http://www.fantasylandmedia.org
News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine.
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"The UN in the Gaza Strip says it will run out of food aid in two days unless Israel's blockade - which it describes as "shameful and unacceptable" - eases.
The UN refugee agency Unrwa, which distributes food to half of Gaza's 1.5m people, called the blockade "a physical as well as a mental punishment".
Israel is now allowing a limited amount of fuel across the border, but it is still blocking food deliveries."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7722948.stm
-->The NY Times doesn't do "shameful and unacceptable" when it comes to UN reports about Israel. The story was covered by interviews with Israeli officials. The assessment of the UN refugee agency was not included.
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"Documents Linking Iran to Nuclear Weapons Push May Have Been Fabricated...The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has obtained evidence suggesting that documents which have been described as technical studies for a secret Iranian nuclear weapons-related research program may have been fabricated.
The documents in question were acquired by U.S. intelligence in 2004 from a still unknown source -- most of them in the form of electronic files allegedly stolen from a laptop computer belonging to an Iranian researcher. The US has based much of its push for sanctions against Iran on these documents."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/11-11
--> A war against a country in the Middle East being promoted by false documents? Were have we heard that before? But the push for war against Iran goes on unabated in the NY Times, which didn't bother to print this story at all.
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"WASHINGTON - Nuclear power is a risky source of energy that comes with many hidden costs, said an environmental analyst and long-time leader in the U.S. environmental movement Tuesday.
Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, said the "flawed economics" of nuclear power are placing unforeseen burdens on taxpayers: the costs related to the construction of nuclear plants, the disposal of nuclear waste, the decommissioning of old plants, and security in case of an accident all contribute to the price the world pays for nuclear power. Wind energy is a more economically sound option, said Brown.
The apparent cost of nuclear power is the cost of construction and fuel for nuclear plants, and this price is rising. The estimated construction cost of a nuclear reactor two years ago was between $2 and $4 billion. Now it is $7 billion, in part because of the rising cost of steel and cement, Brown said.
...Brown said that when calculating the true cost of nuclear power, factors such as waste disposal, insurance in case of an accident, and decommissioning costs once a plant is worn out have to be included."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/01-2
-->The NY Times has always been a shameless advocate of nuclear power plants. Its story on Lester Brown has him safely advocating for more wind energy. It didn't include his attack on the "flawed analysis" of nuclear power. Perhaps the NY Times is part of that flawed analysis.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Fantasyland Media:
http://www.fantasylandmedia.org
News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine.
---------
"President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for White House chief of staff is one of the biggest recipients of Wall Street money in Congress, according to a Washington, D.C.-based “money-in-politics” watchdog group.
The Center for Responsive Politics has issued a report highlighting millions of dollars in campaign contributions that Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has raised from individuals working in the hedge fund industry, private equity firms, and large investment firms..."
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/11/obamas-pick-for-chief-of-staff.html
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"Emanuel's knowledge of the top donors in the country, and his rapport with potential donors within the Jewish community helped (Bill) Clinton amass a then-unheard-of $72 million."
Wikipedia
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"After leaving the Clinton White House...he went to work for Bruce Wasserstein, a major Democratic donor and Wall Street financier. Over a 2 1/2-year period he helped broker deals-often using political connections-for Wasserstein Perella. According to congressional financial disclosures, he earned more than $18 million during that period."
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10242006.html
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"Emmanuel...Obama's honeymoon looks like it could be short, given the problems fast piling up in his in tray, from controversy over of his new chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel's close links with Israel...The powerful position for Emanuel has also raised concerns among those looking for an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/07/obama-white-house-barackobama
-->But to the NY Times, such revelations about Emanuel just don't exist. There is little written about his Wall Street connections, and less about his Zionist sympathies. Even Emanuel's service in the Israeli Army is left out. How could our major newspaper of record have missed all this important information?
Emanuel's family background is similarly whitewashed. His father, according to the NY Times, is an "immigrant Jewish father" and a doctor who "made house calls to patients who are now the son’s constituents." Nothing about his father's participation in the Israeli Irgun (described by the NY Times in 1947 as a terrorist group). Nor did the Times include a recent quote by the father: "Obviously he (referring to his son) will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine.
