Alt-Terrorism: Living Dictators

July 06, 2005

The March for TyrantsOf the 10 Worst Living Dictators, five terrorize Africa according to  David Wallechinsky writing for Parade Magazine.

Number four is the thug and criminal for whom I have burned some electrons within these pages, Robert Mugabe.

According to Human Rights Forum, Mugabe’s government has killed or tortured and displaced more than 70,000. While allowing elections, he has restricted opponents’ ability to campaign and shut down media that don’t support him. When opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai won 42% of the vote anyway, Mugabe had him arrested and charged with treason. As his support has slipped, Mugabe has played the race card, confiscating farms owned by whites and giving them to his supporters.

Number 6 is Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea

U.S. oil companies have poured billions of dollars into the country. Although the per capita income is $4,500 a year, 60% of the people live on less than $1 a day. The bulk of the oil income goes directly into the U.S. bank account of President Obiang, who has declared: “There is no poverty in Guinea.” Rather, “The people are used to living in a different way.” In July, state radio announced that Obiang “is in permanent contact with the Almighty” and “can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to Hell.” There is little public transportation, no daily newspapers, and only 1% of government spending goes to health care.

Number 7 is Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan

Sudan, the largest country in Africa, has been involved in a complex 20-year civil war that has claimed the lives of 2 million people and uprooted 4 million. Al-Bashir seized power in a military coup and immediately suspended the constitution, abolished the legislature and banned political parties and unions….his army has routinely bombed civilians and tortured and massacred non-Muslims, particularly in the oil-producing areas of the south. Sudanese troops also have kidnapped southerners and enslaved them. Al-Bashir has been accused of “engineering famine” in regions that oppose him.

Number 10 is King Mswati III of Swaziland

Though educated in England, Mswati has shown a liking for certain Swazi traditions. In Sept. 2002, he watched thousands of girls and young women dance bare-breasted in the annual Reed Dance, then chose one to be his 10th wife. (His father had 100 wives.) The girl’s mother filed a lawsuit charging the king with abducting her daughter. Mswati announced that Swazi courts were forbidden to issue rulings that limited the king’s power. To appease world opinion, he approved a new constitution to replace the one his father suspended 30 years earlier. However, the new constitution bans political parties, allows the death penalty for any criminal offense and provides for debtors’ prisons.

In Scotland a large unruly group of clowns are marching for the dictators in Africa, asking the leaders of the Western Democracies to relieve the debt burden on these poor countries so that the homicidal and masochistic maniacs that run them can profit some more from their despicable reigns.

But these are no peaceniks:

More than 100 black-clad anarchists smashed car windows, threw rocks and tried to blockade one of the main roads into the Gleneagles resort in Scotland that is hosting the three-day summit of world economic leaders, according to The Associated Press.

Sweet! Robert Mugabe would be proud.

Hey! I have an idea, since giving money to countries that are run by criminals is not going to relieve the terrible economic conditions of the people who live there anyway, why not tie the debt relief and aid to political and economic reform? Great idea, huh?

Oh. What? You mean Bush already thought of that and that is precisely his position?

Huh.

U.S. President George W. Bush delivered a tough message for African nations hoping for more aid or debt relief, saying on Wednesday they had to abide by the rules of democracy and fight corruption.

“We will give aid and cancel debt, but we want to be assured that governments invest in their people … and fight corruption,” he told a news conference after talks with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

Bush said he could not look U.S. taxpayers in the eye if countries which received aid did not meet the right standards of democracy. “We expect good governance,” he said.

Who is it that keeps calling Bush a moron?

Oh, that would be the clowns marching for tyrants in Scotland.

Interestingly, the Chief Moron, Britain’s George Galloway, could not see the irony of the situation when he protested the possibility of Scotland’s police cancelling the demonstration

George Galloway, a politician recently re-elected to the house of commons despite being thrown out of Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Labour Party, said he was still angry that the police had tried to prevent the march.

“When, exactly, did this become a police state?” he said.

“When did the police get … the power to call off demonstrations here in this free country of ours?”

Mr Galloway, and the clowns, seem blind to the fact that none of the above listed Tyrants of Africa allow such demonstrations at all and the march that is in support of them simply gives these meglomaniacs aid and comfort.

What? You say, I forgot one of the worst living dictators of Africa?

Well that would, of course, be number 5; Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

But somehow I don’t think the clowns are marching for that Africa.

