better represent my style Which do you think is the stronger and my personality as an artist. skill set- the ability to freestyle or the ability to write well? Do you have any dream collabora- tors? Who are they? Writing hands down. If you can’t write a solid song you will never Outkast because they make the best have a successful career in music. albums, Ice cube because he tells Name a rapper (besides eminem) the best stories, Devin the Dude that’s KNOWN for his freestyle because he has a great outlook. ability that has anything more than a small underground cult follow- Any big plans for the rest of this ing. It’s hard to do because there year? barely are any. The artists who stand the test of time are people My goal this year is to do a lot of with the ability to spend time writ- regional shows and start branching ing, constructing and perfecting a outside of the Bay with my perfor- record for people to listen to. With mances/music. Also, I’m planning that being said I think all MCs to drop a new E.P. or a mixtape should still jump in cyphers from sometime in the spring or early time to time and be able to kick a summer. few rhymes off the dome, because understanding what that type of Some parting words for your current free-flowing energy feels like helps and future fans? us get in touch with the roots of this art form and build upon our I just want to thank everyone for artistry as well. supporting, my only hope is that you are able to get some kind of How many albums have you fin- pleasure or relief from my songs. ished? Peace and health to everybody, A-1.
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mercurysoapbox - 40 ChanTgheeling’s Failings by Nick Zakharov You can’t let your failures define you or on health4. Instead, I want to evaluate photos by the internet. not mine. -- you have to let your failures teach you. the Obama administration’s effect on You have to let them show you what to civil liberties abroad as well as domesti- do differently the next time. cally. His effects on the global scene are -BARACK OBAMA, National Address to to be taken into greater consideration, America’s Schoolchildren, Sep. 8, 2009 for the countries our military is pointed towards invariably experience the wrath This was an interesting quote for of our presidents far greater than we do. the president to make when the official For a full list of Obama’s achievements, policy of so many public schools across I refer you to a jaw-dropping compen- the country is that if the kids fail, the dium at http://stpeteforpeace.org/ schools fail, losing funding and even obama.html . These are sheer facts, no incurring eventual closure. The foreclo- theorizing necessary. Conversely, for a sure crisis allowed reductions in public list of achievements he’d admit to, go to school funding, through lost property http://obamaachievements.org/list . You tax revenues as well as general educa- can compare and consider which ones tion cutbacks our local governments matter more to you. As the cast of It’s assure us are necessary. This forces city Always Sunny in Philadelphia say “That’s and state governments to rely more on politics, bitch.” federal funding which itself is being cut and based on a purely by-the-numbers President Obama just signed into payout. Too many disadvantaged areas law HR347, dubbed the Federal Re- are losing schools and forcing class size stricted Buildings and Grounds Improve- to skyrocket, with proud politicians like ment Act5 which makes it unlawful to NYC’s Bloomberg proclaiming that he’d be within certain proximity of buildings still want to cut the teaching force far where public officials that have secret more yet we have reports of schools service protection without authority, unfairly being cut and closed1. This is a making it a FELONY to exercise our first classic work force reduction to dissolve amendment right of peaceful assembly unions, a favored method of plutocratic and protest. Could this be because of the elites in political power. One would think Occupy Movement’s massive growth, that the schools with poorest performing the Tea Party’s staunch opposition to students need stronger and more trans- Obama’s presidency or the Anonymous parent oversight, not a clear cut mes- movement? No doubt the Arab Spring sage to the students being: it’s your fault Revolutions of the past year helped to your school closed. Essentially, Obama inspire a protest feeling amongst many can proudly disregard the mechanics of Americans, despite US state provoca- the law but paradoxically state that we tion behind the various movements6 and shouldn’t judge ourselves by how badly the expansive effects of each country’s we’re performing. Well, Mr. President, own revolutions7. Many are willing to I won’t even stress your effects on the be arrested by local police for simple economy2, politically dividing the public3 crimes of disobedience or trespassing