---------
"President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for White House chief of staff is one of the biggest recipients of Wall Street money in Congress, according to a Washington, D.C.-based “money-in-politics” watchdog group.
The Center for Responsive Politics has issued a report highlighting millions of dollars in campaign contributions that Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) has raised from individuals working in the hedge fund industry, private equity firms, and large investment firms..."
http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2008/11/obamas-pick-for-chief-of-staff.html
---------
"Emanuel's knowledge of the top donors in the country, and his rapport with potential donors within the Jewish community helped (Bill) Clinton amass a then-unheard-of $72 million."
Wikipedia
---------
"After leaving the Clinton White House...he went to work for Bruce Wasserstein, a major Democratic donor and Wall Street financier. Over a 2 1/2-year period he helped broker deals-often using political connections-for Wasserstein Perella. According to congressional financial disclosures, he earned more than $18 million during that period."
http://www.counterpunch.org/walsh10242006.html
---------
"Emmanuel...Obama's honeymoon looks like it could be short, given the problems fast piling up in his in tray, from controversy over of his new chief of staff Rahm Emmanuel's close links with Israel...The powerful position for Emanuel has also raised concerns among those looking for an even-handed approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/07/obama-white-house-barackobama
-->But to the NY Times, such revelations about Emanuel just don't exist. There is little written about his Wall Street connections, and less about his Zionist sympathies. Even Emanuel's service in the Israeli Army is left out. How could our major newspaper of record have missed all this important information?
Emanuel's family background is similarly whitewashed. His father, according to the NY Times, is an "immigrant Jewish father" and a doctor who "made house calls to patients who are now the son’s constituents." Nothing about his father's participation in the Israeli Irgun (described by the NY Times in 1947 as a terrorist group). Nor did the Times include a recent quote by the father: "Obviously he (referring to his son) will influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
Friday, November 07, 2008
Fantasyland Media:
http://www.fantasylandmedia.org
News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine.
---------
"Massive UN Vote in Support of Lifting US Embargo on Cuba
UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly for the 17th year in a row in favor of lifting the 46-year-old US trade embargo on communist-ruled Cuba, as Havana hoped for better ties with a new US administration.
[The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the 17th year in a row Wednesday to demand an end to the 46-year-old US trade embargo on communist-ruled Cuba, with only three countries saying no...
Some 185 of the assembly's 192 members approved a resolution, which reiterated a "call upon all states to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures (such as those in the US embargo) in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law."
The United States, Israel and Palau voted against the resolution, while Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.
The margin of support for ending the embargo has grown steadily since 1992, when 59 countries voted in favor of the resolution. The figure was 179 in 2004, 182 in 2005 and 184 in 2007."
-->The NY Times actually covered this story, the first time in the 17 year history of the UN vote condemning the embargo. In a five sentence story entitled "New Spin on Cuba Embargo Resolution" (was there an old spin from the NY Times?), the emphasis was put on the fact that the Cuban embargo was older than Obama.
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"WASHINGTON - October 28 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy is pressing his efforts to head off an avalanche of Wall Street bailout bonuses. Recent reports indicate bonuses and other compensation packages paid by financially troubled firms receiving government assistance could reach into the tens of billions of dollars.
Today he released a letter sent to Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asking that the Full Committee move quickly to investigate how bailout funds are being spent by the financial service companies participating in Treasury's capital purchase program.
"It would be an affront to taxpayers and shareholders alike if Wall Street executives cashed in on the bailout. We must prevent the diverted directly or indirectly of bailout funds to bonuses and exorbitant compensation packages," he said."
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2008/10/28
-->Such an "affront to taxpayers" didn't get Kucinich's request for an investigation into the NY Times. In fact, the US media completely ignored this story. Perhaps the intensity of the anti-bailout fervor may have scared the corporate dominated press.
