The Christian Right's Misread of European Homeschooling and the UN

http://www.hslda.org/hs/international/france/201607150.asp?utm_source=WU%20email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WU

While I obviously sympathise with homeschoolers in France what this article typically omits is the motivation for these legislative changes. The American Right would point to European 'liberals' and their desire to force a secular conformity.

North Carolina, the NBA and the Christian Response

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt-north-carolina-feature-idUSKCN10B0F7

If Evangelicals want to be consistent, the time has come to turn off and abandon the National Basketball Association. The NBA caved to public pressure and moved the All-Star game from Charlotte because of the North Carolina law against trans-gender inclusivism. If the NBA has embraced sin, then it must be rejected and not supported through television commercial revenue based on ratings and/or ticket and merchandise sales.

The American Media, its Geopolitics, and Erdogan

It is truly amazing to watch the coverage of the fallout from the Turkish coup. It's fairly obvious the US Establishment supported the coup effort as Erdogan is made the arch-villain. There's real anger directed against him. All the focus is on him and his crackdown. What do you expect him to do? Of course he's purging the system. He's trying to avoid a repeat which he knows is coming.

Trump's Dangerous Antics

Trump isn't just anti-Establishment or reformist, he's anti-social, his antics and behaviour run the risk of unraveling society.

Statistics Regarding Police Deaths

Consider what you hear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers_killed_in_the_line_of_duty

Those who are hysterical about the number of police deaths are not telling the whole truth. The current reports about a huge spike are misleading.

The Brexit and the Balkans

This is an important but missed story related to the Brexit and the status of the EU. As Brussels is in a state of semi-turmoil, negotiations surrounding EU membership for Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia will certainly be delayed if not thrown into question. This is despite public assurances to the contrary.

Faux News Shakeup

Is it a great shock that Roger Ailes has been exposed as a deviant and a lecher? From its inception FOX news has been about appealing to the anger and lust of white American men. The channel has always utilised bimbo-types to appeal to the audience. This is the legacy of Ailes, an old master manipulator-strategist who helped Nixon to get elected. Audiences are ignorant dupes to be manipulated and Ailes was good at it.

Day 3 Drama at the RNC

Though Ted Cruz's speech at the RNC was full of lies, myths and distortions I have to say it took some chutzpah to show up, work the audience into a state of Right-wing ecstasy and then refuse to endorse Trump.

On the Death of Sydney Schanberg

Known for his reporting on the Bangladesh Genocide and War of Independence, but most famous for his reporting on Cambodia's Killing Fields, Schanberg was haunted by firsthand experience of the evils of human nature and the fallout of imperialist policy and wars.

A False Coup Pinned on the Deep State?

In the Byzantine world of Turkish politics this interpretation was inevitable... the suggestion that the coup itself was fake. It was an attempt by Erdogan to consolidate power.

The Dystopian Moment

Newt Gingrich wants to curtail free speech and expand government surveillance. The implications of his statements are staggering. He's advocating religious tests. The government will judge the nuances of your belief system. If the Christian Right and their Right-wing allies every gained absolute power, how long before 'heretics' like me would face their wrath and reading websites like this one would be illegal?

Media Coverage of the Turkish Coup

Tonight while watching the coverage on France24, SkyNews, BBC and elsewhere the anchors continuously speak with Establishment connected analysts, ex-bureaucrat-apparatchiks, and Wall Street and Washington connected think-tank operatives. It's been very frustrating.

Is Erdogan in Control?

Sadly (for me) I wrote this on 7 July 2016 but had not published it...

With regard to Erdogan and the confusion over Turkish policy and tactics I think the question must be asked.... Does Turkish President Erdogan control his military?

Texaco, Fascism and the US Establishment

Adam Hochschild has written a new book about the Spanish Civil War and the role played by Americans in the conflict on both the Left and Right. In particular he provides some very interesting and (for some) enlightening information about Texaco under Chairman Torkild Rieber who sold oil to and supported both Franco and Hitler throughout the 1930's.

Brexit: The End of Atlanticism?

This is precisely what the US did not want to see. While Germany has all but subjugated itself to US domination, and in recent years this has been amplified by the so-called War on Terror and the move toward a police state, Berlin (as well as Paris) long for some independence and ability to call their own shots.

Teary Blair

Tony Blair won't be going to The Hague to face charges at the ICC. He needn't fear that but I thought it interesting that he teared up while interacting with the press.

Is he genuinely remorseful about the Iraq War and the fact that the Chilcot Report has found him at fault in leading the country into a war on false pretenses?

