Panetta: Troop Withdrawal Left Little US Influence in Iraq

Panetta: Troop Withdrawal Left Little US Influence in Iraq: "But he noted that U.S. efforts did help by putting thousands of Iraqis to work, improving healthcare, building the military, restoring electric power, and increasing the country's oil production. "

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$36 Billion of Military Hardware Could Be Destroyed in Afghan Pullout

$36 Billion of Military Hardware Could Be Destroyed in Afghan Pullout: "Here are the options, according to Face the Facts USA of the George Washington University: Leave the equipment — or destroy it — in Afghanistan; move it to other U.S. military outposts; or transfer it to another U.S. agency or to another country.

The estimated cost for the latter two options: $5.7 billion.

The equipment includes trucks, aircraft, and armored vehicles — most of which are controlled by the Army."

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Your sequestered brain can’t see next crash coming - Paul B. Farrell - MarketWatch

Your sequestered brain can’t see next crash coming - Paul B. Farrell - MarketWatch: "Because our brains are sequestered, forever vulnerable to this endless roller-coaster ride. And why, right now, the cycles are again peaking, will crash, making the right exits, then the next entrance.

No, this time really is not different. And, unfortunately, Reinhart and Rogoff also tell us that in the process our sequestered brains are also sabotaging capitalism, damaging America’s role in the world and, sorry to say, killing your retirement."

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Lessig on the DoJ's vindictive prosecution of Aaron Swartz - Boing Boing

Lessig on the DoJ's vindictive prosecution of Aaron Swartz - Boing Boing: "to characterize what Aaron did in the most extreme and absurd way. The “property” Aaron had “stolen,” we were told, was worth “millions of dollars” — with the hint, and then the suggestion, that his aim must have been to profit from his crime. But anyone who says that there is money to be made in a stash of ACADEMIC ARTICLES is either an idiot or a liar. It was clear what this was not, yet our government continued to push as if it had caught the 9/11 terrorists red-handed."

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