Political and Economic News: Feb 29th,2012

Politics

Democratic lobbyists giving cold shoulder to Obama super-PAC

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/212909-democratic-lobbyists-giving-cold-shoulder-to-obama-super-pac-

‘Not for Pub’: US drew up secret Assange charges – Stratfor leak

http://rt.com/news/us-assange-charges-indictment-stratfor-425/

Homeland Security Dept. Pays General Dynamics to Scour Internet for Criticism of its Policies

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Homeland_Security_Dept_Pays_General_Dynamics_to_Scour_Internet_for_Criticism_of_its_Policies_1202Economy

US ‘ties North Korea food aid to nuclear progress’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17201046
Obama using Espionage Act to ‘silence and prosecute federal workers’ – NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/business/media/white-house-uses-espionage-act-to-pursue-leak-cases-media-equation.html?_r=1
US tax dollars at work: War games: Tel Aviv missile drill
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4195662,00.html

McCain Charges White House With Israel Leaks

Sen. John McCain charges that the Obama administration is intentionally undermining Israel in its standoff with Iran.

Economy

S&P Declares Greece in Default

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203833004577249831718108646.html

Venezuela to Keep Syria Fuel Exports, Deepen Ties With China

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-28/venezuela-to-keep-syria-fuel-exports-deepen-ties-with-china.html

Irish leaving in droves to work abroad:  More people will leave Ireland to find work abroad, than at any time since the 1980s

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/02/2012228103831963169.html

Durable goods orders drop by most in 3 years:  U.S. businesses slashed spending on machinery and equipment in January after a tax break expired, pushing orders for long-lasting manufacturing goods down by the largest amount in three years

http://news.yahoo.com/durable-goods-orders-drop-most-3-years-133644833.html

Democratic leaders intensify blame on Wall Street for rising oil prices

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/213013-dem-leaders-keep-pressure-on-wall-street-over-rising-oil-prices

20 Signs That Dust Bowl Conditions Will Soon Return To The Heartland Of America

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/20-signs-that-dust-bowl-conditions-will-soon-return-to-the-heartland-of-america
Dow crosses 13,000, first time since crisis
http://www.usatoday.com/money/markets/story/2012-02-28/stocks-february-28/53283088/1

HSBC could face US criminal charges and ‘significant’ fines over ‘money-laundering’

HSBC has admitted for the first time it may face criminal charges that could see it hit with “significant” penalties stemming from a US investigation into alleged money-laundering by Britain’s biggest bank.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9111850/HSBC-could-face-US-criminal-charges-and-significant-fines-over-money-laundering.html

America 1950 vs. America 2012

http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/america-1950-vs-america-2012

Iran’s crude oil price exceeds $124 in Asian markets

http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1545637

Wars And Rumors Of Wars

Israel Won’t Warn U.S. Before Strike On Iran: AP Source

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/27/israel-wont-warn-us-befor_n_1305601.html?1330398253&ncid=webmail2

Britain leads dash to explore for oil in war-torn Somalia:  Government offers humanitarian aid and security assistance in the hope of a stake in country’s future energy industry http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/25/britain-oil-dash-somalia

NATO airstrike kills four Afghan civilians –The victims were reportedly bombed twice while herding sheep in the snow.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/228735.html

Misc

Anonymous hackers: Police arrest 25 in four countries
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17195893

Economic and Political News Feb. 28th, 2012

 

Emerging economies to challenge US hold on World Bank

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/emerging-economies-to-challenge-us-hold-on-world-bank/articleshow/12061556.cms

Berkshire Hathaway selects Warren Buffett successor

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/berkshire-hathaway-selects-warren-buffett-successor/articleshow/12050303.cms

Wall Street closes at highest since mid-2008

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/global-markets/wall-street-closes-at-highest-since-mid-2008/articleshow/12063267.cms

Oil price rise raises spectre of global recession

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/oil-price-rise-raises-spectre-of-global-recession/articleshow/12058490.cms

Bill Clinton, Helmut Kohl, EU among 231 candidates for Nobel Peace Prize

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/Bill-Clinton-Helmut-Kohl-EU-among-231-candidates-for-Nobel-Peace-Prize/articleshow/12062398.cms

Risk On: Was 2008 Just a Bad Dream?

