Friends of Liberty

The Truth Behind the Propaganda Leaflets into North Korea

by Kang Chol-hwan
The Chosun Ilbo (South Korea)
November 17, 2008

The North Korean regime has sustained a hereditary dictatorship for over half a century thanks to a rule of terror and its success in completely blocking communication with the outside world. People who read foreign books or view foreign videos or circulate them in the North as well as those who listen to foreign radio face harsh punishment.

South Korea’s so-called Sunshine Policy earned support from some quarters in the beginning because it was hoped this could help open the North’s closed society. But proponents failed to grasp the essence of the regime.

China and East European communist countries ushered in an era of major transformation through reform and opening on account of limited democracy within the communist parties. Countries operating the so-called normal system, in which policies are discussed by the politburo and enforced upon approval by the party boss, did not suffer from starvation, poor though they were. The exceptions were the Soviet Union under Stalin and China under Mao, when power was concentrated in the hands of a despot.

"It's wrong to compare the Kim Jong-il regime with Stalin. Stalin killed people at random but didn't block party debate,” says Hwang Jang-yup, a former secretary of the North Korean Worker's Party who fled to the South in 1997. “Even Mao never thought of passing the leadership to his children." He defined the current North Korean system "a pseudo-feudalist state," impossible to find in the history of communist parties. The Sunshine Policy had to fail because it mistook North Korea for a normal communist country. The cash and food West Germany provided to East Germany were used to improve the quality of life of East Germans thanks to a structure that did not permit the party to monopolize them. But South Korean aid to the North flowed straight to Kim Jong-il himself and the military propping up his rule.

East Germans even before unification could watch West German television and listen to its radio at will; North Koreans caught listening to South Korean radio are sent to concentration camps like political criminals. Tens of thousands of South Koreans have visited the North in the past decade. All of them have met North Korean cadres assigned to inter-Koran affairs; none of them have managed to communicate with ordinary North Koreans. At the recent inter-Korean military talks, the North Koreans expressed anger about the distribution of propaganda leaflets in the North by South Korean civic groups. That was because the mosquito-net strategy, enforced by the Ministry of Unification and Propaganda, is crumbling helplessly in the face of these pamphlets.

The leaflets tell the truth about Kim Jong-il and appeal particularly to North Korean soldiers deployed near the Demilitarized Zone, and Hwanghae Province farmers, who are said to be most ignorant of the outside world.

What the regime fears most about is dissemination of the truth among the North Korean public. But North Koreans have a right to know the truth. The success or failure of any inter-Korean relationship that transcends the Cold War and Sunshine Policy hinges on communication with North Koreans.

The government, instead of urging civic organizations to refrain from sending propaganda leaflets to the North, should make a demand that the North Korean regime grant its people the basic freedom of listening to the radio. The North freely makes any number of impudent remarks about President Lee Myung-bak in its official media; the South must demand that it recognizes the freedom of communication that is the only way to becoming one nation.

The column was contributed by North Korean defector and Chosun Ilbo journalist Kang Chol-hwan.

Why the Jonestown Files are still "Classified": 30 Years Later

by "Nemo"
November 16, 2008

Jim Jones was a willing participant in the MK-Ultra experiments. I believe his anti-imperialist leanings were a cover. Jim Jones had suspicious connections spanning most of his life. The first was Dan Mitrione (graduate of the CIA sponsored International Police Acadamy). Jones and Mitrione had been fast friends since childhood. In 1961 Jones travelled to Brazil with Mitrione (who was working closely with the CIA at that point). Jones lived in an expansive house while in Brazil and both lodgings and food were paid for by the American Embassy. He informed his Brazilian neighbours that he was in the employ of Navy Intelligence. While in Brazil, he made frequent trips to 'Belo Horizonte', the headquarters of the CIA in Brazil. In 1963 Jones returned to the United States, with an unexplained windfall of $10,000--enough to begin his next operation.

The Ukiah site of the Peoples Temple was near 'The Happy Havens Rest Home', guarded by electric fences, guard towers, dogs and armed guards dressed in black. People who attempted to leave were sometimes forcibly restrained. There were at least 150 foster children living at the home along with elderly persons, prisoners, and psychiatric patients. During this time the Peoples Temple made associations with the Mendocino State Mental Hospital, where the group trained in medical techniques.