The Truth About the War

As the years pass I am increasingly burdened by the quantity and volume of lies that are perpetrated in the world. Truly it is a world of deception and manipulation. I think the reality and burden of this is something that comes with age as the whole of your knowledge and experience begin to weigh on you.

Or perhaps it is indeed getting worse out there. I'm not sure.

Corbyn Won't Go... No General Election for Now

The Conservative Party (and perhaps the larger Establishment) is trying to avoid a general election. By Cameron stepping down they've created a situation in which a no-confidence vote seems out-of-sync with transpiring events. The No-Confidence vote would force a snap election.

This would allow Corbyn or whoever leads Labour to have a shot at the majority and the position of prime minister. The Right-wing within Labour tried to oust Corbyn but he's being intransigent and refuses to back down.

Good News out of Norway

Once again I must say that I'm not a fan of HSLDA, or a member, but I do receive their emailed newsletters. We homeschool our children and HSLDA is a sometimes helpful, though not always candid, source of information.

There's Something Rotten in Istanbul... and Pennsylvania

Why isn't ISIS claiming responsibility for the Istanbul airport attack?

Perhaps because they're not responsible.

I realise that's not an acceptable position to voice but considering the circumstances one must question the official narrative.

ISIS has not claimed responsibility. Why not? Usually they're quite eager to lay claim to attacks, even if (like in Orlando) they had nothing (operationally) to do with it.

The Death of a Giant, the Passing of a Generation

I often have disagreed with Elie Wiesel but I cannot help but respect him. I cannot fully fathom what he endured and long ago I was moved by his story and his writings. His death is but another reminder of that passing generation that grew up in what must seem to them a different world.

The Trump Express

There have been rumblings for some time but they're starting to grow a little louder.

Is Donald Trump for real?

Personally I don't care but I find it interesting because so many Christians have bought into his vision and have embraced him. Much could be said about that but what if in the end, he's just a fraud?

Well, we know he's a fraud and always has been. But what if his whole candidacy is a fraud?

Tragic Deaths in the Levant: Some Matter and Some Don't

The recent death of an Israeli teenage girl in a West Bank settlement is tragic. It was a dastardly and reprehensible act.

What is more tragic is the way in which Western and particularly Christian media cover the event.

Boris Johnson's Brexit

Charles de Gaulle blocked British entry into the EEC because he was convinced London was a proxy for the Americans. De Gaulle was weary of American domination. Yes, they were glad the United States arrived in 1944 but instead of a liberation they found American dominance was starting to feel like occupation. The US would continue to work against de Gaulle and he certainly reciprocated in agitating US interests.

On what I believe to be a related issue...

Legalising Corruption

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/28/us/politics/supreme-court-bob-mcdonnell-virginia.html?_r=0

Yes, this is what is needed, laxity with regard to political corruption. The court that ratified Citizens United (which is actually related to this issue) now conspires to lower the bar for corrupt politicians. These are the people that should be held to a higher standard and should face much harsher penalties. Instead, all too often they are given a free pass.

The Bishop of Rome and Byzantine Politics

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/06/24/pope-faces-thick-past-trick-present-armenia-trip/

The media is focusing on the Turkish-Armenian relationship and the politics of the 1915 genocide.

Abortion and the Wild West Approach to Law

Texas lost its Supreme Court battle over abortion. While abortion is an abomination I can't say that I feel very sorry for the so-called Pro-Life movement and its attempts to destroy it.

They argue that this was about women's health. No, it wasn't and they've been called out. This was politics pure and simple. It was an attempt to undermine and subvert the law... not a very conservative position or tactic.

28 June 1914

An important date in history. It was the catalyst for all that came after.

http://proto-protestantism.blogspot.com/2010/06/28-june-1914.html

Warren and Sanders are Complete Frauds

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/06/27/hillary_clinton_and_elizabeth_warren_are_acting_like_running_mates.html

Hillary Clinton would be very foolish to pick Elizabeth Warren as a running mate.

That aside, what's striking here is that Elizabeth Warren has exposed herself as a sell-out.

Call the Bureaucrat-Sorcerers

If the GOP had any imagination at all they would hire some Presbyterians to fix the convention. There's got to be a way to subvert the convention and through some kind of parliamentary procedure force Trump out and take the nomination away from him.

Corbyn Must Go!

(updated 1230 EST)

Suddenly with the possibility of a general election this Fall the British Establishment is determined to see Corbyn gone. If it was just the Conservative Party picking a new leader (Boris Johnson) that would be one thing, but increasingly it's looking like a general election. That means there's a possibility Labour could come into power. This is further exacerbated by the sharp divisions within the Conservative Party. The country may look to new leadership.

Cameron's Miscalculation

There's a lesson here for everyone because few saw the Brexit coming. The vote was going to be close, but most people thought it would be a repeat of the Scottish Independence Referendum... a close, but not quite.

