Category: Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests

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Pentagon Pathology: Follow the Money

03 Economy, 07 Other Atrocities, 09 Justice, 10 Security, 11 Society, Budgets & Funding, Commerce, Corporations, Corruption, Cultural Intelligence, Government, Intelligence (government), Law Enforcement, Military, Misinformation & Propaganda, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Officers Call, Policy, Politics of Science & Science of Politics, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests, Secrecy & Politics of Secrecy, Technologies, Waste (materials, food, etc)
Andrew Cockburn's essay in The Pentagon Labyrinth is titled “Follow the Money.”  There are a lot of people who will say that is an undignified way to assess America's national security apparatus; they might even say that Cockburn's focus is cynical.  I would personally venture to guess that a disproportionate number of those saying so are doing rather well – thank you very much – in that same national security apparatus.  Or, they plan to do so in the foreseeable future.

Cockburn summarizes his argument in a interview in the ongoing series conducted by Federal News Radio.  Chris Dorobek of the DorobekInsider Show interviews Andrew Cockburn.

Following the money and understanding why that is important is key to comprehending why the Pentagon, Congress, the manufacturers, and the think-tanks behave the way they do.  After all, as Cockburn says in the DorobekInsider interview, why do you think the manufacturers put all those ads in the Washington Metro system.  They're not there for the area's teachers or the local sports teams' fans.

But there is much more to following the money than just that.  Cockburn explains fully in his essay in The Pentagon Labyrinth: 10 Short Essays to Help You Through It. He addresses perhaps the most powerful and recurrent theme underlying contemporary defense community behavior.  Read Cockburn's essay.  Download the book free.

Have a comment?  Pro or con?  We welcome a public debate.
_____________________________
Winslow T. Wheeler
Director
Straus Military Reform Project
Center for Defense Information

Phi Beta Iota: INTEGRITY.   One word.  The one word not spoken at the Pentagon by anyone above the rank of Major.  You don't make Colonel, and you do not advance as a General, without drinking the kool-aid and “going along” with systemic corruption.  Our shame–our continuing shame–is a burden on the Republic.

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George Soros Buying Across Africa

03 Economy, 07 Other Atrocities, 11 Society, Commerce, Commercial Intelligence, Government, Key Players, Law Enforcement, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests, Strategy
DefDog Recommends...

Heads up on the article about George Soros remaking the world's economic system.  Here is an overview from Intelligence Online…as well as the document found under Guinea…..

A look behind presidential doors

GUINEA: Rio Tinto’s friends talk Conde around
GUINEA: How Soros is backing new leader
IVORY COAST: Sponsors give generously
NIGERIA: Soros to the Rescue?
CONGO-K: Soros Targets Katanga Operators
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE:  Conflict of Interest for Soros?
AFRICA/UNITED STATES:  Soros Ups Investment
SOUTH AFRICA: Soros initiative in South Africa

More information on each below the line….

Continue reading “George Soros Buying Across Africa”

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George Soros Remaking the OLD Global Economy NEW: Clyde Prestowitz in Favor with Reasons

07 Other Atrocities, Commerce, Commercial Intelligence, Corporations, Corruption, IO Sense-Making, Methods & Process, Misinformation & Propaganda, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests

George Soros

Why Are the Media Ignoring Plans By George Soros to Remake the Entire Global Economy?

By Dan Gainor 

Published March 23, 2011

FoxNews.com

Two years ago, George Soros said he wanted to reorganize the entire global economic system. In two short weeks, he is going to start – and no one seems to have noticed.

On April 8, a group he’s funded with $50 million is holding a major economic conference and Soros’s goal for such an event is to “establish new international rules” and “reform the currency system.” It’s all according to a plan laid out in a Nov. 4, 2009, Soros op-ed calling for “a grand bargain that rearranges the entire financial order.”

Read more….

NEW: Clyde Prestowitz Comments

Continue reading “George Soros Remaking the OLD Global Economy NEW: Clyde Prestowitz in Favor with Reasons”

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Tom Atlee on the US Budget Crisis

03 Economy, 07 Other Atrocities, 09 Justice, 10 Security, 11 Society, Budgets & Funding, Commercial Intelligence, Communities of Practice, Corruption, Cultural Intelligence, Ethics, IO Multinational, Methods & Process, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Open Government, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests, Reform, Strategy
Tom Atlee

March 25, 2011

Dear friends,

So much is happening under the guise of “the budget crisis” that I thought it might be useful to deconstruct this issue a bit.

Phi Beta Iota: Tom has produced a relatively long and meticulously documented essay

PART A: PRIMARY SOURCES OF THE BUDGET CRISIS
PART B: RATIONAL APPROACHES TO THE BUDGET CRISIS
PART C: IMPORTANT LINKS
Among us all, he is the most balanced and closest to the public soul.
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GRIFTOPIA Part II: The Next Mega-Meltdown

03 Economy, 07 Other Atrocities, 11 Society, Budgets & Funding, Commerce, Corruption, Cultural Intelligence, Government, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests

Mega-Banks and the Next Financial Crisis

Hedge-fund manager Paul Singer recognized the risks of subprime mortgages and bet against them. Now he warns that monetary policy could cripple American banks again.

James Freeman, The Wall Street Journal, 19 March 2011

Full article

Phi Beta Iota: Absolutely worth a full read.  Here's the bottom line: US Government is simply not serious about regulation; the Federal Reserve in assuming faith in the dollar and printing money so fast inflation is inevitable and a total collapse of the dollar possible; the big banks are still over-leveraged; and a mega-meltdown is a virtual certainty.  We assume the “elite” think they can stave off the melt-down until after November 2011 so as to have four more years of a compliant complacent government.

See Also:

Review: Griftopia–Bubble Machines, Vampire Squids, and the Long Con That Is Breaking America

Why Isn’t Wall Street in Jail? + US Fraud RECAP

Search: US fraud tri-fecta


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Pentagon Contractors Baby Gaga on Steroids

03 Economy, 07 Other Atrocities, 10 Security, 11 Society, Commerce, Commercial Intelligence, Corporations, Corruption, Government, Military, Money, Banks & Concentrated Wealth, Officers Call, Peace Intelligence, Politics of Science & Science of Politics, Power Behind-the-Scenes/Special Interests, Strategy, Technologies, Waste (materials, food, etc)
Richard Wright

There is no doubt that, Pentagon Labyrinth is a first rate piece of work.  However it did fail to mention an additional factor in defense procurement costs that is often overlooked and that is the need to subsidize U.S. defense industry giants such as Lockheed Martin, Northrop-Grumman and General Dynamics. This also explains the over elaborate use of sub-contracting since the boutique sub-contractors used by the defense giants often produce key components for weapon systems so also must be given a portion of the subsidies. Boeing is the only major defense contractor that even makes a pretense of also dealing in commercial aircraft.  Lockheed, Northrop, and General Dynamics along with their networks of sub-contractors are virtually entirely dependent on government contracts or contracts from the government’s foreign clients for their continued existence.

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