Arab Oil States, Golden Thrones and Disproportionate Distribution of Wealth

     North Africa is shaking and rattling in the  throes of revolution.   In the last few weeks,   Egypt's  Hosni Mubarak was forced out with his vanishing billions.    Yemen is  in trouble, and  the disease of economic disparity and discontent is spreading rapidly. 
     The latest and most serious?   Libya.  Moammar Gadhafi,  the seemingly demented and murderous leader of Libya, has been  hanging onto power tooth and nail by hiring deadly mercenaries and arming civilians loyal to him.   The global community has ordered economic sanctions against Libya as  it becomes more apparent that thousands of people may have been murdered in his bid to keep power at any cost.  It is evident  Gadhafi is neither  considered  to be a "generous  humanitarian"  or  'concerned' about his people one whit.
     On the other hand, the Sultan of Oman,  Sultan Quaboos, who has sat on his  golden throne  for over 40years in an absolute dictatorship, is apparently more of a gentleman and highly regarded.  What do these two  men have in common? They are both facing  major revolts mounted against them. Why?
      The sad fact is,  the common root factor happens to be that they are dictators  hoarding absolute power,  and wealth that belongs rightfully to the people of their respective countries. There seems to be  a newly discovered awareness of  "disproportionate distribution of wealth" , to say the least.
Why is that not a surprise?  The rot of extreme and obscene greed has finally precipitated  the questioning of the ultimate form of self-defeating  capitalism, the "king", absolute ruler,  greedy dictator, and  rich despot. 

     The Sultan of Oman, being an astute man,  saw the writing on the wall as revolts took place in Egypt and Libya;  he quickly ordered the creation of 50,000 jobs for the starving and unemployed.   Each of those jobs will supposedly pay benefits of about $390.00 per month. To a man that has a starving family, it must seem a fortune.

     Nice, but does it not still  remain a disproportionate distribution of wealth? Are these people totally foolish?  No.   Do the poor have calculators and the internet?  Certainly some must do.   Shall  we shake our heads in awe  as we confirm their calculations?

$390.00 per month x50,000  = $19,500,000 U.S.D.  per MONTH.  Nineteen and one-half million dollars. That sounds like a big bribe, and a lot of money.  WOW, that's $19.5M x12 = $234 Million  U.S.D. per year --mere peanuts  for  a desperate  last-minute  "job creation"  solution  to prevent revolution. 
 That "peace offering" and job creation  "strategy" ought to quell the rebellion and keep the  starving peasants happy?    Should it really, Sultan Quaboos?  No disrespect, but think again. Is it realistic?  No. 

The fact is,  normally Sultan Quaboos  and his Omani helpers   sell off 850,000  barrels of crude oil daily,  at a heady payment of  $120.00 per barrel, using the "latest" cost  figures.

  Let us tickle those those calculator buttons one more time:     850,000 barrels x $120.00 U.S.D. ( per bbl )  = $102,000,000   --per DAY.
 ONE HUNDRED AND TWO  MILLION  dollars each day?   UNbelievably, it will take only TWO days of oil production to pay for the  cost of the entire ANNUAL  BRIBE, a.k.a  "job creation"...a.k.a. desperate move to retain the Sultan's throne.... 

  Where is the REST of  money going, other than into the Sultan's  treasury?

Who is kidding who?  Oman has been considered the "peaceful kingdom" but it is not surprising the people of Oman are angry.  At least SOME of them have calculators.  The fact is, oil wealth and other resources  belong to the citizens of that country.   Resources are no longer the exclusive property of  the rich and powerful, or of foreign interests.
Is there a lesson to be learned here?  I think so.

---------
Meantime, back in my neck of the woods in Canada during this same crisis,  we are paying $1.30/litre for gasoline,  the price of which has not even  yet peaked. That horrendous price translates to almost $6.00 USD per imperial gallon (4.56 liters) --- which is nothing but gouging and shameful for an oil-producing nation. 

At the same time, Canada  (a.k.a. Big Oil )  exports 1.3M barrels of  dirty crude oil to the USA  every day.  Let's calculate THAT while we are at it:  1,300,000 x120 =  $156,000,000 dollars per DAY.   That is One-Hundred and fifty-six MILLION dollars each DAY.   
We seriously must question  who has the keys to the  golden vault THAT huge pile of loot is being hauled to.  It sure isn't in MY back yard.   It is not in pollution control.  It is not in infrastructure, or in tax reduction. Where is it? 

The fact IS,  in times of international crises,  Canadians should be at least partially shielded by  Canadian production.  Are we, at some time in the future,  to inherit ONLY the stripped,  contaminated land,  water, mutant fish, societal cancers,  and dead soil left from the dirty oil extraction from the  Athabasca tar sands? 

In fact, there is no excuse for gouging at the gasoline pump.   Gasoline at $1.30 a liter  is made with the same process and equipment that gasoline was made with 40 years ago, back  when gasoline was 0.30 per  GALLON .    Nobody has to work too hard to figure out that was about 6-1/2 cents a liter.
It seems to me there's something seriously wrong with OUR  OWN systems of golden thrones and disproportionate distribution of wealth,  never mind those  of madman Gadhafi or gentlemanly Sultan Quaboos.

##

Snowmobile “HighMarking” Causes Fatal Avalanche-- Again

                                                   High-marking                         Photo courtesy of sierratradingpost.com

Want to see an avalanche? Caused by skiers, snowboarders or snow machines involved in the sport of "high marking",  an avalanche can be deadly.
Just as most people love the outdoors, snow machine operators especially  love pristine expanses of beautiful snow in the wilds.  If it happens to be on the side of a steep mountain slope, regardless how deep and unstable it may be, it attracts  attention and almost demands a challenge..  It is intoxicating entertainment "revving up" a snowmobile  to mount that challenge, in spite of it’s hidden dangers.  
The snowmobile sport called "High Marking", the challenging of steep snowy slopes,  has become a sport that repeatedly causes avalanches and fatalities. 
    Sadly, avalanche season is just starting,  yet another three  individuals operating snowmobiles in British Columbia, Canada  have been killed by an avalanche.  The snowmobile operators  were playing in  avalanche country near Golden, B.C.  on Feb. 18th, 2011,  and became fatalities in an avalanche caused by their playful activities.    A fourth individual survived and was hospitalized.