The Anti-Establishment is on the rise. In the United States we have the Tea Party and Trump. Britain has UKIP. The Five-Star movement in Italy has just scored major victories. And, Right-wing parties while not quite seizing power (in most cases) are starting to really shake things up.

Conspiracies in the Hyper-Partisan Context

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/06/15/3788809/donald-trump-claims-obama-secretly-supports-isis-cites-debunked-conspiracy-theory-proof/

This article is correct in the way in which it navigates this question. Even if the US has at some point supported ISIS directly or indirectly via means of proxies it does not follow that Obama supports and/or facilitated what happened in Orlando. It's interesting because the conspiratorial element is not wholly disavowed but tweaked. I appreciate the nuance.

Manchurian Candidates, Keystone Cops or Something Else?

G4S is one of many companies that is heavily linked with the US-intelligence apparatus and the Corporatocracy. Conspiracists will wonder if Orlando shooter Mateen isn't some kind of Manchurian Candidate. Of course it is rather suspicious when one considers his background and the fact that he was well known to authorities. This pattern is repeating as we have seen more or less the same thing with regard to the recent terror attacks in Europe.

An Ominous Anniversary: 22 June 1941

Remembering Barbarossa

Seventy-five years ago Germany unleashed a massive assault on the Soviet Union opening up the Eastern Front, the largest battleground in human history. Tens of millions would die over the next four years and the Eastern Front would take on a particularly sinister and horrific character with genocide, death camps, and ethnic cleansing. It was a brutal chapter in human history, the real heart of the war and for the people that lived through it... it can never be forgotten.

Relationships as a Euphemism for Recruitment and Corruption

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Visitor_Leadership_Program#Agencies_involved

There are only hints of CIA recruitment associated with this particular programme and yet it is exactly the kind of venue utilised by the US Establishment to 'establish relationships' with future world leaders.

Feeding on the Corpse of Brazil

At this point it's difficult to point to hard evidence but there are rumours, suggestions and hints that the toppling of Rousseff in Brazil has at the very least been instigated by forces associated with the United States. The case is growing almost by the day.

Misconceptions About Teen Unemployment and the Minimum Wage

You might see these little banners and graphs depicting the plunging rate of teen employment and this is usually followed by some declarative statement about the minimum wage kills jobs etc...

The Saudi Gambit

http://oilpro.com/post/24372/battle-saudi-iran-oil-proxy-war-heats-up-bin-salman-consolidation

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2016/5/11/saudi-oil-keeps-flowing-while-debt-reaches-record-levels

Earlier this year PBS' Frontline put out a documentary on Saudi Arabia. Frontline is a good show when it comes to covering domestic controversies. I have found it to be seriously lacking and rather slanted when it comes to covering anything international. I usually feel like I'm watching a propaganda video issued by the State Department.

The Feminist Double-Standard on Display in Ottawa

Recently there was a big stink in the news about Canadian PM Trudeau 'elbowing' a fellow MP who was part of a group trying to physically block a vote.

A Lost Soul, an Icon... with some integrity

Muhammad Ali was an intriguing figure regardless of whether you like boxing or not. I grew up in the household of a boxing fanatic. Even though my father was about as Right-wing as they come, Ali intrigued him. His conversion to Islam and his anti-war stance were not appreciated but when the guy appeared on the scene he could fight like no one else.

He was by all accounts amazing even if obnoxious and outrageous in his presentation. He came across as unbelievably arrogant and yet he could back up his words.

And yet he gave it all up because he refused to go to Vietnam.

Missile Defense in Romania

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-nato-shield-idUSKCN0Y30JX

The US media is persistently deceptive in reporting on Missile Defense Systems. Of course the US media in general doesn't really want to talk about this issue.

Two Kingdom Theology in its Compromised Form

http://heidelblog.net/2016/05/memorial-day-a-time-to-distinguish-between-patriotism-and-pulpit/

This article is an affront to morality and Biblical sensibilities. All too often what passes as Reformed Two Kingdom Theology manifests itself in this type of mostly Sacralist, certainly Kuyperian and loosely Constantinian format. While not wishing to formalise a so-called Christian state it nevertheless champions the legacy of so-called Western Christendom. While its advocates may be anti-Theonomic and so-called Amillennialists, their embrace of Dominionist categories both in the end and on a practical level brings them to more or less the same place. In terms of ethics they might as well be Post-millenarians of the old stripe.

