Windows to Russia

President Barak Obama will easily defeat his Republican opponent former Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.

There was never any doubt about the outcome.

American media corporations portrayed the 2012 presidential election as a vibrant and close contest between Obama and Romney, even though the outcome in Obama’s favor was certain from the outset.

After the billions are spent and the mountains of election data sorted through, the reason for Obama’s victory will be incredibly simple:  Romney is not emotionally capable of empathizing, nor would he want to, with Americans of comparatively meager means (unless it is in service of the Mormon Church). He is incapable of “feeling the pain” of the American people.

Romney can’t “act the part” whereas Obama has taken the political acting profession to an entirely new level, and, in the process, has surpassed the “Great Communicator”, President Ronald Reagan, in the ability to attach to the majority of the American people in some form whether it be through basketball/sports, beer making, raising young children, or making sure he does not get on the wrong side of his wife, the First Lady, Michelle Obama.  As he is seen through the media, President Obama appears to most Americans to be a fun guy to be around and has the standard dad/husband pleasure and pain. Shoot some hoops and then go for a burger and a beer. What is more American than that?

Oscar for Best Actor in a Plutonomy, Theatric Election: Barak Obama

And though President Obama takes pride in his wealth and his elite membership in the American ruling class (like Romney) he manages to convince much of the American populace that he is very much the “common man” which, of course, he is not. As with all great actors playing a part, it is nearly impossible to watch a performance and separate the character/role from the actor’s real personality. Such is the case with President Obama.

Conversely, Romney’s demeanor suggests that he should be wearing a crown of jewels atop his head. He comes off as the character Crassus portrayed by Lawrence Olivia in the movie Spartacus. He appears to be certain that 50 percent of Americans are freeloaders. Romney is the quintessential American Plutocrat, part of Citicorp’s Plutonomy (Equity Strategy: Plutonomy, 2005).

“In a Plutonomy there is no such animal as the U.S. consumer or the UK consumer, or indeed the Russian consumer. There are rich consumers, few in number, but disproportionate in the gigantic slice of income and consumption they take. There are the rest, the “non-rich”, the multitudinous many, but only accounting for surprisingly small bites of the national pie.

The top 1% of households in the U.S., (about 1 million households) accounted for about 20% of overall U.S. income in 2000, slightly smaller than the share of income of the bottom 60% of households put together. That’s about 1 million households compared with 60 million households, both with similar slices of the income pie! Clearly, the analysis of the top 1% of U.S. households is paramount. The usual analysis of the “average” U.S. consumer is flawed from the start. To continue with the U.S., the top 1% of households also account for 33% of net worth, greater than the bottom 90% of households put together. It gets better (or worse, depending on your political stripe) – the top 1% of households account for 40% of financial net worth, more than the bottom 95% of households put together…We hear so often about “the consumer”. But when we examine the data, there is no such thing as “the consumer” in the U.S. or UK, or other Plutonomy countries. There are rich consumers, and there are the rest. The rich are getting richer, we have contended, and they dominate consumption.”

American Political Process: Staged Theater, Duopoly, Money, Raging Repetitive Commentary

The US election process is tightly regulated by both Republicans and Democrats ensuring that only in the rarest of instances will third, fourth or fifth generation parties appear to challenge the duopoly. The presidential campaign, like sporting contests, is reported in electronic and print form in a dramatic fashion similar to that used by legendary sports broadcaster Howard Cosell calling a boxing match featuring Mohammed Ali.

Cosell’s style is used by news readers, editors and reporters to highlight, again-and-again-and-again the discombobulating comments of Obama and Romney. The media repetitively publicizes the most incendiary statements by the two candidates in support of open conflict with Iran (soft conflict with China and Russia) thereby pushing the agenda and cash from Israel and Saudi Arabia directly into the American political pipeline. The mind numbing recycling of the news is at its worst as the candidates soothing propaganda that wildly distorts the seriousness of unemployment, too little government revenue, climate change, a black hole of personal and national debt, child poverty, and the deteriorating state of human capital and infrastructure in the United States is repeated over and again.

All of this comes between advertisements.

Over the decades, American democracy’s legions of circus promoters (pundits, pollsters, academics, Electoral College experts, politicians, marketers, corporations, institutions, et al) have convinced the electorate that American-style democracy is sacred and immutable, that American human capital matters at the voting box, and that political candidates are speaking directly to the people.

That is incorrect.

America’s national politicians and leaders are actually speaking to each other via media outlets. The American people are simply listening in on the conversation.

What really matters besides the contestant’s acting ability, of course, is money. According to Open Secrets nearly $1 billion has been raised by the two presidential candidates: $432,197,459 for Obama and $279,343,000 Romney. Those numbers will increase as November’s election day rolls around. Cash is flooding into the presidential (and congressional) campaigns thanks to the US Supreme Court’s decision in Citizen United which holds, in part, that corporations can indirectly and lavishly fund the candidate of their choice.

That’s not too surprising as the American election process has come to resemble an auction with the congressional seat or Oval Office going to the highest bidder. A new twist thanks to Citizen’s United is that foreign corporations, via non-profits, can get deeper into and influence the outcome of US elections.

According to the Sunlight Foundation, “Citizens United allows 501(c)(4) nonprofits to fund independent expenditures and electioneering communications without disclosing where the money came from. Citizens United created an environment in which it is perfectly legal for a shell non-profit corporation to engage in election-related spending on behalf of a hidden interest. And there is nothing to ensure that the hidden interest is not a foreign national, a foreign company or a foreign government…”

In Citizen’s United, Justice John Paul Stevens’ dissenting opinion opposed the cash-for-politicians majority ruling adding that the deceit quotient will rise. “…for-profit corporations associated with electioneering communications will often prefer to use nonprofit conduits with “misleading names,” such as And For The Sake Of The Kids, “to conceal their identity” as the sponsor of those communications, thereby frustrating the utility of disclosure laws…It might also be added that corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their “personhood” often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of “We the People” by whom and for whom our Constitution was established.”

