by Stephen LendmanWhat to make of them is at issue. Many questions are unanswered. Are they similar to previous European and US post-9/11 attacks? Was a single individual responsible or were others unnamed or not known involved? Was it homegrown and/or outside inspired, despite what's been reported?
And why Norway, an unlikely target despite its NATO membership, token participation in Afghanistan, and Libya operations it scaled back and will end entirely by August 1. Last May, in fact, Defense Minister Grete Faremo told Norway's Parliament that despite taking part in NATO air attacks (dropping 289 bombs):
"There is no military solution to the situation in Libya. It must be solved politically."
She added that Norway would scale back operations after its three-month commitment ended on June 24, ahead of ending them entirely weeks later.
At the same time, Norway supports Palestinian independence, de jure UN membership, and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store heads an international aid committee for Palestine. Moreover, its parliament earlier passed initiatives critical of Israel, and Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen (from 2005 - 2009, now Education Minister) proposed boycotting Israeli products in 2006 though Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg disapproved.However, in August 2010, Norway declined to purchase Israeli military products because of tensions between Israel and Palestine as well as its neighbors.
It's not known, but Friday's attack may relate to Norway's support for Palestinian sovereignty. Perhaps it was planned and initiated to influence its policy on granting full Palestinian UN membership in September, and may also be part of Washington's Global War on Terror.
Moreover, the notion of a lone bomber/gunman is very suspect, especially one able to kill 91 people, an unprecedented nearly impossible feat singlehanded. Were there others involved?
These and other questions demand answers, as well as specific bombing details, including whether what happened demanded expertise beyond the capability of untrained people.
Who gains and loses from every terror incident must also be asked, certainly not suspects charged, convicted and imprisoned. Geopolitical interests are central. This time Western and Israeli ones are key.
On July 22, New York Times writers Elisha Mala and J. David Goodman were in battle mode headlining, "At Least 80 Dead in Norway Shooting," saying:
"A lone political extremist bombed the government center here on Friday, killing 7 people....before heading to an island summer camp for young members of the governing Labor Party and killing at least 80 people."
A July 23 follow-up headlined, "Death Toll Rises to 91 in Norway Attacks," saying:
"The Norwegian police charged a 32-year-old man (Anders Behring Breivik, identified as) a Christian fundamentalist with right-wing connections, over the bombing of a government center here and a shooting attack on a nearby island that together left at least 91 people dead."
Police didn't know if he was part of a greater conspiracy. "What we do know," said police official Roger Andresen, "is that he is right-wing and a Christian fundamentalist." Oslo police chief of staff Johan Fredriksen said he wasn't surprised that a blond, blue-eyed man was involved. He likely would have made a harsher statement if a Muslim was charged, homegrown or otherwise.
Police also said very likely the two incidents were connected. No evidence proves it despite claims of explosives found on Utoya island where the shootings occurred.
An anonymous police official said that "it seems that this is not linked to any international terrorist organizations," adding it's "probably more Norway's Oklahoma City than (its) World Trade Center."
Reuters said Breivik belonged to Norway's Progress Party, the second largest in Parliament, was a member from 2004 - 2006, and in its youth party from 1997 - 2007. Progress leader Siv Jensen indicated he left the party, wanting to disassociate it from anyone charged with terror attacks.
Obama's initial reaction stoked war on terror fears, saying:
"It's a reminder that the entire international community has a stake in preventing this kind of terror from occurring, and that we have to work cooperatively together both on intelligence and in terms of prevention of these kinds of horrible attacks," implying Islamic involvement to justify America's imperial aggression.
It's much too early to know or draw conclusions about Oslo. Yesterday on Russia Today television, this writer told viewers to be wary of official accounts, especially early ones later proved false. Red flags were also mentioned, notably when accusations are made quickly, naming names, followed by arrests.
Police work takes time. Often weeks or months are needed to solve crimes. In fact, many end up unsolved in closed case files. Quick conclusions should make everyone wary.