The Fallujah Deception

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/toxic-legacy-of-us-assault-on-fallujah-worse-than-hiroshima-2034065.html

http://morallowground.com/2012/04/04/on-this-day-2004-us-forces-launch-operation-vigilant-resolve-first-battle-of-fallujah/

I was watching a clip tonight on a mainstream media website that attempted to provide an explanation as to 'Why Fallujah Matters'.

Vietnam and the Pivot

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36360005

Vietnam wants to purchase and utilise US weapons but the United States wants Vietnam to have them even more.

Walls, Pulpits and Impoverished Hermeneutics

Nehemiah built walls to keep his enemies out. So don't be too quick in condemning Donald Trump for wanting to build one.

I heard this in a sermon on a recent Sunday. This is the state of the Evangelical pulpit. Actually the congregation I was attending would probably qualify as more of the Fundamentalist variety. Evangelicals would probably be more likely to talk about the vocation of Border Guard and how special they are in God's eyes for doing that holy task.

Weapons Caches and Dark Plots

It has long been suggested the US and its allies have established weapons caches in various locales, especially in Europe that were accessible by those in the know and in an hour of need. Supposedly set up for 'Stay-behind' units, covert cells established to generate resistance in light of a Soviet invasion, these weapons caches were used by various underground groups during the 1970s and 1980s to conduct terror operations across Europe.

Gaddafi's Libya and the United States

A lesson in alliance and machination

During the opening salvos of the Cold War, the United States found a staunch ally in Libya's King Idris who reigned from 1951-69. Italian imperialism seemed to be replaced by the United States which promptly utilised the nation's resources and appropriated a large airbase. Libya was viewed as strategically important, a bridge between the Mediterranean, Africa and the Middle East.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheelus_Air_Base#United_States_withdrawal

Another Far Right Almost-Victory... This time in Austria

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36362505

Even though the Right-wing candidate Norbert Hofer of the FPÖ finally conceded, once again the fact that these parties are coming so close to power and are gaining in popularity indicates there's a growing wave of sentiment with their positions and ideology.

New York Police: Intoxicated by Power

http://gothamist.com/2016/03/01/nypd_home_invasion.php

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has long shown their disdain for the Constitution and the rule of law. Though they fell under some criticism for 'Stop and Frisk' they continue to abuse their authority and believe they are the totalitarian masters of the Five Boroughs.

Keating, Keating and Butler

Perhaps I wasn't alone when I heard on the radio that Charles Keating was killed in Iraq. It stopped me dead in my tracks.

What?

I did a double-take because the name was all too familiar. Charles Keating was one of the major figures in the Savings and Loan Crisis of the 1980s and early 1990s.

Socialism and Identity Politics

If Bernie Sanders wanted to demonstrate his true Socialist bona fides, he would attack Obama's recent Transgender Bathroom mandate.

Lethal Injection and the Pharmaceutical Industry

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36292193

There's something rather offensive about a company like Pfizer or any pharmaceutical company trying to take the moral high ground.

Netanyahu's Game

http://atimes.com/2016/05/russia-seeks-bigger-middle-east-role-through-alliance-with-israel/

What's Benjamin Netanyahu up to? He met with Putin last year over Syria and now over energy? Is this about the post-Assad era? Is Israel securing the lines on the map, buffer zones and energy deals?

Oil and Geopolitical Tension

Margolis once again provides some interesting information and succinctly reveals some of the tensions at work in the Saudi-American relationship. Riyadh is plagued by angst and fears about their standing in both the Islamic sphere and larger economic world.

Deep State Disturbance: The Resignation of Davutoglu

http://www.turkishamericannews.com/turkey/item/460-davutoglu-2013-talks-with-gulen-known-by-gul-erdogan

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/so-who-authorized-davutoglus-gulen-visit.aspx?pageID=238&nid=82373

This is probably premature as undoubtedly more will come out in subsequent days and yet there may be one angle to this story that is not being considered in most media reports.

Icons of Political Christianity: Sometimes Inspiring But Always in Error

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-36180902

Roman Catholic priest Daniel Berrigan was despised by the Christian Right for using verses like the one in Isaiah 2 referring to the beating of swords into plowshares.

Blocking Putin in Cuba

In no way do I wish to celebrate the Obama administration and its achievements but I find it striking that in their zeal to tarnish his name and diplomatic agenda the Right-wing has overlooked something they should view as something of a triumph for US diplomacy.

Ann Coulter, Christian Sage

Ann Coulter's star seems to be fading but for several years she was not only one of the most extreme Right-wing commentators but considered one of the most overtly Christian.

Polish Sacralism

http://www.politico.eu/article/polands-church-state-alliance-to-ban-abortion/

This is the kind of relationship American Evangelicals long to implement. The Protestant Sacral model is one in which the Church advises the state, it acts as arbiter for official policy.