lewrockwell--2020-02-18--If Duterte Wants Us Out, Let’s Go

If Duterte Wants Us Out, Let’s Go

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has just given us notice he will be terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement that governs U.S. military personnel in the islands .
His notification starts the clock running on a six-month deadline .
If no new agreement is negotiated , the VFA is dissolved .
Duterte was offended that one of his political allies who led his anti-drug campaign in the islands , which involves extrajudicial killings of drug dealers , had been denied a U.S. visa .
Yet , Duterte has never been an enthusiast of the U.S. presence .
In 2016 , he told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I want , maybe in the next two years , my country free of the presence of foreign military troops .
I want them out.
” The Pentagon is shaken .
If there is no VFA , how do we continue to move forces in and out to guarantee our ability to honor the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty ?
Defense Secretary Mark Esper called Duterte ’ s action “ a step in the wrong direction.
” The Death of the West : ... Patrick J. Buchanan Check Amazon for Pricing .
President Donald @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to do that , that ’ s fine .
We ’ ll save a lot of money.
” The Philippine Islands are among the largest recipients of foreign aid in East Asia , and we ’ ve provided $ 1.3 billion in military assistance over the last two decades .
But money shouldn ’ t be the largest consideration here .
Trump has been given a historic opportunity to reshape U.S. and Asia policy along the lines he ran on in 2016 .
He should tell Duterte that we accept his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are giving notice of our decision to let the 1951 treaty lapse .
And following expiration of that treaty , the U.S. will be absolved of any legal obligation to come to the defense of the Philippines .
Time for Manila to take charge of its own defense .
Indeed , what is the argument for a treaty that virtually dictates U.S. involvement in any future war in 7,600 islands 8,000 miles from the United States ?
When we negotiated the 1951 treaty , it was a different world .
We had entered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USSR .
We were in a hot war in Korea that would cost 37,000 U.S. lives .
Gen. Douglas MacArthur had just been relieved of his command of U.S. forces in Korea by Harry Truman .
A disarmed Japan had not fully recovered from World War II .
The Communist armies of Chairman Mao had overrun China and driven our Nationalist allies off the mainland .
The Viet Minh were five years into a guerrilla war to drive the French out of Indochina .
Today , the Cold War is long over .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to the Philippines .
Nor is China , though Xi Jinping has occupied and fortified islets like Mischief Reef in the South China Sea that are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines .
There is no U.S. vital interest at risk in these islands to justify an eternal war guarantee or treaty commitment to fight Beijing over rocks and reefs in the South China Sea .
Trump should seize this opportunity to tell Duterte that when the VFA , which guarantees immunity for U.S. forces in the Philippines , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is dissolved .
A message would be sent to Asia , and the world , that Trump was serious when he said that he intends to revisit and review all the defense alliances and war guarantees entered into 60 and 70 years ago , to address threats that no longer exist in a world that no longer exists .
Churchill , Hitler , and ... Patrick J. Buchanan Best Price : $ 9.48 Buy New $ 14.00 The U.S. has a long history with the Philippines , beginning in the War of 1898 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Dewey ’ s Asian squadron sank a Spanish fleet in Manila harbor , and we invaded , occupied and colonized the islands , thus emulating Europe ’ s imperial powers and abandoning the anti-colonial legacy of the Founding Fathers .
“ Take up the White Man ’ s burden , ” Rudyard Kipling admonished us .
After Filipino patriots fought for nearly four years to liberate their islands from the Americans , as they had from the Spanish , inflicting on U.S. soldiers and Marines thousands of casualties , the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We ’ ve taken up the white man ’ s burden/Of ebony and brown/Now , will you tell , Rudyard/How we may put it down.
” After Pearl Harbor in December 1941 , the Japanese invaded and occupied the islands , until Gen. MacArthur made good in on his famous pledge on leaving Corregidor , “ I shall return.
” In 1944 , we liberated the islands .
A year after Japan ’ s surrender , on July 4 , 1946 , we granted the Philippines full independence .
And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and prosperous than in 1946 , should take full custody of the defense of their own sovereignty and independence .
At the end of the Cold War , nationalists in Manila ordered the U.S. to vacate the great naval base we had built at Subic Bay .
We should have used that expulsion to let the 1951 security treaty lapse .
Trump should not miss this opportunity .
The Best of Patrick J. Buchanan

Shop all books by Pat Buchanan
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has just given us notice he will be terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement that governs U.S. military personnel in the islands.
His notification starts the clock running on a six-month deadline. If no new agreement is negotiated, the VFA is dissolved.
What triggered the decision?
Duterte was offended that one of his political allies who led his anti-drug campaign in the islands, which involves extrajudicial killings of drug dealers, had been denied a U.S. visa.
Yet, Duterte has never been an enthusiast of the U.S. presence. In 2016, he told his Chinese hosts in Beijing: “I want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out.”
The Pentagon is shaken. If there is no VFA, how do we continue to move forces in and out to guarantee our ability to honor the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty? Defense Secretary Mark Esper called Duterte’s action “a step in the wrong direction.”
President Donald Trump openly disagreed: “If they would like to do that, that’s fine. We’ll save a lot of money.”
The Philippine Islands are among the largest recipients of foreign aid in East Asia, and we’ve provided $1.3 billion in military assistance over the last two decades. But money shouldn’t be the largest consideration here.
Trump has been given a historic opportunity to reshape U.S. and Asia policy along the lines he ran on in 2016.
He should tell Duterte that we accept his decision and that we, too, are giving notice of our decision to let the 1951 treaty lapse. And following expiration of that treaty, the U.S. will be absolved of any legal obligation to come to the defense of the Philippines.
Time for Manila to take charge of its own defense. Indeed, what is the argument for a treaty that virtually dictates U.S. involvement in any future war in 7,600 islands 8,000 miles from the United States?
When we negotiated the 1951 treaty, it was a different world.
We had entered a Cold War with Stalin’s USSR. We were in a hot war in Korea that would cost 37,000 U.S. lives. Gen. Douglas MacArthur had just been relieved of his command of U.S. forces in Korea by Harry Truman. A disarmed Japan had not fully recovered from World War II.
The Communist armies of Chairman Mao had overrun China and driven our Nationalist allies off the mainland. The Viet Minh were five years into a guerrilla war to drive the French out of Indochina.
Today, the Cold War is long over. Vladimir Putin’s Russia is no threat to the Philippines. Nor is China, though Xi Jinping has occupied and fortified islets like Mischief Reef in the South China Sea that are within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
There is no U.S. vital interest at risk in these islands to justify an eternal war guarantee or treaty commitment to fight Beijing over rocks and reefs in the South China Sea.
Trump should seize this opportunity to tell Duterte that when the VFA, which guarantees immunity for U.S. forces in the Philippines, is dissolved, the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty is dissolved.
A message would be sent to Asia, and the world, that Trump was serious when he said that he intends to revisit and review all the defense alliances and war guarantees entered into 60 and 70 years ago, to address threats that no longer exist in a world that no longer exists. Churchill, Hitler, and... Patrick J. Buchanan Best Price: $9.48 Buy New $14.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
The U.S. has a long history with the Philippines, beginning in the War of 1898 with Spain, when Admiral George’s Dewey’s Asian squadron sank a Spanish fleet in Manila harbor, and we invaded, occupied and colonized the islands, thus emulating Europe’s imperial powers and abandoning the anti-colonial legacy of the Founding Fathers.
“Take up the White Man’s burden,” Rudyard Kipling admonished us.
After Filipino patriots fought for nearly four years to liberate their islands from the Americans, as they had from the Spanish, inflicting on U.S. soldiers and Marines thousands of casualties, the New York Herald replied to the Poet of Empire:
“We’ve taken up the white man’s burden/Of ebony and brown/Now, will you tell, Rudyard/How we may put it down.”
After Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Japanese invaded and occupied the islands, until Gen. MacArthur made good in on his famous pledge on leaving Corregidor, “I shall return.”
In 1944, we liberated the islands.
A year after Japan’s surrender, on July 4, 1946, we granted the Philippines full independence. And that nation and people, far more populous and prosperous than in 1946, should take full custody of the defense of their own sovereignty and independence.
At the end of the Cold War, nationalists in Manila ordered the U.S. to vacate the great naval base we had built at Subic Bay. We should have used that expulsion to let the 1951 security treaty lapse.
Trump should not miss this opportunity.
The Best of Patrick J. Buchanan


