Michael Jackson converted to Islam — reports

Michael Jackson had converted to Islam, according to reports in the Middle East.



The singer’s Muslim brother Jermaine claimed the “Thriller” hitmaker had taken interest in the religion since Jermaine converted in 1989. Michael had been considering converting since 2005.

Muslim funeral customs call for a body to be buried as close to the time of death as possible. The family is discussing funeral arrangements.

The U.S. encouraged Iran to nationalize oil — report

The United States Ambassador to Iran, Henry F. Grady (1950 - 1951), according to an unconfirmed report, is said to have encouraged Iran to nationalize the British organized Anglo-Iranian Oil Company so that American oil companies could, at a later date, gain control of Iran's oil.

Who owns the media?

The ten biggest owners are: AOL Time Warner, Disney, General Electric, News Corporation, Viacom, Vivendi, Sony, Bertelsmann, AT&T and Liberty Media.

Are Iran election protests US orchestrated?

'Questioning the War on Terror'

In his new book, "Questioning the War on Terror," Dr. Barrett uses rigorous analysis and just plain common sense to show that Obama voters were right: the War on Terror is a profoundly dubious enterprise. He begins with the observation that Americans are thirty times more likely to die from lightning strikes, and ten times more likely to drown in their bathtubs, than to be killed by terrorists: "Should we declare war against lightning bolts and bathtubs? Should we install PA systems in our bathrooms reminding us that the threat level of bathtub drowning has been raised to orange? Should we create a new Department of Bathtub Security (DBS) empowered to do sneak-and-peak warrantless searches of our bathrooms to make sure that we're using no-slip bath-mats? Should we invade and occupy countries that we falsely blame for bathtub deaths? Would this be any crazier than what we're doing now, allegedly due to the equally insignificant 'terrorist threat'?"

Using the Socratic method, Questioning the War on Terror asks fifty- four hard questions that, taken together, effectively annihilate the central notion on which our post-9/11 political life has been based. It concludes with a list of twenty-two concrete actions that readers can take to end the War on Terror and achieve the change they voted for.

Dear President Obama, here are some 9/11 'facts to be dealt with'

Dear President Obama:

In your speech today in Cairo, you called the attacks of September 11, 2001, "not opinions to be debated" but "facts to be dealt with." I agree.

So let's deal with the facts.

I've summarized important facts in my book "9/11 Unveiled" — an "executive summary" of what happened on that tragic day.

I look forward to your administration dealing with these facts. They lead to a very different conclusion than the one accepted by both your administration, and the previous administration.

On July 11, in collaboration with Citizen Investigation Team, and Pilots for 9/11 Truth, we'll present a National Security Briefing: Deconstructing the 9/11 Pentagon Attack. Our presentation, based on hard facts, refutes the generally accepted theory.

Do send your staff to examine the facts. The truth will surprise you.

Sincerely,
Enver Masud
Founder, The Wisdom Fund

Preaching the Gospel of biblical capitalism, military might, and American empire

Ivanwald, situated in a cul-de-sac at the end of 24th Street North in Arlington, Virginia, is the stronghold of a widespread "invisible" and powerful network, working for "democracy" and "free markets," but in reality extending the American empire. . . .

Presidents of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan meet

Pakistani leader Asif Ali Zardari is expected to discuss regional security with Iranian officials. He will also address economic relations, a gas pipeline, a 1000 MW power supply from Iran to Pakistan via Balochistan, and border security with Ahmadinejad.

Re Iran, on Fareed Zakaria GPS

Subject: GPS: Iran
Date Sent: Sunday, May 24, 2009 3:23 PM
From: CEO
To: Prof. Fawaz A. Gergez
CC: Fareed Zakaria, Gideon Rose

Dear Prof Gerges:


Thank you for pointing out that Iran hasn't attacked anyone, but you missed an opportunity to point out a few other facts.


1 - On March 23, 2005, Iran made a confidential offer, suggested by an advisory panel of European and U.S. scientists and experts, voluntarily restricting certain of its inalienable rights. The offer included:

- Foregoing reprocessing of spent fuel and recovery of plutonium;
- A low ceiling on the level of enrichment;
- A limitation on the capacity of the enrichment program to that needed to meet the contingency fuel requirements of Iran's power reactors;
- Immediate conversion of all enriched Uranium to fuel rods TO PRECLUDE EVEN THE TECHNICAL POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER ENRICHMENT;

Furthermore, Iran offered to allow continuous on-site presence of IAEA inspectors at uranium conversion and enrichment facilities to provide unprecedented transparency, above and beyond even that required under the Additional Protocol, signed, but yet to be ratified by the Iranian Parliament.
. . . Not only would Bush-Cheney-Rice not let the E3/EU accept the offer; they wouldn't even let the E3/EU acknowledge receipt of it.

