by J. D. Heyes
Natural News

Just move along, folks. There’s nothing to see here.

That’s the attitude of the Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano when it comes to scrutiny of her agency’s massive purchase requests for billions – that’s right, billions – of rounds of ammunition, along with 7,000 “personal defense weapons” (they would be called assault weapons if owned by private citizens), and 2,700 mine-resistant, ambush-protected (MRAP) armored vehicles of the type used to protect troops in Iraq and Afghanistan from improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

These concerns are “unfounded,” according to low-level DHS officials – the only ones addressing the questions, since DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano thinks she is above doing so. All part of the department’s normal logistical needs. This kind of purchase is normal and should be viewed as such. Calm down.

From The Associated Press, which is merely regurgitating DHS’ talking points:

“Federal solicitations to buy the bullets are known as “strategic sourcing contracts,” which help the government get a low price for a big purchase, says Peggy Dixon, spokeswoman for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga . The training center and others like it run by the Homeland Security Department use as many as 15 million rounds every year, mostly on shooting ranges and in training exercises.”

The purchases are to be spread out over five years, the government says. Counting the most recent solicitation, which is viewable on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website, DHS, in sum, is now looking to purchase nearly two billion rounds of ammunition. Even spread out over five years that is a staggering amount: 400 million rounds per year. The Defense Department doesn’t even use that much.

Okay, the math just doesn’t add up

If you take Dixon’s estimate of 15 million rounds used by various federal agents per year and then even double it for additional training and uses, it becomes obvious the federal government is stockpiling ammunition, pure and simple. The question is, why?

Talk show host Mark Levin, a lawyer who served in several posts during the Reagan administration and who is no conspiracy theorist, had this to say about DHS’ extraordinary purchases:

“To provide some perspective, experts estimate that at the peak of the Iraq war American troops were firing around 5.5 million rounds per month. At that rate, the [Department of Homeland Security] is armed now for a 24-year Iraq war. … I’m going to tell you what I think is going on. I don’t think domestic insurrection. Law enforcement and national security agencies, they play out multiple scenarios. … I’ll tell you what I think they’re simulating: the collapse of our financial system, the collapse of our society and the potential for widespread violence, looting, killing in the streets, because that’s what happens when an economy collapses. I suspect that just in case our fiscal situation, our monetary situation, collapses, and following it the civil society collapses, that is the rule of law, they want to be prepared. I know why the government’s arming up: It’s not because there’s going to be an insurrection; it’s because our society is unraveling.”

Jeff Knox, director of The Firearms Coalition, notes that there are currently between 135,000 and 145,000 armed federal law enforcement officers. If you divide up the ammunition DHS is purchasing among all of them, that comes to nearly 14,000 rounds each.

Are you getting an idea now how implausible the department’s explanations are regarding plans for massive ammunition purchases in the coming years? And what about the assault rifles and MRAPs?

DHS has no history of purchasing this much ammunition – ever

For now, let’s just focus on the ammo issue. The excuses given by DHS officials for such a large purchase are 1) fed training facilities burn through a lot of ammo every year so the government needs these rounds; and 2) the government is merely taking advantage of bulk purchase pricing, like you and I would if we shopped at Sam’s Club or a similar bulk-savings retailer.

A Natural News examination of the FBO website; however, found that the government’s bulk ammo purchases are fairly recent, dating back to this solicitation to purchase 1,000 rounds of .40 cal. “frangible” ammo in 2008. Frangible bullets are designed to break apart when they strike a hard object, like a wall.

Government ammunition solicitations began to increase dramatically with this request for 50-75 million rounds in December 2010, eventually culminating in the billions of rounds now solicited, on order or set for delivery.

Ironically, the pace with which the government began purchasing so much ammunition, weapons and other military gear coincide with events here and abroad that do not bode well for the long-term economic health of our nation. So does that mean Levin, a seasoned political observer and former federal government insider who was once chief of staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese, completely off the mark? Remember, this is a man who doesn’t subscribe to conspiracy theories.

Some questions that need to be answered

We have additional questions too, that no one in the mainstream media is asking:

– Why does the Department of Homeland Security need more ammunition than the Pentagon, which is actively fighting wars?

– If the department has ever purchased this much ammunition before, during what period of time did these purchases occur? Were these purchases requested over a similarly short period of time (a couple of fiscal years)? What calibers were purchased and in what amounts?

– Given that hollow points are not generally used for target practice because they are much more expensive, what is the purpose of ordering so many of this type of round?

– If such quantities of ammunition have been purchased by government law enforcement entities in the past, are those agencies ready to make public those purchase documents, along with sworn affidavits from the companies from which said ammunition was purchased?

– Why, in a time of budget austerity (the government is closing airport control towers and the White House to tours, for Pete’s sake), is DHS spending so much on dubious equipment?

– How does Napolitano explain the disparity between ammunition that is admittedly used every year with the actual amount ordered or requested? And why does every federal agent need nearly 14,000 rounds of ammunition?

– What does any department within DHS need MRAPs? What is their intended use?

