Steve Peacock's U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor

Kaboom! State Dept. finally gives explosive answer (via WND)

My latest article gets top-of-the-page visibility. See “Kaboom! State Dept. finally gives explosive answer” via WND. -- S.P.

Bureau boss overseeing shipments has Benghazi connections

The State Department bureau tasked with secretly sending to embassies plastic and liquid explosives operates under the guidance of Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick F. Kennedy, whom a congressional panel last year separately found to be largely responsible for security lapses in Benghazi, WND has learned.

A series of WND articles recently exposed the purchase and international transport of many hundreds of pounds of plastic, sheet and linear explosives along with thousands of containers of high-energy liquid explosives.

Weeks after a State official laughed in response to WND’s inquiry, the department belatedly reacted to a follow-up request for information about how, where and by whom the blasting equipment will be used.

Read more at WND.com...

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NightTalker Radio: Michael David McGuire Interview with Steve Peacock

Two Must-Read Commentaries on the Egyptian Conflict, U.S. Assistance

To many other conservatives (and liberals as well), the Obama administration's refusal to cut off foreign aid to Egypt initially was surprising if not insulting. How dare the president and his many Democratic and Republican supporters on this issue fail to take immediate action! Despite deposed Egyptian President Morsi's shortcomings, he was democratically elected, wasn't he? No wonder the Egyptians are rebelling.

Rather than reiterate the well-reasoned  positions that conservative writers Andrew C. McCarthy and Thomas Sowell have taken on the situation, U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor urges readers to deeply explore the very convincing and eye-opening commentaries from these men.

Things are not what they seem in Egypt. Those who support the "democratically elected" Morsi do not share  the American concept of democracy and freedom. Islamist radicals are attempting to retake the government, and it very well may be in U.S. national interests to steer far clear of this turmoil.

While congressional and White House debate over foreign aid in general and U.S. assistance to Egypt specifically is necessary (is there really a debate at the moment?), let's not be naive about what is happening in Egypt.

See Andrew McCarthy's "Egypt’s One Chance for Democracy-- Only capable armed forces can check the violent proclivities of Islamic supremacism" as well as "Reality versus mirages in Egypt -- Thomas Sowell drubs conservatives wanting to cut off aid to military force."

While readers are at it, also consider the following Monitor articles as critical and reliable resources in the debate over foreign aid to the region:

Have U.S. 'Investments' in Mideast Paid Off?

Feds Plan to Give Egypt Armed-to-the-Teeth Ships

Obama Wants Egyptian Students to Get More from College

U.S. Modernization of Egyptian Air Force Continues as Planned (by Steve Peacock for Patriot Update)

-- S.P.

Andrew C. McCarthy

Is There an African Resource Curse? (Subcommittee Hearing)

The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations on Thursday (July 18) will hold a hearing titled "Is There an African Resource Curse?"

Scheduled witnesses are:

1) Corinna Gilfillan, Director, Global Witness, USA.

The mission of Global Witness, according to its "Our Work" page at GlobalWitness.com:

For 19 years, Global Witness has run pioneering campaigns against natural resource-related conflict and corruption and associated environmental and human rights abuses. From Cambodia to Congo, Sierra Leone to Angola, we have exposed the brutality and injustice that results from the fight to access and control natural resource wealth, and have sought to bring the perpetrators of this corruption and conflict to book.

Our work has revealed how, rather than benefiting a country’s citizens, abundant timber, diamonds, minerals, oil and other natural resources can incentivise corruption, destabilise governments, and lead to war. Through our investigations, advocacy and campaigning, we seek solutions to the ‘resource curse’ so that citizens of resource-rich countries can get a fair share of their country’s wealth.

2) Mohammed Amin Adam, Executive Director, Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP).

ACEP describes itself as an:

African energy policy think tank, an advisory based organization working with partners around the World and especially in Africa to harness the potential of Africa’s vast energy resources (oil, gas and renewable) for the accelerated development of the Continent. The Centre recently added mineral policy to its portfolio following the demand by stakeholders to expand our reach to helping address the problems facing Africa’s mining sector.

3) Anquan Boldin, Ambassador, Oxfam America.