but these recent legislative changes power. What faction of the actual popu-could only strike fear into the hearts of lation of our country could feel anythingso many who actively protest meetings but defenseless under the passage ofof G8, NATO, the Bilderberg conferences these acts? They are absolutely lever-of international policy makers but even aged against us yet are simply judged bysimple political rallies, who could face the capitalized terms like ‘national’, ‘pa-escalating and undue charges. This could triot’ or ‘freedom’ and the subsequentalso authorize our government to con- safeguarding rhetoric, allowing the mostnect violators of this law to the recently meretricious verbiage to keep peoplesigned National Defense Authorization from studying the subtext and pacifyingAct (signed on New Year’s Eve, much a populace, whose strength in recallinglike the Federal Reserve Act passed right and holding such criminals accountablebefore Christmas in 1913, two quite has globally paramount protection byunpopular acts with the public, fading their own constitution.from serious mention8) which allows in-definite detention of American citizens, Is this what we expected of a mansuspending the habeas corpus right to who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2009trial, and the rendition of Americans to (without having achieved any semblanceforeign nations for torturous interroga- of peace thus far)11?He received it ation9. The scary thing is that this passed week after announcing an increase ofso timely through a heavily partisan, by thirty thousand troops into Afghanistan.far the most divided in recent history, In his acceptance speech he justifiedWashington. We were angry about the American military actions since WW2Patriot Act and this broadened the defi- saying “Whatever mistakes we havenition of terrorist and allowed multiple made, the plain fact is this: the Unitedagencies overriding reach into all aspects States has helped underwrite globalof our lives but the passage of NDAA and security for six decades with the bloodHR347, among countless other laws, do of our citizens and the strength of ournot specify any connection to violence, arms.” In 2011, he received an awardforeign or domestic terror cells but seem for transparency, a word that becameto be directly aimed at protestors and synonymous with how his administrationwhistleblowers and any effective detrac- was to be conducted, by 5 different gov-tors from official state power. ernment accountability organizations IN SECRET12! Yes, on March 28, 2011, he re- Even more cryptically, Obama just ceived this award with no press or publicsigned an executive order on March 16, allowed, without the event even beingallowing him and his secretaries jurisdic- on his official schedule. This, despite histion over the most vital resources and, administration spending a record $10.17yes, EVEN PEOPLE for whatever purpose billion on classifying 224,734 docu-they see fit under the guise of “national ments, according to the federal agencydefense”10. While presidents of the past Information Security Oversight Office13.have brought on similar laws, they werealways in emergency events and times of Obama didn’t just claim those trans-actual war. Despite the US having been parency or peace awards, his campaignembroiled in some level of war since won a deserved award presented by AdWW2, we do not experience it here. Age for marketer of the year14, beatingBut this law clearly states that this can Apple, a company whose stock num-be implemented in “peacetime” and in bers have recently had to be taken outnon-emergency situations. Additionally, when reporting the Dow average for itwe must assess the nomenclature and accounted for 17% of the growth. Suchproperly term this as “state defense” for a megalith company couldn’t match thethis is so far detached from any idea of ad campaign Obama had. Most of us like“national” and confines protection to a to think electing the highest post in thevastly burgeoning electorate whose sole world shouldn’t be in the same categorypurpose is expansion of legally-protected as picking whose device will blast your mercurysoapbox - 41
mercurysoapbox - 42 shitty music through ear-damaging buds candidate who reassured us of an end to but the sad truth is that this market- the wars, economic regulation and the ing hypnosis is the only language we ensuing stability, social and bipartisan understand, and the Obama team spoke cohesion, some level of transparency it expertly. So we bought a product. We and countless other turnarounds from entered into a contract for supremacy the previous administration. of maintenance, and should we feel shortchanged? With our dual-party systemic failure, we imagine that an ongoing debate Watching Obama’s press conference should account for all viewpoints. That on 3/6/2012, I didn’t expect any men- way, no one can be wrong. And if you tion of radical ideas or approaches from abstain, people readily disregard you him, seeing as posturing a moderate for you’re a mere naysayer, a political position, even in his heady stature, is the nihilist whose inability to choose the way to get reelected. No, spouting radi- favored saccharine toxicity of candidate cal ideas may allow you to depose a fad- Coke and candidate Pepsi shows willful ing despot like Bush and that is certainly ignorance towards the current issues. what Obama delivered in 2008, assuring We can compare the shift from Bush to us that only we have the strength to Obama in 2008 with the shift from Bush save ourselves from corruption in high to Clinton in 1992: Loads of expecta- office. And of course said strength could tions with a minimum of follow through. only culminate in electing a figure like Clinton fooled people into thinking that him, whose vague calls for readjustment he’d counter act the warfare of the helped assure the populace that he