New Trial Evidence Suggests Government Colluded with Monsanto

April 21st, 2019 by Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook

I once read an interview with legendary fiction writer Stephen King in which he told the interviewer that he simply reads the newspaper to get ideas for his novels, declaring that truth was far scarier than fiction. After reading about the latest development in the lawsuits against Monsanto, I’m inclined to agree with him.

As part of the 3rd cancer trial facing Monsanto (now owned by Bayer AG), new emails were released that showed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials may have colluded with Monsanto to help slow the release of the dangers of the pesticide from the public. According to the documents and testimony, Monsanto apparently asked the government agency to slow down their safety review of the company’s top-selling herbicide, RoundUp. According to the documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, not only did the government agree to slow the safety review, EPA officials also helped the company by giving them consistent updates.

In early 2015, the government agency seems to have started working in conjunction with Monsanto to stall toxicology tests on glyphosate (the main ingredient in RoundUp) conducted by a unit of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This isn’t the first time that the EPA may have thwarted efforts to keep the public safe from toxic glyphosate and other harmful pesticides. An earlier court case against Monsanto revealed evidence that the Environmental Protection Agency knew glyphosate was a probable carcinogen nearly thirty-five years ago but approved it for use anyway.

Even outside of the alleged collusion, there has been doubt as to whether the EPA has actually been doing enough to protect the public from the chemical that has been dubbed a “probable carcinogen” by the World Health Organization.

That’s because a recent study called The Global Glyphosate Study, found that the so-called “safe” amounts of glyphosate set by the United States government agency aren’t actually safe at all. Instead the EPA’s “safe” levels were found to damage genetic material and cause harmful imbalances in the microbiome, according to the study authors: Italy’s Ramazzini Institute in partnership with the University of Bologna, the Genoa Hospital San Martino, the Italian National Institue of Health, Mount Sinai in New York and George Washington University.

The term “microbiome” refers to the total of all microbial life that live in a human being, which is largely made up of beneficial bacteria and other beneficial microbes. Every person and living thing has a unique microbiome, similar to a microbial fingerprint.

And, that’s just the beginning of the government agency’s seeming collusion with chemical corporations. Two years ago, the agency reversed its plan to ban another toxic pesticide known as chlorpyrifos after a meeting with Dow Chemical’s CEO, Andrew Liveris.

Finally, a federal court intervened and ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos, yet even after the court order, the agency in its seeming egomania simply declared that it was reviewing the decision. The judge admonished the EPA for “having stalled on banning chlorpyrifos,” and ordered that all commercial registrations for chlorpyrifos be cancelled or revoked within 60 days.

Once again, the agency demonstrated a lack of integrity and decency, while abdicating its responsibility to the public in keeping them safe from brain-damaging pesticides like chlorpyrifos and probable carcinogen, glyphosate.

Why does the EPA seem hell-bent on allowing chemical corporations to run roughshod over the human right to health and safety, while the same corporations rack up billions in profits? The only answer I can think of is: cold, hard cash. Of course, I can’t prove it, but I can’t think of any other reason why the EPA would shirk its basic responsibility to Americans—a responsibility that couldn’t be any clearer than the name it sports: “Environmental Protection Agency.” After all, human beings constitute part of the environment that warrants protection.

It’s time the EPA was held accountable. Their current stall tactics and unwillingness to protect the public make them complicit in the deaths and suffering of countless people exposed to these toxic chemicals. Perhaps the agency should be named in the lawsuits alleging that glyphosate caused peoples’ cancer? It’s sad that the people who have alleged that Monsanto’s RoundUp caused their terminal cancer are forced to use their dying days to hold the company accountable, when there is a government agency that should have protected them in the first place.

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Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM shares her food growing, cooking, and other food self-sufficiency adventures at FoodHouseProject.com. She is the publisher of the free e-newsletter World’s Healthiest News, founder of Scent-sational Wellness, and an international best-selling and 20-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, & Cooking. Follow her work.

Thousands of Christian followers of the Orthodox and Catholic faiths from all over the world gathering at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem’s Old City celebrated Easter Holy Saturday with the emergence of the holy fire from the location of the tomb of Jesus Christ.

However, only a few privileged Palestinian Christians, mainly those living in East Jerusalem or Israel, were able to attend the celebrations. Thousands of their brethren from the locked West Bank and Gaza Strip, only few kilometers away from Jerusalem, were not able to attend them.

Israel does not allow Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza to reach the walled-in East Jerusalem without special army issued permits.

As in every year, Israel issued a ed number of permits for West Bank and Gaza Christians to enter Jerusalem during Easter. But then it imposed a week-long closure on the occupied territories for the Jewish Passover holiday, which coincided with Easter celebrations, thus deeming all permits void for this week.

At the same time, Israeli police set up blockades around the Old City of Jerusalem and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher preventing thousands of pilgrims from reaching their holy sites.

Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III emerged from the recently renovated Edicule, Jesus tomb, with lit candle sticks indicating the appearance of what Christians of all faiths believe is the holy light.

Once the patriarch has emerged from the tomb, the thousands waiting since the morning hours and carrying candles lit them from the holy fire. The light is then taken to churches around the country and the world.

Christians marked on Friday the annual Easter Good Friday procession with thousands of pilgrims from all over the world congregating on Jerusalem to walk the path Jesus Christ had walked to his crucifixion.

Easter will be celebrated on Sunday.

The Orthodox and Catholic churches mark Easter this year at the same time, when usually each mark it a different time from the other.

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Featured image is from If Americans Knew Blog

California’s Top Wildlife Officials Vote to Oppose Trump’s War on Wolves

April 21st, 2019 by Center For Biological Diversity

The California Fish and Game Commission today voted to formally oppose the Trump administration’s proposal to end federal wolf protection across the country.

“We commend the Fish and Game Commission for taking a stand against the Trump administration’s assault on wildlife by opposing its move to strip protection from wolves nationwide,” said Jenny Keatinge, California wildlife policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Trump’s plan threatens wolf recovery in California and would set a dangerous precedent that undermines recovery of many other federally endangered species statewide.”

More than 30 people spoke in defense of wolves before today’s vote. The commission meeting was preceded by a rally for wolves with more than 40 wildlife advocates in wolf masks.

In early March the Trump administration announced its proposal to remove Endangered Species Act protection from nearly all wolves in the lower 48 states. The move would end 40 years of wolf recovery across the country and leave many wolf populations vulnerable to more hunting, trapping and poisoning.

Although wolves in California would remain protected under state law, the removal of wolves’ protection in other states could leave California’s packs isolated and susceptible to inbreeding, essentially preventing the species’ state recovery.

“Wolves are just beginning to return home to California, and they still need federal protections to truly recover across the country,” said Keatinge. “There’s fierce opposition to Trump’s disastrous proposal, and we’re proud California has joined those ranks.”

Background

A 2013 study found that wolves may have once been widely distributed in California. The animals have been part of the state’s cultural heritage for thousands of years. They were driven to extinction in California by the mid-1920s.

In late 2011 a wolf from Oregon, OR-7, entered the state, beginning the return of wolves to the area. Wolves are protected under California’s Endangered Species Act. Today fewer than a dozen known wolves live in Northern California.

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Featured image is from Jeff Lepore via the earthly report

Yemen War Death Toll Surpasses 70,000

April 21st, 2019 by ACLED

More than 10,000 people have been reported killed in Yemen over the last five months, bringing the war’s total death toll to over 70,000 since 2016 according to data collated by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). While overall reported fatalities have trended downward this year amidst the UN-backed peace process, lethal fighting continues across the country and has even intensified in key governorates like Taiz and Hajjah.

Total conflict fatalities:

  • ACLED records over 70,200 total reported fatalities1 from 1 January 2016 to 13 April 2019
  • More than 7,600 have been reported so far in 2019:
    • Approximately 2,350 in January; 1,930 in February; 2,330 in March; and 1,000 so far in April
  • Fatality rates have shifted significantly across multiple governorates between the last quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019:
    • Reported fatalities increased most dramatically in Al Jawf and in Hajjah, though also in Taiz, Sadah, and Ad Dali
    • They dropped most significantly in Hodeidah, though also in Marib, Sana’a, and Al Bayda

Civilian fatalities:

  • ACLED records 3,155 direct attacks targeting civilians resulting in over 7,000 reported civilian fatalities2 since 2016
  • The Saudi-led coalition and its allies are responsible for the highest number of reported civilian fatalities from direct targeting: over 4,800 since 2016
  • The Houthis and their allies are responsible for over 1,300 reported civilian fatalities from direct targeting
  • Notably, so far in quarter one of 2019, reported civilian fatalities are at their lowest point since the third quarter of 2017
    • Still, nearly 380 civilian fatalities have been reported this year stemming from direct targeting

Flashpoints (spotlight on three governorates):

Hodeidah

  • Reported fatalities continue to decline dramatically in Hodeidah:
    • Reported combat fatalities dropped 89% from the last quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019 thus far (from nearly 2,500 reported fatalities to fewer than 300)
    • Reported civilian fatalities dropped from nearly 250 to approximately 100

Taiz

  • Deadly fighting has spiked in Taiz:
    • Reported combat fatalities have risen from approximately 850 in the last quarter of 2018 to over 1,000 in the first quarter of 2019, a more than 20% rise
    • Reported fatalities from civilian targeting have risen from approximately 40 to over 60 in the same period

Hajjah

  • In Hajjah, violence is reaching record highs:
    • Over 1,100 combat fatalities have been reported in the first quarter of 2019 — the highest numbers ACLED has recorded in Hajjah since the start of 2016
    • Over 80 fatalities from direct civilian targeting have been reported in the same quarter — the second-highest number of reported civilian fatalities recorded for the governorate

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Notes

1 Fatality numbers are often the most poorly reported component of conflict data. While ACLED codes the most conservative reports of fatality counts to minimize over-counting, this does not account for biases that exist around fatality counts at-large. As such, these figures should be considered estimates, rather than exact counts. Find more information about ACLED’s methodology for coding fatalities here.

2 This figure includes only civilians killed as a result of direct civilian targeting. It does not include collateral civilian fatalities. As such, the number is assumed to represent an underestimate of total conflict-related civilian fatalities in Yemen.

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Repeat broadcast originally airing January 11, 2019. – [MAW]

“We’re not going to stop this train wreck. We are not even trying to slow down the production of CO2, and there is already enough CO2 in the atmosphere. We are going to see the consequences, and they will be significant.” – Bruce Wright, senior scientist with the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. Quoted in The End of Ice [1]

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

 Click to download the audio (MP3 format)

The battle to protect human civilization and life on this planet from the ravages of global warming has taken on a renewed urgency following the October 8th release of a stunning report from the world’s greatest authority on the state of the climate.

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C was approved by the revered Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on October 6 in Incheon, Republic of Korea, just weeks in advance of last December’s Katowice Climate Change Conference. [2] Among other dire warnings, the report concluded that:

  • The global mean surface temperature of Earth has increased 0.87°C during the period from 1850-1900 to 2006-2015.
  • ocean acidification and changes to carbonate chemistry stemming from the absorption of 30% of anthropocentrically produced carbon dioxide are unprecedented for at least the last 65 million years.
  • the probability of extreme drought, precipitation deficits, and risks associated with water availability in some regions increase dramatically with the internationally agreed upon limit of 2°C of global warming above pre-industrial levels versus the more ambitious target of 1.5 °C.
  • Overshooting the 1.5 °C target would pose large risks for natural and human systems because some of those risks could be long-lasting and irreversible, such as the loss of some ecosystems.
  • ecosystems such as kelp forests and coral reefs that are relatively less able to move are projected to experience high rates of mortality and loss. For example, multiple lines of evidence indicate that the majority (70–90%) of warm water (tropical) coral reefs that exist today will disappear even if global warming is constrained to 1.5°C.
  • Ecosystem services from Earth’s oceans will be compromised due to 1.5°C warming and changes to ocean chemistry (e.g. acidification, hypoxia and dead zones) with more pronounced affects beyind 1.5°C of warming.
  • Projections overwhelmingly indicate that restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 °C would require a 40-50% reduction below 2010 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. [3]

While it has been pointed out that a thermonuclear war would likely have even more devastating impacts on life on Earth, at least humans have the power to decide not to use nuclear weapons. In the case of climate change, we are told that once critical thresholds have been crossed, no human actions, no matter how valiant and self-sacrificing, will be enough to prevent runaway warming.

On a week when youth around the planet are mobilizing strikes for ‘climate action,’ the Global Research News Hour highlights the major indicators of a natural world in crisis due to global warming.

In the first half hour, following a short report on a local (Winnipeg) youth activist event, University of Ottawa based climate systems scientist Paul Beckwith outlines some of the more worrying signs that even the October 2018 IPCC Special Report on Climate Change failed to adequately address, he looks at the threats to the polar ice caps and the role they play in regulating familiar weather patterns, and he assesses some of what needs to be done to avoid multiple ‘tipping points’, and a ‘Hothouse Earth’ scenario.

In our second half hour, mountaineer, independent journalist, former Iraq War correspondent, and Truthout staff writer Dahr Jamail navigates listeners through The End of Ice, his recently published book on climate change. His latest publication is a tour through various locations around the globe from Mount Denali in Alaska to Florida, to the Amazon Rainforest and marks the changes climate change have already made and projects to the changes yet to come.

Paul Beckwith is a physicist, engineer, and part-time professor at the University of Ottawa. His research focus is on Abrupt Climate System Change. He has an archive of Youtube videos in which he shares the most up to date information on the climate threat. His website is paulbeckwith.net.

Dahr Jamail, a Truthout staff reporter, is the author of The Will to Resist: Soldiers Who Refuse to Fight in Iraq and Afghanistan (Haymarket Books, 2009), and Beyond the Green Zone: Dispatches From an Unembedded Journalist in Occupied Iraq (Haymarket Books, 2007). He is also the co-author with William Rivers Pitt of The Mass Destruction of Iraq: Why It Is Happening, and Who Is Responsible (Truthout, 2014). Jamail is recipient of the Martha Gellhorn Award for Investigative Journalism, among other awards. Dahr Jamail is also the author of the recently published book, The End of Ice: Bearing Witness and Finding Meaning in the Path of Climate Disruption (The New Press, set for release January 15, 2019.) He lives and works in Washington State.

(Global Research News Hour Episode 244)

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

Click to download the audio (MP3 format)

The Global Research News Hour airs every Friday at 1pm CT on CKUW 95.9FM in Winnipeg. The programme is also podcast at globalresearch.ca . Excerpts of the show have begun airing on Rabble Radio and appear as podcasts at rabble.ca.

The Global Research News Hour now airs Fridays at 6pm PST, 8pm CST and 9pm EST on Alternative Current Radio (alternativecurrentradio.com)

Community Radio Stations carrying the Global Research News Hour:

CHLY 101.7fm in Nanaimo, B.C – Thursdays at 1pm PT

Boston College Radio WZBC 90.3FM NEWTONS  during the Truth and Justice Radio Programming slot -Sundays at 7am ET.

Port Perry Radio in Port Perry, Ontario –1  Thursdays at 1pm ET

Burnaby Radio Station CJSF out of Simon Fraser University. 90.1FM to most of Greater Vancouver, from Langley to Point Grey and from the North Shore to the US Border.

It is also available on 93.9 FM cable in the communities of SFU, Burnaby, New Westminister, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Surrey and Delta, in British Columbia, Canada. – Tune in  at its new time – Wednesdays at 4pm PT.

Radio station CFUV 101.9FM based at the University of Victoria airs the Global Research News Hour every Sunday from 7 to 8am PT.

CORTES COMMUNITY RADIO CKTZ  89.5 out of Manson’s Landing, B.C airs the show Tuesday mornings at 10am Pacific time.

Cowichan Valley Community Radio CICV 98.7 FM serving the Cowichan Lake area of Vancouver Island, BC airs the program Thursdays at 6am pacific time.

Campus and community radio CFMH 107.3fm in  Saint John, N.B. airs the Global Research News Hour Fridays at 10am.

Caper Radio CJBU 107.3FM in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia airs the Global Research News Hour starting Wednesday Morning from 8:00 to 9:00am. Find more details at www.caperradio.ca

RIOT RADIO, the visual radio station based out of Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario has begun airing the Global Research News Hour on an occasional basis. Tune in at dcstudentsinc.ca/services/riot-radio/

Radio Fanshawe: Fanshawe’s 106.9 The X (CIXX-FM) out of London, Ontario airs the Global Research News Hour Sundays at 6am with an encore at 4pm.

Los Angeles, California based Thepowerofvoices.com airs the Global Research News Hour every Monday from 6-7pm Pacific time.

Notes:

  1. Dahr Jamail (January 2019), p. 73, ‘The End of Oil: Bearing Witness and Finding Meaning in the Path of Climate Disruption’, The New Press, New York, NY
  2. https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/
  3. Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 °C, Chapter 3: Impacts of 1.5°C  of Global Warming on Natural and Human Systems, pg. 177-181; https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2018/11/SR15_Chapter3_Low_Res.pdf

 

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Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received today in Damascus Mr. Alexander Lavrentiev and accompanying delegation which included Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Lavrentiev is an active Russian career diplomat with more focus on Astana talks between the Syrian state and representatives of al-Qaeda, NATO, and regional stooges.

President Assad reminded the visiting delegation of Syria’s priorities: Ridding Syria of terrorism and restoring peace and stability to all the Syrian land.

President Assad pointed the need to address the above issues in order to achieve the Syrian people’s aspiration in restoring their lives. ‘There’s a need to work on overcoming the obstacles impeding the execution of the Idlib military de-escalation zones agreement’, the agreement which the Turkish party has been failing to implement their obligations in it.

‘Terrorist organizations must be eliminated in the Idlib region which is carrying out daily assaults against civilians in Idlib province and the neighboring Aleppo, Hama, and Latakia countrysides.’ the visiting delegation were reminded.

However, the Russian President’s special envoy Mr. Lavrentiev first raised the matter of the ‘constitutional committee,’ the priority of the P3 imperialists — who want to decide on a new constitution for Syria, despite Syria having drafted a new one which passed by public referendum in 2012, and despite the UK not having one of its own. China and Russia, unfortunately, capitulated to the demands of the world leaders in genocide, in the passage of UNSCR 2254 (2015).

Mr. Lavrentiev then added the need to eliminate terror, find out the fate of the missing Syrian citizens, the plight of the internally displaced Syrians and the Syrian refugees abroad, in addition to rebuilding what terror has destroyed.

Some initiatives of exchanging Syrians kidnapped by terrorists with al-Qaeda ‘Moderate Rebels’ were discussed in the meeting which was attended by Chief of the National Security Bureau Major General Ali Mamlouk, Assistant Foreign and Expatriates Minister, Ayman Sousan and Russia’s Ambassador in Damascus.

Syria News comment: Hopefully this time Mr. Lavrentiev would set the priorities right, even Russian top officials have stressed that their patience is growing very thin with delays of implementing Turkey’s part in the Idlib Agreement. The Russian and Iranian guarantors of the Turks have been very generous with Erdogan and his terrorists continuously extending the deadline to fulfill Erdogan’s obligations in the Idlib Agreement since October 15th, last year, on the account of the Syrian people.

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The Russian Ambassador to China’s latest statement of intent to pursue the integration of Beijing’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) with the Moscow-led economic and security structures in Central Asia strongly hints at the Eurasian Great Power’s interest in N-CPEC+ as the most viable way for bringing this about.

The Russian-Pakistani Strategic Partnership might soon enter a qualitatively new phase if the Russian Ambassador to China’s latest statement is anything to go by. His Excellency Ambassador Andrey Denisov said that Russia intends to pursue the integration of Beijing’s Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) with the Moscow-led economic and security structures in Central Asia, which strongly hints at his country’s interest in N-CPEC+ as the most viable way for bringing this about. This aforementioned initiative refers to the global pivot state’s northern branch route to the Central Asian Republics that might also one day include the RuPak Railway proposal via Afghanistan as well, which could altogether connect Russia to the Afro-Asian Ocean through China’s flagship series of BRI megaprojects in Pakistan collectively referred to as CPEC. For reasons of political sensitivity pertaining to its parallel strategic partnership with India, Russia can’t openly endorse CPEC but can still nevertheless participate in it so long as it clothes its efforts in non-CPEC language about integrating the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with BRI like the Ambassador just did.

Important groundwork is already being made on this front at the policymaking level after three interconnected events that recently took place between Russia and Pakistan. Mr. Oleg Barabanov – a programme director at the Valdai Club (Russia’s most prestigious think tank), a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO, which is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and a professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences – confirmed Russia’s “Return to South Asia” in the wake of the Pulwama incident and subsequent “surgical strike” fiasco by the rogue state of India in a thought-provoking piece that he published at his influential think tank in early March. This was soon thereafter followed up by Pakistan’s Strategic Vision Institute hosting a conference on bilateral relations with Russia where Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua unveiled a seven-point roadmap for taking ties to the next level, which evidently made progress a lot faster than most observers could have expected after the President of Pakistan’s National Defence University just shared his viewson bilateral relations at the Valdai Club last week.

Quite clearly, Russia has surmounted its “deep state” divisions over South Asia despite public optics to the contrary by the increasingly desperate Indophile faction, unafraid to move forward with its newfound strategic partnership with Pakistan because it understands the game-changing significance of this relationship in regards to its broader return to the region. It would therefore be very symbolic if Russian President Putin met with Pakistani Prime Minister Khan on the sidelines of next week’s Belt & Road Initiative Forum in China to casually discuss this and other aspects of their countries’ strategic partnership with one another, but even if that doesn’t happen, there’s no doubt that Ambassador Denisov’s latest statement broadly framed how both leaders envision their relations developing in the future. What all of this portends is that Russia will very likely succeed in its centuries-long mission to reach the warm waters of the Afro-Asian Ocean, but in an historic twist, it’ll do so peacefully and with the active assistance of its Chinese and Pakistani partners in the new Multipolar Trilateral as it simultaneously makes progress on the Golden Ring geopolitical project that they’re all a part of.

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This article was originally published on Eurasia Future.

Andrew Korybko is an American Moscow-based political analyst specializing in the relationship between the US strategy in Afro-Eurasia, China’s One Belt One Road global vision of New Silk Road connectivity, and Hybrid Warfare. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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Police State Ecuador Under Lenin Moreno

April 20th, 2019 by Stephen Lendman

Former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa and Moreno are world’s apart.

Correa expelled the Pentagon from his country, shutting down its Manta airbase, the region’s largest. Moreno invited what no country should tolerate on its territory to return.

Economist President Correa opposed IMF debt bondage. Moreno went the other way. Correa opposed privatization of oil, gas, water, electricity, and other government enterprises, what Moreno wants handed to corporate predators, most likely for self-enrichment.

Correa’s agenda included investing in public healthcare, education, and other social programs. Moreno believes anything government can do, business does better so let it, no matter how exploitive of and harmful to ordinary people.

According to Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) Solidarity Committee member Stansfield Smith, Ecuador for a decade under Correa was “transformation(al).”

His predecessors (and Moreno) “instituted neoliberal austerity and privatization programs, prompting inequality, poverty and unemployment to soar.”

Correa went the other way,

“carr(ying) out programs that peoples in progressive social movements have advocated throughout the West if not the world.”

“Ecuador’s Citizens Revolution…arose from a popular repudiation of neoliberalism and neocolonialism, similar to Chavista Venezuela…”

A new constitution was overwhelmingly approved by national referendum. Correa called its adoption “a day of national celebration, a victory for the people, for democracy.”

Its provisions included progressive social policies, including respect for Ecuador’s indigenous people and natural resources.

Correa rejected predatory IMF and World Bank debt entrapment, demanding structural adjustment harshness. He renounced nearly $4 billion in toxic debt he called illegitimate, wanting the funds directed to popular needs.

He raised taxes on wealthy Ecuadorians to make them pay their fair share, along with instituting a tax on capital flight.

The nation’s central bank repatriated billions of dollars in assets held abroad, bringing them back where they belong. He renegotiated oil contracts with foreign companies on more favorable terms to Ecuador.

He tripled investments in infrastructure spending and public services for housing, along with free education and healthcare for all Ecuadorians.

He diversified the economy away from dependence on oil, increasing its exports in other areas. Throughout most of his tenure, Ecuador’s economy grew by over 4% annually.

He reduced poverty, unemployment, and socioeconomic inequality – an agenda Washington opposes wherever it exists.

During his tenure, Ecuadorian indebtedness to foreign creditors was among the lowest in Latin America.

He called universal healthcare and “quality, free public education…the basis of a real democracy” – what Moreno destroyed after taking office in May 2017, spurning every populist promise made, why he’s widely reviled.

On Tuesday, Ecuadorians marched en masse in Quito toward the Presidential Palace. Police accosted them violently, supporters of Rafael Correa’s Citizen Revolution party involved, along with others opposing hardline Moreno policies.

According to provincial coordinator for Loja of the Citizen Revolution Movement Marck Iniguez,

“we are here against the misgovernment that exists, as well as (Moreno’s) betrayal of the government plan for which he was elected.”

“Ecuador has been sold to the IMF, taking measures against the Ecuadorean people.” Progressive MP Jota Lloret added: “The government’s orders are ‘shut up and attack those who demonstrate against us.’ ”

“Repression is what we live now, but we can not be silenced and stopped. We are the people and together we will recover our homeland.”

Protesters displayed banners, saying: “Out with Moreno. Out with the traitor.”

In cahoots with the US and UK, Moreno invented phony reasons to rescind Assange’s citizenship and asylum status – agreeing to hand him over to UK authorities for extradition to the US, flagrantly violating international law.

Betraying Assange was in exchange for a $4.2 billion IMF loan (with onerous loan shark of last resort terms) and other favors granted him, selling his soul for the right price.

Ecuadorian attorney general’s office issued an Interpol red notice on former Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino, an Assange supporter/vocal critic of Moreno’s hardline rule.

Out of the country, he wants him detained and extradited to Ecuador for the “crime” of supporting truth-telling journalism the way it should be, calling his actions instigation and incitement — what police state rule is all about.

Interpol rejected a separate red notice for Correa’s arrest and extradition from Belgium where he’s living, calling it incompatible with human rights, the same true for wanting Patino prosecuted.

On Wednesday, he left Ecuador for Peru. It’s unclear if he’s there or headed to another country.

Ecuador under Moreno in cahoots with US, UK, IMF, and World Bank hardliners is unsafe and unfit to live in.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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According to Canadian analyst Ken Stone, member of the Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War the power of the US Congress has been “effectively diminished” as it failed to override President Trump’s veto of a bipartisan bill to end US military involvement in Saudi Arabia’s murderous war against Yemen.

“US Senator (and presidential candidate) Bernie Sanders and other senators succeeded in passing through the US Senate the Yemen War Powers Resolution, which was, in turn, passed as well in the House of Representatives and sent to President Trump to sign into law. However, he used his veto to kill the bill and, unfortunately, there was not the 66% majority of legislators in Congress to over-ride Trump’s veto. There are two results: one is that the war in Yemen will go on for a while yet; the other is that the power of Congress has been effectively diminished in relation to the US president,”

Ken Stone told Tasnim in an interview.

Ken Stone is treasurer of the Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War, an executive member of the Syria Solidarity Movement.org, a former National Steering Committee member of the Canadian Peace Alliance, and an occasional contributor to GlobalResearch.ca.

The following is the full text of the interview.

Tasnim: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed a bill Congress passed to end US military assistance in the Saudi Arabia-led war on Yemen. What’s your take on the veto by Trump?

Stone: I agree with my colleagues in the US peace movement who argue that US participation in the illegal and brutal Saudi war on Yemen is unconstitutional according to the US Constitution and the War Powers Act of 1973. They argue that, unless the US has been directly attacked, the US president can only make war on another country with the explicit prior consent of Congress. Yemen has not attacked the US. Exactly the opposite is the case. So US peace activists lobbied their elected representatives to invoke the War Powers Act of 1973 to force President Trump to stop aiding and abetting the Saudi Coalition in waging its illegal and very brutal war on Yemen. US Senator (and presidential candidate) Bernie Sanders and other senators succeeded in passing through the US Senate the Yemen War Powers Resolution, which was, in turn, passed as well in the House of Representatives and sent to President Trump to sign into law. However, he used his veto to kill the bill and, unfortunately, there was not the 66% majority of legislators in Congress to over-ride Trump’s veto. There are two results: one is that the war in Yemen will go on for a while yet; the other is that the power of Congress has been effectively diminished in relation to the US president.

In our anti-war activities, we recognize the participation of the USA in the Saudi war on Yemen is significant. US (and UK) military officers sit in the command room of the Saudi Coalition. They sell and service the military aircraft and other military equipment. They provide the bombs and the intelligence to plot missions. They rescue downed pilots from the sea. US ships help the Saudis enforce an illegal embargo of food and humanitarian aid that has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is, in effect, a US-Saudi war on the people on Yemen.

The situation in Yemen is indeed so dire – according to UNICEF, a Yemeni child dies on the average every ten minutes due to malnutrition and lack of medicine – that, a few days ago, an official of the UK government (whose hands are also stained with the blood of Yemeni children) called on the United Nations to put more pressure on Saudi Arabia to live up to the truce it signed on January 7, 2019, brokered by the UN, to withdraw from Hudaydah, the port through which most of the humanitarian aid, destined for Yemen, enters the country. There are, in fact, several ways that the UN could increase pressure on Saudi Arabia to abide by the terms of the January 7 truce and indeed to end its war on Yemen, both through the Security Council and the General Assembly. It remains to be seen if anything will come of the UK initiative. Up to now, with the war entering its fifth year, the UN has been relatively ineffective in stopping the naked aggression by Saudi Arabia, the richest state in the Arab world, against Yemen, the poorest.

Here’s the thing. When the organs of governments and international organizations fail to do the job for which they were created, it’s incumbent on ordinary people around the world to step up to the plate. The USA, like Canada and other NATO countries, shamefully sells massive amounts of arms to Saudi Arabia. These sales are like a license to kill Yemeni men, women, and children. We, ordinary folks in all these NATO countries, need to do more to urge our governments to end these arms sales and effectively remove from the despotic Saudi regime its license to kill Yemenis. I note that Germany banned arms to Saudi Arabia last year following the Khashoggi Affair, followed by Denmark, which also cited the war on Yemen, and Finland, which cited ONLY the war on Yemen. Momentum to end the war on Yemen is building.

Peace movements in the West should redouble our efforts to stop these arms sales through lobbying our elected officials, demonstrating, waging social media campaigns, making the sales an election issue, and so on. This is what ordinary people can do to end the US-Saudi war on Yemen.

Tasnim: According to media reports, the US Congress has grown uneasy with the president’s close relationship with Saudi Arabia. The lawmakers have criticized Trump for not condemning Riyadh for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. What is the reason behind this close relationship?

Stone: The US empire, like the British empire before it, has always maintained close relations with the Saudi regime. In fact, the British empire put the dissolute Saudi family in power in Riyadh in the first place to manage the oil fields in its interest. And it’s unlikely that the anti-democratic and barbaric Saudi regime would have remained in power this long were it not for the solid support of the USA. The Saudi regime provides many services for its present imperial masters: it banks its billions in New York and London financial institutions; it buys lavish arms systems it doesn’t have the capability to operate; it supplies bribes and loans to western politicians; it provides funding and terrorist mercenaries as the foot soldiers in western regime change operations from Libya to Syria to Afghanistan. The Saudi government is one of the pillars – the other is Israel – by which the USA seeks to dominate the Middle East (and the world).

During the Obama years, in which the US-Saudi war on Yemen began, the US Congress mounted no significant opposition to President Obama over this murderous and illegal aggression. This was because Obama was a Democrat and his co-partisans in the US Congress were in agreement with their Republican colleagues that the war on Yemen coincided with US interests.

However, once the killing of Khashoggi was widely reported in the media, there was widespread public revulsion, fanned by the mainstream media, among the electorate that the US government was in bed with such a despotic Saudi regime, which showed no respect even for its own domestic laws. In effect, the people of the USA were led to sympathize more with the murder of one man that the whole Yemeni nation.

President Trump stuck by his Saudi friends, however, for the same old reasons. The class of billionaires he represents makes trillions of dollars through arms sales and war and through exploiting the resources of all the countries in the US sphere of influence. Trump even managed to squeeze more out of the compliant Saudi client state since the Khashoggi Affair.

But the Democrats now hold a slim majority in Congress and now the president is a Republican. In the cynical world of US politics, the same people who previously supported or were silent on the US-Saudi war on Yemen are today more vocal against it and against President Trump.

In the meantime, public opinion has turned massively against the slaughter in Yemen. And so it’s time that anti-war activists took advantage of the public’s growing awareness of Yemen to push for an end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the war on Yemen itself.

Tasnim: Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement that the veto was “part of an alarming pattern of Trump turning a blind eye to Saudi Arabia’s actions that fly in the face of American values” and accused the administration of “deference to Saudi Arabia at the expense of American security interests.” Do you believe so?

Stone: Senator Kaine’s statement of April 16 makes some good points. He notes the humanitarian crisis created by the US-Saudi war. He mentions the murder of Khashoggi, the jailing of women’s right activists, and the acquisition of nuclear technology by the Saudi regime, “despite the Saudi regime’s threats to create a nuclear program and refusal to agree to nonproliferation rules that would prevent the development of nuclear weapons.”

However, it’s difficult to ascertain for certain what are “American values” today. The US government, whether under a Democratic or Republican administration, shows no regard for international law and uses its domestic law increasingly to pauperize and jail its own citizens. It’s increasingly an oligarchy run by the 1%.

As for US security interests, the Saudis fit in perfectly with the increasingly anarchic world order in which rogue states such as the USA and its client regimes such as Israel and Saudi Arabia run amok all over the planet, threatening the peace with military bases, nuclear weapons, and regime change operations.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is not the body that will address the increasing insecurity of the USA or all the other nations of the world. I think that’s the job ultimately of the people of the world in demanding a new, non-nuclear peaceful world order.

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Originally published by Tasmin News Agency

Ken Stone is a veteran antiwar activist, a former Steering Committee Member of the Canadian Peace Alliance, an executive member of the SyriaSolidarityMovement.org, and treasurer of the Hamilton Coalition To Stop The War [hcsw.ca]. Ken is author of “Defiant Syria”, an e-booklet available at Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo. He lives in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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Easter 2019: Criminal Insanity and the Crucifixion of Truth

April 20th, 2019 by Philip A Farruggio

Interesting how on the week before Easter, around Palm Sunday to be exact, they came in and forcefully arrested Julian Assange. Some short time before that the US government once again arrested Chelsea Manning. She was told to ‘ fess up’ and implicate Assange in her release of some ( so called ) secret transmissions that threatened ‘ National Security’. Let me see. You mean like Manning’s release in 2007 of the 39 minute video of US military personnel playing a real life video game with their massacre of a group of unarmed and unthreatening Iraqi civilians ( including two Reuters newsmen) from their ‘ killer ‘ Apache Helicopter ? She gave the film to Assange’s Wikileaks and soon after the whole planet could see how criminally insane and immoral our occupation of Iraq was. Folks, that was the gist of the rest of this Sad Black Comedy that Manning, Assange and even Snowden have been made players in. This writer never has enjoyed ‘ Black Comedies’ in film, and now I know why: They never are, to me, very amusing!

One surmises that our high schools and even colleges do not stress enough, in whatever type course this falls under, of both the need and service to justice of Whistle blowing. Imagine if whistleblowers were able to release to the public ( and world ) the fact that the Gulf of Tonkin incident was created by our government, and had absolutely nothing to do with the North Vietnamese? Just perhaps , maybe, just maybe, that might have pushed back the agenda of the empire’s war makers. Now, imagine this for a moment: If whistleblowers like Scott Ritter, former UN weapons inspector, and his boss Hans Blix, who actually told everyone who would listen that they could not find, or think there were, WMDs held by Iraq in 2002… the invasion of that country may never had occurred. Factor all this with the slew of facts that were out there for public record which were overlooked by an embedded US and UK media. Why? Well, like with Groucho Marx in the film Duck Soup , when he takes an innocent slight by an adversarial nation’s minister to shout ” This means War!”  The Bush /Cheney cabal did just that in , as Chomsky and Herman explain the process in their 1988 book Manufacturing Consent. With a mostly compliant media ( excepting the Mcclatchy newspapers) those gangsters took out another gangster and set off a chain of evil that still exists today in the Middle East. If only Wikileaks was vibrant then!

Here’s the ‘skinny’ on all this: Too many of our wonderful friends and neighbors, people mostly of good conscience, have lost their moral compass.  We know how ‘dumbed down’ our nation has become over time. Sadly, many good folks still believe the ‘ fairy tales ‘ that are presented to them by what is called news , from both the electronic and print media. This is how the aforementioned LBJ and Bush/Cheney cabals sold us twice on phony wars. Of course, we can shoot back to the whole Iran Contra scandal, the  Noriega /Panama mess, and the ‘ made for TV’ Granada one day war. Once again, we did have whistle blowers like the late Robert Parry and late Gary Webb during those times, but to have a Wikileaks, with the capability to transmit ‘ evil sins and plans of sins’ through the ethers at speed of light, those behind such actions may ( and should have ) been held accountable.

When people stop questioning authority, authority wins… many times for bad and not good. This Easter season we all should remember that without whistle blowers and men and women of justice, we regress back to the jungle of ignorance and greed. Did not Jesus of Nazareth speak out for truth and fairness? They crucified him NOT for wishing to take over, rather for pointing out the flaws of society and of his own religion at that time. Did not Chelsea Manning , Julian Assange and Eric Snowden do the same? To sit back and forget the essential good of those three and do and say nothing reminds one of the old Easter Sunday joke:

On Easter morning Mary Magdalene goes to the room where the 11 remaining apostles are hiding. ” Fellows, I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that the master has resurrected like he said he would. The bad news is he wants to know what happened to you guys.”

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Philip A Farruggio is the contributing editor for The Greanville Post. He is also frequently posted on Global Research, Nation of Change, World News Trust and Off Guardian sites. Since the 2000 election debacle Philip has written over 300 columns on the Military Industrial Empire and other facets of life in an upside down America. He is also host of the ‘It’s the Empire… Stupid’ radio show, co produced by Chuck Gregory. Philip can be reached at [email protected].

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What is the ‘Monroe Doctrine’? In brief, it is a document which defines the entire Western Hemisphere as a ‘backyard’ of the United States. It ‘philosophically’ justifies Washington’s neo-colonialism, and the most barbaric coups it has been triggering, as well as covered and open interventions in the Caribbean, and in Central and South America.

And now, National Security Advisor John Bolton, is using this term in connection with Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, outraging those who are opposing the US foreign policy in the region. What he means is clear, although it is never pronounced as bluntly as that: Countries in the Western Hemisphere should never be allowed to go socialist, and they should be prevented from disobeying Western dictates.

In Doha, Qatar, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, expressed his outrage over Bolton’s evoking of the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ now, when the West is doing all in its power to overthrow the democratically elected left-wing government of Venezuela:

“The theory and the practice of “backyards” is generally insulting…

Sergei Lavrov also added that:

“Since 1945, when the UN was founded, the international law is being regulated by this universal and the most legitimate organization.”

This is, obviously, not how the United States sees the world. Maybe it never even considered such an approach.

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But back to the ‘notorious’ Monroe Doctrine.

Surprisingly, it was not always intended to intimidate and brutalize independent and progressive Latin American nations.

According to the definition of the United States Department of State:

“The Monroe Doctrine was a United States policy of opposing European colonialism in the Americas beginning in 1823. It stated that further efforts by European nations to take control of any independent state in North or South America would be viewed as “the manifestation of an unfriendly disposition toward the United States.”

So, in theory at least, this policy was supposed to be putting the brakes on European colonialist expansionism. This may sound almost unbelievable now.

How very unfortunate that it has evolved into one of the most unscrupulous tools of oppression in modern history!

Contradictory to its original meaning, the United States used the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ in order to overthrow basically all patriotic, progressive and left-wing governments in the Western Hemisphere; governments that resisted the selfish geo-political interests of Washington, or the interests of US corporations, including the infamous United Fruit Company which was notorious for treating virtually all Central American countries as if they were its private plantations.

Then during the Cold War, US foreign policy towards Latin America was built on the belief that the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ should be invoked in order to prevent the spread of Soviet-backed Communism in the region.

What followed is well known: massacres in Central America, brutal coups and fascist dictatorships in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and elsewhere; tens of thousands of men, women and children ‘disappeared’. Death squads murdering, raping and torturing everywhere, from Guatemala and Salvador to Argentina and Chile.