   * At Incoming BYTES  our hearts go out to the families of these sports enthusiasts in this time of tragedy.  With their loss, it is unlikely these families will ever see snowmobiling in the same light again. 

    In any tragic event,  "hind sight" is always perfect, but  in retrospect, this tragedy could have been avoided.   The fact of the matter is,  FAR  MORE ATTENTION   needs to be drawn to this  dangerous activity and the  problem of recurring fatalities it causes  in  the snowmobile community.   Snowmobile owners, snowmobile associations and clubs,  the dealers selling these powerful machines,  and  insurance companies, MUST become involved in publicizing the danger involved in "high-marking",  educating themselves and all individuals  that ride  trails in areas subject to avalanche.

     If snow happens to be on the side of a steep mountain slope, regardless how deep and unstable it may be, it attracts  attention.    It is fun to charge straight up the slope, pull a "U-turn", and come down. The steeper it is,  the more exciting it is.  The adrenalin rush kicks in.  Hopefully, the machine does not roll over, flip backwards,  become stuck, or stall out. The highest "mark" on the hill wins. 
     Is the snowmobiling public inadequately trained  to the dangers involved in challenging steep mountain-sides out in the back country, or do they simply not care, throwing caution to the wind?   That is a good question.
     Extreme sports participants usually recognize there are limits, and inherently dangerous conditions involved in their sports. Do they always keep them in mind?  Perhaps not.
     The sad fact is, participants  are most likely  simply  driven by the human urge for excitement, that  rush of adrenalin and the challenge  of "high marking" -- to a point where the risk involved is secondary.

Fatalities occur in avalanches every year. 

    Why is "high-marking so dangerous?  It is simple.  Heavy accumulations of snow on a slope are unstable at any time.  Why? Snow is subject to gravity.  Just like anything else, snow slides or rolls downhill because of gravity.  

When snow accumulates, it begins to crystallize under it's own weight.  It develops a crust on top, and sometimes packs,  but  inevitably crystallizes beneath the crust  becoming  "sugar snow" which has little structural strength, and when disturbed, it is completely unstable.   It can and will flow downhill much like water when disturbed.

    High-powered snow machines racing up heavily-laden snowy slopes  inevitably break the  snow crust, particularly if turning a sharp U-turn.  The cutting action of the machine's skis and tracks,  the weight of the operator and the weight of the machine itself  breaks  the  crust on the snow pack and  the displaced snow naturally begins to roll down hill.   Deep accumulations of snow,  depending upon conditions, can immediately collapse and develop into a  high-speed, deadly avalanche.

What is the ultimate solution to this problem? 

Legislation, banning the practice, is neither practical or enforceable.  Daredevils and adrenalin will continue the sport unobserved  with  legislation or not,   therefore it is probably a better idea to publicize the danger widely,  educate the snowmobiling public as much as possible, and  encourage  the sport be practiced only in avalanche-free areas under controlled snow conditions.
Snowmobile associations and clubs should  encourage responsible riding.  Snowmobile dealers should advertise the dangers involved in this practice in their showrooms.  
Common sense and education may not be able to stop the sport of  "high marking", but it might help reduce the  statistics of  unnecessary fatalities.
  Snowmobile  "high marking" can and will cause an avalanche when you least expect it.    If you are high-marking a slope, your life is in danger.  Be smart and live to ride another day.

Mad Dogs, Desert Heat and Political Correctness

It is sad to note the furious and seemingly  demented leader of Libya,  Moammar Gadhafi  has unleashed  military might  against  innocent civilians in recent days, and sworn in endless publicized rants that he would  die a martyr, rather than step down.  Not surprisingly, the citizens of Libya have been protesting and calling for change, much like the rest of the Arab world. 
 Any sane, otherwise genuine leader  in a  country populated by people calling for change in the real world  would remember that any leadership holds ONLY  a mandate to do what is best for, and to protect the civilian population, but Gadhafi clearly  thinks otherwise.  He believes he can murder  unruly segments of his population with impunity and without recourse. 

At his orders, crowds of protesters  have been shot, --not with rubber bullets, but with live ammunition.   Gadhafi's  military, henchmen and even reportedly foreign mercenaries have killed hundreds of innocent people and the Libyan air force has bombed civilian targets  with  military aircraft.  
The pointed question must be asked:  
Why is the response of the civilized world not  one of immediate action instead of political correctness? Are we, yet again,  limited to  merely "condemning" crimes against humanity?

In CIVILIZED CANADA,  Prime Minister Stephen Harper said it was "outrageous and unacceptable" (1) .   Since when is murder of  hundreds of innocent people  merely "outrageous and unacceptable"?  
  It is, in  the real world,  mass MURDER.  Let us call it what it IS, an ongoing criminal act that must be stopped.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff was  equally  "politically correct", saying in a statement: 
"The brutal attacks on the Libyan people by Libyan security forces are an affront to every standard of human rights," .
Again,  that description is hardly strong enough;  we believe we should call such attacks  what they ARE, the blatant and inexcusable,  abuse of power,  murder and a crime against humanity,  --and insist upon a global response. Political correctness is not sufficient.

Innocent protesters being killed viciously by their own military is outrageous, unacceptable, and  indeed "an affront to every standard of human rights", but the result, of that " affront" , is clearly mass murder,  genocide, and a crime against humanity which needs to be addressed immediately by the global community.   

Millions of people in the  so-called ' modern, civilized world'  have watched and  tolerated this rabid,  mad dog wandering around in the desert heat long enough.  Is the world to stand by mute, and watch another instance of mass genocide? 
In the real world, the time for political correctness has ended.  The "man" in Libya with "an alternative reality",  "anger management issues" and "delusions of grandeur" --- to be "politically correct",  must be removed from any position of authority and brought to justice by the global community,  and soon.  


That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it, politically correct or not.


(1) cbc.ca.news.yahoo.ca

Confiscation of Gold and Silver: Quantum Change and New World Currency?

