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STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE: Confronting the threat of US interests in the Philippines

Thursday, December 1, 2011

STRATEGIC OFFENSIVE: Confronting the threat of US interests in the Philippines

(This article was first published in print in issue 18 of the Philippine Collegian on 29 November 2011.)
by John Toledo


It was business as usual for United States (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In the morning, she signed the “Partnership for Growth” (PFG) Framework on the US Navy destroyer USS Fitzgerald before meeting with Philippine (PH) President Noynoy Aquino in Malacañang.

That afternoon, as she travelled to the National Museum, some fifty protesters hurled red paint and eggs on her convoy’s windows. Later, in an interview on national television, a protester in the audience shouted, “There is nothing mutual in the Mutual Defense Treaty [MDT]!”

Clinton was impervious to the protests. “I obviously disagree… I think there’s a real benefit to mutual solidarity… but it goes with that rhinoceros skin, you have to get used to it.”

The PH-US relationship has been characterized by imbalance, not the least in the staggering indifference of the US to the impact of its aggressive pursuit of its interests on the Filipino people. In events of diplomacy such as Clinton’s visit, US reaffirmed its vow to maintain dominance amidst growing political instability and financial turmoil.

Control

The five-year PFG framework Clinton signed last November 16, the latest in a century-long string of skewed agreements between the two countries, is intended to increase “trade [relations] and exports with other nations” to ensure a more “competitive” open market in the Philippines. With the PFG, America reassures the Pacific that they “are here to stay” as economic superpower of the Pacific.

The PFG could not have come at a more strategic time for the US. The numerous unproductive wars of aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan had wasted almost $3 trillion with no returns, according to American economist Joseph Stiglitz. This state of financial turmoil has pushed US to bargain with other nations, where support for the ailing free market is secured with military and political aid..... MORE

SourcePhilippine Collegian

URL: http://www.philippinecollegian.org/strategic-offensive-confronting-the-threat-of-us-interests-in-the-philippines/

Robin Hood op: Anonymous, Poison target the 1%

Robin Hood op: Anonymous, Poison target the 1%

 Two hacker groups, the hactivists Anonymous and Team Poison, which made headlines by cracking a UN server, have joined forces to steal from the banks and give to the charities.

­“Operation Robin Hood is going to return the money to those who have been cheated by our system and most importantly to those hurt by our banks. Operation Robin Hood will take credit cards and donate to the 99 per cent, as well as various charities around the globe,” the duo said in a YouTube video statement.

The idea apparently relies on stealing personal data of credit card holders and using, just like your regular cyber criminals do, and distribute it to the poor instead of pocketing it. The collaboration, which calls itself Poisanon, believes that the banks will be forced to reimburse the damages caused by the hack and thus will be the ones to pay..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://rt.com/news/robin-hood-hackers-anonymous-743/

Crossing police lines: US cops defect to OWS (w/ Video)



Almost 5,000 people have been arrested during Occupy protests across the US since the movement started on September 17 in New York. And as it is showing no signs of slowing, even some police seem to be defecting to the other side.

­Retired Philadelphia police Captain Ray Lewis became the game changer on November 17.  Arrested while demonstrating with Occupy protesters on the streets of New York City, the 24-year veteran of the force was held in police custody for 11 hours and received one comment from a New York cop.

“Nobody talked to me. This one individual later on told me that I had the testicles of an elephant,” says Ray Lewis.

Occupy Wall Street has become an undeniable American household name..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/police-join-protesters-ows-621/

Iranian quest for casus belli (w/ Video)




Iranian quest for casus belli

 A string of attacks on Iran, from assassinations of key nuclear and military personnel to attempts to alienate it internationally, ring the bell. Is the West hunting for a pretext for a new war in the Middle East?

We believe that the integrity of embassies should always be honored; there is no justifying any country attacking any other country’s embassy. Even if war breaks out, embassies are the last thread that should be severed.

That being said, and whilst it is unclear who agitated and mobilized Iranian protesters to attack the British Embassy in Tehran, the local police certainly came out in full force trying to restore order in what has become an all-too-common scene throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

First question: who benefits from this attack which the Western media are highlighting in red alert colors and harsh tones? British Foreign Secretary William Hague immediately ordered the closure of the Iranian Embassy in London, whilst US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton condemned this as an “affront on the British, but also on the International Community,” on whose behalf (i.e., the “international community’s”) the US and UK somehow feel they are empowered to speak..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/news/us-war-iran-embassy-753/

Among graves, Dutch teens build bridges FEATURE 12/01/2011

Among graves, Dutch teens build bridges

FEATURE

12/01/2011
AMSTERDAM — On a chilly Sunday morning, a group of Dutch teenagers gather in an overgrown patch of land in east Amsterdam to work on a unique project: cleaning up a 300-year-old graveyard.

But the volunteers involved in restoring the Zeeburg Jewish cemetery are more than just beautifying: drawn from the city’s Jewish and Moroccan Muslim residents, they are building bridges between two divided communities.

“Come on guys, lets get going!” volunteer Alfie de Vries, 13, urges his friends Jonas Poolman and Max Zegerius as they grab garden rakes and a spade to join some 30 other teenagers hacking away in a nearby clearing.

With help from Ahmed Bularoez, 21, they pull down branches and clean up strands of dead grass to reveal a grey stone slab with an inscription in Hebrew and the Star of David on it..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111201com7.html

Conscience VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 12/01/2011

Conscience

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
12/01/2011
Conscience is the judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the ethical dimension or moral quality of a concrete act — already done, being done or about to be done. It is highly important for every person to head and follow the voice or bidding of his conscience — not only for himself but also for all those affected by his acts. Reason: It is conscience that clearly and silently whispers to every human agent with the proper use of reason and free will, what is the right and just thing to do as well as the evil and vicious thing to avoid. This is why listening to one’s conscience is a must when one is awake and in command of his superior faculties.