Oklahoma City's Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building BombingOklahoma City bombing.org's Kevin Caruso described it as follows:
"On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 am local time, a massive truck bomb exploded in front of the (building), killing 168 people (including 19 children) and injuring over 800."
The building was heavily damaged. So were more than 300 others within a sixteen-block radius, as well as dozens of cars. The blast was heard up to 30 miles away.
Officials said a rented Ryder truck with around 5,000 pounds of explosives caused it. Within 90 minutes of the incident, Timothy McVeigh was arrested on a firearms charge, spent two days in jail, then was charged with the bombing.
On May 10, Terry Nichols, his alleged accomplice, was apprehended in Kansas. On June 11, 2001, McVeigh was executed. Nichols received life in prison.
Prosecutors claimed they timed the attack to coincide with the second anniversary of the Waco Mount Carmel Center siege (beginning February 28, 1993), ending in immolation on April 19. It killed 76 Branch Davidians inside - a state terrorist attack for which no one was held accountable, including Attorney General Janet Reno who approved the lethal assault.
What, in fact, happened in Oklahoma City? Studies conducted by accredited explosives experts and professional demolition contractors concluded that only high-grade military explosives, detonators, and proper multiple internal placements could have caused such extensive destruction.
Elgin Air Force Base's Armament Wright Laboratory studied the incident, concluding that no single truck bomb was involved. Led by (Ret.) Brig. General Benton K. Partin (its former director and noted explosives and ordnance expert), it said the ANFO truck bomb couldn't cause steel-reinforced concrete columns to collapse. According to Partin:
"The total incompatibility with a single truck bomb lies in the fact that either some of the columns collapsed that should not have collapsed or some of (them) are still standing that should have collapsed and did not. This is a classic cover-up of immense proportions."
"To cause the damage pattern that occurred to the Murrah building, there would have to have been demolition charges at several supporting column bases, at locations not accessible from the street, to supplement the truck bomb damage. Indeed, a careful examination of photographs showing the collapsed column bases reveal a failure mode produced by demolition charges and not by a blast from the truck bomb."
Additional forensic evidence showed other devices were involved, what America's media suppressed from early reports to the present. They supported official falsified accounts, raising suspicions about whether McVeigh and Nichols were, in fact, innocent.
Partin's detailed July 30, 1995 analysis can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.okcbombing.net/News%20Articles/gen.partins_analysis.htm
Notable Post-9/11 False Flag Attacks
David Ray Griffin has done extraordinary work, separating 9/11 myths from reality in numerous books, articles and lectures. He and others revealed vital truths about what really happened, completely discrediting official lies and coverup.
In an April 5, 2006 lecture titled, "9/11: The Myth and the Reality," Griffin concluded saying:
"It would seem, for many reasons, that the official story of 9/11, which has served as a religious Myth in the intervening years (and still does), is a myth in the pejorative sense of a story that does not correspond to reality."
In fact, irrefutable facts completely discredit the official mythology, but dare claim that on corporate TV or radio and be pilloried and forever banished.
Others also produced important facts, including James Fetzer, founder of Scholars for 9/11 Truth, a non-partisan association of faculty, students, and scholars, dedicated to exposing official lies, removing the shroud of deceit, and revealing truths behind 9/11.
In addition, Richard Gage, founder of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth, remains "dedicated to exposing the falsehoods and to revealing truths about the 'collapses' of the 3 World Trade Center high-rises on September 11, 2001."
Sadly, 9/11, a clear false flag launched a decade of imperial wars against Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, likely others to come, as well as numerous proxy wars in Bahrain, Central Africa, Haiti, Honduras, Colombia, and at home against Muslims, Latino immigrants, and working Americas under Republican and Democrat leaders, as well as bipartisan congressional complicity.
It also launched a Global War on Terror (GWOT), producing other notable false flags, including:
The March 2004 Madrid train bombings occurred three days before Spain's general elections. With no supportive evidence, Al Qaeda was blamed to stoke fear about potential similar attacks in other Western cities, including American ones.