 
     I have believed for quite some time that a "new economic  world order" will eventually  be framed and put into effect, but as that event moves closer, silent preparations to effect that quantum change are essentially unknown by the average person in North America.
     We know that unhindered manufacturing outsourcing is taking place, free trade zones are  established with the North American trade agreements and EU economic zones already functioning,  but overall,  as far as Global economics is concerned, the average person has been left in the dark.  Is a one-world economy being planned?  

      Such a quantum shift in global economic process would involve eventually removing borders entirely or simply making them meaningless, combining jurisdictions one after the other, correlating political ideology by merging and  aligning laws, regulations, and economic policies, building ever-increasing "free trade" zones, and establishing global economics policies --and  logically, a means of exchange in the form of a New World currency would be created.

     Now, perhaps we have another indication that a one-world order is on the way.....
The website BeforeIt'sNews brought to our attention a RED ALERT email between highly respected metal experts,  Roger Wiegand ( http://webeatthestreet.com/)   and David Morgan (Silver-Investor)  which suggests confiscation of gold and silver by the US Government, an action that could potentially occur this year.  
Gold is expected to top $2,000.00 per ounce in 2011.  Why is that significant?    
Note:   Readers of Incoming BYTES are encouraged to draw their own conclusions as they  read the "BeforeIt'sNEWS" article links including this email which is quoted verbatim:
 

RED ALERT

Editor: There is a plan to use the IMF (AKA US Treasury and Wall Street) to be the front man for the new world order and one currency. We also got disturbing news yesterday from an impeccable source that when gold touches $2,000 it’s confiscated in the USA for about $200. Then it’s to be reissued by the Treasury for $10,000 per ounce to back the new IMF world currency using SDRS in 2011.  Large physical gold is being moved to Canada.  http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/10/markets/dollar/index.htm   (1)

      It seems  to me that interesting bit of information  might explain more than one phenomenon that is occurring.  Think about it:    Who needs  borders with one global economy? Who needs security zones,  inspection fees,  and manufactured distractions?  Who cares whether the US/Cdn exchange rate is high or low?   Does any of it really matter if everything has already been planned without our knowledge?  

     Are our politicians already fully-versed on all of these plans?  Why the secrecy and silence?   Have  "gun registries" evolved to ensure unarmed populations are compliant  without recourse of any kind?  

Many questions should rightfully be asked.  Has our democracy already been commandeered? 

Can such earth-shattering events happen this year?  Perhaps a quantum change in world economics, power,  politics and civic rule  is MUCH closer than we think.... 

It is little wonder that ALL  U.S. ambassadors were all recently recalled simultaneously  to meet with Hillary Clinton ( 2 ),  --a move unprecedented in history.  The  recent  US-Canada "security" agreement has  also been negotiated and signed under confidentiality and convenient  wraps. 

  We ask the pointed question:   What IS going on?

(1)   http://sherriequestioningall.blogspot.com/2011/02/exclusive-red-alert-email-between-metal.html#comment-form
(2)  huffingtonpost.com, "Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is convening an unprecedented mass meeting of U.S. ambassadors."

Red Herring INspection Fee: Tempest in a Teapot or Manufactured Distraction?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper reportedly  'fired back'  snappily  at  President Obama's  latest plan to charge Canadian visitors by air or sea  a $5.50 "inspection fee".

Who thought up that tempest in a teapot?  We must wonder how long it took Mr. Harper and Mr. Obama to cobble that brilliant idea together after lunch in an effort  to manufacture a distraction from the huge corporate "security merger"  recently announced that will, in the long run, give away sovereignty of perhaps 400 million people,   but benefit only corporations, their  activity and profitability. 

We  might be  too busy rolling on the floor laughing like lunatics  to understand the indignation and  "significance" of an "inspection fee" -- "Your privates  are hereby inspected, Madame, pay the $5.50" ,  or equally,  we could  be hungry as we await that fine bag of  inter-flight peanuts.    Maybe we're just day-dreaming about warmer climes  in the annual  fit of Canadian cabin-fever as we shiver in February,  huddled in  igloos and quaint log cabins, waiting for the sun to shine kindly upon us. Perhaps we are waiting for  directions to Nirvana.
Do we really believe Prime Minister Harper is indignant about this "fee",  as he quaintly suggests there are better ways for the "extremely somewhat"  distraught US economy  to raise money?  Make no mistake about it, the  US economy needs help and guidance too, after spending all of it's sauce,  energy and goodies on  endless warfare.  The US economy  offers it's sweating taxpayers an annual deficit of  a TRILLION dollars or more.

But does anyone, Canadian or American  alike,  really think that --$5.50 per visit,   although admittedly  being totally annoying and somewhat idiotic, is really going  to help with the ballooning  US deficit?  There are about 16,000,000 Canadians flying into the US annually, and at $5.50 per,  that translates to a  "inspection fee" of about $88,000,000 dollars.  Not exactly chump change, and yes, we must admit, annoying, but why bother with trivial details?  The paltry sum of $ 88 million is not much after all,  since we wasted more than 1 Billion dollars on fake lakes, snacks  and security for the G20 leader's summit held in Toronto.   Perhaps we must show solidarity with US citizens.... after all, we're Canadian. We're nice.
Lovely--so  let us all agreeably get on the bandwagon and share the Prime Minister's rousing objections for a moment while we're at it,  show how much we love our Prime Minister, national unity and all that, and not complain too loudly.  
Perhaps we should even be mature and creative and contemplative instead of overly critical. 
    We could  gently  put Michael Ignatieff's Liberals in charge of the State of Canada instead, since  that election  choice  would avoid the necessity of fabricating further stories, or doing anything other than being "politically correct" when our largest neighbour wants to arbitrarily tax members of the traveling public every time they want to cross the border.  That includes penalizing  little old grandmothers wanting to go south to see their grandchildren and who must fly, because they cannot drive. It includes the children themselves.  $5.50 per.
     As an aside, for Iggy,  here's a sure opportunity to overthrow the minority Conservative government,  how about arguing  the Canada Charter of Rights and Freedoms which insists that all Canadians be treated equally in the handling of this issue?   Iggy could use that argument to advantage and win feel-good  points with Barack  at the same time,  tax all travelers,  get greater income for the bankrupt US treasury,  and  achieve "fee equality" for Canadians all. Regardless, it all ends up in Corporate piggy-banks anyway.
   How about that?  There's a win-win.   Of course we know that the Bloc Quebequois would find some devious way to blackmail away their share of the plunder to hire more language police and further the separation of Quebec. No matter. " We are the Borg, resistance is futile, you shall be assimilated"  comes to mind.
   