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--The New Rules of the Game

The New Rules of the Game

The quadrennial political game of least worst , or how to scare the public to vote for presidential candidates who serve corporate power , comes this season with a new twist .
Donald Trump , if he faces Pete Buttigieg , Joe Biden , Amy Klobuchar or Michael Bloomberg , will continue to be an amalgamation of Adolf Hitler , Al Capone and the Antichrist .
But should Bernie Sanders manage to evade the snares , traps and minefields laid for him by the Democratic Party elites , should he miraculously become the party ’ s nominee , the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All the terrifying demons that inhabit Trump will be instantly exorcised .
But unlike in the biblical story of Jesus driving the demons into a herd of swine , they will be driven into the senator from Vermont .
Trump will become the establishment ’ s reluctant least worse option .
Sanders will become a leper .
The Democratic and Republican party elites , joining forces as they did in the 1972 presidential election , will do to Sanders what they did to George McGovern , who lost in 49 of the 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nominate Sanders , the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the US .
Sanders is just as polarizing as Trump AND he ’ ll ruin our economy and doesn ’ t care about our military , ” former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein ( net worth $ 1.1 billion ) tweeted .
“ If I ’ m Russian , I go with Sanders this time around.
” Against the Left : A Ro ... Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr Best Price : $ 13.57 Buy New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cuts to Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid and who headed Goldman Sachs when it paid Hillary Clinton $ 675,000 for three speaking engagements in 2013 , laid out the stance of the billionaire class that controls the Democratic Party .
The New York Times reported that Mike Novogratz , “ a Goldman Sachs alumnus who runs the merchant bank Galaxy Digital , said Mr. Sanders ’ s oppositional nature had prompted ‘ too many friends ’ to say they would vote against him in November .
‘ And they hate Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , nobody wants to work with him , he got nothing done .
He was a career politician .
It ’ s all just baloney , and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it , ” Hillary Clinton says of Sanders in a forthcoming television documentary .
The courtiers in the press , pathetically attempting to spin Sanders ’ New Hampshire win into a victory for the corporate-endorsed alternatives , are part of the firing squad .
“ Running Sanders Against Trump Would Be an Act of Insanity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jonathan Chait in New York magazine .
“ No party nomination , with the possible exception of Barry Goldwater in 1964 , has put forth a presidential nominee with the level of downside risk exposure as a Sanders-led ticket would bring .
To nominate Sanders would be insane , ” he wrote .
David Frum — now a darling of the Democratic elites , like many other Republicans who morphed from George W. Bush supporters into critics of Trump — announced in The Atlantic that Bernie can ’ t win .
“ Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dialectical materialism , from the land that time forgot , ” Frum wrote .
“ Class relations are foundational ; everything else is epiphenomenal.
” Jennifer Rubin declared in The Washington Post that a Sanders nomination would be a “ disaster for the Democrats.
” “ Sanders ’ s campaign , like all primary campaigns , is a preview of the general-election race and , if elected , the administration he would lead , ” Rubin wrote .
“ A nominee who insists on personally attacking all doubters and the media might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but Democrats are not going to win with their own Donald Trump , especially one who has burned bridges and stirred resentment in his own party .
”

The quadrennial political game of least worst, or how to scare the public to vote for presidential candidates who serve corporate power, comes this season with a new twist. Donald Trump, if he faces Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar or Michael Bloomberg, will continue to be an amalgamation of Adolf Hitler, Al Capone and the Antichrist. But should Bernie Sanders manage to evade the snares, traps and minefields laid for him by the Democratic Party elites, should he miraculously become the party’s nominee, the game of least worst will radically change. All the terrifying demons that inhabit Trump will be instantly exorcised. But unlike in the biblical story of Jesus driving the demons into a herd of swine, they will be driven into the senator from Vermont. Trump will become the establishment’s reluctant least worse option. Sanders will become a leper. The Democratic and Republican party elites, joining forces as they did in the 1972 presidential election, will do to Sanders what they did to George McGovern, who lost in 49 of the 50 states.
“If Dems go on to nominate Sanders, the Russians will have to reconsider who to work for to best screw up the US. Sanders is just as polarizing as Trump AND he’ll ruin our economy and doesn’t care about our military,” former Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein (net worth $1.1 billion) tweeted. “If I’m Russian, I go with Sanders this time around.”
Against the Left: A Ro... Rockwell Jr, Llewellyn H Best Price: $2.85 Buy New $8.00 (as of 07:59 UTC - Details) Blankfein, who calls for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and who headed Goldman Sachs when it paid Hillary Clinton $675,000 for three speaking engagements in 2013, laid out the stance of the billionaire class that controls the Democratic Party. The New York Times reported that Mike Novogratz, “a Goldman Sachs alumnus who runs the merchant bank Galaxy Digital, said Mr. Sanders’s oppositional nature had prompted ‘too many friends’ to say they would vote against him in November. ‘And they hate Trump,’ he said.”
“Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney, and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it,” Hillary Clinton says of Sanders in a forthcoming television documentary.
The courtiers in the press, pathetically attempting to spin Sanders’ New Hampshire win into a victory for the corporate-endorsed alternatives, are part of the firing squad. “Running Sanders Against Trump Would Be an Act of Insanity” read the headline in a piece by Jonathan Chait in New York magazine. “No party nomination, with the possible exception of Barry Goldwater in 1964, has put forth a presidential nominee with the level of downside risk exposure as a Sanders-led ticket would bring. To nominate Sanders would be insane,” he wrote. David Frum — now a darling of the Democratic elites, like many other Republicans who morphed from George W. Bush supporters into critics of Trump — announced in The Atlantic that Bernie can’t win. “Sanders is a Marxist of the old school of dialectical materialism, from the land that time forgot,” Frum wrote. “Class relations are foundational; everything else is epiphenomenal.”
Jennifer Rubin declared in The Washington Post that a Sanders nomination would be a “disaster for the Democrats.” “Sanders’s campaign, like all primary campaigns, is a preview of the general-election race and, if elected, the administration he would lead,” Rubin wrote. “A nominee who insists on personally attacking all doubters and the media might be a model for the Republican Party, but Democrats are not going to win with their own Donald Trump, especially one who has burned bridges and stirred resentment in his own party.”
Read the Whole Article


Another EV Exemption

It ’ s apparently not enough to pay people to buy EVs – using other people ’ s money .
EVs must be given additional artificial advantages – so that they may “ compete ” even more unfairly with non-electric cars .
Because , of course , they can ’ t compete on the merits .
The state of Colorado – which is becoming very much like the state of California , due to all the Californians who ’ ve fled California but brought California ideas with them to places like Colorado – is pushing to grant EVs an exemption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sold through new car dealerships .
Such laws have been in force for decades and are favored by new car dealers – who don ’ t want to have to compete directly with the manufacturers , including the brands they sell themselves .
A Ford dealership , for example , doesn ’ t want you to be able to buy a new Ford from Ford .
These must-buy-at-a-dealer laws are obnoxious , but granting an exemption just for electric cars is even more so .
If the exemption is granted , it would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advantage over other car manufacturers – who would still be required by law to sell their cars through a dealer network , with all the costs that involves .
Amazon.com Gift Card i ... Buy New $ 10.00 Which would make it harder for them to sell non-electric cars .
Clearly – if you believe in the idea of a free market – every car maker ought to be free to sell its cars however it likes .
Or rather , however buyers like .
If people are willing to purchase directly from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pay less for it – why should they be prohibited by law from making the transaction ?
The argument is that people need the assistance of dealership sales staff to help them figure out what to buy , to deal with the transaction itself – and to “ prep ” the car prior to delivery ( i.e.
, remove the plastic from the seats and so on ) .
But people are allowed – loathsome term but an accurate term – to buy practically everything else online , from electronics to food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any different ?
Well , because of state laws – like the one which is still in force in Colorado – which forbid new cars to be sold this way .
Interestingly , the proposed exemption would include electric cars manufactured by car companies that also build non-electric cars – a legislative nudge clearly meant to “ encourage ” them to build more electric cars since they ’ d be able to sell them directly , too .
Which will also nudge these manufacturers in the direction of closing their dealerships and – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Best of Eric Peters