It is reported that in a short while the entire staff at the hospital became members of the Peoples Temple. Reseacher Michael Meiers reported, "The Mendocino Plan was a pilot program of the federal government designed to evaluate the feasibility of deinstitutionalizing the mentally ill. Dennis Denny, Mendocino's Director of Social Services, has speculated that the Mendocino Plan was the sole reason that Jone moved to Ukiah." While in Ukiah the group conducted behaviour modification experiments on both hospital patients and Jones' congregation. Sensory deprivation was utilised by Jones on some of his congregation. It is said that Jones passed on his expertise to Donald DeFreeze (SLA). While in Ukiah, Jones was reported to have been in contact with World Vision [CIA]. World Vision employed Mark David Chapman. John Hinkley, Sr. ran a World Vision center in Denver, Colorado.

In Ukiah, Jones busied himself in elite social circles: he allied himself with Walter Heady [John Birch Society]; members of the Temple organised voting drives for Richard Nixon, worked with the Republican Party, and Jones was appointed chairman of the county grand jury. Many of the upper echelon of the Peoples Temple were recruited while in Ukiah. According to John Judge, "Most of the top lieutenants around Jones were from wealthy, educated backgrounds--many with connections to the military or intelligence agencies. These were the people who would set up the bank accounts, complex legal actions, and financial records that put people under the Temple's control."

The Layton family financed Jones with large sums of money; they are related to wealthy British and German Families. Dr. Lawrence Layton was Chief of Chemical and Ecological Warfare at the infamous Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, working later at the Navy Propellant Division, as Director of Missile and Satellite Development. Layton's Stockbroker father-in-law represented I.G. Farben.

George Philip Blakey, the man reported to have made the original $650,000 deposit on the land at Guyana, was the husband of the former Debbie Layton. His parents had large holdings in Solvay Drugs, a division of I.G.Farben.

Timothy Stoen, Assistant District Attorney of San Francisco, allegedly another prominant member of the Temple. Jones used his congregation to organise a voting drive for Mayor Moscone, and was rewarded by being put in charge of the San Francisco Housing Commision. Many of Jones' followers obtained jobs at the city Welfare Department, where more recuits were signed up.

Mysterious deaths, reported in the local press, were connected to the Temple; scrutiny was increased by politicians and media, apparently causing the move to Guyana. Guyana was not Jones' initial choice; he had originally picked Grenada and had deposited $200,000 in the Granada National Bank. After the Massacre, $76,000 remained in the bank. The Jonestown site had earlier been the site of a Union Carbide bauxite and manganese mine.

The Guyana site was prepared with the cooperation of the local officials and the U.S. Embassy. The Information Services Company states that: "The U.S. Embassy in Georgetown Guyana housed the Georgetown CIA station. It now appears that the majority and perhaps all of the embassy officials were CIA officers operating under State Dept. cover." Amoung embassy officials verified as being agents of the CIA are U.S. Ambassador John Burke, who attempted to stop Congressman Leo Ryans investigation of Jonestown. Dan Webber, who was at the site the day after the massacre and Chief Consular Officer Richard McCoy (on loan from the Defense Dept.), were reportedly 'close' to Jones...

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Maddow: New rule kicks Patriot Act foes 'right in the teeth'

David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Wednesday November 12, 2008

The Bush administration has been planning since last spring to issue a final burst of federal regulations just before leaving office. It was recently announced that over 90 new regulations would be finalized before November 22 -- 60 days prior to the end of Bush's term -- making them difficult, though not impossible, for President Obama to reverse.

Although many of the regulations have to do with energy and the environment, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow noted on Tuesday that there's also "one that'll kick opponents of the Patriot Act right in the teeth."

The proposed regulation "would allow state and local law enforcement agencies to collect intelligence on individuals and organizations even if the information is unrelated to any criminal matter," Maddow explained. She added, "Even if they weren't already watching you -- they soon could be."

Maddow was joined by the Nation's sports correspondent, Dave Zirin, who began by complaining about Bush, "Hemorrhoids are more popular than this man. Why is he making laws?"...

Yoo Jeong-sook: I miss you

Council on Foreign Relations president predicts coups, genocide and terrorism

The Seattle Times
November 9, 2008

Echoing Vice President-Elect Joe Biden's promise of a generated crisis and Colin Powell's revelation of a crisis that will happen on January 21 or 22, we now have the president of the Council on Foreign Relations and Biderberger Richard Haas' similar predictions of doom and gloom scheduled for President-Elect Obama.