The fight for US hegemony was basically and cynically named as a ‘fight for democracy’. Slavery was defined as ‘freedom’. The ‘Monroe Doctrine’ became synonymous with Plan Condor, with monstrous torture chambers and with people being thrown alive into the sea from helicopters.

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Now the Trump administration is re-deploying those old and fatal Cold War warriors, elevating them to high positions. The same people who were murdering, plotting and cheering assassins. The list reads like a “Wanted for Genocide” catalogue: Elliott Abrams, Michael Pompeo and yes: John Bolton.

These individuals are, of course, unapologetic.

Just recently, John Bolton declared:

“In this administration we’re not afraid to use the phrase ‘Monroe Doctrine’. This is a country in our hemisphere and it’s been the objective of American presidents going back to Ronald Reagan to have a completely Democratic hemisphere.”

He was talking about Venezuela, of course.

And so, the almost 200 year old ‘Monroe Doctrine’ has been revitalized; put to deadly work once again.

As reported by the Daily Star:

“Mr. Bolton said the Donald Trump administration was “not afraid to use the phrase ‘Monroe Doctrine’,” when asked why it was targeting Venezuela while maintaining close alliances with tyrannies such as Saudi Arabia. The doctrine, dating back to the 1820s, denoted the Western hemisphere as a zone of US influence.”

It is clear that this time, what Mr. Bolton envisions under the ‘Monroe Doctrine’ has nothing in common with the fight against European colonialism. It is a bellicose ‘modern-day’ interpretation of the doctrine: the justification for Western imperialism all over the Hemisphere. And perhaps, all over the world.

Sergei Lavrov correctly defined Bolton’s remarks as ‘insulting’. They are also deadly. As they are indicative of what Western foreign policy may soon become, or has already become: an unapologetic and uncompromising return to the harshest form of expansionism.

What the US tried to avert (perhaps) some 200 years ago, it at some point joined, and then ‘perfected’. Now, it is trying to bring it to an absolute extreme.

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Originally published on New Eastern Outlook

Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He has covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. Four of his latest books are China and Ecological Civilization with John B. Cobb, Jr., Revolutionary Optimism, Western Nihilism, a revolutionary novel “Aurora” and a bestselling work of political non-fiction: “Exposing Lies Of The Empire”. View his other books here. Watch Rwanda Gambit, his groundbreaking documentary about Rwanda and DRCongo and his film/dialogue with Noam Chomsky “On Western Terrorism”. Vltchek presently resides in East Asia and the Middle East, and continues to work around the world. He can be reached through his website and his Twitter. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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Israel is not preparing a military adventure against Gaza, Syria, Hezbollah or Iran because it is in fact already attaining its objectives both internationally and domestically. 

Its military apparatus regularly hits targets in Syria with a calculated risk of retaliation from Damascus and its allies. Israel willingly risks a Syrian reprisal. If Syria were to respond to Israel’s continuous violations of its sovereignty, it would help Israel attract world attention.

The world powers would then do their best to try and stop an escalation between Israel and all its enemies gathered in one place in the Levant, rather than looking in meticulous detail at Israel’s wrongdoing in Palestine, and its violations of UN and Oslo agreements. Israel is aware that its enemies will evaluate the timing, benefits and reaction to any military response. Syria and its allies believe a war will slow its recovery from 8 years of war. The potential consequences of a war with Israel on the Syrian economy – at a time of ongoing economic crisis – would be devastating. Syria’s allies are not willing to be dragged into a confrontation at Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s whim. They are also aware of Trump’s unlimited support for Israel at all costs and by any means. An Israeli-US war on Syria would be disastrous.

Netanyahu feels very confident, given Trump’s unlimited support and the confirmation of his domestic support in recent legislative elections. He holds the initiative and has managed to concentrate global attention on Iran rather than Palestine. Demonization of Iran as the head of the “Axis of Evil” diverts attention from the Jewish Nationalist law, the dislodging of the Palestinians from the West Bank-Zone C, and the Israeli attempt to wipe out any trace of Palestinians in the occupied Israeli territory.

Saudi Arabia’s record of militant hatred against Iran’s wide influence in the region is nothing new. It dates back to 1981 when Saddam Hussein declared war on Iran. Moreover, Saudi’s extremist Wahhabite Islamic doctrine leaves little room for tolerance towards any other practice of Islam or towards any other religion. Saudi’s takfiri Wahhabist doctrine is the same creed as that of al-Qaeda and ISIS, who consider secular, Shia, Druse, Isma’ili and Zaidi men, women and children as deserving to be killed at sight, and Yazidi and secular women and children as subject to enslavement.

The Israeli Defence Minister has said that he would prefer to have ISIS on Israel’s borders than the Syrian army and its allies; he publicly acknowledges Israeli military and non-military support to jihadist terrorists during the war against Syria. At the same time Saudi Arabia generously invested in support to Jihadists and opened its prisons and borders for Jihadist-tourists to leave the Kingdom in direction of the Levant. Israel and Saudi Arabia agreed and still agree today that their common enemy is Iran not ISIS.

Netanyahu plans to keep up his aggressive rhetoric against Iran while at the same time domestically pushing the one million Palestinian refugees from Gaza towards the Egyptian Sinai territory, so that he can later divide Gaza into parts A-B-C as his predecessors did to the West Bank through the 1993 Oslo agreement. The Israeli Prime Minister is also aiming to normalise Israeli-Arab relationships and establish overt diplomatic and commercial ties with Arab states, isolating Iran and its allies, i.e. Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Gaza and Yemen.

The Israeli Prime Minister was happy to share with the world that “more than two Arab Leaders rushed to congratulate him for his victory in the last legislative elections”, when a coalition of the far-right wing overwhelmingly defeated more conventional right-wing elements.

Gaza Strip:

Gaza is the cornerstone of what Israel calls the “Deal of the Century”. Netanyahu cannot, any more than Hamas, deal with one million refugees and another million inhabitants – when he or his successors decide to move on Gaza. These people need water, electricity, medical care, infrastructure, schools, universities, security, and links with the outside world. The economic situation in Gaza is critical and Hamas is suffering from the sanctions imposed on its administration of the Strip.

Gaza was under Egyptian administration from 1948-1959. This inspired Netanyahu’s idea to relocate the Palestinians to Sinai. In the 1950s, President Abdel Nasser sent to Gaza his General Mustafa Hafez who in 1955 created “the Palestinian Fedayeen Forces”. Abdel Nasser visited al-Arish with Abdel Hakim Amer and Salah Salem and considered Hafez commander of the “Army of Palestine”. The Egyptian President considered it important not to rely on any UN resolutions, but he proved incompetent to give the Palestinians back their territory. Hafez was confronted with the  Israeli unit 101 led by Ariel Sharon and was assassinated by the Israeli intelligence service.

David Ben Gurion decided to join the British and the French in their  war against President Abdel Nasser following his decision to nationalise the Suez Canal. Israel saw in the charismatic Egyptian President an existential danger; Israel wanted control of Gaza and demanded that France build its  nuclear military facility in Dimona.

Ben Gurion entered Gaza, Rafah and al-Arish and attacked the 200,000 Palestinian refugees (the population in those days). They had come from Haifa, Yafa, Gallilea, Jerusalem and other parts of Palestine. The Israelis killed in cold blood between 275 to 900 civilians during the nine-day massacre. In the 50s, Ben Gurion already wanted to implement the “Deal of the Century”. Israel was also responsible for another massacre, in Kfar Qassem, killing 49 farmers returning to their home because they hadn’t heard about a sudden curfew imposed by the Israeli army, as ex-Prime Minister Ehud Barak later acknowledged.

Israel adopted the “open door” policy, encouraging or intimidating Palestinians to leavetheir country. But the Israeli massacres didn’t persuade the Palestinians to leave their territory, like those who left in 1948. These were no longer affected by the Israeli “Ironing policy” and decided to stay even in wretched conditions.

These days, Israel is using Trump to try and twist the Palestinians’ arms. He gave Jerusalem (and the Golan) to Netanyahu and will probably give him the West Bank-zone C too. Trump also halted fundingfor the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), in an attempt to force the Palestinians to accept Netanyahu’s objectives.

This is pushing the Palestinians to adopt what now appears the only solution–to join the resistance, to fight for their land. Those who have decided to stand up to Israel believe it is “weaker than the spider’s web”. Despite the murder of children, the elderly and women by Israeli bullets, Palestinians demonstrate weekly for the right of return. The Palestinian resistance (for the first time 14 groups have united in one military operational room joining their decisions, military actions and capabilities against Israel) has shown its capability to bomb Tel Aviv, forcing Netanyahu to positively respond to some Palestinian demands.

“Netanyahu said he will allow the re-opening of the passage between Gaza and Egypt; he will allow money to reach Hamas; he has agreed to enlarge the fishing space and allow trucks to supply Gaza with most needed goods. The Palestinian resistance agreed to stop using “rough methods” (flying burning kites) and managed to bring out of Israeli jails 1027 prisoners in the Gilad Shalit  exchange deal. The Palestinian resistance has now halted all negotiations with Netanyahu in regard to the 5 Israelis detained by the Palestinian resistance. In turn the Israelis have re-arrested 56 prisoners who were released during the Shalit deal. Unless these are first released unconditionally, negotiations between the resistance and Israel will not be resumed”, said the Palestinian source.

The Palestinians find it difficult to reconcile amongst themselves to unite against Netanyahu’s “deal of the Century”. President Abbas wants to control Gaza, and Hamas is happy to pass on political leadership to him provided the armed resistance keeps its autonomy. Hamas is in organisational and economic trouble in Gaza and would like to take such responsibilities off its back. Hamas didn’t learn from the Hezbollah experience in Lebanon. Despite its huge military power Hezbollah wisely refuses to exert political control, thus avoiding blame for bad administration. Abbas believes in verbal resistance rather than armed resistance. Netanyahu supports the Palestinian President’s peaceful methods because he believes that talking has never won back any territory for the Palestinians. Abbas wants Hamas to retain control of Gaza if it won’t give up its weapons. This condition has been rejected by all resistance groups in Gaza.

Hamas has made many mistakes in the past. In Iraq and Syria, many ex-Hamas joined al-Qaeda and the “Islamic State” (ISIS) with the aim of establishing an Islamic State. Many of them had been trained by Hezbollah in Lebanon but reappeared later as suicide bombers and on the battlefield, fighting against the Iraqi and Syrian governments for a purpose unrelated to Palestine. The political leadership jumped from one alliance to another and declared enmity to President Bashar al-Assad who still today refuses reconciliation with Hamas. Other Palestinian groups acted as a “guns for hire” in the service of Muammar Ghedaffi, Saddam Hussein and Hafez Assad.

Netanyahu has failed to tame the resistance because he has no intention either of giving the Palestinians any territory, or of giving back territories Israel is currently occupying or has received from Trump. Netanyahu’s policies vindicate Hezbollah’s raison-d’être, justify Iran’s continued presence in the Levant, and provide strong motivations for President Bashar al-Assad to reject any future negotiations with Israel and to stick with the “Axis of the Resistance” for good. He is also offering to Iraq a motive to sympathise with the cause of the Levantine peoples and is dooming Israel to a state of ongoing war with its close neighbours.

The last word does not belong to Netanyahu or Trump. It belongs to the Palestinians. The wealth of the Middle East is being invested in Middle Eastern wars and is now being used in the service of Netanyahu – through Trump – to divide and reshuffle the Middle Eastern map. But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.

Also read:

The“Deal of the Century”won’t go through: Split among Palestinians supports Israel1/3

https://www.globalresearch.ca/deal-century-wont-go-through-split-palestinians-supports-israel/5674734

The “Deal of the Century”: The US wants Iran to forget about Palestine and accept negotiations. 2/3

https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-deal-of-the-century-the-us-wants-to-enable-netanyahu-to-officially-occupy-the-west-bank/5674898

Proof-read by:  Maurice Brasher & C.G.B

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Live from Nicaragua : Uprising or Coup?

April 20th, 2019 by Tortilla Con Sal

In 2018, Nicaragua suffered its worst political violence and upheaval since the end of the US backed Contra war of the 1980s. Extremely polarized controversy persists about what caused last year’s conflict, how it developed and what it means for Nicaragua’s people now.

This book makes available material completely excluded from mainstream coverage of events in Nicaragua. Produced by people with an unquestionable, long demonstrated commitment to grass roots democracy and community development in Nicaragua and the region, based on an anti-imperialist vision of peace and justice for all, the book challenges the mainstream and much alternative media coverage of events in Nicaragua over the last year.

It is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the events of 2018. As Gabriela Luna notes in her foreword to the book “The attempted coup was intended to eradicate not only the Sandinista Front from political power in Nicaragua but also to tear Sandinismo from the heart and historical memory of the people.”

A Message from Brian Willson

The book is available free online :

For the PDF version click here

For the e-book version

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On April 12 Canada’s PM Justin Trudeau released a statement congratulating Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu on his fifth electoral victory.  Two statements stood out for their misleading role in creating a contrived narrative.  

The first statement concerns democracy, “During the conversation, the two leaders spoke of the underlying democratic values shared by both countries. “  Indeed, there is a common democratic sharing between the countries.  Both are colonial settler countries, one has successfully sidelined/cleansed its indigenous population, the other is still working on settlements in order to create a racist apartheid state.  There is a strong possibility that the first was a model for the second.

Democracy also involves the acceptance and application of the”rule of law”, a mantra used by all nominally democratic countries in order to keep the populace acquiescence in the face of some hidden transgression.  Canada has demonstrated the abrogation of “rule of law” on many occasions:  its bombing of Libya and Yugoslavia/Serbia;  its extraterritorial arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou;  its declaration of regime change in Venezuela and the support given to the U.S.’ illegal sanctions there;  domestically, its application of a hastily written new law so that a large corporation, known for its insider dealings (SNC-Lavalin) could escape criminal charges.  As a supporter of the ‘White Helmets’ in Syria, Canada is also in abrogation of international humanitarian law as that group was funded by the west in order to provide media bias in support of fanatical terrorist groups in Syria.   The list could go on….

The second statement carries even larger implications for democracy and “rule of law”, “The Prime Minister expressed Canada’s continued and strong support for Middle East peace efforts leading to a two-state solution while standing firmly with Israel in its right to live in peace and security with its neighbours. Canada and Israel cooperate closely on matters of regional security.”

Okay, sure, but there never will be a two state solution. It was never intended to happen and Israel’s history makes that very clear.  A very well written recent work, “Preventing Palestine” (Princeton University Press, 2018) by Seth Anziska, (a lecturer in Jewish-Muslim Relations at University College, London) demonstrates that a two state solution was never in the works.  What was in the works was continual dialogue about ‘autonomy’ while settlements were built and expanded in order to prevent the very fact of a Palestinian state.  This comes from both the Camp David Accords and on through the Oslo Agreements.

The current situation is such that a Palestinian state is impossible with all the small apartheid style containments – or in some cases virtual open air prisons – disallowing any contiguous entity to be made.  It is about time that Trudeau, his Liberal party, and indeed all other Canadian federal parties supporting the two state solution – as they all do – apprise themselves of the real history and actual situation in Palestine/Israel.  Neither democracy nor “rule of law” – other than extemporaneous military law – exists in occupied Palestine, and it is all designed to remove and restrict indigenous Palestinians within their homeland – always has, always will…perhaps.

As for regional security, Canada certainly supports that as its sale of military vehicles and weapons to Saudi Arabia – Israel’s de facto ally – and its pathetic pretense at attacking ISIS under U.S. patronage all attest to.   And once again it rolls around to “rule of law” as Canada breaks international criminal law, war law, and humanitarian law in its support of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Gulf States – all supplying material and service support to ISIS – a U.S./Saudi spawned group – in their war against Syria.

I hold no great expectations for Canada as a leading light for global affairs, for its self proclaimed status as “peacemaker” operating under “rule of law.”   It has nestled itself comfortably into the western narrative framed by the Washington consensus and enjoys all the perks and problems that come within that configuration.

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Jim Miles is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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What Venezuela’s Tragic Predicament Teaches Iran

April 20th, 2019 by Rostam Pourzal

Analysts, including commentators sympathetic to Chavismo, are understandably offering a mix of explanations for Venezuela’s tragic and worsening predicament this year. With a debate as urgent as this, it is tempting to contrast the US success in crushing the Latin American nation with the resilience of a more irritating adversary, Iran. The Islamic Republic has more than angered US administrations regularly by punching above its weight. Until Russia re-asserted itself in recent years, top American policy makers, and their think tank and media allies, for almost a generation declared Iran the most urgent foreign policy headache more consistently than they did any other foe.

Venezuela never rose nearly to that level of concern. There is, for example, nothing in its recent history to rattle Washington as did Israel’s expulsion from Arab land in 2000 by Lebanese Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia, something even combined Arab armies have never accomplished. Yet Venezuela is paying a much steeper price than Iran for insubordination. Some of us may be wondering what wisdom Iran will draw from the uneven outcomes.

The first lesson Tehran will see as counter-revolution appears close to swallowing Venezuela confirms what Iran’s strategic planners have known all along. They believe that making concessions makes no sense because no American administration will reliably accept co-existence with Iran as an independent player with legitimate security interests. So they argue that resisting Washington’s demands is the only option. Venezuela does not have a nuclear or missile program and is not accused of sectarian expansionism, but is on the brink of US-orchestrated regime change anyway, which seems to prove Iran’s point. There will therefore be no softening of Iran’s defense doctrine in the foreseeable future. More in a moment on what the Venezuela racket is teaching Iran.

There’s good reason to compare Venezuela and Iran. Except for Iran’s larger population size and military muscle, and allowing for Venezuela’s extreme dependence on food imports, the two nations’ key strengths and liabilities are comparable. They depend equally on (uncertain) oil exports and both have been targeted with crippling sanctions and capital flight and seen their access to international finance evaporate. Their late 20th century revolutions relied equally on charismatic leadership and overwhelming participation of popular classes. Both have vastly increased services to their mass base and counted on high voter turnout ever since. Although both would welcome friendship with the United States, Washington demonizes them for (realistic) fear that their mass mobilization models and stubborn self-determination be contagious in Latin America and the Middle East.

The forces arrayed against Iran are, to say the least, formidable. The country has endured wrath and subversion from America’s client regimes on its borders longer than has Venezuela. Furthermore, containing Iran or worse has long been declared top priority by well-connected wealthy lobbies affiliated with AIPAC, whose bipartisan influence is unsurpassed.

If the US and its regional allies have not managed to destabilize Iran, it hasn’t been for lack of trying. They even instigated civil war in Syria to bring Iran to its knees and failed. With the Islamic Republic still standing and stable, how to explain the fragility of Venezuela? Could it be that the two anti-imperialist revolutions are more different than they are similar?

It’s a question worth exploring. In what follows, I will look beyond Iran’s 1978-79 Islamic revolution for answers. I will suggest that the key years in Iranian history that most closely parallel the rise and forced decline of the Bolivarian revolution were 1952-53, when secular nationalism rose and collapsed in a US-engineered coup in Tehran. I will finish by positing that, if today a parallel to Iran’s hardheaded national security doctrine is to be found in the Western Hemisphere, it’s in Cuba rather than Venezuela.

Historic Ups and Downs

Desperation similar to Venezuela’s is not unfamiliar in post-revolutionary Iran. Much like Venezuela this year, Iran was abandoned by world powers and reactionary neighboring states in 1980, who threw their weight behind Iraq’s eight year war on Iran. When Saddam invaded (with a wink and a nod from Washington), Iran was in the grip of infighting and raised expectations of a revolution’s first year. Its military was already decimated by plundered arms depots, a ban on arms imports, desertion and purges. Not to mention that Iran’s assets, worth tens of billions of dollars, were ordered frozen in the US.

Food staples, fuel, and foreign exchange were strictly rationed and military hardware needs were procured on the international black market, laying the groundwork for future corruption that continues today. Untold thousands of skilled minds slipped on foot into Turkey and Pakistan in search of asylum in Europe and beyond. Under those circumstances, revolutionary Iran should have been easy prey for hostile Western powers that wanted their old privileges back.

But the national emergency came with its own game changer, a military innovation powerhouse named the Islamic Republic Revolutionary Guard, whose mature version today improves Iran’s odds of withstanding forced regime change. Sworn to expand Iran’s wartime self-reliance, IRGC has grown into a sophisticated network of defense and infrastructure industries that have largely evaded privatization. I have it on good authority that Venezuela has nothing that functions like IRGC’s parallel national economy to help beat back foreign economic and military pressure. Washington designated the Guard a “foreign terrorist organization” earlier this month.

When the war ended in 1988, no one expected Iran, with hundreds of thousands maimed or killed and its treasury depleted, to emerge more stable than what Venezuela is looking like in April, 2019. But it was able within fifteen years to organize effective resistance to US occupation forces in Iraq, followed by a major role in obliterating Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Venezuela has been far less adventurous, but has nevertheless succumbed to US-sponsored counter-revolution.

In 1953 a similar fate befell Iran’s wildly popular movement to restrict dictatorial monarchy and wrestle control of its oil industry from a British monopoly. The revered secular prime minister, Mohammad Mosaddegh, inspired and rode an unprecedented wave of popular demands for social justice and national rights. He argued Iran’s case before the World Court and won while the UK organized an international boycott of Iranian oil. Within months, Mosaddegh’s empowerment and reform program was cut short by a CIA coup. His nemesis, the young Shah, returned from brief exile and launched a 25 year dictatorship in which thousands lost their lives or livelihoods. (A few years after the regime change, I was among thousands of school children ordered to cheer for the motorcade of the visiting American dignitary behind the coup, President Eisenhower. My father, a ranking officer in Iran’s royal army counter-intelligence, approved. Years later, less than a week after His Majesty fled the country again, never to return, my father was arrested and very nearly executed in retirement.)

Beware of Good Intentions

Unlike Washington hawks bent on re-conquering Venezuela today, Cold Warriors of yesteryear never claimed that brutalized Iranians needed to be rescued from their government. Rather, American propaganda against Mosaddegh’s Iran centered on ostensible territorial integrity worries, as it does now. In 1953, underestimating the expansionist ambitions of the Soviet giant next door was the prime minister’s declared principal sin. Fast forward to our time and Iranian exporters of revolution, not military intervention by the US and its Gulf allies, are conveniently faulted for Iraq’s and Syria’s instability. Nationalist Iran endangered Western civilization by ignoring Soviet agents in every Persian closet. The Islamic Republic is doing the same, according to secretary of state Mike Pompeo, by harboring Al-Qaeda sleeping cells.

While in office, Mosaddegh was by all accounts a genuine social democrat who believed firmly in civil society, pluralism and rule of law. He was fond of diplomacy and even traveled to Washington to naively ask for help against the British. Except in egregious rare cases, he largely respected freedom of assembly and opposition press, much like President Hugo Chavez would do years later in Venezuela. The world learned when it was too late that Britain had been paying more than a few media and parliamentary opponents to undercut Mosaddegh. There is every reason to believe that, had Western-funded “democracy promotion” and “human rights” NGOs been global in his era, Mosaddegh would have tolerated their in-country operations, too, as Venezuelan revolutionary authorities did for too long.

(With the shattering of Mosaddegh’s National Front overnight, Iran’s other secular major political force, the disgraced Tudeh communist party, also disintegrated, leaving religion as the next generation’s hope for mass mobilization. Many frustrated opponents have since 1979 complained that the Islamization of government was itself a counter-revolution. Others, most notably reformist cleric and former speaker of parliament, Mehdi Karroubi, have not been shy to advocate privatization of oil to de-fund “undeserved” social spending. He has lived under house arrest for other reasons since 2011.)

The Islamic Republic’s reform faction has for years argued that freedoms modeled by Mosaddegh would, if applied today, result in a strengthening of national unity and therefore advance Iran’s sovereign defense. Their case is, sadly, not helped by the central role played by so-called “independent” opposition media and “civil society groups” in Venezuela’s unsuccessful 2002 coup and catastrophic events this year.

Similarly, critics of vetting of candidates for elected office by Iran’s Guardian Council now have Venezuela’s counter-revolutionary parliament as proof of what can happen in a country targeted by the global superpower when privileged subversives are free to form a legislative majority. We can be sure that Iran’s elections officials feel vindicated.

If Cuba were to model its politics after Venezuela’s more tolerant system, or if the Islamic Republic were to adopt Mosaddegh-style liberalism that it flirted with two decades ago under reformist President Khatami, risks of regime change could increase substantially. That’s what Venezuela’s devastation teaches Iran.

The horrible and worsening suffering of Venezuela’s working majority in the hands of US-backed coup plotters will, alas, be seen in Tehran as one more reason to consider expanded civil liberties a luxury that Iran can ill afford. As far as Iranian authorities are concerned, there is apparently no better way to promote the common good than to be ever more vigilant and take no chances. If Mosaddegh were alive today, he might hesitate to disagree.

Rostam Pourzal is a former board member of the London-based Campaign Against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran. From 2004 to 2007 he co-sponsored “citizen diplomacy” delegations of concerned Americans to Iran on peace missions. He also co-organized a US speaking tour for Iranian victims of chemical weapons and medical specialists who later founded the Tehran Peace Museum. He is based in Washington, DC.

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A recently declassified CIA document has revealed that members of the intelligence agencies of France, the United Kingdom and West Germany discussed how to establish “an anti-subversive organization similar to [the CIA’s Operation] Condor” in their own countries. Described by the CIA as “a cooperative effort by the intelligence/security services of several South American countries to combat terrorism and subversion,” Operation Condor was a campaign of state terrorism originally planned by the CIA that targeted leftists, suspected leftists and their “sympathizers” and resulted in the forced disappearances, torture and brutal murders of an estimated 60,000 people, as well as the political imprisonment of around half a million people. Around half of the estimated murders occurred in Argentina.

The document, released last Friday as part of a release of newly declassified U.S. government documents related to the U.S.-backed military dictatorship that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983, states that:

Representatives of West German, French and British intelligence services had visited the Condor organization secretariat in Buenos Aires during the month of September 1977 in order to discuss methods for establishment of an anti-subversion organization similar to Condor” due to their view that “the terrorist/subversive threat had reached such dangerous levels in Europe.”

Declassified: A Brief Look … by on Scribd

The representatives from the three countries then stated that they felt that pooling “their intelligence resources in a cooperative organization such as Condor” would be an important way of combating the “subversive threat.” Notably, England at the time was already involved in an international “intelligence sharing” program known as ECHELON, a program between the “Five Eyes” intelligence pact between the U.K., the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand that continues in a different form today.

The document, which was written in 1978, came two years after Operation Condor targeted left-wing Latin American exiles living in Europe. Several other documents in the recent release discuss a decision made by Condor member countries in May 1976 to train and send a military unit to “conduct physical attacks” against left-wing Latin American exiles and their supporters in France, in what was codenamed “Teseo.” Several Condor countries, aside from Brazil and Bolivia, were eager to participate and the training of the “Teseo” unit did occur, though the CIA was apparently unaware whether the unit was actually sent to France.

Operation Condor: Made in the West

European interest in bringing home a state-sponsored terror campaign may seem shocking, given Europe’s publicly stated concerns at the time regarding Condor member countries’ mind-boggling human rights abuses and state-sponsored murders. But it will hardly surprise those who have studied Operation Condor, as the operation itself was a Western invention that was imposed on Latin America through a series of military coups, which again were backed by Western governments.

Operation Condor officially began in 1975, though CIA documents in this recent release suggest that the inter-country intelligence-sharing aspect had likely begun a year earlier in 1974. The countries involved — Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Bolivia — were all backed and supported by the U.S., which was also incidentally the largest weapons dealer to these government over this same time frame. During the latter portion of Operation Condor, one of the recently declassified documents claims that Israel took over key roles played by the U.S. in Operation Condor, including the “training of local personnel and sales of certain types of advanced military equipment,” despite the many innocent Jews murdered by several of the Condor dictatorships.

Several of the Condor countries had seen their military dictatorships installed with U.S. government involvement, as was the case in Chile and Brazil, with the U.S. government suspected in other coups that preceded Operation Condor by only a few years, such as the 1971 coup in Bolivia and the 1973 coup in Uruguay. After the 1976 coup in Argentina — Argentina’s sixth and final coup of the 20th century — it too joined Operation Condor.

The U.S. provided planning, training, funding and arms for Operation Condor, and European nations also provided a significant number of weapons. France — one of the countries interested in creating a Condor-style program for Europe — was noted in one of the recently declassified documents for its “excellent prospects for sales of jet aircraft and air defense systems” to Condor dictatorships; while West Germany, another country interested in a European Condor, “should be able to market missiles, ground force equipment and submarines.”

U.S. and European intelligence agencies were well aware of what Condor dictatorships were doing with those weapons, as indicated by past and recent document releases that detail horrific descriptions of the torture and murder of those suspected of being left-wing and those suspected of sympathizing with the left, as well as those who opposed the neoliberal economic policies imposed by all of the U.S.-backed Condor dictatorships.

Some of the more infamous tactics used by Condor nations had also been inspired by past European and U.S. war crimes. This includes the “death flights,” where victims were drugged, bound and placed in plastic body bags, and/or had their stomachs cut open before being thrown out of a plane or helicopter over the ocean. This tactic was said to have been inspired by the actions of French armed forces during the Algerian war and, according to the 2003 documentary The Death Squads: The French School, French intelligence had taught these and other methods to Argentine military officials during the dictatorship.

Whitewashing away the full horror of Condor

Notably, much of the recent coverage of Operation Condor and the CIA releases has sought to whitewash the program’s horrific legacy, with The Guardian describing Operation Condor as “a secret programme in which the dictatorships of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador conspired to kidnap and assassinate members of leftwing guerrilla groups in each other’s territories.” This, of course, implies that those targeted were guerilla members and thus combatants.

However, many — and one could convincingly argue the majority — of those killed, tortured and imprisoned were not members of guerilla groups, as there are thousands of documented cases of college students, musicians, writers, journalists, priests and nuns, pregnant women, teachers, indigenous leaders, union members and others who were subject to the extreme prejudice of Operation Condor despite not being combatants in any capacity. The Guardian also dramatically downplayed the program’s death toll, claiming that “the conspiracy led to the deaths of at least 100 people in Argentina,” while the actual figure is around 30,000. The Guardian also failed to mention the intimate role of the U.S. and other Western nations in facilitating and arming the program.

Such poor reporting is offensive to those who lost their lives and to their families, many of which have never stopped looking for their lost loved ones. Many of those families, such as Argentina’s “Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo,” have spent the last several decades looking for the estimated 500 children and babies separated from their disappeared and murdered parents and given to dictatorship-supporting families.

In a clear testament to how the effects of Operation Condor are still felt today, one of those babies — now over 40 years old — was identified on April 9 and is set to be reunited with her father, who survived the dictatorship and has spent the last several decades looking for his lost daughter. The mother was kidnapped while pregnant, allowed to give birth to the baby and killed immediately afterwards.

The very idea that European countries wanted to bring such a horrific terror campaign to their continent to target “subversives” should serve as a cautionary tale to Europeans who trust their government’s professed interest in promoting democracy and human rights, all while exporting terror overseas.

Top photo | Former Argentina’s president Gen. Jorge Rafael Videla, left, talks with Paraguay’s dictator Gen. Alfredo Stroessner. Videla, led the military dictatorship and the so-called Dirty War against political dissents between1976-83, more than 12,000 people died or disappeared, the vast majority have never been found or identified. Eduardo Di Baia | AP

Whitney Webb is a MintPress News journalist based in Chile. She has contributed to several independent media outlets including Global Research, EcoWatch, the Ron Paul Institute and 21st Century Wire, among others. She has made several radio and television appearances and is the 2019 winner of the Serena Shim Award for Uncompromised Integrity in Journalism.

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The deployment of THAAD missiles to Romania and increased naval activity in the Black Sea show that NATO intends to continue its militarization of this strategic space at the expense of Russia’s security.

The Black Sea became a global flashpoint after Russia’s 2014 reunification with Crimea catapulted the region’s strategic significance to the world’s attention and drew the consternation of Moscow’s NATO foes who had speculatively hoped to occupy the peninsula and eventually evict the Russian naval base there in the aftermath of the EuroMaidan coup. The majority-Russian people of this former part of Ukraine prevented that from happening by staging a democratic referendum to reunite with their ancestral homeland that they were arbitrarily separated from by Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev in 1954, which therefore retained the balance of power in the Black Sea region that the West had tried to disrupt through its post-coup plans for Crimea. Nevertheless, the US and its allies aren’t easily convinced to abandon a strategy once they set their minds to achieving it, ergo the latest military escalations that they’re planning in the area.

NATO’s European Command (EUCOM) just announced that the alliance will deploy THAAD anti-missiles systems in Romania sometime this summer, while the organization also previously said that it’ll launch more patrols and military drills in the Black Sea too. Russia is very concerned about these two interconnected developments because it believes that the bloc’s belligerence in the Black Sea region is a bad sign of things to come. It’s evident that NATO is trying to increase pressure on Russia in this strategic space, which is part of the New Arms Race that it’s trying in vain to provoke Moscow to participate in. Russia is especially concerned about the THAAD element of NATO’s plans since it’s long suspected that those supposedly “defensive” systems can be clandestinely outfitted to have offensive cruise missile capabilities, which in the current context would make their deployment a disturbing development in the post-INF world after America recently decided to withdraw from that arms control agreement.

Russia’s most obvious responses would be to deploy similar weapons to Crimea and its Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, but as with every defensive move that Moscow makes, these too would predictably be misportrayed by the West as “offensive” steps taken by a “resurgent” and “aggressive” Russia that’s seemingly “hellbent” on “taking over Europe”. The resultant Mainstream Media-driven fake news hysteria would in turn be used to “justify” further “containment” actions by NATO, but there’s apparently no way for Russia to stop this from happening. As such, the country must accept that its side of the story will never be told to the Western masses by their media unless curious individuals decide to check out what Russia’s international media outlets like RT and Sputnik are saying about it, which the average person isn’t interested in doing. This shouldn’t dissuade Russia from doing what’s necessary to protect its national security, but should nevertheless be kept in mind because of its relevance to the infowar being waged against it.

Returning to the most likely consequences of these dynamics, it’s clear to see that the Black Sea is being divided into “spheres of influence”, with Russia being the predominant power in its eastern half while NATO fulfills this role in is western one. Although there are plans for making Georgia a member of the alliance, this has yet to happen, though its possible inclusion in the bloc would be a game-changing development that could undercut Russia’s security in the corner of the Black Sea that it regards as “its own”. Interestingly, the planned expansion of TurkStream through the Balkans could do something similar vis-a-vis the way in which NATO regards its strategic (and specifically, non-military) security. As for the southern shores of this sea, the Russian-Turkish Strategic Partnership has all but neutralized any threat coming from this direction, making Turkey a de-facto neutral force in this larger competition despite being a formal member of the bloc.

Taken together, the Black Sea region is becoming increasingly militarized, though a “balance of power” has hitherto prevailed over this strategic space in maintaining a sort of equilibrium between NATO and Russia. That, however, is at risk of being undermined through the bloc’s plans to deploy THAAD systems to Romania (which could also have clandestine offensive capabilities) and launch more patrols and military drills in the Black Sea. Russia’s defensive response of predictably fortifying Crimea will be misportrayed to the Western masses as an “aggressive” development in order to “justify” the rolling out of NATO’s other preplanned moves in this larger region. Considering the most likely trajectory that events will proceed along, it’s very possible that a future crisis is brewing, whether of a “manageable” sort like last year’s Kerch Strait incident or something much more uncontrollable, which means that Russia must exercise the utmost caution in how it responds to NATO’s provocations in order to avoid inadvertently worsening the situation and falling into one of the many traps that are being set for it.

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Andrew Korybko is an American Moscow-based political analyst specializing in the relationship between the US strategy in Afro-Eurasia, China’s One Belt One Road global vision of New Silk Road connectivity, and Hybrid Warfare. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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In a sharp reversal of longstanding US policy which recognizes only the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli as the legitimate authority over Libya, the White House on Friday said President Trump spoke by phone this week to Benghazi based commander Kalifa Haftar, pledging support to the general and his Libyan National Army (LNA) as it lays siege to the capital. 

The White House statement said Trump “recognized Field Marshal Haftar’s significant role in fighting terrorism and securing Libya’s oil resources, and the two discussed a shared vision for Libya’s transition to a stable, democratic political system.”

                  Khalifa Haftar, center, leader of the Libyan National Army, via AFP/Getty

The call took place on Monday, but was only revealed at the end of this week amid ongoing fighting in and around Tripoli, under assault for the past two weeks by Haftar’s forces, which early this month led to the withdrawal of a contingency of US Marines, citing the deteriorating security situation.

The White House readout said the two discussed “ongoing counterterrorism efforts and the need to achieve peace and stability in Libya.”

Interestingly in early April Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had urged in a statement for Haftar to halt his advance: “We have made clear that we oppose the military offensive by Khalifa Haftar’s forces and urge the immediate halt to these military operations against the Libyan capital,” Pompeo said at the time.

Haftar  who solidified control of Eastern Libya  over the past two years and swept through the south in January, seeks to capture Tripoli and seize military control of the entire country, and has over the past weeks made inroads into the capital.

He’s long been described by many analysts as “the CIA’s man in Libya” — given he spent a couple decades living in exile a mere few minutes from CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia during Gaddafi’s rule.

On Thursday the US and Russia blocked a UN Security Council effort to call for a ceasefire in Libya — this as air power has recently been used during increasingly intense fighting in Tripoli. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fighting between the LNA and GNA has resulted in 205 deaths and 900 wounded, with about 20 civilians among the dead.

Given Trump’s praise of Haftar for “securing Libya’s oil resources” in the telephone call this week, it appears that the renegade Libyan general has indeed been “the CIA’s man in Libya” this whole time.

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As we celebrate Earth Day in 2019, we need to recognize that more than climate change threatens our environment and our very existence. We have passed or are approaching several Planetary Boundaries outside of which human society may not survive.

Environmental scientists have developed the concept of Planetary Boundariesto identify Earth system processes that human activity is disrupting. They have tried to identify boundaries beyond which that disruption will trigger radical planetary environmental changes that endanger the survival of human society.

Of the nine planetary boundaries these scientists have identified, they say that we have already passed four of them:

Climate Change: At 412 ppm atmospheric carbon last month, we have already passed the safe zone of below 350 ppm that would keep global temperature rise to under 1ºC and within the range of the current interglacial Holocene climate in which agriculture, the material foundation for human civilization, developed.

Biogeochemical Cycles: Earth’s biogeochemical nitrogen and phosphorus cycles have been disturbed even more than the carbon cycle. Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers pollute waterways and coastal zones overwhelm ecosystems’ capacity to absorb and recycle them, resulting in ecosystem collapse and low-oxygen dead zones.

Biodiversity: The 6th Mass Extinction in Earth’s history is underway and threatening to collapse ecosystems and hence agriculture and food production. For example, scientists recently reported that insects have declined at a 2.5% rate of annual loss over the last 25-30 years, a reduction of 80% of insect biomass. Insects are at the base of every terrestrial ecosystem food web and energy pyramid. Agricultural pesticides, along with climate change and habitat destruction, are killing off the insects.

Land Use: Forests, wetlands, and biomes have been converted to industrialized agriculture and urban sprawl to the degree it is disrupting biogeochemical cycles and reducing biodiversity.

The other five boundaries these scientists identify are:

Ocean Acidification: Oceans are acidifying as atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into the water as carbonic acid. Acidification is already killing off the corals, threatening the ability of shellfish to form their shells, and thus threatening the stability of ocean ecosystems. The greatest danger is posed by the threat of acidification to phytoplankton. Recent scientific reports warn that by 2100, ocean heating and acidification could so reduce phytoplankton, the source of two-thirds of atmospheric oxygen, that it may result in the suffocation of animal life on Earth. If we have not passed this planetary boundary, we are fast approaching it.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: We have good news here thanks to the Montreal Protocol adopted in 1987 by the world’s nations to ban the production of the chemicals that depleted stratospheric ozone. This ozone layer that protects life from excessive ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the Sun is recovering. The Montreal Protocol is a model for the kind of binding international agreements we must forge to address climate change and other environmental threats

Freshwater: Intense water use by industrialized agriculture and urban systems is depleting fresh water faster than it is naturally replenished. Pollution, aquifer depletion, and water-conserving habitat destruction are the causes. At present trends, half of the world’s people and agriculture will face water shortages by 2050.

Atmospheric Aerosols: Microscopic particles in the atmosphere affect the climate and living organisms. Some aerosols warm and others cool the planet, with a slight net cooling affect so far, though it is far from overriding the warming effect of greenhouse gases released by human activity. But aerosols have a negative affect on human respiratory organs, resulting in an estimated 4 million premature deaths annually.