It’s apparently not enough to pay people to buy EVs – using other people’s money. EVs must be given additional artificial advantages – so that they may “compete” even more unfairly with non-electric cars.
Because, of course, they can’t compete on the merits.
The state of Colorado – which is becoming very much like the state of California, due to all the Californians who’ve fled California but brought California ideas with them to places like Colorado – is pushing to grant EVs an exemption from state law requiring new cars be sold through new car dealerships.
Such laws have been in force for decades and are favored by new car dealers – who don’t want to have to compete directly with the manufacturers, including the brands they sell themselves. A Ford dealership, for example, doesn’t want you to be able to buy a new Ford from Ford.
These must-buy-at-a-dealer laws are obnoxious, but granting an exemption just for electric cars is even more so.
If the exemption is granted, it would give EV manufacturers like Tesla an enormous advantage over other car manufacturers – who would still be required by law to sell their cars through a dealer network, with all the costs that involves. Amazon.com Gift Card i... Buy New $10.00 (as of 08:25 UTC - Details)
Which would make it harder for them to sell non-electric cars.
Clearly – if you believe in the idea of a free market – every car maker ought to be free to sell its cars however it likes. Or rather, however buyers like. If people are willing to purchase directly from a manufacturer – and by doing so, pay less for it – why should they be prohibited by law from making the transaction?
The argument is that people need the assistance of dealership sales staff to help them figure out what to buy, to deal with the transaction itself – and to “prep” the car prior to delivery (i.e., remove the plastic from the seats and so on).
But people are allowed – loathsome term but an accurate term – to buy practically everything else online, from electronics to food to furniture.
Why should cars be any different?
Well, because of state laws – like the one which is still in force in Colorado – which forbid new cars to be sold this way.
Unless they’re electric cars.
Interestingly, the proposed exemption would include electric cars manufactured by car companies that also build non-electric cars – a legislative nudge clearly meant to “encourage” them to build more electric cars since they’d be able to sell them directly, too.
Which will also nudge these manufacturers in the direction of closing their dealerships and – eventually – selling only EVs.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Eric Peters


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--Genetically Modified Seeds: Conceived as a Weapon

GM seeds and GM food carry great risks for all nations , so much so that for many reasons it is probably imperative these foods be banned outright .
This subject is too large to be discussed here , but one aspect requires brief notice .
If we were to ask about the origin of GM seeds , how the idea was conceived and developed , who did the research and who provided the funding , how would we reply ?
We might reasonably suggest that perhaps the concept originated in the Biology or Agricultural Department of some university , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on food supplies might have conceived and pursued the idea .
Or , we might suggest a private company in the agricultural field was looking for more productive varieties of grains and stumbled on this process .
We might suggest all those answers , but in each case we would be wrong .
GM seed was conceived , promoted , researched and funded by the US Department of Defense – the American War Department .
GM seed was never meant as a way to feed the hungry , but was instead conceived and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precisely , as a weapons-delivery system .
Genetically-Modified seed was never intended to support human life , but to eliminate it .
GM seed is neither more productive nor healthier than traditional heritage crops , and is far more expensive and destructive , but it presents almost irresistible military advantages against any nation that becomes dependent on this source of food grains .
One is that the US can use it as a political weapon , refusing to supply seed to a disfavored nation , perhaps causing widespread famine and dislocation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many groups have experimented with gene-splicing technology , inserting unrelated DNA into various seeds .
KetoFast : Rejuvenate Y ... Dr. Joseph Mercola Best Price : $ 7.13 Buy New $ 9.64 In one case in Canada , a government department discovered an “ anti-freeze ” gene contained in the blood of fish living in Arctic waters , permitting them to survive in waters of sub-zero temperature .
( 20 ) The scientists spliced this gene into Canadian wheat crops , permitting the wheat to withstand freezing temperatures without damage .
Monsanto also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first GMO tomato .
( 21 ) An American research lab spliced the genes from fireflies into tobacco plants , producing a tobacco field that glowed in the dark .
( 22 ) These examples may be harmless , but others are much less so .
The US Defense Department has invested huge sums in research directed to splicing lethal genes into these GM crop seeds , including smallpox , bird and swine flu viruses , coronaviruses , the plague , AIDS , and more .
As a military weapon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shooting war when Monsanto or Cargill can sell rice , corn and soybeans that contain smallpox , H5N1 , or a coronavirus ?
When the seed is harvested and passes into the nation ’ s food supply it could , within weeks , exterminate 50 % or more of the population without firing a single shot .
And this was precisely the reason GM seed was conceived and developed by the Americans .
It is a weapon of war , designed and meant to deliver to a nation ’ s entire population @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to literally exterminate an enemy with no risk to the aggressor .
Many scientists and US military documents have demonstrated that seeds are far cheaper and much more effective than bombs in the search for military domination .
One such military document I ’ ve discussed elsewhere stated the cost per death of an enemy population by nuclear , conventional and biological weapons , the latter being orders of magnitude less than the former .
In 2001 scientists at the Epicyte bio-lab in San Diego created a GM contraceptive corn , having discovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack sperm .
Their researchers isolated the genes that regulate the manufacture of these antibodies and inserted them into corn plants , creating horticultural factories that make contraceptives .
( 23 ) ( 24 ) Shortly after the 2001 Epicyte press release , all discussion of the breakthrough vanished .
The company was taken over by Biolex and nothing more was heard in any media about the development of spermicidal corn .
Epicyte , DuPont and Syngenta ( sponsors of the Svalbard Seed Vault ) had a joint venture to share and use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NGO ETC Group , warned in a column in the Mexican daily La Jornada , that “ The potential of spermicidal corn as a biological weapon is very high ” , and reminisced about the use of forced sterilizations against indigenous peoples .
Fat for Fuel : A Revolu ... Dr. Joseph Mercola Best Price : $ 7.40 Buy New $ 11.89 A new and serious cause for concern is the recently-announced seed vault built on a piece of barren rock named Svalbard , which is owned by Norway , is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virtually inaccessible .
According to press releases , this seed vault has dual blast-proof doors with motion sensors , two airlocks , and walls of steel-reinforced concrete one meter thick .
There are no full-time staff , but the vault ’ s relative inaccessibility will facilitate monitoring any human activity .
The stated purpose is to store the entire world ’ s heritage seeds so that crop diversity can be saved for the future , but that crop diversity is already “ saved ” , stored in vaults all around the world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a remote and secure facility should be developed ?
The promoters and financiers of this venture are the same people who control the world ’ s GM seeds and who have been among the most outspoken proponents of drastically reducing the world ’ s population : the Rockefeller and Gates Foundations , Syngenta , DuPont , Monsanto and CGIAR .
These are the same people who are actively destroying crop diversity all over the planet .
Why would they suddenly get religion and decide to save in Norway the same seeds they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , William Engdahl wrote an excellently researched article on this subject of the seed vault and arrived at the same conclusion , that the vault was created as a storehouse for lethal biological pathogens , the DNA of which can be combined with GM seed and unleashed anywhere with the help of these same seed companies .
No other use would explain the list of participants or the need for the remote location and virtually nuclear-proof security .
Engdahl asked , “ Is it a coincidence that these same organizations , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ World Bank are also involved in the Svalbard seed bank project ?
” ( 25 ) The original source of this article is Global Research .