Capitalists meet the Socialists

It is to the World Socialist Website that we turn for an excellent insight about the capitalist American election process. Why not?

The presidential election of 2012 may be decided a month prior to the official election date in November. ”The states of North Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Michigan, the first four considered key battlegrounds, have already begun absentee balloting, while Iowa, another of the most closely contested states, begins both absentee and in-person early voting on September 27. Early voting in Ohio, where the Obama and Romney campaigns have devoted the most time and resources, begins on Tuesday, October 2, one day before the first nationally televised presidential debate. Florida begins absentee voting the same day. Nearly 30 percent of the votes in the 2008 election—just under 40 million—were cast before Election Day, and the proportion in 2012 is likely to be even larger, as the two capitalist parties and the super PACs formed by their wealthy backers are making efforts to “lock in” votes as early as possible.

According to a report in Politico.com, early and absentee voting accounted for more than half the total 2008 vote in at least four of the battleground states, including Colorado, with 79 percent voting early; Nevada, 63 percent; North Carolina, 61 percent; and Florida, 52 percent. More states are likely to fall into this category in 2012. These figures explain the mood of desperation in the Romney campaign, and Republican Party circles more generally, over polls showing Obama with a small but significant lead in nearly all the battleground states. Even if there is a shift away from Obama in the polls as Election Day approaches, many voters will have already cast their ballots.”

President Obama’s Legacy: Less Reagan, More Nixon

“The current Democratic administration, in the midst of the second global breakdown of capitalism in the past century, has no New Deal to offer. Obama has not proposed a single genuine social reform,” said the World Socialist Website.

And they are correct.

What is Obama going to do for the United States and its people?

What is Obama’s legacy at the moment? A strategic and tactical failure in Afghanistan, the killing of Bin Laden, voracious use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for remote assassinations, an immense transfer of American treasure to bailout the finance and banking industries plus sustain/increase military spending, an economy in tatters, a worn out military, a currency war, and a bankrupt domestic and foreign policies. The list could go on and on.

It need not be this way.

President Obama should take a gander at what President Richard Nixon accomplished. Like or hate Nixon, he got things done and created organizations and executed policies radical for their day that have benefited the nation and its people.

Nixon signed off on the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clean Air Act. He signed the Coastal Zone Management Act; the Ocean Dumping Act; the Marine Mammal Protection Act; the Federal Insecticide, Fungide, Rodenticide Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; he Endangered Species Act;  and the Safe Drinking Water Act. He opened the door to “Red Menaces” Communist China and negotiated with the USSR to the fury of his political friends and foes alike.

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in national security matters. Reach him at cioran123@yahoo.com.

The views of the above author are not strictly the views of Windows to Russia. They are an independent view from an outside source and country that brings a better light on the world in general and Windows to Russia is pleased to have John Stanton’s article on its pages today. It is hoped that we will have many more of his writings in the future…

Windows to Russia!

Three countries, three countries that have now shown their true colors, refused to listen to or attend the “Speech: Ahmadinejad UN General Assembly 2012…” What can be even more proof positive that lies are the flavor of the day…

I have read the speech twice in full! I have taken it apart and put it back together, so to speak! I have even compared it too Obama’s speech! Nuff – said about that as Obama made his speech a threat speech…

So I can see why they ran! I can see why they do not want to listen! I can see why…

The Truth Hurts and liars, run from the Truth…

Here is a link to his speech and it really is a good read and most of what he says is very true. Maybe some of the speech is up for interpretation, but so is anything anyone says. In this case he says it with truth as the mainstay and truth is what scares the Western world…

Ahmadinejad’s speech was applauded and he acknowledged the acclaim with a wave before leaving the UN stage for the last time…

Run America! Run Canada! Run Israel! The world is changing, lets hope change happens before the world ends…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

We officially leave Sunday morning (9-30-12) at 5 am Moscow time! We are very much looking forward to fun in the sun and swimming in the ocean…

Here is where we are going http://www.hotelscombined.com/Hotel/Sun_Club_Hotel_Djerba.htm. We actually are going to the little island called Djerba and enjoy life there. I doubt we go to the main land as the Island has more than enough to see for a few weeks and the main goal of all this is to allow Sveta to be a fish and swim all day…

Sveta is what I call a water baby and I really think that she would stay in the water all her life if she could get away with it. I know that sounds strange being that she is from Moscow and no ocean within sight, but that is what makes these trips to countries that we can swim very important. Warm water and dry air, the perfect combination…

So that sipping that cup of coffee and I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get ready for the trip. Sveta and I have to get Boza to grandma on Friday. He loves going to her place and he is treated like a king! They walk all the time and she even feeds him by spoon if necessary. Yes, spoiled is Boza’s middle name…

Excited is the word, to describe how we feel and last night Sveta said, “I am even more excited to go to Tunisia than when we went to Turkey!”

That sums that up…

Kyle and Sveta
Windows to Russia…

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

All Praise Belongs to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and May Peace and Blessings

be upon the Greatest and Trustworthy Prophet and His Pure Progeny, His Chosen

Companions, and upon all Divine Messengers.

Oh, God, Hasten the Emergence of Your Chosen Beloved, Grant Him Good

Health and Victory, Make us His Best Companions, and all those who attest to His

Rightfulness.

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank the Almighty God for having once more the chance to participate in this meeting. We have gathered here to ponder and work together for building a better life for the entire human community and for our nations.

Coming from Iran, the land of glory and beauty, the land of knowledge, culture, wisdom and morality, the cradle of philosophy and mysticism, the land of compassion and light, the land of scientists, scholars, philosophers, masters of literature, and writers, the land of Avicenna, Ferdowsi, Hafiz, Maulana, Attar, Khayyam, and Shariar, I represent a great and proud nation that is a founder of human civilization and an inheritor of respected universal values. I represent a conscious nation which is dedicated to the cause of freedom, peace and compassion, a nation that has experienced the agony and bitter times of aggressions and imposed wars, and profoundly values the blessings of peace and stability. I am now here for the eighth time in the eighth year of my service to my noble people in this august assembly of sisters and brothers from across the world, to show to the world that my noble nation like its brilliant past, has a global vision and welcomes any effort intended to provide and promote peace, stability and tranquility which can be only realized through harmony, cooperation and joint management of the world.