Novel Chemicals and Materials: These include chemical pollutants, heavy metals, radioactive materials, nanomaterials, and micro-plastics. Barry Commoner, the late environmental scientist and Citizens Party presidential candidate in 1980 (which German Green Petra Kelly called America’s Green Party), warned us in his book Making Peace with the Planet (1990) that these novel entities disrupt the biosphere in which every new chemical created in the course of evolution co-evolved with enzymes to break them down to be recycled in the web of life. Without these enzymes for biodegradability, these novel entities bioaccumulate in the ecosystems and organisms, with potentially dangerous consequences to ecosystems and human health. While it is debatable how close we are to overshooting this planetary boundary, there is no debate that microplastics, for example, are now in our food and our organs.  Of the over 80,000 novel chemicals created for commercial use, only 200 have been tested for safety by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Expanded Green New Deal

What the Planetary Boundaries analysis means is that a Green New Deal must do more than build a clean energy system by 2030. It must be expanded into a full-scale Green Economy Reconstruction Program that not only transforms energy production to renewables, but transforms all our production systems to ecological sustainability. We can’t even get to 100% clean energy without reconstructing all of our production systems, from agriculture to transportation.

Industrial corporate agriculture must be converted to regenerative organic agriculture to eliminate pesticides and draw atmospheric carbon into living soils. Manufacturing must be converted to processes that rely on biodegradable or recyclable chemicals and materials. Transportation must be electrified, powered by clean renewables, with more emphasis on freight rails, high-speed rails, and urban light rails than trucking, personal vehicles, and air travel for intermediate distances. Urban systems must be reconfigured around walkable communities where homes, work, shopping, and mass transit are within a short walk of each other.

The vast majority of the military-industrial complex must be converted to ecological civilian production. The U.S. should be the world’s humanitarian superpower, not its sole military superpower. We should be helping poor countries meet basic needs and jump over the fossil fuel age into the solar age. We should be making friends with a Global Green New Deal instead of enemies with endless wars and a military empire of over 800 military bases placed in other countries to make the world safe for exploitation by global corporations instead of safe for the world’s peoples.

Ecosocialist Green New Deal

Conversion to an ecologically sustainable and just economy cannot happen under the capitalist system. Capitalism’s competitive structure drives blind, relentless growth that is consuming and destroying the biosphere. Its competitive international structure breeds wars for resources, markets, cheap labor, and geopolitical military advantages. With the nuclear weapons of the nuclear powers on hair-trigger alert and a new nuclear arms race now underway, the capitalist system will annihilate us if we don’t replace it with an ecosocialist system first.

We need an ecosocialist Green New Deal in order to coordinate the conversion of all production systems to sustainability. We need social ownership of key industries, like the energy sector. Exxon and the Koch Brothers are not going to reinvest their fossil fuel earnings in renewables. We must nationalize big oil. We need a bottom-up democratic process of economic planning so the public sector—public enterprises, infrastructure, and services—is responsive to the people in their communities.

We need a Just Transition to a green economy so no one is harmed in the process. The Green New Deal must include an Economic Bill of Rights that guarantees to all a living-wage job, an income above poverty, decent housing, comprehensive health care, and a good tuition-free public education from pre-K to college.

We need system change, not business as usual.

Howie Hawkins in 2010 became the first person to run for office on the Green New Deal. He is now exploring the possibility of running for president as the Green Party nominee.

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Report on Mueller’s Witch Hunt Exposes Russiagate Hoax

April 20th, 2019 by Stephen Lendman

Summarized, redacted or in full doesn’t matter. House, Senate and Mueller probes ended with a whimper, not a bang. They laid an egg, discovering nothing connected to the mandate of what was probed.

Russiagate has been and remains a colossal hoax. Cooked up by Obama’s Russophobic CIA director John Brennan, it’s one of the most shameful chapters in US political history.

Since the US intelligence community falsely accused Russia of US election meddling in October 2016 — presenting no evidence because there is none — Mueller’s report was much ado about nothing.

His 19-lawyer team, 40 FBI special agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants, and other professional staff spent around $25 million.

They issued 2,800 subpoenas, 500 search warrants, almost 50 orders authorizing use of pen registers, 13 requests to foreign governments for evidence, over 230 orders for communication records, interviewed about 500 individuals, and made 34 politicized indictments on dubious charges unconnected to his mandate.

The Mueller team discovered nothing connected to phony allegations of possible Trump team/Russia collusion to triumph over Hillary, no collusion or obstruction of justice. See below on the latter.

From inception in May 2017, Mueller’s politicized probe lacked legitimacy – a colossal waste of time and millions of dollars spent for nothing. He never should have been appointed special counsel in the first place.

Accusations of Russian US election meddling persist, “in sweeping and systematic fashion,” according to the Mueller report – despite no evidence suggesting it, nothing but baseless accusations.

Why would Russia or any other country interfere in America’s political process?

The outcomes are always the same. Dirty business as usual wins every time. Republicans and Dems are two sides of the same coin. Not a dime’s worth of difference separates them on major issues mattering most.

They’re two right wings of one-party rule. The war party runs things – beholden exclusively to Wall Street, the military, industrial, security, media complex, and other corporate interests, along with high-net worth individuals.

Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Mueller report “is not an issue for us. It is not a thing that interests us or causes us concern,” adding:

“All the reports on the matter that have been released so far contain nothing but cursory statements. We have more interesting and important things to do.”

DNC/Podesta emails were leaked by a Dem insider, not hacked by Russia, any other country or individual. No evidence suggests otherwise.

Former UK ambassador Craig Murray earlier explained that “(t)he source of these emails and leaks has nothing to do with Russia at all,” adding:

“I discovered what the source was when I attended the Sam Adam’s whistleblower award in Washington. The source of these emails comes from within official circles in Washington DC. You should look to Washington not to Moscow.”

“WikiLeaks has never published any material received from the Russian government or from any proxy of the Russian government. It’s simply a completely untrue claim designed to divert attention from the content of the material.”

Big Lies repeated enough get most people to believe them. Polls show most Americans believe Russia interfered in the US 2016 presidential election. They believe Russia hacked DNC/Podesta emails – despite no evidence proving either allegation.

Around half of Americans believe Trump colluded with Russia to triumph over Hillary. Again no evidence suggests it. The House, Senate, and Mueller reports debunked the notion.

The Mueller report states the following:

“Although the investigation established that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency (sic) and worked to secure that outcome (sic), and that the Campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts (sic), the investigation did not establish that members of the Trump Campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.”

According to Common Cause, “(t)here is no federal law making collusion a crime.” US law prohibits “the solicitation or receipt of a contribution from a foreign national” or government.

“Federal law prohibits candidates from cooperating or consulting with a foreign national (that) is spending money to influence a US election.”

No evidence suggests Russia contributed to or in any way tried to influence the outcome of the US 2016 presidential election – or any other US elections. Claims otherwise are baseless because nothing supports them.

No evidence suggests Trump and/or his team engaged in a conspiracy as defined in US law – an agreement between two or more parties to commit an illegal act, along with intent to achieve a stated goal.

The Mueller report includes 11 instances of possible obstruction of justice by Trump and his campaign staff – short of accusing  anyone of this crime.

According to Law Professor Jonathan Turley, “(c)rimes must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. They cannot be purely matters of perception. That has been the case regarding the obstruction allegations made against the president.”

“(O)bstruction theories against (Trump) far outstrip the available evidence of the crime…Trump appears more guilty of obsessive rather than obstructive conduct” – the former a personality trait, not a crime.

Following release of the Mueller report, Turley said the following:

Trump “did not fire anyone involved in the investigation. He did not destroy any evidence. He did not end the investigation prematurely.”

“He took no actual obstructive acts. To charge him would have amounted to a virtual thought crime.”

“…Trump not only ordered senior staff to cooperate with Mueller, but he did not withhold evidence. Most important, he waived executive privilege over the entirety of the report in an unprecedented degree of transparency.”

There’s plenty about Trump to criticize and hold him accountable for, including high crimes of war and against humanity, along with serving monied interests at the expense of the general welfare, and much more.

No evidence suggests he or his team engaged in collusion with Russia to triumph over Hillary or obstruction of justice.

Debunking the colossal Russiagate hoax by House, Senate and Mueller reports should close this ugly chapter in US history.

The politicized show will go on as long as Trump remains in office – Dems wanting it used for political advantage in the 2020 race for the White House.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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On April 5, the United States revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, for her attempts to open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by the U.S. in Afghanistan. A week later, judges at the ICC rejected Bensouda’s request to open a probe into U.S. involvement in Afghanistan.

While rights advocates condemned this move as amounting to U.S. interference in the workings of the ICC, it’s more alarming than mere obstruction — and is rooted in the pre-existing hierarchy and embedded colonial structures in international legal order.

Bensouda’s visa revocation underscores the existing systematic inequality in international legal order. This is rooted in the presumed hierarchy by a group of elite nations that have dominated international order from a position of assumed racial, cultural, political, historical, material, economic and legal superiority.

These developments come in light of comments made by the Trump administration’s national security advisor, John Bolton, who delegitimized the role of the ICC in a speech he delivered in September 2018. He said that “the U.S. will take any means necessary” to overcome “unjust prosecution by this illegitimate Court.”

Countries like the U.S. have always enjoyed dominance through this presumed superiority, enabling them to suggest other nations are like-minded when it comes to the international legal order.

The U.S. and other powerful nations have not only been successful in maintaining the status quo of imbalance inherent in international law, but have also been instrumental in establishing the rules governing that legal order.

With tectonic political shifts across the world, the ICC’s representatives — and jurists like Bensouda — represent some of the last vestiges of resisting the dominant global legal order by attempting to hold the West accountable for their transgressions in the global South.

Unfortunately, however, the Court’s unwillingness to move beyond its imperial roots is evident from the decision to reject Bensouda’s request. The ICC has blatantly redefined the notion of “justice” and has been preoccupied with African states while turning a blind eye to equally serious crimes committed by the U.S.

Meddling is routine

Needless to say, U.S. interference and intervention in dozens of sovereign nation states is commonplace. Meddling with the functioning of one of the highest judicial bodies in the world is therefore a familiar pattern of American supremacy in the international legal order.

The move by the U.S. to revoke Bensouda’s visa is an expression of that supremacy through intimidation and bullying of representatives of international institutions. However, it also points to the U.S. wielding power in the age of its new-found sense of self-alienation, which manifests into ongoing imperialist tendencies that influence the decisions made by international institutions.

This perpetuates the West’s practice and tendency to use global legal institutions such as the International Criminal Court to continuously persecute and demonize the global South.

Bensouda’s efforts have certainly not been halted by the U.S. government’s move against her. However, the revocation of her visa and the Court’s validation of such a move by rejecting Bensouda’s request raises questions on broader justice issues, what is being considered within the purview of the ICC, and the legitimacy of international law.

Such tactics should not come as a surprise. The U.S. has had a long history of supposed “exceptionalism” facilitated by international law when it comes to its participation in the global legal order and its violations of international humanitarian and human rights law with impunity.

For instance, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2006 qualified the so-called war on terror as a form of armed conflict. However, as Jeremy Waldron, a professor at New York University School of Law, pointed out, the U.S. consistently violated the Geneva Conventions during the war through extraordinary rendition techniques and unlawful detention. This was done under the pretext that the particular category of armed conflict that the U.S. was involved in lacked explicit mention in the Geneva Conventions.

Disregarding international law

Bensouda’s role in investigating these alleged war crimes has the potential to shine a spotlight on the historical American practice of disregarding international law.

By engaging in bullying tactics, the U.S. is now reaching a new level of abrogation of international legal order. This could not only prevent the Court from being able to investigate the alleged violations, but also has the potential to reinforce its hegemonic selective power when it comes to the implementation of international criminal law.

U.S. dominance in the global legal order does not stop at its borders. It has a ripple effect, compelling other major powers with military, economic and political clout to follow suit.

We’ve witnessed similar practices by Israel as it denies United Nations Human Rights Council investigators entry to the occupied territories of Palestine as they investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. And in some cases there has been systematic pressure from the highest offices in the UN pushing for withdrawal of scholarly reports on the situation in the Middle East.

While past incidents have often resulted in the resignation of the individuals who have been blocked by these forces, it’s refreshing to see Bensouda’s resistance “without fear or favour.”

The U.S. and Israel have been particularly effective in resisting the legitimacy of the global legal order. By recognizing Israel’s illegal annexation of Golan Heights, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is legitimizing contempt towards international legal principles.

At the heart of this lies international law’s deep connections to structures of power and inequality. Thankfully, international legal order is a contested space in which committed jurists like Bensouda are still fighting oppression through their unapologetic acts of resistance.

It is now up to the ICC to change its role from a mechanism that facilitates inequality in international law to one that perpetuates and supports resistance for justice.

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Alcune immagini del Convegno internazionale “I 70 anni della NATO: quale bilancio storico? Uscire dal sistema di guerra, ora”, svoltosi a Firenze il 7 aprile 2019.

FIRMA PER NO GUERRA NO NATO

Cliccandoci si va direttamente alla pagina su Change 

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A U.S. diplomatic cable made public by WikiLeaks provides evidence that U.S. troops executed at least 10 Iraqi civilians, including a woman in her 70s and a 5-month-old infant, then called in an airstrike to destroy the evidence, during a controversial 2006 incident in the central Iraqi town of Ishaqi.

The unclassified cable, which was posted on WikiLeaks’ website last week, contained questions from a United Nations investigator about the incident, which had angered local Iraqi officials, who demanded some kind of action from their government. U.S. officials denied at the time that anything inappropriate had occurred.

But Philip Alston, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, said in a communication to American officials dated 12 days after the March 15, 2006, incident that autopsies performed in the Iraqi city of Tikrit showed that all the dead had been handcuffed and shot in the head. Among the dead were four women and five children. The children were all 5 years old or younger.

Reached by email Wednesday, Alston said that as of 2010 — the most recent data he had — U.S. officials hadn’t responded to his request for information and that Iraq’s government also hadn’t been forthcoming. He said the lack of response from the United States “was the case with most of the letters to the U.S. in the 2006-2007 period,” when fighting in Iraq peaked.

Read the entire article here

Featured image: This cell phone photo was shot by a resident of Ishaqi on March 15, 2006, of bodies Iraqi police said were of children executed by U.S. troops after a night raid there. Here, the bodies of the five children are wrapped in blankets and laid in a pickup bed to be taken for burial. A State Department cable obtained by WikiLeaks quotes the U.N. investigator of extrajudicial killings as saying an autopsy showed the residents of the house had been handcuffed and shot in the head, including children under the age of 5. McClatchy obtained the photo from a resident when the incident occurred.

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Julian Assange as Neuroses

April 19th, 2019 by Dr. Binoy Kampmark

Julian Assange continues to ripple and roam as a cipher through the political and media scape of the world.  Detained in Belmarsh maximum security prison, the sort of stately abode only reserved for the most dangerous of criminals, many with indeterminate sentences, he electrifies and concerns. 

The US political classes continue to simmer with an obsession that has gone feral.  Some moderation can be found in the efforts of Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky), who is seeking a bartering solution. “I think he should be given immunity from prosecution in exchange for coming to the United States and testifying.”  The question of causing harm or otherwise was less significant than what Assange had to offer in terms of information “probably pertinent to the hacking of the Democratic emails”. 

It is precisely the issue of harm that obsessives on the Hill fantasize about.  Their rage is that of Caliban before the mirror, and rather than taking issue with US foreign policy, see Assange as an imitator.   Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, speaks of WikiLeaks and its “destructive role by directly interfering in democratic elections and referendums around the world, most troubling of which is WikiLeaks’ collaboration with Russia to directly interfere in the United States presidential election in 2016.”

But Assange’s formalised incarceration has enabled some scrutiny to be cast over the indictment in question. Dell Cameron from Gizmodo is constructively quizzical, suggesting a few holes in the US case against the publisher.  “Assange indicated that he had been trying to crack the password by stating that he had ‘no luck so far’.”  This raises two questions: Did he even venture to do so?  If so, can that very fact be proven?

Cameron goes on to do an admirable job of demonstrating how much of a journalist Assange actually was in engaging Chelsea Manning.  Far from being a freak cavalier with convention, the conduct squared with the more risqué tradition of investigative reporting.  The “acquisition and transmission of classified information” is standard bread and butter stuff for the fourth estate.  “If you have material you believe is newsworthy, please visit our SecureDrop page to learn more about how to safely transmit it to Gizmodo.  We’d be happy to receive it.”

Others are not so confident, and continue to struggle with the label of Assange as journalist, nail bitten that he has been awarded a title that somehow treads on holy ground.  Only some will be admitted; the rest can be dismissed and banged up, deemed the unwashed. 

One is Peter Greste, a particularly troublesome case given the work he did for Al Jazeera that landed him, for a time, in an Egyptian prison. “As someone who has been imprisoned by a foreign government for publishing material that it didn’t like, I have a certain sympathy with Assange.  But my support stops there.”

As happens with practitioners, his admission to the world of establishment academe softens both cortex and conviction.  From the summit of UNESCO chair in journalism and communication at the University of Queensland, he lords

“To be clear, Julian Assange is not a journalist, and WikiLeaks is not a news organisation.  There is an argument to be had about the libertarian ideal of radical transparency that underpins its ethos but that is a separate issue altogether from press freedom.”

Greste falls for the prosecution effort to play the hacker card, tagged to conspiracy.  This stands to reason: the organisation and its publisher are to be refused entry into the pantheon of journalism.  Perhaps this stands to reason, given how WikiLeaks has demonstrated with devastating effect that the journalist, as a term, has been rented into vacuity.  Greste also tut tuts Assange for not “sorting through the hundreds of thousands of files to seek out the most important or relevant and protect the innocent”.  Again, that hoary old chestnut, ignoring the inordinate lengths that WikiLeaks has gone to protect those who have, in fact, disclosed the secrets while blowing the cover on the less savoury elements of power. 

As one goes through Greste’s views, a feeling of engaging a dinosaur awaiting the museum comes through. He is incapable of understanding the digital upending that WikiLeaks has encouraged.  The “digital revolution has confused the definitions of what journalism is and its role in a democracy.”  In attempting to treat Assange and the outfit as exceptional, he dangerously endorses wide ranging efforts that can just as easily justify the incarceration and punishment of journalists of all shades.  Greste can confidently split hairs.

The feeble nonsense that passes for intellectual comment on the fourth estate can be gathered in the following remark fromjournalist hacks turned academic hacks (one, Kathy Kiely, holds the Lee Hills Chair of Free Press Studies at the University of Missouri-Columbia, which must be a source of much mirth):

“But granting Assange journalist status is beyond problematic: It’s likely to draw more attacks on press freedom such as the Georgia lawmakers’ thinly disguised attempt to sanction and ostracize journalists whose work they don’t like.”    

Too hard a basket, is the Assange case.  Don’t call him a journalist, because doing so might incite retribution, which is the sort of twisted rationale produced by pro-establishment airings.  The only standard retribution that should follow in such cases is a swift removal of their “chairs” in journalism, upon which they have become very firmly affixed too.  The moulded establishment has a habit of doing away with independence, and Assange’s seizure has merely reaffirmed it. 

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Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge.  He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research. Email: [email protected]

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Days earlier, Trump said a third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would be a good idea.

Two earlier ones achieved virtually nothing toward stepping back from the brink on the Korean peninsula toward regional peace, stability, and normalized bilateral relations.

Pyongyang knows what it’s up against in dealing with the most hardline regime in US history. It doesn’t negotiate. It demands, notably what extremists Pompeo and Bolton are all about.

In early April, Kim Jong-un said a third summit with Trump like failure in Hanoi “is not inviting to us.” It ended abruptly with no resolution of major differences, no final statement.

Negotiations broke down because of unacceptable Trump regime demands in return for hollow promises alone, no show of good faith against the backdrop of DLT’s pullout from the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran and 1987 INF Treaty with Russia – based on Big Lies when announced.

Kim asked Trump for partial sanctions relief alone, wanting only those affecting North Korea’s economy lifted – yet was turned down because Pompeo and Bolton rejected the concession, showing the futility of negotiating with US hardliners.

Following the failed Hanoi summit, Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui said “(w)e have no intention to yield to the (one-sided) US demands in any form, nor are we willing to engage in negotiations of this kind,” adding:

Pompeo and Bolton “created the atmosphere of hostility and mistrust and, therefore, obstructed the constructive effort for negotiations between the supreme leaders of North Korea and the United States.”

Kim accused Trump regime officials of aborting a chance to resolve differences between both countries, expressing deep disappointment over failed talks, adding personal relations between him and Trump are “still good and the chemistry is mysteriously wonderful.”

On Monday, Pompeo said a third Kim/Trump summit could take place this year, adding DLT “is determined to move forward diplomatically.”

On Wednesday, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called Pompeo “reckless,” wanting him replaced if further talks with Trump are held, saying if he’s involved, “the table will be lousy once again and the talks will become entangled.”

They achieved nothing “whenever (he) poke(d) his nose in.” If talks with the US are resumed, Pyongyang “wish(es) our dialogue counterpart would not be Pompeo” – instead, someone “more careful and mature” to deal with.

Last July, North Korea’s Foreign Ministry accused Pompeo of pursuing “unilateral and gangster-like demands for denuclearization,” calling his unacceptable actions “deeply regrettable,” sabotaging normalization efforts.

According to North Korea’s Department of American Affairs director general Kwon Jong-gun, Kim insists the Trump regime’s attitude has to change, Pompeo an obstacle to evenhanded talks, adding:

“We cannot be aware of (his) ulterior motive behind his self-indulgence in reckless remarks; whether he is indeed unable to understand words properly or just pretending on purpose.”

Kim and other DPRK officials are open to further talks only if US officials are willing to show the “proper attitude.”

What’s entirely reasonable to demand is impossible to achieve in dealing with US hardliners – demanding everything, offering nothing in return but empty promises to be broken.

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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Trump’s Shameful Yemen Veto Defines His Presidency

April 19th, 2019 by Daniel Larison

As expected, Trump used his veto tonight to reject S.J.Res. 7, the antiwar Yemen resolution passed by both houses of Congress earlier this year.

Trump has been a supporter of the war on Yemen for years, and since taking office he has increased U.S. involvement in the conflict and vehemently resisted every attempt by Congress to curtail or end U.S. support for the Saudi coalition. He inherited this indefensible policy from Obama, but unlike many other Obama policies that he couldn’t wait to undo he continued and expanded on this one. His embrace of the Saudis and their war has been a major part of his foreign policy, and with this veto he has defined his presidency with his abject subservience to Riyadh and his complete indifference to the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Trump has spent the last two years covering up for the Saudi coalition and their war crimes, and today he has used his veto to shield them from the consequences of their action one more time.

 

Withdrawing U.S. support from the Saudi coalition endangers no Americans, and it is another one of his scurrilous lies for Trump to say so. Reining in a lawless executive has been long overdue, but it is no surprise that the lawless occupant of the White House refuses to accept limitations on what he can do. It falls back to Congress again to use every means at their disposal to shut off all military assistance to the Saudi coalition governments and to cut off all funding to U.S. operations that provide them with support. Trump’s continued enabling of the atrocious war on Yemen should be made into a major issue in the presidential election, and he should be forced to defend his disgusting actions to the voting public. Congress must continue to do all they can to force an end to our government’s illegal, unauthorized involvement in this war.

Following the House passage of S.J.Res. 7, Oxfam’s Scott Paul said this:

A veto from President Trump would send its own sobering message to Yemeni families caught in the daily hell of war: our administration simply does not care. The people of Yemen and the parties to the conflict are watching closely and the messages US leaders send have the power to save lives. With a veto, they lose faith in the United States and see the end to their suffering a little further out of reach. Congress must act to keep up the pressure, and not let President Trump’s cynical, transactional and heartless brand of politics define America’s role in the world. Now Congress must act to end arms sales to all parties fighting in this brutal conflict.

Today Trump has proven once more to the people of Yemen just how cynical he and the other supporters of the war are. Support for the war on Yemen is the most disgraceful U.S. policy today, and it is one of the most despicable policies of the last fifty years. That is what Trump chooses to continue and defend. He has chosen again and again to cater to and indulge some of the worst governments on earth, and he has done so for the basest reasons of protecting future weapons sales. If we knew nothing else about him, this would tell us all we need to know about his contempt for the law, his cruelty, and his disregard for innocent life.

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Trump Declares Economic War on Cuba

April 19th, 2019 by The Conversation

The Trump administration has declared the most severe new sanctions against Cuba since President John F. Kennedy imposed an economic embargo banning all trade with the communist island in 1962.

Speaking in Miami on April 17, the anniversary of the United States’ failed 1961 invasion of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs, national security adviser John Bolton announced the end of virtually all non-family travel to Cuba and placed new limits on the money Cuban Americans can send to family on the island.

He also said the U.S. will now implement a 23-year-old law aimed at blocking both U.S. and foreign investment in Cuba, first passed by Congress in 1996 as part of a broader sanctions package against Cuba but put on hold because it triggered immense opposition among U.S. allies.

The harsh new sanctions reverse “the disastrous Obama-era policies, and finally end the glamorization of socialism and communism,” Bolton said.

A law too controversial to implement

Trump’s decision activates a long-suspended 1996 provision of U.S. Cuba sanctions that allows Cuban Americans to sue in U.S. courts any company that benefits from private property of theirs confiscated by Fidel Castro’s regime.

Image: National security adviser John Bolton announcing the Trump administration’s harsh new sanctions against Cuba, April 17, 2019. AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee

Normally, U.S. courts have no jurisdiction over property owned by non-citizens that is nationalized by a foreign government. For U.S. courts to sit in judgment of another government’s actions toward its own citizens in its own territory is a challenge to that government’s sovereignty.

U.S. allies who do business with Cuba vehemently oppose the move.

In 1996, when the U.S. law was first approved, the European Union filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization and adopted a law prohibiting EU members and their companies from complying with the U.S. legislation. Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom soon passed similar legislation.

In response, President Bill Clinton suspended the lawsuit provision, which is called Title III, for six months, and in 1998 he signed an agreement with the EU that European companies who do business in Cuba would not be targeted.

Since then, every president, Democrat and Republican, has renewed the suspension. Trump himself renewed it three times – until he didn’t.

The president has now reignited international outrage over this sanction, which abrogates Clinton’s agreement with the EU and complicates already rocky U.S. relations with Mexico and Canada.

Who wins?

A small but elite community stands to benefit from Title III: Cuba’s former one percenters – members of the exiled upper class that owned nearly all the land and business in Cuba prior to the 1959 Cuban Revolution.

Most wealthy Cubans fled the country after Fidel Castro’s Communist government nationalized their businesses and confiscated their homes, bank accounts and property. Some still dream of recouping their lost fortunes.

Cuban women seeking political asylum in Florida, Jan. 1, 1959. AP

They can now sue Cuban, American and foreign companies that profit in any way from the use of that property.

For example, former owners of Cuba’s nickel mines could seek damages from Canada’s Sherritt International Corporation, which has invested in Cuba’s nickel mining industry. The former owners of Cuban hotels could sue the Spanish hotel company Melia, which manages hotels across the island.

Every U.S. and foreign company that does business with Cuba with profits of over US$433,000 a year – or might do so in the future – risks being sued if they make use of property once owned by a Cuban exile who is now a U.S. citizen. According to a 1996 State Department analysis, implementing Title III could flood U.S. federal courts with as many as 200,000 lawsuits.

Trump’s 2020 bet

Most Cuban Americans will gain nothing from Trump’s latest sanctions.

It exempts private residences from compensation. So, if the main thing you owned back in Cuba was a house that was confiscated after Jan. 1, 1959, you’re out of luck.

The exiled owners of thousands of small Cuban mom-and-pop shops nationalized in 1968 won’t see compensation, either, because the law exempts Cuban small businesses that were confiscated.

Those who stand to benefit are the oldest, most conservative and wealthiest segment of Florida’s 1.5 million Cuban Americans.

Trump believes these influential Republicans helped him win Florida in 2016 because he promised to take a hard line toward Havana, rolling back President Obama’s restoration of diplomatic and economic relations with the island.

If the president thinks these punishing new sanctions can deliver Florida to him again in 2020, he may have miscalculated.

Image: Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has championed the Trump administration’s sanctions against Cuba. AP/Lynne Sladky

I’ve studied Cuba-U.S. relations for decades. While activating the law may please Cuba’s former wealthy business owners, Trump’s new sanctions – like limiting the money Cuban Americans can send back to the island – are unlikely to be popular in the broader Cuban American community.

By decisive majorities, Cuban Americans support free travel between the U.S. and Cuba, broader commercial ties and President Obama’s decision to normalize relations. Every year, they send $3 billion to family on the island, and hundreds of thousands of them travel there to visit.

These Cuban-American voters don’t want to inflict more economic pain on the Cuban public, which includes their friends and family.

Hurting everyday Cubans

The punitive aspects of the newly implemented law, which administration officials have for months hinted that they would put into effect, are already having an impact.

Cuban American families who owned the land and facilities at the port of Havana and José Martí International Airport have warned the cruise ship companies and airlines that their use of these properties could put them at legal risk.

Image: The Bacardi company’s Cuban assets, including this headquarters in Havana, were seized by the government of Fidel Castro in the 1960s. REUTERS/Stringer

Along with money sent from their families abroad, tourism-related income sustains many everyday Cubans.

If travel businesses withdraw from Cuba, and if U.S. and foreign firms hesitate to enter into new commercial relations with Cuba for fear of incurring lawsuits in the United States, Cuba’s already fragile economy would take a serious hit.

That may play well with Cuba’s old elite. But the rest of Florida’s Cuban Americans will feel the hurt, too.

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The Coming of American Fascism, 1920–1940

April 19th, 2019 by Chris Wright

One of the indefinitely many misfortunes of living in a society that values cultural artifacts inversely to their real human or intellectual worth is that brilliant works from the past, especially those with a left-wing slant, are forgotten. Or actively suppressed. While researching for an essay on the Great Depression I was astounded to come across hundreds of old Marxist analyses of the American political economy that were so acute, and so relevant to our own time, that their present obscurity seemed tragic and absurd. Countless articles in the old journals The Communist, The New Masses, Labor Notes (unrelated to the current publication of the same name), and Survey, and in newspapers like the Daily Worker and the Industrial Worker, were of more than historical interest. And then there were the many books by Mauritz Hallgren, Lewis Corey, Paul Mattick, and other leftists—some of which, fortunately, are preserved onMarxists.org. I thought these works deserved to be resurrected in some fashion.

In a new book entitled The Coming of the American Behemoth: The Origins of Fascism in the United States, 1920–1940, Michael Joseph Roberto has brought them back to life. His project, in brief, is to reconstruct the arguments given in such works as Corey’s The Decline of American Capitalism, Hallgren’s Seeds of Revolt, Robert Brady’s The Spirit and Structure of German Fascism and Business as a System of Power, Carmen Haider’s Do We Want Fascism?, and A. B. Magil and Henry Stevens’ The Peril of Fascism. These authors and others, whose insights have been largely ignored by generations of liberal historians, are particularly relevant today, as Roberto notes. For they understood that fascism was not uniquely European, that it could happen, perhaps in a different form, in the United States too. In fact, they understood it was happening: as Brady noted in 1938, “business is going political as it never has before, and it has learned to funnel its funds and pressures through highly centralized, interest-conscious, informed and exceedingly well-manned, united front organizations.”

Evidently these writers had a different understanding of fascism than the usual liberal one. As Paul Baran wrote in 1952, according to the liberal understanding, for a political system to qualify as fascist “it has to display the German or Italian characteristics of fascism. It must be based on a fascist mass movement anchored primarily in para-military formations of brown shirts or black shirts. It must be a one-party regime, with the party headed by a Führer or a Duce… It must be violently nationalist, racist, anti-Semitic…” While it’s perfectly reasonable to consider such a phenomenon as one manifestation of fascism, the analysis tends toward superficiality insofar as it obscures the class roots and class functions of the regime. The Marxist approach, which looks beneath the surface, is more penetrating, resulting in a “dynamic definition of fascism,” Roberto summarizes, “as an inherent function of monopoly-capitalist production and relations whose telos was and remains the totalitarian rule of capitalist dictatorship.”

Incidentally, this wasn’t only a Marxist notion. It was widespread in the 1930s, including in the very centers of power. “Many persons strategically placed in American business,” Brady wrote, “confidentially argue that [fascism] is already here in both spirit and intent.” Harold Ickes, Franklin Roosevelt’s Secretary of the Interior, gave a speech in 1937 arguing that “fascist-minded men” had “a common interest in seizing more power and greater riches for themselves, and ability and willingness to turn the concentrated wealth of America against the welfare of America. It is these men who, pretending that they would save us from dreadful communism, would superimpose upon America an equally dreadful fascism.” Other Roosevelt advisors trumpeted the same message. And finally Roosevelt himself broadcast the “Marxist” idea, when he announced in a speech in 1938 that “I am greatly in favor of decentralization, and yet the tendency is, every time we have [a recession] in private industry, to concentrate it all the more in New York. Now that is, ultimately, fascism.”

It was widely understood, then, that the essence of fascism was, in Carmen Haider’s pithy formulation, the “attempt to introduce a collective form of capitalism in the place of individualism.” It was the fusion of big business with politics, the war on democracy by a public relations industry in the service of capital, the myth-making and “business evangelism” that is so integral to the propaganda industries of monopoly capitalism (and so reminiscent of the myths produced by Fascists and Nazis). Whether the classic seizure of power through middle-class support was present was ancillary to the dictatorial rule of capital.

Roberto tells the history of the American political economy in the 1920s and ’30s through this lens, exploring how the fascist structures of our own day were forged between the two world wars. Much of his book, in particular the long expositions of Marxian economics, will be familiar to readers versed in left-wing literature. He devotes a chapter to the ideologists of fascism, or business rule, in the conservative 1920s, notably Thomas Nixon Carver, Harvard professor of economics, and Charles Norman Fay, vice-president of the National Association of Manufacturers and author of Business in Politics. Inevitably, we encounter Edward Bernays, father of public relations and believer in the necessity of “regimenting the public mind every bit as much as an army regiments the bodies of its soldiers.” These were the prophets and soothsayers, the heralds of the New Era of untrammeled capitalism.

But by 1930, the fascist millennium had succumbed to its economic contradictions, with the Great Depression. It turns out that when all the money goes to the top, the people on the bottom don’t have enough money to keep the economy growing. What was the way out of this dilemma? Well, according to the leaders of business and politics—more fascism. Many of them pined for a Mussolini, and even liberal newspapers like the New York Times advocated “some sort of Council of State” that could rule by decree. In the end, the oligopolists only partially got their way, when Roosevelt’s National Recovery Administration was established in 1933.

It may seem absurd now, but in the mid-1930s it was usual for Marxists and socialists to argue that the New Deal was simply a higher stage of fascism. In fact, they had a point. “Conceived as a means to create common ground between government and industry,” Roberto writes, “the NRA marked a decisive move toward state monopoly capitalism in the United States.” The real power was left in the hands of big business, which wrote hundreds of “codes” to regulate prices, wages, work hours, etc., all to restore profits and eliminate overproduction. It was a move towards a planned, state capitalist economy, of which big business was the sole beneficiary. Small businesses suffered, workers were not really empowered, income was not redistributed, and the economy remained sluggish. But the profits of big business recovered.

The early New Deal “bore strong resemblances,” Roberto notes,

“to the corporatist state established in Italy in its approach to reconciling the antagonism between capital and labor. Both Mussolini and Roosevelt had made clear their commitment to maintain and strengthen capitalism in their respective nations. Consequently, the fascist character of the New Deal could not be easily dismissed…”

Roosevelt himself admired Mussolini: “I don’t mind telling you in confidence,” he wrote a friend, “that I am keeping in fairly close touch with the admirable Italian gentleman.” It’s ironic that a few years later Roosevelt was denouncing fascist tendencies in the U.S.

Roberto is on shakier ground in his chapter on the “small-fry fascisti” who populated America’s political landscape during the Depression, particularly in his argument that Huey Long and the “radio priest” Father Charles Coughlin were reactionaries and fascists. My own research on the subject led me to conclude that they were more left-wing than right-wing, at least until Coughlin in later years turned decisively toward anti-Semitism. The two men certainly were politically ambiguous, and had Long become president, it is impossible to know how he would have governed. But it’s inarguable that their massive following was due to the far-left character of their rhetoric—as may be judged by thePrinciples Coughlin laid out for the National Union of Social Justice, the political organization he founded. He went so far as to condemn the economic system itself: “Capitalism is doomed and not worth trying to save.”

The reason I cavil with Roberto on this point isn’t that I care much about defending Long or Coughlin. Rather, I disagree with his characterization of the millions of “petty bourgeois” who were attracted to the two figures:

Angry at the ruling class for robbing it of livelihood and status, [the petty-bourgeoisie] also stood fast against the masses that they believed threatened them more. Amid the swirl of change, dislocation, and anxiety about the present and fears for the future, they made up the great wave of political reaction during the mid-1930s… Not understanding how and why those above them were responsible for the crisis that threatened them, they blamed most of it on the enemies lurking below, the Negroes, Jews, Catholics, Mexicans, anarchists, socialists, and, of course, the communists—all enemies of True Americanism.

This is a facile interpretation for which, in effect, no evidence is given. In its over-generalizing it reeks of the lazy old Marxist condescension towards the middle classes. I can’t go into much detail here, but elsewhere I’ve argued that there was no “great wave of political reaction” in the mid-1930s except among big business, that the middle and lower classes were generally far to the left of Roosevelt—and pushed him to the left in 1935, with the so-called Second New Deal that partially repudiated the fascist tendencies of the first. Long and Coughlin themselves played an important part in this swing to the left, since Roosevelt’s popularity was waning in 1934 under the barrage of left-populist criticism. As a result, in 1935 he supported the Wagner Act, the Social Security Act (which was, however, more conservative than most Americans wanted), and the establishment of the Works Progress Administration. And in 1936 he ensured his overwhelming reelection by taking a page from Long’s book and denouncing “economic royalists” who were callous to the suffering of Americans.

The truth, then, is that Long and Coughlin, together with the influential Communist Party and other leftist organizations, helped save the New Deal from becoming genuinely fascist, from devolving into the dictatorial rule of big business. The pressures towards fascism remained, as they always will in the context of corporate capitalism, and reactionary sectors of business began to have significant victories against the Second New Deal starting in the late 1930s. But the genuine power that organized labor had achieved by then kept the U.S. from sliding into all-out fascism (in the Marxist sense) in the following decades, during the Cold War.

The Coming of the American Behemoth is an interesting book with important lessons for the present, as we confront a polarized and oligarchical political economy so redolent of that which precipitated the Depression. The American Behemoth was rising in the 1920s and ’30s, but in the 21st century “the beast is at full strength,” as Roberto concludes. It will take a revolutionary struggle of the working masses to destroy it.

Chris Wright has a Ph.D. in U.S. history from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and is the author of Notes of an Underground HumanistWorker Cooperatives and Revolution: History and Possibilities in the United States, and Finding Our Compass: Reflections on a World in Crisis. His website is www.wrightswriting.com

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Fresh off what the MSM is celebrating as a surprise victory for a Bernie Town Hall on Fox News, lurking in the background is his inexplicable support over the years for basing the highly controversial F35 at the Burlington International Airport.  We now know, thanks to a conscientious citizen who bothered to read the fine print, that those F35’s will be nuclear-capable  and of immense explosive power.

In September, as the fall colors begin to change in Vermont, City of Burlington  residents may not be in the streets waving American flags as eighteen F35 Lightening II radar-evading stealth fighter jets land at the Burlington Airport.   As part of a Pentagon plan to deploy 2,500 jets nationwide, the F35’s will join the 158th Fighter Wing, a unit of the Vermont Air National Guard, affectionately known as the Green Mountain Boys as its aging F-16 jets are replaced.   

Not just known for its foliage, cheese and maple syrup, Vermont is also host to an active aerospace industry which already supplies 2,000 jobs.  The jet’s bay door and GAU-22 gun system will both be produced in Vermont.  With the Air Force spending $84 million per jet from Lockheed Martin, the DOD will spend $100 Million for infrastructure improvement and a new training center at Burlington where they will share one runway with commercial air traffic.

Basing more than a dozen F35’s in Burlington will bring a totally new generation of aircraft to  Vermont as new high tech jets, not yet fully mature with all of its kinks and safety issues worked out, normally  experience more accidents and ‘incidents’ in a shake down –  and the F35 has had more than its share.   

