Weekly News Wrap-Up 5/17/13
By Greg Hunter’s USAWatchdog.com
This Week’s Wrap-Up series of stories I call “Scandal-topia.” Benghazi, IRS targeting conservative groups, Department of Justice seizing phone records of the Associated Press (AP) and yet another sex abuse scandal in the U.S. military. While all of these stories are important, they are taking our eyes off other stories of great importance. Let’s run down the list:
Benghazi, the White House is releasing some emails, but Republicans want many more released. The left wants to paint this as a “witch hunt,” but lots of questions go unanswered. Mark Thompson, one of the Benghazi whistle-blowers, was in charge of the Foreign Emergency Support Team (FEST.) This team is comprised of people like Special Ops, FBI and security experts that can go in for a rescue. Thompson’s testimony in front of Congress said FEST was “taken out of the menu of options.” There was never any intention to mount a rescue, and this was a policy decision that came very early on 9/11/12. The Accountability Review Board says you can’t blame former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the murder and non-rescue of four Americans. Really? The person in charge isn’t to blame?
Next up, the scandal involving the IRS targeting of hundreds of conservative groups. If this isn’t against the Constitution and the law, I don’t know what is. This was nothing short of an attempt to stop opposition to the Obama administration and its policies. End of story. I think Speaker of the House John Boehner got it stop on when he said, “Who’s going to jail for this?” Well, don’t hold your breath because it was just announced that the person in charge of tax-exempt organizations (Sarah Hall Ingram) just got a promotion and is going to be in charge of the IRS part of Obama Care. I cannot make this stuff up. The President said he knew nothing about this scandal until he saw news reports.
Then, you have the scandal involving Attorney General Eric Holder and Justice Department secretly subpoenaing the phone records of dozens of AP reporters. There was a legitimate security leak involving a foiled bombing plot in Yemen. The mainstream media seems to have finally woken up, and 50 news organizations now say it was out of line. I call it swatting a fly with a cannon. This is what it took for the media to finally wake up? The Patriot Act, NDAA, targeted drone murders and trashing of the rest of the Constitution didn’t cause a problem? That’s rich. Holder says he didn’t know anything about the AP subpoenas. What? How can that be?
Finally, yet another sex scandal in the military where women are charging they are being sexually assaulted. In this case, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel really does not know anything about this as he just got the job a few months ago. Still, he’s going to be the one to clean it up. This couldn’t come at a worse time. The Middle East is boiling over in places like Syria, and tensions are mounting with Iran and Israel. Let’s not forget about nuclear armed North Korea that is still simmering on a back burner.
Meanwhile, there is a total disconnect with the Wall Street economy and the main street economy. The real unemployment rate is 23%. 47 million Americans are on food stamps. The latest date says the economy is rolling over; and yet, the stock market is hitting fresh all-time highs.
Join Greg Hunter of USAWatchdog.com as he gives his analysis of these stories and more.
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About the Author
Greg Hunter
Greg is the producer and creator of USAWatchdog.com. The site’s slogan is “analyzing the news to give you a clear picture of what’s really going on.” The site will keep an eye on the government, your financial interests and cut through the media spin. USAWatchdog.com is neither Democrat nor Republican, Liberal or Conservative. Before creating and producing the site, Greg spent nearly 9 years as a network and investigative correspondent. He worked for ABC News and Good Morning America for nearly 6 years. Most recently, Greg worked for CNN for shows such as Paula Zahn Now, American Morning and various CNN business shows.
Greg, this is your best report ever! You could’ve gone on for another 20 minutes talking about other issues, like the boston bomber suspect supposedly leaving a note in the boat he was in. Anyway, where to begin? I do think this is a distraction. It’s unbelievable that Obama had no knowledge of these scandals until he found out the same way we did. He said that about fast and furious too. So, either he’s completely lying, or he’s totally incompetent as commander and chief. I’d say both. Here’s what I do believe though, there will be a popcorn shortage this summer. Buckle your seatbelt, we’re in for one heck of a ride. God bless you! America is in serious trouble and the masses are too busy tending to their farms on Facebook to notice.
Thank you Rev. I think we have a big event this year and that includes possibility of a much wider war in the ME.
Greg
That most likely will reach our soil, IMO. I agree 100% Greg. Thanks for your informative insight. Very much appreciated.
Nothing is going to happen to him. Attacks on Obama used as insurance to ensure he complies with his handlers orders. Do as we say or face your 5 watergates. A prelude to world war 3. http://www.thecommonsenseshow.com/2013/05/17/why-obama-will-survive-the-equivalent-of-five-watergate-scandals/
Agree; on all accounts.
MAHALO Greg!
Good Wrap Up!