***

"While foreign leaders may or may not choose to test Obama, "the one thing I'm sure of is, events will test him," Council on Foreign Relations president Richard Haass said. "There will be coups. ... There will be genocide. ... There will be terrorism."

In 74 days, President-elect Barack Obama will assume responsibility for guiding the nation out of two wars and through a daunting array of real and potential global crises.

Obama is likely to benefit from initial goodwill across much of the planet, where there's profound relief that the Bush years are ending.

Still, the new president — untested in foreign affairs — faces what may be the most unsettled global scene since the 1930s and '40s."...

Massachusetts voters decriminalize marijuana

RAW STORY
Published: Tuesday November 4, 2008

Massachusetts voters have approved Question 2, which eliminated criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis.

The new law, which will take effect in 30 days, calls for a $100 fine and confiscation of the substance for those caught with an ounce or less with no reporting against a person's criminal record. Those under 18 caught with cannabis will pay a larger fine, up to $1,000, and participate in a drug awareness program and perform community service.

Governor Patrick, the attorney general and district attorneys across the state were among opponents of the initiative, saying that decriminalization would promote drug use, cause a rise in violence and workplace safety hazards, and increase the number of car accidents and youths driving under the influence.

"The people were ahead of the politicians on this issue," said Whitney Taylor, chairwoman of the Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy. "They want to focus our limited law enforcement resources on serious and violent crimes. They recognize under the new law that the punishment will fit the offense."...

Forgotten issue: Illegal immigration is off the national radar

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Just as stocks go up and down according to the demands of the market, political issues soar and plummet according to changing circumstances. Even so, the disappearance of immigration from the national debate this election season is startling.

To be sure, immigration reform has not been completely forgotten and the issue still incites passions in pockets of the country. In the 11th Congressional District in Eastern Pennsylvania, for example, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, the Republican candidate, has a strong chance of parlaying the national publicity he received for cracking down on illegal immigrants into an upset of the 12-term Democratic incumbent, Rep. Paul Kanjorski.

But on the national stage immigration reform has hardly been heard from, at least in the mainstream. As The New York Times reported Wednesday in a story headlined "Immigration Cools as Campaign Issue," the candidates rarely talk about immigration and it was not discussed in the debates.

Part of that reflects the fact that both Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama have views on this issue that don't endear them to the hard-core anti-immigrant camp. Mr. McCain famously worked with Sen. Ted Kennedy to produce a comprehensive immigration reform package, although he ended up pulling back his support of his own bill after the demagogues became active. Still, he remains sympathetic to immigrants.

In fact, both candidates want to secure the borders and crack down on employers of illegal immigrants. They also support some legal process that would allow illegals to pay fines and be put on a path to citizenship.

For both Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama, there's not much political upside in debating something that so recently has been politically explosive. The main exception, as the Times pointed out, is in the Spanish language media, where both candidates have tried to position themselves as the best choice for immigrant constituencies.

The existence of significant numbers of Hispanics in states like California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico is why recent anti-immigrant obsessions haven't translated well into national politics: It spells long-term political suicide for any party that goes truly nativist. To its credit, the Bush administration realized this and tried to do something about it

That effort needs to be revived by the next president, whoever he may be: While it may be inconvenient and embarrassing to talk about immigration reform now, which is a pity, the issue itself is not going away.

McCain's Poor Judgment Led To His Capture as a POW

Mon Oct 6, 2008 11:53 AM EDT

That's right, I said it.

Since the McCain campaign has proven they're willing to say just about anything, allege anything, even questioning the patriotism of fellow US Senators, in particular Senator Obama, I'll simply play by the same rules.

Even the military has questioned John McCain's judgment. Why shouldn't we?

Three crashes early in his career led Navy officials to question or fault his judgment.

For a man that's tried to use his military background as proof for sound character and judgment, he's particularly protective of releasing any records to detail the result of the many investigations and resolutions regarding his military mistakes.

...McCain was on his 23rd bombing mission over North Vietnam when a surface-to-air missile struck his A-4 attack jet. He was flying 3,000 feet above Hanoi.

A then-secret report issued in 1967 by McCain's squadron said the aviators had learned to stay at an altitude of 4,000 to 10,000 feet in heavy surface-to-air missile environments and look for approaching missiles. -- Source

McCain is more than an erratic, angry little man, he's also a liar.

Joe Klein: I Said McCain Was "Honorable," But "I Was Wrong"

Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, a Republican, reflected the views of many of his colleagues earlier this year when he said:

"The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine...He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."