I am here to voice the divine and humanitarian message of learned men and women of my country to you and to the whole world; a message that Iran’s great orator and poet, presented to humanity in his eternal two-line poetry:

Human beings are members of a whole,

In creation of one essence and soul,

If one member is afflicted with pain

Other members uneasy will remain,

I have talked in the past seven years about the current challenges, solutions and prospects of the future world. Today I want to raise and discuss such issues from a different perspective.

Thousands of years has passed since children of Adam (peace be upon Him)

started to settle down in various parts of Earth.

Peoples of different colors, tastes, languages, customs and traditions pursued persistently to fulfill their aspirations to build a noble society for a more beautiful life blessed with lasting peace, security and happiness.

Despite all efforts made by righteous people and justice seekers, and the sufferings and pains endured by masses of people in the quest to achieve happiness and victory, the history of mankind, except in rare cases, is marked with unfulfilled dreams and failures.

Imagine for a moment:

-Had there been no egoism, distrust, malicious behaviors, and dictatorships with no one violating the rights of others;

– Had humanitarian values been viewed as the criterion for social dignity in place of affluence and consumerism,

– Had humanity not experienced the dark age of medieval periods, and centers of power not hindered the flourishing of knowledge and constructive thoughts,

– Had the wars of Crusade and the ensuing periods of slavery and colonialism not happened, and had the inheritors of these dark periods followed a course on the premises of humanitarians principles,

– Had the first and second World Wars in Europe, the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Africa, Latin America, and in the Balkans not happened, and if instead of the occupation of Palestine and imposition of a fake government, displacement and genocide of millions of people around the globe, the truth behind these wars had been revealed based on justice,

– Had Saddam Hussein not invaded Iran, and had the big powers supported the rights of Iranian people instead of siding with Saddam,

– If the tragic incident of September 11, and the military actions against Afghanistan and Iraq that left millions killed and homeless had not happened, and if, instead of killing and throwing the culprit into the sea without trial or without informing the world and people of America, an independent fact-finding team had been formed to make the general public aware of the truth behind the incident, and prepare for bringing to justice the perpetrators,

– Had extremism or terrorism not been used to secure political goals,

– Had the arms been turned into pens, and military expenditures been used to

promote well-being and amity among nations,

– Had the drum of ethnic, religious or racial conflicts not been beaten, and if differences had not been used for the purpose of advancing political agendas,

– Had the right to criticize the hegemonic policies and actions of the world Zionism been recognized to allow the world media to freely report and shed light on the realities, instead of taking deceitful gestures of backing freedom bent on offending the sanctities and most sacred beliefs of human beings and divine messengers, who as the purest and most compassionate human beings are the gift of the Almighty to humanity,

– Had the Security Council not been under the domination of a limited number of governments, thus disabling the United Nations to carry out its responsibilities on a just and equitable basis,

– If the international economic institutions had not been under pressure and were allowed to perform their duties and functions by using their expertise based on fairness and justice,

Had the world capitalists not weakened or victimized the economies of nations in order to make up for their own mistakes,

– If integrity and honesty had prevailed on the international relations, and all nations and governments were treated equally and justly in the global efforts to build and expand happiness for the entire mankind,

– And if tens of other unfavorable situations had not occurred in human life,

– Imagine how beautiful and pleasant our lives and how lovely the history of mankind would have been.

– Let us take a look at the world situation today.

a): The Economic Situation

-Poverty is on the rise and the gap is widening between the rich and the poor.

-Total foreign debt of 18 industrial countries has exceeded 60 trillion dollars, whilst the repayment of half of this amount is sufficient to eradicate poverty in the world.

-Economies dependent on consumerism and exploitation of people only serve the interests of a limited number of countries.

-Creation of worthless paper assets by using influence and control over the world’s economic centers constitutes the greatest abuse of history, and is considered a major contributor to global economic crisis.

-It has been reported that only 32 trillions of paper assets were printed by one government alone.

-Development planning based on capitalist economy that runs in a vicious circle, triggers unhealthy and devastating competitions and is a failed practice.

b) The Cultural Situation:

From the standpoint of the politicians who control the world power centers, concepts such as moral principles, purity, honesty, integrity, compassion and self-sacrifice are rejected as defunct and outdated notions, and an impediment to the accomplishment of their goals. They openly talk about their disbelief in the relevance of ethics to the political and social affairs.

Pure and indigenous cultures as the product of centuries – old efforts of nations, the common denominator reflecting human profound feeling and love towards beauties, and the force which breeds diversity, cultural vividness, and social dynamism, are under constant attacks, and susceptible to extinction.

A specific life style devoid of individual or social identity is being imposed on nations by organized and systematic destruction and humiliation of identities.

Family as the noblest institution of societies and a center emanating love and humanity has been seriously weakened and its constructive role is on the decline.

Woman’s sublime role and personality, as a heavenly being, a manifestation of divine image and beauty, and the main pillar of every society, has been damaged and abused by the powerful and the wealthy.

Human soul has become frustrated and the essence of humankind humiliated and suppressed.

c): Political and Security.Situation

Unilateralism, application of double standards, and imposition of wars, instability and occupations to ensure economic interests, and expand dominance over sensitive centers of the world have turned to be the order of the day.

Arms race and intimidation by nuclear weapons and weapons of mass-destruction by the hegemonic powers have become prevalent: Testing new generations of ultra-modern weaponry and the pledge to disclose these armaments on due time is now being used as a new language of threat against nations to coerce them into accepting a new era of hegemony. Continued threat by the uncivilized Zionists to resort to military action against our great nation is a clear example of this bitter reality.