Too bad public memory is what?…that’s so…Clinton on Benghazi
What does it matter?
Greg, the arrogance of a second term, popular, media supported, Teflon, liberal administration such of Obama’s is over the top as was Bush & his new department of Homeland Security, etc. The media finally waking up to The Patriot Act, NDAA, bullet buying by the Government, etc., how could the MSM think they wouldn’t be next? – naive to say the least –
On Wall Street out of sink with main street what can be said, unemployment on the rise again, 40 million on food stamps & increasing, makes no matter to Wall Street as the markets are not connected to reality in any event and are manipulated, they got us into a depression before and will do it again with Bernanke leading the charge, just wait and watch.
Art,
I forgot to mention the bullet buying. Thank you. So many scandals so little time!
Greg
Good morning Greg
Thanks for all your work. In answer to our statement regarding all you cover in today’s wrap up. “Wait a minute, they can’t do that”. Yes, they have been, they are and they will. They can put any digit they want to on a stock market value. They can eaves drop on whoever they want to. We can support terrorist trying to overthrow their legally elected Government and yes they can deem anything they wish a national security issue no matter how corrupt or silly it is to hide it. The system has been and still is corrupt. It was always designed to bring us here. It’s now a full court press toward management of the masses with whatever it takes to make us the over worked (in mostly meaningless jobs) consumers they can make us. “Mission almost accomplished”.
What a great week of reporting you have done Greg. Thank you for giving us “THE REAL NEWS”. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, I really feel that these scandals have much deeper, and darker roots than many are willing to admit. I didn’t use to feel these way, but when the government extracted the records of over 185,000. CCW license carriers in Missouri, I began to ask questions that have dark answers. Why? and for What purpose? Why would the IRS target conservative groups? How many terrorist have the Tea Party produced? To my knowledge, none. How about the CCW license grab? Again no one has committed any crimes (IE shootings etc.) that has a license. So again what is the purpose? Here’s the darker answer. They are assessing targets to take out when martial law comes to America. I hope to God I’m wrong, but America is not the same country it was twenty years ago. I never thought I would come to the point that I would have to fear the Government that I grew up loving. This is the last chance we will have to save this country. Thank you Greg for having the courage to stand for Freedom.
Thank you Jerry,
It takes me hours to put the Wrap-Up together. I am not complaining that’s just an FYI. Thank you for noticing and for the comment and kind words!
Greg
Hi Greg
Sorry to double dip but was sifting through my archives and came across this. I am not, nor was I ever a Bircher but judge for yourselves who was right.
http://www.brasschecktv.com/videos/news-media-corruption-1/congressman-larry-mcdonald-.html
Enjoy the weekend!
Thanx Greg,
Great anaysis today.
Looking forward to your latest research on the Libor and derivatives debacle as well as currency wars underway.
Have been paying a trifle more attention to Harry Dent lately.
If gold continues on down and the Dollar continues upward, I think we’re
all going to have to give him and Rodney Johnson a little more credence.
David,
I have yet for anyone in the deflation camp account for the $12 trillion in liquid U.S. dollar assets, as least $700 trillion in derivatives outstanding and all the gold buying by the BRICS. There is absolutely no reason for the dollar to be strong other than the USD is the cleanest dirty shirt in the hamper.
Greg
The reason Sarah Hall Ingram got a promotion is because she does as she’s told especially when it’s wrong. The reason you’re not the anchorman on ABC News is because you do what’s right even when told to do something else. There is a problem here that we need to correct, Greg.
Thank you Robert!
Greg
The other important story is the contrast between recent economic downturns and stock market record highs. All these scandals are likely distractions to keep masses in the dark. Government knows If the stock market crashes there will be no rescue from the fed this time around and S will HTF. The only thing holding up the economy are lies and ink.
Bingo Dwain!
Greg
I predict no one will go to jail. There may be a few firings, but in the end nothing significant will change. Scandals are a distraction to keep masses from seeing the most important story of all time, the real economic light. If they saw, the charade would be over.
I think we knew that Benghazi was a lie from the beginning. No surprises there and I doubt anyone will get in serious trouble over it. I would really like to truthfully know why we were there and what were we doing in Syria. That might be the REAL story. Keep up the great reporting.
Thank you for weighing in here Mrs. C.
Greg
With all the nonsense happening with the Associated Press, let’s not forget what happened to a journalist that dared to tell us the truth:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Webb
It is a reminder of the sword that hangs above legitimate journalists.
A government tick’d off at a journalist knows no bounds.
Hey Greg, just discovered that they’re going to make a movie about Gary Webb, with the highly appropriate title: “Kill The Messenger.”
Don’t know how I missed this, but the story hit in February of 2013.