Let us return to the subject at hand and be candid;  in the meantime, Big Corporate Trucks hauling Big Corporate Profits and unknown goods   will still  travel across the "border", for "security" purposes virtually without inspection, and  special  security-card holders will have  special lines to zip through unhindered and uninspected  with great speed.  Hundreds of thousands of shipping containers will continue to arrive unexpected and without inspection  annually,   and thousands of aliens from Mexico and shiploads of refugees from  other countries will continue to enter both countries  illegally, but to be politically correct, we don't want to pay any attention to those trifling  details,  we'll distract ourselves and seek happiness by applying Obama's  "$5.50 security  inspection fee instead.
Will  that be $5.50  USD or Canuckbucks, President Obama?
We also plead guilty,  we forgot to point out  it is ludicrous to charge only people entering by "air or sea"  while conveniently ignoring where the REAL dollars are...the average poor Joe taxpayer and single moms  that drive across the border on 15-year-old wheels  every day in hoards to shop incessantly for shoddy Chinese goods so they can pay duty on them at the border of  Free Trading countries which are merging economically.   Why not screw them some more  in the process too, boys?  Venerable leaders,  are you not missing a goldmine of potential income by overlooking poor people on wheels?

Either way, the REAL point is,  drive, sail or fly,   we  must admire how clever, manufactured and  smelly  red herrings are dropped in front of the unsuspecting North American public to distract them from the real issues of the day, like that  previous announcement of a merged security agreement between Canada and the U.S. and the resulting  "new border"  which voluntarily and arbitrarily  gives away sovereignty of  both Canadians and Americans without so much as a vote, referendum, or  chat over a double-double with frosted doughnut  at Timmy's. 
Who said  Canadians want to share a security arrangement? Who said Americans wish to agree to such an arrangement?  Don't ask, because  we don't know when  the dialogue was held. We don't know where the dialogue was held.  We don't know IF a dialogue was held.  
The fact is, most sadly, Corporate North America has  decided such agreements should take place in  confidential meetings, undoubtedly with all the perks  at taxpayer expense,,, and therefore as the official talking heads,  President Obama and Prime Minister Harper, with the help of minions all,   must quickly  make it so.
Isn't that the way democracy works?  All Egyptians know " we support democracy" , after all.  We don't really practice it, but we support it.

Readers of Incoming BYTES  are encouraged to think for themselves.  A few  good questions to start with might be " why would we need "security inspections and fees" at all  if the new,  unified, merged border  that gives away our sovereignty is so effective and "necessary" ? -- and of course.... "Is the flying public already not taxed enough for the existing security arrangements at airports that include invasive body searches, X-rays  of the  physical privates of free, innocent persons, and endless lineups for the privilege of being body searched, X-rayed, and endlessly lined up? 

Good questions, but no matter, we're distracted by the red herrings, and suffering from cabin fever  WE do hope, however, that someone has answers, especially with a Federal Election coming up.

A Quiet US-Canada Security Merger: A Coup d'etat and Superstate?

     For the last few weeks  Americans and Canadians alike have been  watching developments in Egypt and other Mid-East countries with some trepidation.  Egyptians and others are screaming for democracy.  The genuine outcome  in Egypt is yet to be determined, but what has the  temporary distraction cost Canadians and Americans alike?  What is happening to OUR democracy???

     It is interesting to note that "in the meantime" ,  leaders in North America have been dabbling quietly in what may be "more than slightly important"  security agreements and other issues.      In the words of  one Sorcha Faal, (and as reported to her Western Subscribers), it seems that  President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have been keeping secrets and being  less than forthright with the citizens of both countries.  Why is this not surprising?  Sovereign  "security" issues have been "agreed"  but kept under wraps, but there are extreme implications involved.
 
     Perhaps it is best for the reader to  digest and interpret  the following blog from the late Roland San Juan, (1)  now  written by his staff and Erick San Juan 
 I enclose the full text of that article (Feb 8/2011)   to ensure that our readers at Incoming BYTES  do not miss this discussion.  I encourage everyone, Canadians and Americans alike  to think for themselves ---and ask your politicians what is really going on......

The article in it's total form is as follows:  

Obama Creates World’s First Superstate With US-Canada Merger

February 8, 2011 ?5/7/7.5?

Obama Creates World’s First Superstate With US-Canada Merger       By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers

In a shocking coup d'état said to rival Nazi Germany’s 1938 Anschluss (German for “link-up”) of the Austrian Republic, the United States this past week effectively took control of Canada creating what is being called by Russian diplomatic officials as the world’s first 21st Century “Superstate”.

The United States announcement of this “merger” between these two North American Nations was made February 4th by a posting on the WhiteHouse.Gov website of President Obama and which, in part, says:

“Today, President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Stephen Harper have directed the creation of a United States-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC), composed of senior regulatory, trade, and foreign affairs officials from both governments. In recognition of our $1 trillion annual trade and investment relationship, the RCC has a two-year mandate to work together to promote economic growth, job creation, and benefits to our consumers and businesses through increased regulatory transparency and coordination.   They have directed that the first meeting of the RCC be convened within 90 days by the relevant agencies in the United States and Canada.”

Concealed in the “diplo-speak” wording of this historic agreement, however, is the complete overturning of the sovereignty of both the American and Canadian peoples laws and regulations they have lived under for centuries, but which will now be “melded” together with no votes allowed by either of them ever again.
The shock and uproar in Canada over their Prime Minister’s, Steven Harper [photo 2nd left with Obama], signing away their sovereignty to the United States is unprecedented, but the same cannot be said of the American people who, according to Canada’s National Post, have not been allowed to know about it, and as we can read from their article titled “The security perimeter imaginarium of Dr. Harper”, and which, in part, says:

“The New York Times didn’t mention the Harper-Obama agreement (though it did quote some remarks the Prime Minister made about Egypt). There was a story inside the Wall Street Journal, but if any other U.S. media reported on the meeting and press conference, I can’t find it. There is no hint that the US Congress is interested either.”