-A state of mistrust has cast its shadow on the international relations, whilst there is no trusted or just authority to help resolve world conflicts.

– No one feels secure or safe even those who have stockpiled thousands of atomic bombs and other arms in their arsenals.

d): The Environmental Situation

-The environment as a common wealth and heritage of the entire humankind and a constant guarantor of man’s survival has been seriously damaged and devastated as a result of irresponsible and excessive use of resources particularly by capitalists across the world, a situation that has caused massive drought, flood, and pollutions inflicting irreparable damage and jeopardizing seriously human life on Earth.

Dear Colleagues,

Despite advances in scientific knowledge and technology, the aspirations of Adam’s children have not yet been fulfilled.

Does anybody believe that continuation of the current order is capable of bringing happiness for human society.’?

Today everyone is discontent and disappointed with the current international order.

Dear Colleagues,

Human beings do not deserve to be under continued sufferings of the present situation. God of wisdom and compassion who loves all human beings has not

ordained such a destiny for mankind. He has ordered human, as the Supreme Creature, to make the best and most beautiful life on Earth along with justice, and dignity. We must, therefore, think of a solution.

Who is responsible for all these sufferings and failures?

Some people try to justify that everything is normal and a reflection of divine will, putting the blame on nations as responsible for all prevalent vices and evils.

They are of the opinion that:

-It is the nations that succumb to discrimination and tyranny;

-It is the nations that surrender to dictatorship and greed;

-It is the nations that accept the hegemony of Arrogant and expansionist powers;

-It is the nations that are influenced by the propaganda tactics of powers, and most all vices in our world are the result of their passive attitudes with the inclination to live under the supremacy of the world powers.

-These are the arguments raised by those who tend to blame nations for the unfavorable conditions prevailing in the world, with the intention to justify the attitudes and destructive behaviors of the ruling minority.

-These claims, supposedly authentic, can not in any way justify continuation of the present oppressive international order. Indeed, Poverty is imposed on nations, and powers’ ambitions and goals are pursued either through deceits or resort to force.

-To justify their inhuman actions, they propagate the theory based on ‘ the Survival of the fittest’.

-While in principle, most governments and nations of justice-seeking people are humble and submissive in the face of Right, and are after fostering dignity, prosperity and constructive interactions.

-Masses of people never want to expand their territories, nor do they seek to obtain legendary wealth. They have no disputes among themselves in principles and have never played any role in the creation of any disastrous events in the course of history.

-I do not believe that Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and others have any problems, or are hostile against each other. They get along together comfortably and live together in an atmosphere of peace and amity.

They are all devoted to the cause of justice, purity and love.

-The general tendency of nations has always been to accomplish positive common aspirations reflecting exalted divine and human beauties and nobilities.

-The current abysmal situation of the world and the bitter incidents of history are due mainly to the wrong management of the world and the self-proclaimed centers of power who have entrusted themselves to the Devil.

-The order that is rooted in the anti-human thoughts of slavery and the old and new colonialism are responsible for poverty, corruption, ignorance, oppression and discrimination in every corner of the world.

The current world order has certain characteristics, some of which are as follows:

– It is founded on materialism, and that is why it is in no way bound to moral values.

It has been shaped according to selfishness, deception, hatred and animosity.

3- It believes in classification of human beings, humiliation of other nations, trampling upon the rights of others and their domination.

_ It seeks to expand its domination by spreading discord and conflicts amongst ethnic groups and nations.

It aims to monopolize power, wealth, science and technology.

Policies of the world’s main centers of power are based on the principles of domination and the conquering of others. These centers only seek supremacy, and are not in favor of peace and definitely not at the service of their nations.

-Are we to believe that those who spend hundreds of millions of dollars on election campaigns have the interests of the people of the world at their hearts?

-Despite what big political parties claim in the capitalistic countries, the money that goes into election campaigns is usually nothing but an investment.

-In such countries, people have to vote for parties that only represent a small number of people.

-The will and the views of the masses have the least impact and influence on the big decisions especially those made about the major domestic and foreign policies. Their voices are not heard even if they constitute 99% of their societies.

-Human and ethical values are sacrificed in order to win votes and the willingness to listen to the demands of the people has become only a tool at the time of election.

7- The current world order is discriminatory and based on injustice.

Distinguished Friends and Colleagues,

What should be done and what is the way out of the current situation?

There is no doubt that the world is in need of a new order and a fresh way of thinking:

1- An order in which man is recognized as God’s Supreme Creature, enjoying material and spiritual qualities and possessing a pure and divine nature filled with a desire to seek justice and truth.

2- An order that aims to revive human dignity and believes in universal happiness and perfection.

_ An order which is after peace, lasting security and welfare for all walks of life around the globe.

An order that is founded upon trust and kindness and brings thoughts, hearts and hands closer to each other. Rulers must love people.

A just and fair order in which everybody is equal before law and in which there is no double standard.

Leaders of the world must regard themselves as committed servants of their people, not their superiors.

Authority is a sacred gift from people to their rulers, not a chance to amass power and wealth.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Is it possible to have such an order without having everybody’s contribution to the way the world is run?

It is abundantly evident that when all the people and governments start to think and commit themselves to the above-mentioned principles and become sensitive to the internationally important issues and participate in decision makings, their wishes find a chance to be materialized.

By raising collective awareness, the seeking of a joint global management becomes more vivid with the chances of its implementation increased.

Therefore, Together We Need to:

1-Place our trust in God Almighty and stand against the acquisitive minority with all our might, so that they become isolated, and can no longer decide the destiny of other nations.

2-Believe in the God’s bounty of blessing and mercy and seek it in the integration and unity of human societies. Governments emerging from the free will of nations must believe in their own ceaseless capabilities and know that they can achieve victory if they vigorously fight the unjust order and defend human rights.

3-Pave the ground for the joint global management by insisting upon justice in all its aspects, strengthen unity, friendship and expand economic, social, cultural and political interactions in independent and specialized organizations.