was Bush-Regan years and went on to bomb not of the sinister ilk of his predecessor thirteen different countries outside of and that his aims could redirect Ameri- a declaration of war. Like with Obama, can standing in a number of areas. This a house of congress was regained by was no unfamiliar tactic. Regan prom- democrats for a short period, hardly ised small government and expanded achieving what their supporters clam- it vastly. George HW Bush famously ored for before quickly ceding the legis- reiterated “no new taxes”, a lie. Bill lative back to the republicans. The move Clinton appeased the public by promis- to a democrat headed administration is ing healthcare reform yet quickly backed always fueled by members of the politi- away. George W. Bush ran on a non-in- cally disenfranchised classes: minorities, terventionist platform. And we saw what women, youth, the poor and many other happened then. Mind you, these are iso- groups, all of whom tend to align with lated lies that I can easily say were the liberals. Liberals often feel their party least of these presidents’ mischief. But it is comprised of social defenders while brings the point home that Obama was conservatives often feel their party pro- not out of character as a misdirecting tects values of nationalism, religion and capitalism. But do either party protect any of these when in executive power? Considering that every subsequent president is elected for the purpose of cleaning up the mistakes of the former rather than expanding them, their stated ideals can easily take a back seat, or rather a bound up prostrate immobility, hidden in the trunk. To evaluate Obama’s presidency, you can ostensibly disregard his cam- paign promises compared to results because few presidents, after being elected, fulfill these promises or refrain
from reminding us that the clean up pro- stand against government will deem youcess is hardly timely and often flawed. a terrorist criminal, whose punishmentDisregard his party aims because the can elicit actions outside of our rule oftop executive post should be working to law? Sadly, our international bodies ofappease the other side as both sides are court refuse to accept the term “statefinancially supporting the treasury. To terrorism”21, of which so many countriesevaluate his time in office, simply study are gravely culpable, chiefly our own.his actions. Obama made transparency And until such actions are properly iden-a cornerstone of his campaign yet under tified, our leaders will take full advan-his rule, he has used the Espionage Act tage when reaping and privatizing accessa record six times in order to silence to all resources, all the while claimingthe growing number of whistleblow- speciously that phantom splinter cellsers15 and his classification of 77 million are the root of this wild goose chase.documents, in 2009 alone, was a 40%increase over the past year16. Bush’s One dangerous aspect of Americaninvoking of State Secret Privilege to gag war mongering that has been heavilymultiple whistleblower’s cases pales in escalated under Obama has been thecomparison to Obama’s use of this anti- use of secret CIA UAV(Unmanned Aerialquated WWI era Espionage Act to actu- Vehicle) drone missiles in Pakistan,ally prosecute more than ALL PREVIOUS Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Afghani-PRESIDENTS COMBINED. This ostensibly stan, even domestically stationed andfollows an era of increasing intimidation controlled from a growing number ofunder Bush which kept a lot of truth secret bases22. Besides the idea of antellers in the shadows but considering alleged intelligence gathering organiza-Bush didn’t prosecute a single person for tion used to carry out military actionswhistle blowing while Obama is breaking being illogical, it is a clever enoughrecords in using the State Secret privi- extension of Bush era policies sincelege, the latter sends a far more power- CIA actions fall under the orders of theful message of legal consequences for executive branch and are presumed freeany other insiders foolhardy enough to of legislative and judicial review. Theprovide us unauthorized accountability. CIA provides no feedback on this issue but Obama personally admitted to these So Obama ramped up secrecy, reit- bombings only this year. He claims thaterating the Bush doctrine notion of any a small number of civilians have beenAmericans being possible “homegrown” killed by these strikes and that the main,terrorists, not like Bin Laden17, al-Awla- intended targets have been militants23,ki18, Hussein19, to name a prominent few, although, in Pakistan, only 150 militantsall of whom had financing and training have been named, while close to threeby America before becoming premier thousand have been killed, 175 of thesestate enemies. No, instead our justice children24. The press admitted civiliandepartment has the FBI anti-terrorism death toll, in Pakistan alone, ranges fromunit investigating mere anti-war activ- 391-780. Only being able to specificallyists20, reminiscent of governmental name 150 of these as militants out ofactions against the Black Panthers and a range of 2347 to 2956 does not bodeauxiliary anti-war protest groups of the well for the administration’s claims of asixties. Only now, a redrawn playbook modest minimum of 391. Who accountsis almost unanimously accepted in for the other 2200-2800 or so? Again,Washington when attaching the epithet neither our military nor the CIA compilesof possible “terrorist”. What would you these numbers. These are coming fromconsider inciting terror? Demanding an independent news sources25.end to illegal wars and bombing cam-paigns which were started with neither These Pakistani bombings began inproper justification nor any sort of 2004 yet in these last five years of Bush’sglobal, national or legislative approval? presidency, he ordered 42, while ObamaOr convincing people that taking such a has ordered more than 26026. Obama’s mercurysoapbox - 43