Hope they do it right to honor not only Gary Webb, but all journalists (like you) who try to keep us honestly informed.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/02/05/focus-features-kill-the-messenger/
Hi Greg,
Article II, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution states, “The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”
I (and others) am asking:
How much more is required to impeach Obama?
How much more is required to impeach Biden?
What will it take to get Clinton removed from office?
What will it take to get Holder removed from office?
What will it take to remove most of the Senate?
What will it take to remove most of the House?
Here are just a few examples of impeachable offenses committed by this current administration. I am sure you know the others!
Obama’s forced implementation, (with the aid of Congress), of the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act”
Obama’s lack of concern, (with the aid of Congress), for the ongoing destruction of the dollar and America’s future
Obama’s lack of protection of U.S. Foreign Service facility in Benghazi, Libya where four Americans died
Obama’s lack of enforcement of our nation’s immigration system, (with the aid of Congress)
Obama’s Fast and Furious gun-running scandal
Obama’s decision to order the assassination of an American-born Muslim cleric
Obama’s “recess appointments” to the National Labor Relations Board even though Congress was not in recess
Obama’s fight against enforcing immigration laws, (with the aid of Congress)
Obama’s constant attack on the U.S. Constitution, (with the aid of Congress)
Obama’s launching an undeclared war (No Approval by Congress) to remove Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi
Obama’s release of hundreds of illegal-alien criminals from U.S. detention centers, (with the aid of Congress)
Obama’s policy of permitting drone strikes on American citizens, (with the aid of Congress)
How many more criminal acts against America does this man have to commit before the House takes action to remove him and ALL of his criminals from office? Mr. Speaker TAKE ACTION NOW to save America from any more harm this administration can evoke!
Thanks again for reporting what is important versus what movie star/singer etc, is pregnant or whatever.
Have a great weekend Greg!
Chuck
From the Lost State of California
You go Chuck!
Greg
Greg, I have been watching the hearings of the IRS, nothing surprises me at this point, a Dem went off on congress attempt to repeal o care saying the IRS would not have access to medical files & the head of the IRS agreed, this is how stupid these people who represent us are! We as a nation have kept these fools in power & we are passed saving this broken system!
Greg, I don’t know how far you live from ST Louis, but this story should scare the heck out those who live there & all points east, north & south. From http://www.enenews.com/concern-about-nuclear-waste-wild-card-burning-at-st-louis-area-landfill-looking-trends-radioactive-data-contamination-migrating-closer-area-fire. This a must read, even the Rolling Stone Mag covered it! Then today a waste truck rad alarm went off, what was found in a CO. landfill was a deadly piece of Radium-226, where it came from is unknown, but very deadly! This just a small piece of what you will not get from the MSM!
The U.S. nuclear complex is on the back burners of all MSM news, we have nuke plants all across the U.S. being shut down for cracks in the out dated Reactors where the steel has been weaken beyond fixing, leaks in cooling containments, strange vibrations & a list of problems that has been known by the NRC & congress for years but allowed the nuke plants to operate until insiders speak out to local media or a release of RAD’s into the air or water. To bad we can’t sic the ‘IRS on the NRC’ & the owners of these nuke plants who have cut corners on safety at the publics expense. There is so much being covered up from the public by all of our gov agencies, you can’t make this stuff up! The economic/monetary cost caused by the exposer from nuclear fallout & waste dumped in landfills & our oceans during the early years is now rearing its ugly head & we are the lab rats who end up bearing the cost in many ways! O has not said a word since 2011 about Japan’s meltdowns of the GE made plants & the EPA changed the levels of Rads allowed in our food, the air & drinking water by a huge amount. It not only man kind who are at risk, the trees, grass, bees, & the list goes on!
I hope you don’t mind that I have brought up this subject about nuclear energy & the dangers that is being exposed by concerned experts in the field of nuclear power because if what I have read from many experts from around the world is true, we are only one event that would make Japan & all of North America a waste zone where no humans could inhabit. There would be no need to talk about how the economy is doing or how crooked the court system is, just how many people are left in the world!
Greg, each day I go to your site because of the truth & comments not found in our MSM, then it’s http://www.fukushimafacts.com, then http://www.enenews.com. Then it’s on to the economy, earth quake, volcano’s reports & the daily CME reports, the fact is this week we have had many M class flares & just pray none are bad as the Carrington event because congress did not feel it was important enough to spend the money to protect our nuke plants from such of a event well overdue as history has recorded many times. It is easy for congress to send billions to the middle east for arming who know who when the real problems are right here on our on soil! I am sorry if I got off topic, but economics has many roads & each one has a meaning in our survival & the future of man kind!
GOD Bless & have a great week end!
M Smith,
Thank you for the comment and link.
Greg
Thank you John.