4-Care about the interests of all the people of the world and join hands to reform the current structures of the UN with our joint efforts and coordination. It is necessary to note that the UN belongs to nations. Thus, the existence of discrimination amongst the members is a great insult to all. The existence of discrimination and monopoly in the UN is in no way acceptable.

5-Have more coordinated efforts to generate and propagate and firmly establish the language needed for designing the required structures of the joint global management filled with justice, love and freedom. Participation in global management is the basis of lasting peace. The Non-Aligned Movement as the second largest trans-regional group after the UN, held its 16th summit in Tehran with the motto of “Joint Global Management”, cognizant of the importance of this issue and the shortcomings of the current mismanagement in the emergence of crises and problems afflicting the world today. During the Summit, participating Heads of State and representatives of more than 120 countries underscored the necessity of a more serious and effective participation of all nations in the global management.

-Fortunately, we are now at a historic juncture. On one hand, Marxism is no longer around and is practically eliminated from the management systems, and on the other, capitalism is bogged down in a self-made quagmire. It has indeed reached a deadlock and does not seem to be able to come up with any noteworthy solution to the various economic, political, security and cultural problems of the world. NAM is proud to once again emphasize the rightfulness of its historic decision to reject the poles of power and the unbridled hegemony ruling the world. On behalf of the members of NAM, I would like to invite all countries of the world to play a more active role in making it possible for everybody to contribute to the global decision-making processes. The need to remove the structural barriers and encourage the process of universal participation in global management has never been greater before.

The UN lacks the efficiency to bring about the required changes. If this inefficiency persists, nations will lose hope in the global structures to defend their rights. If the UN is not restructured, international interactions and the spirit of collective global cooperation will be tarnished and the standing of the UN will be damaged.

The UN that has been created with the purpose of expanding justice and reinstitution of the universal rights has in practice been engulfed by discrimination preparing a supportive ground for the domination of a few powerful countries.

Consequently, UN’s inefficiency has been on the rise. Moreover, the existence of the veto right and monopolization of power in the Security Council have made it nearly impossible to defend the rights of the nations.

The issue of UN re-structuring is very vital and is a need that has been emphasized time and again by the representatives of nations, a goal that has not yet been accomplished.

I would like to urge the honorable members of the United Nations and H.E.. the Secretary General and his colleagues to place this issue high on their agenda and devise an appropriate mechanism to make it happen.

NAM stands ready to aid the UN in this essential endeavor.

Mr. President, Friends and Dear Colleagues,

Creating peace and lasting security with decent life for all, although a great and a historic mission can be accomplished. The Almighty God has not left us alone in this mission and has said that it will surely happen. If it doesn’t, then it will be contradictory to his wisdom.

-God Almighty has promised us a man of kindness, a man who loves people and loves absolute justice, a man who is a perfect human being and is named Imam A1-Mahdi, a man who will come in the company of Jesus Christ (PBUH) and the righteous. By using the inherent potential of all the worthy men and women of all nations and I repeat, the inherent potential of “all the worthy men and women of all nations” he will lead humanity into achieving its glorious and eternal ideals.

-The arrival of the Ultimate Savior will mark a new beginning, a rebirth and a resurrection. It will be the beginning of peace, lasting security and genuine life.

-His arrival will be the end of oppression, immorality, poverty, discrimination and the beginning of justice, love and empathy.

-He will come and he will cut through ignorance, superstition, prejudice by opening the gates of science and knowledge. He will establish a world brimful of prudence and he will prepare the ground for the collective, active and constructive participation of all in the global management.

-He will come to grant kindness, hope, freedom and dignity to all humanity as a girl.

-He will come so mankind will taste the pleasure of being human and being in the company of other humans.

-He will come so that hands will be joined, hearts will be filled with love and thoughts will be purified to be at service of security, welfare and happiness for all.

-He will come to return all children of Adam irrespective of their skin colors to their innate origin after a long history of separation and division linking them to eternal happiness.

-The arrival of the Ultimate Savior, Jesus Christ and the Righteous will bring about an eternally bright future for mankind, not by force or waging wars but through thought awakening and developing kindness in everyone. Their arrival will breathe a new life in the cold and frozen body of the world. He will bless humanity with a spring that puts an end to our winter of ignorance, poverty and war with the tidings of a season of blooming.

-Now we can sense the sweet scent and the soulful breeze of the spring, a spring that has just begun and doesn’t belong to a specific race, ethnicity, nation or a region, a spring that will soon reach all the territories in Asia, Europe, Africa and the US.

-He will be the spring of all the justice-seekers, freedom-lovers and the followers of heavenly prophets. He will be the spring of humanity and the greenery of all ages.

-Let us join hands and clear the way for his eventual arrival with empathy and cooperation, in harmony and unity. Let us march on this path to salvation for the thirsty souls of humanity to taste immortal joy and grace.

Long live this spring, long live this spring and long live this spring.

Thank you.

Windows to Russia…

I have watched the earth continue to be washed out from under this tree over the last 6 years and the tree has been surviving this onslaught for a very long time. The soil under the tree is almost gone. I am expecting one day to see the tree standing on roots alone and all the top soil gone from under it. It is over half way there and when I first started to watch this tree, it was only a quarter of the way eroded. The area under it is big enough that even I could crawl under there and hide…

This is the whole tree and yes it is still alive and healthy as you can see by the picture…

I call it survival…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

Is China and Japan: The “Black Swan” event that could finalize and trigger World War Three, as America sticks its nose into it…

You can’t force democracy in a country that can’t separate church and state. The Muslim’s religion is their Constitution…

I see comparisons between America and Germany. Do some reading – Germans never saw it coming: Hyper-Inflation…

The “World Food War” has begun. May the best country win. (OMG the Pork sky is falling. Screamed “Chicken Little’ all day long. Until the farmer cut his head off and ate him, because they ran out of pork due to no corn and grain…)

then…

Lets end with these quotes of the day: I would say that this sums up America real well and the mentality level present there…

“Y’all better vote for ****ing Obama, okay? For better or for worse, all right?” Madonna insisted to the audience. “We have a black Muslim in the White House. Now that’s some amazing ****.” and “When Obama is in the White House for a second term I’ll take it all off.”  Meaning all her clothes off, on stage as she performs…

I had to laugh at the damage control going on over the “black Muslim” statement…

“Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay” and the beat goes on…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…

The ongoing overt and covert war against Iran, instigated by the United States and Israel primarily, seeks to isolate Iran politically, militarily and, most importantly, economically.  The Western imperialists have as their goal no less than full-scale war with Iran, a key regional power and one that the United States has failed to control or otherwise manipulate since the revolution of 1979.

