Woah.

“The Panama Deception documents the untold story of the December 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama; the events which led to it; the excessive force used; the enormity of the death and destruction; and the devastating aftermath. The Panama Deception uncovers the real reasons for this internationally condemned attack, presenting a view of the invasion which widely differs from that portrayed by the U.S. media and exposes how the U.S. government and the mainstream media suppressed information about this foreign policy disaster. The Panama Deception includes never before seen footage of the invasion and its aftermath, as well as interviews with both invasion proponents like Gen. Maxwell Thurman, Panamanian President Endara and Pentagon spokesperson Pete Williams, and opponents like U.S. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY.), Panamanian human rights workers Olga Mejia and Isabel Corro and former Panamanian diplomat Humberto Brown. Network news clips and media critics contribute to a staggering analysis of media control and self censorship relevant to any news coverage today, particularly during times of war.

A very good documentary. A man whose exploits and mixed bag of achievements, among other things, brought the East and West the closest to nuclear stand-off than any other time during the Cold War.

“Documentary on the events that led to the economic collapse of Argentina in 2001 which wiped out the middle class and raised the level of poverty to 57.5%. Central to the collapse was the implementation of neo-liberal policies which enabled the swindle of billions of dollars by foreign banks and corporations. Many of Argentina’s assets and resources were shamefully plundered. Its financial system was even used for money laundering by Citibank, Credit Suisse, and JP Morgan. The net result was massive wealth transfers and the impoverishment of society which culminated in many deaths due to oppression and malnutrition. If you want to stop the same thing from happening here, and it is happening here, right now, please join the revolution at the Kick Them All Out Projet http://www.KickThemAllOut.com and the Fire Congress Campaign.”

Any of the above sound familiar? Probably the best documentary I’ve seen on this subject since Pilger’s War on Democracy. In particular there is a small section where treason is discussed as an economic and political mechanism, used as regular as clockwork during most – if not all – administrations of government: including our own.

The cynic in me says “your Dad wrote that” but her delivery is fiesty, heartfelt and coherent. And… well. She’s right. Isn’t she.

Thanks TAYT.

“One of the penalties for not taking an interest in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors” – Plato 400BC 

“ HUGO CHAVEZ ELECTED PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA IN 1998, IS A COLORFUL, UNPREDICTABLE FOLK HERO, beloved by his nation’s working class and a tough-as-nails, quixotic opponent to the power structure that would see him deposed. Two independent filmmakers were inside the presidential palace on April 11, 2002, when he was forcibly removed from office. They were also present 48 hours later when, remarkably, he returned to power amid cheering aides. Their film records what was probably history’s shortest-lived coup d’état. It’s a unique document about political muscle and an extraordinary portrait of the man The Wall Street Journal credits with making Venezuela “Washington‚s biggest Latin American headache after the old standby, Cuba.””

This and John Pilger’s ‘War On Democracy’  are both worth a watch to understand deception in today’s world and how mass media is being used to achieve it. Do not kid yourself into thinking your nice, clean , bought and paid-for “Western Democracy” is any different.

“In a World Opinion Forum TV, DVD and Google Video special from the United Nations, Kevin Sanders reports on world reaction to the failure of the last Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), described as the most important meeting ever to take place at the UN. At the conference the US blocked discussion on renewal of earlier NPT agreements to de-alert and disarm nuclear weapons. The next NPT review conference will not be until 2010.”

While you were watching Pop Idol… 

“A group of college and seminary students fly from St. Louis to Guatemala City to feed and give God’s Word to those who live in the city dump.”

What can I say?