Like an increasing number of lawmakers, we are also waiting for answers.

by David Gutiérrez

Turmeric has a long history of use in a variety of traditional Asian medical systems for treating a wide variety of ailments. Now, Western scientists are increasingly finding that this culinary root and its active ingredients may be potent weapons in the fight against diabetes. Indeed, it has been shown to be effective at nearly every stage of diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Biochemical activity

One of the earlier studies on turmeric’s effectiveness in diabetes prevention was conducted by researchers from the National Centre for Cell Science in India and published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 2007. Researchers exposed pancreatic cells from mice to a stressor after first incubating some of them in a solution of curcumin for 24 hours.

Curcumin is the active ingredient that gives turmeric its orange-yellow color. Along with related chemicals, it comprises the family of curcuminoids.

The researchers found that curcumin-treated cells were significantly less damaged by free radicals and suffered significantly less damage than untreated cells. This has implications for diabetes because damage to the pancreas can interfere with its ability to produce healthy levels of insulin.

“We show here for the first time, that prophylactic use of curcumin may effectively rescue islets from damage without affecting the normal function of these cellular structures,” the researchers wrote.

Another study, published in the journal Nutrition in 2011, found that when people ate a meal high in turmeric and other spices, their blood levels of triglycerides and insulin decreased significantly, even when that meal was high in fat. Antioxidant activity in the body was also increased.

Diabetes prevention and treatment

It’s not just in the short-term that turmeric provides protection against diabetes. A study published in the journal Diabetes Care in July 2012 found that it may actually prevent prediabetes from developing into diabetes.

The researchers assigned prediabetic participants to take either a 250 mg curcuminoid supplement or a placebo every day for nine months. By the end of the study, not a single person in the curcuminoid group had developed diabetes, compared with 16.4 percent of the participants in the placebo group.

But even if you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s not too late for turmeric to provide real benefits. A 2012 study from Harbin Medical University and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that people with Type II diabetes who were given 300 mg of curcuminoids each day for three months dramatically lowered their glucose levels and insulin resistance, as well as their levels of hemoglobin A1c and free fatty acids.

“This is the first study to show that curcuminoids may have an anti-diabetic effect by decreasing serum fatty acid possibly through the promotion of fatty acid oxidation and utilization,” the researchers wrote.

Turmeric has also been linked to a number of other health benefits, including reducing the inflammation and oxidation damage that can produce chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer; promoting healthy fat loss; promoting liver health; and reducing the risk of heart disease. Turmeric is also one of the most effective cancer-fighting foods.

Vaccine victory: Widespread resistance from parents to HPV jab for daughters shows truth is spreading far and wide Parents with young daughters are increasingly wising up to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine scam, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics. Based on the latest figures, more than 16 percent of parents in 2010 rejected popular HPV vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix for their daughters citing major safety concerns, this compared to just 4.5 percent of parents in 2008.

The study, which was put together by a team of researchers from major institutions across the U.S., evaluates current vaccination trends with regards to the various reasons why some parents do not vaccinate their children. After carefully evaluating data compiled as part of the 2010 National Immunization Survey of Teens, the research team learned that parents are increasingly rejecting the HPV vaccine, and specifically for reasons of safety more than anything else.

“Despite doctors increasingly recommending adolescent vaccines, parents increasingly intend not to vaccinate female teens with HPV,” explains the study’s conclusion. “The concern about safety of HPV grew with each year.”

In years past, many parents who objected to HPV vaccines for their daughters cited various other reasons  such as a lack of need due to their daughters not being sexually active, or just a lack of need for no particular reason at all. But over the course of just two years, the number of parents who objected due to safety concerns jumped by nearly 400 percent, illustrating that parents are catching on to the truth about this deadly vaccine. (by Natural News)

by the El Reportero’s wire services

The support to Argentina, regarding its sovereignty claim over the Falklands, summons since today ministries from several countries, representing key Latin American mechanisms of integration and Caribbean.

The new regional offensive that confronts the British most recent maneuvers which tries to consolidate that southern archipelago occupation, is led by Argentinian Minister of Foreign Relations, Hector Timerman.

With that objective, the Foreign Minister from Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez and from Uruguay, Luis Almagro, traveled to New York, together with the Peruvian Foreign vice-Minister, Jose Beraun Aranibar.

The three of them represent, in the same order, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

The group will be received tomorrow by the General Secretary of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who has repeatedly expressed his will to mediate the negotiations between Argentina and United Kingdom about the Falklands.

El Salvador marks anniversary of killing of Monsignor Romero

People’s and religious organizations in El Salvador mark today the 33th anniversary of the assassination of Bishop and martyr Oscar Arnulfo Romero, who always protected the poor and persecuted.

He was shot by a hired gunman while celebrating holy mass at the chapel of the Divine Providence Cancer Hospital of San Salvador. His killer has never been found.

The UN Truth Commission that investigated human rights violations during armed conflict (1980-1992) concluded in 1993 that the crime was planned by founder of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (Arena), Maj. Roberto d Aubisson.