Their attempts to demonize Iran as an international pariah and an irrational actor on the world stage have been repeatedly thwarted, most recently at the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran, where two thirds of the world stood alongside Iran in condemning the sanctions imposed by the US and its European allies.  However, Iran’s response to the series of aggressions and provocations by the West is not purely a diplomatic one as evidenced by the summit. Rather, Iran is engaging in a process of economic cooperation and mutual development with powerful regional and international partners – a process which could marry the economic future of Iran with that of other nations – thereby countering the continued attempts at economic strangulation by the West.

The Painful Reality of Sanctions

It is easy to think of the sanctions as a tactic in a political and diplomatic chess game between Washington and Tehran: they undoubtedly are part of such a match.  However, the reality of the sanctions is that they are an economic weapon trained directly at the people of Iran, despite whatever rhetoric may emanate from Washington regarding the targeting of the regime.  In fact, the sanctions are one of the most potent weapons in the imperialist arsenal, used by those in power in their attempt to foment chaos and unrest in Iran and topple the government from within. In an article entitled “Obama’s Counterproductive New Iran Sanctions” published in Foreign Affairs, the publication of the Council on Foreign Relations, Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution writes:

The Obama administration’s new sanctions signal the demise of the paradigm that has guided Iran policymaking since the 1979 revolution: the combination of pressure and persuasion…the United States cannot hope to bargain with a country whose economy it is trying to disrupt and destroy… The White House’s embrace of open-ended pressure means that it has backed itself into a policy of regime change.

The notion that the sanctions are somehow intended to pressure Tehran into coming to the negotiating table and making the necessary concessions is completely fraudulent.  The ruling class in the United States (and Israel) knows full well that sanctions do not work in this capacity. One need only look to recent history for examples of sanctions that crippled nations and destroyed the lives of citizens but had little to no appreciable impact on the rulers – Iraq, Myanmar, etc.  Instead, the sanctions serve as a necessary prelude to either regime change or war.  This policy, aside from being immoral, is a belligerent one, greatly escalating tensions and the possibility of war.

One of the desired effects of the sanctions is the devaluation of the Iranian currency.  The most recent data suggest that the Iranian rial has lost more than half of its value since January, when the sanctions were announced.  This trend has only accelerated since July, when the new sanctions were fully implemented, preventing countries around the world from doing business with the Iranian central bank, a move aimed at destroying the Iranian export economy, particularly oil exports.  In fact, Reuters reported in April that the inflation rate in Iran was hovering around 21.5%.  This was well before the sanctions came into effect in July, after which inflation has increased even more dramatically. Nowhere are the sanctions more painful than in the oil export market.  According to recent data, Iran’s oil sales in July of 2012 fell to a quarter of sales from July 2011.  In fact, Iran has even admitted that much of the unsold oil is now being stored either in ports or on tankers at sea – a startling revelation that demonstrates quite clearly the difficult economic predicament Iran faces.   Such a significant drop in sales means that state revenues are down, only exacerbating the already difficult economic situation in the country.

However, the sanctions are not intended to cripple merely the commercial economy, they are also designed to erode public confidence in the government and foment unrest.  With the creation of an inflationary crisis, staple foods, medicines, and other basic necessities have become significantly more expensive and in much less supply, naturally generating anger from the Iranian people.  This, combined with the removal of food subsidies at the behest of President Ahmadinejad, has generated a feeling of unease within the general population regarding their economic future, which, in turn, has exposed very serious fractures within the political establishment in Tehran. Despite all of these challenges to its economy and the impact on the population, Iran remains committed to its own mission of independent economic and political development.  The defiance Iran has shown the United States and the imperialist ruling class is rooted in a larger strategy, one that combines economic development with diplomacy, seeking to find an alternative to either continued resistance in isolation or capitulation to the US and Israel.

Energy – Pipelines & Power Lines

The sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union are intended to cripple the Iranian economy by specifically attacking Tehran’s ability to participate in the world oil market. However, it is important to note that the sanctions are not solely directed at actual oil sales but, rather, all the mechanisms necessary for international oil transactions including debt settlement, tanker insurance, and much more.  Indeed, in examining the sanctions in their totality, one begins to see that they are intended to strike at the heart of the Iranian economy and hamper Tehran’s ability to do business of any kind. Despite all of this, Iran continues to survive economically.  Much of this is due to the fact that Iran has effectively cemented its economic relations with key international actors, particularly India, Pakistan, and China, each of whom has resisted pressure from the United States to scale back their dealings with the Islamic Republic. In fact, Bloomberg recently reported that China has continued to purchase Iranian oil in massive amounts despite the sanctions.  This demonstrates not only that China wants to continue to do business with Iran, but that Iran sees expanded engagement as the only way to ensure their continued economic growth.

