15th
2016 January 9 – 15
2016 January 9 – 15
Revolutions vs. Revolts
Revolutions vs. Revolts
In last week’s editorial, I questioned the wisdom of what has become known as the Oregon Standoff. I am in total agreement with the grievances that motivated the protest organized by the Three Percenters and I share the frustration and anger that led to the occupation of the federal facility at the wildlife center led by the Bundys from Nevada. In fact, I have nothing but respect and praise for the dedication and bravery exhibited by everyone involved in that action. My concern is over the strategy of picking a battleground that appears to be much too favorable to the opponent.
Life experience teaches that, if we are forced to defend ourselves, we usually have no choice but to react on the spot but, when we take the initiative and pick the place and time for a fight, it behooves us to carefully pick our battleground and our weapons. Why fight moving uphill when we can do it downhill? Why fight Goliath in hand-to-hand combat when we can use a slingshot?
It has been argued that we have given up too much freedom already and now it is time to draw a line in the sand. My response is that I agree.
The question, however, is not if
we draw a line, but where?
REVOLUTIONS VS. REVOLTS
To answer that question, we need to know the difference between revolutions and revolts.
Revolutions are waged by very large groups of people who are well organized and funded, with reliable communications and discipline, with military training and a source of weapons and munitions, with leadership and a chain of command, and especially with broad support from the population. In fact, revolutions must have most of the attributes of the governments they seek to replace.
In the case of the American Revolution, the patriots were organized and led by thirteen colonies which were full-grown governments in their own right. In addition to the resources previously mentioned, they had parliaments, courts, taxes, and laws. Every able bodied man was part of a local militia and already had martial experience. They also had the help of the French government which also had huge resources. Without these things, the patriots could not have defeated the British military in a thousand years.
SPARTACUS REVOLT
Revolts are unplanned, unled, and unsustainable rebellions, much like riots in the street or, more to the point, like the Roman slave revolt led by Spartacus. Revolts have few of the resources needed to topple the military power of an established government. They are the emotional upsurge of the oppressed who, like the news anchor in the movie, Network, shouts in anger: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore.”
The grim fact is that being mad as hell and armed with clubs, pitchforks, and even AK-47s without the other resources needed for a revolution is a prescription for ultimate failure, and a bloody one at that.
The bottom line is that revolutions may succeed, but revolts always fail. My deep concern is that the Oregon Standoff looks a lot like a classic revolt.
Next week I will address the question of whether or not a true revolution is even possible and, if so, what it would look like.
G. Edward Griffin
2016 January 15
THIS WEEK IN REVIEW
THIS WEEK IN REVIEW
Portugal: Promises mean nothing in the financial world. When the Novo Bank became bankrupt, instead of letting it fail like any other mismanaged business, the government allowed it to simply declare its bonds to be null and void. Those who thought banks could be trusted and that governments would enforce contracts, simply had their investments legally stolen. The government claimed that it was against the bank’s decision but did nothing to stop it or punish the thieves who are, after all, their partners. ZeroHedge 2016 Jan 15 (Story) (Cached)
The British government is assisting the Saudis in their attacks in Yemen. Adel al-Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, says that British officers are in Saudi operation control rooms. He said, “I know they are aware of the target lists.” The US State Department has approved the sale of $1.29 billion worth of weaponry to Saudi Arabia to continue the air strikes in Yemen. InfoWars 2016 Jan 15 (Story) (Cached)
The UK is facing a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by a group called The Campaign Against the Arms Trade for selling arms to the Saudis. The British have admitted that its military advises the Saudi forces but that it runs a “quick check” to make sure that there are no humanitarian violations in the attacks on Yemen. The facts are that more than 6,000 people have been killed in Yemen by Saudi attacks in less than a year, and at least half of them were civilians. Even hospitals have been bombed in spite of the fact that the Saudis were given the coordinates of their exact locations. RT 2016 Jan 13 (Story)