The F35 was commissioned by the Pentagon in 1995 at a cost of $1.5 Trillion, becoming the most expensive weapon system in US history as well as providing significant technical challenges including a “catastrophic engine failure” with total damage estimated at $50 million, a “life threatening ejection seat malfunction”  and a crash in South Carolina due to a faulty fuel tube.   The new controversial bomber jet fighter planes will be located in a dense area surrounded by public schools, a college and residential neighborhoods. 

While the seven year debate over the F35 has been an intense round of public hearings and debates and public meetings, at least one lawsuit, and three of the most affected communities all formally opposing the F35 and even a successful anti F35 voter referendum which was adopted by the public, the state’s elected political leadership chose to ignore the outcome. 

But it wasn’t until retired Air Force Col. Rosanne Greco was reading through a 68,000 heavily redacted Air Force document related to the lawsuit that she discovered vague references about the F35 carrying nuclear bombs. 

Researching further, Greco who has thirty years of intelligence experience with the highest security clearances, is a specialized expert in nuclear weapons and arms control and a member of the US START delegation, confirmed the stunning news that the F35 was designed from the outset and had always been intended to carry a nuclear payload as it was to become an integral part of the US nuclear strategy. 

Throughout all the furor, the Air Force never informed Vermont residents that the F35 was designed as a dual-capable plane; that is, able to deliver either a conventional weapon or a nuclear weapon or that its new guided nuclear bomb, the B61-12 was being specially designed to fit into the F35’s bay. 

As if that belated information were not reason enough for the entire State of Vermont to be explosively irate at being lied to by the Pentagon, the state’s elected political leadership has yet to feel the full wrath of a citizenry that has only just begun to realize the consequences of being  consistently lied to by its favorite sons.  During the entire seven year campaign, both Senators Bernie Sanders and Patrick Leahy refused to meet with citizens who opposed the F35. In a short, pithy joint statement in 2016, the state’s entire Congressional delegation echoed their support for the F35 being based in Vermont.   

And the B61 is one hell of a bomb – its range can be adjusted from .03 kilotons up to 50 kilotons.  The bomb that killed 150,000 people in Hiroshima was a 15 kiloton bomb.   Greco makes the point that the Green Mountain Boys could now directly initiate on their own ala Dr. Strangelove or participate in a nuclear war as ordered by the President.  In addition,  Vermont  now becomes a central target  in any potential conflagration since it is the delivery system that is the target.  With no aircraft to carry them, bombs per se are not the target.  The Burlington International Airport will now become Ground Zero.     

When Greco’s revelations regarding the jets nuclear capability became public, Sanders and Leahy were unwavering in their denials and refutations which have been in direct contradiction with Air Force and DOD statements in the public record.   

“Consequently the United States will maintain and enhance as necessary, the capability to forward-deploy nuclear bombers…around the world.  We are committed to upgrading the DCA with the nuclear-capable F35 aircraft.”

Department of Defense, 2018 Nuclear Posture Review, Chapter VII, “Current and Future US Nuclear Capabilities, page 54

Further, the MIC boasts of a nuclear loaded F35 for its “..combination of accuracy and low-yield make the B61-12 the most usable nuclear bomb in America’s arsenal.  This makes using nuclear weapons thinkable for the first time since the 1940s” as if that is a good thing!    Further military assessments suggest “Yet the most dangerous nuclear bomb in American’s arsenal may be the new B61-12.” And that “What makes the B61-12 bomb the most dangerous nuclear weapon in American’s arsenal is it usability. “

State political leaders have been so supportive that former Governor Peter Shumlin traveled to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida came away declaring that “Listening has been a real eye opener.  It is surprising how quiet the F35 is.”   Noise abatement is a major issue since the F35 is four times louder than the F16’s being replaced and required the destruction of 200 homes identified

as being within the zone that exceeded acceptable decibel level.   How nearby public school students or at the nearby college will be expected to learn and concentrate  in an environment unfit for residential habitation  remains to be seen. 

During a 2016 campaign debate in which F35 supporters cited the local Air Guard’s efforts after the 911 attack, Burlington Mayor Milo Weinberger, another politically elite F35 supporter responded that They flew over an area already devastated by a terrorist action. I don’t believe they stopped a single thing from happening.”  Without meaning to, his comments raise a valid question about why the Pentagon funds local Air National Guard unit other than as a glorified jobs program.   

In justifying his support in 2016, Sanders said it was not the plane but the jobs and economic advantage of the F35 that he supports.In the real world, if the plane is built … and if the choice is if that goes to Vermont … South Carolina or Florida.  What is your choice as a United States Senator?” he asked. “And that’s what the Vermont National Guard wants, and that means hundreds of jobs in my city. That’s it.” 

Sanders claim that the project will add 1,100 new jobs to the Airport is fraudulent, according to Greco who says that with departure of the F16s’, there will be a one for one swap with the previous F16 employees being trained on the F35s.

The question is when did Bernie and the doddering Sen. Leahy, who apparently was the prime mover and shaker to bring the F35 to Vermont, discover that the F35 would be nuclear capable?   Greco says that  public records shows that after Vermont was initially explored and dismissed by the Air Force as being an unsuitable location with South Carolina being the preferred location, Leahy personally intervened to bring the F35 to Vermont. 

It is inconceivable that the Air Force would keep that level of pertinent information secret from two US Senators who had become its reliably pro- F35 allies while they opposed and deceived the best interests of their own constituents . 

Renee Parsons has been a member of the ACLU’s Florida State Board of Directors and president of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, an environmental lobbyist for Friends of the Earth and staff member of the US House of Representatives in Washington DC. She can be found on Twitter @reneedove31

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The Public Banking Revolution Is Upon Us

April 19th, 2019 by Ellen Brown

As public banking gains momentum across the country, policymakers in California and Washington state are vying to form the nation’s second state-owned bank, following in the footsteps of the highly successful Bank of North Dakota, founded in 1919. The race is close, with state bank bills now passing their first round of hearings in both states’ senates.

In California, the story begins in 2011, when then-Assemblyman Ben Hueso filed his first bill to explore the creation of a state bank. The bill, which was for a blue-ribbon committee to do a feasibility study, sailed through both legislative houses and seemed to be a go. That is, until Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed it, not on grounds that he disapproved of the concept, but because he said we did not need another blue-ribbon committee. The state had a banking committee that could review the matter in-house. Needless to say, nothing was heard of the proposal after that.

So when now-Sen. Hueso filed SB 528 earlier this year, he went straight for setting up a state bank. The details could be worked out during the two to three years it would take to get a master account from the Federal Reserve, by a commission drawn from in-house staff that had access to the data and understood the issues.

Sen. Hueso also went for the low hanging fruit—a proposal to turn an existing state institution, the California Infrastructure and Development Bank (or “IBank”), into a depository bank that could leverage its capital into multiple loans. By turning the $400 million IBank currently has for loans into bank capital, it could lend $4 billion, backed by demand deposits from the local governments that are its clients. The IBank has a 15-year record of success; experienced staff and detailed procedures already in place; low-risk customers, consisting solely of government entities; and low-interest loans for infrastructure and development that are in such high demand that requests are 30 times current capacity.

The time is also right for bringing the bill, as a growing public banking movement is picking up momentum across the U.S. Over 25 public bank bills are currently active, and dozens of groups are promoting the idea. Advocates include a highly motivated generation of young millennials, who are only too aware that the old system is not working for them and a new direction is needed.

Banks now create most of our money supply and need to be made public utilities, following the stellar precedent of the Bank of North Dakota, which makes below-market loans for local communities and businesses while turning a profit for the state. The Bank of North Dakota was founded in 1919 in response to a farmers’ revolt against out-of-state banks that were foreclosing unfairly on their farms. Since then it has evolved into a $7.4 billion bank that is reported to be even more profitable than JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, although its mandate is not actually to make a profit but simply to serve the interests of local North Dakota communities. Along with hundreds of public banks worldwide, it has demonstrated what can be done by cutting out private shareholders and middlemen and mobilizing public revenues to serve the public interest.

The time is right politically to adopt that model. The newly elected California governor, Gavin Newsom, has expressed strong interest both in a state-owned bank and in the IBank approach. In Los Angeles, the City Council brought a measure for a city-owned bank that won 44% of the vote in November, and City Council President Herb Wesson has stated that the measure will be brought again. Where there is the political will, policymakers generally find a way.

Advocates in eight Golden State cities have formed the California Public Banking Alliance, which co-sponsored another public banking bill filed just last month. Introduced by Assembly Members David Chiu and Miguel Santiago, Assembly Bill 857 would enable the chartering of public banks by local California governments. The bill, which has broad grassroots support, would “authorize the lending of public credit to public banks and authorize public ownership of stock in public banks for the purpose of achieving cost savings, strengthening local economies, supporting community economic development, and addressing infrastructure and housing needs for localities.”

The first hearing on Hueso’s Senate Bill 528 was held in Sacramento last week before the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance, where it passed. The bill goes next to the Senate Banking Committee. With momentum growing, California could be the first state in the 21st century to form its own bank; but it is getting heavy competition in that race from Washington State.

Washington’s Public Bank Movement: The Virtues of Persistence

Like Sen. Hueso, Washington State Sen. Bob Hasegawa filed his first bill for a state-owned bank nearly a decade ago. The measure is now in its fifth iteration. Along the way, his Senate State Banking Caucus has acquired 23 members, just three votes short of a senate majority.

As Sen. Patty Kuderer explained at an informational forum held by the Caucus in October, their bills kept getting stalled with the same questions and concerns, and they saw that a different approach was needed; so in 2017, they advised the state to hire professional banking consultants to address the concerns and to draft a business plan that would “move the concept forward from the theoretical to the concrete, so that legislators would have a solid idea of what they would eventually be voting on.” They could bypass the studies and go straight to a business plan that laid out the nuts and bolts.

The maneuver worked. Senate Bill 6375 was the first public banking bill to be advanced out of the Policy Committee with bipartisan support. It got stalled in the Ways and Means Committee, but another bill, SB 5959, was filed this year. In yet another bill, SB 6032-Supplemental Budget, the fiscal Ways and Means committee committed $480,000 to assessing risk and developing a business plan for the effort.

The form of the proposed bank was also modified: a bank that simply would have received the state’s tax funds as deposits evolved into a “co-op” that would be open to membership not just by the state but by all “political subdivisions that have a tax base.” Opening the co-op bank’s membership would allow it to generate substantially more credit than could be made from the state’s revenues alone, since it would have the ability to hold as deposits the combined revenues of cities, counties, ports and utility districts, as well as of the state itself. Those entities would also be able to borrow at below-market rates from the co-op bank and to leverage the tax dollars they collected. The concept was similar to that being advanced in California’s SB 528, which would allow the IBank to expand its lending capacity to local governments by taking the demand deposits of those same governments and affiliated public entities.

The Washington State business plan is due no later than June 30, 2019, and legislators expect to vote on the bill no later than 2020.

Whenever it happens, says Sen. Hasegawa, “I see a public bank as almost inevitable because of the current financial structures we’re required to live under.” State infrastructure needs are huge, and the existing funding options—raising taxes, cutting services and increasing debt levels—have been exhausted. Newly-created credit directed into local communities by publicly-owned banks can provide the additional funding that local governments critically need.

Whichever state wins the race for the next state bank, the implications are huge. A century after the very successful Bank of North Dakota proved the model, the time has finally come to apply it across the country.

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This article was first published on Truthdig.com.

Ellen Brown is an attorney, founder of the Public Banking Institute, and author of twelve books including Web of Debt and The Public Bank Solution. A 13th book titled Banking on the People: Democratizing Finance in the Digital Age is due out soon. She also co-hosts a radio program on PRN.FM called “It’s Our Money.” Her 300+ blog articles are posted at EllenBrown.com. She is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

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Britain is one of the worst countries in Western Europe for freedom of the press according to a global study by advocacy group Reporters Without Borders (RWF). Britain is ranked 33rd out of 180 countries.

RWF pointed to a number of worrying developments in Britain including national security laws, mass surveillance of the population and data protection.

The report mentions the case of two journalists from Northern Ireland who were arrested 31 August 2018 on the charge of allegedly stealing confidential documents from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) that related to the massacre of 6 men in County Down in 1994 widely known as the ‘Loughinisland massacre.’

The case of journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey has obvious parallels with that of Julian Assange locked up in Belmarsh maximum security prison. In both cases powerful states seek to silence truth seekers who have exposed either war crimes or state collusion in murder.

Journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey made a documentary about the massacre of 6 Catholics watching Ireland play Italy in the World Cup on 18 June 1994. Two terrorists from the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) entered The Heights Bar and sprayed 60 bullets into the crowd killing six. The massacre led to an upsurge in sectarian murders across Northern Ireland.

Over the next two decades a police cover up of the massacre became very apparent. Over 20 people had been arrested and none charged, police evidence and key documents had been destroyed. The first Police Ombudsman’s report, which denied there was any collusion between police and the UVF killers, was quashed by Belfast High Court in 2012. It ordered a new Police Ombudsman carry out a second inquiry into the massacre.

In June 2016 the second Police Ombudsman’s report was published. The Ombudsman, Michael Maguire made it very clear that there had been massive failings in the police investigation into the massacre:

“My conclusion is that the initial investigation into the murders at Loughinisland was characterised in too many instances by incompetence, indifference and neglect.’’

His report noted the links between the UVF terrorists and the Royal Ulster Constabulary that led to the killers being tipped off by a police officer that they were about to be arrested.

Maguire details the open collusion between anti-terrorist officers in Special Branch and terrorists in the UVF:

“It is of particular concern that Special Branch continued to engage in a relationship with sources they identified in intelligence reporting as likely to have been involved at some level in the Loughinisland atrocity. If these individuals were culpable in the murders they took every opportunity to distance themselves by attributing various roles in the attack to other members of the UVF. The continued use of some informants who themselves were implicated in serious and ongoing criminality is extremely concerning.’’

The families of those massacred have repeatedly made the charge that there was collusion between the RUC/Special Branch and the terrorists in the UVF that enabled the killers to get off scot-free.

In the section of his report dealing with collusion the Police Ombudsman made the damning assessment:

“Many of the issues I have identified in this report, including the protection of informants through both wilful acts and the passive ‘turning a blind eye’; catastrophic failures in the police investigation; and destruction of exhibits and documents are in themselves evidence of collusion as defined by Judge Smithwick. When viewed collectively I have no hesitation in unambiguously determining that collusion is a significant feature of the Loughinisland murders.’’

Following the devastating conclusions of the second Police Ombudsman’s report into the massacre no one has been arrested for the killings. Yet, the British authorities have arrested two journalists for making a documentary No Stone Unturned about the massacre.

In 2016 Barry McCaffrey commented on the purpose of the film he was making with fellow journalist Trevor Birney:

“ …it looks at the issue of how the state’s policy of protecting intelligence and informers was prioritised over the families’ rights to natural justice and bringing killers to courts. The Police Ombudsman’s report came out in June and it has confirmed the fact that there were informers in Loughin island. While the Ombudsman’s report gave us much more answers we feel there are still unanswered questions there and that’s that this documentary is about.”

No Stone Unturned was released in November 2017 and made a number of allegations  such as Special Branch had prior knowledge of the attack, that the weapons used in the massacre were later used in other killings, and most damning of all it named the three suspected killers. One of whom was a former British soldier while another was a police informer.

In this situation you might expect the police to act upon fresh evidence that names the killers who massacred six people. Of course, we are dealing with British justice here and instead the British state has gone after the journalists who had the temerity to unmask the public identities of the killers whom the police protected and colluded with over many years.

Last August over 100 police officers arrested Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey and seized their computers and piles of documents. The charge of theft does not stand up as the ‘stolen’ document from the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland was leaked to McCaffrey in a brown envelope left on his doorstep.

Since their arrest under caution Birney and McCaffrey have applied for a judicial review of the legality of their arrest and have also taken their case to the European Commissioner For Human Rights.

Rebecca Vincent UK Bureau Director of Reporters without Borders has condemned the arrest of Birney and McCaffrey on the spurious charge of stealing confidential documents  from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland:

“We are concerned by the arrests of Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey in connection with confidential source materials used in their journalistic work. Investigative reporting in the public interest must be protected. The charges against the two journalists should be dropped and the seized materials immediately returned”

Alex Gibney, the director of No Stone Unturned who worked with Birney and McCaffrey to produce the film has, has observed that the journalists’ arrest, “was an act of intimidation in trying to both silence us and also to silence journalists in the future.’’

Gibney has stated that the language in the request for the arrest warrant is highly revealing of how the British state sees whistle-blowers and journalists seeking to expose government crimes:

“There’s some interesting language in the request for the warrant. The police went to a judge and tried to get a request for the warrant, and the judge said, in effect, “Are you shooting at a single crow in order to discourage other crows from landing in your yard?’’

“I would say that the answer is yes. This is a shotgun fired at a small group of crows — me, Barry and Trevor — in order to prevent other crows from landing in the yard of the UK police or the UK government.’’

Let us hope that Birney and McCaffrey are successful in obtaining a judicial review of the arrest warrant, that the charges against them are dropped and that their confiscated items are returned to them.

The arrest and imprisonment of Julian Assange merely continues a tradition of repressive activity by the British government against journalists who seek to expose state crimes. We should all redouble our efforts to obtain his release from prison and pressure the UK government into opposing the American extradition warrant.

The cases of Birney, McCaffrey and Assange all reveal how powerful forces in the British establishment want to silence truth seekers who challenge its power and that of its U.S. ally. It also wants to send a chilling message to anyone else considering the pursuit of truth that may expose government crimes.

In his novel Nineteen Eighty Four George Orwell warned us that dictatorial governments wanted to instil fear in people  to such a degree that they accepted without thinking a  world where fear, repression and state sponsored murder were the norm. The attempts by the British and American governments to repress truth tellers is summed by Orwell’s adage, “Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.’’

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Long before any votes are cast for president, some Democratic thought leaders have made up their minds about at least one thing. Bernie Sanders is too risky to be the party’s nominee. And this existential fear of the so-called “far left” is already producing questionable choices, not the least of which is a preference by most other candidates and officials to avoid a serious discussion of socialism.

Instead, Democratic nominees tend to reinforce the right’s red scare tactics by defensively declaring themselves capitalists, or at least deep socialist skeptics. “It can never work, not in America’s heartland,” most appear to agree, unfortunately neglecting to mention Social Security, Medicare and other democratic socialist policies that have operated successfully for decades, in the U.S. and elsewhere.

A notable exception is Pete Buttigieg, the Indiana mayor also running for president. In a high school essay he once praised Sanders’ for his “courage” in describing himself as a “socialist.” In fact, it won him the 2000 Profile in Courage Essay Contest, sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston.

At the time, most Democrats even shied away from the word “liberal” as if it was “a horrid accusation,” Buttigieg wrote. “Even though he has lived through a time in which an admitted socialist could not act in a film, let alone hold a congressional seat, Sanders is not afraid to be candid about his political persuasion.”

And yet, as with George McGovern in 1972, other Democrats (and their TV surrogates) sound more concerned about Sanders and his agenda than another term for someone they claim to despise. With Donald Trump in charge, after all, there is a clear opponent and target for organizing. With Sanders as the party’s candidate or — god forbid — president, things might actually have to change in fundamental ways.

But Sanders has seen it all before, from the public trash talking to the secret smear campaigns, ever since his first victory.

Satirical slander

The dirty tricks began right after the shocking election that made Bernie Sanders mayor of Burlington in March 1981. Within days, a new “underground newspaper” was launched in the city. But you couldn’t get it at a newsstand, or anywhere public. And the content was designed to discredit rather than inform.

Named after the Gannett-owned Burlington Free Press, the daily in Vermont’s largest city, the Flea Press reached an “elite” audience in the hundreds on a weekly basis, or thereabouts. City officials and media received it in the mail. According to then Assistant City Clerk Patrick Sullivan, copies of the photocopied publication would arrive near the end of the week, in time to reach city council members before their Monday public sessions. It quickly became the water-cooler talk of the town.

The Flea Press came in “a legal-size manila envelope,” Sullivan recalled, “with sealed envelopes inside addressed to the individual aldermen.” The postmark changed every week. It was a little like how porn was delivered. Additional copies were distributed hand-to-hand inside City Hall, read and re-duplicated by the curious and amused.

When the City Council met that May, Allen Gear, a Republican on the Board, personally passed out copies from a stack in open view. And when he and Democrat Joyce Desautels charged that evening that Sanders was trying to advance “the Socialist Party” in Burlington, their rhetoric closely resembled the editorial line of City Hall’s new, unofficial house organ.

In the Flea Press world, most local media ranked near the top of an “enemies list.” Early issues roasted editors and reporters at both the Free Press and Vanguard Press, the alternative weekly renamed Rumpguard Press. Specifically, they were blamed for the defeat of “Gordon H. Pickett” (Paquette), the “luckless incumbent.”

In fact, the first issue charged that political reporters had conspired with the Free Press ad department “in electing the city’s first Marxist mayor.” In the second issue he got a name — Burns A. Sunder.

By April, mild lampooning had turned into serious, often nasty personal attacks. Long before Twitter, nicknames were a cruel and effective way to ridicule the new personalities in local politics. The most consistent target, beyond the mayor himself, was “Pritchard Sauersmail,” often described as “Deputy Mayor.” Most readers knew that the actual target was Richard Sartelle, a Sanders ally and local low-income housing organizer whom the new mayor was paying — out of his own salary — to act as a community liaison.

The anonymous editor-writer of the Flea Press, who often betrayed a visceral distaste for “Sauersmail,” even stooped to belittling his clothing, family and intelligence, while chiding City Councilors for failing to take away his “free office space plus telephone.”

Eventually, the attack went mainstream. After the Flea Press smeared “Sauersmail” in six consecutive issues, the Burlington Free Press echoed its stance with a call for his removal. An editorial supported the case by arguing, without evidence, that unnamed city employees might view the Sanders associate as an “unofficial deputy mayor.”

Despite a few unique twists, the tactics were familiar. Mixing facts, slander and conspiracy theories was time-tested, a toxic combination employed in the FBI’s counterintelligence campaign against the anti-war movement and New Left. In the late 1960s, anonymous mailings and leaflets also used humor to ridicule targets, mainly opponents of government policies, and to spread disinformation.

The difference in Burlington was the insider perspective. The author of the Flea Press knew too much about activities inside City Hall to be a complete outsider. The jokes and gossip focused sharply on about a dozen key people and groups closely allied with Sanders. Many people assumed that a city employee somehow had to be involved.

Battle lines were being drawn, and the issue that best exemplified the dynamic was the appointment of city officials — normally a mayoral prerogative, but subject to City Council approval. Sanders wanted to replace six out of 20 key people, mostly through attrition. Yet, on reorganization day, his candidates were rejected without a single question about their qualifications. The unspoken message was that “stonewalling” would be the order of the day.

Burlington’s new “underground press” captured and amplified the hostility. Its targets ranged from a police officer renamed Jody Kreepso, stand-in for a Sanders supporter who had been demoted, to Gov. Prinz Philip (Phil Hoff), who embraced the new political energy in the city. After a while, “old guard” city workers began to use the nicknames in public. On the phone one day, the police chief accidentally called a reporter by his Flea Press name.

Of course, Burlington’s “underground” also had friends, especially former Mayor “Pickett,” stalwarts like City Treasurer “Austin F. Lee” (Lee Austin), Police Commissioner “Applewater” (Antonio Pomerleau) and City Clerk “Francois Vagon” (Frank Wagner).

At first considered no more than a nuisance, the Flea Press gradually began to look more threatening. It was making red baiting acceptable. At times other media outlets even began to sound a bit like the publication that mocked them. When Sanders debated City Council members about his proposed appointees, for example, the Burlington Free Press described them as a “tight cadre of comrades.”

There was no attribution for the loaded phrase, a not-so-subtle reinforcement of the notion that Sanders was running a “socialist administration.”

How the system works

Bernie Sanders was well aware of the low-level red scare underway in early 1981, and wasn’t eager for a fight so soon into his first term. But he didn’t dodge the issue either, and decided to offer some of his earliest public remarks about socialism — less than three months after becoming mayor — as part of a welcome for Andrew Pulley.

The 1980 presidential nominee of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) visited the Queen City on May 21, 1981. Sanders had been one of Pulley’s electors in the presidential race. Now the former candidate was on tour to discuss a lawsuit filed by his party against the federal government.

Bernie Sanders in 1981. File photo

Here are some of Mayor Sanders’ remarks that night, as recorded and transcribed by the SWP’s newspaper, the Militant:

I’m sure most of the people here know that for the last forty years the Socialist Workers Party has — now admittedly — been harassed, informed upon, had their offices broken into, had members of their party fired from their jobs, and have been treated with cold contempt by the United States government.

And it’s very clear that the reason they have been thus treated is because of their ideas — ideas which are frightening to the people who own the United States of America.

And they are a threat, these ideas, they are a threat.

I think the point Andrew will probably deal with is also well known. In the fifties, with McCarthyism, they created a system of bugaboos, with the bugaboo of communism. Any person who stood up for working people, or for low-income people, or for peace, was associated with the “communist front.” Now the word is “terrorist.”

Now anybody who stands up and fights and says things is automatically a terrorist and to be associated with these people who plant bombs in buses, and murder children and innocent people.

I trust that many of you know how the system works. It happened slightly, in my case. Because I was an elector for the Socialist Workers Party, there was a “non-investigation.” I was “non-investigated” by the FBI. The theory is that it was an attempt to smear me.

I think there’s a way to deal with that terrible word — that pornographic word which they hate in this country — called socialism.

Sanders advised those who attended to be straightforward about socialism, but also to talk about democracy. “I don’t have to go out denying it,” he said. “Then we can have the debate which is the real debate all around the country. That debate is socialism versus capitalism. That is the debate of our century.”

“I think the best way is to be up front about that word,” he advised, “not to run away from that word. To deal with it in a straightforward way, and explain exactly what we mean by that word.” This is essentially what he has done as a presidential candidate.

“Along with Andrew,” he added, “we are anti-authoritarian. We believe in democracy.”

 

Andrew Pulley in Burlington. Photo by Harry Ring/The Militant

Speaking with Harry Ring, a reporter for the Militant, Sanders also said, “This garbage about people don’t want government. Of course people want government to do something for them. But they don’t want the kind of government they’ve been getting.”

“I think most people understand that there aren’t two parties. That there’s just one party called Republocrats, or Demicans, or whatever you want to call them.” But in Burlington, he added, “at least we’re bringing the word socialism into the realm of reality. It’s no longer some far-off business.”

Actually, the word was spreading as America’s only socialist mayor since the Depression fast became a national sensation. A clear sign was his July 1981 “appearance” in Garry Trudeau’s Doonesbury, in the form of an imaginary TV encounter with “Tomorrow Show” host Tom Snyder.

“Mr. Mayor, let’s be candid okay?” asks Snyder. “You’re a socialist. You’re a Jew. You’re from New York. So how the heck’d you get elected?”

Bernie’s reply was typically blunt. “The people of Burlington wanted a change. They decided to send the capitalist system a clear message.” Then there’s a joke about France and the fringe benefits of being mayor.

Part of Garry Trudeau’s July 1, 1981, Doonesbury strip

Not everyone was so intrigued or accepting. A May issue of the Flea Press featured a poignant article by “Jeems I. Weezleson” (Free Press editor James Wilson), who revealed his yearning for the former mayor’s return:

“In striking contrast to the mayor’s appearance was the presence of the Honorable Gordon H. Pickett, former Queen City mayor, and the association’s (Queen City Downtown Merchants’ Business Association) first annual award recipient. Senator Leamy (Patrick Leahy) was unstinting in his praise for the former mayor and the association seconded it by giving Pickett a ten-minute standing ovation.”

It was a slight exaggeration. Yet, having captured an underground base in City Hall, the Flea Press was turning anti-Sanders holdovers and employees into its distributors. The format was refined a bit, a typeset masthead proclaimed it “A. Ginnit Newspaper,” and cartoons were added under the headline, “Goonsbury.” The content remained the same, a grab bag of gossip, labels and lies designed to anger and demean, a sophomoric merger of the National Enquirer and Harvard Lampoon.

People working in neighborhood groups were “residential hyper-active groupies,” roasted for either their looks or alleged moral failures. Predictably, the anti-Sunder majority on the City Council could do no wrong. In June, however, some concern was expressed in the Flea Press that the new mayor might get his appointees after all. “Sunder is counting on cupidity, middle-class stupidity, and terror tactics to crack the aldermanic front,” its editor speculated.

Perhaps this was a premonition. By August attitudes were indeed changing. A Republican, Robert Paterson, called the Flea Press “insulting and in bad form,” and Joyce Desautels, who once echoed its rhetoric, now considered it “a bore,” although she did like the cartoons. “Burns A. Sunder,” the “Queen City’s Marxist Potentate,” was still lampooned and labeled a “red.” But a new Enquirer-style obsession had emerged — the mayor’s personal relationship with “Jean Dripsoil” (Jane Driscoll, now Jane Sanders).

Exposure and realignment

For almost six months, theories circulated about who was behind the weekly slander sheet. It had to be someone close to city affairs, in fact someone who had mourned with the Democrats on election night. Close analysis of Flea Press content revealed attendance at budget meetings and other city functions, along with deep contempt for neighborhood groups and the local press.

But few knew the truth. That is, until a paste-up of page two was left behind on a copier only blocks from City Hall.

At first pollster Vincent Naramore denied having left the page. “Well, did anyone see me do it,” he snapped when confronted. But absolute denial eventually became “I can’t remember” making copies on the day in question. And anyway, the Vanguard Press had the document.

Naramore had good reasons to avoid exposure. A math professor at St. Michael’s College in Colchester as well as a well-known pollster, he was also a past chairman of the city Democratic Committee. Beyond that, he frequently attended morning coffee gatherings at Nectar’s restaurant with local party insiders, including the ex-mayor, and the current City Clerk and Treasurer. Another frequent Nectar’s attendee was Brian Burns, former lieutenant governor whose brother was on the council and possible Sanders challenger in the next election for mayor.

And there was more. Naramore’s sister-in-law worked in the City Clerk’s Office. Naramore himself had accompanied Mayor Paquette on an election-day tour of city polling places. But he was neither a pollster nor an adviser to Paquette at the time, he claimed, “just a close friend.”

Image: Vin Naramore, St. Michael’s College math instructor and pollster. File photo

After Naramore’s exposure as editor, the Flea Press immediately vanished, never to return. But the poisonous atmosphere it had helped to create lingered on, in City Hall and beyond. Through most of 1981, Sanders had to endure working with hostile staff, including two of Naramore’s close friends (and probable co-conspirators), City Treasurer Austin and City Clerk Wagner.

But the past was catching up with the last administration. In October, the Vanguard Press published an investigative cover feature called “Highway Robbery?” The subtitle proclaimed, “State Law Dodged to Fund Southern Connector.” As the lead explained, the Vermont Highway Department had been spending money on Burlington’s controversial connector road for three years. But state highway officials knew that the city hadn’t allocated local funds in time to meet a legal deadline.

Documents obtained by the newspaper showed that Burlington officials, including former Mayor Paquette and Wagner, were aware of the deadline. So aware, in fact, that Wagner wrote a letter to a highway planning official falsely claiming that “voters of the City of Burlington approved the local portion of the cost for the project at the Annual City Meeting held March 1, 1977.”

No such vote had taken place. The public wasn’t asked for bond authorization until 1979, six months after the deadline. But the state Highway Department accepted the statement and never asked for further proof. After the Vanguard story appeared, however, Wagner went on vacation and never returned to work.

A few months later, a hundred progressive volunteers canvassed the city and staged an impressive get-out-the-vote effort. When the votes were tallied that March, Sanders had five supporters on the City Council, up from two, and there was no denying that Burlington had a multiparty political system. Rik Musty and Zoe Breiner joined Terry Bouricius in the Citizens Party group; Gary DeCarolis, who had lost to Sanders supporter Sadie White in 1981, now joined her as an independent.

It took four more years for this loose organization to become the Progressive Coalition. But it had demonstrated that Sanders’ election was neither a fluke nor a socialist revolution, but instead the beginning of a political realignment.

In 1983, only days before the next mayoral vote, Sanders’ Republican opponent played the Socialist card one more time. WARNING! shouted the headline of a full-page ad in the Free Press. If Bernie won a second term, it charged, the consequences would be dire.

“Mayor Sanders is an avowed Socialist,” the GOP ad accused. “Socialist principles have not worked anywhere in the world … They won’t work in Burlington either.”

It was a desperate move that suggested Sanders’ leadership would produce everything from higher electric bills to more unemployment. And it turned out to be a major tactical mistake. Burlington voters had seen him and other progressives in action for two years, and rejected the hysteria and negativity. On March 1, Bernie Sanders won a clear majority of 52% in a three-way race. Progressive politics was in Burlington to stay.

Reflecting on his first victory in 1981, Sanders concluded, “I think we had pretty much of a class vote.” Almost 40 years later, it remains to be seen whether national Democratic leaders are more open and inclusive than local Democrats were after Sanders’ first win. If they are, the rest of the country could get to cast a class vote of its own.

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This article was originally published on the author’s blog site: Greg Guma/For Preservation & Change.

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Under US installed rule, Honduras is Latin America’s death squad capital. Anthropologist Adrienne Pine calls horrific abuses in the country “invisible genocide.”

Other than active war theaters, Honduras is “the most violent country on the planet,” she earlier said, its murder rate exceeding other nations.

Last year, she explained what she called the Honduran model of “militarized capitalism…neoliberal fascism,” and its devastating implications for human and civil rights, health, and human dignity – in Honduras and similar repressive societies, increasingly in the US.

In June 2009, Obama and Hillary Clinton colluded with Honduran fascists to topple democratically elected populist President Manuel Zelaya. Junta rule replaced him. State terror became official policy.

A state of siege exists. Human and civil rights violations are horrific. Killings, beatings, disappearances, and intimidation are commonplace.

Human rights workers, trade unionists, journalists, environmental activists, and other regime opponents are targeted for elimination.

For decades, Honduran officers have been trained at the infamous School of the Americas (SOA) – now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISEC).

Instruction focuses on killing, torture, oppression, eliminating poor and indigenous people, overthrowing democratically elected governments, assassinating targeted leaders, suppressing popular resistance, and solidifying hard-right rule cooperatively with Washington.

Thousands continue fleeing Honduras because of extreme poverty, severe repression, and state-sponsored violence following the decade-ago US orchestrated coup.

According to historian Dana Frank, “a series of (post-coup) corrupt (regimes) unleashed open criminal control of Honduras, from top to bottom of the government.”

Ruling authorities operate in cahoots with organized crime, drug traffickers, and the US. Violent gangs terrorize urban neighborhoods.

Post-coup regimes in cahoots with internal and foreign monied interests made life unbearable by eliminating social safety net protections, greatly increasing socioeconomic inequality.

Emigration from the country is all about fleeing from intolerable conditions, what Republicans and undemocratic Dems want instituted in Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Iran, and all other sovereign independent states.

Pentagon commanders reportedly are drafting military plans to counter Russian, Cuban, and Chinese influence in Venezuela.

While military intervention in the country is unlikely, Trump regime hardliners continue to say “all options are on the table” – what’s said time and again ahead of hostile actions against nations.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accused Brazilian and Colombian authorities of plotting “a criminal plan…to militarily attack Venezuela.”

On Jovem Pan Radio, fascist Brazilian President Bolsonaro said he’s working with the Trump regime to sow discord in the ranks of Venezuela’s military.

“We cannot allow Venezuela to become a new Cuba or North Korea,” he roared. Retired army general/vice president Hamilton Mourao called for resolving things in Venezuela diplomatically.

He and other Brazilian officials oppose military intervention, the same position true throughout the region. Venezuelans overwhelming want US hands kept off their country. They’re especially against foreign military intervention.

Separately, the Trump regime imposed new sanctions on Venezuela, targeting its central bank, aiming to cut off access to US dollars, other sanctions imposed on Cuba.

According to neocon hardliner John Bolton, it’s a warning to Russia, China, Cuba, and other countries against cooperating with Maduro.

On Wednesday, he said “(t)oday, we proudly proclaim for all to hear: the Monroe Doctrine is alive and well. (Latin America) must remain free from internal despotism and external domination (sic).”

It’s what US aims for controlling Venezuela (and all other countries) are all about, wanting another imperial trophy, the Bolivarian Republic transformed to resemble Honduras and other despotic states.

According to Bolton, the Trump regime will consider action by Russia and other nations to aid Venezuela “a threat to international peace and security in the region.”

In response to US sanctions on Venezuela’s central bank, Maduro said “(t)o me the empire looks crazy, desperate.”

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said “(n)o one will rip the fatherland away from us, neither by seduction nor by force. We Cubans do not surrender.”

In response to US sanctions war on Venezuela and Cuba, Russia vowed to continue helping both countries, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov saying:

“We are concerned over the continuing actions by the United States toward the countries of the Latin American region. We see the sanctions as absolutely unlawful and illegitimate.”

“We will oppose them. Venezuela and Cuba are our allies and strategic partners in the region. We will do everything we can to let them feel our support.”

Russian support is key to preserving and protecting their sovereign independence from US aims to transform them into vassal states.

*

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Award-winning author Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG)

His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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Israel is using its influence over the US establishment to try to impose the “Deal of the Century” to enable Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to officially occupy the West Bank. This would violate the Oslo agreement signed in 1993 and legalise all illegal Israeli settlements in Oslo-designated zone C of the occupied West Bank. The countries directly concerned in the “deal” (Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria) are unwilling to give away any part of their territories. However, Israel has managed to create enough noise around this “deal” to distract the world from its doings in Palestine, where it is in essence already implementing the “Deal of the Century”. The Israelis won’t wait for the results of US negotiations in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump seemed indifferent to Palestinian President ad interim Mahmoud Abbas’s comments that the US is “no longer viable as a partner and unfit as a mediator for any peace talks between Palestine and Israel”, in response to Trump’s gift to Israel of what doesn’t belong to him: Jerusalem. The Palestinians see the US playing the role of judge and executioner, totally biased in favour of Israel–and disrespectful of United Nations’ resolutions.

Palestine was lost when Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo agreement. He believed Israel would abide by the agreement, particularly regarding the West Bank in zones B and C. Israel disregarded Oslo and the Wye River Memorandum, giving the Palestinians less than 2% of the 13% of the land granted in both agreements.

A UN office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report confirms that Israel had confiscated 35% of East Jerusalem even before Trump’s “gift” and that, in the West Bank, 5,773 structures were demolished displacing 9,033 people and affecting 51,491 Palestinians in zone C. “Israel planned for Palestinian development on only 1% of the land”, according to the OCHA report.

Indeed, former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said: “Everybody has to move, run and grab as many Palestinian hilltops as they can to enlarge the Jewish settlements because everything we take now will stay ours…Everything we don’t grab will go to them”.

Israel can grab as much land as possible but the Palestinians, including Fatah and President Abbas, will never give up Palestine for any amount of cash on the table. Thus, the Arab countries incapable of facing down Trump’s bullying (Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt) must count on Palestinian refusal of the “Deal of the Century”.

The Palestinians cannot rely on Europe; the old continent lacks the courage or resolve to stand up against US bullying. This was shown already in the Iran deal, when Europe reacted negatively to the US decision but took no steps to meet its commitments, for fear of US reprisals. Moreover, when Trump gave away the Golan Heights and Jerusalem, Europe was only able to express its “disapproval”. Europe has lost any vestige of its position as a potential partner in the Palestinian peace process (if anything is left of this process).

Jordan, directly concerned by the US “Deal of the Century”, is expanding its horizons towards Syria and Iraq. King Abdullah II is trying to boost the Jordanian economy by re-establishing economic ties and commerce with Syria, notwithstanding US pressure to keep the borders closed. Baghdad has agreed  to construct a $10bn oil pipeline between Basra and Aqaba, providing the Kingdom with 150,000 barrels/day of crude oil. Jordan will provide Iraq with much-needed electricity and is aiming for a customs exemption between the two countries. King Abdullah also visited Turkey to ease the commercial relationship between the two countries; he lifted the customs duties on Turkish imports re-imposed last year. He is also expected to visit the Gulf countries to balance the relationship with all neighbouring countries to the benefit of Jordan’s domestic economy.

Jordan lost its privileged position as an intermediary in the region when Benyamin Netanyahu revealed Israel’s relationships with Saudi Arabia, Oman, the Emirates, Qatar and Bahrein. This has reduced the importance of Jordan for the US establishment, pushing Netanyahu to propose the exchange of Jordanian territory with Saudi Arabia and Palestine as part of the “Deal of the Century” (see part 1).