It’s not like they would ever come out and demand that these countries live in political and economic freedom.

Ever.

International Black Market Update: From the Top

Hundreds of Igla and Stinger Missile Systems Available Globally for Illegal Purchase

Front page / World / Europe

04.12.2009 Source: Pravda.Ru

Pages: 12

According to the latest UN estimations, the world population owns nearly 500 million units of small and light arms purchased illegally. Western countries, developing countries and Russia are alarmed with this statistics. There are many human tragedies hidden behind clandestine weapons. Often, such weapons are sold at the places of recent war actions or near them. In this respect, Russia is still reaping the fruits of the last year’s war in the Caucasus. BREAKING NEWS Horrific Fire at Night Club in Russia Kills Over 100 New tallest man has to grow more More… According to Valery Fedorov, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council in Constitutional Legislation, there are hundreds of tons of explosives, small weapons, and Stinger and Igla missile-rounds “wandering” around the world. Gennady Gudkov, the deputy chairman of the Duma’s security committee, estimated that compared to 1990s, there is less weapons in the market, and they are getting more expensive. “Today, a TT sells for approximately 2.5 thousand dollars. Fifteen years ago its price was only $15, and famous Beretta weapons were only $25. However, today the price depends on a region, and the regions with recent war actions have cheaper weapons,” he explained. For example, cheap revolvers can be found in the Krasnodar Territory because after the 5-day war with Georgia last year, residents of Abkhazia and Russia were exposed to dozens of thousands of weapons. A few days after the war, a large part of these weapons could be purchased in Kuban. According to an informed source, personal weapons of Georgian officers used to sell for 50 thousand rubles apiece, while after the conflict the price dropped to 10 – 15 thousand. The M4 carbine and other foreign weapons were sold for pennies on the dollar. Yet, Kalashnikovs did not lose in price significantly. Illegal weapons trade continues to grow in Kuban. In neighboring Dagestan, local craftsmen re-make gas guns into weapons and sell them all over Russia. Local police found nearly 60 thousand of these guns. Less than two weeks ago, employees of the Dagestan Ministry of Internal Affairs found six hand-built guns with mufflers, a TT-type gun, four Nagan revolvers, a Margolina pistol, a submachine gun, and an 8 mm foreign-built gun in the house of a 41-year-old man. Illegal mass-produced weapons come to Russia mainly from the West. Former socialistic countries suffer from illegal imports as well. For example, in Poland, according to statistics, 3.5 people out of a thousand are entitled to carry weapons. This is the lowest number in the EU . For comparison, in Czech Republic this number is almost ten times higher, and in Germany – six times higher. Yet, Poland has more crimes committed with the use of firearms than its neighbors. Specialists believe it has something to do with a strong criminal market being fed by the Baltic countries and a “green” border with Ukraine that allows weapons transportation. BREAKING NEWS Horrific Fire at Night Club in Russia Kills Over 100 New tallest man has to grow more More… Besides, Poland has many weapons left from the Soviets who hastily left Poland in 1989. In that general “mess,” military equipment was sold to locals on a mass scale and weapons were popular goods. Some of these weapons migrated to other countries, but many still remain in Poland and continue to kill. Polish gangs are armed with locally produced weapons as well. Poland still produces Kalashnikovs (albeit without a license). Grim-looking Polish guys told a correspondent of Novye Izvestia newspaper that proper connections allow buying any handgun imaginable. Prices: Kalashnikov –1.2 thousand Euros, Uzi – 2.4 thousand Euros. Chicago, the criminal capital of the USA, is not lagging behind either. Last year, for example, a half of 13.658 thousand of weapons confiscated last year were semi-automatic and latest automatic weapons officially called “offensive weapons.” This week, the FBI stated that the black market became the main supply source for gangsters. In California alone, FBI agents confiscated almost 30 thousand weapons, including automatic ones. Noviye Izvestia