Equally as shocking were the Canadian government’s deliberate actions to keep this merger secret from their own citizens, and as we can read as reported by the Toronto Star News Service in their article titled “Canada kept U.S. border talks under wraps” and which, in part, says:

“The federal government deliberately kept negotiations on a border deal with Washington secret while it planned ways to massage public opinion in favour of the pact, according to a confidential communications strategy.

The 14-page public relations document recommended that talks keep a “low public profile” in the months leading up to the announcement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama. At the same time, the government would secretly engage “stakeholders” — interested parties such as big business groups and others — in a way that respected “the confidentiality of the announcement.”

In advance, the government departments involved — including industry, foreign affairs, international trade and citizenship and immigration — were to “align supportive stakeholders to speak positively about the announcement,” according to the strategy prepared by Public Safety Minister Vic Toews’ officials.”

One of the “supportive stakeholders” in the merger of Canada with the US is called the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE), who in their statement supporting it said, “This is the kind of government action that we in the business community have been seeking for years”.

Canada’s Pacific Free Press, however, has slammed this merger for what it really is, a capitalist corporate takeover of both the United States and Canada, and as we can read as reported in their article titled “New Harper/Obama Border Deal about Corporate Power - Not Security and Trade”:  
“The Corporations behind this deal own the politicians who signed it, and the media that are telling us 'how good it is'.

The CCCE is the secretive umbrella group that represents Corporate Canada. The CCCE is the banks, big oil, the drug companies and manufacturers and retailers and all the rest; the people and corporations who own our country. Many believe they ARE the government of Canada. They are the ones behind this deal.

Also in the Border Deal: A new 'Council' will 'harmonize' regulations between Canada and the United States (google: Regulatory Cooperation Council):

The Corporations want ONE SET of business-friendly rules for Canada and the United States, they want control of the rules and regulations that govern us, and that is what this deal is largely about.

Where is the Corporate Media? Where is the CBC? All silent - under Corporate orders.
Where are the Unions? The Environmental Groups? The Council of Canadians? The Social Groups. The other Political Parties? We are allowed to hear nothing from them either.
This powerful new agreement will further undermine our democracy, it is all about Corporate Power and Wealth.

Here in Victoria BC, our main Corporate radio station, CFAX, tells us the new border deal will be good for security and trade and nothing to worry about. That is just Corporate Propaganda, but only that one message is put out.

The border deal will 'protect us' from terror. That's how it's being 'sold', but in fact we are getting in bed with the number one terrorist nation in the world today, the United States of America; a nation that is also bankrupt and may be nearing social upheaval. Even worse, this deal gives more power to Corporations which have neither heart nor soul and who will happily see us ruined if it means increased Profit for them; we know this because it is what they do everywhere in the world. Why is Stephen Harper signing us into secret deals with these lunatics?

The new agreement will make it easier to cross the border. This is the other selling point for the deal, but of course the 'tightening' of the Canada/US border was done to give us 'a problem' that they are now going to solve with a new border around us - which was the Corporate Plan all along.
These are the kinds of games these lunatics play.”
The great British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) once said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.”, and which, sadly, appears to be the case with this historic merger between the US and Canada as those who know and care won’t be heard, but those who do will reign in tyranny over those who live their lives in ignorance.

And yes it is true, and worth repeating, “These are the kinds of games these lunatics play.”

© February 8, 2011 EU and US all rights reserved. Permission to use this report in its entirety is granted under the condition it is linked back to its original source at WhatDoesItMean.Com. 
[Ed. Note: Western governments and their intelligence services actively campaign against the information found in these reports so as not to alarm their citizens about the many catastrophic Earth changes and events to come, a stance that the Sisters of Sorcha Faal strongly disagrees with in believing that it is every human beings right to know the truth. Due to our missions conflicts with that of those governments, the responses of their ‘agents’ against us has been a longstanding misinformation/misdirection campaign designed to discredit and which is addressed in the report “Who Is Sorcha Faal?”.] 

 (Note:  INCOMING BYTES acknowledges  with thanks  all copyrights that belong to  WhatDoesItMean.com,   Sorcha Faal, and/or   Roland San Juan,  Erick San Juan et al.)
(1)    http://rolandsanjuan.blogspot.com/2011/02/obama-creates-worlds-first-superstate.html

Egypt's Constitution is Suspended Until Further Notice.....Is YOURS Safe?

     It should surprise no one that the people of Egypt  no longer enjoy a Constitution.   On Sunday, February 13, 2011,   the military suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament reportedly for "6 months"  (or)  until elections are held.  Has it been killed?
     We must certainly wonder how long that temporary situation will be arbitrarily extended, but for the record, we also live in unabated hope that it will be a very short period of time.
     The conditions surrounding this not unexpected move  by the military were outlined  as follows:
1) The Egyptian Constitution is suspended.
2) A committee to amend  constitutional clauses and define the rules of a popular referendum is to be formed.
3) House(s)  of parliament were dissolved.
4) the Higher Military Council is to run the country until elections are held .
5) Egypt will be represented by the head of the council in foreign matters.
6) the Higher Military Council will arbitrarily issue  laws during the transitional period
7) Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq will remain in office until the  new government is formed.
8) Elections for representatives to  parliament and the presidency are to be held.
9) The state is to continue to implement  international treaties and commitments presently in force.
     An important question might be:   "Who is actually directing the military, and what are their ultimate intentions, since  Egypt is now run by "military" rule?  
Like other optimistic  people, I'll keep my fingers crossed in hope,  considering that we all know power corrupts, and only time will tell.  Opportunistic seizure of power achieved --by  inheritance, plan,  by default or not, the temptation to extend an enduring military coup by generals that  "come to like"  power and the potential wealth of gold bars and other likely perks is always one possibility. "Hosni did it, why can't we?"  Comes to mind.   Hopefully, reason and logic will prevail, and the Constitution will be returned to the people.
Conclusion of the day:   
The trouble with " Constitutions" rests in the fact they are  "given" by the "leaders " and can therefore also be "taken away" .
In fact....They can be  "taken away" more easily, and even more quickly.  We refer the reader back to Egypt's current status.
    I would encourage every thinking individual in North America to  recognize the difference between GENUINE constitutional rights and freedoms  of every citizen in every country of the world,  --and those " arbitrary paper rights " that are so proudly  "conjured out of thin air and awarded so generously to the people"   by leaders who  subsequently  brag  the "value" of their Constitution, knowing they can negate them instantly. 
   The issue of "how to kill a constitution immediately comes to mind."
     Apparently it is FAR too simple.
To wit:  In Egypt, the constitution was  just SUSPENDED by the military.
To wit:  In Canada,  the "War measures Act"  was declared in October, 1970  by Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau  simply because of the manufactured  "FLQ "crisis".  Civil liberties were suspended arbitrarily and police were given sweeping powers.
     We must assume that in the United States of America, the Declaration of Independence,  which is a fine old document that attracts a lot of  heart-pounding tourist views,  but that document too, was weakened by subsequent legislation including  the  USA PATRIOT Act ,  and  clearly means little or nothing in times of "crisis" like  9/11.
     It is our belief that human rights and "constitutionality" are inborn, inherent RIGHTS of human beings within any and all jurisdictions, and in all countries of the world.  Genuine rights and freedoms do not have to be made "official",  they cannot be "given",  they cannot be taken away, and they  should not be taken away by force or any other means.   They similarly  can never be morally suspended, and should, under NO circumstance, be abused.
     Here at Incoming BYTES  that is my humble  opinion and I'm sticking to it.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_PATRIOT_Act