US: 46 states sold tickets for the $1.58 billion powerball lottery, with promises that the proceeds would go to schools and education. However, in nineteen states, the money goes into the general fund. The claim about helping education is totally false. CBS News 2016 Jan 14 (Story)
Seven people are dead after a series of explosions and gunfire near a shopping mall in Jakarta. The identity of the attackers is not known. [But something is strange. Look closely at the video clip showing the explosion near Starbucks and you will see a man seated on the ground. He is very close to the explosion in the bushes but does not even flinch when it occurs. There is a plume of smoke but no evidence of destruction. We don’t know what this means, but are inclined to think that this explosion may have been from a large firecracker rather than a bomb, and that the man could have been the one who set it off. What do you think?] ABC News 2016 Jan 14 (Story)
Turkey: Ten German tourists are killed and others injured by a suicide bomber in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet Square. No terrorist groups have boasted responsibility for the attack, but Western media is reporting that it was done by ISIS. It is in the best interest of the Turkish government to blame ISIS because that provides an excuse to raid Syria and Iraq, the PKK. CNN 2016 Jan 14 (Story)
Turkey’s military is claiming that it killed nearly 200 ISIS soldiers in Iraq and Syria in the past 48 hours. PBS Newshour 2016 Jan 14 (Story)
Oregon: The armed protest at the Malhuer Wildlife Center took an unexpected turn when the local Fire Marshall Chris Briels resigned his office and joined the protestors. Briels revealed that FBI agents, not only were pretending to be militia, but were harassing local residents apparently to generate community sentiment against the protest. Next News Network 2016 Jan 14 (Story)
The Baltic Dry Index tracks rates for ships carrying industrial commodities between countries, and it slumped to an all-time low this week. That’s because the demand for shipping has fallen off the charts. The significance of this is that consumer demand and production are at all-time lows, which is another way of saying the global economy is in depression even though politicians and media pundits refuse to say it. Reuters 2016 Jan 13 (Story) (Cached)
The global bond bubble has grown by more than $20 trillion since 2008. Today it is larger than $100 trillion, with an additional $555 trillion in derivatives trading on top of that. $555 trillion is more than seven times global GDP and more than ten times the Credit Default Swap market that triggered the 2008 financial crisis. [There is no way this can end well.] ZeroHedge 2016 Jan 13 (Story) (Cached)
Iran freed ten US sailors one day after detaining them aboard two US Navy patrol boats in the Gulf, bringing a swift end to an incident that rattled nerves just before the expected implementation of a landmark nuclear agreement. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it released the sailors after determining they had entered Iranian territorial waters by mistake. Reuters 2016 Jan 13 (Story)
US: The White House is blocking an investigation into hundreds of suspected terrorists in the country illegally. PrisonPlanet 2016 Jan 12 (Story) (Cached)
Arab and North African migrants have imported a rape game into Europe called Taharrush Gamea. The object of the game is to perform rapes in the middle of crowded events by encircling the rapist and his victim to conceal the act from bystanders. Then the group quickly disperses, including the rapist. RT 2016 Jan 12 (Story)
Texas: An Iraqi refugee, Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, was granted residence in the US under Obama’s immigration policies in 2011 when he was 17. He was arrested recently on charges of supporting ISIS. He had trained with machine guns before coming to the US. Judicial Watch 2016 Jan 12 (Story) (Cached)
A video from a German school shows Muslim migrant teens speaking about how they find Germans “disgusting” and that the country would be better off if they all disappeared. Even after supposedly “integrating” into society, many immigrants still harbor deep animosity toward the host population. D. Taggart 2016 Jan 11 (Story)
Arizona State Senator, John Kavanagh, has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to film police without their permission. Free Thought Project 2016 Jan 11 (Story) (Cached)
Iraq: The US dropped two 2,000-pound bombs on a financial building in the city of Mosul. The stated purpose was to destroy several millions in cash that was controlled by ISIS. The media is saying that this proves a stronger US stance against ISIS, but we cannot ignore the fact that several million dollars is a mere token compared to the many millions per day that are derived from oil sales and financial support from America’s allies, the Saudis and the Turks. [The suspicion lingers that this bombing may be for show. In fact, there is no confirmation that the money was destroyed or even that it was there in the first place.] CNN 2016 Jan 11 (Story)