Oxfam America, according to its website, is a:

global organization working to right the wrongs of poverty, hunger, and injustice. We save lives, develop long-term solutions to poverty, and campaign for social change. As one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation, we work with people in more than 90 countries to create lasting solutions.

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) is subcommitte chairman. Rep. Karen Bass (Calif.) is the Ranking Democrat.

The hearing will be held at 2200 House Rayburn Office Building, Washington, DC 20515 at 2 p.m. The hearing is also will be made available via webcast.

Hearing: Modernizing U.S. International Food Aid: Reaching More for Less

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

2172 House Rayburn Office Building Washington, DC 20515 | Jun 12, 2013 10:00am

Chairman Royce on the hearing: “Modernizing U.S. international food aid to help more people facing starvation, more quickly, at a lower cost is common sense, especially given our national debt.  By reforming food aid, we can reach more people in need, while at the same time saving hundreds of millions of dollars.  At this hearing, the Committee will hear from two top food aid experts about the best approaches to improving our current, inefficient system of food aid delivery.”

Witnesses

The Honorable Andrew Natsios
Executive Professor
The George H.W. Bush School of Government and Public Service
Texas A&M University
(Former Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development)

The Honorable Dan Glickman
Executive Director
Aspen Institute Congressional Program
(Former Secretary of Agriculture)

What is the Debt Ceiling? (video from BankruptingAmerica.org)

 

Video of Ron Paul's Farewell Speech

As U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor reported yesterday, Ron Paul, one of the nation's greatest living defenders of liberty and advocate of small government is retiring from the House of Representatives. He will be missed. A transcript of his address likewise is available.

One Less Defender of Liberty in Washington -- Ron Paul's Farewell

One of the nation's most vociferous defenders of liberty and vocal opponent of big government has given his last goodbye on the floor of the House of Representatives: Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). Among his many astute observations -- and warnings -- he left for the American people, the segment of his speech on liberty was among the most striking:

Liberty can only be achieved when government is denied the aggressive use of force. If one seeks liberty, a precise type of government is needed. To achieve it, more than lip service is required.

Two choices are available.

        1. A government designed to protect liberty—a natural right—as its sole objective.
The people are expected to care for themselves and reject the use of any force for
interfering with another person’s liberty. Government is given a strictly limited
authority to enforce contracts, property ownership, settle disputes, and defend
against foreign aggression.

        2. A government that pretends to protect liberty but is granted power to arbitrarily use force over the people and foreign nations. Though the grant of power many times is meant to be small and limited, it inevitably metastasizes into an omnipotent political cancer. This is the problem for which the world has suffered throughout the ages. Though meant to be limited it nevertheless is a 100% sacrifice of a principle that would-be-tyrants find irresistible. It is used vigorously—though incrementally and insidiously. Granting power to government officials always proves the adage that: “power corrupts.”

Once government gets a limited concession for the use of force to mold people habits and plan the economy, it causes a steady move toward tyrannical government. Only a revolutionary spirit can reverse the process and deny to the government this arbitrary use of aggression. There’s no in-between. Sacrificing a little liberty for imaginary safety always ends badly.

Today’s mess is a result of Americans accepting option #2, even though the Founders attempted to give us Option #1.

The full text of Paul's Farewell Address is available here via the TheHill.com. Give it a read. Read it and weep -- but read it and take action.

Monitor Founder Steve Peacock to Address Ocean County (NJ) Citizens for Freedom Group

This coming Thursday (Aug. 23) I will appear as one of the guest speakers at the monthly open meeting of Ocean County Citizens for Freedom, a grassroots Tea Party group here on the New Jersey Shore. I will discuss my foreign aid-related research that I have published as an investigative reporter, particularly my recent findings here at U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor as well as at WND, The Revered Review, and Patriot Update. Among issues to be explored will be the refusal of Congress members to relinquish tainted campaign contributions from the political action committee of HSBC, the disgraced bank busted by the U.S. Senate for laundering money from Mexican drug lords and terrorist affiliates.

Time permitting, I also will share an uplifting experience I had as a concerned citizen investigating the Ocean County Freeholders -- an investigation that led both to frustrations as well as well as successes, notably in the area of opening up job opportunities at the Ocean County Security Department for non-politically connected citizens.

