Thomas Gaist

One day after Russian asylum for Snowden Obama administration launches terror scare

Amid escalating denunciations and threats against both Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) contractor-turned whistle-blower, and Russia, which granted Snowden temporary asylum on Thursday, the Obama administration on Friday issued a “global travel alert,” closing US embassies in Tripoli, Cairo, Tel Aviv, Baghdad, Riyadh and Doha based on supposed threats of Al Qaeda attacks.

In total, 22 embassies and consulates are to be closed, and a terror alert has been issued covering the entire Middle East. Official statements have asserted that a contact from Yemen—a country that has been under bombardment from US drones for years—gave information raising the possibility of terror attacks against US embassies.

All three major television networks led their evening news reports with the government’s claims, reporting them uncritically despite the lack of any substantiation or any specific purported threats. Terrorism “experts” were trundled out in the usual fashion to stoke up public alarm.

None of the government’s claims should be taken for good coin. They follow more evidence of broad popular support for Snowden, whom the Obama administration is witch-hunting and targeting for prosecution—or worse—for leaking details of secret surveillance programs that invade the privacy and violate the rights of every American and millions more people around the world.

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Stephen Lendman

Bashing Russia suggests reinventing the Evil Empire.

It's back to the future. It's the new Cold War. It doesn't surprise. Media scoundrels march in lockstep with America's worst policies. They do so disgracefully. They shame themselves repeatedly. They lack legitimacy. They're managed news manipulators. They're not credible journalists. They never were. They're not now. They're venting over Russia granting Edward Snowden asylum. They criticize what deserves praise.

The New York Times called Russia "defiant." Granting Snowden safe refuge ignored "pleas and warnings from President Obama and other senior Americans." Russia gave him "an international platform to continue defending his actions."

Wall Street Journal editors headlined "Snowden's Russian Protectors," saying: "Russia's decision to grant Edward Snowden asylum is a hostile act against the United States. If it forces the Obama Administration to shed its blinders and rethink America's indulgent relationship with Vladimir Putin's 'regime,' then at least this sorry affair might have a silver lining."

Note: despotic ruling authorities America supports are called "governments." Independent nations are called "regimes."

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Paul Craig Roberts

Time is running out for the US economy and the American people. The financial press and economic commentators, with few exceptions, do a good job of keeping this fact from the public.

Consider for example the spin put on the “advance estimate” of the real GDP growth rate for the second quarter announced on July 31. The annual rate of 1.7 percent real GDP growth for the second quarter of 2013 was presented optimistically as an acceleration in real GDP from the first quarter’s 1.1 percent growth rate.

However, the reason for the “acceleration” in growth is that the first quarter’s estimate was revised down from 1.8 percent to 1.1 percent. The second quarter GDP growth rate is also subject to revised estimates. Most likely, the final number will be lower.

Consider also that the reason that real GDP is positive is that nominal GDP is deflated with an understated measure of inflation. The measure of inflation has been manipulated in order to deny Social Security recipients cost of living adjustments. Statistician John Williams (shadowstats.com) reports that if deflated by previous official methodology, GDP growth has been negative since the downturn in 2007. In other words, the “recovery” is just another government hoax.

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