mercurysoapbox - 44 supporters can argue that this is an ef- constitution demands yet we com- fect of inheriting Bush’s wars but the fact pletely avoid. If you were to marry, you’d remains that these actions do not fall receive $50 thousand American, when in the scope of congressional approved a mother would give birth she’d receive military actions, not even in Afghanistan $5 thousand American, if you were to or Iraq. But considering Bush provided start a farm you’d receive land, equip- Pakistan with $18 billion in military aid27, ment and a stipend, all free, homes were to combat Taliban and Al-Qaeda inter- considered a human right, the price of nally, although he exercised direct US oil was $0.14 a liter, you could buy 40 aerial attacks, while Obama chose rather loaves of bread with $0.15, government to illegally bomb them six times more would subsidize 50% of your new car than Bush in a shorter amount of time cost, if you were unhappy with their shows a similar unrelenting ruthless- medical or educational facilities, you ness of every successive administration, could go abroad and receive these all regardless of party promises of military on the government’s dime plus a $2300 retreat. monthly allowance, but few would since Libyans had the best healthcare system NATO has been at the mercy of throughout the Arab and African world. all aims American since its inception28. What kind of dictator does this for his Our attack and Iraq style dismantling people? Could you ever imagine an of Libya is a painstaking example of a America that provides this? And on top global community absolutely subservi- of this Libya had no external debt and ent to American interests. With the 2003 their 150 billion in reserves (compared invasion of Iraq, the most protested to our 15 trillion dollars of debt) which is against war, and consequently the most now frozen and will remain so perpetu- profitable, we drew a lot of flack and ally. hate from the international community, as well as a springboard for so many So we clearly had to get this mon- politicians, chiefly Obama, to admonish ster out of power, right? Gaddafi also the former administration and appear to created the world’s largest irrigation be soft on war. But while Obama touted method, the Great Man-Made River how he was against the Iraq invasion, he Project, to provide free clean water for wasn’t even a senator when the country not only Libya but throughout Africa, was invaded and after taking senatorial and when he announced this in the early office, he supported every measure of nineties, he became a serious threat to Bush’s relating to the war29. While there the water controllers. Considering the is no doubt that the numbers of Iraqi Bush family holds more of their money casualties in the first invasion under HW invested in water than in oil now, this Bush, the innumerable bombs dropped by Clinton, outside of wartime(as if that a state of war should morally vindicate any president’s murders) and the follow up invasion by Dubya were horrendous, Obama’s treatment of Libya underscore an exactly similar purpose. Like Hussein, Gaddafi held on to power with a tight grasp. But prior to the American led NATO incursion into the country, Libya enjoyed the highest standard of living in Africa. Their citizens had free healthcare, free education, no homelessness, free electricity, interest free loans since they actually had state owned banks, something the American
was a serious threat. Libya has the larg- When the Arab spring revolts cameest amount of oil reserves in Africa and to Libya, the instigators were all westernoil profits actually went directly TO THE backed35 and Obama jumped on thePEOPLE, depositing $500 American in chance to spread mistruths about Gad-every Libyan’s bank account monthly. dafi’s reactions36. Multiple news sourcesTalk about trickle-down economy. pointed out that the massacres ObamaThroughout the developing world, the spoke of were simply not going on butprivatization of food has sky rocketed it was enough to get a UN mandate tothe price, leading to serious starvation freeze Libyan assets and commencebut Libya instilled price controls on all vi- bombings for “humanitarian purposes”,tal foodstuffs. This allowed them to have during Ramadan, no less. We beganan undernourishment level at a mod- bombing schools, hospitals, food centersest 2%. That is BETTER THAN OURS. 60 when we only were claiming we’d hityears ago this was the poorest country in military targets and amassed over thirtythe world. Before Gaddafi it had a 25% thousand casualties, four thousand stillliteracy rate and now it is at 87%, 99% missing and over 50 thousand wounded.amongst the youth, with whom Gad- These are figures from Libyan interimdafi was extremely popular. This was life health minister in August 201137. NATOunder the