The differences among Arabs and the Muslim states allowed Netanyahu to take the initiative in Palestine and grab as much territory as possible. He has managed to divert the attention of the Arabs to concentrate on Iran as the “most dangerous enemy of all time.” The Palestinian cause was replaced by the Iranian “threat,” although Tehran has taken no initiative to attack any of its neighbours since the Islamic Republic took power in 1979.

Israel and the US are sending messages of war to both Hezbollah and Iran (and Hamas in Gaza). In reality, the US wants Iran to come to the negotiation table and to forget about Palestine and the Palestinian cause. Brian H. Hook, US Special Representative for Iran and a senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, wrote an article entitled: “Isn’t it time to abandon the policies that have kept the people of Iran and the United States apart since 1979? The people of the United States and Iran should have diplomatic ties. We can foresee a new American Embassy in Tehran issuing visas to tourists, business travellers and teachers”. Trump tried eight times to meet President Hassan Rouhani to no avail. Iran, before accepting a meeting, wants first to see the signed nuclear deal honoured.

The question poses itself: how can Iran be considered Enemy Number One of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia (& Co.) with its security forces (IRGC) on the US Terrorist list, while at the same time the US State Department (that takes no initiative without Presidential approval) wants to open US doors to Iran?

Also read: The “Deal of the Century” won’t go through: Split among Palestinians supports Israel 1/3

https://www.globalresearch.ca/deal-century-wont-go-through-split-palestinians-supports-israel/5674734

Proof-read by:  Maurice Brasher & C.G.B

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Rumors of War: Washington Is Looking for a Fight

April 18th, 2019 by Philip Giraldi

It is depressing to observe how the United States of America has become the evil empire. Having served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War and in the Central Intelligence Agency for the second half of the Cold War, I had an insider’s viewpoint of how an essentially pragmatic national security policy was being transformed bit by bit into a bipartisan doctrine that featured as a sine qua non global dominance for Washington.

Unfortunately, when the Soviet Union collapsed the opportunity to end once and for all the bipolar nuclear confrontation that threatened global annihilation was squandered as President Bill Clinton chose instead to humiliate and use NATO to contain an already demoralized and effectively leaderless Russia.

American Exceptionalism became the battle cry for an increasingly clueless federal government as well as for a media-deluded public. When 9/11 arrived, the country was ready to lash out at the rest of the world. President George W. Bush growled that “There’s a new sheriff in town and you are either with us or against us.” Afghanistan followed, then Iraq, and, in a spirit of bipartisanship, the Democrats came up with Libya and the first serious engagement in Syria. In its current manifestation, one finds a United States that threatens Iran on a nearly weekly basis and tears up arms control agreements with Russia while also maintaining deployments of US forces in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and places like Mali. Scattered across the globe are 800 American military bases while Washington’s principal enemies du jour Russia and China have, respectively, only one and none.

Never before in my lifetime has the United States been so belligerent, and that in spite of the fact that there is no single enemy or combination of enemies that actually threaten either the geographical United States or a vital interest.

Venezuela is being threatened with invasion primarily because it is in the western hemisphere and therefore subject to Washington’s claimed proconsular authority. Last Wednesday Vice President Mike Pence told the United Nations Security Council that the White House will remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, preferably using diplomacy and sanctions, but “all options are on the table.” Pence warned that Russia and other friends of Maduro need to leave now or face the consequences.

The development of the United States as a hostile and somewhat unpredictable force has not gone unnoticed. Russia has accepted that war is coming no matter what it does in dealing with Trump and is upgrading its forces. By some estimates, its army is better equipped and more combat ready than is that of the United States, which spends nearly ten times as much on “defense.”

Iran is also upgrading its defensive capabilities, which are formidable. Now that Washington has withdrawn from the nuclear agreement with Iran, has placed a series of increasingly punitive sanctions on the country, and, most recently, has declared a part of the Iranian military to be a “foreign terrorist organization” and therefore subject to attack by US forces at any time, it is clear that war will be the next step. In three weeks, the United States will seek to enforce a global ban on any purchases of Iranian oil. A number of countries, including US nominal ally Turkey, have said they will ignore the ban and it will be interesting to see what the US Navy intends to do to enforce it. Or what Iran will do to break the blockade.

But even given all of the horrific decisions being made in the White House, there is one organization that is far crazier and possibly even more dangerous. That is the United States Congress, which is, not surprisingly, a legislative body that is viewed positively by only 18 per cent of the American people.

A current bill originally entitled the “Defending American Security from Kremlin Aggression Act (DASKA) of 2019,” is numbered S-1189. It has been introduced in the Senate which will “…require the Secretary of State to determine whether the Russian Federation should be designated as a state sponsor of terrorism and whether Russian-sponsored armed entities in Ukraine should be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.” The bill is sponsored by Republican Senator Cory Gardner of Colorado and is co-sponsored by Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey.

The current version of the bill was introduced on April 11th and it is by no means clear what kind of support it might actually have, but the fact that it actually has surfaced at all should be disturbing to anyone who believes it is in the world’s best interest to avoid direct military confrontation between the United States and Russia.

In a a press release by Gardner, who has long been pushing to have Russia listed as a state sponsor of terrorism, a February version of the bill is described as “…comprehensive legislation [that] seeks to increase economic, political, and diplomatic pressure on the Russian Federation in response to Russia’s interference in democratic processes abroad, malign influence in Syria, and aggression against Ukraine, including in the Kerch Strait. The legislation establishes a comprehensive policy response to better position the US government to address Kremlin aggression by creating new policy offices on cyber defenses and sanctions coordination. The bill stands up for NATO and prevents the President from pulling the US out of the Alliance without a Senate vote. It also increases sanctions pressure on Moscow for its interference in democratic processes abroad and continued aggression against Ukraine.”

The February version of the bill included Menendez, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina as co-sponsors, suggesting that provoking war is truly bipartisan in today’s Washington.

Each Senator co-sponsor contributed a personal comment to the press release. Gardner observed that “Putin’s Russia is an outlaw regime that is hell-bent on undermining international law and destroying the US-led liberal global order.” Menendez noted that “President Trump’s willful paralysis in the face of Kremlin aggression has reached a boiling point in Congress” while Graham added that “Our goal is to change the status quo and impose meaningful sanctions and measures against Putin’s Russia. He should cease and desist meddling in the US electoral process, halt cyberattacks on American infrastructure, remove Russia from Ukraine, and stop efforts to create chaos in Syria.” Cardin contributed “Congress continues to take the lead in defending US national security against continuing Russian aggression against democratic institutions at home and abroad” and Shaheen observed that “This legislation builds on previous efforts in Congress to hold Russia accountable for its bellicose behavior against the United States and its determination to destabilize our global world order.”

The Senatorial commentary is, of course, greatly exaggerated and sometimes completely false regarding what is going on in the world, but it is revealing of how ignorant American legislators can be and often are. The Senators also ignore the fact that the designation of presumed Kremlin surrogate forces as “foreign terrorist organizations” is equivalent to a declaration of war against them by the US military, while hypocritically calling Russia a state sponsor of terrorism is bad enough, as it is demonstrably untrue. But the real damage comes from the existence of the bill itself. It will solidify support for hardliners on both sides, guaranteeing that there will be no rapprochement between Washington and Moscow for the foreseeable future, a development that is bad for everyone involved. Whether it can be characterized as an unintended consequence of unwise decision making or perhaps something more sinister involving a deeply corrupted congress and administration remains to be determined.

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The Official Skripal Story is a Dead Duck

April 18th, 2019 by Craig Murray

One of the striking things about the official Skripal story is the way its more wildly improbable aspects have been released to the mainstream media over a long period, so as to manage their impact. So, for example, police acknowledgement that the perfume bottle Charlie Rowley found was sealed and could not have been the container used on the Skripals is comparatively recent, and it took nine months for us to learn that, by a truly wonderful coincidence, the first person to find the Skripals ill on the bench was the Chief Nurse of the British Army.

I covered these points in full in my article on the ten points I do not believe in the official story – an article which nobody has sought to refute, other than to yell “conspiracy theory”, as though that was an argument.

But today we learn from the Guardian (quoting the New York Times) that Donald Trump was only convinced to back the UK government line after being shown photos of dead ducks and hospitalised children by CIA director Gina Haspel.

The problem is that, there were no hospitalised children. No children have been reported as becoming ill following their duck feeding with the Skripals. We have heard from one of the parents that they were shown by the police extremely clear CCTV footage of the duck feeding, which has never been made public. Surely if the child had been hospitalised, the parent would have been mentioned it?

Dr Stephen Davies of Salisbury Hospital’s letter of 16 March 2018 to the Times has been explained away as poorly written or edited, in relation to the cause of the Skripals’ illness. But be that as it may, one thing the doctor’s letter does without any shadow of a doubt, is rule out the possibility of hospitalised children.

There were no hospitalised children.

We also know that the duck feeding was the time that “Boshirov and Petrov” were physically closest to the Skripals. But this is the first time there has ever been any mention of any harm to the ducks. Dead ducks would have been noticed by the public.

Possibly the Guardian and New York Times are inventing utter drivel, as in the Manafort meeting Assange story. That would in itself be worrying. The other possibility is that the security services produced fake photographs of hospitalised children and slaughtered some ducks, in order to convince Donald Trump. If the latter explanation is true, then the entire Skripal saga looks more and more staged.

*

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Yesterday, the world’s eyes turned to Paris as Notre Dame cathedral burned.

It was clear within minutes that complications due to the building’s age and density of heavy timber would severely hinder attempts to put out the fire. Still, it was shocking to see that iconic spire come down, succumbing to the fire as easily as a matchstick house.

Indeed, watching this ancient temple engulfed in smoke and heat was a frightening reminder there are many forces out there that render us powerless to save something dear to us.

People worldwide have meaningful connections to Paris. It is the most-visited city in the world. As such, people have memories of Notre Dame, memories that were dusted with ash and debris in yesterday’s horrific scene.

As is often the case, those nightmarishly frustrating contrarians were everywhere, taunting the mourners — remind everyone that the church was just bricks and mortar. Presumably these diehard deconstructionists also argue that art is “just paint on a canvas” and that their children are “just smaller people who look like me and live in my house.”

Notre Dame

Still, none of that cynicism could stem the mournful tide.

Within hours of the spire coming down, two of France’s wealthiest families — led by François-Henri Pinault and Bernard Arnault — had pledged no less than €300million in funding for the restoration effort. The city of Paris was also able to mobilise €10million.

Arnault is the CEO of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury-goods company. He is the richest person in Europe and the fourth-richest person in the world according to Forbes magazine, with a net worth of $91.3 billion, as of this month. Perhaps the best-known brand overseen by Arnault is Louis Vuitton. Handbags, suitcases, you know the ones.

By comparison, Pinault is worth a paltry €30billion. He’s more of a Gucci man, and he also owns Stade Rennais FC.

Between them, they have significantly more money than several European states — such as Croatia, Serbia, Slovakia or Slovenia. If you had €3,000 in your bank account right now and you donated a tenner to the restoration effort, you’d be giving proportionally the same amount as these two.

Something to think about.

Perhaps an overlooked part of the discussion is the financial role that the Catholic Church could play in the restoration. Nobody outside the Vatican truly knows how much money the church has, but in 2012 The Economist calculated that the Vatican’s operating budget in the US alone came to $170billion. It stands to reason, then, that the global figure would be much larger again.

Pope Francis has confirmed that he is praying for all those affected by the Notre Dame fire. That is to say, he is putting his hands together, rather than in his pocket.

This will come as no surprise to anyone who has ever had to raise a few hundred or a few thousand euro to renovate a church in suburban or rural Ireland without the help from the Vatican’s bajillions.

Notre Dame

It would be incredibly cheap to suggest that it is in some way wrong to give money for the restoration. There is a value that transcends simple economics in restoring testaments to civilisation. Better that Notre Dame remains a symbol of European history than €300 million rests in a billionaire’s bank account.

But the immediacy and magnitude of their response tells us something very important about the society we live in.

If two men in a world of more than 7 billion people can provide €300million to restore Notre Dame, within six hours, then there is enough money in the world to feed every mouth, shelter every family and educate every child. The failure to do so is a matter of will, and a matter of system.

The failure to do so comes from our failure to recognise the mundane emergencies that claims lives all around us every single day. Works of art and architectural history and beauty rely on the ingenuity of people, and it is people who must be protected above all else.

Brick and mortar and stained-glass might burn, but they do not bleed, and they do not starve, and they do not suffer. Humans suffer. Everywhere in the world, from Paris to Persepolis, people are suffering. But their suffering is every day. It does not light up a front page, and it does not inspire immediate donations from the world’s wealthiest men.

France currently counts 140,000 homeless people — 30,000 of which are children. A 2018 report by the Secours Catholique revealed that in total there are around 8.8 million people living below the poverty line in France in 2017. This means they are living on an income of less than €1,026 a month, and many of them live on considerably less. One in every eight French people live in poverty. Despite all of this, France remains the sixth richest country in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The next time someone tries to pretend like you need to choose between homelessness or immigration, nurses’ pay or a tax cut, a children’s hospital or a motorway, remember this moment. The money is there at a click of a finger. It just isn’t in our hands.

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New Mexico’s Gila River Named America’s Most Endangered River of 2019

April 18th, 2019 by Center For Biological Diversity

WASHINGTON― American Rivers today named the Gila River No. 1 on the list of “America’s most endangered rivers” of 2019, citing the grave threat that climate change and a proposed diversion project pose to New Mexico’s last free-flowing river. American Rivers and its partners called on New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to permanently stop the diversion project and advance more cost-effective, innovative water supply solutions.

“New Mexicans can’t afford to dry up their last wild river,” said Matt Rice, Colorado Basin director for American Rivers. “Ruining the Gila River with an expensive diversion project doesn’t make sense when there are better, more cost-effective water supply options.”

“We are already feeling the impacts of climate change in New Mexico and across the Southwest and it’s only going to get worse. The decisions we make today will determine whether we have healthy rivers and secure water supplies in the future. We have an opportunity on the Gila to demonstrate that it is possible to protect healthy rivers and meet our water needs in an era of climate change,”

said Rice.

Scientists estimate that due to climate change, the Gila River will cease to be a snowpack-fed river by mid-century. The proposed diversion project would put greater strain on Gila River flows already altered and reduced by the impacts of climate change. In turn climate change will likely limit the amount and availability of water that can be developed by the proposed diversion, calling into question the project’s long-term viability.

American Rivers and its partners called on Lujan Grisham to stop the diversion project and instead spend $66 million available through Arizona Water Settlement Act funding on alternative water supply solutions to meet the water needs of communities throughout southwest New Mexico.

These solutions include infrastructure improvements and expansions such as the Grant County Regional Water Supply Project and municipal and agricultural conservation and efficiency projects.

“It’s time to stop the waste of millions in federal funds on a Gila River diversion to benefit a small number of irrigators and the world’s largest copper mining company, and instead direct AWSA monies to critically important community water projects that achieve long-term water security for thousands in southwest New Mexico,” said Allyson Siwik, executive director of the Gila Conservation Coalition.

“It’s rare to see a wild river these days because so many of the nation’s rivers have been dammed,” said Donna Stevens, executive director of the Upper Gila Watershed Alliance. “People come from all over to visit the Gila Wilderness — the nation’s first wilderness area — and the Gila River. They boost the local economy with their tourist dollars.”

Flowing out of the nation’s first wilderness area, the Gila River supports outstanding examples of southwestern riparian forest, cold-water fisheries and a remarkable abundance of wildlife. The river is home to indigenous people who have lived in southwestern New Mexico for thousands of years, and it remains vital to the region’s culture and heritage.

“A stronghold for many endangered species, the Gila is one of the last intact rivers left in North America,” said Todd Schulke, a cofounder of the Center for Biological Diversity. “We have to work hard to make sure it stays that way. We urge Governor Lujan Grisham to help us protect the Gila River forever.”

The annual “America’s most endangered rivers” report is a list of rivers at a crossroads, where key decisions in the coming months will determine the rivers’ fates. Over the years the report has helped spur many successes, including the removal of outdated dams, the protection of rivers with “wild and scenic” designations, and the prevention of harmful development and pollution.

The Gila River was previously included on this list in 1995, 1996, 2008 and 2014. Other rivers in the region listed as most endangered in recent years include the Lower Rio Grande (2018), Lower Colorado River (2017) and Colorado River in the Grand Canyon (2015).

America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2019

1. Gila River, New Mexico
Gov. Lujan Grisham must choose a healthier, more cost-effective way to provide water to agriculture than by drying up the state’s last major free-flowing river.

2. Hudson River, New York
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must consider effective, nature-based alternatives to storm-surge barriers that would choke off this biologically rich tidal estuary.

3. Upper Mississippi River, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri
State and federal agencies must enforce laws that prohibit illegal levees, which increase flood risk for communities and degrade vital fish and wildlife habitat.

4. Green-Duwamish River, Washington
Local leaders must produce a flood-protection plan that safeguards communities and restores habitat for Chinook salmon — fish that are essential to the diet of Puget Sound’s endangered orca whales.

5. Willamette River, Oregon
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must immediately improve 13 dams to save wild Chinook salmon and steelhead from going extinct.

6. Chilkat River, Alaska
The Japanese investment firm DOWA must do the responsible thing and back out of a mining project that could decimate native salmon.

7. South Fork Salmon River, Idaho
The U.S. Forest Service must safeguard endangered fish by denying a mining proposal that could pollute this tributary of the “wild and scenic” Salmon River.

8. Buffalo National River, Arkansas
Gov. Asa Hutchinson must demand closure of an industrial hog-farming facility that pollutes groundwater and threatens endangered species.

9. Big Darby Creek, Ohio
Local leaders must use state-of-the-art science to craft a responsible development plan that protects this pristine stream.

10. Stikine River, Alaska
The International Joint Commission of the United States and Canada must protect the river’s clean water, fish and wildlife, and indigenous communities by stopping harmful, polluting mines.

2019 River of the Year: Cuyahoga River, Ohio
American Rivers celebrates the progress Cleveland has made in cleaning up the
Cuyahoga River, 50 years since the river’s famous fire that sparked the nation’s environmental movement.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.4 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

American Rivers believes every community in our country should have clean water and a healthy river. Since 1973, we have been protecting wild rivers, restoring damaged rivers and conserving clean water for people and nature. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., and offices across the country, we are the most effective river conservation organization in the United States, delivering solutions that will last for generations to come. Connect with us at AmericanRivers.org.

Contact:

Sinjin Eberle, American Rivers, (720) 373-0864
Allyson Siwik, Gila Conservation Coalition, (575) 590-7619
Todd Schulke, Center for Biological Diversity, (575) 574-5962
Donna Stevens, Upper Gila Watershed Alliance, (575) 590-5698

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The European Union (EU) and Canada issued a joint warning against the United States Wednesday after Washington reported that it would enforce Title III of the controversial Helms-Burton Act, which will permit lawsuits against foreign investments in Cuba.

“The EU and Canada consider the extraterritorial application of unilateral Cuba-related measures contrary to international law,” the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said in a statement that was also signed by Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland.

The “Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act,” commonly known as Helms-Burton, was signed on March 12, 1996, during former President Bill Clinton’s administration, with the objective of disrupting foreign investment to the island and accentuating the economic effects of the economic blockade.

Through the application of Title III, U.S. citizens could sue in their country’s courts those persons and entities that conduct business with about 200 state-owned institutions in Cuba that were nationalized after Jan. 1, 1959. However, since the Clinton administration, the U.S. had avoided the implementation of this measure by issuing “temporary” six-month suspensions.

This practice became normalized because the full enforcement of the anti-Cuban law would imply massive damages not only for Cuba but for U.S., Canadian, and mainly European interests, as the bloc is the largest foreign investor on the island and the country’s top export market.

The EU has argued that the law is illegal under World Trade Organization rules because it affects entities outside U.S. territory. Yet after negotiations with the U.S., a waiver was agreed upon, in 1998, to avoid the act affecting European businesses. In return, the EU dropped a challenge in the WTO to the U.S. legislation.

The waiver ends May 1 and the policy change to allow suits begins on May 2, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. The EU’s has threatened to sue at the WTO once again.

Meanwhile, Canadian officials said that the country “will review all options in response to this decision.” Its law allows counterclaims to be submitted to any U.S. complaint regarding commercial ties between Cuba and Canada.

This new enactment of sanctions comes now as a bid to pressure Cuba’s government for supporting Venezuela. Back in March 2019, the Trump administration already allowed the filing of lawsuits against more than 200 Cuban companies included in a unilateral list of sanctions. While Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) presented a bill before the U.S. Congress to prohibit the official recognition and rights of Cuban trademarks in the United States.

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Pompeo is “Setting the Stage for a War with Iran”

April 18th, 2019 by The Real News Network

Last week, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested that the Trump administration would not rule out going to war with Iran even though there is no explicit authorization from Congress to do so. Pompeo said this in the context of being asked whether the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) could be used to attack Iran on the basis that Iran supported the 9/11 attacks and is connected to Al Qaeda, which carried out the 9/11 attack.

“Do you believe that the 2001 authorization to go to war with those who attacked us on 9/11 applies to Iran or Iran’s Revolutionary Guard?” Senator Rand Paul asked Pompeo on April 11 during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

“I’d prefer to just leave that to lawyers,” Pompeo said, dodging the question.

“So you’re unwilling to state unequivocally that you, that the resolution in 2001 to have retribution and stop people who attacked us, that Iran had something to do with the attacks on 9/11?” Rand asked.

“The factual question with respect to Iran’s connections to Al Qaeda is very real,” Pompeo said. “They have hosted Al Qaeda, they permitted Al Qaeda to transit their country. There’s no doubt there is a connection between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Al Qaeda.”

Then on Monday, April 15, the Trump administration’s decision to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization went into effect.

“Iran is not a sponsor of terrorism,” Colonel Larry Wilkerson told The Real News Network’s Greg Wilpert. “So to say that Iran sponsors terrorism of any sort, let alone Al Qaeda, is just preposterous. The greatest state sponsor of terrorism in the region and indeed in the world is Saudi Arabia—our ally.”

In a previous interview with The Real News, Wilkerson criticized Pompeo’s initial declaration that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was a “foreign terrorist organization” and called the Secretary of State “a fool.”

Wilkerson observed that the elements in this possible lead-up to war—from a president who does not seem to know the inner workings of his own administration’s military strategy to the involvement of hawkish National Security Advisor John Bolton—recall the invasion of Iraq in 2003 under President George W. Bush, where nonexistent Al Qaeda connections were used as justification for war.

“We’re operating in a way that’s inimical to, injurious to, U.S. national security interests,” Wilkerson said. “To watch this as an academic and to watch it even more so, more profoundly, as a military professional is really jarring. This is truly stupid.”

Wilpert observed that “given that all of this groundwork … being laid with the terrorism mission for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and the claim of connections between Iran and Al Qaeda,” the U.S. was likely preparing for an attack on Iran, which would fall conveniently in the months leading up to the 2020 election.

“President Trump wants the tension, the pressure on Iran to bring Iran back to the negotiating table so he can claim—just prior to the 2020 elections—that he’s done the impossible: He’s brought Iran back to the table and we’re negotiating again, and that the deal he will produce will be much better than the deal President Obama produced,”

Wilkerson said. “I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that that’s the case and that at the end of the day none of this happens—that we won’t go to war.

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Os 70 Anos aa NATO: De Guerra em Guerra

April 18th, 2019 by Comité No Guerra no Nato

DOCUMENTAÇÃO APRESENTADA PELO CNGNN NO CONGRESSO INTERNACIONAL DO 70º ANIVERSÁRIO DA NATO, FLORENÇA, 7 DE ABRIL DE 2O19

ÍNDICE

  1. A NATO nasce da Bomba
  2. A NATO renova-se, após a Guerra Fria
  3. A NATO destrói o Estado Jugoslavo
  4. A NATO expande-se para Leste, para a Rússia
  5. USA e NATO atacam o Afeganistão e o Iraque
  6. A NATO destrói o Estado líbio
  7. A guerra USA/NATO para demolir a Síria
  8. Israel e emirados na NATO
  9. A orquestração USA/NATO no golpe na Ucrânia
  10. A Escalada USA/NATO na Europa
  11. O porta-aviões Itália, na frente da guerra
  12. USA e NATO rejeitam o tratado da ONU e implantam novas armas nucleares na Europa
  13. USA e NATO destroem o Tratado INF
  14. O Império Americano do Ocidente lança a cartada da guerra
  15. O sistema de guerra planetária USA/NATO
  16. Para sair do sistema de guerra da NATO
  1. A NATO nasce da Bomba

Os acontecimentos que preparam o nascimento da NATO iniciam-se com o bombardeio atómico de Hiroshima e Nagasaki, efectuados pelos Estados Unidos, em Agosto de 1945, não para derrotar o Japão, agora numa situação de caos extremo, mas para sair da Segunda Guerra Mundial com a máxima vantagem possível, especialmente, sobre a União Soviética. Este facto é possível devido ao facto de que, naquela época, os Estados Unidos são os únicos a possuir a arma nuclear.

Somente um mês após o bombardeamento de Hiroshima e Nagasaki, em Setembro de 1945, o Pentágono já calcula que seriam necessárias cerca de 200 bombas nucleares contra um inimigo do tamanho URSS. Em 5 de Março de 1946, o discurso de Winston Churchill sobre a “Cortina de Ferro” abre oficialmente a Guerra Fria. Logo depois, em Julho de 1946, os EUA realizaram o primeiro teste nuclear no atol Bikini (Ilhas Marshall, Oceano Pacífico) para avaliar os efeitos sobre um grupo de navios já fora do activo e milhares de cobaias/ porquinhos-da-Índia. Participam na operação, mais de 40 mil militares e civis americanos, com mais de 250 navios, 150 aviões e 25 mil detectores de radiação.

Em 1949, o arsenal dos EUA sobe para cerca de 170 bombas nucleares. Neste ponto, os Estados Unidos estão seguros de ter bombas suficientes para atacar a União Soviética em pouco tempo. Nesse mesmo ano, no entanto, falha o plano dos EUA para conservar o monopólio das armas nucleares. Em 29 de Agosto de 1949, a União Soviética efectua a sua primeira explosão nuclear experimental. Alguns meses antes, em 4 de Abril de 1949, quando em Washington sabem que a União Soviética está prestes a ter a bomba e está quase a iniciar a corrida armamentista nuclear, os Estados Unidos criam a NATO. A Aliança, sob comando USA, durante a Guerra Fria, compreende 16 países: EUA, Canadá, Bélgica, Dinamarca, França, Alemanha Ocidental, Grã-Bretanha, Grécia, Islândia, Itália, Luxemburgo, Noruega, Países Baixos, Portugal, Espanha e Turquia. Através desta aliança, os Estados Unidos mantêm o seu domínio sobre os aliados europeus, usando a Europa como linha da frente contra a União Soviética.

Seis anos após a NATO, em 14 de Maio de 1955, nasce o Pacto de Varsóvia, incluindo a União Soviética, Bulgária, Checoslováquia, Polónia, República Democrática Alemã, Roménia, Hungria, Albânia (esta de 1955 até 1968).

Quando começa o confronto nuclear entre os EUA e a URSS, a Grã-Bretanha e a França, ambas membros da NATO, estão também a diligenciar, equipar-se com armas nucleares. A primeira a conseguir é a Grã-Bretanha, que em 1952 efectua uma explosão experimental na Austrália. A vantagem da NATO aumenta ainda mais quando, em 1º de Novembro do mesmo ano, os EUA fazem explodir a sua primeira bomba H (hidrogénio). Em 1960, os países da NATO com armas nucleares sobem para três, quando a França explode a sua primeira bomba nuclear em Fevereiro, no Saara.

Enquanto está em pleno desenvolvimento a corrida aos armamentos nucleares, em Outubro de 1962, surge a crise dos mísseis em Cuba: após a falhada invasão armada da ilha, em Abril de 1961, levada a cabo por exilados apoiados pela CIA americana, a União Soviética decide fornecer a Cuba mísseis balísticos de alcance médio e intermédio. Os Estados Unidos empreendem o bloqueio naval da ilha e colocam em alerta, as forças nucleares: mais de 130 mísseis balísticos intercontinentais estão prontos para ser lançados; 54 bombardeiros com armas nucleares a bordo são acrescentados aos 12, que o Comando Aéreo estratégico mantém sempre em vôo, vinte e quatro horas por dia, prontos para ataques nucleares. Naquela época, os Estados Unidos têm mais de 25.500 armas nucleares, às quais se juntam cerca de 210 britânicas, enquanto a URSS tem cerca de 3.350. A crise, que leva o mundo ao limiar de uma guerra nuclear, é atenuada pela decisão Soviética de não instalar mísseis em troca dos EUA levantarem o bloqueio e respeitarem a independência de Cuba.

Ao mesmo tempo, a China está a tentar adquirir armas nucleares e, em Outubro de 1964, faz explodir sua primeira bomba de urânio e, em menos de três anos, a sua primeira bomba H.

A par e passo com o crescimento do seu arsenal, o Pentágono desenvolve planos operacionais detalhados de guerra nuclear contra a URSS e contra a China. Um documento de 800 páginas – tornado público em 2015 pelo arquivo do governo dos EUA – contém uma lista (até então secreta) de milhares de alvos na URSS, Europa Oriental e China que os EUA se preparavam para destruir com armas nucleares durante a Guerra Fria. Em 1959, o ano a que se refere a “Target list = lista dos alvos”, os EUA têm mais de 12.000 ogivas nucleares, mais cerca de 80 britânicas, enquanto a URSS tem cerca de mil e a China ainda não tem nenhuma. Sendo também superior em vectores/transportadores (bombardeiros e mísseis), o Pentágono considera viável, um ataque nuclear.

Entre os estrategas norte-americanos – relatará Paul Johnstone, analista do Pentágono durante duas décadas (1949-1969) para o planeamento da guerra nuclear, contará depois a história – naquela época havia a convicção de que os Estados Unidos, num ataque nuclear sofreriam sérios danos e muitos milhões de mortes e continuariam a existir como nação organizada e viável, e no final prevaleceriam, enquanto a União Soviética não seria capaz de fazê-lo. (From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning)

Entre o final dos anos sessenta e o início dos anos setenta, os EUA têm cerca de 9.000 armas nucleares instaladas fora do seu território: cerca de 7.000 em países europeus da NATO, 2.000 em países asiáticos (Coreia do Sul, Filipinas, Japão). Além destas, eles têm 3.000 armas a bordo de submarinos e outras unidades navais, que podem, a qualquer momento, partir de posições avançadas, contra a União Soviética e outros países. A URSS, que não tem bases avançadas fora de seu território perto dos Estados Unidos (porém, do qual pode se aproximar com submarinos nucleares), tenta demonstar que, se fosse atacada, poderia lançar uma retaliação devastadora. Para confirmá-lo, num teste realizado em 20 de Outubro de 1961, explode a mais poderosa bomba de hidrogénio já experimentada, a «Zar» de 58-megaton, equivalente a quase 4.500 bombas de Hiroshima. Ao mesmo tempo, a União Soviética prepara uma arma espacial: um míssil que, colocado em órbita ao redor da Terra, poderia atacar os Estados Unidos a qualquer momento com uma ogiva nuclear.

Nesta altura, os Estados Unidos, em dificuldades, propõem à União Soviética um tratado sobre o uso pacífico do espaço. Assim, é assinado, em Janeiro de 1967, o Tratado sobre o Espaço Exterior, que proíbe a colocação de armas nucleares na órbita da Terra, na Lua ou noutros corpos celestes, ou de qualquer maneira, estacioná-las no espaço exterior.

Logo a seguir, em Julho de 1968, foi assinado o Tratado de Não-Proliferação Nuclear (TNP). Os Estados Unidos, a Grã-Bretanha e a União Soviética promovem-no, preocupados com o facto de outros países quererem entrar no círculo das potências nucleares. O Artigo 1 declara: “Cada um dos Estados nucleares militares compromete-se a não transferir armas nucleares para ninguém”. O Artigo 2 estabelece: ‘Cada um dos Estados militarmente nucleares, que faz parte do Tratado,  compromete-se a não receber de ninguém, armas nucleares ou outros engenhos explosivos nucleares, nem o controlo sobre tais armas e engenhos explosivos, directa ou indirectamente’. As potências nucleares comprometem-se a prosseguir as negociações sobre um tratado que estabeleça o desarmamento geral sob controlo internacional (Artigo 6). A Itália assina o TNP em 1969, e ratifica-o em 1975.

Enquanto os Estados Unidos, a Grã-Bretanha e a União Soviética procuram impedir com o Tratado de Não-Proliferação que outros países entrem no clube nuclear, do qual, em 1968, fazem parte de cinco membros, um sexto país infiltra-se no círculo das potências nucleares,conseguindo não só entrar, mas, uma vez lá dentro, torne-se oficialmente invisível: o convidado de pedra (convidado invisível) é Israel. Ao mesmo tempo que, em 1968, foi aberto para assinatura o Tratado de Não-Proliferação, Israel já está a empregar secretamente as suas primeiras armas nucleares. Nos anos 70 e 80, também a África do Sul, a Índia e o Paquistão começaram a construir armas nucleares. Em 1986, o arsenal mundial atinge o nível mais alto: cerca de 65.000 armas nucleares.

É nesta fase que a Europa está a ser transformada na linha de frente do confronto nuclear entre as duas superpotências. Entre 1976 e 1980, a URSS instalou mísseis balísticos de alcance intermédio no seu território. Baseados no facto de que, a partir do território soviético, eles podem atingir a Europa Ocidental, a NATO decide instalar na Europa, a partir de 1983, mísseis nucleares norte-americanos de alcance médio: 108 mísseis balísticos Pershing II na Alemanha e 464 mísseis de cruzeiro lançados do solo, distribuídos entre a Grã-Bretanha, a Itália, a Alemanha Ocidental, a Bélgica e os Países Baixos.

Em menos de 10 minutos após o lançamento, os Pershing II americanos, inseridos na Alemanha, podem atingir as bases e cidades soviéticas, incluindo Moscovo, com as suas ogivas nucleares. Ao mesmo tempo, os mísseis de cruzeiro americanos instalados em Comiso e noutras bases europeias, voando a velocidades subsónicas e a uma altitude de algumas dezenas de metros ao longo do contorno do terreno, podem escapar ao radar e atingir as cidades soviéticas. Por sua vez, os SS-20 distribuídos no território soviético podem atingir, em menos de 10 minutos a partir do lançamento, as bases e as cidades da Europa Ocidental.

Em Itália, nos meados dos anos oitenta, além das 112 ogivas nucleares em mísseis de cruzeiro estabelecidos em Comiso, existem outras armas nucleares americanas num total estimado em cerca de 700. Elas são constituídas, principalmente, de minas de demolição atómica, projecteis nucleares de artilharia e mísseis nucleares de curto alcance, destinadas a serem utilizadas em Itália. Isto indica que a Itália é considerada pelo Pentágono como um simples peão a ser sacrificado, um campo de batalha nuclear para ser transformado num deserto radioactivo.

Durante a Guerra Fria, de 1945 a 1991, acumula-se no mundo um arsenal nuclear que, na década de oitenta, atinge, provavelmente, 15.000 megatons, o equivalente a mais de um milhão de bombas de Hiroshima. É como se cada habitante do planeta estivesse sentado sobre 3 toneladas de TNT. O poder do arsenal nuclear excede 5.000 vezes o de todos os dispositivos explosivos usados ​​na Segunda Guerra Mundial. Cria-se, pela primeira vez na História, uma força destrutiva que pode apagar da face da Terra, não apenas uma vez, mas muitas vezes, a espécie humana e quase qualquer outra forma de vida.

  1. A NATO renova-se, após a Guerra Fria

Na segunda metade dos anos oitenta, o clima da Guerra Fria começa a mudar. O primeiro sinal do degelo é o Tratado sobre as Forças intermédias Nucleares (INF), assinado em Washington, em 8 de Dezembro de 1987, pelos Presidentes Reagan e Gorbachev: de acordo com o mesmo, os Estados Unidos e a União Soviética comprometem-se a eliminar todos os mísseis desta categoria, incluindo os mísseis Pershing II e os mísseis de cruzeiro distribuídos pelos EUA nos países europeus da NATO e os SS-20 instalados pela URSS no seu território. Em Maio de 1991, foram eliminados, no total, 2.692 mísseis desta categoria.

Este resultado importante é devido, principalmente, à “ofensiva do desarmamento”, lançada pela União Soviética de Gorbachev: em 15 de Janeiro de 1986, ela propõe não só retirar os mísseis soviéticos e americanos de alcance intermédio, mas estabelecer um programa abrangente para concretizar a proibição de armas nucleares até ao ano 2000. Em Washington sabem que Gorbachev quer, realmente, a eliminação completa dessas armas, mas também sabem que, no Pacto de Varsóvia e na própria União Soviética, está a acontecer um processo de desintegração, um processo que os Estados Unidos e os seus aliados favorecem por todos os meios possíveis.

  1. Após o colapso do Muro de Berlim, em Novembro de 1989, em Julho de 1991, dissolve-se o Pacto de Varsóvia: os seis países da Europa Central e Oriental que faziam parte desse mesmo Pacto, agora já não são mais aliados da URSS. Em Dezembro de 1991, dissolve-se a própria União Soviética: em vez de um único Estado, formam-se agora quinze Estados. O desaparecimento da URSS e do seu bloco de alianças cria, na região da Europa e da Ásia Central, uma situação geopolítica inteiramente nova. Ao mesmo tempo, a desintegração da URSS e a crise política e económica profunda que afecta a Federação Russa, marcam o fim da superpotência capaz de rivalizar com os Estados Unidos.

Os Estados Unidos aproveitam, imediatamente, o clima de “distensão” na Europa para concentrar as suas forças na área estratégica do Golfo Pérsico, onde, com uma manobra inteligente, preparam as condições para desencadear o que o Pentágono define como “o primeiro conflito após a Guerra Fria, um acontecimento determinante para a liderança global dos Estados Unidos”. Em 17 de Janeiro de 1991 é lançada contra o Iraque “a campanha do bombardeio mais intenso da História”: Em 43 dias, a força aérea dos Estados Unidos e dos Aliados (incluindo a dos italianos) lançam contra o Iraque, por meio de 2.800 aviões, 250.000 bombas, incluindo as bombas aglomeradas, que emitem um total de mais de 10 milhões de submunições, enquanto aviões, helicópteros e tanques disparam mais de um milhão de projecteis de urânio empobrecido. Em 23 de Fevereiro, as tropas da coligação, incluindo mais de meio milhão de soldados, lançam a ofensiva terrestre que, depois de cem horas de carnificina, termina com um “cessar-fogo temporário, em 28 de Fevereiro”, proclamou o Presidente Bush.

A NATO, apesar de não participar como tal na Guerra do Golfo, fornece o apoio de toda a sua infraestrutura às forças da coligação. Participam no bombardeio, juntamente com as dos EUA, as forças aéreas e navais britânicas, francesas, italianas, gregas, espanholas, portuguesas, belgas, holandesas, dinamarquesas, norueguesas e canadianas, enquanto as forças britânicas e francesas apoiam as forças americanas na ofensiva terrestre.

A nova estratégia é enunciada oficialmente, seis meses após o fim da Guerra do Golfo, na Estratégia da Segurança Nacional dos Estados Unidos, publicada pela Casa Branca, em Agosto de 1991. O conceito central é que “os Estados Unidos permanecem o único país com uma força, uma escala e influência em todas as dimensões – política, económica e militar – verdadeiramente global: não existe nenhum substituto para a liderança americana. A nossa responsabilidade, mesmo na nova era, é de importância fundamental e inescapável”.

Um documento do Pentágono, elaborado em Fevereiro de 1992, esclarece que “o nosso principal objectivo é evitar o ressurgimento de um novo rival, seja no território da antiga União Soviética ou em qualquer outro lugar, que represente uma ameaça na ordem da anteriormente proposta pela União Soviética. A nova estratégia exige que trabalhemos para impedir que qualquer poder hostil domine uma região cujos recursos seriam suficientes, se rigidamente controlados, de criar uma potência global. Essa estratégia será adoptada em todas as “regiões críticas para a segurança dos EUA, que incluem a Europa, a Ásia Oriental, o Médio Oriente, o sudoeste da Ásia e o território da antiga União Soviética. Também temos interesses importantes na América Latina, na Oceania e na África Subsaariana”.

