Dahlback Spins the Pyramid

John Dahlback - Pyramid

True Knowledge

"The knowledge of anything, since all things have causes, is not acquired or complete unless it is known by its causes. "

--Ibn Sīnā

Infuse Your iPod

Barry Jay - Infused

Drone Count: Midsummer Edition 2009

Drone attacks continue to escalate in number and severity since our last report under the auspices of Barack Hussein Obama. Here are the documented incidents of blood spill in Pakistan via unmanned US aircraft:

Apr 1 2009 - US drone attack kills at least 12 and wounds many more in the Orakzai Agency. The huge blast caused panic among local residents and was the first in this particular region.

Apr 4 2009 -Air strike kills 13 in North Waziristan, prior to the arrival of US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke to Pakistan. The attack took place in Data Khel in Miranshah.

Apr 8 2009 - Predator drones fire 2 missiles and kill 4 in Gangi Khel area, near Wana. A vehicle was struck.

Apr 19 2009 - At least 8 people killed in Gangi Khel by a US missile strike. Drones hovering in the air "unleashed fears" of local residents upon sighting them. Sources indicate that all were civilians, primarily women and children.

Apr 29 2009 - Drones kill at least 10 and wound 4 in South Waziristan. .

May 9 2009 - Likely 25 killed in Sararogha via 4 missiles from aerial drones.

May 12 2009 - In the village of Sara Khwara, 8 are killed. It is the second such attack in the region over the past 3 days.

May 16 2009 - In Khaisur village of the Mirali subdivision of North Waziristan, 40 people are killed. Reports of a destroyed school as well.

Jun 14 2009 - Predator drone attack on a vehicle near the Ladha region in South Waziristan kills 5.

Jun 18 2009 - Remotely piloted aircraft fired four missiles into a compound in the village of Raghzai, near Wana, the capital of South Waziristan. 13 were killed. Initially a missile killed only 1 person, but subsequently rescue workers were massacred by assault from the skies.

Jun 23 2009 - First attack on the day by Predator drone in South Waziristan kills 17.

Jun 23 2009 - After killing 17 earlier in the day, drones attacked a funeral procession taking the death toll over 80 for the day. The controversial tactic of attacking rescue workers and funeral prayers continues and casualties continue to mount. The 2 separate attacks took place in South Waziristan.

Jul 3 2009 - In the Kokatkhel village of Sarokai area, several were injured and 13 deceased by drone attack. Another missile was fired in the Mantoi area, although there were no casualties reported in that area.

Jul 4 2009 - Obama enjoys a barbecue at the White House.

Jul 7 2009 - Predator drones kill 17 in the Zangra village of the Ladha region.

Jul 8 2009 - A swarm of Predators fired at least six missiles in Karwan Manza early in the morning. Eight were killed during the airstrike, according to reports.

Jul 8 2009 - A vehicle convoy was attacked in South Waziristan killing 40, taking the death toll for the day up to 50. The attack was on the main road between Ladha and Sararogha. The number of casualties up to the time of publication continues to mount.

The 17 attacks in this update have resulted in 306 deaths. Please note that these numbers are likely underestimated given the methodology of reporting in the region. Since the beginning of the Obama Administration this gives a grand total of:

1) At least 25 Predator drone attacks

2) At least 440 people killed--numerous civilians, women and children inclusive

3) At least 1 White House barbecue

Jeremy Scahill Speaks the Truth

Jeremy Scahill is an American journalist and author of the international best-seller Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army. Needless to say, he is one of the few in the American media who knows the truth and is not afraid to speak it. You probably won't see him on mainstream TV, but here he is--telling it like it is, on Real Time With Bill Maher.

The Difference Between Sharpton and Obama

Al Sharpton delivered an excellent speech at Michael Jackson's Memorial today at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Reinforcing the concept of innocent until proven guilty, he had this to say to MJ's children: "There was nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with, but he dealt with it."

"It was that comfort level that kids from Japan and Ghana and France and Iowa and Pennsylvania got comfortable enough with each other so later it wasn't strange to us to watch Oprah on television,” the reverend continued. “Those young kids grew up from being teenage comfortable fans of Michael to being 40 years old and being comfortable to vote for a person of color to be the president of the United States of America.”

Jackson did indeed help break down the barriers for the election of an Obama. Here's what the good President had to say after acknowledging the influence of the King of Pop: "You know, his extraordinary talent and his music was matched with a big dose of tragedy and difficulty in his private life and I don't think we can ignore that." On the day people worldwide were eulogizing Michael Jackson, Obama had to play politician and didn't fail to take a [unsubstantiated] jab. It was undoubtedly a game of political posturing. Stay classy, Barack Obama.

Love him or hate him, Al Sharpton is a true civil rights leader and believes in some semblance of justice for the oppressed and maligned. Barack Obama, is simply a pure politician who doesn't stand for much. And herein, lies the difference.

The Moonwalk

Jermaine Jackson on the Today Show

7/2/09 - From the Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, CA

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