Yemen: Four people were killed when a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders was bombed for the third time in three months. The Saudis and their coalition forces have been dropping bombs in the middle of the city with disregard for civilians. A total of 2,795 civilians have died since the Saudis entered Yemen to fight the Houthis that are allies of Iran. Humanosphere 2016 Jan 11 (Story) (Cached)
Cologne, Germany: The number of women who have come forward to report attacks during a New Years celebration has risen to over 516. 40% of the complaints were for sexual assault. Over 100 more cases were reported in Hamburg and Stuttgart. Officials say the attacks appeared to be planned. Anti-immigration protesters were hit with water cannons and tear gas over the weekend. France24 2016 Jan 11 (Story)
Mexican actress, Kate Del Castillo, helped to arrange a secret meeting between actor, Sean Penn, and fugitive drug lord El Chapo Guzman Loera. Mexican officials say that digital communications between these parties were what made it possible to track and then capture El Chapo last week following a fierce gun battle. Breitbart 2016 Jan 10 (Story) (Cached)
Five employees of a bookstore in Hong Kong that sells books critical of the Chinese government are missing. There is no doubt in the minds of the population that they are victims of the Chinese government. Hong Kong is powerless to do anything about it, and the people can do nothing but protest. CBS News 2016 Jan 10 (Story)
California assemblyman, Travis Allen, has introduced a bill that would punish companies that boycott Israel in protest of its occupation of Palestine. JPost/ Mintpress News posted 2016 Jan 10 (Story) (Cached)
A recent survey reveals that 80% of cannabis users eventually give up prescription medications and alcohol in favor of pot. The pharmaceutical and alcohol industries are losing revenue because of it and are trying to stop the current trend for cannabis legalization. True Activist 2016 Jan 10 (Story) (Cached)
ANALYSIS
ANALYSIS
News and commentaries that reveal historical facts and trends that place current events into perspective and make it possible to anticipate future events.
Andrew Hoffman, a financial expert who specializes in precious metals, says that all major markets are being grossly manipulated, especially currencies, precious metals and commodities. Global trade has recently collapsed, and not a single freighter is operating in the Atlantic Ocean. Currencies are crashing due to inflation. He predicts that this is only the beginning of the crash and that the Dow soon will reflect reality. He recommends buying metals as protection against further currency devaluation. SilverSeek 2016 Jan 13 (Story) (Cached)
The setting of an oil benchmark price is how Wall Street banks control world oil prices. Russia is under great pressure to break free from having its oil prices determined by Wall Street but, to do this, it must decouple from what is called the US petro-dollar. That relates to the fact that, at present, all global oil sales are settled in US dollars. [If Russia, China, and other countries are able to break free from that mechanism, US global hegemony will come to an end.] New Eastern Outlook posted 2016 Jan 10 (Story) (Cached)
US: Research centers are attempting to incubate human tissue inside pigs and sheep in hopes of creating human organs for transplants. The process requires adding human cells to animal embryos in ways that could blur the line between species. There have been 20 pig-human and sheep-human chimera pregnancies in the past 12 months. Technology Review posted 2016 Jan 10 (Story) (Cached)
WHO SAID THAT?
HUMOR
HUMOR
Need to Know is as serious as it gets, but laughter is good for the soul and helps to keep our equilibrium amid the chaos. So, here are quips, gags, and images to put a smile on your face. If you have some you would like to share, please send them here.
WIFE: “There is trouble with the car. It has water in the carburetor.”
HUSBAND: “Water in the carburetor? That’s ridiculous ”
WIFE: “I tell you the car has water in the carburetor.”
HUSBAND: “You don’t even know what a carburetor is. I’ll check it out. Where’s the car?”
WIFE: “In the pool”.
A man wanted to get something nice for Meg, his blonde girlfriend, so he bought her a cell phone and carefully explained all of its features.
The next day, Meg went shopping. Her phone rang and, to her astonishment, the call was from her boyfriend. “Hi Meg,” he said, “how do you like your new phone?”
Meg replied, “I just love it! It’s so small, and your voice is clear as a bell, but there’s one thing I don’t understand.” “What’s that, sweetie?” he asked.