Jamahiriya. and the US of course refused to investi- gate, admitting the magnitude of their So what was the threat? Maybe guilt is rarely in the government’s inter-this could have been a model for much est38.of the developing world, for so manyresource-rich countries like India, Russia, Why couldn’t we claim Al QaedaBrazil, countless middle-eastern nations, was the reason we were attacking Libyaneven us, whose people have a lessening civilians? Because we had installed Algrip on their own livelihood, pensions, Qaeda there39 just like when we hadhealthcare rights, forget our childrens’ created the group to combat Russia infutures. Gaddafi rarely held his tongue Afghanistan in the eighties. Now youon American imperialism and paid dearly see Al Qaeda flags all throughout ralliesfor it. His state-owned bank helped by rebels against Libyan government,create such a progressive state and is in even waving proudly from the Benghazidirect opposition to our federal reserve, courthouse40. How many times can wewhose existence is unconstitutional and volley these murderous terrorists in andhas been able to give and lend tens of out of our favor before our public ac-trillions to all the biggest banks and in- knowledges that they have always beenvestment groups without congressional a CIA asset41 used to achieve ends thator public consent or any accountability. would be admonished by any member ofGaddafi refused to accept the dollars the military or our public? After the firstor euros and was planning to institute round of bombings, Libyan governmenta gold dinar, eliciting an isolation that is demanded human rights groups andinexcusable to the IMF, World Bank or UN inspectors to come in and show theBIS. [sources for Libya rights prior to US falsity of our claims of corruption. Theyincursion30 31 32 33 34] were 100% willing to negotiate since they were flabbergasted at why we’d take such brutal steps. But at every step the international community refused and brought in more American financed and armed rebels to create a brutal civil war. Prior to this western “intelligence” backed uprising, Gaddafi was even poised to receive a human rights award from the UN42. Obama boasted that we had mercurysoapbox - 45
mercurysoapbox - 46 achieved so much in Libya so quickly US army, a “civil” war, as if the US had without using combat troops, only these considered natives even remotely part of NATO sponsored predator drones (unlike their nation, and then pitting the whole our clandestine CIA drones in the five of Europe against the US. Whatever other countries he has bombed) but he the regime of Assad has committed, did deploy 12 thousand ground troops to the move into war is identical to that of promote “stability” and where were they Libya, is foreign intelligence influenced49 stationed? Surprise, surprise: the coun- and is being recorded into the history try’s oil fields and ports43, from whence books as a civil war. China was, under Gaddafi, obtaining 10% of their oil supply. Fending off Chinese Iran is another situation where, influence and massive investment in the like in Libya, in Syria, as it used to be in region was a clear purpose of the west- Afghanistan and as it used to be in Iraq, ern destruction of Libya44 and we have the banks are not under the umbrella left behind exactly what we wanted, of the American led IMF or the Ameri- a destabilized region where hundreds can appointed World Bank50 allowing a of thousands flee in fear while the Al possibility of external market disruption Qaeda rebels have helped to institute outside the precepts of western bankers. Sharia law and completely deteriorate Obama’s false claims of a dangerous Iran the glory of the former Jamahiriya, the aiming to seek nuclear weapons is laugh- country’s future, in deep question45. able when he heads the only country to have used nuclear weapons, whether What we are seeing now in Syria the case of the atomic bombs or the past is quite similar with many of the rebels and current use of depleted uranium that helped topple Libyan government in so many bombs51, something that is now displaced to Syria, drawing fire from still affecting the people and farmland Assad’s regime. Western powers are wherever used. This is flat out nuclear denying that the anti-Syrian protesters warfare yet our media paints Iran as are connected to us but it has been cor- such a threat when there is no evidence roborated by whistleblowers within our of even possession of such weapons own government that we are funneling there, admitted by our own agencies52. weapons through Turkey and Jordan to Look up the Gulf War Syndrome53 which the anti-Syrian rebels46. Russia, who has affected our own troops and has never provided Syrian government with arms, been admitted by the department of is proposing a UN resolution to both defense. So Obama tells the people his sides to stop the violence, something assurance of Iranian attempts to build Assad is willing to do47. The chances of a nuclear arsenal is reason enough to this coming to pass are unlikely as the sanction oil exports from the country, Arab League, created by Egypt and Saudi cutting off their banks from connection Arabia (two intimate allies of America), to the outside world and build towards have barred Syria from membership an impending strike. Meanwhile, Iranian and are asking the US and NATO to take nuclear researchers are being assassinat- whatever