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"Final Text of Iraq Pact Reveals a US Debacle
WASHINGTON - The final draft of the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces agreement on the U.S. military presence represents an even more crushing defeat for the policy of the George W. Bush administration than previously thought, the final text reveals.
The final draft, dated Oct. 13, not only imposes unambiguous deadlines for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by 2011 but makes it extremely unlikely that a U.S. non-combat presence will be allowed to remain in Iraq for training and support purposes beyond the 2011 deadline for withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/23-3
-->The NY Times had a different take on this story. Debacle? Crushing defeat? Not at all, despite the fact that Iraq is pushing the US out long before we wanted to leave. The NY Times termed the pact a "significant breakthrough after months of halting negotiations."
---------
"BAGHDAD - The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq.
Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail, a top Iraqi official told McClatchy Sunday."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/27-2
--> The NY Times predictably left this story out. Breakthroughs just sound better for the United States than political blackmail.
News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine.
---------
"Massive UN Vote in Support of Lifting US Embargo on Cuba
UNITED NATIONS - The UN General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly for the 17th year in a row in favor of lifting the 46-year-old US trade embargo on communist-ruled Cuba, as Havana hoped for better ties with a new US administration.
[The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for the 17th year in a row Wednesday to demand an end to the 46-year-old US trade embargo on communist-ruled Cuba, with only three countries saying no...
Some 185 of the assembly's 192 members approved a resolution, which reiterated a "call upon all states to refrain from promulgating and applying laws and measures (such as those in the US embargo) in conformity with their obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and international law."
The United States, Israel and Palau voted against the resolution, while Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.
The margin of support for ending the embargo has grown steadily since 1992, when 59 countries voted in favor of the resolution. The figure was 179 in 2004, 182 in 2005 and 184 in 2007."
-->The NY Times actually covered this story, the first time in the 17 year history of the UN vote condemning the embargo. In a five sentence story entitled "New Spin on Cuba Embargo Resolution" (was there an old spin from the NY Times?), the emphasis was put on the fact that the Cuban embargo was older than Obama.
---------
"WASHINGTON - October 28 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Domestic Policy is pressing his efforts to head off an avalanche of Wall Street bailout bonuses. Recent reports indicate bonuses and other compensation packages paid by financially troubled firms receiving government assistance could reach into the tens of billions of dollars.
Today he released a letter sent to Congressman Henry Waxman, Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asking that the Full Committee move quickly to investigate how bailout funds are being spent by the financial service companies participating in Treasury's capital purchase program.
"It would be an affront to taxpayers and shareholders alike if Wall Street executives cashed in on the bailout. We must prevent the diverted directly or indirectly of bailout funds to bonuses and exorbitant compensation packages," he said."
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2008/10/28
-->Such an "affront to taxpayers" didn't get Kucinich's request for an investigation into the NY Times. In fact, the US media completely ignored this story. Perhaps the intensity of the anti-bailout fervor may have scared the corporate dominated press.
---------
"Final Text of Iraq Pact Reveals a US Debacle
WASHINGTON - The final draft of the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces agreement on the U.S. military presence represents an even more crushing defeat for the policy of the George W. Bush administration than previously thought, the final text reveals.
The final draft, dated Oct. 13, not only imposes unambiguous deadlines for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops by 2011 but makes it extremely unlikely that a U.S. non-combat presence will be allowed to remain in Iraq for training and support purposes beyond the 2011 deadline for withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/23-3
-->The NY Times had a different take on this story. Debacle? Crushing defeat? Not at all, despite the fact that Iraq is pushing the US out long before we wanted to leave. The NY Times termed the pact a "significant breakthrough after months of halting negotiations."
---------
"BAGHDAD - The U.S. military has warned Iraq that it will shut down military operations and other vital services throughout the country on Jan. 1 if the Iraqi government doesn't agree to a new agreement on the status of U.S. forces or a renewed United Nations mandate for the American mission in Iraq.
Many Iraqi politicians view the move as akin to political blackmail, a top Iraqi official told McClatchy Sunday."
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/10/27-2
--> The NY Times predictably left this story out. Breakthroughs just sound better for the United States than political blackmail.
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