In fact, Iran-China trade is booming as many Western companies pull out of Iran due to the sanctions and international pressure. This has left the door open for China to fill the void, having imported more than $45 billion from Iran in 2011. China is not the only international player to increase Iranian oil imports since the embargo.  Countries such as Italy, Japan, and India have also begun to increase their imports of Iranian oil despite the arm-twisting of the US.  These major energy importers view Iran not as a pariah state and threat to world peace as Western demagogy would have one believe.  Rather, they see in Iran the possibility of a long-term strategic and economic ally that, due to political circumstances, could become heavily dependent on them. Although the energy exports themselves are very significant, it is the delivery infrastructure, especially pipelines, which permanently cements these sorts of mutually beneficial economic arrangements and, consequently, makes the continued isolation and subversion of Iran more difficult.  Perhaps the most important of all the pipelines in which Iran is a participant is the Iran-Pakistan pipeline, also known as the “Peace Pipeline”.  This project will deliver Iranian energy to Pakistan – a nation dealing with a protracted and crippling energy shortage.  The pipeline is crucial to Iranian strategy not only because it will generate much needed revenue for Tehran, but also because of its significance as a symbol of the warm relations between Iran and Pakistan.  Moreover, this project is still in its early incarnation.  One can easily imagine the pipeline being extended into China, thereby becoming China’s direct link to the vast energy resources of the Middle East while providing Iran with the security of a superpower ally.

The Iran-Pakistan project is not the only important pipeline under construction.  In fact, Iran is currently in the process of implementing no less than fifteen new pipeline projects all throughout the country.  This is more than just economic expansion. Instead, it is the necessary modernization of the energy infrastructure of the country, allowing the Islamic Republic to maintain its status as one of the world’s leaders in energy exports while, at the same time, improving delivery capabilities within the country itself. Energy exports and pipelines are also at the heart of the expansion of relations between Iran and Turkmenistan.  Having emerged in recent years as a world leader in gas exports, Turkmenistan has become a crucial player in the Caspian region, necessitating a close working relationship with the Islamic Republic.  As Iranian President Ahmadinejad recently stated, relations between the two countries must be cultivated and expanded.  This demonstrates not only Iran’s desire to have friendly relations with its neighbors, but also Tehran’s recognition of the dangers of isolation in the region, particularly at a time when Caspian energy exploration and development are still in the early stages.

Oil and gas are not the only forms of energy that Iran is looking to export in order to subvert the US-led sanctions.  One of the most critical aspects of Iranian energy exports is the sale and delivery of electrical power, particularly to Pakistan which, as already mentioned, suffers from a painful and perpetual energy shortage.  Iran is poised to become Pakistan’s energy benefactor as there has been renewed interest in upgrading and expanding the shared energy infrastructure of the neighbor countries.  It was recently reported that an Iranian firm is planning a one gigawatt power project in Pakistan that will connect the Iranian port at Chabahar with the Pakistani port of Gwadar.  This is a hugely significant deal because it will provide much needed electrical power to Pakistan while solidifying, in physical form, the close relations between the two countries.  However, what this project also indicates is the growing importance of Iranian ports, especially Chabahar, as well as other infrastructural and technological projects, to the future of Iranian economic development.

Beyond Energy

One of the most common misconceptions regarding Iran is the belief that the future of the Islamic Republic’s economic development rests solely on the energy sector.  On the contrary, Tehran is in the process of developing a number of ports and other projects that will spur growth and development in the coming decades.  The first and most important of these projects is the Iranian port of Chabahar.  Situated on the coast of Iran, Chabahar is intended to be a port of regional and international importance. Tehran recently announced that it will invest $25 billion into the Chabahar port to transform it into one of the great energy hubs of the world.  Naturally, China figures prominently in this vision, as it looks to Chabahar for that coveted land-based access to the Indian Ocean.  However, China is not the only regional player that is interested in the port.  Recently, Iranian representatives met with their Indian and Afghan counterparts to discuss regional trade and the role of Chabahar.  In light of this meeting, it is clear that Chabahar is fast becoming one of the most important ports in Asia.  Additionally, the port would make Iran an integral player in commercial shipping, providing access to the Iranian market to international companies that would otherwise be impossible. This opening of Iran via the Chabahar port undoubtedly figures prominently in Tehran’s plans to integrate itself into the world economy on its own terms, rather than those dictated by the Western imperial powers.

Iran is not solely relying on Chabahar. In fact, Iran has recently announced more than $4 billion of investment into a number of Iranian ports.  This level of investment demonstrates Iran’s willingness to invest in its own economic future while, at the same time, showing outside observers that development is not just an idea, it is a reality.  These ports, Tehran hopes, will transform the country into a shipping center that could rival those of the Gulf monarchies and make Iran an indispensible partner for the region and the world’s powers. The Islamic Republic has also turned its eyes to the sky in search of development.  Iran has recently launched a full-fledged space program and is currently constructing a national space center to be used for the launch of satellites by itself and other Muslim countries.  Iran’s foray into the space sector benefits the country in a number of ways.  First, and perhaps most importantly, this development is a major propaganda victory for Iran.  It catapults the country into the top tier of world powers, gaining Tehran the respect of nations around the world.  Beyond the propaganda however, the development of a space program provides fertile ground for Iranian science to make other technological breakthroughs in a number of different sectors.

Lastly, the space center helps integrate Iran into the region and Muslim world by making it an attractive partner for other nations wishing to launch satellites or other projects.  The space center, like the ports and pipelines, helps Iran overcome the isolation imposed upon it by the US, Europe, and Israel. Iran has had to endure an unprecedented international assault in recent years.  Because of the unwillingness of the government and the Iranian people to bend to the will of the Western imperialist ruling class, the Islamic Republic has been attacked quite literally from all sides.  Having to endure a covert war of sabotage and terrorism while being demonized internationally, Tehran has managed to repel these attacks to this point.  Despite economic hardship caused by the US-imposed sanctions, Iran continues to keep an eye toward development and progress.  As the world saw recently at the Non-Aligned Movement Summit, Iran is not as isolated as the US and Israel would like to see.  On the contrary, Iran looks to other nations of the world for partners while taking the initiative to build its own future.  Of course, nothing infuriates the forces of international finance capital and imperialism more than economic independence.  For this reason, Iran will remain the bogeyman for much of the Western world while working to shape its own economic future.