Read Part I and Part II.
GM seeds and GM food carry great risks for all nations, so much so that for many reasons it is probably imperative these foods be banned outright. This subject is too large to be discussed here, but one aspect requires brief notice. If we were to ask about the origin of GM seeds, how the idea was conceived and developed, who did the research and who provided the funding, how would we reply? We might reasonably suggest that perhaps the concept originated in the Biology or Agricultural Department of some university, or that a government lab doing research on food supplies might have conceived and pursued the idea. Or, we might suggest a private company in the agricultural field was looking for more productive varieties of grains and stumbled on this process.
We might suggest all those answers, but in each case we would be wrong. GM seed was conceived, promoted, researched and funded by the US Department of Defense – the American War Department. GM seed was never meant as a way to feed the hungry, but was instead conceived and developed as a weapon or, more precisely, as a weapons-delivery system. Genetically-Modified seed was never intended to support human life, but to eliminate it.
GM seed is neither more productive nor healthier than traditional heritage crops, and is far more expensive and destructive, but it presents almost irresistible military advantages against any nation that becomes dependent on this source of food grains. One is that the US can use it as a political weapon, refusing to supply seed to a disfavored nation, perhaps causing widespread famine and dislocation. The other is more sinister, in that many groups have experimented with gene-splicing technology, inserting unrelated DNA into various seeds. KetoFast: Rejuvenate Y... Mercola, Dr. Joseph Check Amazon for Pricing.
In one case in Canada, a government department discovered an “anti-freeze” gene contained in the blood of fish living in Arctic waters, permitting them to survive in waters of sub-zero temperature. (20) The scientists spliced this gene into Canadian wheat crops, permitting the wheat to withstand freezing temperatures without damage. Monsanto also forced these genes into tomatoes, resulting in the first GMO tomato. (21) An American research lab spliced the genes from fireflies into tobacco plants, producing a tobacco field that glowed in the dark. (22)
These examples may be harmless, but others are much less so. The US Defense Department has invested huge sums in research directed to splicing lethal genes into these GM crop seeds, including smallpox, bird and swine flu viruses, coronaviruses, the plague, AIDS, and more. As a military weapon, such science is priceless. Why begin a shooting war when Monsanto or Cargill can sell rice, corn and soybeans that contain smallpox, H5N1, or a coronavirus? When the seed is harvested and passes into the nation’s food supply it could, within weeks, exterminate 50% or more of the population without firing a single shot.
And this was precisely the reason GM seed was conceived and developed by the Americans. It is a weapon of war, designed and meant to deliver to a nation’s entire population a lethal virus or other disease, to literally exterminate an enemy with no risk to the aggressor. Many scientists and US military documents have demonstrated that seeds are far cheaper and much more effective than bombs in the search for military domination. One such military document I’ve discussed elsewhere stated the cost per death of an enemy population by nuclear, conventional and biological weapons, the latter being orders of magnitude less than the former.
In 2001 scientists at the Epicyte bio-lab in San Diego created a GM contraceptive corn, having discovered a rare class of human antibodies that attack sperm. Their researchers isolated the genes that regulate the manufacture of these antibodies and inserted them into corn plants, creating horticultural factories that make contraceptives. (23) (24) Shortly after the 2001 Epicyte press release, all discussion of the breakthrough vanished. The company was taken over by Biolex and nothing more was heard in any media about the development of spermicidal corn. Epicyte, DuPont and Syngenta (sponsors of the Svalbard Seed Vault) had a joint venture to share and use this technology. Silvia Ribeiro, of the NGO ETC Group, warned in a column in the Mexican daily La Jornada, that “The potential of spermicidal corn as a biological weapon is very high”, and reminisced about the use of forced sterilizations against indigenous peoples.
The Doomsday Seed Vault at Svalbard
Fat for Fuel: A Revolu... Dr. Joseph Mercola Best Price: $7.40 Buy New $11.89 (as of 10:20 UTC - Details) A new and serious cause for concern is the recently-announced seed vault built on a piece of barren rock named Svalbard, which is owned by Norway, is very remote near the North Pole, and virtually inaccessible. According to press releases, this seed vault has dual blast-proof doors with motion sensors, two airlocks, and walls of steel-reinforced concrete one meter thick. There are no full-time staff, but the vault’s relative inaccessibility will facilitate monitoring any human activity. The stated purpose is to store the entire world’s heritage seeds so that crop diversity can be saved for the future, but that crop diversity is already “saved”, stored in vaults all around the world. What do these people foresee, that such a remote and secure facility should be developed?
The promoters and financiers of this venture are the same people who control the world’s GM seeds and who have been among the most outspoken proponents of drastically reducing the world’s population: the Rockefeller and Gates Foundations, Syngenta, DuPont, Monsanto and CGIAR. These are the same people who are actively destroying crop diversity all over the planet. Why would they suddenly get religion and decide to save in Norway the same seeds they are destroying everywhere else?
Some time ago, William Engdahl wrote an excellently researched article on this subject of the seed vault and arrived at the same conclusion, that the vault was created as a storehouse for lethal biological pathogens, the DNA of which can be combined with GM seed and unleashed anywhere with the help of these same seed companies. No other use would explain the list of participants or the need for the remote location and virtually nuclear-proof security. Engdahl asked, “Is it a coincidence that these same organizations, from Norway to the Rockefeller Foundation to the World Bank are also involved in the Svalbard seed bank project?” (25)
Notes
(20) https://www.mun.ca/research/explore/publications/rmatters/june_96/antifrez.html
(21) https://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/adding-a-fish-gene-into-tomatoes-zmaz00amzgoe
(22) http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,143840,00.html
(23) GM corn set to stop man spreading his seed; https://www.theguardian.com/science/2001/sep/09/gm.food
(24) https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104×3738803
(25) https://www.globalresearch.ca/doomsday-seed-vault-in-the-arctic-2/23503
The original source of this article is Global Research.


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--It’s Time To Reclaim Syria’s Road to Recovery

Recep Tayyip Erdogan , neo-Ottoman extraordinaire , is not exactly inclined to commit seppuku , the Japanese act of ritual suicide .
But if not through the perspective of neo-Ottomanism , how to explain the fact he is de facto supporting al-Qaeda remnants in Syria while facing two unsavory options – a humiliating retreat from or total war against the Syrian Arab Army ?
Everything about the slowly evolving , messy chessboard in Idlib hinges on highways : the imperative for the government in Damascus to control both the M5 highway between Damascus and Aleppo and the M4 highway between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two crucial axes will finally turbo-charge the ailing Syrian economy .
Very few players nowadays remember the all-important Sochi memorandum of understanding signed between Russia and Turkey in September 2018 .
The Western spin was always about whether Damascus would comply .
Nonsense .
In the memorandum , Ankara guaranteed protection of civilian traffic on both highways .
It ’ s Ankara that is not complying , not only in terms of ensuring that “ radical terrorist groups ” are out of the demilitarized zone , but especially on point number 8 : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ movement of local residents and goods , as well as restoring trade and economic ties , transit traffic along the routes M4 ( Aleppo-Latakia ) and M5 ( Aleppo-Hama ) will be restored before the end of 2018.
” Secret Empires : How th ... Peter Schweizer Best Price : $ 5.99 Buy New $ 9.58 Vast stretches of Idlib are in fact under the yoke of Hayat Tahrir al Shams ( HTS ) , shorthand for al-Qaeda in Syria .
Or “ moderate rebels , ” as they are known inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government itself brands it as a terror organization .
For all practical purposes , the Erdogan system is supporting and weaponizing HTS in Idlib .
When the SAA reacts against HTS ’ s attacks , Erdogan goes ballistic and threatens war .
The West uncritically buys Ankara propaganda .
How dare the “ Assad regime ” take back the M5 , which “ had been under rebel control since 2012 ” ?
Erdogan is lauded for warning “ Iran and Russia to end the support for the Assad regime.
” NATO invariably condemns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official Ankara explanation for the Turkish presence in Idlib hinges on bringing reinforcements to “ observation posts.
” Nonsense .
These posts are not meant to go away .
On top of it , Ankara demands that the SAA should retreat to the positions it held months ago – away from Idlib .
There ’ s no way Damascus will “ comply ” because these Turkish troops are a de facto occupation body-protecting “ moderate rebels ” fighting for “ democracy ” who were decisively excluded by Moscow – and even Ankara – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t make this stuff up .

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, neo-Ottoman extraordinaire, is not exactly inclined to commit seppuku, the Japanese act of ritual suicide.
But if not through the perspective of neo-Ottomanism, how to explain the fact he is de facto supporting al-Qaeda remnants in Syria while facing two unsavory options – a humiliating retreat from or total war against the Syrian Arab Army?
Everything about the slowly evolving, messy chessboard in Idlib hinges on highways: the imperative for the government in Damascus to control both the M5 highway between Damascus and Aleppo and the M4 highway between Latakia and Aleppo. Fully reclaiming these two crucial axes will finally turbo-charge the ailing Syrian economy.
Very few players nowadays remember the all-important Sochi memorandum of understanding signed between Russia and Turkey in September 2018.
The Western spin was always about whether Damascus would comply. Nonsense. In the memorandum, Ankara guaranteed protection of civilian traffic on both highways. It’s Ankara that is not complying, not only in terms of ensuring that “radical terrorist groups” are out of the demilitarized zone, but especially on point number 8: “In the interests of ensuring free movement of local residents and goods, as well as restoring trade and economic ties, transit traffic along the routes M4 (Aleppo-Latakia) and M5 (Aleppo-Hama) will be restored before the end of 2018.” Secret Empires: How th... Schweizer, Peter Best Price: $5.99 Buy New $11.07 (as of 07:25 UTC - Details)
Vast stretches of Idlib are in fact under the yoke of Hayat Tahrir al Shams (HTS), shorthand for al-Qaeda in Syria. Or “moderate rebels,” as they are known inside the Beltway – even though the United States government itself brands it as a terror organization.
For all practical purposes, the Erdogan system is supporting and weaponizing HTS in Idlib. When the SAA reacts against HTS’s attacks, Erdogan goes ballistic and threatens war.
The West uncritically buys Ankara propaganda. How dare the “Assad regime” take back the M5, which “had been under rebel control since 2012”? Erdogan is lauded for warning “Iran and Russia to end the support for the Assad regime.” NATO invariably condemns “attacks on Turkish troops.”
The official Ankara explanation for the Turkish presence in Idlib hinges on bringing reinforcements to “observation posts.” Nonsense. These posts are not meant to go away. On top of it, Ankara demands that the SAA should retreat to the positions it held months ago – away from Idlib.
There’s no way Damascus will “comply” because these Turkish troops are a de facto occupation body-protecting “moderate rebels” fighting for “democracy” who were decisively excluded by Moscow – and even Ankara – from the Sochi memorandum. One can’t make this stuff up.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--Jack Cashill’s Adventure Novel, The Hunt