“Uma questão-chave – salienta a Casa Branca na Estratégia da Segurança Nacional de 1991 – é como será influenciado, o papel da América, de líder da Aliança e, de facto, das nossas próprias alianças, especialmente na Europa, pela redução da ameaça soviética. As diferenças entre os aliados provavelmente tornar-se-ão mais acentuadas assim que diminuir a tradicional preocupação de segurança, que as fez unir no início.” Por outras palavras: os aliados europeus poderiam fazer escolhas divergentes das dos Estados Unidos, questionando a liderança dos EUA ou mesmo deixando a NATO, agora ultrapassada pela nova situação geopolítica. Portanto, é da maior urgência que os Estados Unidos redefinam não só a estratégia, como também o papel da própria NATO.

Em 7 de Novembro de 1991, os chefes de Estado e de Governo dos dezesseis países da NATO, reunidos em Roma, no Conselho do Atlântico, lançaram “O novo conceito estratégico da Aliança”. Embora, por um lado, “tenha desaparecido a enorme ameaça monolítica que foi a principal preocupação da Aliança durante os seus primeiros quarenta anos” – afirma o documento – “os riscos que permanecem para a segurança da Aliança são multifacetados e multi direccionais. Portanto, a dimensão militar da nossa Aliança, permanece um factor essencial, mas o facto novo é que ela estará mais do que nunca ao serviço de um conceito amplo de segurança”. Deste modo, a Aliança Atlântica redefine o seu papel, fundamentalmente, de acordo com as linhas traçadas pelos EUA.

  1. A NATO destrói o Estado Jugoslavo

O “novo conceito estratégico” da NATO é posto em prática nos Balcãs, onde a crise da Federação Jugoslava, devido às contradições entre os grupos de poder e os impulsos centrífugos das repúblicas, atingiu o ponto de ruptura.

Em Novembro de 1990, o Congresso dos Estados Unidos aprovou o financiamento directo de todas as novas formações “democráticas” da Jugoslávia, encorajando tendências separatistas. Em Dezembro, o Parlamento da República da Croácia, controlado pelo partido de Franjo Tudjman, emitiu uma nova Constituição segundo a qual a Croácia é apenas “a pátria dos croatas” e é soberana sobre o seu território. Seis meses depois, em Junho de 1991, além da Croácia, a Eslovénia também proclamou a sua independência. Imediatamente depois, irromperam confrontos entre o exército federal e os separatistas. Em Outubro, na Croácia, o governo Tudjman expulsa mais de 25 mil sérvios, enquanto as suas milícias ocupam Vukovar. O exército federal responde, retomando a cidade. A guerra civil começa a espalhar-se, mas ainda poderia ser interrompida.

Pelo contrário, o caminho tomado, é diametralmente oposto: a Alemanha, comprometida em expandir a sua influência económica e política na região dos Balcãs, em Dezembro de 1991, reconhece unilateralmente a Croácia e a Eslovénia como Estados independentes. Como consequência, no dia seguinte, os sérvios da Croácia proclamam a autodeterminação, constituindo a República Sérvia de Krajna. Em Janeiro de 1992, primeiro o Vaticano e depois a Europa dos Doze reconhecem a Eslovénia e a Croácia. Neste ponto, também a Bósnia-Herzegovina se incendeia, o que, de certa forma, representa todo o conjunto de nós étnicos e religiosos da Federação Jugoslava.

Os capacetes azuis da ONU, enviados para a Bósnia como uma força de interposição entre as facções em luta, são deliberadamente deixados em número insuficiente, sem meios adequados e sem directivas precisas, acabando por se tornar reféns no meio dos combates. Tudo contribui para demonstrar o “fracasso da ONU” e a necessidade de que seja a NATO a tomar conta da situação. Em Julho de 1992, a NATO lança a primeira operação de “resposta à crise”, para impor o embargo à Jugoslávia.

Em Fevereiro de 1994, aviões da NATO abatem aviões sérvio-bósnios, que voam sobre a Bósnia. É a primeira acção de guerra desde a fundação da Aliança. Com essa acção, a NATO viola o artº. 5 da sua Carta Constituinte, visto que a acção bélica não é motivada pelo ataque a um membro da Aliança e é efectuada fora da sua área geográfica.

Apagado o incêndio na Bósnia (onde o fogo permanece sob as cinzas da divisão em Estados étnicos), a NATO lança gasolina no surto de Kosovo, onde está em andamento há anos, uma reivindicação de independência pela maioria albanesa. Através de canais subterrâneos largamente geridos pela CIA, um rio de armas e financiamentos, entre o final de 1998 e o início de 1999, vai alimentar o ELK (Exército de Libertação do Kosovo), o braço armado do movimento separatista kosovar-albanês. Os agentes da CIA informaram posteriormente que entraram no Kosovo em 1998 e 1999, como observadores da OSCE encarregados de verificar  o cessar-fogo, fornecendo manuais de treino militar dos Estados Unidos e telefones via satélite ao Exército de Libertação do Kosovo (ELK), para que os comandantes dos guerrilheiros pudessem estar em contato com a NATO e Washington. O ELK pode, assim, lançar uma ofensiva contra as tropas federais e contra os civis sérvios, com centenas de ataques e detenções.

Enquanto os encontros entre as forças jugoslavas e as do ELK provocam vítimas de ambos os lados, uma poderosa campanha político-mediática prepara a opinião pública internacional para a intervenção da NATO, apresentada como o único meio de acabar com a «limpeza étnica» sérvia no Kosovo. O alvo principal é o Presidente da Jugoslávia, Slobodan Milosevic, acusado de “limpeza étnica”.

A guerra, denominada «Operação Força Aliada», tem início em 24 de Março de 1999. O papel da Itália é determinante: o governo D’Alema coloca o território italiano, em particular os aeroportos, à inteira disposição das forças armadas dos Estados Unidos e dos outros países, para exercer, como o Presidente do Conselho define, «o direito de ingerência humanitária». Durante 78 dias, descolando, sobretudo, das bases italianas, 1.100 aviões efectuam 38 mil saídas, lançando 23 mil bombas e mísseis. 75% dos aviões e 90 % das bombas e dos mísseis são fornecidos pelos Estados Unidos: Aos EUA pertence a rede de comunicações, de comando, de controlo e dos serviços secretos, através dos quais são conduzidas as operações: «Dos 2.000 objectivos atingidos na Sérvia pelos aviões da NATO – documenta, em seguida, o Pentágono – 1999 foram escolhidos pelos serviços secretos americanos e apenas um, pelos europeus».

Sistematicamente, os bombardeamentos desmantelam as estruturas e as infraestruturas da Sérvia, provocando vítimas, sobretudo entre os civis. Os danos que decorrem para a saúde e para o ambiente, não são quantificáveis. Só da refinaria de Pancevo, surgem,  devido aos bombardeamentos, milhares de toneladas de substâncias químicas altamente tóxicas (compreendendo a dioxina e o mercúrio). Outras destruições, na Sérvia e no Kosovo, são provocadas da parte da NATO, pelo emprego maciço  de balas de urânio empobrecido, já usadas na guerra do Golfo.

Nos bombardeamentos participam 54 aviões italianos, que atacam os objectivos indicados pelo comando americano. «Pelo número de aviões fomos secundados apenas pelos Estados Unidos. A Itália é um grande país e não se deve surpreender do empenho demonstrado nesta guerra», declara o Presidente do Conselho, D’Alema, durante a visita feita em 10 de Junho de 1999, à base de Amendola, salientando que, para os pilotos que participaram nela, foi “uma grande experiência humana e profissional”.

Em 10 de Junho de 1999, as tropas da Federação Jugoslava começam a retirar-se do Kosovo e a NATO põe fim aos bombardeamentos. A resolução 1244 do Conselho de Segurança da ONU dispõe que a presença internacional deve ter uma substancial participação da NATO. “Hoje a NATO enfrenta a sua nova missão: a de governar”, comenta The Washington Post.

Acabada a guerra, são enviados para o Kosovo mais de 60 agentes do FBI, mas não encontraram vestígios de massacres que justificassem a acusação, feita pelos sérvios, de “limpeza étnica”. Slobodan Milosevic, condenado a 40 anos de reclusão pelo Tribunal Penal Internacional de Haia para a antiga Jugoslávia, morre depois de cinco anos de prisão. O mesmo Tribunal exonera-o, em 2016, da acusação de “limpeza étnica”.

O Kosovo, onde os EUA instalam uma grande base militar (Camp Bondsteel), torna-se uma espécie de protectorado da NATO. Ao mesmo tempo, sob a cobertura de “Força da paz”, o antigo ELK no poder, aterroriza e expulsa mais de 250 mil sérvios, rom/ciganos, judeus, e albaneses designados de “colaboracionistas”. Em 2008, com a auto proclamação do Kosovo como Estado independente, é concluída a demolição da Federação Jugoslava.

Enquanto decorre a guerra contra a Jugoslávia, é convocada em Washington, de 23 a 25 de Abril de 1999, a cimeira que oficializa a transformação da NATO. Da Aliança que, baseada no Artigo 5 do Tratado de 4 de Abril de 1949, obriga os países membros a assistir também com as suas forças armadas, o país membro que for atacado na área do Atlântico Norte, ela é transformada numa aliança que, fundamentada no “novo conceito estratégico” e força os países membros também, a “efecuar operações de resposta a crises não previstas no Artigo 5, fora do território da Aliança”. Por outras palavras, a NATO prepara-se a projectar a sua força militar para além das suas fronteiras, não só na Europa mas também para outras regiões do mundo.

O que não muda, na mutação da NATO, é a hierarquia no seu interior. É sempre o Presidente dos Estados Unidos a nomear o Comandante Supremo Aliado, na Europa, que é sempre um general americano enquanto os aliados se limitam a ratificar a escolha. O mesmo acontece com os outros comandos-chave.

O documento que obriga os países membros a agir fora do território da Aliança, subscrito pelos dirigentes europeus, em 24 de Abril de 1999, em Washington, reitera que a NATO “apoia plenamente o desenvolvimento da entidade europeia da defesa, no interior da Aliança”. O conceito é claro: A Europa Ocidental pode ter a sua “identidade de defesa”, mas essa mesma “identidade de defesa”, tem de permanecer no interior da Aliança, ou seja, sob comando USA.

Assim, é confirmada e consolidada, a subordinação da União Europeia à NATO. Subordinação estabelecida pelo Tratado de Maastricht de 1992, que reconhece o direito dos Estados da União Europeia de fazer parte da NATO, definida como a base da defesa da União Europeia.

A Itália – participando da guerra contra a Jugoslávia, país que não tinha nenhuma acção agressiva nem contra a Itália, nem contra os outros membros da NATO – confirma ter adoptado uma nova política militar e, ao mesmo tempo, uma nova política externa. Esta, usando a força militar como uma ferramenta, viola o princípio constitucional, afirmado no Artigo 11, que “a Itália repudia a guerra como instrumento de ataque contra a liberdade dos outros povos e como meio de resolução de conflitos internacionais”.

  1. A NATO expande-se para Leste, para a Rússia

Em 1990, na véspera da dissolução do Pacto de Varsóvia, o Secretário de Estado dos EUA, James Baker, assegurou ao Presidente da URSS, Mikhail Gorbachev, que “a NATO não se estenderia uma polegada para leste”. Mas, em vinte anos, depois de destruir a Federação Jugoslava, a NATO amplia-se de 16 para 30 países, expandindo-se cada vez mais para Leste, em direcção à Rússia

Em 1999, engloba os três primeiros países do antigo Pacto de Varsóvia: Polónia, República Checa e Hungria. Em 2004, estende-se a mais sete: Estónia, Letónia, Lituânia (já parte da URSS); Bulgária, Roménia, Eslováquia (já parte do Pacto de Varsóvia); Eslovénia (que já faz parte da Federação da Jugoslávia). Em 2009, incorporou a Albânia (anteriormente, membro do Pacto de Varsóvia) e a Croácia (anteriormente, parte da Federação da Jugoslávia) e, em 2017, o Montenegro; em 2019, assina o protocolo de adesão da Macedónia do Norte como o 30º membro. Outros três países – a Bósnia Herzegovina (anteriormente, parte da Federação da Jugoslávia), a Geórgia e a Ucrânia (anteriormente parte da URSS) – são candidatos à adesão à NATO.

Assim, Washington vincula esses países, não à Aliança, mas directamente aos EUA, reforçando a sua influência dentro da União Europeia. Dos dez países da Europa Central e de Leste que aderiram à NATO, entre 1999 e 2004, sete entraram na União Europeia entre 2004 e 2007: à União Europeia que se expande para leste, os Estados Unidos sobrepõem-se à NATO, que se estende para Leste, sobre a Europa. Isto revela claramente o plano estratégico de Washington: incentivar os novos membros do Leste para estabelecer relações ainda mais favoráveis com os Estados Unidos na NATO, de modo a isolar a “velha Europa” que poderia, um dia, tornar-se autónoma.

Além do mais, a expansão da NATO para Leste, tem outras implicações. Englobando não só os países do antigo Pacto de Varsóvia, mas também as três repúblicas bálticas que, em tempos, fizeram parte da URSS, a NATO chega às fronteiras da Federação Russa. Não obstante, as garantias de Washington sobre as suas intenções pacíficas, isto constitui também uma ameaça nuclear para a Rússia.

  1. USA e NATO atacam o Afeganistão e o Iraque

Os Estados Unidos atacam e invadem o Afeganistão, em 2001, com o pretexto oficial de dar caça a Osama bin Laden, apontado como o instigador dos ataques terroristas de 11 de Setembro de 2001 (cuja versão oficial não resiste a investigações técnicas e científicas, efectuadas por peritos independentes). Osama bin Laden é uma figura bem conhecida em Washington: pertencendo a uma família rica saudita, tinha colaborado activamente com a CIA quando, de 1979 a 1989, treinou e armou mais de 100 mil mujaidin através do ISI (serviço secreto paquistanês)mais de 100.000 mujaidin para a guerra contra as tropas soviéticas caídas na “armadilha afegã” (como Zbigniew Brzezinski definirá posteriormente, afirmando que o treino e o armamento dos mujaidin se iniciaram em Julho de 1979, cinco meses antes da invasão soviética do Afeganistão) .

Abre-se uma nova fase da situação internacional: o Presidente dos Estados Unidos está autorizado a comandar a “guerra global contra o terrorismo”, na qual não há fronteiras geográficas, conduzida contra um inimigo que pode ser identificado de vez em quando, não somente como terrorista ou suposto terrorista, mas contra qualquer um que se oponha à política e aos interesses dos EUA. A imagem perfeita de um inimigo, permutável e duradouro. O Presidente Bush define-o como “um inimigo sombrio, escondido nos cantos escuros da Terra”.

O verdadeiro propósito da intervenção militar dos EUA no Afeganistão é a ocupação desta área de importância estratégica primordial. O Afeganistão está na encruzilhada do Médio Oriente, Ásia do Centro, do Sul e do Leste. Nesta área (no Golfo e no Cáspio) existem grandes reservas de petróleo. Encontram-se aí  três grandes potências – China, Rússia e Índia – cuja força está a crescer e afectar os activos globais. Como o Pentágono tinha alertado no relatório de 30 de Setembro de 2001, “existe a possibilidade de surgir na Ásia, um rival militar com uma base de recursos formidável”.

No período anterior a 11 de Setembro de 2001, havia na Ásia, fortes indícios de uma aproximação entre a China e a Rússia. Washington considera esse facto como um desafio aos interesses dos EUA, no momento crítico em que os Estados Unidos procuram preencher o vazio deixado pela URSS na Ásia Central. Uma posição geoestratégica chave para o controlo desta área, é a do Afeganistão.

A guerra começa em Outubro de 2001, com o bombardeio realizado pela aviação americana e britânica. Neste ponto, o Conselho de Segurança da ONU autoriza a criação da ISAF (Força Internacional de Assistência à Segurança), cuja direcção é confiada em sucessão à Grã-Bretanha, Turquia, Alemanha e Holanda. Mas, de repente, em Agosto de 2003, a NATO anuncia que “assumiu o cargo de liderança da ISAF, uma força com mandato da ONU”. É um verdadeiro golpe: nenhuma resolução do Conselho de Segurança autoriza a NATO a assumir a liderança, ou o comando, da ISAF. Somente após o facto consumado, através da Resolução de Segurança 1659, de Fevereiro de 2006, o Conselho de Segurança “reconhece o compromisso contínuo da NATO, em dirigir a ISAF”. Portanto, a missão da ISAF está incluída na cadeia de comando do Pentágono. Os militares italianos designados para a ISAF estão incluídos na mesma cadeia de comando.

Depois do Afeganistão, é a vez do Iraque, país submetido a um rigoroso embargo, desde 1991, que causou 1,5 milhões de mortes em dez anos, dos quais cerca de meio milhão eram crianças. O Presidente Bush em 2002, coloca o Iraque em primeiro lugar, entre os países que fazem parte do “eixo do mal”. O Secretário de Estado, Colin Powell, apresenta no Conselho de Segurança da ONU uma série de “provas” recolhidas pela CIA, que posteriormente serão reconhecidas como falsas, sobre a alegada existência de um grande arsenal de armas químicas e bacteriológicas em posse do Iraque e a sua alegada capacidade de construir armas nucleares num curto espaço de tempo. Como o Conselho de Segurança se recusa a autorizar a guerra, a Administração Bush ignora, simplesmente, esse facto.

A guerra começa em Março de 2003 com o bombardeio aéreo de Bagad e de outros centros, pela aviação americana e britânica e com o ataque terrestre realizado pelos fuzileiros navais que entram no Iraque vindos do Kuwait. Em Abril, tropas dos EUA ocupam Bagdad. A operação, chamada “Iraqi Freedom/Libertação do Iraque”, é apresentada como sendo uma “guerra preventiva” e a “exportação da democracia”. Os EUA e as forças de ocupação aliadas – incluindo as italianas envolvidas na operação “Antiga Babilónia” – encontram uma resistência inesperada. Para esmagá-la, o Iraque é posto a ferro e fogo por mais de um milhão e meio de soldados, que o Pentágono envia em rotação conjunta com centenas de milhares de “contractors/empresas militares privadas”, usando todos os meios: desde bombas de fósforo contra a população de Falluja às torturas na prisão de Abu Ghraib.

A NATO participa, efectivamente, na guerra com as suas estruturas e forças. Em 2004, foi criada a “Missão de Treino da NATO”, com o objectivo declarado de “ajudar o Iraque a criar forças armadas eficientes”. Milhares de militares e polícias iraquianos são treinados em 2.000 cursos especiais efectuados nos países da Aliança. Ao mesmo tempo, a NATO envia instrutores e conselheiros, incluindo italianos, para “ajudar o Iraque a criar o seu próprio sector de segurança de orientação democrática e durável” e “estabelecer uma parceria de longo prazo da NATO com o Iraque”.

  1. A NATO destrói o Estado líbio

Múltiplos factores tornam a Líbia importante aos olhos dos Estados Unidos e das potências europeias. Possui as maiores reservas de petróleo da África, preciosas pela sua elevada qualidade e baixo custo de extracção e grandes reservas de gás natural. Sobre essas mesmas reservas, o Estado líbio mantém um forte controlo, deixando margens de lucro limitadas para as empresas americanas e europeias. Além do ouro negro, a Líbia tem ouro branco: a imensa reserva de água fóssil do aquífero núbio, que se estende sob a Líbia, Egipto, Sudão e Chade. Os fundos soberanos são consideráveis, os capitais que o Estado líbio investiu no estrangeiro, em particular para fornecer à África os seus organismos financeiros e a sua própria moeda.

Na véspera da guerra de 2011, os Estados Unidos e as potências europeias “congelaram”, ou seja,  apreenderam, os fundos soberanos da Líbia, assentando um golpe mortal em todo o projecto. Os emails de Hillary Clinton (Secretária de Estado da Administração Obama, em 2011), que vieram depois a público, confirmam qual era o verdadeiro propósito da guerra: bloquear o plano de Gaddafi de usar os fundos soberanos da Líbia para criar órgãos financeiros autónomos da União Africa e uma moeda africana como alternativa ao dólar e ao franco CFA (a moeda que são forçados a usar, os 14 países africanos, antigas colónias francesas). É Clinton – Documentará mais tarde o New York Times  – que é Hillary Clinton que influencia o Presidente Obama a assinar “um documento que autoriza uma operação secreta na Líbia e o fornecimento de armas aos rebeldes”.

São financiados e armados, os sectores tribais hostis ao governo de Trípoli e os grupos islâmicos que até há poucos meses  eram designados como terroristas. Ao mesmo tempo, infiltraram-se na Líbia, forças especiais, incluindo milhares de comandos do Qatar facilmente camufláveis. Toda a operação é dirigida pelos Estados Unidos, primeiro através do Comando Africano, depois através da NATO, sob  comando USA.

Em 19 de Março de 2011, inicia-se o bombardeio aéreo-naval da Líbia. Em sete meses, a aviação dos USA/NATO efectua 30.000 missões, das quais 10.000 são de ataque, com o emprego de mais de 40.000 bombas e mísseis. A Itália participa nesta guerra com as suas bases e forças militares, dissolvendo o Tratado de Amizade, Parceria e Cooperação entre os dois países. Para a guerra na Líbia, a Itália disponibiliza para as forças USA/NATO, 7 bases aéreas (Trapani, Gioia del Colle, Sigonella, Decimomannu, Aviano, Amendola e Pantelleria), fornecendo assistência técnica e abastecimentos. A Força Aérea Italiana participa na guerra, efectuando mais de mil missões e a Marinha italiana está envolvida em várias frentes.

Com a guerra USA/NATO, de 2011, o Estado líbio é destruído e o próprio Gaddafi assassinado. É demolido esse Estado que, na costa sul do Mediterrâneo, em frente à Itália, mantinha “níveis elevados de crescimento económico” (como o próprio Banco Mundial documentava em 2010), registando “excelentes indicadores de desenvolvimento humano”, incluindo o acesso universal ao ensino primário e secundário e o acesso de 46% ao nível universitário. Apesar das disparidades, o padrão de vida da população líbia era consideravelmente superior ao dos outros países africanos. Testemunha-o o facto de que mais de dois milhões de imigrantes, principalmente africanos, encontravam trabalho na Líbia.

Também são afectados pela guerra os imigrantes da África Subsaariana, que, perseguidos sob acusação de colaborar com Gaddafi, são presos ou forçados a fugir. Muitos, impulsionados pelo desespero, tentam a travessia do Mediterrâneo para a Europa. Os que perdem a vida também são vítimas da guerra com a qual a NATO derrubou o Estado líbio.

  1. A guerra USA/NATO para demolir a Síria

Depois de ter demolido o Estado líbio inicia-se, no mesmo ano de 2011, a operação USA/NATO destinada a destruir o Estado sírio. Uma das razões foi o facto de que a Síria, o Irão e o Iraque assinam, em Julho de 2011, um acordo para um gasoducto que deveria ligar a jazida petrolífera iraniana de South Pars, a maior do mundo, à Síria e, assim, ao Mediterrâneo. A Síria, onde outro grande depósito foi descoberto perto de Homs, poderia assim, tornar-se um centro de corredores alternativos de energia, aos da Turquia e de outros percursos, controlados por empresas dos EUA e da Europa.

A guerra encoberta começa com uma série de atentados terroristas, efectuados sobretudo em Damasco e Alepo. As imagens dos edifícios devastados com explosivos poderosos são eloquentes: não são obra de simples rebeldes, mas de profissionais de guerra infiltrados. Centenas de especialistas das forças de elite britânicas, SAS e SBS – relata o Daily Star – operam na Síria, juntamente com unidades americanas e francesas.

A força de impacto é constituída por um grupo armado de grupos islâmicos (até recentemente, designados por Washington como terroristas) provenientes do Afeganistão, Bósnia, Chechénia, Líbia e outros países. No grupo de Abu Omar al-Chechen – relata o enviado do Guardian, em Aleppo – as ordens são dadas em árabe, mas devem ser traduzidas para checheno, tadjique, turco, dialeto saudita, urdu, francês e outras línguas. Munidos com passaportes falsos (especialidade da CIA), os combatentes afluem nas províncias turcas de Adana e Hatai, com fronteiras com a Síria, onde a CIA abriu centros de treino militar. As armas chegam principalmente através da Arábia Saudita e do Qatar que, como na Líbia, também fornece forças especiais.

O comando das operações está a bordo dos navios da NATO, no porto de Alessandretta. Abriu um centro de propaganda em Istambul, onde dissidentes sírios, treinados e financiados pelo Departamento de Estado dos EUA, fabricam notícias e vídeos que são transmitidos através das redes de satélites.

A partir de centros operacionais especiais, os agentes da CIA providenciam a compra de armas com grandes empréstimos concedidos pela Arábia Saudita, Qatar e outras monarquias do Golfo. Os mesmos organizam o transporte de armas na Turquia e na Jordânia através de uma ponte aérea e, finalmente, através da fronteira, fazem-nas chegar aos grupos na Síria, já treinados em campos especiais montados em território turco e jordano.

A estratégia usada surge nos documentos que vieram depois a público. A Secretária de Estado, Hillary Clinton, num email de 2012 (desclassificado como “número de processo F-2014-20439, Doc No. C05794498”), escreve que, dada a “relação estratégica” Irão-Síria, “o aniquilamento de Assad constituiria um imenso benefício para Israel, e também diminuiria o medo compreensível israelita de perder o monopólio nuclear”.

Um documento oficial do Pentágono, datado de 12 de Agosto de 2012 (desclassificado em 18 de Maio de 2015, por iniciativa do grupo conservador, Judicial Watch), afirma que “os países ocidentais, os Estados do Golfo e a Turquia, apoiam na Síria, as forças da oposição que tentam controlar as áreas orientais, adjacentes às províncias iraquianas ocidentais”, ajudando-as a “criar refúgios seguros sob protecção internacional”. Há uma “possibilidade de estabelecer um principado salafita na Síria oriental e é exactamente o que querem as potências que apoiam a oposição, para isolar o regime sírio, a retaguarda estratégica da expansão chiita (Iraque e Irão)”.

É neste contexto que, em 2013, se forma o ISIS (ou DAESH), que se autoproclama “Estado do Califado Islâmico”. Em Maio de 2013, um mês depois de fundar o ISIS, Ibrahim al-Badri – o “califa” conhecido com o nome de batalha de Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – encontra, na Síria, o Senador John McCain, líder dos republicanos, encarregado pelo democrata Obama, de desenvolver operações encobertas por conta do governo. Este encontro é documentado fotograficamente.

O ISIS recebe financiamentos, armas e rotas de trânsito dos aliados mais chegados aos Estados Unidos: Arábia Saudita, Qatar, Kuwait, Turquia, Jordânia, com base num plano, seguramente coordenado pela CIA. Depois de ter conquistado com as suas milícias, grande parte do território sírio, o ISIS lança a ofensiva no Iraque, não por acaso, mas no momento em que o governo, presidido  pelo chiita Nouri al-Maliki se afasta de Washington, aproximando-se, cada vez mais, da Rússia e da China. A ofensiva, que incendeia o Iraque, encontra matéria inflamável na rivalidade sunita-chiita. As milícias do ISIS ocupam Ramadi, a segunda cidade do Iraque e, pouco depois, Palmira, na Síria central, matando milhares de civis e forçando à fuga, dezenas de milhares dos mesmos.

De facto, o ISIS desempenha um papel  funcional na estratégia USA/NATO de demolição de Estados. O que não significa que a massa dos seus militantes, provenientes de diversos países, esteja consciente disso. Ela é muito heterogénea: fazem parte da mesma massa, quer combatentes islâmicos, formados no drama da guerra, quer militares da época de Saddam Hussein que combateram contra os invasores, quer muitos outros cujas histórias estão sempre ligadas a situações sociais trágicas, provocadas pela primeira guerra do Golfo e pelas guerras seguintes, num espaço de vinte anos. Também fazem parte alguns combatentes estrangeiros provenientes da Europa e dos Estados Unidos, dentro de cujas máscaras se escondem, de certeza, agentes secretos formados propositadamente, para tais operações.

Também é muito suspeito o acesso ilimitado do ISIS, no período do seu desenvolvimento máximo, às redes mediáticas mundiais, dominadas pelas colossais corporações mediáticas americanas e europeias, através das quais divulgam as filmagens das decapitações que, suscitando horror e que criam uma opinião pública muito vasta, favorável à intervenção no Iraque e na Síria.

A campanha militar “Inherent Resolve”, formalmente dirigida contra o ISIS, é lançada no Iraque e na Síria em Agosto de 2014, pelos Estados Unidos e pelos seus aliados: França, Grã-Bretanha, Canadá, Austrália, Arábia Saudita, Emirados Árabes Unidos, Bahrain e outros. Se os Estados Unidos, a França e a Grã-Bretanha usassem os seus caça bombardeiros, como tinham feito na Líbia em 2011, as forças do ISIS, movendo-se em espaços abertos, seriam um alvo fácil. Pelo contrário, elas podiam avançar imperturbáveis, com colunas de blindados carregadas de homens e explosivos. Se o ISIS avança na Síria e no Iraque, é porque em Washington, eles querem isso mesmo. O objectivo estratégico de Washington é a destruição da Síria e a reocupação do Iraque.

A intervenção militar russa na Síria, em 2015, em apoio às forças do governo, reverte o destino do conflito. Os caças-bombardeiros russos destroem as fortalezas do ISIS, uma após outra, abrindo caminho para as forças de Damasco. Os Estados Unidos, deslocados, jogam a cartada da fragmentação da Síria, apoiando os independentistas curdos e outros. Depois de tentar demolir o Estado sírio durante cinco anos, destruindo-o a partir de dentro, por intermédio de grupos terroristas armados e infiltrados do exterior e provocando mais de 250.000 mortes, no momento em que  operação está a  falhar, devido à intervenção militar russa em apoio das forças do governo sírio, os aparelhos políticos e mediáticos de todo o Ocidente lançam uma psyop colossal (operação psicológica) para fazer parecer o governo e todos os sírios que resistem à agressão, como sendo os agressores. A ponta de lança da psyop é a demonização do presidente Assad (como já tinha sido feito com Milosevic e Gaddafi), apresentado-o como um ditador sádico que gosta de bombardear hospitais e exterminar crianças, com a ajuda de seu amigo Putin, retratado como o neo-czar do renascimento do império russo. No momento em que caem os últimos redutos do ISIS, os mesmos aparelhos político-mediáticos espalham a fake news = notícia falsa de que o Estado Islâmico foi derrotado pelos Estados Unidos e pelas “Forças Democráticas da Síria” (uma milícia de curdos e árabes armada e apoiada pelo Pentágono).

  1. Israel e emirados na NATO

No mesmo dia (4 de Maio de 2016), em que se instala na NATO, o novo Comandante Supremo Aliado da NATO, na Europa – o General norte-americano Curtis Scaparrotti, nomeado como os seus 17 antecessores pelo Presidente dos Estados Unidos – o Conselho do Atlântico Norte anuncia que, no quartel general da NATO, é instituída em Bruxelas, uma Missão oficial israelita, chefiada pelo Embaixador de Israel, na União Europeia.

Israel está assim ainda mais integrado na NATO, à qual já está estreitamente ligado através do “Programa de Cooperação Individual”, que tinha sido ratificado pela NATO, em 2 de Dezembro de 2008, três semanas antes da operação israelita “Chumbo Fundido”, em Gaza. Inclui, entre outras funções, a colaboração entre os serviços secretos e a ligação das forças israelitas, incluindo as forças nucleares, ao sistema electrónico da NATO.

Israel – a única potência nuclear no Médio Oriente, que não aderiu ao Tratado de Não-Proliferação, subscrito pelo Irão, que não tem armas nucleares – possui (sem admiti-lo) um arsenal estimado entre 100 a 400 armas nucleares, incluindo mini bombas nucleares e bombas de neutrões da nova geração e produz plutónio e trítio em quantidades com que poderão construir outras centenas delas. As ogivas nucleares israelitas estão prontas para ser lançadas por mísseis balísticos e caça bombardeiros dos EUA, aos quais se juntam agora, os F-35.

Os principais países europeus da NATO, que apoiam, formalmente, o acordo nuclear iraniano estipulado em 2015 (do qual os EUA saíram em 2018), estão realmente alinhados com Israel. A Alemanha forneceu-lhe seis submarinos Dolphin, modificados para que pudessem lançar mísseis de cruzeiro com ogivas nucleares e aprovaram o fornecimento de mais três. A Alemanha, a França, a Itália, a Grécia e a Polónia participaram, com os EUA, no maior exercício internacional de guerra aérea da História de Israel, a Bandeira Azul 2017. A Itália, ligada a Israel por um acordo de cooperação militar (Lei n. 94, de 2005), participou com caças Tornado do 6º Esquadrão de Ghedi, adaptados ao transporte de bombas nucleares dos EUA.

De acordo com o plano testado no Exercício USA-Israel Juniper Cobra 2018, as forças USA e NATO chegariam da Europa (principalmente de bases em Itália) para apoiar Israel numa guerra contra o Irão. Ela pode começar com um ataque israelita contra instalações nucleares iranianas, como a realizada em 1981 em Osiraq, no Iraque. No caso de retaliação iraniana, Israel poderia fazer uso de uma arma nuclear colocando em movimento uma reacção em cadeia com resultados imprevisíveis.

À Missão oficial de Israel na NATO juntam-se as do reino da Jordânia e dos emirados do Qatar e do Kuwait, “parceiros muito activos” que estão ainda mais integrados na NATO, através de méritos adquiridos. A Jordânia alberga bases secretas da CIA nas quais – documentam o New York Times e o Der Spiegel – foram treinados militantes islâmicos da Al Qaeda e do Estado Islâmico para a guerra secreta na Síria e no Iraque. O Qatar participou da guerra da NATO contra a Líbia, infiltrando, em 2011, cerca de 5.000 comandos no seu território (conforme declarado ao The Guardian pelo Chefe do Estado-Maior do Qatar) e na Síria: admite-o em entrevista ao “Financial Times”, o antigo Primeiro Ministro do Qatar, Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, que fala sobre as operações do Qatar e da Arábia Saudita de “interferência” na Síria, coordenadas pelos Estados Unidos.

O Kuwait, através do “Acordo de Trânsito”, permite à NATO ter o seu primeiro aeroporto no Golfo, não só para o envio de forças e materiais militares para o Afeganistão, mas também para a “cooperação prática da NATO com o Kuwait e outros parceiros, como a Arábia Saudita”. Parceiros apoiados pelos USA na guerra que massacra civis no Iémen. O Kuwait também participa com cerca de quinze caça bombardeiros, a quem a Itália fornece 28 caças Eurofighter Typhoon de nova geração, depois de abastecer Israel com 30 caças M-346 de treino avançado. Os Eurofighter Typhoons, que o Kuwait utiliza para causar hecatombes no Iémen e noutros lugares, também podem ser equipados com bombas nucleares. A Força Aérea Italiana fornece treino às tripulações.

  1. A orquestração USA/NATO no golpe na Ucrânia

A operação conduzida pelos USA e pela NATO na Ucrânia inicia-se quando, em 1991, depois do Pacto de Varsóvia, também se desagrega a União Soviética da qual fazia parte. Os Estados Unidos e os aliados europeus movem-se rapidamente para tirar a máxima vantagem da nova situação geopolítica.

A Ucrânia – cujo território funciona como um amortecedor entre a NATO e a Rússia e é atravessada por corredores de energia entre a Rússia e a União Europeia – não entra directamente na NATO. No entanto, no âmbito da NATO, associa-se à “Parceria para a paz”, contribuindo para as operações de “manutenção da paz” nos Balcãs.

Em 2002, é adoptado o «Plano de Acção NATO-Ucrânia» e o Presidente Kuchma anuncia a intenção de aderir à NATO. Em 2005, na esteira da “revolução laranja” (orquestrada e financiada pelos USA e pelas potências europeias), o Presidente Yushchenko é convidado para a Cimeira da NATO, em Bruxelas. Pouco depois é lançado um “diálogo intensificado sobre a aspiração da Ucrânia a tornar-se membro da NATO” e, em 2008, a cimeira de Bucareste dá luz verde à sua adesão.

Nesse mesmo ano, o exército georgiano, treinado e armado pelos Estados Unidos e, ao mesmo tempo, por Israel, através de empresas militares “privadas”, ataca a Ossétia do Sul, em luta desde 1991 (quando se desagrega a União Soviética) para  se tornar independente da Geórgia. Na noite de 8 Agosto de 2008 a Geórgia, apoiada pela NATO, lança uma ofensiva militar para reconquistar o controlo da região em discussão. Poucas horas depois, a Rússia intervém militarmente, rejeitando a invasão georgiana e a Ossétia do Sul torna-se, para todos os efeitos, independente da Geórgia. É o primeiro sinal da ofensiva que a NATO, sob comando USA, está a preparar na frente oriental para forçar a Rússia a reagir.

Na Ucrânia, em 2009, Kiev assina um acordo que permite a passagem no seu território, do abastecimento para as forças da NATO, no Afeganistão. Agora a adesão à NATO parece certa mas, em 2010, o Presidente Yanukovych, eleito recentemente, anuncia que, embora continuando a cooperação, a adesão à NATO não está no seu programa de governo. Mas, entretanto, no fim de 1991, a NATO teceu uma rede de ligações no interior das forças armadas ucranianas. Os oficiais superiores participam todos os anos nos cursos do NATO Defense College, em Roma, e em Oberammergau (na Alemanha). No mesmo quadro insere-se a instituição, na Academia Militar ucraniana, de uma nova “faculdade multinacional” com docentes da NATO. Também foi notavelmente desenvolvida a cooperação técnico-científica no campo dos armamentos a fim de facilitar a participação das forças armadas ucranianas em “operações conjuntas para a paz”, sob a orientação da NATO.

E visto que não existe só aquilo que se vê, é evidente que a NATO constrói uma rede de ligações nos ambientes militares e civis, muito mais extensa do que aparenta. Através da CIA e de outros serviços secretos, são recrutados anualmente, financiados, treinados e armados militantes neonazis. Uma documentação fotográfica mostra jovens militantes nazis ucranianos do UNO-UNSO, treinados em 2006, na Estónia, por instrutores da NATO, que ensinam técnicas de combate urbano e o uso de explosivos para sabotagens e atentados.

O mesmo método usado pela NATO, durante a Guerra Fria, para formar a estrutura paramilitar secreta «Gladio». Activa também em Itália onde, em Camp Darby e noutras bases, são treinados grupos neofascistas, preparando-os para atentados e para um eventual golpe de Estado.

A estrutura paramilitar de grupos neonazis entra em accção, em 2014, na praça Maidan, em Kiev. Uma manifestação anti governamental, com reivindicações justas contra a corrupção galopante e o agravamento das condições de vida, torna-se rapidamente transformada num verdadeiro campo de batalha: enquanto grupos armados tomam de assalto os palácios do governo, atiradores de elite(snipers) (vindos propositadamente para Kiev, da Geórgia) disparam com as mesmas armas de precisão, quer sobre os manifestantes, quer sobre a polícia.

Em 20 de Fevereiro de 2014, o Secretário Geral da NATO dirige-se, em tom de comando, às forças armadas ucranianas, advertindo-as para “permanecerem neutras”, pelas “graves consequências negativas para as nossas relações”. Abandonado pelas chefias das forças armadas e por grande parte do aparelho do governo, o Presidente Viktor Yanukovych é forçado a fugir. Andriy Parubiy – co-fundador do partido nacionalista, constituído em 1991 sob o modelo do Partido Nacional Socialista de Adolfo Hitler, e chefe das formações paramilitares neonazis – é nomeado “Chefe do Conselho de Defesa e Segurança Nacional”.

O golpe de Estado violento da Praça Maidan é acompanhado de uma campanha de perseguição, dirigida em particular contra o Partido Comunista e sindicatos, análoga àquelas que marcaram a chegada do fascismo em Itália e do nazismo na Alemanha. Sedes dos partidos destruídas, dirigentes linchados, jornalistas torturados e assassinados, activistas queimados vivos na Câmara do Trabalho, em Odessa; habitantes desamparados de Ucrânia oriental, de origem russa, massacrados em Mariupol, bombardeados com fósforo branco em Slaviansk, Lugansk, Donetsk.

Um verdadeiro golpe de Estado, sob a direcção USA/NATO, com a finalidade estratégica de provocar na Europa uma nova guerra fria para separar e isolar a Rússia e reforçar, ao mesmo tempo, a influência e a presença militar dos EUA na Europa. Perante o golpe de Estado e a ofensiva contra os russos da Ucrânia, o Conselho Supremo da República autónoma da Crimeia – território russo passado à Ucrânia no período soviético de 1954 – vota a favor de ser separada de Kiev e pede a reinserção na Federação Russa, decisão que é confirmada com 97% dos votos, num referendo do povo. Em 18 de Março de 2014, o Presidente Putin assina o tratado de adesão da Crimeia à Federação Russa, com o estatuto de república autónoma. Nesta altura, a Rússia é acusada pela NATO e pela União Europeia de ter anexado, ilegalmente, a Crimeia e é submetida a sanções. A Rússia responde com contra sanções que atingem, sobretudo, a economia da União Europeia, estando a economia italiana também compreendida.