Attn: North Korean Undeground Economy; Cash

North Koreans Panic About Their Big Bags of Devaluated Cash

Front page / World / Asia

01.12.2009 Source: Pravda.Ru

Pages: 12

The government of North Korea has launched the denomination of the national currency, the won. All citizens of the country will have to exchange their money for new notes. The nation will cut two zeros: 100 wons will thus have the value of 1 won. BREAKING NEWS Horrific Fire at Night Club in Russia Kills Over 100 New tallest man has to grow more More… There are no restrictions for foreign citizens living in North Korea – they can exchange any amount of cash that they wish. However, there are restrictions for native citizens of the country. They will be allowed to exchange not more than 100,000 won, which is less than $50 – the average salary in one of the most isolated nations in the world. The news about the denomination came out of the blue and caused panic among the population of North Korea. Crowds of people rushed to buy Chinese yuans and American dollars. Huge lines of people can be seen in front of many banks. The lines grow every hour as people bring more and more of their money in cases and even sacks. As a result, the dollar rate in North Korea skyrocketed against the won. It became impossible to buy US dollars in many exchange offices, but people are ready to buy the American currency on the black market. South Korean experts believe that the government of North Korea decided to denominate the currency in an attempt to overcome the galloping inflation rate. The inflation is caused with the poor state of the nation’s economy, which does not seem to be improving during the recent 12 years already. There are several reasons for it. First and foremost, North Korea runs very expensive missile and nuclear programs and suffers from international sanctions as a consequence of it. The economic policy of North Korea is not efficient at all. Finally, the nation regularly suffers from natural disasters, presumably floods. Until recently, the official rate of the North Korean won against the US dollar was fluctuating between 135-200 wons per one dollar. However, eyewitnesses say that it was impossible to buy dollars at the official rate. The cost of one US dollar on the black market is ten times higher. There is another version to explain the current denomination. Some experts believe that the communist NKorean government intends to take away cash assets from those North Koreans who work abroad. There are hundreds of thousands of such people. The party administration supposedly believes that the money of those guest-workers makes the basis of the underground economy of the nation. In addition, the profit, which the government receives as a result of the denomination, will allow to hold grandiose celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the father of North Korea in 2012.

Primer Series V: The Underground Economy

I. Bone> Defintions:

A. Source I: U.S.A. Applications

“Underground economy” is a term that refers to those individuals and businesses that deal in cash and/or use other schemes to conceal their activities and their true tax liability from government licensing, regulatory, and taxing agencies. Underground economy is also referred to as tax evasion, tax fraud, cash pay, tax gap, payments under-the-table, and off-the-books.

What Does It Cost You?

A February 2005 report, California’s Tax Gap, prepared by California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office, estimates California’s income tax gap to be $6.5 billion. Reports on the underground economy indicate it imposes significant burdens on: (1) the State of California, (2) businesses that comply with the law, and (3) workers who lose benefits and other protections provided by state law when the businesses they work for operate in the underground economy.

Business:

When businesses operate in the underground economy, they illegally reduce the amount of money expensed for insurance, payroll taxes, licenses, employee benefits, safety equipment, and safety conditions. These types of employers then gain an unfair competitive advantage over businesses that comply with the various business laws. This causes unfair competition in the marketplace and forces law-abiding businesses to pay higher taxes and expenses.

Workers:

Employees of the businesses that do not comply are also affected. Their working conditions may not meet the legal requirements, which can put them in danger. Their wage earnings may also be less than those required by law, and benefits they are entitled to can be denied or delayed because their wages are not properly reported.

Consumers:

Consumers can also be affected when contracting with unlicensed businesses. Licensing provisions are designed to ensure minimum levels of skill and knowledge to protect the consumer.

The ultimate impact is erosion of the economic stability and working conditions in this State. Our pamphlet Paying Cash Wages “Under the Table”…Is It Really Worth the Risk? outlines some of the costs and effects of cash pay on your business, your employees, and taxpayers in general. It is available in both English (DE 573CA) and Spanish (DE 573CA/S/).

Source:Underground Economy Operations 

Jump to Definition of “Underground Economy“‎: “Underground economy” is a term that refers to those individuals and businesses that deal …
http://www.edd.ca.gov/payroll…/Underground_Economy_Operations.htm – Cached

B: Source II: Canadian Applications
RESOURCES Current Economy Families & Workers Money Gov’t & the Economy International Issues About Business LEARN ABOUT Key Indicators Economic Concepts Key Economic Events Economy Overview Other Useful Links RETURN Home CHECK THIS OUT Budget 2007 GST/HST Cuts Speech from the Throne Where Your Tax Dollars Go Expert Panel Reports		Jump to Definition • How does it affect Canadians? • Examples• Links DEFINITION Goods and services that are controlled or forbidden by governments but continue to be bought and sold privately are said to be traded on the black market. Illegal drugs, pornography and some forms of gambling are classic examples of goods and services that trade on the black market. Black markets tend to thrive in highly controlled economies where governments ration many products such as food, gas and luxury goods. Goods in the black market do not trade in open view of the authorities. When products are banned, they can be smuggled or produced illegally, yielding profits based on demand. Legal goods and services are sometimes traded on the black market to avoid taxes.