The erratic nature of McCain's campaign seems to be confirming that judgment. -- Source

I hope no one is naive enough to believe that McCain would not be making these same exact points if these were Obama's issues. McCain is proving as much with the newest insinuations by his "pitbull" in "lipstick".

The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The five senators, Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), John McCain (R-AZ), and Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), were accused of improperly intervening in 1987 on behalf of Charles H. Keating, Jr., chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which was the target of a regulatory investigation by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board...

Will civil strife recur in Burma?

By Zin Linn Column: Burma Question
October 27, 2008

Bangkok, Thailand — Burma is on the brink of fresh civil strife as many of the young generation have voiced dissatisfaction with nonviolence. The most intolerant citizens have called for a U.S. military invasion or an armed struggle to overthrow the deep-rooted stratocracy in Burma, due to the junta’s insistence on building a military-privileged country. In addition, many people have a negative attitude toward China for encouraging the junta’s brutal oppression of its own people.

Lieutenant-General Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, first secretary of the State Peace and Development Council, has declared that the country will hold a general election in 2010, according to the junta’s mouthpiece newspaper, New Light of Myanmar. Tin Aung Myint Oo said the country had made noteworthy improvements in recent months due to the implementation of a seven-step roadmap to democracy. He made these statements Oct. 24 at a ceremony to mark the 63rd anniversary of the United Nations. On the same day, the junta demonstrated its blood-and-iron policy. Six opposition leaders from Mandalay were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 11 to 13 years by a military court, on charges of threatening the nation’s “tranquility” and stirring up hatred. All six, including one woman, were executives of the National League for Democracy and were arrested in September last year in a nationwide crackdown on those who participated in the Saffron Revolution protests.

Tin Aung Myint Oo also said cooperation with the United Nations is the cornerstone of the nation's foreign policy. He said the country had consistently cooperated with the United Nations, citing as evidence the visits of several senior U.N. officials including that of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in May this year, following Cyclone Nargis. However, the regime has turned a deaf ear to successive resolutions adopted by the U.N. General Assembly calling for a return to democracy in Burma through a tripartite dialogue between the junta led by Senior General Than Shwe, democratic forces led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and representatives of ethnic nationalities. It is clear that the junta has no plan to heed the U.N. call or to release political prisoners, a precondition to the tripartite dialogue....

John McCain: The Last RINO

by Paul Streitz
October 31, 2008

John McCain will be the last RINO, whether he wins or loses on November 4, 2008.
The Republican country-club RINO/Elite expects grass roots, blue-collar Republicans to rally around them and put them in office, even though the RINO/Elites betray them at every turn. This time it has not worked. As bad as Barrack Hussein Obama is as a candidate, there is no enthusiasm for John McCain among blue-collar Republican voters, just a greater distaste for Obama.
John McCain is seventy-two years old. If he wins, it is doubtful that he will run at seventy-six, especially with an attractive Sarah Palin waiting in the wings. If McCain loses, candidates like Mitt Romney simply will not be tolerated by the grass roots. They do not want another catastrophe. Again Sarah Palin waits in the wings, clearly the national favorite of Republicans.

Now, more than ever, the grass roots Republicans realize the RINO/Elites simply cannot be trusted to govern the country for the benefit of the people and preservation of the United States. Their management of the U.S. when in offices places in doubt whether the United States will survive another fifty years.

Barack Obama promises wealth redistribution, but John McCain and the RINO/Elite promise poverty and despair for working class people. The Republican Party and George Bush have seen the flight of over five million high paying manufacturing jobs. Yet, John McCain goes to Michigan and tries to sell the benefits of free trade to out-of-work citizens. Detroit looks like a bombed-out war zone. Is it any wonder that the manufacturing states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania would go into the Democratic column?

Consistently, surveys had shown that 66-70% think free trade is bad for American workers. And that figure must be higher among blue-collar workers in industrial states. Yet, the RINO/Elites continue to pimp for free trade because their corporate contributors benefit. Lower wages mean higher profits and rising stock prices (until the economy collapses.)

John McCain said that he had “listened to” the American people about immigration and promised to secure the borders. He left hanging the question of what to do with the twenty million illegals and their anchor babies. His campaign promptly hired a Reconquista Hispanic and began pandering to the Hispanic voters. This was, of course, suicidal. He gained nothing among Hispanics and further alienated his grass roots base...