“How did you know I was at Wal-Mart?”
Husband and wife had a tiff. Wife called up her mother and said, “He fought with me again, I am coming to live with you.”
Mom said, “No darling, he must pay for this. I am coming to live with you.”
IT’S AMAZING
IT’S AMAZING
Some things just have to be shared. If you know of some, please send them here.
Click here to see it being carved from one tree stump, including the animals, with a chain saw and hand grinder.
READERS’ FORUM
READERS’ FORUM
Comments under 300 words, please. We cannot engage in correspondence but do appreciate your contribution. We do not publish insults or attacks against other readers. Points should stand on their own merits. You are welcome to express your religious views but not to criticize the views of others. Our mission is to unify our readers, not divide them. Send comments here.
_____________________________
OREGON PROTEST AND BULLET SELLERS
2016 Jan 11 from Steven Hanson
Hi Ed,
Enjoyed reading the latest edition. The Oregon issue can’t be solved by doing what they’re doing. It’s an issue of what property ownership means, and I can make a solid case against government ownership of anything. Property Rights exist because of the connection between a creature (people) and the domain and wealth it requires for its survival. The government isn’t a life-form. We are. It isn’t. Rights don’t apply to government, only to people.
With respect to the issue of holding the seller of the bullets liable for the buyer’s use is fascinating because it is wrong in so many ways. However, why don’t we just turn it around? Hold the companies that sell bullets to the government liable for the damages caused by the use of those bullets by police, military, etc.? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right?
How insane it is to hold one person responsible for the choices made by another. The crux of this issue is the insane idea that the responsibility and ownership of our choices belongs to someone else.
_____________________________
IT’S TIME TO LEARN THE WORD ALLODIAL
2016 Jan 11 from John Dilday
Oregon is a repeat of feral public servants taking land and abridging un-a-lien-able rights to land. Read Websters 1828 Dictionary definition of allodium…. “in the United States most lands are allodial”
If land can be taken from the people so can all other rights, including life.
TO QUESTION THE WISDOM OF SEIZING A FEDERAL BUILDING IS TO BE ON THE GOVERNMENT’S SIDE, RIGHT?
2016 Jan 11 from Charity Jessop
Dear Mr. Griffin,
Sir, I am sort of disappointed in you, but maybe you have not talked to Ammon Bundy yourself? The government/media is really trying to down what those patriots are doing, if you haven’t noticed. The government we have can break all kinds of laws and get away with it. Must we just let them continue to illegally take people’s land away and not do anything? I believe they will continue doing it until the people stand up as a whole and say “NO MORE!”
Don’t you see what is going on? “They came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew.. so I turned my head.” I think you know what I am talking about. Please don’t tell me that you are listening to the government/ media!
GEG REPLY:
Hello Charity.
My view on this issue will appear as the editorial at the top of this news page – and it definitely is not the result of listening to the the government or the media. It has to do with the difference between fighting to win vs. fighting to lose. It is not about being willing to draw a line in the sand but knowing where to draw it. Thanks for writing – and for caring.
_____________________________
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT THE BURNS, OREGON, PROTEST
2016 Jan 11 from Bill Goode.
Dear Mr Griffin, I have read your article, “Standoff in Oregon”. You have mischaracterized the Hammonds in saying they “… objected to their prison sentence but were not resisting.” I was at the 15 December 2015 meeting in Burns, Oregon, when Ammon Bundy and Ryan Payne helped establish the Harney County Committee of Safety. Since then I’m in touch with the chairman of that committee, as is Ammon. I was also at the protest in Burns, Oregon, 2 January 2016.
The protest was sponsored and led by a group called the 3 Percenters. As Ammon was announcing his intention to takeover the Wildlife Refuge, the leaders of the protest march made it very clear that Ammon’s intention was not their intention. They made it clear to everyone that what Ammon Bundy was suggesting had nothing whatsoever to do with the protest.
