The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is, at a total cost of $1.5 trillion, the biggest military boondoggle in US history. The "next generation fighter" has been plagued with cost over-runs and serious functional problems. The fighter jet will not even have a gun until 2017. But it is being built in a total of 45 states and several foreign countries, so no Member of Congress would dare try to kill this beast. Last week the US Marines declared the jet to be "operational" -- but if you read the fine print there is little reason to think they will be flying it anytime soon. Today's Liberty Report looks at one of the worst examples of military Keynesianism... read on...
When the first group of US-trained fighters were inserted into Syria on Friday, Washington experienced a great shock. Tasked with fighting alongside al-Qaeda's Syrian franchise, the Nusra Front, Washington's newest proxy army in Syria was expected be welcomed by the group. Instead, Washington's proxies, known as Division 30, were attacked by the Nusra Front with several fighters taken hostage. Quoting a senior Obama Administration official, the New York Times reported that Washington "expected the Nusra Front to welcome Division 30 as an ally in its fight against the Islamic State." read on...
Every time US officials try to lecture foreign leaders about what their social policies should be, resentment is created. Far from following the dictates of Washington, often the endless hectoring turns foreign leaders and citizens against the US. Even if the policies urged on by Washington were sound, they would be rejected due to this resentment. Today's Liberty Report takes a look at President Obama's recent trip to Kenya, where he lectured the president on homosexuality and women's issues. Also we step back to look at just why it is that this approach is counterproductive from a pragmatic standpoint... read on...
RPI Executive Director Daniel McAdams was interviewed on RT as Russia vetoed a UN resolution to set up a tribunal to look into the downing of Malaysian airlines flight MH-17. Co-drafted by Ukraine, which is one of the suspects in the crime, McAdams points out that such a situation must be unique in criminal history. US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power accused Russia of "trying to deny justice" by vetoing the resolution. That may be true, said McAdams, but why does the United States with its unparalleled intelligence gathering capabilities, refuse to release a full Intelligence Community Assessment of what the US knows about the shoot-down? read on...
According to recent press reports, the US and Turkey have agreed to carve out a piece of Syria for a "no-fly" zone where the Syrian government cannot bomb ISIS or the US-backed insurgents. Meanwhile, Turkey has been bombing the Kurds in the region, who are known as the real "boots on the ground" against ISIS. A "no-fly" zone in Syria will require a massive US bombing campaign against the Syrian government -- the kind of bombing that was soundly rejected by the American people in 2013. Will they get away with it this time? Tune in to the Ron Paul Liberty Report for the scoop... read on...
Former US presidential candidate and House of Representatives member Ron Paul says people seeking to advance peace can learn much from looking to Switzerland.
Paul states in the interview that he likes Switzerland’s “very successful national defense,” and adds “there is no reason that we can’t use that as a starting point.” read on...
We have yet another case of a police or security officer threatening a citizen for recording an encounter. The videotape below was taken by a young man who filmed the putdown of his father at the New Orleans airport. The supervisor warns the young man that he will be arrested for filming the public scene.
.What is most striking is that the young man calmly explains that that TSA regulations allow such filming so long as people do not photographs the monitors. This appears news to the TSA supervisor who should be aware of such key regulations. The young man was right. Here is the language from the TSA read on...
From "humanitarian" interventions to regulating what we put in our bodies, the "good intentions" of governments often produce the most horrific results. Today's Liberty Report looks at the worst of tyrannies -- those constructed for your own good... read on...
In a move that Alan Zarembo of the Los Angeles Times reports could result in the US government barring millions of Americans from owning guns, President Barack Obama’s administration has been quietly planning to have the Social Security Administration report the private information of Social Security recipients to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
Among the millions of people who may, as a result, be deprived of the ability to legally possess guns are, Zarembo notes, about 1.5 million Social Security recipients who “have their finances handled by others for a variety of reasons” and about 2.7 million people who receive Social Security disability payments due to mental health problems. read on...
What are the long-term consequences of recent revelations that the NSA has for decades spied on the top leaders of the closest US allies? While neither German Chancellor Merkel nor French President Hollande have been particularly outwardly annoyed at the revelations, what will French and German citizens feel about such an affront to national pride? And what of US spying on French industry -- was it stealing technology to help well-connected US firms? More on this today in the Ron Paul Liberty Report... read on...