More on this at http://www.twf.org/News/Y2009/0401-Iran.html


2 - Re Ahmadinejad's comment about wiping out Israel, it has been deliberately mistranslated according to our sources. The full quote translated directly to English:

"The Imam said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time". Word by word translation: Imam (Khomeini) ghoft (said) een (this) rezhim-e (regime) ishghalgar-e (occupying) qods (Jerusalem) bayad (must) az safheh-ye ruzgar (from page of time) mahv shavad (vanish from).

More on this at http://www.twf.org/News/Y2005/1220-Ahmadinejad.html


3 - Several Israeli leaders have not only spoken of wiping out Palestinians, they have been doing it. Here are some of the quotes:

"The Palestinians" would be crushed like grasshoppers ... heads smashed against the boulders and walls." Isreali Prime Minister (at the time) in a speech to Jewish settlers New York Times April 1, 1988

"When we have settled the land, all the Arabs will be able to do about it will be to scurry around like drugged cockroaches in a bottle." Raphael Eitan, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, New York Times, April 14, 1983.

"The thesis that the danger of genocide was hanging over us in June 1967 and that Israel was fighting for its physical existence is only bluff, which was born and developed after the war." Israeli General Matityahu Peled, Ha'aretz, March 19, 1972.

"We have to kill all the Palestinians unless they are resigned to live here as slaves." Chairman Heilbrun of the Committee for the Re-election of General Shlomo Lahat, the mayor of Tel Aviv, October 1983.

"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it." - Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001, to Shimon Peres, as reported on Kol Yisrael radio.

"We declare openly that the Arabs have no right to settle on even one centimeter of Eretz Israel... Force is all they do or ever will understand. We shall use the ultimate force until the Palestinians come crawling to us on all fours." Rafael Eitan, Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces - Gad Becker, Yediot Ahronot, April 13, 1983, New York Times April 14, 1983.

"We should prepare to go over to the offensive. Our aim is to smash Lebanon, Trans-Jordan, and Syria. The weak point is Lebanon, for the Moslem regime is artificial and easy for us to undermine. We shall establish a Christian state there, and then we will smash the Arab Legion, eliminate Trans-Jordan; Syria will fall to us. We then bomb and move on and take Port Said, Alexandria and Sinai." - David Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff. From Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978.

"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population." Israel Koenig, "The Koenig Memorandum," April 1976.

"We walked outside, Ben-Gurion accompanying us. Allon repeated his question, What is to be done with the Palestinian population?' Ben-Gurion waved his hand in a gesture which said 'Drive them out!'" Yitzhak Rabin, leaked censored version of Rabin memoirs, published in the New York Times, October 23, 1979.

"It is the duty of Israeli leaders to explain to public opinion, clearly and courageously, a certain number of facts that are forgotten with time. The first of these is that there is no Zionism,colonialization or Jewish State without the eviction of the Arabs and the expropriation of their lands." Yoram Bar Porath, Yediot Aahronot, of July 14,1972.

"Spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly." Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization, speaking of the Arabs of Palestine,Complete Diaries, June 12, 1895 entry.

"We will establish ourselves in Palestine whether you like it or not...You can hasten our arrival or you can equally retard it. It is however better for you to help us so as to avoid our constructive powers being turned into a destructive power which will overthrow the world." - Chaim Weizmann, Published in "Judische Rundschau," No. 4, 1920

More on this at http://www.twf.org/News/Y2005/1220-Ahmadinejad.html


4 - Israel and the US have carried out attacks outside their borders.



Enver Masud

Founder, The Wisdom Fund
www.twf.org


To ADD your name to our mailing list go to http://www.twf.org/twflist/subscribe.html - expect about 3 emails per week.

National security briefing: deconstructing the 9/11 Pentagon attack

Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 11, for this groundbreaking presentation by Citizen Investigation Team and Pilots for 9/11 Truth — sponsored by The Wisdom Fund.

Pakistan's attack on Swat: fallout from the energy wars

Exploiting 'terror plots' for political gain

Pirates say they’re collecting 'fines' for illegal acts

The pirates do not use the word "ransom." They say they’re collecting "fines" for illegal acts.

There’s more to this story than we’re being told:

1 - It has been reported that the Maersk Alabama belonged to a U.S. Department of Defense contractor with top security clearance.

2 - European and Asian ships are estimated to be illegally taking more than $450 million in fish out of Somalia's waters annually. It is believed that ships from the EU alone take out of the country more than five times the value of the EU's aid to Somalia every year.