With volatility back to low, pre-crisis levels, safety is being shunned for excitement

http://www.businessweek.com/finance/risk-on-was-2008-just-a-bad-dream-02262012.html

FHA to Increase Cost of Up-Front Mortgage Insurance Premiums

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-27/fha-to-increase-cost-of-up-front-mortgage-insurance-premiums.html

State Street Investigated by New York, U.S. on Foreign Exchange

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-27/state-street-investigated-by-new-york-u-s-on-foreign-exchange.html

Buffett Says Banks Victimized by Excesses of Evicted Homeowners

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-27/buffett-says-banks-victimized-by-excesses-of-evicted-homeowners.html

A Ponzi Scheme That Never Gets Dull

Scott Rothstein relied on bribes and a “rock star” lifestyle to keep his $1.2 billion scam rolling along

http://www.businessweek.com/finance/a-ponzi-scheme-that-never-gets-dull-02272012.html

Why investors should be prepared for violent market swings

http://www.firstpost.com/investing/why-investors-should-be-prepared-for-violent-market-swings-224875.html

Silver faces last hurdle before blast off, but there’s a caveat

http://www.firstpost.com/investing/silver-faces-last-hurdle-before-blast-off-but-theres-a-caveat-224862.html

Occupy London protest camp eviction under way

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17187180

U.S. intelligence agencies agree: no evidence of Iranian nuclear weapons program

http://www.activistpost.com/2012/02/us-intelligence-agencies-agree-no.html

MSM says just a small amount of children killed by Drone attacks… So its OK?

http://deadlinelive.info/2012/02/26/msm-says-just-a-small-amount-of-children-killed-by-drone-attacks-so-its-ok/

 

Wikileaks Reveals Possible Israeli Covert

Action Campaign Against Iran

http://www.worldjewishdaily.com/wikileaks-iran.php

Hillary Clinton Urges Muslims To ‘Not Pay Attention’ To Republicans

http://nation.foxnews.com/muslim/2012/02/26/hilary-clinton-muslims-dont-pay-attention-republicans#ixzz1ndVTbkxn

Hauling hedge funds into the 21st century

By Jay Eisenhofer, Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/212827-jay-eisenhofer-grant-a-eisenhofer-pa

Comprehensive approach is the only way to control gas prices

By Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-Hawaii)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/212773-rep-colleen-hanabusa-d-hawaii

H.R. 7 – more than just roads and bridges

By Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/212751-rep-randy-hultgren-r-ill

Protecting the Homeland, Safeguarding Privacy

By Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/homeland-security/212531-rep-patrick-meehan-r-pa

Fiddlers, foreign oil and failed policy

By Lt. Col. Steve Russell, US Army (Ret.)
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/212487–lt-col-steve-russell-us-army-ret

Anonymous targets lawmakers for defeat

By Brendan Sasso

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/212793-anonymous-targets-lawmakers-for-defeat

News bites: WikiLeaks publishes intelligence firm’s emails By Brendan Sasso

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/212685-news-bites-wikileaks-publishes-intelligence-firms-emails

FTC chief: Google forcing consumers to make ‘brutal choice’ with privacy changes

By Brendan Sasso

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/212741-ftc-chief-google-forcing-consumers-to-make-brutal-choice-with-privacy-changes

George Osborne: UK has run out of money

The Government ‘has run out of money’ and cannot afford debt-fuelled tax cuts or extra spending, George Osborne has admitted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9107485/George-Osborne-UK-has-run-out-of-money.html

Economic and Political News : Feb. 27th, 2012

 

WikiLeaks begins publishing 5 million emails from STRATFOR 26 Feb 2012 Today (27 Feb) WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files – more than five million emails from the Texas-headquartered “global intelligence” company Stratfor. The emails date from between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal’s Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defense Intelligence Agency. Stratfor… emails reveal private intelligence staff who align themselves closely with US government policies and channel tips to the Mossad – including through an information mule in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Yossi Melman, who conspired with Guardian journalist David Leigh to secretly, and in violation of WikiLeaks’ contract with the Guardian, move WikiLeaks US diplomatic cables to Israel.

‘US to announce aerial blockade on Syria’ 25 Feb 2012 The Pentagon is readying for the possibility of intervention in Syria, the newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported Saturday, citing a US military official. According to the official, the intervention scenario calls for the establishment of a buffer zone on the Turkish border, in order to receive Syrian refugees. The measure would pave the way for the US to declare an aerial blockade on Syria. The next step in the reported US Department of Defense plan would be to appoint a team of UN observers to monitor the ‘humanitarian’ military aid, and enter Syria. They would need aerial protection, which would eventually lead to an aerial blockade.

UK prepares for military strike against Iran: The Sun 26 Feb 2012 The United Kingdom has reportedly drawn up plans to send hundreds of troops and an extra nuclear submarine to the Persian Gulf amid escalating war threats against the Islamic Republic. “MoD planners went into overdrive at the start of the year. Conflict is seen as inevitable as long as the regime (Iran) pursue their nuclear ambitions,” The Sun quoted a senior Whitehall official as saying on Sunday. “Britain would be sucked in whether we like it or not,” the official added. The report said a military attack against Iran is “a matter of when not if… with 18 to 24 months the likely timescale.”