Enquanto em Donbass, as autoproclamadas Repúblicas Populares de Donetsk e Lugansk, apoiadas pela Rússia, resistem à ofensiva de Kiev, que provoca milhares de mortos entre os civis, um roteiro para a cooperação técnica e militar, NATO/Ucrânia, assinada em Dezembro de 2015, integra todos os efectivos das forças armadas e a indústria bélica de Kiev na da Aliança, sob orientação USA.

Em 2019, a Ucrânia dá um passo sem precedentes: inclui na sua Constituição o compromisso de entrar oficialmente na NATO e, ao mesmo tempo, na União Europeia. Em 7 de Fevereiro, por sugestão do presidente Petro Poroshenko – o oligarca enriquecido com a pilhagem de propriedades estatais, que se recandidata à presidência – o Parlamento de Kiev aprova (com 334 votos contra 35 e 16 ausentes) as emendas, neste sentido, da Constituição. O Preâmbulo afirma “o rumo irreversível da Ucrânia para a integração euro-atlântica”; os artigos 85 e 116 decretam que a tarefa fundamental do Parlamento e do Governo é “obter a plena adesão da Ucrânia à NATO e à União Europeia”; o artigo 102 declara que “o Presidente da Ucrânia é o defensor do curso estratégico do Estado para obter a adesão plena à NATO e à União Europeia”.

A inclusão na Constituição do compromisso de entrar oficialmente na NATO acarreta consequências muito sérias. No plano interno, vincula o futuro da Ucrânia a esta escolha, excluindo qualquer alternativa e, efectivamente, coloca qualquer partido ou pessoa que se lhe opanha, numa posição ilegal. No plano internacional, deve-se ter em mente que a Ucrânia já está, de facto, na NATO, da qual é um país parceiro: por exemplo, o batalhão Azov, cuja marca nazi é representada pelo emblema copiado do SS Das Reich, foi transformado no regimento de operações especiais, equipado com veículos blindados e treinado por instrutores norte-americanos da 173ª Divisão Aerotransportada, transferido de Vicenza para a Ucrânia, rodeado por outros da NATO. Visto que a Rússia é acusada de anexar ilegalmente a Crimeia e realizar acções militares contra a Ucrânia, se ela se juntar oficialmente à NATO, os outros 30 membros da Aliança, de acordo com o art. 5, devem “ajudar a parte atacada, tomando as medidas consideradas necessárias, incluindo o uso de força armada”. Por outras palavras, deveriam entrar em guerra contra a Rússia. Sobre estas implicações perigosas da modificação da Constituição ucraniana – atrás das quais existem, de certeza, as mãos longas dos estrategas USA/NATO – cai sobre a Europa o silêncio político e mediático.

  1. A Escalada USA/NATO na Europa

A “nova missão” da NATO é oficializada na Cimeira de Setembro de 2014, no País de Gales,  lançando o “Readiniess Action Plan”, cujo objectivo oficial é “responder, rápida e firmemente, aos novos desafios à segurança”, atribuídos à “agressão militar da Rússia contra a Ucrânia” e ao “aumento do extremismo e dos conflitos sectários no Médio Oriente e no Norte de África”. O plano é definido pelo Secretário Geral da NATO, Jens Stoltenberg,  como “o maior reforço da nossa defesa colectiva desde o fim da Guerra Fria”.

Em apenas três meses, a NATO quadriplica os caça bombardeiros, duplica a capacidade convencional e nuclear, instalada na região báltica (antes parte da URSS); envia radares aéreos AWACS para a Europa Oriental e aumenta o número dos navios de guerra no Mar Báltico, no Mar Negro e no Mediterrâneo; instala na Polónia, Estónia, Letónia e Lituânia forças terrestres americanas, britânicas e alemãs; intensifica os exercícios conjuntos na Polónia e nos Países Bálticos, aumentando-os para mais de 200.

A partir de 2014, a pressão USA/NATO sobre a Rússia cresce em progressão geométrica. Em quatro anos, de 2014 a 2018, os EUA gastam 10 biliões de dólares na “Iniciativa de Segurança da Europa” (ERI), cujo objectivo oficial é “aumentar a nossa capacidade de defender a Europa contra a agressão russa”. Quase metade da despesa serve para potenciar o “pré-posicionamento estratégico” USA na Europa, ou seja, os depósitos de armamento que, colocados em posição avançada, permitem “uma rápida deslocação das forças armadas no teatro bélico”. Outra grande parte é destinada a “aumentar a presença, numa base rotativa, das forças americanas em toda a Europa”. As porções restantes servem para o desenvolvimento das infraestruturas das bases na Europa para “aumentar a prontidão da acção USA”, ao reforço dos exercícios militares e ao treino para “aumentar a prontidão e a capacidade de interacção das forças da NATO”.

Os fundos da ERI – esclarece o Comando Europeu dos Estados Unidos – são apenas uma parte dos que estão destinados à “Operação Atlantic Resolve, que demonstra a capacidade USA de responder às ameaças contra os aliados”. No âmbito dessas operações, é transferida de Fort Carson (Colorado), para a Polónia, em Janeiro de 2017, a 3ª Brigada couraçada, composta de 3.500 homens, 87 tanques, 18 obuseiros de auto lançamento, e outros meios. Ela será substituída a seguir por outra unidade, assim as forças couraçadas americanas são permanentemente deslocadas no território polaco. Os seus departamentos são transferidos, para treinos e exercícios, para outros países de Leste, sobretudo para a Estónia, Letónia, Lituânia, Bulgária, Roménia e mesmo Ucrânia, ou seja, são continuamente deslocados à volta da Rússia.

Sempre no contexto de tais operações, é transferida para a base de Illesheim (na Alemanha), a 10ª Brigada Aérea de Combate, com uma centena de helicópteros de guerra. Duas ‘task force’ são enviadas  para “posições avançadas” na Polónia, Roménia e Letónia. Nas bases de Ämari (Estónia) e Graf Ignatievo (Bulgária), são distribuídos caça bombardeiros USA e NATO, compreendendo Eurofighter italianos, para o “patrulhamento aéreo” do Báltico. A operação prevê, também, “uma presença continuada no Mar Negro”, na base aérea de Kogalniceanu (Roménia) e na de treino de Novo Selo (Bulgária).

O General Curtis Scaparrotti, Chefe do Comando Europeu dos EUA e, ao mesmo tempo, Comandante Supremo Aliado na Europa, assegura que “as nossas forças estão preparadas e posicionadas para impedir a agressão russa”. Um contingente USA é posicionado na Polónia oriental, no designado “Suwalki Gap”, um trecho de terreno plano com cerca de cem quilómetros de comprimento que, avisa a NATO, “seria uma passagem perfeita para os tanques russos”. É, assim, desenterrado o armamento da propaganda da velha Guerra Fria:  o dos tanques russos prontos a invadir a Europa. Agitando o fantasma de uma ameaça do Leste, que não existe, chegam, de facto, à Europa os tanques americanos.

O plano é claro. Depois de ter provocado com o putsch da Praça Maidan, um novo confronto com a Rússia, Washington (não obstante a mudança de Administração do Presidente Obama pela do Presidente Trump) segue a mesma estratégia: transformar a Europa na primeira linha de uma nova Guerra Fria, com vantagem para os interesses dos Estados Unidos e para as suas relações de força com as maiores potências europeias.

Na instalação no flanco oriental – compreendendo forças couraçadas, caça bombardeiros, navios de guerra e, também, unidades de mísseis nucleares – participam as potências europeias da NATO, como demonstra o envio de tropas francesas e de tanques britânicos para a Estónia. Fala-se, neste período, de um “exército” europeu, mas na reunião dos Ministros de Defesa da União Europeia, em Abril de 2017, em Malta, o Secretário Geral da NATO, Stoltenberg, esclarece em que termos: “Ficou claramente estabelecido, da parte da União Europeia, que o seu objectivo não é constituir um novo exército europeu ou estrutura de comando em competição com a NATO, mas algo que seja complementar ao que a NATO faz”.

  1. O porta-aviões Itália, na frente de guerra

As Forças Armadas USA possuem em Itália (de acordo com o relatório oficial do Pentágono, Base Structure Report),  mais de 1.500 edifícios, com uma superfície total superior a um milhão de metros quadrados e têm alugados ou como concessão, mais 800 edifícios, com uma superfície de cerca de novecentos mil metros quadrados. No total, trata-se de 2.300 edifícios com uma superfície de cerca de dois milhões de metros quadrados, espalhados por meia centena de locais. Mas, este número refere-se apenas, a uma parte da presença militar dos Estados Unidos da América em Itália.

Às bases militares USA juntam-se as da NATO, sob comando USA, e as italianas à disposição das forças USA/NATO. Estima-se que, no total, sejam mais de cem. A rede completa de bases militares está, directa ou indirectamente, às ordens do Pentágono. Está compreendida na “área de responsabilidade” do United States European Command (EUCOM), o Comando Europeu dos Estados Unidos, chefiado por um general americano que, ao mesmo tempo, ocupa o cargo de Comandante Supremo Aliado, na Europa. A “área de responsabilidade” do EUCOM, um dos seis “comandos combatentes unificados” com os quais os USA cobrem o globo, compreende a totalidade da região europeia e toda a Rússia (compreendendo a região asiática), mais alguns países da Ásia Ocidental e Central: Turquia, Israel, Geórgia, Arménia e Azerbaijão.

Na base aérea de Aviano (Pordenone) está estabelecida a 31st Fighter Wing, a esquadrilha USA de caça bombardeiros F-16C/D, pronta para o ataque com cerca de 50 bombas nucleares B61 (número estimado pela FAS, Federação dos Cientistas Americanos, no período antecedente a 2020).

Na base aérea de Ghedi (Brescia) está instalado o 6º Esquadrão da Força Aérea Italiana, com caça bombardeiros Tornado PA-200, prontos para o ataque sob comando USA, com cerca de 20 bombas nucleares B61 (número estimado pela FAS, Federação dos Cientistas Americanos, no período antecedente a 2020).A FAS declara que os pilotos italianos estão treinados para o ataque nuclear, como demonstra a presença em Ghedi de uma das quatro unidades da US Air Force instaladas nas bases europeias (bem como em Itália, na Alemanha, Bélgica e Holanda) “onde as armas nucleares USA estão destinadas a ser lançadas pelos aviões dos países anfitriões”. Os pilotos dos quatro países europeus e os pilotos turcos são treinados a usar bombas nucleares no exercício anual de guerra nuclear, da NATO. Em 2013, desenrolou-se em Aviano, em 2014 ocorreu em Ghedi.

Às armas nucleares USA, instaladas em território italiano, cujo número real é secreto, juntam-se as que estão a bordo das unidades da Sexta Frota, cuja base principal é em Gaeta, em Lazio. A Sexta Frota depende do Comando das Forças Navais USA, na Europa, cujo quartel general se situa em Nápoles – Capodichino.

Em Vicenza, existe a base da 173ª Brigada Aerotransportada do Exército USA, que fornece forças de intervenção rápida ao Comando Europeu, ao Comando África e ao Comando Central (cuja “área de responsabilidade” compreende o Médio Oriente e Ásia Central, bem como o Egipto). As forças da 173ª Brigada, já utilizadas no Iraque, em 2003, são enviadas rotativamente para o Afeganistão, Ucrânia e outros países da Europa Oriental.

Na área de Pisa/Livorno existe Camp Darby, o maior arsenal USA no mundo, fora da mãe pátria. É a base logística do Exército USA, que fornece as forças terrestres e aéreas, americanas e aliadas, na Europa, no Médio Oriente e em África. Nos seus 125 bunkers estão armazenados, projécteis de artilharia, bombas para os aviões e mísseis, num número que pode ser estimado em mais de 1,5 milhões. Não se pode excluir que, entre as armas aéreas armazenadas em Camp Darby, tenham estado e possam estar bombas nucleares. Junto às munições para a artilharia, estão armazenados nessa base, tanques e outros veículos militares num número estimado em 2.500 unidades, juntamente com mais de 11.000 materiais militares de vários tipos. Na base é o único sítio do Exército USA onde os tanques e outros veículos de combate, estão posicionados junto às munições. Na base está o equipamento completo para dois batalhões couraçados e para duas infantarias mecanizadas, que pode ser enviado, rapidamente, para uma zona de operações através do aeroporto de Pisa (Hub aéreo militar nacional) e pelo porto de Livorno (onde podem atracar unidades de propulsão nuclear).Aqui, fazem escala, todos os meses, navios enormes que transportam armas por conta do Pentágono, ligando os portos americanos aos portos do Mediterrâneo, do Médio Oriente e da Ásia.

Numa área de Camp Darby antigamente utilizada para atividades recreativas, formalmente devolvida à Itália, serão transferidas em 2019, do quartel Gamerra de Pisa, unidades do Comando das Forças Especiais do Exército (COM.FO.S.E.), para que possam treinar melhor com os EUA sobre operações secretas em zonas de guerra.

A partir das investigações dos juízes Casson e Mastelloni, surge a evidência que Camp Darby desempenha desde os anos 60 a função básica de rede de golpes formada pela CIA e pelo SIFAR no âmbito do plano secreto «Gladio». Camp Darby é uma das bases dos USA/NATO que – escreveu Ferdinando Imposimato, Presidente Honorário do Supremo Tribunal de Cassação – forneceu os explosivos para os massacres da Piazza Fontana em Capaci e Via d’Amelio. Bases onde se reuniam “terroristas negros, funcionários da NATO, mafiosos, políticos italianos e maçons na véspera de ataques”.

Camp Darby também tem a ver com a tragédia da barcaça Moby Prince, que colidiu com o navio-tanque Agip Abruzzo, na noite de 10 de Abril de 1991, no porto de Livorno. Morrem em 140 pessoas, depois de esperar durante horas em vão, por socorros. Naquela noite, no porto de Livorno, há um tráfego intenso de navios militares e militarizados dos EUA envolvidos no transbordo de armas USA, parte das quais é enviada secretamente para a Somália, Croácia e para outras áreas, não excluindo os depósitos da Gladio, em Itália. Quando a colisão ocorre, quem dirige a operação – certamente o comando USA de Camp Darby – tenta, imediatamente, cancelar qualquer prova.

Em Lago Patria (Nápoles) está a sede do Comando da Força Conjunta Aliada (JFC Naples). O seu novo quartel general, inaugurado em 2012, tem uma superfície coberta de 85 mil metros quadrados, circundado por uma vasta área cercada, predisposta para uma expansão futura. O pessoal, em aumento, é composto mais de 2.500 militares e civis. O JFC Naples da NATO está às ordens de um almirante americano, que comanda, ao mesmo tempo, as Forças Navais USA, na Europa (das quais depende a Sexta Frota) e as Forças Navais USA destinadas a África.

A cada dois anos, o JFC Naples assume o comando operacional da “Força de Resposta NATO” (NRF), uma força conjunta “altamente flexível e capaz” composta de 40 mil homens, que também tem a tarefa de conduzir  operações militares na  área de responsabilidade do Comandante Supremo Aliado, na Europa e para além dessa área”. A ponta de lança da NRF é constituída pela sua “Task Force Conjunta de Máxima Prontidão Operacional” que, composta de 5 mil homens, pode ser enviada em 2/3 dias, para a área de intervenção “antes de se iniciar a crise”.

No quartel general de Lago Patria está em funções, desde Setembro de 2017, o “Hub da Direcção Estratégica NATO para o Sul”, um centro de serviços secretos (inteligência), ou seja, de espionagem, “concentrado nas regiões meridionais, compreendendo o Médio Oriente, o Norte de África e Sahel, África sub-sahariana e áreas adjacentes”.

Na Sicília, a Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, com um pessoal de cerca de 7.000 militares e civis, constitui a maior base naval e aéreaUSA e NATO, da região mediterrânea. Além de fornecer apoio logístico à Sexta Frota, a mesma constitui a base de lançamento de operações militares (em grande parte secretas), principalmente, mas não unicamente, no Médio Oriente e em África. A NAS – lê-se na apresentação oficial – «recebe aviões USA e NATO de todos os tipos». Entre estes, os drones espiões RQ-4B Global Hawk, capazes de voar sem abastecimento mais de 16.000 km a uma altitude de 16.000 km a 18.000 km que, de Sigonella efectuam missões de reconhecimento sobrevoando o Médio Oriente, África, Ucrânia Oriental e outras zonas. Para ataques dirigidos (quase sempre secretos) descolam de Sigonella, os drones Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, armados de mísseis e bombas de orientação laser e via satélite.

A Naval Air Station Sigonella está integrada na base italiana de Augusta, que fornece combustível e munições às bases navais USA e NATO e, no porto de Catania, é capaz de albergar 9 navios de guerra. Para os exercícios de fogos reais, as forças especiais americanas dispõem do polígono de Pachino (Siracusa), concedido para uso exclusivo dos Estados Unidos.

Outra instalação importante americana na Sicília é a instalação MUOS de Niscemi (Caltanissetta). O MUOS (Mobile User Objective System) é um sistema de comunicações via satélites militares de alta frequência, composto de quatro satélites e de quatro estações terrestres: duas em território americano, na Virginia e no Hawaii, uma na Austrália e uma na Sicília, cada uma dotada de três grandes antenas parabólicas de 18 metros de diâmetro. Esse sistema permite ao Pentágono, ligar a uma única rede de comando e comunicações, submarinos e navios de guerra, caça bombardeiros e drones, veículos militares  e departamentos terrestres, enquanto estão em movimento, em qualquer parte do mundo onde se encontrem.

Na Sardenha estão os maiores polígonos para  treino das forças militares italianas e da NATO: em particular as de Salto di Quirra, Capo Teulada, Capo Frasca e Capo San Lorenzo. Aqui, são usadas em exercícios de fogos reais, cerca de 80% das bombas, ogivas de mísseis e balas utilizadas nas manobras militares que ocorrem em  Itália, com sérias consequências para a saúde da população.

  1. USA e NATO rejeitam o tratado da ONU e instalam novas armas nucleares na Europa

Em 20 de Setembro de 2017 – no mesmo dia em que o Tratado sobre a proibição de armas nucleares é aberto para assinatura nas Nações Unidas – a NATO rejeita-o sonoramente. O Tratado, votado na Assembleia Geral por uma maioria de 122 Estados, obriga os Estados signatários a não produzir ou possuir armas nucleares, a não usá-las ou ameaçar usá-las, não transferi-las ou recebê-las, directa ou indirectamente, com o objectivo da sua eliminação total.

Na declaração de 20 de Setembro de 2017, o Conselho do Atlântico Norte (formado pelos representantes dos 29 Estados membros) sustenta que “o Tratado não será efectivo, não aumentará a segurança nem a paz internacional, mas poderá fazer o oposto, criando divisões e diferenças”. Por conseguinte, esclarece sem usar meias palavras que “não aceitaremos nenhum argumento contido no Tratado”.

O Conselho do Atlântico Norte exclui assim os parlamentos nacionais dos países membros, privando-os da soberania para decidir autonomamente se querem ou não querem, aderir ao Tratado das Nações Unidas sobre a abolição de armas nucleares. Também anuncia que “indigitaremos os nossos parceiros e todos os países dispostos a apoiar o Tratado, a reflectir seriamente sobre as suas implicações” (leia-se: vamos chantageá-los para que  não o  assinem ou o ratifiquem). O Conselho do Atlântico Norte reitera que “o objectivo fundamental da capacidade nuclear da NATO é preservar a paz e desencorajar a agressão” e que “enquanto existirem armas nucleares, a NATO continuará a ser uma aliança nuclear”.

O Conselho do Atlântico Norte, no entanto, assegura “o forte empenho da NATO na aplicação plena do Tratado de Não-Proliferação Nuclear (TNP)”. Na realidade, ele é violado pela própria NATO. Os Estados Unidos – violando o Artigo 1, que proíbe os Estados militarmente nucleares de transferir armas nucleares para outros Estados – instalaram bombas nucleares B61 em cinco países membros da Aliança: Itália, Alemanha, Bélgica, Holanda e Turquia. Estes Estados agora mencionados, violam o TNP, que no Artigo 2 proíbe os Estados militarmente não nucleares, de receber armas nucleares, nem ter controlo sobre tais armas, directa ou indirectamente.

Uma nova bomba nuclear USA, a B61-12, substituirá em 2020, a B61, actualmente instalada em Itália e noutros países europeus. A B61-12 tem uma ogiva nuclear com quatro opções de potência seleccionáveis: no momento do lançamento, é escolhida a potência da explosão, dependendo do alvo a ser atingido. Ao contrário da B61 que cai verticalmente sobre o objectivo, a bomba nuclear B61-12 é lançada à distância e guiada por um sistema de satélite. Também tem a capacidade de penetrar no subsolo, mesmo através de betão armado, explodindo em profundidade para destruir os bunkers dos centros de comando e outras estruturas subterrâneas, de modo a “decapitar” o país inimigo num first strike = primeiro ataque nuclear.

O programa do Pentágono prevê a construção de cerca de 500 bombas nucleares B61-12, com um custo estimado em cerca de 10 biliões de dólares (de modo que cada bomba custará o dobro do que custaria se fosse inteiramente construída em ouro). O perigo dessa nova arma é salientado até mesmo pelo general James Cartwright, antigo Chefe do Comando Estratégico dos EUA, responsável pelas armas nucleares: “Armas nucleares de menor potência e maior precisão, aumentam a tentação de usá-las, até de usá-las primeiro, em vez de agir em retaliação”.

Fotografias de satélite mostram que foram efectuados trabalhos de restruturação para aumentar a “segurança” das bases de Aviano e Ghedi Torre, tendo em vista a instalação das bombas B61-12. Trabalhos semelhantes foram realizados na base aérea alemã de Buchel, em duas outras bases na Bélgica e na Holanda, e na base turca de Incirlic. A B61-12 pode ser lançada pelos caças F-16 e Tornado, mas, para obter toda a capacidade da bomba, são necessários aviões americanos equipados com sistemas digitais especiais: os caças F-35A, também fornecidos à Força Aérea Italiana.

O facto dos pilotos polacos também participarem no exercício de guerra nuclear da NATO, em Ghedi, pela primeira vez em 2014, indica que a B61-12 também será  instalada na Polónia e noutros países da Europa Oriental. Caças NATO de dupla funcionalidade, nuclear e convencional, já estão inseridos nas Repúblicas Bálticas, junto à Rússia.

Ao mesmo tempo, os EUA e a NATO estendem sobre a Europa,  o “escudo antimíssil”. Em Maio de 2016, na base aérea de Deveselu, na Roménia, é inaugurada a Aegis Ashore, a primeira instalação terrestre do sistema de mísseis Aegis dos Estados Unidos, no território europeu. O Secretário Geral da NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, agradece aos Estados Unidos porque, com esta instalação, “a primeira do seu género, com base em terra”, aumentam notavelmente a capacidade de “defender os aliados europeus contra os mísseis balísticos do exterior da área Euro-Atlântica”. Anuncia, então,  o início dos trabalhos para construir na Polónia, em 2018, outro Aegis Ashore semelhante ao que entrou em operação na Roménia. Às duas instalações terrestres juntam-se  quatro navios de guerra equipados com radares Aegis e mísseis SM-3 os quais, transportados pela U.S. Navy, na base espanhola de Rota, cruzam o Mediterrâneo, o Mar Negro e o Mar Báltico. A U.S. Navy já tem cerca de 30 navios desse tipo.

Tanto nas instalações nos navios, como nas instalações terrestres, os mísseis Aegis estão equipados com lançadores verticais Mk 41, da Lockheed Martin, ou seja, tubos verticais dos quais são lançados mísseis interceptores. É o chamado “escudo”, cuja função é, na realidade, ofensiva. Se os EUA pudessem construir um sistema confiável capaz de interceptar mísseis balísticos, poderiam manter a Rússia sob a ameaça de um first strike nuclear, confiando na capacidade do “escudo” poder neutralizar os efeitos de retaliação. Os lançadores verticais do “escudo”, além dos mísseis interceptores, também podem lançar outros mísseis. A própria Lockheed Martin aponta que este sistema é capaz de lançar “mísseis para todas as missões”, incluindo “os de ataque de longo alcance”, como “os mísseis de cruzeiro Tomahawk”. Estes podem ser armados com uma ogiva convencional (não nuclear) ou com uma ogiva nuclear.

Portanto, não é possível saber quais são os mísseis que, realmente, estão nos lançadores verticais das bases da Roménia e da Polónia e nos que estão a bordo dos navios que cruzam os limites das águas territoriais russas. Incapaz de controlar, Moscovo parte do princípio que também existem mísseis de ataque nuclear. O transporte de lançadores verticais Mk 41 perto do território russo viola o Tratado sobre Forças Nucleares Intermédias (INF), assinado pelos EUA e a URSS em 1987.

  1. USA e NATO afundam o Tratado INF

Os Estados Unidos anunciaram,  em Fevereiro de 2019, a “suspensão” do Tratado INF com a Rússia e a intenção de deixá-lo definitivamente dentro de seis meses. Portanto, sentem-se à vontade para testar e instalar armas da categoria proibida pelo Tratado: mísseis nucleares de alcance curto e intermédio (entre 500 e 5500 km), com base de lançamento em terra. O Pershing II e os mísseis de cruzeiro foram instalados na década de 1980 pelos EUA nos países europeus da NATO e o SS-20 instalado pela URSS no seu território, eliminados pelo Tratado sobre Forças Nucleares Intermédias (INF), assinado em 1987, pelos Presidentes Gorbachev e Reagan.

O Tratado INF foi posto em discussão por Washington, quando os Estados Unidos viram diminuir a sua vantagem estratégica sobre a Rússia e sobre a China. Em 2014, a Administração Obama, sem exibir qualquer prova, acusou a Rússia de ter experimentado um míssil de cruzeiro (9M729) da categoria proibida pelo Tratado e, em 2015, anunciou que “em face da violação do Tratado INF pelo Rússia, os Estados Unidos estão considerando a colocação de mísseis terrestres na Europa”. O plano foi confirmado pela Administração Trump: em 2018, o Congresso autorizou o financiamento de “um programa de pesquisa e desenvolvimento de um míssil de cruzeiro lançado do solo por uma plataforma móvel em estrada”. Por seu lado, Moscovo negou que o seu míssil de cruzeiro violasse o Tratado e, por sua vez, acusou Washington de ter instalado mísseis interceptores (os do “escudo”) na Polónia e na Roménia, que podem ser usados para lançar mísseis de cruzeiro com ogivas nucleares.

Neste contexto, deve ter-se em conta o factor geográfico: enquanto um míssil nuclear de alcance intermedio, instalado na Europa, pode atingir Moscovo, um míssil semelhante, colocado pela Rússia no seu território, pode atingir as capitais europeias, mas nunca Washington. Invertendo o cenário, é como se a Rússia dispusesse os seus mísseis nucleares de alcance intermédio no México.

O plano USA de abandonar o Tratado INF foi totalmente apoiado pelos aliados europeus da NATO. O Conselho do Atlântico Norte declarou, em 4 de Dezembro de 2018, que “o Tratado INF está em perigo devido às acções da Rússia”, acusada de estabelecer “um sistema de mísseis desestabilizadores”. O próprio Conselho do Atlântico Norte declarou ontem, “o seu apoio total à acção dos EUA de suspender as suas obrigações a respeito do Tratado INF” e intimou a Rússia a “empregar os seis meses restantes para regressar ao pleno cumprimento do Tratado”.

Para a ruína do Tratado INF também contribuiu a União Europeia que, na Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas, em 21 de Dezembro de 2018, votou contra a resolução apresentada pela Rússia sobre a “Preservação e observância do Tratado INF”, rejeitada por 46 votos. contra 43 e 78 abstenções. A União Europeia – da qual 21 dos 27 membros fazem parte da NATO (como faz parte a Grã-Bretanha, de saída da UE) – alinhou-se completamente com a posição da NATO que, por sua vez, se alinhou com a dos Estados Unidos. Portanto, na realidade, a União Europeia também deu luz verde à possível instalação de novos mísseis nucleares USA, na Europa, incluso, em Itália.Mais uma vez, é ignorada a advertência lançada pelo Presidente Vladimir Putin, em Fevereiro de 2019: “A Rússia será forçada a criar e instalar sistemas de armas que possam ser usados não somente contra os territórios de onde vem essa ameaça directa, mas também contra aqueles territórios onde estão localizados os centros de tomada de decisão, de onde pode vir a ordem de usar estas armas contra nós”. Por outras palavras, se os EUA instalarem mísseis nucleares de alcance intermédio, na Europa, apontados para a Rússia, a Rússia lançará mísseis nucleares destinados aos territórios europeus onde os mísseis norte-americanos são utilizados e, ao mesmo tempo, contra territórios dos EUA onde estão os centros de comando e controlo desses mísseis.

  1. O Império Americano do Ocidente lança a cartada da guerra

Um vasto arco de tensões e conflitos estende-se da Ásia Oriental à Ásia Central, do Médio Oriente à Europa, da África à America Latina. Os “pontos quentes” ao longo deste arco intercontinental – Península Coreana, Mar da China Meridional, Afeganistão, Síria, Iraque, Irão, Ucrânia, Líbia, Venezuela e outros – têm histórias e características geopolíticas diferentes, com factores específicos sócio-económicos internos, mas, ao mesmo tempo, estão ligados por um único factor: a estratégia com a qual os Estados Unidos da América procuram manter a sua posição de superpotência dominante.

Os Estados Unidos ainda são a primeira potência económica do mundo, sobretudo graças aos capitais e aos mecanismos com que dominam o mercado financeiro   global,às multinacionais com que exploram os recursos humanos e materiais de cada continente, à alta tecnologia e às patentes relacionadas na sua posse, ao papel penetrante dos seus grupos de multimedia que influenciam as opiniões e os gostos de biliões de utentes à escala planetária.

A sua supremacia é, no entanto, ameaçada pelo aparecimento de novos Estados e sujeitos sociais. A ser desafiado pela Rússia, pela China e por outros países, não é apenas o poder esmagador do petrodólar (moeda de reserva derivada da venda de petróleo), mas a própria hegemonia do dólar. O seu valor é determinado não pela capacidade económica real dos EUA, mas pelo facto de constituir quase dois terços das reservas monetárias mundiais e ser a moeda com a qual é estabelecido o preço do petróleo, do ouro e de outras matérias-primas nos mercados globais e das mercadorias em geral.

Isto permite que a Reserva Federal, o Banco Central (que é um banco privado), imprimam milhares de biliões de dólares com os quais é financiada a colossal dívida pública americana  – cerca de 23 triliões de dólares – através da compra de títulos e outros documentos emitidos pelo Tesouro. Nesse contexto, a decisão tomada pela Venezuela, em 2017, de libertar o preço do petróleo do dólar e vinculá-lo ao yuan chinês provoca um choque que faz tremer todo o palácio imperial fundado sobre o dólar. Se o exemplo da Venezuela se espalhasse, se o dólar deixasse de ser a moeda dominante do comércio internacional e das reservas cambiais, uma quantidade imensa de dólares seria colocada no mercado, reduzindo o valor da moeda norte-americana.

Washington olha com crescente preocupação, sobretudo para a parceria russo-chinesa: o intercâmbio entre os dois países está em forte crescimento; aumentam, ao mesmo tempo, os acordos de cooperação russo-chineses em energia, agricultura, aeronáutica, espaço e infraestrutura. O fornecimento de gás russo para a China através do novo gasoducto Sila Sibiri, a partir de 2019, abre o caminho para as exportações russas de energia para o Oriente, enquanto os EUA tentam bloquear o caminho para o Ocidente em direcção à Europa.

No Oriente Médio, além da intervenção militar que bloqueia o plano USA/NATO para demolir o Estado sírio, a Rússia usa instrumentos económicos, estipulando, em 2017, acordos com o Irão para a construção de infraestrutura ferroviária e energética, incluindo um gasoducto entre o Irão e a Índia, fortemente oposto pelos EUA. Washington responde com um movimento previamente acordado com Israel: o Presidente Trump ataca violentamente o Irão, acusando-o de violar “o espírito” do acordo nuclear de Teerão, em 2015, com o grupo 5 + 1 (EUA, Grã-Bretanha, França, Alemanha , China e Rússia). Apesar da própria Agência Internacional de Energia Atómica garantir que o Irão está cumprindo o acordo e que  não está a tentar fabricar armas nucleares, a questão é reaberta artificialmente, iniciando um processo perigoso com resultados imprevisíveis. O ataque de Washington é dirigido não apenas contra o Irão, mas contra a Rússia, que está a reafirmar a sua presença no Médio Oriente.

“Moscovo – escreve o The New York Times – tenta, através da gigantesca companhia petrolífera estatal, Rosneft, ganhar influência em lugares onde os Estados Unidos tropeçaram. Os seus esforços são devidos também, à necessidade, pois que as sanções americanas e europeias forçaram a Rosneft a encontrar novos parceiros e investimentos noutros lugares, em áreas turbulentas onde os interesses americanos estão em risco. A aposta maior para a Rosneft é a Venezuela. Em três anos, a Rússia e a Venezuela forneceram a Caracas, assistência financeira num total de 10 biliões de dólares, ajudando a Venezuela a evitar o default, sob um peso de um débito de 150 biliões de dólares. A Rússia está a usar cada vez mais o petróleo como instrumento bem como a espalhar a sua influência no mundo e a desafiar os interesses dos EUA”.

Um desafio crescente aos interesses dos EUA chega, simultaneamente, da China. O maior exportador de mercadorias do mundo, subiu, relativamente ao produto nacional bruto, para o segundo lugar no mundo, depois dos Estados Unidos, e registou taxas de crescimento económico mais altas do que as dos Estados Unidos. O projecto mais ambicioso, lançado pela China em 2013 e partilhado pela Rússia, é o da nova Rota da Seda: uma rede rodoviária e ferroviária entre a China e a Europa através da Ásia Central e Ocidental e através da Rússia, aproximadamente ao longo da rota da antiga Rota da Seda. O projecto, já em construção, prevê, juntamente com a rota terrestre, uma rota marítima pelo Oceano Índico, pelo Mar Vermelho e pelo Mediterrâneo. Para as infraestruturas rodoviárias e ferroviárias, que devem atravessar e ligar mais de 60 países, são esperados investimentos de mais de 1 bilião de dólares. O projecto, que não inclui componentes militares, não é simplesmente económico. Se fosse realizado de acordo com a ideia original, remodelaria a arquitectura geopolítica de toda a Eurásia, criando, com base na conveniência mútua, uma nova rede de relações económicas e políticas entre os Estados do continente.

O impulso para remodelar a ordem económica global não vem apenas dos grandes protagonistas  estatais, como a China e a Rússia, que querem um mundo que não seja mais unipolar, mas multipolar. Esse impulos chega, sob múltiplas formas e graus de consciência, de imensos sujeitos sociais, biliões de seres humanos que, em todos os continentes, sofrem as consequências da actual ordem económica global. Uma globalização económica centrada na procura do lucro máximo que, enquanto, por um lado, destroi as fronteiras para que o capital e os produtos possam circular livremente, por outro, estabelece outras fronteiras, invisíveis mas não menos concretas, que excluem a maioria da população mundial dos benefícios daquele crescimento económico. construído com os recursos humanos e com os materiais de todo o mundo. Este sistema cria, no mundo,  uma crescente polarização entre riqueza e pobreza. Mais de 85% da riqueza global (em termos de dinheiro e propriedades) está concentrada nas mãos de 8% da população adulta do mundo. Os restantes 92% possuem apenas 14% da riqueza global. Mais de 3 biliões e meio de pessoas, representando quase três quartos da população adulta global, têm um total de menos de 2,5% da riqueza global.

Mais de 2 biliões de pessoas em África, na Ásia e na América Latina, especialmente nas áreas rurais, vivem na pobreza ou, pelo menos, em condições de graves dificuldades económicas. Entre elas, cerca de um bilião estão em extrema pobreza, isto é, numa condição social caracterizada por desnutrição crónica,em situação de higiene e habitação desastrosas, alta incidência de doenças infecciosas e parasitárias, elevadda mortalidade, acima de tudo, nas crianças, curta duração de vida, analfabetismo, falta de poder de decisão, dependência, marginalização, vulnerabilidade e insegurança constante. Das aldeias da África subsaariana até às favelas da Ásia e da América Latina, os pobres experimentam o mesmo drama causado pelas mesmas causas de fundo.

É esta ordem económica global que os Estados Unidos procuram, por todos os meios, preservar e controlar. O objectivo estratégico perseguido por Washington é claro: remover qualquer Estado ou movimento político/social que possa prejudicar os interesses políticos, económicos e militares fundamentais dos Estados Unidos da América, colocando em risco a sua supremacia. Nesta estratégia, eles são apoiados pelas potências europeias da NATO e outras, como Israel e Japão, que, apesar de ter contrastes de interesses com os EUA, alinham-se sob a liderança dos EUA quando se trata de defender a ordem económica e política dominada pelo Ocidente. Não tendo a força económica para fazê-lo, os Estados Unidos e os seus aliados jogam, cada vez mais, a cartada da guerra.

Além das guerras propriamente ditas, Washington conduz, cada vez mais, “guerras não convencionais” através de “operações encobertas”, isto é, secretas. Ocupa-se disso a Comunidade de Inteligência/Serviços Secretos, formada por 17 organizações federais. Além da CIA (Agência Central de Inteligência), existe a DIA (Agência de Inteligência da Defesa), mas cada sector das Forças Armadas – Exército, Força Aérea, Marinha, Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais – tem seu próprio serviço secreto. O Departamento de Estado e o Departamento de Segurança Interna possuem-no. Entre esses serviços, em feroz competição entre si, a fim de obter apoio político e fundos federais, desempenha um papel primordial, a NSA (National Security Agency), especializada em intercepções telefónicas e informáticas, por meio das quais não são só espiados os inimigos, mas também os amigos dos EUA, como confirma o “datagate” suscitado pelas revelações do antigo contrante Edward Snowden.

As acções de campo são efectuadas pelo USSOCOM, o Comando das Forças Especiais, que possui dezenas de milhares de comandos dos quatro sectores das forças armadas. Conforme surge a partir de uma investigação do Washington Post, as forças das operações especiais estão instaladas em 75 países. O USSOCOM emprega, ao mesmo tempo, empresas militares privadas. Na área do Comando Central USA, que também inclui o Iraque e o Afeganistão, os contratantes do Pentágono são mais de 150.000. Adicionam-se os assumidos por outros departamentos e pelos exércitos aliados, cujo número é desconhecido, mas, de certeza que é elevado. Todos pertencem ao exército sombra privado, que apoia o exército oficial.

A tudo isto junta-se o “exército humanitário” formado por todas aquelas “organizações não-governamentais” que, dotadas de enormes meios, são utilizadas pela CIA e pelo Departamento de Estado para acções internas de desestabilização em nome da “defesa dos direitos dos cidadãos”. No mesmo âmbito, enquadra-se a acção do grupo Bilderberg – que o magistrado Ferdinando Imposimato denunciou como “um dos líderes da estratégia de tensão e massacres” em Itália – e da Open Society do “investidor e filantropo George Soros”, criador das “Revoluções coloridas”.

Os Estados Unidos – que desde 1945 causaram com suas guerras e golpes de Estado, mais de 20 a 30 milhões de mortos (mais outras de centenas de milhões causadas pelos efeitos indirectos de tais acções) – estão dispostos a fazer qualquer coisa para preservar a sua superioridade militar, sobre a qual baseiam o seu império, que se está a desmoronar com o surgimento de um mundo multipolar. No âmbito desta estratégia, as decisões políticas são tomadas antes de tudo pelo “Estado Profundo/Deep State”, um centro subterrâneo do verdadeiro poder detido pelas oligarquias económicas, financeiras e militares americanas.

  1. O sistema de guerra planetária USA/NATO

Na «geografia do Pentágono», o mundo está dividido em «áreas de responsabilidade», cada uma confiada a um dos seis Comandos Combatentes Unificados dos Estados Unidos: O Comando Norte, cobre a América do Norte; o Comando Sul, o Centro e a América do Sul; o Comando Europeu, a região que compreende a Europa e toda a Rússia; o Comando África, o continente africano (salvo o Egipto, que se agrupa no Comando Central); o Comando Central, o Mediterrâneo e a Ásia Central; o Comando Pacífico, a região da Ásia/Pacífico.