steps it needs to combat the ed possibly by Israeli intelligence54 The violence, in which they have a heavy country that publicly pushes strongest hand already48. The attempted security for a preemptive strike is Israel, claim- council resolution, vetoed by Russia and ing fears of being the first nation to be China, and justification therein is exact attacked by a nuclear Iran. Mind you to that of Libya, as if a joint resolution Iran has a Jewish population55 and even against the Syrian government is for the has Jewish representation in the Iranian purposes of protecting its citizens from parliament. Many of these Persian Jews a grossly misnamed “civil” war, when dissociate themselves with the politi- the anti regime violence is accelerated cal Zionists and feel at odds with Israeli by foreign rebels. It’s as if calling the US mischaracterization of Iran as an anti- war of 1812, when great Britain armed Semitic state. Iran has Jews in their gov- and trained native tribes against the ernment56 and their opposition to Israel
is on a political basis, Israel being the expressed an apology to Iran but once alargest receiver of foreign military aid case was brought by Iran to the Interna-and waging astonishing crimes against tional Court of Justice, US agreed to payits Palestinian population, but certainly 131 million to Iran in 1996, after 7 yearsthese dissenters are not displaying vio- in court, on an “ex gratia” basis, meaninglent means. Jews in Iran enjoy far more as a favor of kindness, seeing as the USrights than Palestinians do in their own still admits no wrongdoing60. In ’95 Clin-homeland. And on the issue of nuclear ton imposed a total embargo that lastedstrength, Israel is the only middle- until ’98 when a new Iranian presidenteastern country that has nukes and even was elected. In 2002 Bush named Iran asboasts the sixth largest nuclear stockpile one of the two countries of the axis ofin the world but is untouched by UN and evil, along with North Korea(a countryIAEA inspectors57. Their steadfastness to who was sold nuclear equipment andattack Iran is publicly being tempered by material by Donald Rumsfeld in ’9861)US, allowing Obama to appear calmer and then in 2003, Iran offered a “grandon the Iranian issue, even though he is bargain” to open its nuclear program toreiterating identical arguments against scrutiny and reign in their connection toIran that Bush used on Iraq and impos- Hezbollah and Hamas as well as proveing serious sanctions. Compare it to the their lack of connection to Al Qaeda butembargos and sanctions on Iraq during the Bush administration refused, abidingthe Clinton years and the grim effects by a unilateral approach to negotiationsthe country’s people suffered58, I cover with the country.this in Preemption To Terror*. Once Obama took the election, he Looking into our history with Iran, claimed that he would open dialoguethey were the first country where CIA with Iran without “preconditions” andwas sent for operation Ajax59, in 1953, to the Iranian president went so far as tooverthrow Mossadeq who had sought congratulate Obama for his win, perhapsto nationalize the country’s vast oil fooled by the rhetoric as the rest of thereserves, an anomalous crime for the world seemed to be. But in the followingcorporatist west who never allows any years, both presidents have backed awayof its counties’ people to be enriched from negotiations, with Iranian officialsby their resources, and US installed publicly stating that an attack fromthe Shah and provided 1.3 billion over Israel or America will be militarily re-the next decade. In 1979 the shah was ciprocated62. We didn’t hear this sort ofoverthrown and American extradition reaction from Hussein, perhaps becauseof the shah led to the hostage crisis, the he was an American ally for so long. Inresolution of which decreed a promise the recent press conference, Obamaof arm supplication to Iran during the acted hopeful towards these sanctionsensuing Iran-Iraq war. In the following as “diplomatic steps” but again, can weyears, the US influence of Iraq to attack accept this at face value when Obama’sIran, the reactions to Hezbollah bomb- retention of Bush cronies, policies, andings in ’83, the Iran Contra affair in ’86 protraction of war plans (that if the Bushall intensified contention between the administration had pushed towards, thetwo countries. In Regan’s final year public would have tacitly accepted as im-as president, he conducted operation moral) have proven time and time againPraying Mantis, the largest American that he wouldn’t abandon the exactnaval combat operation since WW2 and values for which the world grew to hatepressured Iran into a ceasefire with Iraq, Bush? These are united evils under onethen a strong US ally. Later in the year, flag. It just all depends on which coloran American ship, the USS Vincennes, happens to be in focus.shot down Iranian Air Flight 655, a com-mercial airliner and killed all 290 people In this upcoming election, it ison board, 66 of them children. The hard to think that Obama could pos-US has never accepted blame or even sibly be ousted when the front running mercurysoapbox - 47