There were two distinctly different groups – 1) The 3 Percenters, leading and sponsoring the protest march and 2) The group lead by Ammon Bundy to takeover the Wildlife Refuge. I have known Dwight and his wife Susie Hammond since about last July 2015, when I became interested in helping them with their plight. I met with Dwight for about 4 days to draft an affidavit about the events he has suffered since 2001. I also met briefly with Steven Hammond.
To say Dwight was not resisting is not true. He has been widely characterized in the press as a coward, not willing to stand for his rights, but it’s not the case. Even as the protesters greeted the Hammonds in their front yard, Dwight told them his case was not about him, but about pursuing freedom in America.
Dwight declined to sign the affidavit that he and I wrote out of fear for himself and his family. He has received threats on his life. On or about 19 November 2015, Frank Papagni, prosecuting attorney against the Hammonds, expressed to Dwight and Steven, through their worthless attorneys, that if they did not cease communication with Ammon Bundy, they would be detained early and go to a less desirable prison. In addition, pain and suffering would be brought on their families. This is the reason Dwight has not fought hard against the charges brought against him. Steven is a much younger man and has been more amenable to going to prison.
I took the affidavit, that Dwight & I wrote, and rewrote it as my own affidavit attesting to what Dwight had told me. You can view it here.
_____________________________
HOMELESS IN HAWAII
2016 Jan 9 from Ken Bradley
BonnieBonnie and I are back from two weeks in Honolulu. Oahu is experiencing a high rise and single-family building boom. Honolulu and Waikiki are going up scale and, if the trend continues, they will look like Rodeo Drive in the near future.
Crowds in Waikiki were heavy, and sometimes it was hard just to walk down the street. Hilton Hawaiian Village is putting up a new tower, Ritz Carlton is building a huge high rise in Waikiki, and it is sold out even before it’s finished, and the International Marketplace, the last tacky holdout to the upscaling is now being converted to 75 upscale shops.
Ala Moana shopping center is being expanded by building a new 5-level structure in the former Sears parking lot, and Ward Warehouse is being converted to a high-rise condo. Aloha Tower used to have tacky kiosks but is now the Mid-Pacific University.
With all this upscaling and building I’m wondering who in Oahu can afford to shop in all these existing and planned shops and live in the high rises. Certainly not the native Hawaiians who may be pushed out of Hawaii to places like Las Vegas that have a lower cost of living and a huge Hawaiian population already.
CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIEDS
List your service, product, or request here and reach our informed and motivated readers each month. Ads with greatest seniority appear at the tops of their listings. New ads carry a pointer during their first month. For rates and terms, click here.
The appearance of ads on this site does not signify endorsement by the publisher. We do not attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made therein or vouch for the integrity of advertisers. However, we will investigate complaints from readers and remove any message we find to be misleading or that promotes anything fraudulent, illegal, or unethical.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
INCOME
Economic crash around the corner? Protect yourself from the next crash with Bitcoin. Bitcoin is the currency of the 21st century. We are up 44% in our Bitcoin investments in the last 12 months. Get all the information here. www.Stayster.net
Make money on money you are already spending. Join the world’s largest shopping network. Eleven-year-old company in 46 countries. Info and free membership. www.freedombuildersinternational.com
Discover How You Can Raise ALL THE MONEY YOU NEED for any worthwhile project with Crowd Funding! Bills-Business-Charity-Education-Artistic-Personal & more! Free 7-minute video gives you all the details. http:// GetCrowdFundedToday.com
Ultimate Wealth Building Guide reveals 5 steps to create your own banking system to achieve lifetime financial security,certainty, and peace of mind in 60 days. Discover how to build and grow lasting wealth safely and predictably, regardless of market and economic cycles. www.mywealthwarehouse.com
**Free Report: Three Major Shifts That Signal Risks to Your Investments Are Headed Higher. Including the one action every investor should take right now to protect their portfolio against significantly rising risks. http://BuyAndStoreGold.com/pl-geg/
MONEY & BANKING
FREE download our bestselling books:
The Coming “Gold & Silver Share” Explosion & The Coming Banking Holiday. View cover. It forecasts an overnight devaluation of the U.S. dollar & what Americans can do now to prosper & survive it. Download book at http://banking-holiday.com
Time is running out to disconnect your savings from the dollar. Here is an investment-advisory program that offers excellent financial advice for prospering in a crumbling economy and includes a plan for restoring the system to new highs of liberty and prosperity. Includes segments by G. Edward Griffin. Offered by the Success Council here.