Egypt's Mubarak Steps Down : Taking $40B into hiding?

                      Disappearing into the Dazzling Desert Sunshine                                       photo  R.A. Kukkee

 The people of Egypt are to be congratulated for their persistence, but has  ex-President Mubarak disappeared with $40B into the dazzling desert sunshine? 
     It was inevitable that  Hosni Mubarak eventually  step down from the Presidency  a move forced by pro-democracy supporters  in a three-week  display of  protest and solidarity against Mubarak's corruption.  The objective of the protest,  which has come to be known as the  Nile Revolution,  finally  happened.   It only took  18 days, an undetermined number of deaths,  a number of missing persons,  and over 800 people wounded to achieve that goal.  Foreign journalists  were arrested, intimidated, and beaten.   Not content with that inexcusable action,  an Egyptian journalist was even  shot to death.  Free speech was stifled and the internet was briefly  shut down to tightly shutter the eyes of the world on the unfolding events.

Mubarak's  "step down"  and a cosmetic transfer of power to his own army and henchmen occurred on or about February 11th, 2011. 

      It is our sense and the opinion of many Mid-East watchers  that little if anything has really changed, with an ugly  military crackdown on the protesters becoming more possible, in fact more  probable with each passing day.  The marginal propensity for the "immediate" dispersal AND disposal  of peasant protesters with tanks, guns and whips  can grow as quickly as  a general's lack of anger control management -- or Mubarak's  accumulation of treasures and  bank accounts.  Very quickly. 
      What is more  predictable was the recognition of the fact that   Mubarak's  personal  "treasure", legally acquired or not, is reported to be in the amount of more than 40Billion dollars.  The truth ALWAYS comes out.
 The reader should immediately ask:
  "  Cool piggy-bank,Hosni-baby,  but why did it take you so long to step down, .... nobody can use that much money after the age of 80,  no matter what kind of lifestyle he  intends to follow ! "
     Corruption, rot , stinking greed and blatant theft all  come to mind,  but the reader must admit,  $40B isn't a bad salary for a dictator that ruled a country where forty percent of people  live on less than $2.00 per day, surviving and and paying taxes too.
      It seems  Mubarak may have drained  Egyptian coffers, the Egyptian people,   and the Nile  itself  dry in the process.  The nose of the Sphinx is definitely broken  and missing,  thereby unable to detect the stench of corruption left behind by the Mubarak regime. 
Somewhere, there is a large pyramid of gold bars and cash with " This belongs to Hosni" hastily written in blood in  70  languages.
      The $40B is spread around the globe and the only people that know for sure where the tons of  gold bars, hoards of cash, or other valuable forms of plunder may be -- are his family--his wife and sons--and they have  conveniently disappeared.  
How lovely and how predictable.  The noble banking nation of  Switzerland has already frozen assets that may or may not be  in Mubarak's bank accounts legally , and the rest of the international community must immediately follow suit.  International corruption watchdogs are recommending the seizure of Hosni Mubarak's assets for return to the Egyptian people. (1)
As a quizzical and  rather neat  aside the  United States of America might also immediately consider  demanding  a return of the $1.5B they have paid Egypt  annually to support that corrupt, brutal regime. 
Has anyone done the mathematics  class ?   Let's see,,,,,1.5B per year for 30 years...imagine that,  it just coincidentally equates to $45B.....a rather large pile of funding, isn't that a nice pile of taxpayer  loot?     Where is it hiding?  Are  most of those greenbacks hiding in  Hosni's very large, sticky  moneybags  he is  now dragging across the desert to  hide in  some  dusty desert  rat-hole?    
The world will wait with abated breath and wonder, where does Egypt go now?   It may ultimately  be easier to find Hosni and his money-bags than it will be to answer THAT question.


