Primus Intra Pares's definitions
Civil rights organization that collects information about hate groups. SPLC-affiliated lawyers also file lawsuits to enforce the constitutional rights of Americans who are denied them by the authorities.
As the name implies, beneficiaries of the SPLC include people who are poor, and require legal protection from either racist violence or abusive, indifferent agents of the state.
As the name implies, beneficiaries of the SPLC include people who are poor, and require legal protection from either racist violence or abusive, indifferent agents of the state.
Bernard Monroe Sr., an elderly black man, was shot to death on his front porch by a white police officer who had entered his house in Homer, La., without apparent justification or a warrant. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) filed a wrongful death lawsuit that alleged two white officers created a volatile situation when they entered Monroe's property during a gathering of his family and friends on Feb. 20, 2009.
by Primus Intra Pares June 19, 2010
Get the SPLC mug.(METAPHOR) relatively transparent ruse to hide something embarrassing behind something good, or something neutral. For example, a man may attempt to hit on a woman by attempting to get her involved in bible study. The woman would ordinarily find being hit on disagreeable or even offensive, so the man conceals his intentions as something considered good.
Comes from the tradition of Renaissance artists using figleaves to conceal the genitalia of nude subjects.
Comes from the tradition of Renaissance artists using figleaves to conceal the genitalia of nude subjects.
During the lead up to the invasion of Iraq, neoconservatives used concern for the the welfare of Iraqis under Saddam's oppressive rule as a figleaf for their bloodlust.
by Primus Intra Pares July 25, 2010
Get the figleaf mug.specific object; explicit and sole goal. Used to describe the reason one committed a particular act, especially if the motivation is somewhat unusual.
"Disaster capitalism" sometimes takes advantage of natural disasters, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. But in 1973, Pinochet and the US Central Intelligence Agency carried out a coup d'etat with the express purpose of imposing neoliberal policies against the democratic will of the Chilean people.
by Primus Intra Pares July 11, 2010
Get the express purpose mug.(VIETNAMESE HISTORY) People's Army of Vietnam; armed forces of Communist state created in Vietnam in May 1945. Known as Viet Minh to 1954.
After the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu (1954), ceasefire and partition of Vietnam ended First Indochina War. Vietnam north of the 17th parallel known as Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with capital in Hanoi; Vietnam south of that line known as the Republic of Vietnam (ROVN); figleaf for continued Western colonial rule.
DRV initially hoped to reunite Vietnam in accordance with the terms drawn up by 1954 Geneva Agreements, but Ngo Dinh Diem and his CIA handlers set about purging Communists in South Vietnam. So in 1959, PAVN began preparations for infiltrating South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh Trail).
In 1968, PAVN launched offensive against ROVN; disaster, loss of non-Communist allies in the South. Rebuilt with surprising speed, despite massive US bombing ("Rolling Thunder"). In 1972, offensive reduced ROVN control to small enclaves in the South. Increased US bombing ("Linebacker") of DRV, while US Army sought to train the Army of ROVN (ARVN). US troops withdrawn March 1973, resulting in collapse, PAVN victory.
In Dec 1978, after attacks by Khmer Rouge PAVN invaded and liquidated genocidal regime of Pol Pot in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge ally, China, invaded Vietnam March 1979, but PAVN defeated invasion.
After the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu (1954), ceasefire and partition of Vietnam ended First Indochina War. Vietnam north of the 17th parallel known as Democratic Republic of Vietnam, with capital in Hanoi; Vietnam south of that line known as the Republic of Vietnam (ROVN); figleaf for continued Western colonial rule.
DRV initially hoped to reunite Vietnam in accordance with the terms drawn up by 1954 Geneva Agreements, but Ngo Dinh Diem and his CIA handlers set about purging Communists in South Vietnam. So in 1959, PAVN began preparations for infiltrating South Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh Trail).
In 1968, PAVN launched offensive against ROVN; disaster, loss of non-Communist allies in the South. Rebuilt with surprising speed, despite massive US bombing ("Rolling Thunder"). In 1972, offensive reduced ROVN control to small enclaves in the South. Increased US bombing ("Linebacker") of DRV, while US Army sought to train the Army of ROVN (ARVN). US troops withdrawn March 1973, resulting in collapse, PAVN victory.