Two U.S. army officers killed as violence escalates for 5th day in Afghanistan

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/two-u-s-army-officers-killed-as-violence-escalates-for-5th-day-in-afghanistan/

Iran warns of the collapse of the Jewish state if it mounts an attack

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/iran-warns-of-the-collapse-of-the-jewish-state-if-it-mounts-an-attack/

The WMD wars are upon us: U.S. trying to contain Syria’s stockpile

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/the-wmd-wars-are-upon-us-u-s-trying-to-contain-syrians-stockpile/

Wyoming state legislators prepare for what amounts to ‘doomsday’

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/wyoming-state-legislators-prepare-for-what-amounts-to-doomsday/

Social Media “Tactical Intelligence Collection”: Spying and Propaganda using Facebook, Twitter

http://www.sott.net/articles/show/242112-Social-Media-Tactical-Intelligence-Collection-Spying-and-Propaganda-using-Facebook-Twitter

 “Gasland” Director Josh Fox Arrested at Congressional Hearing on Natural Gas Fracking

BP faces billions in fines as spill trial nears

http://news.yahoo.com/bp-faces-billions-fines-spill-trial-nears-141432086.html;_ylt=AvPDT_hoiT5FejC4UzErOYqs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTNsMGZhczJuBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBGUARwa2cDYTJmY2ZiODMtZWMzMy0zZTMxLTg1YTMtYWEyOGNlNzNkMzNiBHBvcwMzBHNlYwN0b3Bfc3RvcnkEdmVyA2NlNmY4MTU0LTVmYmMtMTFlMS05ZWZlLTEzNGE1ZTk5MzEwMw–;_ylg=X3oDMTFvdnRqYzJoBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zBHRlc3QD;_ylv=

Britain draws up battle plan against Iran

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/britain-draws-up-battle-plan-against-iran/articleshow/12044550.cms

Obama faces tense meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Iran policy

http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-and-strategy/212577-obama-to-face-tense-meeting-on-iran-with-israeli-leader-netanyahu

AIJ Suspension Undermines Japan Pensions Hedge Fund Appetite

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-27/aij-suspension-undermines-japan-pensions-hedge-fund-appetite.html

U.S. Fighting On the Same Side as Three Terrorist Groups In Syria

http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/02/u-s-fighting-on-the-same-side-as-three-terrorist-groups-in-syria.html

Economy News for Thurs 23 Feb 2012

Wall Street Closes Lower On Banks

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-futures-mixed-economic-data-095…

Gasoline Gas Spike Has Temporary Offset

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/gasoline-price-spike-temporary-offset…

Housing Dilemma:  There’s Not Enough To Buy

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/housings-dilemma-theres-not-enough-20…

Some Greeks Might Have To Pay For Their Jobs

http://news.yahoo.com/greeks-might-pay-jobs-152039441.html

The Looming Threat To Gas Prices:  Straight Of Hormuz Explained
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/looming-threat-gas-pric…


Pawn Stars:  5 Household Items With Hidden Value
http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113849-11791-2-pawn…


Oil Dips Below $106 Amid Greek Woes, Iran Tensions
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-dips-below-106-amid-134242828.htm…


Iran Threatens To Extend Oil Embargo
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/20/iran-threatens-extend-o…


Analysts Warn Oil Could Pass $200 On Iran Tensions
http://www.citywire.co.uk/wealth-manager/analysts-warn-oil-could-pa…


8 Reasons Why The Greek Debt Deal May Not Stop A Chaotic Greek Debt Default
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/8-reasons-why-the-greek…

Dow Flirts With 13,000 But Can’t Make It

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/dow-flirts-13-000-again-210726737.htm…

Benchmark Oil Price Hits 9-Month High Near $108

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/benchmark-oil-price-hits-9-214024902….

False Recovery 2.0:  It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like 2011

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/false-recovery-2-0-beginning-15303341…

Jim Rogers:  Gold To Rise Much Higher In This Decade, Do Not Sell It!

http://lewrockwell.com/rogers-j/rogers-j165.html

Latest Resignations From World Banks & Gov’ts

http://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=72423198

Gasoline Prices Are Not Rising, The Dollar Is Falling

http://www.forbes.com/sites/louiswoodhill/2012/02/22/gasoline-price…

Disability Fraud Holds Down US Unemployment Rate

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article33236.html

Japan, China To Promote Yen-Yuan Currency Exchange

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/17/japan-economy-china-idUSL…