Ace investigative reporter and frequent AT contributor Jack Cashill and co-author Mike McMullen have published a novel , The Hunt .
Although it ’ s billed as “ a political thriller , ” it ’ s really more about just plain good guys versus bad guys , although these bad guys are Chechen jihadis , Mexican drug cartel henchmen , and homegrown America-hating radical anarchists .
The good guys are true-blue Americans ( the term “ true-blue ” coming from the days before the media , in their little practical joke , turned the traditional designations of “ red ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t read much fiction these days ( that doesn ’ t include what The New York Times , The Kansas City Star , and just about any Democrat campaign materials present as “ facts ” ) .
But because this particular work of fiction was written by two friends of mine , I made the exception .
The Hunt Jack Cashill , Mike McM ... Buy New $ 16.99 In the spirit of full disclosure , be advised that I ’ m well acquainted with both authors .
Jack Cashill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most American Thinker ; Mike McMullen , on the other hand , is a first-time author .
Although I know him as an avid outdoorsman , I had no idea of his knowledge of weaponry and combat , nor of his abilities as a wordsmith .
I think the last “ adventure thriller ” I read was another book that I clearly felt , while reading it , should be made into a movie .
That book was The Monkey Handlers by G. Gordon Liddy .
From the beginning of The Hunt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not just in the way the rhythm engaged me , but in the way that both seemed to have been written by guys who know what they ’ re talking about .
I might have actually enjoyed The Hunt even more if its premise had been left to be discovered , rather than being laid bare on the book ’ s back cover .
But giving potential readers an idea of what to expect is hardly a spoiler .
There ’ s plenty of suspense — and action !
— left .

Ace investigative reporter and frequent AT contributor Jack Cashill and co-author Mike McMullen have published a novel, The Hunt. Although it’s billed as “a political thriller,” it’s really more about just plain good guys versus bad guys, although these bad guys are Chechen jihadis, Mexican drug cartel henchmen, and homegrown America-hating radical anarchists. The good guys are true-blue Americans (the term “true-blue” coming from the days before the media, in their little practical joke, turned the traditional designations of “red” and “blue” upside-down).
I don’t read much fiction these days (that doesn’t include what The New York Times, The Kansas City Star, and just about any Democrat campaign materials present as “facts”). But because this particular work of fiction was written by two friends of mine, I made the exception.
The Hunt Jack Cashill, Mike McM... Buy New $16.99 (as of 10:56 UTC - Details) In the spirit of full disclosure, be advised that I’m well acquainted with both authors. Jack Cashill’s name should be familiar to most American Thinker; Mike McMullen, on the other hand, is a first-time author. Although I know him as an avid outdoorsman, I had no idea of his knowledge of weaponry and combat, nor of his abilities as a wordsmith.
I think the last “adventure thriller” I read was another book that I clearly felt, while reading it, should be made into a movie. That book was The Monkey Handlers by G. Gordon Liddy. From the beginning of The Hunt, I saw similarities in the two books, not just in the way the rhythm engaged me, but in the way that both seemed to have been written by guys who know what they’re talking about.
I might have actually enjoyed The Hunt even more if its premise had been left to be discovered, rather than being laid bare on the book’s back cover. But giving potential readers an idea of what to expect is hardly a spoiler. There’s plenty of suspense — and action! — left.
Read the Whole Article


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--Corona Virus Part II

Corona Virus Part II

A little over two weeks ago , I wrote to you about the corona virus ( COVID-19 ) epidemic in a blog post titled , ‘ Corona Virus : What to Do.
’ In that post , I suggested that corona virus , like most flu-like viruses , can be effectively managed with a holistic approach of eating a diet free of refined sugar , taking vitamins and minerals—particularly vitamins A , C , and D as well as iodine , and avoiding the flu shot .
Why avoid the flu shot ?
The flu shot is approximately 1-2 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute risk difference which is much more reliable than relative risk difference .
That means the flu shot fails to protect the vast majority who receive it .
And , there are studies that found those who get the flu shot are MORE susceptible to similar non-flu-like viruses including , you guessed it , corona virus .
Getting the flu shot and increasing one ’ s risk to other flu- and non-flu-like illnesses was first written about 60 years ago by Thomas Francis , Jr. , M.D .
( 1 ) Sixty years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is enough ; the flu vaccine should be pulled from the market .
But , I digress .
Drugs That Donu2019t W ... David Brownstein Best Price : $ 2.01 Buy New $ 15.00 The new corona virus , COVID-19 is still spreading in China and elsewhere .
As of 2.14.20 , the data indicates that 1,400 have died and over 64,000 are infected .
Although those numbers are grim , I would like to put them in perspective .
These numbers correlate to a 2 % death rate ( 1,400/64,000 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those infected survive .
Keep in mind , those are the reported numbers .
I am certain there are many more infected people who are staying home convalescing on their own .
Factoring those individuals in the total numbers would lower the death rate .
Any death is a tragedy , but the death rate from this new corona virus strain is not severe .
I think we will see a significant amount of corona virus infection in the US but I think our death rate will be lower .
We do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions as the Chinese do in the affected cities .
As with any viral illness , the best protective measures are to ensure the body has all the nutrients it needs to maintain a strong immune system .
That means eating a clean diet free of refined sugar , maintaining optimal hydration and ensuring that you have optimal levels of vitamins and minerals .
At my office , we find great success with doing IV nutrient therapy when our patients are ill with a viral or bacterial infection .
I received a note @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ Yooper ” ) who , at my request , gave himself a hydrogen peroxide IV and recovered from the flu in a day .
Intravenous vitamin C , glutathione and ozone are other therapies that also help with viral infections .
The Best of Dr. David Brownstein

A little over two weeks ago, I wrote to you about the corona virus (COVID-19) epidemic in a blog post titled, ‘Corona Virus: What to Do.’ In that post, I suggested that corona virus, like most flu-like viruses, can be effectively managed with a holistic approach of eating a diet free of refined sugar, taking vitamins and minerals—particularly vitamins A, C, and D as well as iodine, and avoiding the flu shot.
Why avoid the flu shot? The flu shot is approximately 1-2% effective in preventing the flu—that is the absolute risk difference which is much more reliable than relative risk difference. That means the flu shot fails to protect the vast majority who receive it. And, there are studies that found those who get the flu shot are MORE susceptible to similar non-flu-like viruses including, you guessed it, corona virus. Getting the flu shot and increasing one’s risk to other flu- and non-flu-like illnesses was first written about 60 years ago by Thomas Francis, Jr., M.D. (1) Sixty years of an expensive, lousy medical intervention is enough; the flu vaccine should be pulled from the market.
But, I digress. Drugs That Don’t... David Brownstein Best Price: $3.74 Buy New $17.63 (as of 08:30 UTC - Details)
The new corona virus, COVID-19 is still spreading in China and elsewhere. As of 2.14.20, the data indicates that 1,400 have died and over 64,000 are infected. Although those numbers are grim, I would like to put them in perspective. These numbers correlate to a 2% death rate (1,400/64,000). In other words, 98% of those infected survive. Keep in mind, those are the reported numbers. I am certain there are many more infected people who are staying home convalescing on their own. Factoring those individuals in the total numbers would lower the death rate.
Any death is a tragedy, but the death rate from this new corona virus strain is not severe. I think we will see a significant amount of corona virus infection in the US but I think our death rate will be lower. We do not live in as crowded nor as polluted conditions as the Chinese do in the affected cities.
As with any viral illness, the best protective measures are to ensure the body has all the nutrients it needs to maintain a strong immune system. That means eating a clean diet free of refined sugar, maintaining optimal hydration and ensuring that you have optimal levels of vitamins and minerals.
At my office, we find great success with doing IV nutrient therapy when our patients are ill with a viral or bacterial infection. I received a note from a physician colleague of mine (a “Yooper”) who, at my request, gave himself a hydrogen peroxide IV and recovered from the flu in a day. Intravenous vitamin C, glutathione and ozone are other therapies that also help with viral infections.
Read the Whole Article
The Best of Dr. David Brownstein