(1)  Canadian Broadcasting Corporation  (CBC) 02/11/11

More of the Same: Political Deception

     It never ceases to amaze me  how politicians  world-wide  blatantly make promises,  are voted in,  abuse their power,   break those promises,  and are  re-elected in spite of corruption and  repetitive political deception. 
     It seems logical  and reasonable that representation by the "elected"  on that basis should  be considered  worthless, and something to be avoided.   Civilization does not seem to learn from it's mistakes.   Is there no other choice offered? When regimes are clearly shown to be offensive and corrupt, should they be supported? 
     In Egypt, Hosni Mubarak is making superficial offerings of change, while the people of Egypt clearly  want him out and gone, not re-elected, not "self-elected"  and not just "stepping aside".   
He has slashed taxes by 50% and has offered many bribe-like  cosmetic changes that mean absolutely nothing,  since the majority of politicians, much less  autocratic dictators -- do not keep their promises anyway.  It is that simple. 
     The people of Egypt are not asking to wave the Egyptian flag happily for  a   newly-veneered  dictatorship called a "new"  Mubarak administration;  they want a NEW Democracy and a new era  without the influence of Mubarak and his cronies in the driver's seat.
It seems that the US, that was, upon observing the will of the Egyptian people,   initially, clearly  and strongly insisting  that Mubarak step down, ---but  has now 'changed it's mind'  about supporting Mubarak with his coy offerings of cheap veneer and whitewash, his deceptive bid to appease the population.   The question must be asked:  Why?  
      Is the US afraid of genuine democracy in Egypt which might even contain some unwelcome, difficult-to-deal-with  elements in the future,  or is it simply because  the allure of an  continued administration easily manipulated is  hard to resist?  Has the United States of America forgotten  the famous phrase  "WE the PEOPLE" ?
     Mid-East deception again comes to mind. Let us open our eyes to the fact that Hosni Mubarak is not about to willingly do the right thing and go away, thereby  allowing Egyptians to pursue their destiny without his dictatorship and "guidance".   Why would democratic regimes encourage the strengthening of a dictatorship when it is clear the choice of the people has been made?  
     Shall the people of North America expect the same deception and ill treatment by our governments  should WE decide to insist upon change?  
     I believe all people  of the free world should be encouraging FREEDOM, not deceptive autocracy or dictatorship -- in spite of  "perceived" problems  that choice may eventually cause.    Let us bravely deal with those problems  in a timely and logical fashion should they occur.    "IF they occur" comes to mind.
    In the meantime, Hosni Mubarak must go because the people of the "Nile Revolution"  want him gone. 
 

Now we KNOW there's a Jack-Rabbit Election coming Soon

A Jack-rabbit start towards a federal election is now evident.  We  KNOW there's an election coming in Canada, most likely a spring election too, when politicians are seen  out buying influence. 
Jack Layton, the leader of the federal New Democratic Party  was seen  helping Chinese Canadians  celebrate their New Year, which coincidentally happens to be  the 'Year of the Rabbit." --the Jack Rabbit, that is.       
We do not know if  this latest effort will help Jack  and his New Democrats  or not, as  the signals are just a bit confusing;  
In Toronto's Chinatown,  Jack was  handing out chocolate dollars,  -- which one must admit is a Conservative sum;  Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be envious at Jack's ingenuity and careful control of his budget:
The loot being handed out is stashed in a Red envelope, which is Liberal,  and Michael Ignatieff will  undoubtedly wish he had thought of it first;
Jack  handed out one to every pedestrian pushing a stroller and every  businessman on the Bloc  while he was at it,  just to be safe.
  My pointed question must be, " Now where's MY chocolate dollar?"  I love chocolate.
 Everyone should get a chocolate dollar,  Chinese or not, that would be the Democratic way. Canadian politics at it's best-- sweet promises.
Happy Chinese New Year to everyone!   

                                                                                                     photo: Flickr

Egypt: Shaking up the Middle East and Suppressing Freedom of Speech

     There is little  doubt at Incoming BYTES  that the last 12 days of revolution offer serious implications reaching far beyond Egypt's dusty borders.   With President Hosni Mubarak defiantly clings to power, warning of "chaos" if he steps down.  Perhaps Hosni not been paying attention,  or is he  suffering from  shock or delusion?  Most citizens in real life  have experienced,  felt the pain, and observed the chaos he has already created and  sanctioned in the last two weeks. 
Mubarak  still stubbornly resisting removal in spite of massive protests by anti-government demonstrators, and  deaths, mayhem, whipping  and destruction  by pro-Mubarak forces,  Mubarak has  yet to  step  down,  has no intention to do so,  and there is no clear transfer of power to any transitional opposition  occurring as recommended by foreign governments world-wide.  


     Repercussions of the revolution continue as saboteurs blew up a gas line to Israel,  France has suspended all sales of arms to Egypt, and the whole world is unsettled as it anticipates a "new regime" yet to be decided,  if it is formed at all. 
Will the Muslim Brotherhood,  learned clerics,  or even religious fanatic factions  influence, participate in, or even form the next Egyptian government? Will the next government of Egypt fashion itself in the image of Iran?  Should the free world sanction a "new Egyptian government" that could,  in the extreme of fanaticism,  be "sworn to destroy Israel"?   I think not.  All human beings have a right to exist in peace.
      How is the world to know what is happening as journalists are attacked, beaten, detained, and harassed as their equipment is smashed?  One Egyptian journalist, Ahmed Mohammed Mahmud,  shot by a sniper  during the melee between opposing forces  has  already died.   Many foreign journalists have been  beaten badly,  arrested, interrogated, and ordered detained in their hotels  as Mr. Mubarak's government  "protects" them.   Do tell. 
Therein lies the root of skepticism as a  lack of credibility is clearly demonstrated. 


      How should the world  react if  freedom of speech is not clearly restored ?  Is the true intent of Mubarak's regime  to remain hidden or disguised? In spite of the blood shed in this revolution, is there any genuine intent by the Egyptian government  to initiate a peaceful transition other than superficial changes made in the thin veneer of deceit ?
There are many questions that must be answered.
 

Egypt's Mubarak to Remain: Bloodshed in EGYPT

Can  Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak be trusted  by anyone from this point in Egypt's revolution? There has now been bloodshed in Egypt's revolution.  
Why should any independent  observer  expect anything other otherwise?    President Hosni Mubarak, after orchestrating a massive and brutal pro-government rally to intimidate,  beat and even kill anti-government protestors,  has now decided not to step down. 
Let us paraphrase President Mubarak's  unbelievable excuse and comment:    "( He)  cannot step down because it might bring  CHAOS to  Egypt. "  
      Has total lunacy set in?  Does anyone actually believe that highly questionable assessment of the unstable status quo?
     Surely the existing deaths and total CHAOS  are already the product of his deceit and orchestration. 
    No fewer than 10 people were shot dead,  and as many as 300 people may  have been killed and 800 wounded  in the violent conflict between pro-Mubarak thugs and anti-government demonstrators that had, been, at least up to the time the loyalists attacked them,  been patiently demonstrating in a relatively peaceful manner.
    Mubarak has also  ordered the roundup of western and other foreign journalists, some  of whom had already been attacked,  stabbed and beaten,  undoubtedly to prevent them from observing what his thugs are doing.  How better to  stifle  the voice of democracy and free speech, than under the "GUISE OF PROTECTION"? 
     He will now conveniently extend his tenure to the end of his term to "prevent CHAOS"  and his son Gamal "will not"  take his place.   Do his empty words mean anything at all?  Anti-government protesters think not.  The governments of Spain, Italy, Great Britain, France, Germany and the United States of America  think not. 
Why should the reader at Incoming BYTES  imagine otherwise?
     Clearly Mubarak's unbelievable method of choice   is to use blunt force if necessary,  and pretend  innocence  while conveniently "allocating" the  blame and brutality necessary to murderous thugs, camel-riding,   whip-wielding lunatics  and  Molotov cocktail-rock-throwing loyalists do his bidding.