Greg
Greg, you are dead on when you say watch for a big event later this year like war in the middle east. The gov. hucksters will try to avert attention from themselves at all costs. The Bible prophesies of a third world war may come to pass very soon. It’s called the 6th trumpet war and it will kill a third of mankind, yes that is 2.2 billion people. Check it out! America will be judged. All the necessary elements are lining up over there and over here. It is coming. Thanks Greg for another terrific week of work.
Thank you Rod for the comment and support.
Greg
Greg
I found under zero hedge a report titled ‘the debt ceiling is back’, but…. at top of page the aastounding no. Of sucides/year due to forclosures. Al
I enjoy listening to you and your knowledgeable guests.
In follow-up to the planned bail-in announcement by Canada, I did a little research on deposit insurance and I thought I would share it with you. Worse then I expected.
In Canada we have a $100,000 deposit insurance coverage under Canadian Insurance Deposit Corporation (CIDC). View page 3 of the attached 2012 Annual report and you will find that Total 2012 insured deposits are $622 Billion but they only have $2.44 billion funding that amount of risk. Borrowing Limit: $18.0 Billion. Not very comforting is it.
http://www.cdic.ca/CDIC/FinRpts/Documents/AR2012/AR2012.pdf
In addition, after watching the following video you will agree that keeping your money in a bank is not safe as deposits are unsecured. These deposits are 100% at risk and they are funding banks in Canada to the tune of $622 Billion. For that risk depositors not adequately sharing in the greedy banks profits. So if these greedy banks are levered 20 time that $12 Trillion and 40 times that is $25 Trillion. Conclusion Get your money out of the bank. Following is a video link to: Money Confiscation Legal? Keep YOUR Money OUT of the Banks!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WnHd-eK56o&feature=player_embedded
Thank you Les!
I don’t know about you all but I’m just sitting here baffled….
-IRS scandal
-Benghazi
-AP scandal
-Recording conversations in the office of the House Of Representatives
-Injustice in the military
-the new “war on guns”
-and the most chilling of all, using executive powers to delay the organization of a movement in opposition of president Obama.
The biggest mistake a general can make is assume that other people are “stupid”. Assuming that the Obama administration is this goofy organization that constantly makes errors just doesn’t make sense to me…
The US government is hands down one of the most powerful, organized entities this world has ever seen….They don’t make mistakes….every move is well thought out and organized….
Could it be that they are planning mistakes to instigate a revolution?
Martial Law is a presidents dream….maybe they are trying to speed the process…
Ten years of war base on lies. Congress is the problem they make law and spend the money. Obama, Bush they just get the blame.
If Obama said we need a trillion dollar of war spending to take out Iran. The lairs in Congress would drop all the fake investigations and line up like good little neocon’s.
MSM would beat the war drums 24 hours a day and show picture of babies in incubators.
Only fools think Obama, Bush have that much control over government.
Obama could stand on top of the Whitehouse roof and scream 9-11 was a inside job. MSM would pull out some news about OJ.
Thanks, Greg. Yours is my go-to blog when I want to know what’s really going on and I appreciate the guest interviews.
I’m puzzled as to why the obviously ongoing economic collapse isn’t more obvious. By now I’d expect empty store shelves, lots of shuttered businesses, lots of banks limiting withdrawals.
One of your guests, Yra, spoke of money moving artificially in and out of the economy. Is it possible that a lot of that printed money is propping up the economy as it moves from recipients of welfare cards and into the Quick-Marts, gas stations, grocery stores, etc? Friends who work in those businesses say it’s unbelievable what people use their welfare cards for, and it ain’t basic necessities and cooking at home. It would be a win-win for the Dems; lots of dedicated voters and masking the true reality while keeping middle class entrepreneurs out of the loan market.
Obviously, no one overseas thinks things are going well, but I’d like your take on why this economy doesn’t look as much like a bombed out ruin as it should.
Enda,
Presently the U.S. controls the world reserve currency. Much power and privilege comes from this. The U.S. simply can print money to cover up its problems and insolvency. It is this reason the economy is holding up. when it ends is anyone’s guess but end it will. The rest of the world will demand it.
Greg
Greg, very good people visit this site & You Sir are the reason why! I have to thank you again after I had read & re- read every thing from begging to end, the comments are getting to the point where we all see the dangers coming at us from all sides! Life is short, “we will make a difference” in our own ways!
Thanks again, Mickey!
Thank you Mickey for the kind words and comments.
Greg
Greg,
Excellent reporting. The truth MUST wake up the sheeple and you are doing your part. It is coming to a point where push will come to shove. I wonder if our citizens will be brave enough to say, ” NO MORE ” and stand together in a massive effort to finally arrest the criminals who have ruined their chances to be free in our once free Republic?