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--Free Expression and Property Rights

Free Expression and Property Rights

“ Freedom of expression is the matrix , the indispensable condition , of nearly every other form of freedom.
” ~ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo in Palko v. Connecticut ( 1937 ) In the case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky ( 2018 ) , the U.S. Supreme Court held that a Minnesota statute prohibiting individuals from wearing political apparel at a polling place violated the First Amendment .
An airplane is not a polling place .
Near the end of last year , American Airlines issued an apology to a woman after flight attendants objected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she wore on the plane .
Gun Control and the Se ... Laurence M. Vance Buy New $ 5.95 Back in October , Swati Runi Goyal of Key West was on board an American Airlines flight from Florida to Nevada when a crew member told her to change her shirt or leave the plane because the flight crew found her shirt to be “ offensive.
” According to a page on the American Airlines website titled “ conditions of carriage , ” under “ passenger responsibilities , ” passengers are required to , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and respectfully with other passengers on board Passengers who fail to comply by being “ uncooperative or show the potential to be uncooperative on board ” may not be allowed to fly .
Goyal maintains that “ she ’ s worn the T-shirt many times in the past without incident , including on airplanes.
” Although Goyal claims to be an atheist , she is a member of the Satanic Temple—an organization that ’ s “ become well-known for its activism on issues such as separation of church and state , free speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s an ironic shirt , ” she said .
“ People usually laugh at it , or they give me a thumbs-up because they understand the meaning behind it.
” The flight went on to Nevada as scheduled after the woman put on one of her husband ’ s shirts over her “ Hail Satan ” shirt .
Goyal said that she was “ humiliated ” by the situation and contacted American Airlines after her flight to file a complaint .
Only after she voiced her displeasure on Twitter did American Airlines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find the “ Hail Satan ” shirt offensive .
But since I recognize that I have no right to not be offended , what are my options ?
If I see someone wearing a “ Hail Satan ” shirt out in public and don ’ t want to confront him , I can ignore him and just keep walking or I can go home and pray for him .
If I see someone wearing a “ Hail Satan ” shirt out in public and want to confront him , I can stop and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ask him not to wear it or I can tell him why I think we should hail Jesus instead of Satan .
Those are my options .
Forcing him to remove the shirt or seeking the government to force him to remove the shirt are not options .
The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price : $ 13.95 Buy New $ 18.00 If I see someone wearing a “ Hail Satan ” shirt that I have invited into my home , then I have other options .
Why ?
Because it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell him to change his shirt or leave .
Now I can preach to him , yell at him , insult him , or seek to embarrass him in front of my other guests for as long as he is willing to listen .
He is , after all , free to leave on his own .
But it ’ s not just the wearing of a “ Hail Satan ” shirt that I can regulate in my home .
I find almost as offensive the wearing of a “ Bernie 2020 ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guests shows up wearing such a shirt , I have the same options .
Why , because it is my property .
And because it is my property , if I demand that all of my guests wear or not wear red shirts , Trump hats , or LeBron jerseys , then that is my right .
It is no different when it comes to American Airlines .
Although it may be a dumb thing to do from a business perspective , if American Airlines wants to require all passengers to wear formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delta shirts , then the company should have the right to do so .
The case of the woman on the airplane with the “ Hail Satan ” shirt has nothing to do with free expression and everything to do with property rights .
The Best of Laurence M. Vance

“Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.” ~ U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo in Palko v. Connecticut (1937)
Is freedom of expression absolute?
In the case of Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky (2018), the U.S. Supreme Court held that a Minnesota statute prohibiting individuals from wearing political apparel at a polling place violated the First Amendment.
An airplane is not a polling place.
Near the end of last year, American Airlines issued an apology to a woman after flight attendants objected to her “Hail Satan” shirt that she wore on the plane.
Gun Control and the Se... Laurence M. Vance Buy New $5.95 (as of 11:36 UTC - Details) Back in October, Swati Runi Goyal of Key West was on board an American Airlines flight from Florida to Nevada when a crew member told her to change her shirt or leave the plane because the flight crew found her shirt to be “offensive.” According to a page on the American Airlines website titled “conditions of carriage,” under “passenger responsibilities,” passengers are required to, among other things:
Behave appropriately and respectfully with other passengers on board
Dress appropriately; bare feet or offensive clothing aren’t allowed
Passengers who fail to comply by being “uncooperative or show the potential to be uncooperative on board” may not be allowed to fly.
Goyal maintains that “she’s worn the T-shirt many times in the past without incident, including on airplanes.”
Although Goyal claims to be an atheist, she is a member of the Satanic Temple—an organization that’s “become well-known for its activism on issues such as separation of church and state, free speech, and religious freedom.” “It’s an ironic shirt,” she said. “People usually laugh at it, or they give me a thumbs-up because they understand the meaning behind it.”
The flight went on to Nevada as scheduled after the woman put on one of her husband’s shirts over her “Hail Satan” shirt. Goyal said that she was “humiliated” by the situation and contacted American Airlines after her flight to file a complaint. Only after she voiced her displeasure on Twitter did American Airlines apologize.
As a Christian, I find the “Hail Satan” shirt offensive. But since I recognize that I have no right to not be offended, what are my options?
If I see someone wearing a “Hail Satan” shirt out in public and don’t want to confront him, I can ignore him and just keep walking or I can go home and pray for him. If I see someone wearing a “Hail Satan” shirt out in public and want to confront him, I can stop and tell him that his shirt offends me and ask him not to wear it or I can tell him why I think we should hail Jesus instead of Satan. Those are my options. Forcing him to remove the shirt or seeking the government to force him to remove the shirt are not options.
The Free Society Laurence M. Vance Best Price: $13.55 Buy New $17.54 (as of 04:55 UTC - Details) If I see someone wearing a “Hail Satan” shirt that I have invited into my home, then I have other options. Why? Because it is my property. Now I can tell him to change his shirt or leave. Now I can preach to him, yell at him, insult him, or seek to embarrass him in front of my other guests for as long as he is willing to listen. He is, after all, free to leave on his own.
But it’s not just the wearing of a “Hail Satan” shirt that I can regulate in my home. I find almost as offensive the wearing of a “Bernie 2020” shirt. If one of my invited guests shows up wearing such a shirt, I have the same options. Why, because it is my property. And because it is my property, if I demand that all of my guests wear or not wear red shirts, Trump hats, or LeBron jerseys, then that is my right.
It is no different when it comes to American Airlines. Although it may be a dumb thing to do from a business perspective, if American Airlines wants to require all passengers to wear formal attire or prohibit all passengers from wearing Delta shirts, then the company should have the right to do so.
The case of the woman on the airplane with the “Hail Satan” shirt has nothing to do with free expression and everything to do with property rights.
The Best of Laurence M. Vance


lewrockwell--2020-02-18--Daily Aspirin — Healthy or Harmful?

Daily Aspirin — Healthy or Harmful?

In decades past , a daily low-dose aspirin regimen was frequently recommended as a primary prevention strategy against heart disease .
However , the evidence in support of it was rather weak , and kept getting weaker as time went on .
I stopped recommending daily “ baby aspirin ” use for the prevention of heart disease over two decades ago , due to the growing evidence of harmful side effects .
The primary justification for a daily aspirin regimen has been that it inhibits prostaglandin production,1 thereby decreasing your blood ’ s ability to form dangerous clots .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health authorities have reversed their stance on the practice of using aspirin for primary prevention .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed its position on daily low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for heart disease in 2014,2 citing clearly established side effects — including dangerous brain and stomach bleeding — and a lack of clear benefit for patients who have never had a heart attack , stroke or cardiovascular disease .
In 2019 , the American Heart Association ( AHA ) and American College of Cardiology updated their clinical guidelines on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of the controversial findings on prophylactic aspirin use .
Importantly , studies have found that prophylactic aspirin use in adults over the age of 70 is potentially harmful , primarily due to the increased risk of bleeding in this age group .
As noted in one 2009 paper,4 long-term low-dose aspirin therapy nearly doubles your risk for gastrointestinal bleeding .
Older people are , of course , more likely to be at high risk for heart disease , and thus more likely to be put on aspirin therapy .
In younger adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As noted in the AHA guideline , in adults younger than 40 , “ there is insufficient evidence to judge the risk-benefit ratio of routine aspirin for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
” 5 That said , the conventional recommendation to avoid a daily aspirin regimen only applies to primary prevention of heart disease in those with no history of heart problems , or those with low or moderate risk for heart disease .
As reported by the AHA:6 While daily low-dose aspirin continues to be recommended for patients who already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence suggesting it may not be an ideal solution for them either .
For example , the WASH ( warfarin/aspirin study in heart failure ) study7 published in 2004 — which assessed the risks and benefits of aspirin and the blood thinner warfarin in heart failure patients — found those who received aspirin treatment ( 300 mg/day ) actually had the worst cardiac outcomes , including worsening heart failure .
According to the authors , there was “ no evidence that aspirin is effective or safe in patients with heart failure.
” Similarly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disease patients who had a prior history of aspirin use had more comorbidities and a higher risk of recurrent heart attack than those who had not been on aspirin therapy .
Aspirin has also not been proven safe or effective for diabetics , who are at increased risk for heart disease and therefore likely to be put on an aspirin regimen .
For example , a 2009 meta-analysis9 of six studies found no clear evidence that aspirin is effective in preventing cardiovascular events in people with diabetes , although men may derive some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the effects of aspirin therapy in diabetic patients found it “ significantly increased mortality in diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease from 17 % at age 50 years to 29 % at age 85 years.
” On the other hand , it did lower mortality in elderly diabetic patients who also had cardiovascular disease .
A meta-analysis11 published in 2010 also concluded aspirin did not reduce the heart attack risk in diabetic individuals .
Why Phlebotomy May Be a Better Option Than Aspirin Therapy While the benefits of low-dose aspirin may outweigh the risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be able to achieve similar cardiovascular protection by doing therapeutic phlebotomies .
There ’ s evidence to suggest that the bleeding caused by aspirin may in fact be part of why it lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke , as bleeding will lower your iron level .
Aspirin ’ s ability to lower inflammation may be another factor at play .
As shown in a 2001 study,12 people taking seven aspirins per week had 25 % lower mean serum ferritin than nonusers .
The effect was most marked in diseased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As explained by the authors : Most people , physicians included , fail to appreciate that — aside from blood loss , including menstruation — the body has no significant way to excrete excess iron .
There are very minor amounts lost through normal bodily processes , but not enough to move the needle on overall iron levels .
Between supplementation , fortification and the iron that occurs naturally in foods , it ’ s very easy to end up with excessive levels .
In fact , most adult men and postmenopausal women @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need regular blood testing for ferritin .
Excessive iron causes significant oxidative stress , catalyzing the formation of excessive free radicals that damage your cellular and mitochondrial membranes , proteins and DNA .
It is a potent contributor to increased risks of cancers , heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases .
You can learn more about the ins and outs of excess iron in “ Why Managing Your Iron Level Is Crucial to Your Health.
” While dangerous , iron overload is easy and inexpensive to treat .
All you really need to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transpeptidase ( GGT ) levels , avoid iron supplements , and be sure to donate blood on a regular basis .
By doing this , you can avoid serious health problems , and donating blood is a far safer way to lower your iron stores than taking aspirin and losing blood via internal bleeding .
Interestingly , a 2019 study13 found prophylactic aspirin use may lower the risk of all-cause cancer , gastrointestinal ( GI ) cancer and colorectal cancer mortality among older adults .
The study included 146,152 individuals with a mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Prostate , Lung , Colorectal , and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial .
The median follow-up time was 12.5 years .
Those taking aspirin at least three times a week had a : • 19 % lower risk of death from all causes • 15 % lower risk of death from any cancer Having a higher body mass index ( BMI between 25 and 29.9 ) lowered these percentages by 1 % , with the exception of colorectal cancer .
In this group , colorectal cancer death decreased by 34 % .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in underweight individuals ( BMI below 20 ) , which led the researchers to hypothesize that “ the efficacy of aspirin as a cancer preventive agent may be associated with BMI , ” 14 although this theory needs to be confirmed in future studies .
The authors also warn that prophylactic aspirin therapy for cancer prevention would need to be weighed against the increased risk of bleeding .
Other Health Risks Associated With Long-Term Aspirin Use Overall , there ’ s a lot of evidence against long-term daily aspirin therapy .
The risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is further magnified if you ’ re taking antidepressants or blood thinning medications such as Plavix .
Using aspirin in combination with SSRI antidepressants has been shown to increase your risk of abnormal bleeding by 42 % , compared to those taking aspirin alone,15 and taking aspirin ( 325 mg/day ) with Plavix has been shown to nearly double your risk of major hemorrhage and significantly increase your risk of death , while not affecting your risk of recurrent stroke to any significant degree.16 Aside from damaging your gastrointestinal tract,17,18 routine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increased risk for cataracts,19 neovascular ( wet ) macular degeneration,20 tinnitus21 and hearing loss in men.22 Aside from donating blood to lower your iron level ( provided it ’ s elevated ) , nattokinase is another far safer alternative to a daily aspirin regimen .
Nattokinase , produced by the bacteria Bacillus subtilis during the fermentation of soybeans to produce natto,23 is a strong thrombolytic,24 comparable to aspirin without the serious side effects .
KetoFast : Rejuvenate Y ... Dr. Joseph Mercola Best Price : $ 7.13 Buy New $ 9.64 It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood clots and reduce the risk of serious clotting25 by dissolving excess fibrin in your blood vessels,26 improving circulation and decreasing blood viscosity .
These effects can also help reduce high blood pressure.27 As noted in a 2018 paper,28 nattokinase appears to be a promising alternative in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases , and has been linked to a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality .
Lumbrokinase Is Even Better Than Nattokinase Yet another alternative is lumbrokinase , a complex fibrinolytic enzyme extracted from earthworms .
Like nattokinase , lumbrokinase boosts circulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood clotting factor activity and degrading fibrin , which is a key factor in clot formation.29,30 Some researchers have suggested lumbrokinase could be used “ as secondary prevention after acute thrombosis , ” such as heart attacks and stroke.31 A 2008 study32 that explored “ the mechanisms involved in the anti-ischemic action of lumbrokinase ( LK ) in the brain , ” found it protected against cerebral ischemia via several mechanisms and pathways .
As explained by the authors : A 2009 pilot study33 that used lumbrokinase in patients with coronary artery disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms in 40 % of patients and lowered the summed stress score by 29 % ( the summed stress score is a risk indicator for a cardiac event over the next 12 months34 ) .
According to the authors , “ Oral lumbrokinase improves regional myocardial perfusion in patients with stable angina.
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In decades past, a daily low-dose aspirin regimen was frequently recommended as a primary prevention strategy against heart disease. However, the evidence in support of it was rather weak, and kept getting weaker as time went on.
I stopped recommending daily “baby aspirin” use for the prevention of heart disease over two decades ago, due to the growing evidence of harmful side effects.
The primary justification for a daily aspirin regimen has been that it inhibits prostaglandin production,1 thereby decreasing your blood’s ability to form dangerous clots. However, in more recent years, most public health authorities have reversed their stance on the practice of using aspirin for primary prevention.