New Jersey 2nd Amendment Society (NJ2AS)  President Frank Jack Fiamingo will precede me on stage that night.

The event will be held at Jimmy C's, a restaurant and club located at 17 Washington Street, Toms River, NJ. The first speaker will have the floor beginning 7 pm, so get there early. The event is open to the public. If coming, consider letting the organizers know via MeetUp. -- Steve Peacock

Sen. Menendez Responds (Sort Of) to HSBC Dirty Dollars Inquiry (Commentary)

Media scrutiny of the HSBC money-laundering scandal has died down, but I am not letting  Sen. Robert Menendez (D) -- who represents me here in New Jersey -- nor any other congressional recipients of the disgraced bank's political action committee's generosity off the hook.

Despite calling -- as a journalist -- the leadership of the House Financial Services and the Senate Banking committees, until today only one member responded.  And the spokesman for that one leader (one of the few who has not gotten or taken a penny from the HSBC PAC in fifteen years)  -- declined comment.The rest have remained steadfastly silent.

Today, however, Sen. Menendez had this to say in response to my questions, "In light of HSBC's dealing with Mexican drug lords and suspected Iranian terrorist supporters, what do you plan to do with the bank PAC donations you have received over the years?  Will you reject future offers?"

Dear  Mr. Peacock :

Thank you for contacting me regarding an issue with my re-election campaign.  

As you may know, I am currently up for re-election to the United States Senate, with the election taking place on November 6, 2012.  While I would like to respond to your inquiry, I am legally prohibited from discussing any activity related to a political organization, such as my re-election campaign, with official Senate resources.  As such, I would encourage you to contact my campaign with your inquiry.

Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me.  Please do not he sitate to contact me  if I may be of further assistance.  I invite you to visit my website http://menendez.senate.gov to learn  more about how I am standing up for New Jersey families in the United States Senate.

Sincerely,

Robert Menendez, United States Senator

He says he cannot comment, yet tells me to contact his campaign for a comment? How frustrating. I will not accuse Menendez, however, of using the upcoming re-election campaign as an excuse to continue his silence, as indeed I am aware there are such restrictions as he claimed. Still, if the Menendez campaign remains mute on the matter through November, the senator risks jeopardizing what's left of his integrity and reputation.

In the meantime, dear citizens, please sign the petition urging the HSBC PAC congressional recipients to diverst themselves of those tainted campaign contributions. Please take action now.

-- Steve Peacock

RELATED COVERAGE:

Scandal-Plagued HSBC Shopped Congress for Favors

Key Committee is Lawmaker’s Cash Cow (The Revered Review, Aug. 4, 2012)

Federal Lawmakers Silent on Tainted HSBC Funds (The Revered Review, July 27, 2012)

Scandal-Plagued HSBC Shopped Congress for Favors

The fallout from the HSBC money laundering scandal continues to reverberate around the globe, but U.S. Congress members apparently are in no hurry to return millions of dollars they have received from the scandal-plagued bank's political action committee.

U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor conducted an analysis of Federal Election Commission records specific to the company PAC's generosity toward Congress. The investigation centered upon two congressional panels with primary oversight of the industry: The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs, and the House Committee on Financial Services.

Since 1997, the earliest available FEC electronic records, HSBC bestowed its greatest beneficence upon the House panel’s leadership.

The bank’s direct contributions to individual leaders amounted to hundreds of thousands; however, HSBC’s financial support of the American Bankers Association PAC, or BANKPAC – plus many dozens of other financial, insurance, and law firm PACs for which HSBC provides funding – in turn donated millions of dollars to a handful of key members.

The Monitor offered two basic questions for committee leadership to answer:

1. In light of the U.S. Senate’s allegations that HSBC laundered billions, for example, from murderous Mexican drug cartels and rogue nations such as Iran, do you intend to return any of the funds received from HSBC?
2. Will you accept or reject future offers from the HSBC North America PAC?

In the few instances where leaders obtained zero or minimal HSBC funds, WND inquired whether the member had rejected or simply never had been offered donations.

The spokesperson of only one congressional leader – who declined to be identified – returned an e-mail to the Monitor. In that instance, the congressman, who received a small amount from HSBC several years ago, said he would rather not comment on the situation.

