Over the weekend, I read Bananas!: How the United Fruit Company Shaped the World by Peter Chapman. The book details the history of the United Fruit Company and specifically its deep involvement in the history of Central America. Part of the book’s focus is on the CIA’s ouster of Guatemalan President Jacobo Arbenz in 1954, an action in which United Fruit played a major role.
Frank Rich has a scorching op-ed in the New York Times today that lays bare McCain's utter incoherence on the economy. McCain has switched his views on the Bush tax cuts (used to oppose, now supports), how Americans have fared under Bush (he changed his tune on this during a 24 hour period), offshore drilling, and the mortgage bailouts (the Times described his reversal here as a "pivot").
In a number of communities, progressive survivalists are initiating barter or exchange systems. And looking at recent financial news stories, this may be the way to go.
Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has arrived in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, on the next stage of an overseas trip aimed at highlighting his foreign policy objectives.
Gordon Brown, the British prime minister has urged the Israeli parliament to consider making Jerusalem a capital of both a Palestinian and Israeli state, and to stop building settlements on Palestinian land.
An Israeli human rights group has released a video that shows an Israeli soldier shooting a blindfolded Palestinian man with a rubber coated steel bullet at close range.
Iran has given "no clear answer" to a package of incentives offered in exchange for suspending its nuclear programme, Javier Solana, the EU's diplomatic chief, said following talks on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
A Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon's capital, is hosting a mass funeral to mourn the remains of 21 fighters from various Lebanese and Palestinian groups.
Restrictions on driving have been introduced in the Chinese capital, Beijing, in an attempt to improve the city's air quality in time for the Olympic Games.
News_Alerts 
Barack Obama, the US Democratic presidential candidate, has arrived in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, on the next stage of an overseas trip aimed at highlighting his foreign policy objectives.
Iran has given "no clear answer" to a package of incentives offered in exchange for suspending its nuclear programme, Javier Solana, the EU's diplomatic chief, said following talks on Iran's nuclear ambitions.