Be Part of the Largest Transfer Of Wealth. One World, One Currency – Grab It Quickly Before It Goes Live! “Done For You.” Cloud Mining Service. Your Premier Source To Get Involved In The Crypto-Currency Revolution. http://MyVirtualGoldMine.com
UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU … To Pay More In Taxes Than You Have To!! WE DON’T! You owe it to Yourself to take 17 minutes to learn how to STOP Your Money from Burning! http://dtwealth.com. Call 214.232.5391 after webinar. Join at http://tanyagray.com
NEED TO KNOW
Being informed is not enough. Knowledge, by itself, is not power, but it holds the potential for power if we use it as a guide for action. Truth always will be defeated by tyranny unless we are willing to step forward and enter the battle. The future belongs, not to ideas, but to people who act on those ideas. If you truly want to make a difference in the world, Freedom Force International awaits you.
Depressed from reading the news?
Escape your world. www.worldescape.com
SERVICES
Sharp Hosting UK provide website management. Nigel Peck provides technical management to those in need of a single point of call for all aspects of their website. For more information, call Nigel on (+44) 07545 211 352, email contact@sharphosting.uk, or visit www.sharphosting.uk.
HEALTH
Dentistry ruins health by: mercury fillings, root canals, implants, fluoride, pulling wisdom teeth, tooth extraction causing cavitations, ignoring cranial bones, pulling teeth for orthodontia, ignoring acidity that causes bone loss, etc. (206) 623-4674 or www.toothwisdom.info.
Why should you care about what’s happening to G. Edward Griffin’s blood pressure? Because the same could happen to yours – and that might make a huge difference in your longevity. See how he lowered his blood pressure without drugs and their side effects. Look at the results achieved by others. If you are over 40, you owe it to yourself to know about this.
Health with space-age technology and Quantum physics. For people and all animals. No medication! Available world wide! Contact us at mbranders@telkomsa.net. For principals and testimonials please visit our website. www.Healthytherapy.com.
Learn how to use Essential Oils & build a personal supply. Essential oils can help give relief to many common ailments & help daily to keep your body in balance. There is a way to educate yourself, and possibly produce a great income. www.mydoterra.com/rochnowski
Free Rx discount card that works with or without insurance. (co-pay $10 or more) Print card online. No personal info required. Good for all prescriptions including pets. Try next refill: www.rxcutcard.com
**God’s love manifested in molecules. As the world leader in Essential Oils, we offer hundreds of single oils, blends and infused products, each containing the optimal levels of specific, naturally occurring constituents to maximize their benefits. Whether you use oils for aromatic purposes, personal care, or household solutions, every aspect of daily life can benefit from the incorporation of essential oils. www.sylviapetker.vibrantscents.com
PRECIOUS METALS
Buy Gold in Grams.
https://www.karatbars.com/?s=rochnowski
FOR SALE
** Protect your wealth from the IRS. Own a condo for retirement, rent. or live part of the year as a Snowbird. New 2-bedroom condos, Internet, elect, 15min walk to beach and town, starting at $75,000 in Nicaragua. For more info, click here.
PRICE SLASHED! Gold and silver mine with long history of excellent production. Huge untapped reserves. Includes fully operational mill. All permits in place. Owners need to liquidate. Take advantage of current depressed gold price to acquire at half its value. Call or email the contacts below for more information: Charlie Brissette at 818-395-2389, cb@madisonmining.com or Ralph Johnsrud at 406-529-6900, ralphjohnsrudnvibe@msn.com.
________________________
Titanic; A Perfect Crime
This novel explores little known facts of that famous tragedy and provides jaw-dropping insights to new discoveries that came with the finding of the 100-year-old ship wreck. The book’s scenario of what really happened that fateful night is amazingly consistent with the historical record. No other theory explains so many parts of the mystery. (More)