But what if one has a so called “Doubtful Conscience?” When one is precisely in doubt about what is the right to do or the wrong thing to avoid?

This is exactly the case when someone should ask for advice — neither from those who are his beneficiaries nor from who suffer losses on his account. In the concrete, for someone who has but an honest goodness common sense, it will not be hard for him to seek counsel from sincere and upright resource persons he personally knows and really respects..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111201com6.html

‘Surprised’ AFP brass to allow officials to testify on poll fraud By Mario J. Mallari 12/01/2011

‘Surprised’ AFP brass to allow officials to testify on poll fraud

By Mario J. Mallari 12/01/2011

Following the bombshell testimony dropped by Col. Pedro Sumayo of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (Isafp) during a Senate hearing on poll fraud, which caught top military officers by surprise last Tuesday, the AFP yesterday vowed not to bar any of its personnel from appearing before any investigating body, particularly the upper chamber, to shed light on the alleged manipulation of the 2004 and 2007 national elections.

At a press briefing, AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the military organization is taking the Senate inquiry as part of the quest for truth on what really transpired during the 2004 and 2007 elections.

“We are one with the people in quest for truth and justice. In terms of information, documents and resource persons that higher authorities or court of laws may require from us, we will not bar them from appearing,” he stressed.

Burgos added AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said whoever has knowledge of the matter being investigated by the Senate may appear..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111201hed3.html

Akbayan not a ‘party of interest’ in recusion issue By Angie M. Rosales 12/01/2011

YELLOW MOB BARKING UP WRONG TREE IN SEEKING CORONA’S INHIBITION

Akbayan not a ‘party of interest’ in recusion issue

By Angie M. Rosales 12/01/2011

The Yellow mob of President Aquino that arrogantly disrupted the Supreme Court’s proceedings Tuesday with its staged display of filing a case against SC Chief Justice Renato Corona in seeking his inhibition from all cases involving former President Arroyo and even protested loudly against the SC CJ right in front of the SC compound, in violation of the law, and without any presence of the riot police squad around to break up the protest, was barking up the wrong branch and showed the Yellows up as ignoramuses when it comes to the law, which does not excuse them.

As Palace supporters remained steadfast in their resolve to press the inhibition of Chief Justice Renato Corona from these cases, and again threatening impeachment if he does not recuse himself, there are also those who assailed the actions taken by Akbayan, a known pro-Aquino group with its leaders said to be very influential with President Aquino, having landed Cabinet posts in his administration.

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero yesterday said the group Akbayan is in no position to join the fray since it’s not a “party of interest” in the cases of Arroyo pending before the high tribunal..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111201hed1.html

Convicted Pinoy drug mule to be executed on Dec. 8 By Michaela P. del Callar and Virgilio Bugaoisan 12/01/2011

Convicted Pinoy drug mule to be executed on Dec. 8

By Michaela P. del Callar and Virgilio Bugaoisan 12/01/2011

Despite repeated appeals from the Philippine government, a Filipino convicted of smuggling huge amounts of illegal drugs in China will be executed on Dec. 8, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

The Filipino, whose identity was withheld by the department, is 35 years old and will die by lethal injection after China’s Supreme People’s Court in Beijing affirmed the death sentence last Monday.

Malacañang has given up hope on the case of the Filipino drug mule in China and declared that it has already exhausted all means necessary to at least mitigate the term of his sentence.

The Palace also said it respects Chinese Law..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111201hed4.html

PNP confirms report of having in custody Zambo blast suspect 12/01/2011

PNP confirms report of having in custody Zambo blast suspect

12/01/2011
Spokesman Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos Jr. said the military organization is taking the Senate inquiry as part of the quest for truth on what really transpired during the 2004 and 2007 elections.

“We are one with the people in quest for truth and justice. In terms of information, documents and resource persons that higher authorities or court of laws may require from us, we will not bar them from appearing,” he stressed.

Burgos added AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said whoever has knowledge of the matter being investigated by the Senate may appear.

He, however, stressed the AFP is not keen on conducting its own investigation of the issue surrounding Sumayo and Lt. Col. Emil Zosa, both former officers of the Isafp. Sumayo used to head the Military Intelligence Group-21(MIG-21) which was tagged in the infamous “Hello Garci” recordings..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111201nat2.html

Tribunal asked to resolve row over property of UP Technohub 12/01/2011

Tribunal asked to resolve row over property of UP Technohub

12/01/2011
Government lawyers have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to take up the case of the University of the Philippines-North Science and Technology Park (S&T Park), known as the UP-AyalaLand Technohub, along Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City.

The case, now pending before the tribunal’s Second Division, involves the issuance in favor of a private individual of a land title over the property on which the S&T Park now stands.

The land was registered under the name of UP and UP’s title to the property has in fact been upheld several times by the high court itself in the past.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in its motion said the case is of such paramount importance to the country that it merits the attention of all 15 sitting justices of the SC, considering that the case involves a large tract of government land reserved for none other than the university and represents substantial business investments from various private partners, including the AyalaLand Inc..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111201met3.html

Tutuban Commercial Center pays tribute to Bonifacio M E T R O F I L E 12/01/2011

Tutuban Commercial Center pays tribute to Bonifacio

M E T R O F I L E

12/01/2011
A picturesque representation on the life and times of Gat Andres Bonifacio and other noted Filipino heroes is shown in a photo exhibit entitled Bonifacio: Portrait of a Hero at the Mezzanine area of CenterMall 2 Activity Plaza. Tutuban Commercial Center. The photo exhibit features the revered hero’s history from his younger days up to the time of the revolution..... MORE
SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111201met9.html/

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