The Diane Rehm Show

The Greek government's responsibility is to the people of Greece, not German bankers, not the EU.

this week there was a much needed intense exchange between Victoria Nuland and AP reporter Matt Lee about the UNESCO VOTE

"QUESTION: It is a fact, isn’t it, that the United States votes very often – it is very often the – Israel’s lone supporter or one of very few supporters in international fora, such as these UN organizations. Has the Administration made it clear to the Israelis that if the U.S. is forced to withdraw, pull out funding, or – and step back from these organizations, that they will actually be losing an ally in organizations that they think, for whatever reason, are relevant?

MS. NULAND: Without differentiation, we have made clear to all of the partners that we work with in these international organizations about what the consequences are of the legislation on the books.

QUESTION: Right. No, no. But I’m talking about in terms of changing the legislation.

MS. NULAND: I lost the thread of the question.

QUESTION: In terms of lobbying people on the Hill to change this so that you’re not locked in to doing something that you believe is antithetical to U.S. interests --

MS. NULAND: I’m not going to --

QUESTION: -- because of the actions of third parties.

MS. NULAND: I’m – the Israelis are well aware of the legislation on U.S. books.

QUESTION: No, no. Okay, fine. But are you telling the Israelis that it will actually hurt them and their arguments in these international fora if you’re forced out of them?

MS. NULAND: Again, I’m not going to get into the private back and forth that we have with the Government of Israel.

QUESTION: Does the Administration find it unpalatable that it has to go to another government, to other government officials, to lobby members of its own legislature?

MS. NULAND: I reject the premise of your statement.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2011/11/176589.htm

"In a surprise announcement yesterday, activists announced that two boats were en route from Turkey to break the blockade of Gaza. This latest initiative, dubbed the 'Freedom Waves to Gaza', is the 11th mission to sail across the Mediterranean in a campaign to highlight the inhumane and illegal imprisonment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."

http://mondoweiss.net/2011/11/majd-kayyal-on-freedom-waves-im-sailing-to...

Those two Gaza flotilla ships have now been surrounded by the Israeli Navy and communications have been shut down. Will your guest be talking about this new effort?

http://mondoweiss.net/
"Breaking: Gaza flotilla stopped by Israeli warships

by Adam Horowitz on November 4, 2011
Like 4 Retweet 8

From the US Boat to Gaza:

At 7:43 am (east coast time) ground support crew lost contact with two ships, the Saoirse of Ireland and the Tahrir of Canada, carrying 27 civilian passengers, medical supplies and letters of support for the people of Gaza. On board the Tahrir is one American, Kit Kittredge.

At 7:30 am the Tahrir was interrogated, via radio, by the Israeli Navy. The ships were approximately 48 nautical miles off the coastline, well into international waters. Asked by the Israeli Navy for their destination, Canadian activist Ehab Lotayef replied, "The conscience of humanity." When they repeated the question, asking for final destination, Lotayef said, "The betterment of mankind."

Israel has maintained a naval blockade of Gaza since June 2006. Numerous international organizations, including committees of the United Nations, have concluded the blockade is in violation of international law.

---

http://ustogaza.org/"

Steve and on the Diane Rehm show they have guest on who know little to nothing about what is going on in Iran. Avoid having former Bush administration officials and former CIA middle east analyst Flynt (quit the Bush administration because he disagreed with the invasion of Iraq) and Hillary Mann Leverett (who has directly negotiated for the US with Iran) on the their program so that the public can really be informed about what is going on with Iran..as well as the history of negotiations and non negotiations

Why the Rehm team will not have them on is suspect. I know Professor Juan Cole had media roadblocks set up against him by the Bush administration and the MSM rolled over to these roadblocks. Wondering if there is pressure on some of these MSM outlets to not have these two incredibly well informed scholars on their program. Very very odd

Best conversations, information about Iran right here
at Race for Iran
http://www.raceforiran.com/iran-responds-to-u-s-charges#comments

No Steve, you don't get it. What does it matter if your meager savings are taxpayer insured? Especially if they cut your parents Social Security and Medicare and raise taxes on labor income? Look wholistically at the economy. The logjam fraud in Washington protects the wealthy and the "little people" are extorted for the shortfall. None of these bigshots will ever get any haircut besides a $300 style job under current conditions. You have the right spirit, Steve, but think again about the corrupt system, and how it is rigged against you.

You're exactly right about the IMF: It's an Interstate highway for corporate flight to taxhavens, and you're paying for maintenance.

kathleen makes me laugh: She wonders if there is pressure exerted on DRShow not to "say the wrong ting" or "get agitator guests." There's not only pressure against kathleen; there's suction for the company line!

(Diane has shown great courage in booking Greg Palast for week after next.
Fascist posters are probably too lazy to research his journalism. Their brains might puke out the Koch-flu if they ever did.)

Your silly. Of course there is pressure. Greg Palast will not be talking about Iran.

You can bet your ass there is pressure on this show as well as others. I know this as a fact. Still challenging

Is Israel "getting ready to bomb Iran" with bunker busters delivered by Obamanauts. Holy Sealteamsix, my boy Beebee wouldn't do that would he?!
(Daddy Koch say, go for it, Buddy. I needs the oil. And war would make Occupy a "national security threat.")

(I fear for the safety of Freedomwave detainees in such a garrison state, with a fanatic religious leadership about to begin war. Maybe we can trade Michael Blumberg for the entire party.)

(Ask-ole-Mitt about this stuff next debate. Michelle and Rick and Rick gonna "kill 'em all" anyway. Obama's actions are louder than words.)

I believe that things do not need to be considered moving "backward". The UNESCO status should be viewed as a step in the right direction - Palestine statehood is seen as a good thing by many in Europe - where we are not necessarily in command. Negotiations between Israel and Palestine will work better as between two countries and not as one country vs Islamists. Its time we got off this policy that has us ganging up with Israel against Palestine.

Katy, One of your callers made an important point that, I believe, your guests missed. He spoke of debt that was only paper debt as a result of leveraging. CDO's (mortgage securities) can be sold more than once and CDS's (insurance) can be purchased on assets not owned by the insurance purchaser. It's like this: If 50 people could purchase insurance on my home, and it burned down, the insurance company would owe a debt to 49 people that paid a small premium but did not lose an asset. If the insurance company could not pay and were bailed out, the taxpayers would be on the hook for debt not represented by an asset. Some commentators have said that one trillion dollars of failed subprime debt was multiplied to ten trillion because of synthetic CDO's and CDS's (insurance on the CDO's). The bailouts paid 100 cents on the dollar on the multiplied debt as well as the debt represented by the original assets.
Bailouts will impoverish the public to a far greater extent because of the derivative gambling.

Bawk, b-bawk, bawk. Grady Lee Coward still won't face me like a man and have this out. Instead, he runs away like a little girl.
Bawk, b-bawk, bawk, bawk. Come on Grady Lee Coward. We're waiting for you to face up to me and show me the evidence you have to back up your "racist" claim against me - you, the one who called Herman Cain an "Oreo". C'mon GLC. How long can you run away?!