In a month where an enormous enabler of international terrorism was reported to be "too big to jail", and in a week where North Korea showed the world it loves nukes, comes news of a different sort worthy of our close attention.
But first, let's check in with the World Gangsters, shall we?
When I was young and oh so naive I used to believe that governments were created to protect the citizens of their country while enabling the doing of Good Things. Waking up to reality is one of the reasons we left the US. The dream had been burst and reality was just too much to take.
Where else in the world would HSBC, a rather large international bank, be allowed to avoid jail, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it broke nearly every banking and terrorists money laundering law on the books? This "walk" has been granted by that guardian of US law, the Department of Justice, thank you very much.
What about money laundering for an enemy of the US (do you remember al Qaeda and M.bin Laden)? What about channeling money for the Russian Mob? What about being the bankers to the Drug Lords of Mexico (the guys who contribute to Mexico's homicide rate being twice the US rate, and, oh, about ten times higher than Europe)? Apparently these are not infractions of supposedly well written law worth jailing anyone for. The only thing HSBC received was a slap on the wrist fine of about 5 weeks of profit. That's it. So, where's the justice?
News of the North Korean nuke test came and went with the speed of a speeding dove of peace. In free-fall. After being shot out of the sky by a rouge nation. What? ICBMs capable of hitting places around the world isn't news enough to push the latest gossip scandal off the headlines page? Tipped with nukes a rouge nation is actively testing? Nah. That's so 1950's, isn't it?
What has become of the US?
Meanwhile, in Europe, things are a bit different.
Watching Telematin on France2 TV revealed something very interesting. The smiling laughing reporters and TV program hosts had me at the first giggle and snort. There's something very infectious about a good laugh. Add to this that the story involves men in dresses, lots of smelly incense, colorful robes, and tall pointy hats and I just had to sit up and take notice.
It turns out that enterprising Canadians, standing in the middle of Saint Pete's Square in the Vatican, are making book on who will be the next Pappa. People there were excited about having a true Race for Glory and a declaration of Possible Sainthood. I didn't see any money change hands. That had to be taking place off-camera somewhere. Conveniently, an authority on Vatican politics wandered by and offered his opinion of the Canadian odds. It seems the Kanucks have it just about right. Sweet. This is serious business.
Now this is simple cause and effect news I can appreciate and understand.
It was certainly better than listening to how Gangster International Bankers, Gangster Russian Mobs, Gangster Mexican Drug Lords, and the top 1 percent Gangsters of the US get a pass on facing any even a menial form of justice for their continued arrogant and highly profitable misdeeds.
But first, let's check in with the World Gangsters, shall we?
When I was young and oh so naive I used to believe that governments were created to protect the citizens of their country while enabling the doing of Good Things. Waking up to reality is one of the reasons we left the US. The dream had been burst and reality was just too much to take.
Where else in the world would HSBC, a rather large international bank, be allowed to avoid jail, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that it broke nearly every banking and terrorists money laundering law on the books? This "walk" has been granted by that guardian of US law, the Department of Justice, thank you very much.
What about money laundering for an enemy of the US (do you remember al Qaeda and M.bin Laden)? What about channeling money for the Russian Mob? What about being the bankers to the Drug Lords of Mexico (the guys who contribute to Mexico's homicide rate being twice the US rate, and, oh, about ten times higher than Europe)? Apparently these are not infractions of supposedly well written law worth jailing anyone for. The only thing HSBC received was a slap on the wrist fine of about 5 weeks of profit. That's it. So, where's the justice?
News of the North Korean nuke test came and went with the speed of a speeding dove of peace. In free-fall. After being shot out of the sky by a rouge nation. What? ICBMs capable of hitting places around the world isn't news enough to push the latest gossip scandal off the headlines page? Tipped with nukes a rouge nation is actively testing? Nah. That's so 1950's, isn't it?
What has become of the US?
Meanwhile, in Europe, things are a bit different.
Watching Telematin on France2 TV revealed something very interesting. The smiling laughing reporters and TV program hosts had me at the first giggle and snort. There's something very infectious about a good laugh. Add to this that the story involves men in dresses, lots of smelly incense, colorful robes, and tall pointy hats and I just had to sit up and take notice.
It turns out that enterprising Canadians, standing in the middle of Saint Pete's Square in the Vatican, are making book on who will be the next Pappa. People there were excited about having a true Race for Glory and a declaration of Possible Sainthood. I didn't see any money change hands. That had to be taking place off-camera somewhere. Conveniently, an authority on Vatican politics wandered by and offered his opinion of the Canadian odds. It seems the Kanucks have it just about right. Sweet. This is serious business.
Now this is simple cause and effect news I can appreciate and understand.
It was certainly better than listening to how Gangster International Bankers, Gangster Russian Mobs, Gangster Mexican Drug Lords, and the top 1 percent Gangsters of the US get a pass on facing any even a menial form of justice for their continued arrogant and highly profitable misdeeds.
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