3 - European ships are dumping toxic, and sometime radioactive wastes in Somali waters. It is estimated that the cost to European companies to dump the wastes on Somalia's beaches is $2.50 per ton compared to $250 a ton to dispose of the wastes in Europe.

Obama advisor Lawrence Summers — then president of the World Bank — recommended "encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs (Less Developed Countries).

Mr. Summers argued that "the costs of health-impairing pollution depends on the forgone earnings from increased morbidity and mortality."

In other words, human beings in LDCs are worth less than human beings in developed countries, according to Mr. Summers' leaked memo of December 12, 1991.

The U.S. and Europe are making plans that could "open the way for more missions to hunt down the pirates inside the lawless country."

War, peace, and human rights

Today, April 17, on the 14th anniversary of The Wisdom Fund, we would like to draw your attention to an issue that has huge implications for war, peace, and human rights -- specially for Muslims, and mainly Muslim countries, and which has taken trillions out of the American economy.

That issue is September 11, 2001. The official explanation is just plain wrong, and we can prove it. Hence U.S. wars, and violations of human rights, that resulted from the official explanation of that tragic day, cannot be justified on the basis of 9/11.

We challenge any member of the 9/11 Commission, or any official of the Bush or Obama administrations, to rebut the evidence and arguments we present.

"9/11 Unveiled" by Enver Masud, founder of The Wisdom Fund, together with a 45-minute documentary bearing the same title, will convince most audiences that, at the very least, there is "reasonable doubt" about the official explanation.

Indeed a highly placed judge told us that we have sufficient evidence for a prima facie case.

We intend to make the documentary available free with the book "9/11 Unveiled."

We spoke out during the tense period following 9/11, and we continue to speak out now. We've scheduled a conference on July 11, 2009 regarding what happened at the Pentagon on 9/11. Details will follow.

We find it sad that we're not supported by Muslim "leaders" and the larger Muslim organizations. Perhaps they can learn from AIPAC and the Heritage Foundation.

Would AIPAC and the Heritage Foundation support our efforts if it were their allies who were wrongly blamed for 9/11, and we had the evidence to prove otherwise?

So why do Muslim organizations hesitate?

"With reason as your shield and the sword of love in your hand, Servant of God! the leadership of the world is at your command" wrote the Muslim poet, philosopher and politician Allama Sir Muhammad Iqbal.

But this is an issue that reaches far beyond the Muslim community. The U.S. response to 9/11 has cost the U.S. about $4 trillion -- according to Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard economist Lind Bilmes.

What's holding us back from distributing "9/11 Unveiled" -- the documentary, is copyrights clearances. We've obtained some, but we need legal advice on "fair use," and guidance on obtaining the remaining clearances.

Do support our efforts to get out the truth about 9/11. We need your support now. The initial legal review alone can cost $6000. The Wisdom Fund usually operates in the red, and is in the red now. And we pay no salaries, except the $1 per year to the founder.

So please give what you can, and give today.

You may donate online at our http://www.twf.org/.

If you prefer send check or cash to: The Wisdom Fund, PO Box 2723, Arlington, VA 22202 USA.

We are classified as a Section 501(c)(3) organization as described in the Internal Revenue Code. Donors may deduct contributions as provided in Section 170 -- employee identification number 54-1755689.

Dump wastes on less developed countries — Obama advisor Lawrence Summers

Obama advisor Lawrence Summers recommended "encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs (Less Developed Countries) when he was president of the World Bank.

Mr. Summers argued that "the costs of health-impairing pollution depends on the forgone earnings from increased morbidity and mortality."

In other words, human beings in LDCs are worth less than human beings in developed countries, according to a leaked, December 12, 1991 internal memo by Mr. Summers. Therefore, it is cost-effective to dump waste from developed countries on less developed countries.

A caller brought up the issue yesterday on WPFW Pacifica Radio's "What's at Stake" hosted by Verna Avery Brown.

Discussing the issue of piracy off the Somali coast on "What's at Stake," were Fred C. Ikle, undersecretary of defense during the Reagan administrations, and Enver Masud, founder of The Wisdom Fund.

Mr. Ikle reiterated the position he had taken in his article "Kill the Pirates" (Washington Post, April 13, 2009 ): "an inspection and quarantine regime off the coast of Somalia to seize and destroy all vessels that are found to be engaged in piracy," arming ship's crew, and blockading Somalia if the ship's crew were taken hostage.

Masud argued for immediately stopping the illegal, unregulated, unreported (IUU) dumping and fishing in Somali waters by Europeans and Asians.

European ships are dumping toxic, and sometime radioactive wastes in Somali waters. It is estimated that the cost to European companies to dump the wastes on Somalia's beaches is $2.50 per ton compared to $250 a ton to dispose of the wastes in Europe.

Mr. Masud stated that IUU ships are estimated to be taking more than $450 million in fish out of Somalia annually. It is believed that IUUs from the EU alone take out of the country more than five times the value of its aid to Somalia every year.

The pirates do not use the word "ransom." They call what they collect a "fine" for illegal acts.

Captain of Maersk Alabama caught up in the new scramble for Africa

Those Somali pirates—trying to stop illegal dumping and trawling, the crisis in Darfur, the war crimes charges against Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir, and the bases in Africa sought by AFRICOM are best understood in the context of the Great Game—the scramble for Africa's resources.

In January 1991, Somalia's president Mohammed Siad Barre was overthrown by a coalition calling itself the United Somali Congress which then divided into two groups — one led by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, who became president, and the other led by Mohammed Farah Aidid.

Fighting broke out among rival clans, and food shortages became widespread. Pictures of starving Somalis were repeatedly broadcast in the United States.

In a bid to destroy the forces of Mohammed Farah Aidid, on December 12, 1992, the U.S., undercover of a "humanitarian mission" invaded Somalia. In the following ten months, 10,000 Somalis died in battles with the U.S.

"Colin Powell, at the time the chairman of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the invasion a "paid political advertisement" for the Pentagon at a time (less than a year after the end of the so-called Cold War) when Congress was under growing pressure to cut the war budget."

The U.S. ultimately withdrew. The deciding battle for Mogadishu, the Somali capital, was captured in the film "Black Hawk Down."

It was a humiliating defeat for the U.S., and Somalia descended into chaos. U.S. support for warlords fueled the turmoil.

Peace was restored when the Islamic Courts Union came to power.

"Finally, after 16 years, the Somali people have decided to liberate themselves with the leadership of the Islamic court, said Sheikh Sherif Ahmed, Chairman, Islamic Courts Union.

"The Union of Islamic Courts does not want to impose a Taleban-style Islamic state in Somalia, says their leader." (BBC News, June 6, 2006)

But the U.S. had its own plan. On December 24, 2006, Ethiopia, supported by the U.S., invaded Somalia.

"The coordinated assault was the first open admission by Ethiopia's Christian—led government of its military operations inside Somalia, where—with tacit American support - it has been helping a weak interim government threatened by forces loyal to the Islamic clerics who control the longtime capital, Mogadishu, and much of the country. (New York Times, December 25, 2006)

"The real reason [for U.S. support of the invasion] is likely to be that the Ogaden region, which borders Somalia, sits on a not yet exploited gas field. (Daniel Whitaker, Observer, November 12, 2006)

When the U.S. role was revealed, support for the Islamists increased, and Somalia faced a new humanitarian crisis.

"A local human rights group put the death toll at 1,000 over just four days earlier this month, and more than 250 have been killed in the past six days.

"More than 320,000 of Mogadishu's 2 million residents have fled since heavy fighting started in February." (Salad Duhul and Elizabeth A. Kennedy, Independent, April 24, 2007)

The United Nations labeled it the "worst refugee crisis."

Winterpatriot.blogsport.com reported "the United States has intervened directly into the conflict, carrying out bombing raids on fleeing refugees and nomads, firing missiles into villages, sending in death squads to clean up after covert operations, and . . . assisting in the "rendition" of refugees, including American citizens, into the hands of Ethiopia's notorious torturers."

"Amnesty International has called for the role of the United States in Somalia to be investigated, following publication of a report accusing its allies of committing war crimes." (Steve Bloomfield, Guardian, May 7, 2008)

16,000 civilians died in this new conflict, and despite U.S. support, the Ethiopian troops were forced to withdraw in January 2009.

"Analysts had feared the withdrawal of the Ethiopians would lead to a power vacuum and fighting between rival Islamist factions.

"But at the moment all factions—whether they back the peace process with the government or not—seem to be working together." (BBC, January 15, 2009)

Now, the new "Great Game of Hunting Somali Pirates," may be a precursor to reestablishing U.S. control in the region—i.e. bases for AFRICOM.

The "piracy in Somalia has its origin among disgruntled fishermen who had to compete with illegal poaching by foreign commercial vessels in its tuna-rich coastal waters", writes former Indian ambassador M. K. Bhadrakumar.

"At some 3,300 kilometres, Somalia has the longest coastline in Africa. With a fertile upswelling where the ocean reaches Africa's Horn, the seas are rich in tuna, swordfish and shark, as well as coastal beds of lobster and valuable shrimp. (Daniel Howden and Abdinasir Mohamed Guled, Independent, November 14, 2008)

"The pirates are actually a blessing in disguise. They provide an excuse for the administration to beef up it's military presence and put down roots. . . .

"When the Asian tsunami of Christmas 2005 washed ashore on the east coast of Africa, it uncovered a great scandal. Tons of radioactive waste and toxic chemicals drifted onto the beaches after the giant wave dislodged them from the sea bed off Somalia. Tens of thousands of Somalis fell ill after coming into contact with this cocktail. They complained to the United Nations (UN), which began an investigation. . . .

"In 2006 Somali fishermen complained to the UN that foreign fishing fleets were using the breakdown of the state to plunder their fish stocks. These foreign fleets often recruited Somali militias to intimidate local fishermen. Despite repeated requests, the UN refused to act." (Mike Whitney, Global Research, December 2, 2008)

The scramble for Africa's resources is acclerating.

"A US businessman backed by former CIA and state department officials says he has secured a vast tract of fertile land in south Sudan from the family of a notorious warlord, in post-colonial Africa's biggest private land deal. . . .

"He believes that several African states, Sudan included, but possibly also Nigeria, Ethiopia and Somalia, are likely to break apart in the next few years".

"Despite resistance from virtually every nation in Africa, the U.S. continues to seek a home for its Africa Command, AFRICOM. The lure of African oil and other resources causes Washington to devise various schemes to dominate the continent . . . a central Washington political thrust in Africa revolves around the Darfur region of Sudan [where Israel is collaborating with rebel forces]. What the U.S. really wants is regime change in Sudan, and control of its oil resources." (Mark P. Fancher, opednews.com, February 18, 2009)

Like millions of innocent civilians in Somalia and Sudan, the captain of the Maersk Alabama is caught up in this deadly game.

[updated article]

To President Obama, regarding the 'stimulus'

Dear Mr. President

It is not clear how your financial rescue plan addresses the major problems: home foreclosure, job losses, and banks not lending. Nor is it clear how the plan's performance will be measured.

I suggest that you examine the plan put forth by The Wisdom Fund, and make this a model for presenting your plan to the public.

ONE, NATIONALIZE THE BANKS: Reinstate the separation between commercial and investment banks. For a limited time, suspend the mark to market rule. Give commercial banks the option to remain independent, sell out, or be declared insolvent and nationalized. Have the remaining commercial banks contribute amounts sufficient to keep the FDIC solvent. Homeowners facing foreclosure could go to nationalized banks for loans they can afford, and banks could take an equity position in the home to make up for any shortfall. Investment banks would compete in the "free market."

TWO, CUT MILITARY SPENDING 10% PER YEAR FOR 5 YEARS: Our reported military spending is about equal to that of the rest of the world combined. Military spending hidden among other budget items is estimated to be equal to that which is identified in the budget. Get out of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2009. Forget about war with Iran.

THREE, GIVE THE BULK OF THE "STIMULUS" TO THE STATES: States, being closer to the problems than Washington, can better decide how to spend the "stimulus" than Washington. Set strict guidelines for spending the stimulus, and establish measures of performance. Set up a Federal Business Administration (FBA) similar to the Federal Home Administration (FHA) to make loans to businesses through channels similar to those used by the FHA.

FOUR, EXTEND JOBLESS BENEFITS: Cuts in military spending will cause more to lose jobs. However, extending jobless benefits would provide time and funds for retraining. Those accepting jobless benefits could be required to provide some hours of work free to organizations interested in utilizing their skills. This may lead to regular employment with these organizations.

I look forward to seeing your transform your plan into something that is clear, and measurable, by us ordinary Americans.

Sincerely,

Enver Masud
Founder and President
The Wisdom Fund

Islam film Dutch MP to be charged

A Dutch court has ordered prosecutors to put a right-wing politician on trial for making anti-Islamic statements.

Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders made a controversial film last year equating Islam with violence and has likened the Koran to Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.

"In a democratic system, hate speech is considered so serious that it is in the general interest to... draw a clear line," the court in Amsterdam said.

Mr Wilders said the judgement was an "attack on the freedom of expression".

Inaugural advertisement rebuts '9/11 Commission Report'

Is Al Jazeera internet TV being blocked?

We had been watching Israel's attack on Gaza on Al Jazeera streamed over the Internet at http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/ until about last Friday.

For the past two days, all we've had is a black screen.

Is Israel, or the U.S., blocking Al Jazeera?

Recall that the U.S. has blocked websites in the past, and wanted to bomb Al Jazeera, to keep the truth from getting out.

Nevertheless, the numbers tell the story.