Eric Draitser is an independent geopolitical analyst based in New York City.  He is the Founder and Editor of StopImperialism.com as well as host of the Stop Imperialism podcast.

Glad to have him on Windows to Russia and may you learn a little more about the world, when you read it…

Windows to Russia…

“Improvised explosive devices, and the networks that use these asymmetric weapons, will remain an enduring threat to U.S. forces and the nation for decades to come, the Defense Department’s top counter-IED official told lawmakers Sept. 20. The IED is the weapon of choice for threat networks because they are cheap, made from readily available off-the-shelf components, easy to construct, lethal and accurate, said Army Lt. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, Joint IED Defeat Organization director, during testimony to the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense.” JIEDDO Press Release, September 2012

And these guys get paid the big-bucks for this type of insight? Incredible!

American Congressman C.W. Bill Young (Republican-Florida) has said he has had enough of the war in Afghanistan. The death of one of his soldier constituents by an improvised explosive device (IED) was the last straw for Young. More’s the pity the soldier, in a letter to Young, had predicted his own demise at the hands of a commander’s ludicrous orders and an IED.

Young has stated that it is time to remove from Afghanistan. That is to be applauded. Unfortunately, the US march to war with Iran is on. Should that become a reality, many more US casualties on the ground in that region of the world will invariably come as a result of more advanced IED’s developed by the Iranian military.

Young is rightly incensed by the lack of progress made by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Organization (JIEDDO), a group that has spent nearly $20 billion (US) to find ways and means to limit the destruction of US forces by the adversary’s use of improvised explosive devices (IED’s), a crude system that is in essence a typically vicious landmine. Landmines have been used by fighting forces for hundreds of years and attempting to rid them from being constructed and surreptitiously placed is a fool’s errand. The Center for Public Integrity summed up JIEDDO’s woes in a well-put article titled JIEDDO, The Manhattan Project that Bombed.

A little known factoid about JIEDDO is that one of the errant children that JIEDDO gave birth to was the US Army Human Terrain System, a program that has failed to produce any significant quantifiable results to “attack the network.”

It certainly did not live up to the hype that JIEDDO heaped upon it back in 2007.

“The Human Terrain System (HTS), a comprehensive, proof-of-concept civil affairs initiative sponsored by the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), completed its preliminary testing in Afghanistan this summer with overwhelmingly positive results…The outcome of this assessment is particularly promising to JIEDDO and its efforts to attack IED networks. By actively engaging and interacting with the indigenous populations of Afghanistan, the report notes that American forces substantially improve their IED-related intelligence collection capabilities and increase support for the respective host nation governments…Human Terrain Teams help the commanders in theater promote regional stability while simultaneously providing them and JIEDDO critical cultural and situational awareness of the local population. This provides tremendous benefit in defeating IED networks within those areas…”

Some employees within the US Army Human Terrain System, and military personnel escorting them, were killed/wounded by IED’s.

Nearly six years later in 2012, the program continues its tortuous existence with CGI Federal (Quebec, Canada) at the helm. Trade publications in Washington, DC announced in mid-September 2012 that CGI Federal of Manassas had been awarded $42 million to keep the US Army Human Terrain System alive.

The news was met with incredulity by sources within the program.

“Apparently, CGI is actively recruiting for an October class. This is a stunning development, considering that HTS still has at least two classes that either have not graduated, completed training at Fort Polk, or been sworn in. The program and personnel were horribly mismanaged under [former program manager] Sharon Hamilton. It is no longer amazing that this program costs so much. The cost of recruiting and training 50-60 personnel, only to have them released, brought back, retrained, and released again, is so bizarre that only an audit on expenditures over the last two years will reveal how badly this program is being mismanaged.

Additionally, even though HTS is trained to work as a team, they are often deployed as individuals, for as long as one month, with little or no contact with each other. As a result, and this can be verified by reading open source reports on the Internet, the teams are generating little more than ride-along reports, that are generally anecdotal, unscientific, and totally useless to the supported commander. Reducing training by four weeks will not save HTS any money, in fact, the total costs will continue to climb, as these new people accumulate overtime, plus their HTS salaries, and other allowances.”

Perhaps Congressman Young should look into getting back that $42 million from the Pentagon that has been directed to the US Army Human Terrain System. He might re-direct the money to care for those American soldiers and families wounded in so many ways by the senseless continuance of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Congressman Young might also revisit his pro-war stance on Iran. Should war take place between the USA and Iran, Young will lose many more Floridians in the ensuing madness.

John Stanton is a Virginia based writer specializing in national security matters. Reach him at cioran123@yahoo.com.

The views of the above author are not strictly the views of Windows to Russia. They are an independent view from an outside source and country that brings a better light on the world in general and Windows to Russia is pleased to have John Stanton’s article on its pages today. It is hoped that we will have many more of his writings in the future…

Windows to Russia!

Over 5,000 residents of Russia’s Ryazan region took part in the Plant a Tree campaign.

People of all ages and professions planted some 675,000 pines across the area of over 150 ha.

The trees are to replace those destroyed by forest fires in summer 2010.

Windows to Russia…

First picture is old Volga M21 – still running and still traveling the world. You can tell it leaves the country by the Russ stickers on the back of the car…

Second picture is a home made boat. The fishing lakes make their own boats, not buy any pre-made, but actually builds the boats themselves. This is how it should be…

Third picture is my sweety pie (Sveta) and she is all smiles…

Fourth picture is “The orthodox Holy Water Spring!” This is a blessed source of water… (Gives me heartburn to drink it! :))

Fifth picture is how I do car repair as we travel. This is how you should be able to work on any car, anywhere, anytime and anyplace…

Sixth picture is Boza looking out over the village river! Sveta caught a wonderful picture of him and the river…

I am having a rough day! My heart has been bothering me today and last night! I took nitro and am doing better, so I decided to think of the good things in life today…

What you see is the Russia Sveta and I live in…

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia…