ZDN Exclusive -- I SMELL A RAT: THE OBAMA - SINCLAIR SEX AND DRUG SCANDAL

I smell a rat, and it's name is not Larry Sinclair.

On the 18th of January, 2008, an internet scandal erupted when Larry Sinclair, a gay male few have heard of, posted a video on YouTube in which he claimed he had sex and used cocaine with 2008 presidential candidate Barack Obama in the back of a limo at a motor lodge in Gurnee, IL, in 1999[...]

For the rest of this ZDN exclusive article, click the headline link. -- ZDN

FIDEL CASTRO

Documentary on Fidel Castro by Oliver Stone. It was pulled out of cable broadcasting and only shown outside the US.

NORTH AMERICAN ARMY CREATED WITHOUT OK BY CONGRESS

In a ceremony that received virtually no attention in the American media, the United States and Canada signed a military agreement Feb. 14 allowing the armed forces from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a domestic civil emergency, even one that does not involve a cross-border crisis.

ISRAEL'S INFLUENCE ON US FOREIGN POLICY

Former U.S. Marine Corps officer and UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter talks about the unique influence that the Israel war lobby has on the U.S. news media and U.S. foreign policy.

Can anything be done to turn this around?

Ritter has written an important new book "Waging Peace" which answers this question realistically and comprehensively.

TRAITOR GREENSPAN URGES GULF STATES TO ABANDON DOLLAR

Alan Greenspan has again exposed himself as a traitor working against the interests of the American people by urging Gulf states to abandon the dollar peg, a move that could result in financial chaos and an economic depression in America.

JOHN YOO SAYS PRESIDENT BUSH CAN LEGALLY TORTURE CHILDREN

Cassel: If the president deems that he's got to torture somebody, including by crushing the testicles of the person's child, there is no law that can stop him?

Yoo: No treaty

Cassel: Also no law by Congress -- that is what you wrote in the August 2002 memo...

Yoo: I think it depends on why the President thinks he needs to do that.

THE POWER FAILURE FROM HELL

There you are, sitting fat and happy watching your favorite ball game. It's the bottom of the ninth when WHAMO! A blackout hits and off goes everything powered by AC.

WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES REPORTED ACROSS FLORIDA

Florida's largest electric company shut down a nuclear plant south of Miami for safety reasons today, causing sporadic power outages covering large portions of Central Florida and the state that could last until 6 p.m.

As many as 3 million people are affected, the state says.

100,000 UNCOUNTED VOTES IN CALIFORNIA AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CORRUPTION IN ALABAMA

On Super Tuesday in Los Angeles, the ballot provided to non-partisan voters required that two bubbles be filled out rather than one required for partisan voters. The ballot and the officials in the polling places caused such confusion that nearly 100,000 non-partisan votes have been uncounted because both bubbles were not filled out. The elections officials are now saying that they cannot count the votes because they cannot with certainty determine the voters’ intent.

CRYPTIC NOTES LEFT AT VANDALIZED BREMERTON BANKS

BREMERTON, Wash. -- Bremerton police said four banks were vandalized early Thursday, with each incident involving windows broken with pieces of concrete that had notes taped to them, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

IRAQ TO TURKEY: GET OUT

On Tuesday, the Iraqi Cabinet expressed extreme displeasure over the incursion of Turkish troops into the Kurdish northern region of Iraq and called for a halt to Turkish interference, which Cabinet officials called a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”

DOLLAR FALLS TO RECORD EURO LOW

The dollar has fallen to a fresh record low against the euro, after weak economic data renewed fears that the US economy may be facing recession.

THE STRAIGHT TALK, FLIP-FLOP EXPRESS

John McCain has decided to take up the Mitt Romney’s campaign theme of flip flopping. This time McCain is flip flopping on Iraq, not, say, on torture, as he has in the past.

TV COVERAGE OF CLANDESTINE CHEMTRAIL OPERATIONS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Last year Germany became the first country to admit that they have been involved in clandestine chemtrail operations in an attempt to “manipulate our climate”. However, the Germans are not the only ones involved in these operations, or more accurately stated, they are not the only perpetrators of this crime, since chemtrails have been categorized as an “exotic weapons systems” by the 107th CONGRESS of the United States in House Bill H. R. 2977.

FORTUNES OF WAR: DEATH AND CHAOS NO PROBLEM FOR PROFIT-SEEKERS IN IRAQ

As the British government's top advisor revealed this week in a remarkably candid interview with the Observer, Western business leaders don't care how many Iraqis die -- or who kills them -- just as long as their own profits can be guaranteed. It is the oil law -- not civil war, sectarian strife, or the cynical U.S. "surge" policy of arming all sides to guarantee continuing conflict -- that is holding up Western investment.

THE TALIBAN HAVE KABUL IN THEIR SIGHTS

KARACHI - As Pakistani politicians scramble to form a coalition government following last week's parliamentary elections, there has been a surge in violence in the Swat Valley and in other parts of North-West Frontier Province, and on Monday a senior army officer was assassinated.

BUSH NEEDS TORTURE AND TERRORISM, SCHOLAR EXPLAINS

The Bush administration has cynically used the 9/11 attacks to constrain civil liberties, increase defense spending, and launch preventative wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. Research by Scholars for 9/11 Truth, among others, has proven that the story told to the American people cannot be sustained.

ISRAEL'S NEXT AGGRESSION

Former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin used to wish that he would wake up one morning and Gaza would be gone, sunk in the sea along with its inhabitants. Many Israelis now share the same thought, with only one difference. They want to make it happen.

'DOOMSDAY' SEED VAULT OPENS IN ARCTIC

LONGYEARBYEN, Norway (AP) -- Norway opened a frozen "doomsday" vault Tuesday deep within an Arctic mountain where millions of seeds will be stored to safeguard against wars or natural disasters wiping out food crops around the globe.

IS NADER NUTS OR THE BRAVEST MAN IN AMERICA?

Nader became an American folk hero when executives of General Motors hired private detectives to try and entrap him (unsuccessfully) in a sex scandal - they later apologized publicly and admitted they could not dig up even a speck of dirt on the man.

NO MORE DEATHS FOR A NEOCON EMPIRE

Writes Ron Paul: "What thrilling rallies we've just had in Texas. First there were the Students for Ron Paul at the University of Texas in Austin. The media said 4,000 came. Our people think there were more like 7,000. In any event, it was a very enthusiastic gathering of our revolutionaries, as even the media admitted.

SOMETHING BAD IS HAPPENING TO US

They exposed their backsides and sexual organs to Palestinians, pressed an electric heater to the face of a young boy, beat young boys senseless, recorded everything on their mobile phones and sent it to their friends. One of their "mischievous acts" was to test how long a Palestinian who was being choked could survive without breathing. When he passed out, the experiment was stopped.

JOHN MCCAIN'S 10,000 YEARS WAR

...the war will be over soon, the war for all intents and purposes although the insurgency will go on for years and years and years. But it will be handled by the Iraqis, not by us.

--John McCain

MANSION 'MISTAKE' PILES THE PRESSURE ON BARACK OBAMA

A British-Iraqi billionaire lent millions of dollars to Barack Obama's fundraiser just weeks before an imprudent land deal that has returned to haunt the presidential contender, an investigation by The Times discloses.

OBAMA'S NAME LIKELY TO COME UP AT REZKO TRIAL

The name of Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama is likely to brush up against the impending federal corruption trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko as the result of a judge's ruling Monday.

US MILITARY AND CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES - 1798-PRESENT

Note: This list does not pretend to be definitive or absolutely complete. Nor does it seek to explain or interpret the interventions. Information and interpretation on selected interventions will be later included as links. Note that US operations in World Wars I and II have been excluded.

PELOSI’S HIV BILL WILL FATTEN HER WALLET

In a violation of House Ethics Rules, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has introduced legislation that will financially benefit an ailing pharmaceutical company that she owns stock in, has donated heavily to her campaign and employs two of her former senior staffers as lobbyists.

DEVALUING AMERICANS INTO BANKRUPTCY: EVERY AMERICAN IS $175,000 IN DEBT, FOR A TOTAL OF $58 TRILLION

The Comptroller General of the United States, formerly known as the General Accounting Office, which is “a legislative branch agency founded by Congress in 1921 to ensure the accountability of the federal government”, in their latest audit of the federal debt have revealed that “deficit spending and promised benefits for federal entitlement programs have put every man, woman, and child in the United States on the hook for $175,000”.

OBAMA'S LINE ON LOBBYISTS IS MISLEADING

The word "lobbyist" seems to have a particular meaning in Obama's campaign vocabulary. His stump speeches imply that he is not taking money from people who want things from the government and push for them. The reality is that he has.

GUATEMALA TO EXPOSE ARMY TORTURE FILES

…my husband had indeed been captured alive, had been held for two and a half years and severely tortured, then extra-judiciously executed or assassinated by military intelligence officials in Guatemala, who were also on the CIA payroll as paid informants.

DIEBOLD ACCIDENTALLY LEAKS RESULTS OF 2008 ELECTION EARLY

US ON DANGEROUS GROUND IN FUNDING SUNNI ARABS

The United States is funding and in many cases arming the three ethnic factions in Iraq—the Kurds, the Shiites and the Sunni Arabs.

9/11 VICTIMS IDENTIFIED FROM NEW DNA FINDS

A fresh effort to identify victims of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre is under way in New York following the discovery of fragments of human remains in the area around Ground Zero.

UNRAVELING OF THE OFFICIAL 911 STORY CONTINUES

Today in America, we are witness to a great unraveling, the likes of which we have never seen before. There are no historical precedents. For many months now the official narrative about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America has been coming apart, and I mean: at the seams.

15YRS AGO: FBI HAD FOREKNOWLEDGE OF 1ST WTC ATTACK

"After the bombing, Salem claimed that the FBI knew about the bombing plot, and agreed to foil it by supplying fake explosives to him. Salem taped his telephone conversations with FBI agents."

SEX, HALLIBURTON, AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT

On Wednesday, February 27th, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET I'll be interviewing live another female Halliburton employee who was subjected to an environment of constant sexual harassment in Iraq. Tracy Barker was sexually assaulted by Halliburton employees and - in one instance - by a U.S. State Department employee in Basra, Iraq.

INDONESIA ACCUSES U.S. IN BIRD FLU PLOT

The Indonesian Health Minister has said the United States and the World Health Organisation are part of a global conspiracy to profit from the spread of bird flu and the US may use samples to produce biological weapons.

TUESDAY: 23 IRAQIS KILLED, 9 WOUNDED

At least 23 Iraqis were killed and nine more were wounded in the latest violence, which included a deadly attack on a minibus in Mosul. Clashes at the Turkey border continued. No Coalition deaths were reported.

THE CLINTON YEARS REVISITED

As bad as the past eight years have been, it may be fruitful to remember what U.S. national security policy was like under Bill Clinton, as it is very possible that Washington will soon be returning to that gold standard for underachievement.

GENERALS TO QUIT IF US STRIKES IRAN

Some senior US military commanders are prepared to resign if President Bush orders a military strike against Iran, a new report says.

CODE PINK FASTS FOR CHENEY'S IMPEACHMENT

Angeline was fasting for 19 days on Friday. "I felt that I really needed to do something to show my commitment," she said. "I was willing to put my body on the line."

OCTOBER 25, 2005: EXECUTIVE ORDER ALLOWS FBI TO COMPILE DATA ON US CITIZENS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE

President Bush signs Executive Order 13388, which dramatically expands the powers of the US government to monitor and collect data on US citizens.

IRAQ WAR VETERAN PROTESTING THE IRAQ WAR

As many as 6,000 Pennsylvania National Guard troops could be deployed to Iraq this time next year. It's that possible deployment that has an Iraq war combat veteran speaking out against the campaign in Iraq.

IRAQ VETS AGAINST THE WAR ORGANIZE THE SECOND WINTER SOLDIER

The four-day event will bring together veterans from across the country to testify about their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan - and present video and photographic evidence.

OBAMA'S TURBAN PHOTO AND HILLARY'S TRIP$ TO AFRICA

Drudge is reporting that "disgruntled" Clinton staffers circulated via email this photo of Senator Barack Obama over the weekend. Taken during a five country African trip in 2006, Obama is wearing the garb of a Somali Elder.

in three years, between 1997 and 2000, First Lady Hillary managed to get in twenty taxpayer subsidized foreign trips to the tune of 12 million dollars.

SURVIVE MARTIAL LAW.COM - A CRITIQUE AND SECOND-OPINION

the tactics and beliefs that Mr. Williams expresses in his pamphlet “Survive Martial Law” are unquestionably those that the government would prefer - subservience to the troops, handing in your weapons, and having the belief that “you can do nothing about it.”

HPV VACCINE: IT’S NOT JUST FOR GIRLS ANYMORE

Now Merck wants your boys to take Gardasil, never mind they might fall over dead like girls who take the vaccine. Not a word about that in this New York Times propaganda piece, though.

2003: CHENEY’S OFFICE REFUSES TO COMPLY WITH EXECUTIVE ORDERS; SAYS VICE PRESIDENT NOT PART OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Vice President Dick Cheney unilaterally exempts his office from Executive Order 12958, which established government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information.

RUSSIA'S NATO ENVOY SAYS U.S. WANTS TO DIVIDE AND RULE

"It's the atomization of the world," Rogozin said on state-run Vesti-24 television. "Who benefits from this? Only those who prefer to divide and rule — the old imperial principle. This is first of all the United States of America."

MIDDLE CLASS MAY BE SUBJECT TO FOOD RATIONS, WARNS UN

Experts warn of food riots as foreign troops cleared to patrol American cities

HUNGARY TO START THE WORLD'S FIRST WILD SEED BANK

The world's first gene bank for wild plants is to be established in Hungary, reports geographic.hu, the online version of National Geographic magazine's Hungarian edition. The collection would be stored at the Institute of Agrobotany in Tápiószele, Pest County, and store the genes of 85,000 types of cultivated plants, making it Europe's fifth largest agrobotany gene bank.