C. Source II: Assorted Internet definitions

• The underground economy or black market is a market where all commerce is conducted without regard to taxation, law or regulations of trade. …
  en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_economy 
• An expression used to describe all market exchange that goes unreported either because it is illegal or because those involved want to evade taxes.
  www.crfonline.org/orc/glossary/u.html 
• Part of an economy that is unrecorded by the tax authorities. It may be unrecorded because it involves a barter transaction, for example, or because it is attempting to evade tax. URL: Universal Resource Locator is a means of identifying an exact location on the Internet. …
  www.offshorehost.ws/glossary_of_offshore_terms.htm

 

II.Flesh on the the Bone: Conditions and Observations from the top

The Underground Economy

File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat – Quick View
economic lives. Many are laboring in the underground economy. Never in history did so many aliens enter the United States illegally as in recent years. …
http://mises.org/etexts/underground.pdf

III. Habitat: Conditions and Observations from the bottom

The real recession – a decline in the underground economy and reverse migration

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// Written by dailyclarity on // Nov-21-08 9:56am

From:  mydailyclarity.com

The US official economic and unemployment figures are bad enough, but what is not factored into those numbers is the massive declines in the underground or “black” economy. These are the numbers that the government does not and cannot disclose, but the declines there are equally as bad. While estimating the size of the underground economy is difficult, a 2005 Wall Street Journal article estimates its size at around $970 billion which equates to about 9% of the real economy. The data on the real economy is enough to give pause – a 16 year high in the number of people registering as unemployed, a 26 year high in the number of people drawing unemployment benefit and a stock market down to the lowest indicator since 1997. In the underground economy the indicators are that the same thing is happening, and this is a decline in cash transactions possibly a more real measure of the health of an economy.

The US has long been a migrants dream whether they have entered the country legally or illegally. Not today. Reverse migration (people leaving the US to go home) is on the rise. The dream may be over in a depressed economy. A new report by the National Statistics and Geography Institute. deals with the numbers as they apply to reverse migration to Mexico, a long time source of legal and illegal migration. The report tells us that Mexican emigration has fallen by 42 per cent during the last two years. The study appears to confirm that emigration to the US has become less appealing amid an economic downturn and a increasing raids against illegal migrants. The survey, which was carried out via household surveys, includes all Mexicans who left the country, and did not break down legal and illegal migration. There have been other indications that Mexican emigration, which is still mainly to the US, has been falling dramatically. The US Border Patrol has reported a 39 per cent drop in the capture of migrants trying to cross the frontier illegally since 2005. Money sent home by Mexican emigrants has also fallen. Remittances fell 12 per cent to $1.9bn in August, the biggest drop since record-keeping began 12 years ago, according to the Mexican central bank. Mexican authorities say the country may also see a surge of returning migrants as the economy worsens in the US. Mexico City’s municipal government has predicted that up to 30,000 more immigrants than usual will return from the US over the next few months.

The migrant workforce, whether appreciated or not, has been a powerhouse for the US economy. Now it appears they are deserting as opportunity fades in a US economy in recession. In effect, this may well drive up labor costs for many of the businesses that rely on illegal migrants such as agriculture, processing plants and the like. This will be passed on as a price increase for US consumers. Both economies, real and underground, can be said to be now in recession. There will be greater poverty in the US and Mexico as a result. The social impact in Mexico may be major as families reliant on funds being sent home are denied such access. The flag may well fly at half-mast in Mexico as a result. Whether at time of boom or bust, the US and Mexico are intrinsically linked. They are feeling the pain too at this time.

The Water Warfront

Thames – dhames – comparison to greek leads Kermit to believe it once was a main medicine trade route or good water to drink once upon a time….

“It’s all land down there! That trench is just a well!.. It has a bottom. eh.. Let’s go to China the short route. Quit diggin and dive!”

   -ephiphany of a submarine captain.

Bottled water in Chicago possibly gone black market trade.

-conclusion of a bonafide journalist.