      Proof  of his method  lies in the fact that his  paid military army  stood by doing NOTHING  while loyalists viciously attacked, wounded and killed anti-government demonstrators.  

     This brutality and murder of innocent people   is unacceptable by any civilized standard. Mr. Mubarak.  
If you wish to continue to run a brutal, corrupt dictatorship,  at the very least be HONEST enough to say so.
      Mr. Mubarak, perhaps you are right, the west  may not "understand" your culture, but we do understand murder, deception, dishonesty, and lies.

Intimidation in Egypt and Turmoil In Yemen: Is it any Wonder?

UPDATED 02/02/2011 @ 11:00EST

****UPDATE:  Four deaths and hundreds of people have been injured in the violence in Cairo. Molotov cocktails have been used, shots have been fired, and crowds attacked Western Journalists, beating a Canadian television cameraman severely .**** 
I am always amazed by the speed at which change occurs when there is  no other alternative possible.
Such is the case in the Arab world, where quantum change is taking place.
In Egypt, with the exception of a few ugly-natured Mubarak supporters riding camels and horses, into crowds,  viciously beating  and intimidating innocent protesters with sticks and whips as might be expected,   Hosni Mubarak is supposed to be in retreat,  encouraged  by  the Egyptian revolution and little other choice. Why would any sane observer be surprised to see intimidation and violence by Mubarak supporters?  Instead, it appears that pro-Mubarak support and demonstrations  and clashes between the two groups have been orchestrated and encouraged.  
 Tunisia is also  in turmoil,  the President was forced into exile with his treasures and  not much other choice,  so it is little wonder President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen is also suddenly taking pre-emptive and creative  steps to remove himself from power.   Is he  removing himself from mortal danger too?   After three decades of dictatorship, President Saleh has announced his departure. The people have spoken, the writing is on the wall,  so yet another dictatorship will fall ‘willingly’. 
 President Saleh has pledged that he will not seek re-election --and also vowed that his son Ahmed,  who leads  military special forces and the presidential guard, will  not  inherit the powerful position.  Both pledge and vow are convenient and timely.

It takes little imagination to explain Saleh’s sudden urgency for change; revolt is at hand,  the government of Yemen is rife with corruption, the nation has been dependent  upon shrinking oil production for revenue,  and little if any  of the income from that oil has ended up in the hands of the people. Half of the population of Yemen subsists on less than $2.00 per day, infrastructure for roads and sanitation is marginal or sub-standard, and unemployment is the norm,  as unrest  blooms like a desert receiving the blessing of seven days of rain.    Saleh has happily and boldly  proclaimed a 50% income tax cut.  It is a  nice promise and a creative tactic to stall for time, Mr. President.    
 In the presence of such extreme economic disparity, one might easily  wonder if a dictator’s accumulated wealth is best removed quickly to avoid confiscation,  a la’ Saddam Hussein -- when  hanging also may be both convenient and inevitable?
“But father, I wish to inherit the kingdom and rule the people just as you have”
 “Let us leave now, son, we finally have it  all, and the natives are restless... ”
 The “timely” evacuation of dictators is not unknown to the rest of the world.  If you are about to be hung, drawn and quartered, or  run out of town on an rail anyway, it is beneficial to do anything to delay action,  pretend happiness,  lead the parade in style, and clutch the strings of the golden purse tightly in both hands on the way out.   
“Time to leave.  What did you expect, Mr. President"?    Just as it did in Iraq,  the truth always comes out.  

Egyptian President "Steps Down" : Are Words Enough?

 Is the revolution in Egypt formally  bearing fruit?  Is the light returning to Egypt, the heart of the Arab world? Are words enough?  Are  "stepping aside" or "stepping down"  merely words to placate the Egyptian people? 
" I will pursue the transfer of power in a way that will fulfill the people's demands and that this new government will fulfill the people's demands and their hopes for political, economic and social progress...."   (1)  Such were the (translated)  words of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak  on February 1st, 2011  at 16:17 ET  as he announced he would be "stepping down".

Does "stepping down" and "transferring power" really equate  the demands of the people of Egypt?  Is Mubarak giving up power, or has he hauled out some very ancient smoke and mirrors,  the way of the deceiver? 
  At Incoming BYTES,  every reader is aware that in Canada, the United States, or any other democracy,  "shuffling the cabinet" means little and is usually a political maneuver designed to deceive. Musical chairs, but far more formal and expensive to play, usually resulting in little if any real change.
I believe  that if Mr. Mubarak transfers the power to anyone associated with the old regime, a major deception is already in progress.   Who has designed the "new regime"?  In the same speech, he stated 

"I will work very hard to carry out all the necessary measures to transfer power to the "authorized legitimate."     and  
" I ask of the parliament to commit to -- to speed up the elections." (1)
 Who are the "authorized legitimate" in the opinion of Hosni Mubarak?   Someone authorized by Mr. Mubarak and his inner circle? 
How about:
"Commit to--to speed up " the elections? 
 Worrisome words.  Not necessarily to HOLD elections, just to "speed them up".   
The pointed question "When?" comes to mind.
In the  favourite phrase of  a good friend of mine,  "We shall see what we shall see" 
..... I  know he  keeps HIS word,   but will Mr. Mubarak?  

The world will be watching. 


(1) Quotation courtesy of : Politics Daily, Transcript of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's Remarks,   CQ  Transcriptions (c)2011 Congressional Quarterly Inc.