Sept. 22 – Support Fitrakis for Congress – Green Party
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012
FIGHT BACK WITH FITRAKIS – fundraiser for Fitrakis for Congress campaign!
Free to attend, we get part of the food/drink sales. Join Bob and his campaign at Oldfields on Fourth for a party with DJs, speakers, and more. 9pm-2am.
Oldfields, 1571 N 4th St. Columbus, OH 43201
fitrakisforcongress@gmail.com

Bob Fitrakis
September 13, 2012

As a direct result of the illegal United States-led attack on Gaddafi and the subsequent coup, pan-Islamic fundamentalists killed the U.S. ambassador and three other American diplomats in Benghazi, Libya Tuesday, on the anniversary of 9/11. As anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan recently noted, “Libya today is the creation of the U.S., NATO, and Al Qaeda, acting in a criminal partnership.”

The Obama administration referred to their efforts that led to the unleashing of al Qaeda and other Islamic fundamentalists in Libya as a “kinetic humanitarian action.” In reality, it was regime change, a hi-jacking of resources, and an illegal war.

Libya, under Gaddafi, was stable. Gaddafi had nationalized Libyan oil resources and his nation had one of the highest standards of living in Africa and in the Middle East. At the time he was overthrown by the U.S.-led coalition, he was busy promoting an African currency and a continental development bank to liberate all the natural resources of Africa from the International Monetary Fund. In fact, Gaddafi bragged that he was the first state leader to issue an international arrest warrant for Osama bin Laden.

When the disorganized group of Islamic fundamentalists first rose up in Benghazi, it was the U.S. and NATO who provided legitimacy and aided in the organization of the Transitional Council. One of the first things that the Council did, was seize Libya’s central bank which controlled an estimated 144 tons of gold.

Libya was plunged into chaos through Obama and NATO’s actions. While the U.S. and other Western mainstream corporate media savagely denounced Gaddafi, they conveniently ignored the obvious al Qaeda operatives that would come forward after his removal.

We could pretend that the current crisis in Libya is simply the unintended and unpredictable consequences of a humanitarian intervention. What we would have to do is ignore the facts. Almost a year ago, ABC News reported that former Gaddafi regime hand-held missiles were popping up at Egyptian bazaars and that the going price for a heat-seeking shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile had dropped from $10,000 to $4,000. ABC later reported that out of the estimated 20,000 portable surface-to-air missiles in Gaddafi’s arsenal, 15,000 were missing.

The CIA has a term for unintended consequences — “blowblack.” That term has no application in the current Libyan crisis. Blowback implies that results are unintended. A much better thesis is provided by former high-ranking CIA official John Stockwell, who in his book In Search of Enemies, offers the perspective that the U.S. military industrial complex and its cohorts in the security industrial agencies intentionally keep the third world in chaos and turmoil to justify their unprecedented budgets.

Amidst this predictable chaos, it is much easier for the former colonialist nations of NATO to extract 144 tons of gold and vast oil and gas reserve from the once independent nation of Libya, now a haven for Islamic terrorists.


Bob Fitrakis was part of Cynthia McKinney’s group visiting Libya in 2009 for the Conference on the Study of the Green Book, and was in Gaddafi’s tent. See Bob’s article from earlier this year on Libya at Article

Come see us at the Hamilton County Board of Elections tomorrow – Friday, Nov. 2 from 4:30-6pm. We’re having a press conference about the voting machine problem. Also, we’re having dinner at Venice on Vine 1301 Vine afterwards from 6-8pm. Jill Stein, Green Party presidential candidate will be there.

Bag-It — Drexel movie showing — with special discount for Free Press readers

SPECIAL DEEP DISCOUNT for FREE PRESS members and anyone on your list-serve. Just mention FREE PRESS at the Drexel Box-Office when coming to see BAG-IT, and be admitted for only $6 … that’s $3.00 off general admission (reg. $9) and $1.50 off Matinee Admission (reg. $7.50) to see the film.
Showing Wednesday, October 3, Sunday, October 7, and Tuesday, October 9.
An Award-winning and extremely funny environmental film about the effects of the millions of plastic bags we use in America and how it effects our waterways, oceans, landscape and even our own bodies. Presented by the Drexel Theatre and the Franklin Park Conservatory.
Drexel Theater, 2254 E. Main St., Bexley

Oct. 6 – Pride of the Southside Festival – Green Party voter registration, 10am-4pm, Lincoln Park, Barack Recreation Center, behind it, in Lincoln Park, 580 Woodrow Avenue, 43207
Get involved in Election Protection this year!
We need volunteers for a number of different duties between now and Election Day. Work from home, or observe at the polls, or work from central headquarters on Election Day. Everyone’s skills are needed from computer work, video, legal services, to just answering the phone.
Ohio Election Protection meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 11, 6:30pm, Bob Fitrakis’ home, 1021 E. Broad St., Columbus. 253-2571, truth@freepress.org.

Events for Saturday October 13 with Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Cheri Honkala
Green Party Vice Presidential candidate Cheri Honkala will visit Columbus on Saturday October 13, 2012. Honkala is running with the Green’s presidential candidate, Jill Stein.
11am-12noon – Bob Fitrakis will interview Cheri on WVKO1580AM radio show “Fight Back!” wvko1580.com, call-in 614-821-1580
4-6pm – Meet and speak to Cheri Honkala at a fundraiser reception for the Jill Stein/Cheri Honkala Green Party presidential campaign, at 1021 E. Broad Street. Suggested donation: $25.00
6:30pm-midnight – Cheri will be joining Dream Act activists at the Second Saturday Salon 6:30pm-midnight, also at 1021 E. Broad Street. There will also be a presentation by Anti-Racist Action and a celebration of the first anniversary of the Occupy movement in Columbus.
For more info: 614-374-2380
fcgreenparty@gmail.com
http://www.jillstein.org/cheri_honkala

Come join us!
Free Press Second Saturday Salon
Saturday, Sept. 8
6:30 – Midnight. Join progressive friends to socialize, network, eat, drink, dialog about social justice issues, and hear music.
1021 E. Broad St., Columbus. East side door, parking in front or rear
253-2571, truth@freepress.org

What about this Republican convention?? Listen and call-in to Bob Fitrakis on Fight Back – Saturday, Sept. 1 from 11am-12noon.
WVKO 1580AM or www.wvko1580.com/listen
1-614-821-1580
Tom Over will call in – news from the protest outside the convention in Tampa.