‘Baby’ Aspirin No Longer Recommended as Primary Prevention
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reversed its position on daily low-dose aspirin as primary prevention for heart disease in 2014,2 citing clearly established side effects — including dangerous brain and stomach bleeding — and a lack of clear benefit for patients who have never had a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease.
In 2019, the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology updated their clinical guidelines on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease,3 spelling out many of the controversial findings on prophylactic aspirin use.
Importantly, studies have found that prophylactic aspirin use in adults over the age of 70 is potentially harmful, primarily due to the increased risk of bleeding in this age group. As noted in one 2009 paper,4 long-term low-dose aspirin therapy nearly doubles your risk for gastrointestinal bleeding.
Older people are, of course, more likely to be at high risk for heart disease, and thus more likely to be put on aspirin therapy. In younger adults, the risks are less clear-cut.
As noted in the AHA guideline, in adults younger than 40, “there is insufficient evidence to judge the risk-benefit ratio of routine aspirin for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”5
That said, the conventional recommendation to avoid a daily aspirin regimen only applies to primary prevention of heart disease in those with no history of heart problems, or those with low or moderate risk for heart disease. As reported by the AHA:6
“The new recommendation doesn’t apply to people who already have had a stroke or heart attack, or who have undergone bypass surgery or a procedure to insert a stent in their coronary arteries.
These individuals already have cardiovascular disease and should continue to take low-dose aspirin daily, or as recommended by their health care provider, to prevent another occurrence …”
Is Aspirin Regimen Safe for Heart Disease Patients?
While daily low-dose aspirin continues to be recommended for patients who already have heart disease, there’s evidence suggesting it may not be an ideal solution for them either.
For example, the WASH (warfarin/aspirin study in heart failure) study7 published in 2004 — which assessed the risks and benefits of aspirin and the blood thinner warfarin in heart failure patients — found those who received aspirin treatment (300 mg/day) actually had the worst cardiac outcomes, including worsening heart failure. According to the authors, there was “no evidence that aspirin is effective or safe in patients with heart failure.”
Similarly, a 2010 study8 found older heart disease patients who had a prior history of aspirin use had more comorbidities and a higher risk of recurrent heart attack than those who had not been on aspirin therapy.
Aspirin has also not been proven safe or effective for diabetics, who are at increased risk for heart disease and therefore likely to be put on an aspirin regimen.
For example, a 2009 meta-analysis9 of six studies found no clear evidence that aspirin is effective in preventing cardiovascular events in people with diabetes, although men may derive some benefit.
Another 2009 study10 that examined the effects of aspirin therapy in diabetic patients found it “significantly increased mortality in diabetic patients without cardiovascular disease from 17% at age 50 years to 29% at age 85 years.”
On the other hand, it did lower mortality in elderly diabetic patients who also had cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis11 published in 2010 also concluded aspirin did not reduce the heart attack risk in diabetic individuals.
Why Phlebotomy May Be a Better Option Than Aspirin Therapy
While the benefits of low-dose aspirin may outweigh the risks for some people, I believe you may be able to achieve similar cardiovascular protection by doing therapeutic phlebotomies.
There’s evidence to suggest that the bleeding caused by aspirin may in fact be part of why it lowers your risk of heart attack and stroke, as bleeding will lower your iron level. Aspirin’s ability to lower inflammation may be another factor at play.
As shown in a 2001 study,12 people taking seven aspirins per week had 25% lower mean serum ferritin than nonusers. The effect was most marked in diseased subjects, compared to healthy ones. As explained by the authors:
“Atherosclerosis, a primary cause of myocardial infarction (MI), is an inflammatory disease. Aspirin use lowers risk of MI, probably through antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects.
Because serum ferritin (SF) can be elevated spuriously by inflammation, reported associations between elevated SF, used as an indicator of iron stores, and heart disease could be confounded by occult inflammation and aspirin use if they affect SF independently of iron status …
Aspirin use is associated with lower SF. We suggest this effect results from possible increased occult blood loss and a cytokine-mediated effect on SF in subjects with inflammation, infection, or liver disease.”
Most people, physicians included, fail to appreciate that — aside from blood loss, including menstruation — the body has no significant way to excrete excess iron. There are very minor amounts lost through normal bodily processes, but not enough to move the needle on overall iron levels.
Between supplementation, fortification and the iron that occurs naturally in foods, it’s very easy to end up with excessive levels. In fact, most adult men and postmenopausal women are at risk for excess iron and need regular blood testing for ferritin.
Excessive iron causes significant oxidative stress, catalyzing the formation of excessive free radicals that damage your cellular and mitochondrial membranes, proteins and DNA. It is a potent contributor to increased risks of cancers, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases. You can learn more about the ins and outs of excess iron in “Why Managing Your Iron Level Is Crucial to Your Health.”
While dangerous, iron overload is easy and inexpensive to treat. All you really need to do is monitor your serum ferritin and/or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels, avoid iron supplements, and be sure to donate blood on a regular basis.
By doing this, you can avoid serious health problems, and donating blood is a far safer way to lower your iron stores than taking aspirin and losing blood via internal bleeding.
Aspirin Linked to Lower Risk of Death
Interestingly, a 2019 study13 found prophylactic aspirin use may lower the risk of all-cause cancer, gastrointestinal (GI) cancer and colorectal cancer mortality among older adults.
The study included 146,152 individuals with a mean age of 66.3 years who participated in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. The median follow-up time was 12.5 years. Those taking aspirin at least three times a week had a:
19% lower risk of death from all causes
15% lower risk of death from any cancer
25% lower risk of death from GI cancer
29% lower risk of death from colorectal cancer
Having a higher body mass index (BMI between 25 and 29.9) lowered these percentages by 1%, with the exception of colorectal cancer. In this group, colorectal cancer death decreased by 34%.
No observable benefit of aspirin use was found in underweight individuals (BMI below 20), which led the researchers to hypothesize that “the efficacy of aspirin as a cancer preventive agent may be associated with BMI,”14 although this theory needs to be confirmed in future studies. The authors also warn that prophylactic aspirin therapy for cancer prevention would need to be weighed against the increased risk of bleeding.
Other Health Risks Associated With Long-Term Aspirin Use
Overall, there’s a lot of evidence against long-term daily aspirin therapy. The risk of internal bleeding is one significant concern, which is further magnified if you’re taking antidepressants or blood thinning medications such as Plavix.
Using aspirin in combination with SSRI antidepressants has been shown to increase your risk of abnormal bleeding by 42%, compared to those taking aspirin alone,15 and taking aspirin (325 mg/day) with Plavix has been shown to nearly double your risk of major hemorrhage and significantly increase your risk of death, while not affecting your risk of recurrent stroke to any significant degree.16
Aside from damaging your gastrointestinal tract,17,18 routine aspirin use has also been linked to an increased risk for cataracts,19 neovascular (wet) macular degeneration,20 tinnitus21 and hearing loss in men.22
Nattokinase Reduces Clot Formation Without Side Effects
Aside from donating blood to lower your iron level (provided it’s elevated), nattokinase is another far safer alternative to a daily aspirin regimen. Nattokinase, produced by the bacteria Bacillus subtilis during the fermentation of soybeans to produce natto,23 is a strong thrombolytic,24 comparable to aspirin without the serious side effects.
KetoFast: Rejuvenate Y... Mercola, Dr. Joseph Check Amazon for Pricing. It’s been shown to break down blood clots and reduce the risk of serious clotting25 by dissolving excess fibrin in your blood vessels,26 improving circulation and decreasing blood viscosity. These effects can also help reduce high blood pressure.27
As noted in a 2018 paper,28 nattokinase appears to be a promising alternative in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and has been linked to a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality.
Lumbrokinase Is Even Better Than Nattokinase
Yet another alternative is lumbrokinase, a complex fibrinolytic enzyme extracted from earthworms. Like nattokinase, lumbrokinase boosts circulatory health by reducing blood viscosity, reducing blood clotting factor activity and degrading fibrin, which is a key factor in clot formation.29,30
Some researchers have suggested lumbrokinase could be used “as secondary prevention after acute thrombosis,” such as heart attacks and stroke.31 A 2008 study32 that explored “the mechanisms involved in the anti-ischemic action of lumbrokinase (LK) in the brain,” found it protected against cerebral ischemia via several mechanisms and pathways. As explained by the authors:
“These data indicated that the anti-ischemic activity of LK was due to its anti-platelet activity by elevating cAMP level and attenuating the calcium release from calcium stores, the anti-thrombosis action due to inhibiting of ICAM-1 expression, and the anti-apoptotic effect due to the activation of JAK1/STAT1 pathway.”
A 2009 pilot study33 that used lumbrokinase in patients with coronary artery disease and stable angina found it improved angina symptoms in 40% of patients and lowered the summed stress score by 29% (the summed stress score is a risk indicator for a cardiac event over the next 12 months34). According to the authors, “Oral lumbrokinase improves regional myocardial perfusion in patients with stable angina.”
Sources and References
The Best of Dr. Joseph Mercola