mercurysoapbox - 48 Republican candidates are demanding even stronger action and expansion of a military whose yearly budget has already In fact, immediately the announce- surpassed a trillion dollars63 (factor- ment of his death the Obama admin- ing in covert funding, foreign aid, NSA, istration has been caught in multiple homeland security, etc.). This video “Tax lies. He was killed amid firefights, they Dollars at War” explains how much far- said, yet he was reported afterwards ther it goes: http://www.youtube.com/ as unarmed and his daughter said he watch?v=kFeduoDWKj4 and Obama’s was taken into custody and executed crimes against the world as well as civil in front of his family66. He was using liberties at home go unmentioned by his wife as a human shield, but then it all institutions of US media, the public’s was said she was on a different floor only true buffer with government. His and got shot running at the seals. One media ordained conservative critics of the best points is that Leon Panetta, (meaning all but Ron Paul) make him the head of the CIA said himself that look like a moderate and will no doubt they lost feed from the helmet cams help rally him into office under the guise of the SEALs before they even entered of the “lesser of two evils” argument. the compound67, yet we all remember Only judging military and security spend- the photos of the situation room with ing by the department of defense costs Obama and Hillary looking stern and of 700 billion a year puts us ahead of shocked, respectively, while the rest of the next 17 countries combined64, all of his aides seemed quite unenthusiastic. whom are our allies (China being the Clearly there were only two credible questionable exception that keeps buy- actors in the room. Bin Laden had been ing up our treasury bonds). reported dead nine times by different public officials68. He was identified by One of the strongest selling points facial recognition and DNA and then his of reappointing Obama to power will body was disposed of instantly, at sea. If be his murder of Osama Bin Laden, on we had put Hussein on trial and paraded whom the FBI admits they cannot pin his dead sons’ pictures for the world to 9/11 with any credible evidence65. This see, why didn’t we do the same with is the man around whom the bulk of our Bin Laden, a far greater enemy in the foreign policy has been based yet his American public’s eye? How was his DNA death did not put an end to our military matched so quickly, when experts cite a intervention strategy. It was announced minimum of 3 days69, reportedly against on May 1st which is the anniversary of that of his sister’s brain tissue, when all many events. The official formation of he had were half-siblings70, making iden- Great Britain (1707), The birth of the tification a longer and far less certain Kingdom of Hawaii (1785), The establish- ment of North Korea (1948), the creation of the Hong Kong Police Force (1844) (Asia’s first and the world’s second), the creation of All-China Federation of Trade Unions (the largest Trade Union in the world) (1925), the launching of the ship RMS Lusitania whose sinking was the reason US joined WW1 (1915), the announcement of Hitler’s death (1945), the creation of the polio vaccine (1956), George W. Bush’s fallacious ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech (2003) and most cryptic of all: the creation of the Illumi- nati in 1776, only a month before the birth of our nation.
process? His hideout was a mere 100 over a million people. Obama hailedmeters from a highly secure Pakistani the withdrawal of combat troops frommilitary academy and Pakistani Abbot- Iraq by the end of 2011 as a success,tabad71. Not as inconspicuous as he was no doubt taking credit when he hadfor the past 10 years for some reason. pushed for a strong troop presence past the new year75. Although 15000 troops The biggest tragedy is the lack of coming out of Iraq have been deployedmedia mention that the only helicopter to Kuwait as a “response force”76. Theto actually land, of the three that were fact remains that the SOFA (Status ofseen near the compound, actually blew Forces Agreement) was set to expireup upon taking off, mere minutes after for this time was finalized at the end ofthe mission ended72. This helicopter 2008 by Bush administration and Iraqiwould have had Osama’s body on board. officials. Obama was only operatingThe only officially admitted deaths of by this predetermined timetable andNavy Seal 6 team members was months actually wanted to maintain militarylater in August when a NATO helicopter presence at the bases77 and keep im-carrying 31 special ops members, 22 of munity of crimes committed by Ameri-them from seal team 6, a 7 Afghan com- can military, both refused by Iraqi PMmandos was shot down in the biggest Maliki. Despite this Maliki says that heloss of the 10 year Afghanistan war73. will still need US assistance in: securityThe government refuses to release any issues, combating terrorism, training andevidentiary materials pertaining to the equipping their military, education andraid74. developing its wealth78. Additionally, the embassy set up there will be the biggest Even if these discrepancies con- US embassy in the world, comprised oftinue to be obfuscated, Obama will try 17000 US diplomats and private securityto claim that his withdrawal of troops contractors(which are triple the pricefrom Iraq and the call for a drawdown of military personnel to the taxpayers)in Afghanistan are the hallmarks of his in Baghdad alone. Basra, Mosul andforeign policy. Yet in his speeches, he Kirkuk will have consulates with