In Dec 1978, after attacks by Khmer Rouge PAVN invaded and liquidated genocidal regime of Pol Pot in Cambodia. Khmer Rouge ally, China, invaded Vietnam March 1979, but PAVN defeated invasion.
The PAVN is extremely tough, resourceful, skillful in battle, and experienced.
Their most famous commander is Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-).
Their most famous commander is Vo Nguyen Giap (1911-).
by Primus Intra Pares July 22, 2010
Get the PAVN mug.(IRANIAN HISTORY) A coup d'etat against the democratically elected prime minister of Iran, Muhammed Mossadegh (s.1951-1953). Perpetrators: the US CIA and the UK MI-6. The operation successfully replaced the constitutional monarchy of Iran with a dictatorship by Shah Muhammad Reza (August 1953). The motivation of the operation was to liquidate a genuinely popular nationalist leader who had stood up to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) (whose assets had been nationalized by Mossadegh after it had robbed Iran for 42 years).
The AIOC's reputation was so stained with evil afterward that it changed its name to British Petroleum (or BP, p.l.c.).
Operation Ajax is often blamed for poisoning the relationship between the USA and the Islamic world. It was approved by John Foster Dulles, who also embroiled the USA in the Second Indochina War.
The AIOC's reputation was so stained with evil afterward that it changed its name to British Petroleum (or BP, p.l.c.).
Operation Ajax is often blamed for poisoning the relationship between the USA and the Islamic world. It was approved by John Foster Dulles, who also embroiled the USA in the Second Indochina War.
Operation Ajax actually was launched soon after the nationalization of AOIC's assets in Iran (1951). Initially the situation was hopeless, because Mossadegh was far too popular and because the previous arrangement with AOIC made Iran nearly impossible to govern. The UK suffered a balance of payments crisis because the AOIC was the single largest source of overseas payments.
John Foster Dulles, however, was very sympathetic to the oil company's plight.
John Foster Dulles, however, was very sympathetic to the oil company's plight.
by Primus Intra Pares July 19, 2010
Get the Operation Ajax mug.(CURRENT EVENTS) offshore oil drilling platform located off the coast of Louisiana and Mississippi. The platform was owned and operated by Transocean, LTD., under lease to British Petroleum (BP).
The well, which was in 1 mile of water, blew out (or ruptured) on 20 April 2010, and gushed millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. On 14 July, the main rupture appeared to have been capped. By then, probably 4 million barrels of crude had been released into a sensitive habitat, destroying the livelihood of tens of thousands of people.
According to some estimates, the Deepwater Horizon blowout was the worst peacetime oil well blowout in history.
The well, which was in 1 mile of water, blew out (or ruptured) on 20 April 2010, and gushed millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. On 14 July, the main rupture appeared to have been capped. By then, probably 4 million barrels of crude had been released into a sensitive habitat, destroying the livelihood of tens of thousands of people.
According to some estimates, the Deepwater Horizon blowout was the worst peacetime oil well blowout in history.
The Deepwater Horizon platform killed eleven crew members when it exploded. The operator and its lessor, BP, had been cited hundreds of times for major safety procedure violations.
by Primus Intra Pares July 15, 2010
Get the Deepwater Horizon mug.(OIL INDUSTRY) a disaster consisting of a rupture of the pipe carrying oil away from a wellhead. Basically, when oil coming out of the ground through an oil well is released into the open air, or pours into the ocean.
In 1991, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was repulsed by the US-led coalition, the retreating Iraqi forces used incendiary explosives to blast open and ignite the streams of crude oil coming from Kuwaiti wells. This was the largest mass blowout in industry history.
In 1991, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait was repulsed by the US-led coalition, the retreating Iraqi forces used incendiary explosives to blast open and ignite the streams of crude oil coming from Kuwaiti wells. This was the largest mass blowout in industry history.
The Deepwater Horizon blowout is incorrectly called a "spill" by many news outlets. It is not a spill, it is a blowout.
Oil wells, particularly those drilled underwater, are required to have a functioning blowout preventer. The one of the Deepwater Horizon was made by Halliburton and was defective.
Oil wells, particularly those drilled underwater, are required to have a functioning blowout preventer. The one of the Deepwater Horizon was made by Halliburton and was defective.
by Primus Intra Pares July 15, 2010
Get the blowout mug.