As of this deadline, the Monitor’s questions otherwise continue to be met with a wall of silence.

HSBC’s biggest financial beneficiary on the committees is Chairman Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., who since 1997 raked in $45,500 directly from the HSBC PAC. It most recently cut a $1,000 check for the Bachus for Congress Committee in November.

HSBC in May likewise donated $2,500 to the Financial Services Roundtable, a PAC that has given Bachus $33,499 from 1997 onward, including a $5,000 check in February.

Subcommittee Vice Chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, has reaped $34,500 from HSBC since 2002, last receiving $1,000 in September 2011. BANKPAC, however, donated $52,000 to his campaign in that same period.

Ranking Minority Member Barney Frank, D-Mass., directly received $21,000 since 2002 from HSBC, which in turn gave $42,500 to BANKPAC – which in turn donated a total of $48,250 back to Frank.

The following is a run-down solely of direct HSBC PAC donations to the respective House Committee on Financial Services subcommittee leaders:

Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee

• Chairman Judy Biggert, R-Ill.: $39,499 since 1998
• Vice Chairman Robert Hurt, R-Va.: Single $1,000 payment on May 18, 2011
• Ranking Minority Member Luis V. Gutierrez, D-Ill.: $3,500 since 1998

Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee

• Chairman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.: $10,000 from 2000-2004
• Vice Chairman James B. Renacci, R-Ohio: $0
• Ranking Minority Member Carolyn B. Maloney, D-N.Y.: $12,000 since 1997

Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology Subcommittee

• Chairman Ron Paul, R-Texas: Single $500 payment in 1998
• Vice Chairman Walter B. Jones, R-N.C.: $11,400 since 1999
• Ranking Minority Member Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.: $10,500 since 1999

Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee

• Chairman Scott Garrett, R-N.J.: $24,500 since 2002
• Vice Chairman David Schweikert, R-Ariz.: $0
• Ranking Minority Member Maxine Waters, D-Calif.: $0

U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs leaders received significantly less than their House counterparts from HSBC. Chairman Tim Johnson, D-S.D., got $20,000 from the PAC since 1997.

While HSBC only gave $13,029 to Ranking Minority Member Richard Shelby since 1998, Shelby – who also serves as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – separately received millions during that period from a multitude of PACs in every imaginable industry sector.

The following is a run-down solely of direct HSBC PAC donations to the respective Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs subcommittee leaders:

Economic Policy Subcommittee

• Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont.: $1,000 in 2009
• Ranking Minority Member David Vitter, R-La.: $3,000 since 2009

Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee

• Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J.: $9,000 since 2006
• Ranking Minority Member Jim DeMint, R-S.C.: $1,000 in 2008

Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee

• Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio: $0
• Ranking Minority Member Bob Corker, R-Tenn.: $4,000 in 2008

Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee

• Chairman Mark R. Warner, D-Va.: $8,500 since 1999
• Ranking Minority Member Mike Johanns, R-Neb.: $0

Securities, Insurance, and Investment Subcommittee

• Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I.: $3,000 since 2010
• Mike Crapo, R-Idaho: $16,000 since 2003

A spokesperson for the Center for Responsive Politics expressed concern about such linkages between industries such as the banking sector and members of Congress with jurisdiction over them.

Viveca Novak, CRP editorial and communications director, cautioned, however, against making a direct connection between contributions received and the perception of congressional favors granted.

“It creates at least the appearance of a conflict of interest when lawmakers running for re-election rely on contributions from the very companies they are supposed to be overseeing,” she said.

“Is this why Congress has such difficulty passing legislation that addresses some of the questionable practices of banks and others? There’s not a straight line between cause and effect, but there are grounds for raising questions about a link.”

Alluding to the Monitor’s questioning of House and Senate committee members about what their plans are for the campaign contributions, Novak said CRP is not taking a position “on what should be done with the donations already given.”

A similar version of this article first was published via WND.com on July 29.

RELATED COVERAGE:

Federal Lawmakers Silent on Tainted HSBC Funds (The Revered Review, July 27, 2012)

Key Committee is Lawmaker’s Cash Cow (The Revered Review, Aug. 4, 2012)