aboutonly lauds the bravery and commitment 1000 staffed each. These will be underof our volunteer army. I had to save the the state department, which providesworst for last because our actions in little to no oversight of their contrac-this particular country are by no small tors’ crimes. These contractors will alsomargin the most reprehensible of our enjoy legal immunity79. Violence sharplyrecent history. Western (British-US) increased with the departure of troops,history in Iraq is far reaching and I write with 451 civilians killed in January, 278about it to some palpable length in my in February and 74 in the first weekarticle “Preemption to Terror” where alone80.I cover Western role in Iraq from thefirst world war, the brutality of the first I am not implying that the USGulf War, the terror experienced by Iraq military’s presence is helpful since thethrough the UN sanctions and consistent civilian deaths prior to the 2003 inva-aerial bombardment during the Clinton sion were due to only to US/UK aerialyears, the political climate of the middle bombings and effects from the sanctionseast up to 9/11 and the occupation of and had greater numbers. In addition,Afghanistan and then Iraq. suicide bombing are inextricably linked to foreign occupation81 and it is hard to But hearing Obama’s warnings of consider Al Qaeda Islamic when theira nuclear Iran and the effectiveness of victims are eight times more likely to beeconomic sanctions, one only needs to Muslims than not82.recall father and son Bush’s and Clinton’sclaims of WMDs and the sanctions and The intent of American military isbombings they conducted outside of hardly to protect the people of the oc-warfare that led to the deaths of well cupied land. The actual count of Iraqi or mercurysoapbox - 49
mercurysoapbox - 50 Afghani casualties is rarely considered by defense portion that takes up 58% of our mainstream media83. The Iraqi casualty budget only receives a third of the total counts range widely from: cuts87. Sadly, these cuts are only in the the UN- 34,452 by 2006; projected growth of defense spending the Iraq Health Ministry- 87,215 by 2/09; based on the last few years88. The actual Iraq War Logs- 109,032 by 2010; appropriation nominal value will still the Associated Press- 110,600 by 4/09; grow. By judging that the economy still Iraq Body Count- 113,728 by 11/11; has many hurdles to clear, our entitle- Ali Al Shemari- 100,000-150,000 by ment benefits and domestic spending 2006; will only increase while an end to the Iraq Family Health Survey- 151,000 by Iraq war and a drawdown in Afghanistan 6/06; should spell an ostensible reduction in Lancet Studies- 654,965 by 6/06; defense budgets, shouldn’t these cuts and the Opinion Research Business- be somewhat reflective of the expected 1,033,000 by 8/0784. A MIT study did changes in the military and domestic an informative report on the matter of fronts? Unfortunately not. Our president Iraq casualties85 but I’m afraid even time must have other plans in mind. Although will not spell the true numbers. The fact the budget control act of last year called remains that our government refuses to for a sequestration, a cap on spending, do any research on the matter and may on all areas, neither the GOP budget only glamorize the effects of this war. I plan by Paul Ryan, House Speaker John go into greater length in my supplemen- Boehner’s (don’t you just pronounce tal article. ‘boner’ every time you read it?) budget, nor Obama’s budget plans include any The Iraq war has been the most kind of defense sequestration, although privatized war and together with Afghan- they put caps on all other spending89. istan and other conflicts is projected to end up costing us a MINIMUM of 3.7 The Robert Greenwald film Iraq For trillion dollars86, while Obama said only Sale: The War Profiteers (http://www. 1 trillion was spent (which is roughly youtube.com/watch?v=0Zt9BZD7mlc) what it cost to finance the first two gives a good idea exactly how our hundred years of our nation’s history). treasury is exhausted under the guise of The drawdown in Iraq in terms of troops private war and this admission made by and spending directly assisted the surge Donald Rumsfeld (http://www.youtube. in troops and spending in Afghanistan, com/watch?v=OTwCRuwJc34) comes as echoing the sentiment that liberals no small coincidence. took on with the election of Obama, being that Iraq was the wrong war and Obama’s protraction of Bush-era Afghanistan was the right one. This still crimes against this great state is more extended the Bush notion that Bin Laden than just cause for an immediate recall and Al Qaeda were solely responsible or impeachment and an investigation for 9/11. While no credible investigative into the events that have preceded these body has proven as such, let alone even and future wars. His republican contend- properly investigated the 9/11 attacks ers excuse his crimes by stating that he at all, we are still run by the whims of has not gone far enough. Even Ron Paul, executive rhetoric which callously under- reports its damaging past and projected effects globally. Obama proposes that his admin- istration has made cuts of $400 billion dollars to defense for the next 10 years. But when considering the $770 billion in cuts over the same period in discretion- ary spending, it’s hardly fair that the
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