Kill a Middle East head of state, win prizes! - Pentagon shows how

[Judi Lynn]

Kill a Middle East head of state, win prizes! - Pentagon shows how
By Andrew Orlowski in San Francisco
Posted: 29/07/2003 at 08:45 GMT


"Poor people aren't necessarily killers," the current President of the United States tells us. "Just because you happen not to be rich, doesn't mean you're willing to kill."

Phew! However, the poor now have an additional incentive to take up arms, thanks to an extraordinary initiative from the Pentagon-funded research agency DARPA. Long ago DARPA brought you the Internet, although its more recent windfall has gone on projects that range from the sinister to the whimsical, from Admiral Poindexter's Total Information Awareness surveillance research, to invisible body suits, and a self-healing minefield, complete with winking knight.

Now DARPA is launching an online gambling site called the "Policy Analysis Market". However, this one is, in its own words, "A Market in the Futures of the Middle East." What does that mean?

"PAM will focus on the economic, civil, and military futures of Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey and the impact of U.S. involvement with each," according to the blurb on the website. A limited number of participants would be invited to bet on the likelihood of the overthrow of the Jordanian monarchy, for example, or a biochemical attack on Israel. (snip/...)

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[Nay]

1. Disgusting. Bizarre. Totally neocon.

I am truly speechless. This is depravity beyond anything I have ever seen. These people are not human.

[izzie]

2. I am not sure what this is about. Second time this morn.

I am going to have to copy this and re-read. I feel like I went over the edge and must be wrong.I will turn it back on you. Did you read BBC this morning? Looks like we have lot of young men killing every one to get at Saddam. Bet that came right out of the WH to save Bush. The new wag the dog. Kill some one big.

[izzie]

3. It is on c-span. Great I was not over the edge.

n/t

[Jivenwail]

4. I saw this on the news this morning

While I was getting ready for work. I was stunned. I literally sat on the bed, my mouth agape, listening to this shit. Listening to the few Senators, apalled by this, demanding that it be stopped. It's the most incredible abuse of power and funds I've seen yet. This is just sickening, disturbing and if it were not that it comes from the bushista regime, it would be unbelievable. What these creeps get away with is just beyond all reason.