In a ceremony to pay tribute to Romero yesterday, President Mauricio Funes said that “we are still waiting justice to get to the bottom of the case and reveal the truth, not only owed to Monsignior’s relatives, but also to the Catholic Church and all the Salvadorian people.”

Russia Is Launching Mexico’s Communication Satellite

A Proton-M rocket is scheduled to put Mexico’s Satmex-8 communications satellite into orbit on Tuesday, Russia’s Roscosmos space agency said.

The rocket is to lift off at 11:07 p.m. Moscow time from the Baikonur space complex in Kazakhstan, the Interfax news agency reported.

This will be the first launch of a Proton-M since one of the rockets failed to put a Russian Yamal series satellite into orbit in December.

Roscosmos experts determined that the rocket’s failure was caused by a problem with a turbopump.

Satmex-8 was originally scheduled to be put into orbit on Dec. 27, but its launch was postponed until the cause of the Proton-M’s failure was determined.

The satellite, which was manufactured by U.S.-based Space Systems/Loral, belongs to Satelites Mexicanos, or Satmex.

Venezuelan violence is key campaign issue

Venezuela’s interior and justice minister, Néstor Reverol, admitted this week that homicides increased by 14 percent in 2012 to 16,072 compared with a year earlier.

The murder rate has increased from 48 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2011, Reverol said, to 54. This is more than twice the murder rate in Peru where the government, under heavy public and media pressure, this week announced the creation of an elite police intelligence team to crack down on criminal gangs to try and combat.

Venezuela’s acting president, Nicolás Maduro, said that ending violence in the country required “an integral and Socialist vision”, and appealed to artists and sportsmen to assist in developing a plan to tackle it.

Ecuador rejects preventive measures imposed by IACHR

Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa, announced that Ecuador will not accept the preventive measures imposed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) since that organization does not have authority for such an action.

We will not accept those measures because they are illegal, he said.

(LatinNews and Prensa Latina contributed to this report).

by the El Reportero’s news services

Efraín Ríos Montt

UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations extolled today the opening tomorrow of a trial for genocide in Guatemala against ex president Efraín Ríos Montt and ex intelligence chief José Rodríguez, both ex generals.

In this regard, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, urged Guatemalan authorities to protect from intimidation and reprisal the judges, attorneys, lawyers and others involved in the trial.

In a statement from Geneva, Pillay considered this is a historic trial for genocide and crimes against humanity that must bring the “long awaited justice for thousands of victims” of the 36 year-long armed conflict in Guatemala.

She also welcomed the decision by the Constitutional Court of Guatemala to deny an appeal on the grounds of unconstitutionality filed by the defendants’ defense team because genocide and crimes against humanity “must never be covered by amnesties.”

This is the first time ever in the world that a former head of State is tried for genocide by a national court, said Pillay as she highlighted the importance that the trial is in Guatemala and 30 years after the events happened.

The principles of independence of justice imply that the judges must be protected from wrongful influences, incentives, threats or interferences to secure full impartiality, transparency and due process, she insisted. The two defendants are considered as the alleged masterminds of the killing of 1,771 native people from the Mayan Ixil ethnic group, mostly elderly people and children, in 1982-1983.

Argentina asks Pope Francis to m,editate on Falk lands

ROME – The president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez on Monday called to meditation of the Pope Francis to open a dialogue between his country and the United Kingdom on the conflict over the Falkland Islands.

I have asked his intervention to achieve a dialogue between the parties, told the president toreporters after holding a private audience with the new Pope, who until last week was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. At a press conference, Fernandez recalled a similar conflict between Chile and Argentina over the Beagle channel, for which the parties had the intervention of Pope John Paul II.

Mexico and Brazil agree visa exemption

MEXICO- The governments of Mexico and Brazil will mutually suspend short duration visas in ordinary passports for their citizens, reported the Foreign Ministry (SRE).

This decision is a result of agreements reached in a meeting between Presidents Enrique Pena Nieto and Dilma Rousseff during the Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

The Mexican president expressed his government’s interest in giving priority to links with Latin America, and steps in that direction included meetings held with counterparts during the CELAC summit held in Santiago de Chile on January.

Panama and Costa Rica Approve Relaxed Border Crossing

The Governments of Panama and Costa Rica have signed an agreement allowing free crossing of their borders by citizens from both countries, the national Executive confirmed today in a press release published at its official website.

According to the source, the agreement was signed during the opening ceremony of the International David Fair, where in the presence of President Ricardo Martinelli, his Costa Rican counterpart Laura Chinchilla presented and passed on to the relevant Panamanian authorities the document that establishes the possibility of moving from one country to the other without use of a passport.

Martinelli and Chinchilla opened the 58th David Fair yesterday, where the president of Costa Rica spoke and gave the Governor of Chiquiri, Aixa Santamaria, the new document that Costa Rican and Panamanian citizens will be able to use.

This step shows that both nations enjoy a strong relationship based on mutual trust, in addition to a shared demilitarized border, said Chinchilla.
Martinelli said that the relations between both governments are solid and they would keep taking important steps in the interest of the two nations. He also said the establishment of an identity card to enter both countries is a significant step forward.