The July 7, 2005 London underground bombings (called 7/7) were a series of attacks on the city's public transport system during the morning rush hour for maximum disruption and casualties. At precisely the same time, an anti-terror drill occurred, simulating real attacks. It was no coincidence, others in America and Britain came on the same day.
AP reported that Israel's London embassy warned Scotland Yard in advance, and Israeli Army Radio said:
"Scotland Yard had intelligence warnings of the attacks a short time before they occurred," but didn't act or issue alerts. Moreover, Israel's then finance minister Netanyahu (now prime minister) was told to skip a London economic conference where he was scheduled to speak. Other officials were also warned, but not the public. As a result, 52 people died. Over 700 were injured.
It's no exaggeration calling 7/7 a false flag operation to heighten fear and keep Britain allied with America's imperial wars.
On 9/11 morning, the CIA ran a "pre-planned simulation to explore the emergency response issues that would be created if a plane were to strike a building." Held at the Agency's Chantilly, Virginia Reconnaissance Office, AP reported (on August 22, 2002) that it simulated "a small corporate jet (hitting) one of the four towers....after experiencing a mechanical failure."
Unreported at the time was a planned Homeland Security conference a year later, commemorating 9/11. Held under the auspices of the National Law Enforcement and Security Institute, one of its speakers was John Fulton, CIA Chief of the Strategic War Gaming Division of the National Reconnaissance office in charge of the operation. Another coincidence, or was something more sinister afoot?
In October 2000, the Pentagon simulated a commercial plane striking the Pentagon, coordinated by its Command Emergency Response Team and the Defense Protective Services Police. This and the 9/11 exercises are more than coincidental, given what's now known and the fallout.
On June 30, 2007, a Jeep Cherokee with propane canisters crashed into Glasgow International Airport's glass doors, the BBC reporting that it "was in the middle of the doorway burning....The car didn't actually explode. There were a few pops and bangs which presumably was the petrol."
The usual suspects were falsely blamed, Al Qaeda and Islamic terrorists. Then Prime Minister Gordon Brown said:
"We are dealing, in general term, with people who are associated with Al Qaeda."
The UK Telegraph reported:
An "unknown Al Qaeda terrorist cell (was) thought to be preparing to launch a series of Baghdad-style car bombings."
ABC News said:
"All of this comes just three weeks after what was described as an Al Qaeda graduation ceremony for suicide bombers at a training camp in Pakistan."
Neither Brown, other officials, or media reports cited evidence, just fear mongering accusations. The incident was another likely false flag to maintain public support for global terror wars, including against Islam in America, continental Europe and Britain.
It still rages out-of-control, harming millions in war theaters and Muslims in Western countries, falsely charged with alleged attacks they never conceived, planned or committed.
In Miami, on January 11, 2010 (one day before Haiti's earthquake), the Pentagon's US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) simulated a hurricane striking the island in preparation for subsequent measures to be implemented. A carefully prepared military operation, they included occupying, controlling, and plundering the island.
Moreover, Deputy SOUTHCOM head, General PK Keen, was in Haiti when the quake struck, ready to assume command when it did and use a communication tool called the Transnational Information Sharing Cooperation project (TISC), linking other nations and NGOs with the Pentagon and US government to facilitate measures to be implemented.
None were to help Haitians. They've endured scandalous depravation before, in the immediate aftermath, and 18 months after the quake. Today, in fact, hundreds of thousands are still homeless, a Washington-rigged election installed anti-populist Duvalierist Michel ("Sweet Micky") president, and cholera still ravages the country unchecked, months after it first emerged, claiming thousands of lives.
Nonetheless, Obama officials focus only on colonizing Haiti for profit. Perhaps they're also planning new false flags or other official lies to justify future imperial wars, ready to launch when ordered.
Expect them because the business of America is war, besides grand theft transferring of maximum private and public wealth to corporate giants and super-rich elites, leaving working households on their own and out of luck.
That's today's reality, what future generations can expect unless enough public anger no longer tolerates it.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
posted by Steve Lendman @ 12:35 AM
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
Uprooted Palestinian