Cada um dos Comandos Combatentes Unificados é composto por comandos de diversos componentes das Forças Armadas USA,  naquela área. Por exemplo, o Comando Europeu dos Estados Unidos é formado por: Exército USA na Europa, Forças Aéreas USA na Europa, Forças Navais USA na Europa, Forças Marines USA na Europa, Comando de Operações Especiais USA na Europa. O comando de cada força está articulado, por sua vez, numa série de sub-comandos e unidades. Por exemplo, o Exército USA, na Europa, tem 22.

Aos seis comandos geográficos juntam-se-lhes  três comandos operativos à escala global: o Comando Estratégico, responsável pelas forças nucleares terrestres, aéreas e navais, das operações militares no espaço e espaço cibernético, do ataque global, da guerra electrónica e da defesa dos mísseis; o Comando para as Operações Especiais, com um comando específico em cada uma das seis áreas mais um na Coreia, responsável pela guerra não-convencional, pelas operações contra revoluções, pela operações psicológicas e por quaisquer outras missões ordenadas pelo Presidente ou pelo Secretário da Defesa; o Comando para o Transporte, responsável pela mobilidade dos soldados e armamentos por terra, ar e mar, a nível mundial.

Os Estados Unidos da América são o único país a ter uma presença militar à escala global, em cada continente e região do mundo. O Pentágono é directamente proprietário de 4.800 bases e outras instalações militares, quer nos USA, quer no estrangeiro, compreendendo 560.000 edifícios e estruturas (tipo estruturas ferroviárias, oleoductos e pistas de aeroportos). Segundo os dados oficiais do Pentágono, os Estados Unidos têm cerca de 800 bases e outras instalações militares em mais de 70 países, sobretudo em volta da Rússia e da China, muitas mais em uso ou secretas. Essas bases servem para uma rotação contínua de forças, que são aumentadas rapidamente com as transferidas das bases dos Estados Unidos, para concentrá-las em determinados teatros bélicos. Os países em que são distribuídas tropas americanas, compreendendo aqueles que não têm bases militares, são mais de 170. Entre militares, empregados civis e familiares, o Pentágono mantém permanentemente no estrangeiro cerca de meio milhão de cidadãos americanos.

Na peugada dos Estados Unidos move-se a NATO, a aliança sob o comando USA que agora não tem mais fronteiras. Na Europa – depois de se ter estendido para a área do antigo Pacto de Varsóvia, da antiga URSS e da antiga Jugoslávia – está a absorver a Ucrânia. Na Ásia Central, a NATO está a incorporar a Geórgia que, já integrada nas suas operações, é candidata a tornar-se membro pleno da Aliança. A NATO também continua a “aprofundar a cooperação” com o Cazaquistão, Quirguistão, Tadjiquistão, Turcomenistão e Uzbequistão, para combater a União Económica da Eurásia (que inclui a Rússia, Bielorrússia, Cazaquistão, Arménia e Quirguistão). Também permanece empenhada no Afeganistão, país de grande importância geoestratégica nas fronteiras da Rússia e da China.

Na Ásia Ocidental, a NATO continua a operação militar encoberta contra a Síria e prepara outras (o Irão está sempre na mira). Ao mesmo tempo, está a fortalecer a parceria (testada na guerra contra a Líbia) com quatro monarquias do Golfo – Bahrein, Emirados Árabes Unidos, Kuwait, Qatar – e cooperação militar com a Arábia Saudita que está a matar no Iémen com bombas de fragmentação fornecidas pelos EUA. Na Ásia Oriental, a NATO concluiu com o Japão um acordo estratégico que “amplia e aprofunda a longa parceria”, que se une a um acordo semelhante com a Austrália, em função anti-chinesa e anti-russa. Com a mesma finalidade, os principais países da NATO (incluindo a Itália) participam a cada dois anos, no Pacífico, naquilo que o comando da Frota USA designa como “o maior exercício marítimo do mundo”. Em África, depois de demolir a Líbia, a NATO está a aumentar a assistência militar à União Africana, a quem também fornece “planeamento e transporte naval”, dentro da estrutura estratégica do Comando da África dos Estados Unidos. Na América Latina, a NATO assinou um “Acordo de Segurança” com a Colômbia, que, já recrutada nos programas militares da Aliança (entre os quais, a formação de forças especiais), se tornou “o primeiro parceiro da NATO na América Latina”. Portanto, a NATO tem influência e autoridade no plano subversivo contra a República Bolivariana da Venezuela.

  1. Para sair do sistema de guerra da NATO

Enquanto a aceleração dos conflitos em curso faz aumentar o risco de uma grande guerra que, com o uso de armas nucleares e de outras armas de destruição em massa, colocaria em risco a própria existência da Humanidade e do Planeta Terra, é de importância vital,  multiplicar esforços para sair do sistema de guerra. Isto levanta a questão da adesão da Itália à NATO.

Há quem diga que se pode permanecer na NATO mantendo a sua autonomia de escolha, ou seja, tendo a possibilidade de decidir de vez em quando no Parlamento nacional se participa ou não, de uma iniciativa específica da Aliança Atlântica. Ilusão ou muito pior. No Conselho do Atlântico Norte, segundo estabelecem as regras da NATO, “não há voto nem decisão maioritária”, mas “as decisões são tomadas por unanimidade e por mútuo acordo”, isto é, de acordo com os Estados Unidos da América a quem pertence, por direito, a posição de Comandante Supremo Aliado na Europa e outros comandos importantes, incluindo o do Grupo de Planeamento Nuclear.

No grande espetáculo mediático da política, mágicos e acrobatas lançam apelos para um mundo sem armas nucleares, ou seja, para algo que actualmente é impossível, mas nada fazem para alcançar o que hoje seria possível: uma batalha política decisiva para libertar a Itália de armas nucleares, que não servem à nossa segurança, mas que  nos expõem a riscos acrescidos. É o único modo, através do qual, em Itália, se pode realmente contribuir para desarmar a escalada que leva à guerra nuclear, concretizando um verdadeiro passo em direcção à eliminação total das armas nucleares.

Para fazê-lo, precisamos lutar em campo aberto para que a Itália cesse de violar o Tratado de Não-Proliferação que ratificou, forçando os Estados Unidos a remover imediatamente as suas armas nucleares do nosso território nacional e, ao mesmo tempo, para que a Itália libertando-se, adira ao Tratado das Nações Unidas sobre a proibição de armas nucleares.

Os princípios da nossa Constituição e os verdadeiros interesses nacionais tornam, ao mesmo tempo, indispensável a remoção do nosso território nacional não só das armas nucleares, mas das bases USA e NATO sob o comando dos EUA. Por outras palavras, deve-se infringir o Grande Tabu que domina o mundo político e institucional, indicando claramente o objectivo a ser alcançado: a saída da Itália da NATO e a saída da NATO da Itália, para contribuir para a dissolução da Aliança Atlântica e de qualquer outra aliança militar. Objectivo considerado louco para quem vê a Aliança Atlântica como algo sagrado e intocável; considerado perigoso por aqueles que sabem que, colocando-se contra a NATO, colocam em risco a sua carreira política; considerado impossível para aqueles que pensam que uma Itália soberana e neutra não pode existir.

Os obstáculos que se interpõem para alcançar este objectivo são enormes. O Poder dominante baseia a sua força não apenas em instrumentos políticos, económicos e militares, mas no controlo das mentes, tornado possível por um aparelho mediático que, sobretudo através da televisão, induz a acreditar que só existe o que se vê e  não existe o que não se vê. O controlo das mentes por meio do aparelho mediático dominante permite, por um lado, tranquilizar a opinião pública, escondendo as ameaças reais, e, por outro, alarmá-la, fazendo aparecer hologramas de inimigos perigosos, para assim justificar políticas de rearmamento, operações militares e guerras, justificando ao mesmo tempo uma despesa militar que, em Itália, chega a cerca de 70 milhões de euros por dia e, de acordo com os compromissos assumidos na NATO, terá de subir para cerca de 100 milhões de euros por dia. E, sempre em função do controlo da mente, cria-se o espetáculo daqueles que, após terem apoiado as guerras que demoliram Estados inteiros (o último, o Estado da Líbia)tendo provocado êxodos maciços dramáticos, estão hoje na primeira fila para acolher de braços abertos, as vítimas dessas mesmas guerras.

Portanto, a grande maioria não sabe nada ou quase nada sobre os mecanismos que determinam a cada vez mais rápida escalada da guerra, tornando ainda mais real o cenário da terceira (e última) guerra mundial – a guerra termonuclear. É falado em pequenos círculos de “insiders”, em “salas cinzentas” (com referência à cor do cabelo) das quais os jovens estão praticamente ausentes. Trata-se de sair do armário, encontrar modos  e linguagens para fazer as pessoas conpreenderem que o tempo se está a esgotar, que é absolutamente necessário mover-se enquanto estamos a tempo. O que devemos fazer está nas mãos de cada um de nós.

Em face do perigo iminente, devemos demonstrar que ainda existe uma Itália que se lembra, não apenas por palavras, da sua própria Constituição; uma Itália para a qual a palavra “soberania” não é apenas um termo de uso para mudança política; uma Itália que se recusa a permanecer enjaulada numa aliança que, sob comando estrangeiro, nos prejudica e nos leva à catástrofe; uma Itália capaz de sair da visão anti-histórica de um Ocidente arreigado na defesa da sua supremacia; uma Itália capaz de desempenhar um papel activo na construção de um mundo multipolar no qual se concretizam as aspirações dos povos à liberdade e à justiça social, baseadas na Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos.

 

Texto nas línguas siguientes :

DANSK DEUTSCH ENGLISH ESPAÑOL  FRANÇAIS ITALIANO  NEDERLANDS
PORTUGUÊS ROMÎNA SLOVENSKÝ SVENSKA TÜRKÇE РУССКИЙ

GRUPO DE TRABALHO:

Francesco Cappello, Giulietto Chiesa, Franco Dinelli, Manlio Dinucci, Berenice Galli, Germana Leoni von Dohnanyi, Jeff Hoffman, Giuseppe Padovano, Marie-Ange Patrizio, Jean Toschi M. Visconti, Luisa Vasconcelos, Fernando Zolli

BIBLIOGRAFIA                     

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·         Luigi Grimaldi, Il Moby Prince e quelle navi di armi americane, Famiglia Cristiana, 4 novembre 2015

·         Ferdinando Imposimato, La Repubblica delle stragi impunite, Newton Compton, 2012

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È arrivata la bufera, Piemme, 2015

Что, вместо катастрофа, Mosca 2016 Putinfobia,  Piemme 2016Руссофобия 2.0.  Eksmo, Moscow, 2017 Rusofobie 2.0.  Editions du Cercle, ParisRusofobija,  Albatros, Belgrado, 2016
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  • Francesco Cappello, Ricchezza fittizia povertà artificiosa, Edizioni ETS, 2018
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Displaced Syrians in refugee camps in Jordan continue to return to their country through Nassib – Jaber border crossing after their towns and villages were cleaned from the US-sponsored terrorists..

Yesterday’s batch of returning families was mostly of women and children which arrived at noon time to Nassib border crossing on the Syrian side of the borders with Jordan.

Syrian authorities at the crossing rushed to provide basic services for the refugees and arranged for buses and trucks to return them to their respective towns and villages with their belongings.

One of the returned refugees Mr. Talal Juma is from Rigga city, the town that the US and its ‘coalition’ obliterated from life and claimed it liberated it, Mr. Juma spoke to SANA: ‘Today is like a dream coming true, it’s been 7 long years and now thanks to the heroes of the Syrian Armed Forces and their allies safety and security is being restored to our country and our return was possible’.

Mr. Juma called on all displaced Syrians abroad to pack and return to their country, he added: ‘There’s nothing that would preserve your dignity other than your home country.’

Mr. Ahmad Abu from Souran town in Hama countryside also called on his fellow Syrians displaced abroad to return to their country, he spent 5 years in Jordan away from home and almost felt life had no more meaning for him.

Earlier this month, on 4th of April, another batch of 150 displaced Syrians returned from al-Azraq refugee camp in Jordan through Nassib – Jaber border crossing and received the same assistance and services from the authorities including medical check-ups, ambulance, buses and trucks to carry them to their towns and villages with their belongings.

Following video report by SANA and interviews with some of the returning refugees:


Video transcript in English:

A new batch of displaced Syrians returned today from refugee camps in Jordan through Nassib – Jaber Border Crossing on their way to return to their towns and villages which were liberated from terror.

Smelling my nation’s breeze is alone enough, in God’s will safety and security will prevail and they’ll return, it’s enough.

We will rebuild the country and remain one hand shoulder by shoulder

Is there anything more wonderful than returning to our homeland? To our families? All should return to their country, after your country, there’s nothing of value.

If you go around the whole world you won’t find like your homeland.

We wanted to return to our homeland since a long while, but thanks God now safety and security is restored in our country

Our beloved Syria, there’s nothing like its soil, nothing like it anywhere else.

The person’s dignity is in his home country.

End of video transcript.

Syrian Refugees Returning from Jordan through Nassib Border Crossing
Syrian Refugees Returning Home – Archive (December 2018)

Colonel Mazen Ghandour, chief of Nassib Immigration Center, stated to SANA that 18,500 displaced Syrians have returned to their country through the crossing since it was cleaned from terror and reopened in October last year.

Colonel Ghandour added: ‘The authorities are always available to provide instant support and all needed services to the returning refugees and arrange their safe return to their respective towns and villages.’

Syrians are returning to their country despite the hardships caused by the ever-increasing unprecedented sanctions by the USA and its cronies, what the US and its evil camp couldn’t achieve in their War Of Terror they waged against Syria over more than 8 years, they will not achieve by any sort of sanctions.

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The public interest, and democratic political economies, both domestic and internationally, are poison to Empire. But this must be hidden from view, hence war propaganda/fake news is protected by legislation, while Constitutionally-protected, evidence-based real journalism, a dying phenomenon, continues to be attacked.

The First Amendment of the US Constitution, adopted on December 15, 1791,

“prevents the government from making laws which respect an establishment of religion, prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, or the right to petition the government for redress of grievances.” [1]

However, the Constitution is under constant assault by US oligarch[2] ruling classes.

Freedom of the press has been negated by ruling class monopoly ownership and pervasive propaganda. Criminal propaganda is protected while “freedoms of speech” are under constant assault.

The fakery of the news stories is protected by (unconstitutional) laws embedded in the National Defense Authorization Act which blur the lines between reality and spectacle. In an earlier article I wrote,

According to an amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the House Bill H.R 5736 (now law), the federal government of the United States can now legally propagandize the domestic public.

Arguably, this makes staged theatrical presentations, featuring crisis-actors, and purporting to be ‘reality’, legal.

And, as if that isn’t enough, Don North writes in “US/NATO Embrace Psy-ops and Info-War” that,

“As reflected in a recent NATO conference in Latvia and in the Pentagon’s new ‘Law of War’ manual, the U.S. government has come to view the control and manipulation of information as a ‘soft power’ weapon, merging psychological operations, propaganda and public affairs under the catch phrase ‘strategic communications.’ “[3]

The Espionage Act[4] also contradicts the US Constitution, but it is being invoked with regard to the indictment against Julian Assange.

Ubiquitous classification of information beneath the mantle of “National Security” serves to sustain the illusion that Empire serves the public interest. Hence, as author and veteran journalist Naomi Wolf asserts, whistleblowers are necessary, as is the transmission of their leaks. This, she says, has been journalism practice for years. It is what real journalists are supposed to do.

The Daniel Ellsbergs and Chelsea Mannings of the world are necessary — Ellsberg is now considered to be a hero.  The Assanges of the world who transmit the truth are also necessary.

If the Espionage Act, the NDAA, and other legislation were to completely displace the U.S Constitution and its First Amendment, then the prospect of real journalism would finally be extinguished. And ruling classes feigning concern for the public interest would be delighted.

In the following video, Wolf walks us through the indictment[5] against Assange and demonstrates the paucity of evidence against him in the government’s on-going efforts to frame him and destroy the messenger with a view to protecting the Supreme International War Criminals currently guiding the Neo-con Imperial Shipwreck.

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Mark Taliano is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization (CRG) and the author of Voices from Syria, Global Research Publishers, 2017.

Notes

[1] Wikipedia, “First Amendment to the United States Constitution.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution) Accessed 18 April, 2019.

[2] Daniel Kreps, “Jimmy Carter: U.S. Is an ‘Oligarchy With Unlimited Political Bribery.’ “ (https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/jimmy-carter-u-s-is-an-oligarchy-with-unlimited-political-bribery-63262/) Accessed 18 April, 2019.

[3] Mark Taliano, “Fake threats and engineered fears.” 16 July, 2016. (https://ahtribune.com/politics/1073-engineered-fears.html?fbclid=IwAR0qHlFivL8c1QIqMxZsiQO43qYN0R-ITQCPa9jUXAWjU9v8_LjzMFiGlJE) Accessed 18 April, 2019.

[4] Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, “18 U.S. Code CHAPTER 37—ESPIONAGE AND CENSORSHIP.” (https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/part-I/chapter-37) Accessed 18 April, 2019.

[5] “In The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, United States of America v. Julian Paul Assange.” 6 March, 2018. (https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/press-release/file/1153481/download) Accessed 18 April, 2019.


Order Mark Taliano’s Book “Voices from Syria” directly from Global Research.

Mark Taliano combines years of research with on-the-ground observations to present an informed and well-documented analysis that refutes  the mainstream media narratives on Syria. 

Voices from Syria 

ISBN: 978-0-9879389-1-6

Author: Mark Taliano

Year: 2017

Pages: 128 (Expanded edition: 1 new chapter)

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EU Rejects Israeli Claim to Syrian Golan

April 18th, 2019 by IMEMC

The European Union’s foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has once again expressed the 28-nation bloc’s disapproval of the Israeli regime’s claim of “sovereignty” to Syria’s Golan Heights and other Tel Aviv-occupied territories.

Speaking at the plenary session of the European Parliament, in the French city of Strasbourg, on Tuesday, Mogherini stressed that the EU’s position on the status of Golan “has not changed.”

“The EU has a very simple and clear position,” she said. “The EU does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over any of the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, in line with international law and with UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 497. And this also applies to the Golan Heights.”

The EU’s top diplomat also noted, according to the PNN, that she had already issued a declaration on behalf of all the 28 member states and clarified their stance on the Golan Heights.

Additionally, she said, the five EU member states of the UN Security Council – including the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland – had expressed the bloc’s common position on Golan in a joint stake-out.

Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of its 1967 Six-Day War with Arab countries, which also saw the regime occupy the Palestinian territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem al-Quds and the Gaza Strip.

Tel Aviv unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981, in a move not recognized internationally.

Syria has repeatedly reaffirmed its sovereignty over the Golan Heights, saying the territory must be completely restored to its control.

On March 25, US President Donald Trump signed a decree recognizing Israeli “sovereignty” over the occupied Golan at the start of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in Washington.

Trump’s controversial policy shift came over a year after the hawkish US president recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the “capital” of Israel and transferred Washington’s embassy from Tel Aviv to the occupied Palestinian city.

Emboldened by Trump’s highly anti-Palestine agenda, Netanyahu has talked of plans to annex the occupied Palestinian region of the West Bank.

Illegal settlement activities

Elsewhere in her speech, Mogherini complained that Israel’s settlement construction activities in the occupied Palestinian lands were eroding any prospect of a two-state solution.

After a recent announcement by Israel to build 4,600 new settler units, the EU emphasized that it considered

“all settlement activity illegal under international law, and that settlements erode the viability of the two-state solution,” she said.

“And in fact, the two-state solution is not only fading away. It is being dismantled piece by piece,” she added, warning that abandoning the solution would bring greater chaos, not only to the occupied territories but also to the entire Middle East.

Israel has over the past months stepped up its settlement construction activities in the occupied lands in defiance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334.

About 600,000 Israelis live in over 230 settlements built illegally since the 1967 occupation of the Palestinian lands.

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Important events have occurred in the Middle East and North Africa in recent weeks that underline how the overall political reconfiguration of the region is in full swing. The Shia axis continues its diplomatic relations and, following Rouhani’s meeting in Baghdad, it was the turn of Adil Abdul-Mahdi to be received in Tehran by the highest government and religious authorities. Among the many statements released, two in particular reveal the high level of cooperation between the two countries, as well as demonstrating how the Shia axis is in full bloom, carrying significant prospects for the region. Abdul-Mahdi also reiterated that Iraq will not allow itself to be used as a platform from which to attack Iran:

“Iraqi soil will not be allowed to be used by foreign troops to launch any attacks against Iran. The plan is to export electricity and gas for other countries in the region.”

Considering that these two countries were mortal enemies during Saddam Hussein’s time, their rapprochement is quite a (geo)political miracle, owing much of its success to Russia’s involvement in the region. The 4+1 coalition (Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria plus Hezbollah) and the anti-terrorism center in Baghdad came about as a result of Russia’s desire to coordinate all the allied parties in a single front. Russia’s military support of Syria, Iraq and Hezbollah (together with China’s economic support) has allowed Iran to begin to transform the region such that the Shia axis can effectively counteract the destabilizing chaos unleashed by the trio of the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

One of the gaps to be filled in the Shia axis lies in Lebanon, which has long experienced an internal conflict between the many religious and political currents in the country. The decision by Washington to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel pushed the Lebanese president, Michel Aoun, to make an important symbolic visit to Moscow to meet with President Putin.

Once again, the destabilizing efforts of the Saudis, Israelis and Americans are having the unintended effect of strengthening the Shia axis. It seems that this trio fails to understand how such acts as murdering Khashoggi, using civilian planes to hide behind in order to conduct bombing runs in Syria, recognizing the occupied territories like the Golan Heights – how these produce the opposite effects to the ones desired.

The supply of S-300 systems to Syria after the downing of the Russian reconnaissance plane took place as a result of Tel Aviv failing to think ahead and anticipate how Russia may respond.

What is surprising in Moscow’s actions is the versatility of its diplomacy, from the deployment of the S-300s in Syria, or the bombers in Iran, to the prompt meetings with Netanyahu in Moscow and Mohammad bin Salman at the G20. The ability of the Russian Federation to mediate and be present in almost every conflict on the globe restores to the country the international stature that is indispensable in counterbalancing the belligerence of the United States.

The main feature of Moscow’s approach is to find areas of common interest with its interlocutor and to favor the creation of trade or knowledge exchange. Another military and economic example can be found in a third axis; not the Shia or Saudi-Israeli-US one but the Turkish-Qatari one. In Syria, Erdogan started from positions that were exactly opposite to those of Putin and Assad. But with decisive military action and skilled diplomacy, the creation of the Astana format between Iran, Turkey and Russia made Turkey and Qatar publicly take the defense of Islamist takfiris and criminals in Idlib. Qatar for its part has a two-way connection with Turkey, but it is also in open conflict with the Saudi-Israeli axis, with the prospect of abandoning OPEC within a few weeks. This situation has allowed Moscow to open a series of negotiations with Doha on the topic of LNG, with these two players controlling most of the LNG on the planet. It is evident that also the Turkish-Qatari axis is strongly conditioned by Moscow and by the potential military agreements between Turkey and Russia (sale of S-400) and economic and energy agreements between Moscow and Doha.

America’s actions in the region risks combining the Qatari-Turkish front with the Shia axis, again thanks to Moscow’s skilful diplomatic work. The recent sale of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia, together with the withdrawal from the JCPOA (the Iranian nuclear agreement), has created concern and bewilderment in the region and among Washington’s allies. The act of recognizing the occupied Golan Heights as belonging to Israel has brought together the Arab world as few events have done in recent times. Added to this, Trump’s open complaints about OPEC’s high pricing of oil has forced Riyadh to start wondering out aloud whether to start selling oil in a currency other than the dollar. This rumination was quickly denied, but it had already been aired. Such a decision would have grave implications for the petrodollar and most of the financial and economic power of the United States.

If the Shia axis, with Russian protection, is strengthened throughout the Middle East, the Saudi-Israel-American triad loses momentum and falls apart, as seen in Libya, with Haftar now one step closer in unifying the country thanks to the support of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France and Russia, with Fayez al-Sarraj now abandoned by the Italians and Americans awaiting his final defeat.

While the globe continues its multipolar transformation, the delicate balancing role played by Russia in the Middle East and North Africa is emphasized. The Venezuelan foreign minister’s recent visit to Syria shows how the front opposed to US imperialist bullying is not confined to the Middle East, with countries in direct or indirect conflict with Washington gathering together under the same protective Sino-Russian umbrella.

Trump’s “America First” policy, coupled with the conviction of American exceptionalism, is driving international relations towards two poles rather than multipolar ones, pushing China, Russia and all other countries opposed to the US to unite in order to collectively resist US diktats.

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Federico Pieraccini is an independent freelance writer specialized in international affairs, conflicts, politics and strategies. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

Featured image is from SCF

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The “Original Sin”!

April 18th, 2019 by Massoud Nayeri

In every struggle for Peace and Justice, there are critical moments that can change the outcome of that struggle. These days are so crucial to save the Body and Mind of two great humble human beings who are under immense barbaric treatment by their captors. Their voices have been silenced by illegal arrests and since then have been denied any contact with the outside world. Wherever we are, we must feel their pain and at this moment be their voices.

In the U.S., the Democratic and Republican Administrations already have introduced a dreadful detention system like Guantanamo Bay to justify and normalize their torturous techniques in breaking down the spirit of their detainees. The submissive U.K. “leaders” without any legal permission or logical reason have detained Julian Assange in their own “GITMO” Belmarsh Prison. This notorious prison in London poses grave concerns about the wellbeing of Julian Assange.

Today, we must increase our efforts to save Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange and make their freedom possible. We have the right to know about the health of our loved ones behind bars. The right of visitation for people in detention is a minimum demand that every civilized nation must accommodate. A delegation of immediate families members, the families of the Iraqi victims, doctors, lawyers, journalists and supporters should have the right to visit Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange.

Let’s not forget: the “Original Sin” mainly was the publication of a video about how a series of air-to-ground attacks conducted by a team of two U.S. AH-64 Apache helicopters in Al-Amin al-Thaniyah in Iraq killing innocent civilians while they were laughing and shooting.

Free Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange NOW!

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Massoud Nayeri is a graphic designer and an independent peace activist based in the United States. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

Featured image is from the author

An affidavit unsealed by US prosecutors on Monday has underscored the unlawful character of the Trump administration’s request that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange be extradited to the US in the wake of his illegal expulsion from Ecuador’s London embassy and arrest by the British police last Thursday.

The affidavit was made by Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) special agent Megan Brown on December 21, 2017, in support of two charges which had been secretly filed against Assange, under her name.

The charges accuse Assange of participating in a “conspiracy” with whistleblower Chelsea Manning to gain unauthorised access to a US government computer.

Brown’s document demonstrates that the Trump administration does not have a legal case against Assange that would withstand judicial scrutiny in the US, or in any other country that claims to be a democracy. It brands the US extradition request as a pseudo-legal fig leaf for an extraordinary rendition operation, aimed at silencing a publisher, for his lawful journalistic activities.

The sole “evidence” against Assange is chat logs, in the possession of the US government, which Brown and US prosecutors claim are of online conversations between the WikiLeaks founder and Chelsea Manning.

Brown’s affidavit, and the charge sheet, do not provide any direct evidence that the person Manning was speaking to was Assange.

The “case” against Assange is that Manning, and whoever she was allegedly conversing with in March 2010, discussed cracking a “hash,” or password, that would have allowed her to access US Defence Department material on an account that was not her own.

Manning, as a US army intelligence analyst, had access to the material that she leaked to WikiLeaks. She had already leaked thousands of documents, including the US army’s Afghan and Iraq war logs. The only purpose of accessing the password would have been to help protect her identity.

Brown’s affidavit indicates that the password was never cracked. It quotes Manning, allegedly asking, “any more hints about the IM hash?” The person Manning was conversing with replied: “No luck so far.” Brown then stated:

“There is no other evidence as to what Assange did, if anything, with respect to the password.”

Brown also draws attention to portions of the chat logs, in which Manning and her interlocutor discuss the contents of material she had read and leaked to WikiLeaks.

All of the substantive material in the affidavit has been in the possession of the US authorities since at least 2011, following Manning’s arrest the previous year.

The Obama administration viciously pursued Assange and convened a secret Grand Jury to concoct charges against him. It did not, however, press charges over the alleged conversation logs, in an apparent recognition that such a prosecution would violate the US Constitution’s First Amendment freedom of the press protections.

As one of Assange’s US based lawyers, Barry Pollack, stated this week:

“Encouraging sources to provide information, and using methods to protect their identity, are common practices by all journalists.”

Another of Assange’s lawyers, Jennifer Robinson, noted that the material showed “the kinds of communications journalists have with sources all the time.”

Brown’s affidavit demonstrates that the Trump administration is using the case against Assange to try and prevent journalists from speaking to any sources within the US state apparatus, who wish to disclose evidence of American imperialism’s criminal operations domestically and around the world.

The affidavit declares that WikiLeaks “solicited submissions of classified, censored, or otherwise restricted information,” as though there was something illegitimate about this centuries-long journalistic practice.

It stated that Assange “never possessed a security clearance or need to know” and was “prohibited from receiving classified information of the United States.” This line alone brands the indictment against Assange as a frontal assault on freedom of the press in the US and internationally.

Significantly, Brown’s affidavit condemns Assange for WikiLeaks’ publication of information that they “had reason to believe would cause injury to the United States.”

This is nothing less than a call to establish a legal precedent that journalists must function as de facto agents of the government, including by suppressing truthful information that is in the public interest.

Source: WSWS

The documents referenced in that section of the affidavit are the Iraq and Afghan war logs. Those publications exposed, for the first time, the extent of the war crimes carried out by US occupying forces in both countries.

The Iraq war logs documented the deaths of almost 110,000 people, including more than 66,000 people labelled by the US military as civilians. This included 15,000 civilian deaths, which were known to the US authorities, but publicly suppressed.

The war logs from both countries demonstrated that torture was a common practice for the US and its proxies. They documented extra-judicial killings and the cover-up of war crimes extending to the highest levels of military command.

The affidavit further demonstrates that it is for exposing these historic crimes, as a journalist and publisher, that Assange has been pursued and charged by the US government.

It is warning that if Assange is extradited to the US, espionage and other charges, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty, will likely be added to his charge sheet. Brown indicated that she became involved in the investigation against Assange, after having been assigned to an FBI “counter-espionage squad” in Washington.

The timeline presented by Brown, also provides new evidence of the motives behind the stepped-up US pursuit of Assange.

She began working with the “counter-espionage squad” targeting Assange in February 2017, the same month WikiLeaks announced that it was preparing to release a massive trove of documents from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), dubbed Vault 7.

The documents, published over March 2017, were the most extensive exposure of the criminal methods of the CIA in more than 30 years.

They detailed the activities of a secretive division within the agency, tasked with hacking computers all over the world. The documents demonstrated that the division had developed techniques to hack into computer systems and leave “tell-tale” markers, attributing the attacks to other countries, including Russia and Iran.

Vault 7 revealed that the agency was spying on people through smart televisions and other household devices. The CIA was also seeking to develop capabilities to remotely take control of the computer systems in modern cars. Such abilities could be used in assassination operations.

The US government response to the exposures was apoplectic. In April 2017, CIA director Mike Pompeo declared that Assange was a “demon” and that WikiLeaks was a “non-state hostile intelligence service” without any first amendment rights.

The same month, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said arresting Assange was a “priority.” He told a news conference:

“We’ve already begun to step up our efforts and whenever a case can be made, we will seek to put some people in jail.”

Just weeks before Pompeo and Sessions made their statements, the corrupt Ecuadorian regime of President Lenín Moreno, acting at the behest of Washington, cut-off all of Assange’s communications and his internet access, in its London embassy.

In court testimony last October, challenging the Ecuadorian government’s attempts to isolate and gag him, Assange explained that the escalating attacks against him had resulted from the publication of Vault 7.

Brown’s affidavit, and the timing of the 2017 investigation into WikiLeaks, demonstrate the urgency of transforming the immense support that exists for Assange among workers, students and young people, into a mass political movement to secure his freedom.

Everything must be done to prevent the extradition of the courageous journalist to the US, where he would be at the mercy of the CIA torturers and war criminals he has done so much to expose.

The Socialist Equality Party (Australia) is demanding that the Australian government end its collaboration in the US-led vendetta against Assange, an Australian citizen, and immediately use its undeniable legal discretion and diplomatic powers to secure his release from Britain and return to Australia, with a guarantee against extradition to the US.

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The silence is almost deafening. Is it the quiet before the storm? – Or is the US giving up on Venezuela? I don’t think so. It’s more like a regrouping after a first defeat, well, it’s a multiple defeat, if we start counting since the failed coup attempt against Hugo Chavez on 11 April 2002.

However, Washington is not giving up. The first blows come flying. Pompeo to Maduro – open your borders for humanitarian aid, or else…. which implies the usual, “all options are on the table – ’humanitarian’ military intervention is an option”.

Washington – April 10, 2019, high level US and South American (members of the infamous and nefarious Lima Group, naturally) politicians and military held a secret meeting about the strategic next steps to subdue Venezuela, how to “regime-change” the Maduro Government, by ‘military options’, as reported by investigative journalist Max Blumenthal. The meeting was dubbed ‘Assessing the Use of Military Force in Venezuela.’ It was hosted by the DC-based neoliberal thinktank the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada, denounces Trump’s preparations for war to the entire UN community. The UN Community is increasingly taking note of the atrocities and lawlessness of the one rogue UN member that has the arrogance of thinking and acting as if it were above the law, above every law, even the laws made by its own lawmakers, the United States of America. In the context of the failed coup attempt on Venezuela, a group of about 60 UN members formed, including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Iran and many more, representing about half of the world population, in support of Venezuela and especially in support of the UN Charter. The group requests and will enhance actions for UN members to respect the UN principles, the laws and rules upon which the United Nations were created almost 75 years ago. This is a new twist within the UN body.

On 11 April, US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, met in Washington with 16 ministers of finance and representatives of 20 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Portugal, Peru, Spain, and the UK) – to enhance the support of some 50 countries of the self-declared president Juan Guaidó, and how to support Venezuela, once the Maduro Government “is gone”. – Hilarious, if it wasn’t so serious.  It is as if these, otherwise smart people, were falling into the trap of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s Propaganda Minister – if a lie is repeated enough, it becomes the truth. Indeed, there is no other country in recent history that emulates Hitler and his approaches to world dominance by manipulation as well as Washington. And indeed, it is not quite clear, who was teaching whom.

Image result for delcy rodriguez

Venezuela’s Vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, denounces the preparation of a military intervention in Venezuela by the US, Colombia and Brazil. She warns the world from a humanitarian disaster if the global community, allows the United States and its minions to interfere in Venezuela.

Mexico’s new President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), also vehemently rejects any interference in Venezuela – and offers his Government’s services to mediate a dialogue between the Maduro Government and the opposition, a dialogue to which President Maduro has invited the opposition already many times. To no avail. Mostly because the orders from Washington are clear, no dialogue – no compromise, the Maduro Government must be go.

We will inject the necessary capital into the inefficient oil industry, and our petrol corporations are eager to revive Venezuela’s hydrocarbon industry and make it profitable again.

These are the bold and honest words of John Bolton, US National security Adviser. Let’s see where all this hoopla may lead. If it sounds like wishful thinking, it is wishful thinking.

Even though the true media hero, Julian Assange is for totally illegal reasons behind bars in the UK. And this because laws are made in Washington as Washington sees fit, as Trump signs papers, shows them on TV and they becomes law – and laws of the US are applied throughout the US vassalic world, and especially by its poodle puppets in London. Never mind this minor detail of human derailment. More importantly, it seems that Mr. Assange’s spirit and that of his creation of truth telling, Wikileaks, is increasingly reflected by politicians and journalists – who, though somehow coopted into the ‘system’, feel discomfort with this very system and decide to leak so-called classified information into the non-mainstream truth-telling media.

A classical case may be the secret ‘RoundTable’ that took place in Washington on 10 April to discuss the fate of Venezuela. The news about it was first published by the Grayzone portal on 13 April. Mr. Blumenthal has obtained the information along with a “check-in list” of the high-flying participants to this private ‘round-table’. When confronted and asked for interviews on the event, most members on the list were surprised, even stunned, and refused to talk. Somebody from inside must have leaked the information about the clandestine meeting.

On a totally different issue, but equally important for the concept and philosophy of leaking information to the outside world, is the recent disclosure – “leak” – by someone in the French military that sophisticated French weaponry was used by Saudi Arabia to attack and kill defenseless Yemenis. And this, although the French – and especially Roi Macron himself, has always denied that the French were participating offensively in this also illegal US-UK-NATO proxy war. The French narrative was and is that France’s weapons were only defensive. Sounds as stupid as calling the US War Ministry, the Ministry of Defense.

Are we entering a Leak-zone (no pun intended) – an epoch of leaking, of divulging ‘secret’ and classified information? Have we had enough impunity? It’s time to stop it. What is this “classified” and secret information anyway? In a so-called Democracy – why are the elected government officials privileged to hold on to secret information, unknown to the public who lives under the illusion that they elected them, and – more importantly, or even worse – the public, who pays for them. Can’t you see, dear People, what aberration of “democracy” we have moved into? – Please, just open your eyes and see all these contradictions, contradictions for us, but they serve the chosen- and you believe elected-by-you – elite, lining their pockets and increasing their power.

Now the public must know the truth. This new Leak-Culture may take hold. – If so, its high time, but never too late. It would be another sign towards the empire heaving on its last breath, or as Andre Vltchek so adroitly puts it, when he describes the ultimate crime of the lawless London gang, the police manhandling a sick and defenseless Julian Assange, “By dragging him from the embassy into a police van, it [the empire] has admitted that it already has begun sewing its own funeral gown.”

Back to Venezuela. Has Washington given up? Most likely not. Although their first coup attempt has failed. The Venezuelan military did not defect. Despite Trump’s warning, even threats, they stood and still stand behind Nicolás Maduro. The humanitarian aid trucks at the border in Cúcuta did not cross into Venezuela. In fact, they were burned by the very opposition, hoping to make believe that Maduro’s troops put them on fire. No. They were indeed the opposition forces and their allies in Colombia. Ironically, the mayor of Cúcuta, after the humanitarian aid stayed stuck at the border, asked Colombian President Duque, whether he, the mayor, might distribute the aid among the poor people of Cúcuta, because this aid was more needed in Cúcuta than in Venezuela.

Second, Juan Guaidó was never able to mobilize the crowds as Washington expected. Guaidó, a US lackey in the first place, lacks any charisma. He does not appeal even to the majority of Venezuela’s opposition. So, he is a dead horse. Bad choice by Washington.

Third, a direct military intervention seems unlikely – at least at this point – as Russia quietly but with considerable force has made known her presence in the country. And so does China. Though China may not have sent military personnel, China’s position was and is: Don’t mess with Venezuela. China and Russia have both huge investments in Venezuela’s hydrocarbon industry.

In the meantime, Bolton and Pompeo have already accused, in addition to Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua as spreading ‘socialism’ in the region. That’s their crime. It’s now in the open – it’s not just the oil, it’s also ideology. They are going to be sanctioned. In Cuba invoking again the 1996 Helms–Burton Act, under which foreign companies are prohibited from doing business in Cuba, lest they are prevented from doing business in the US. In addition, the amount of money Cuban American’s may send home is again limited, after Obama lifted the restrictions. – And exile Cubans – mostly applying to those in Florida – may now sue Cuba in US courts for confiscated and nationalized land after the revolution. And that after 60 years. I wonder, what US courts have to meddle in Cuba. This latest US arrogance stinks to heaven.

Will the world smell it? – Is Washington at the end of the rope with Venezuela? – Will see. Not voluntarily; that’s for sure. But if leakers keep leaking, it’s a sign that even insiders have had it.

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Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a water resources and environmental specialist. He worked for over 30 years with the World Bank and the World Health Organization around the world in the fields of environment and water. He lectures at universities in the US, Europe and South America. He writes regularly for Global Research; ICH; RT; Sputnik; PressTV; The 21st Century; TeleSUR; The Saker Blog, the New Eastern Outlook (NEO); and other internet sites. He is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance. He is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.

Featured image: Venezuela’s ambassador to the UN, Samuel Moncada

The mass media has been widely covering the details of the disastrous humanitarian situation in Rukban refugee camp over recent months. By the way, the crisis in other sites deserves more considerable attention. Al-Hol refugee camp located in Al-Hasakah province and run by the Syria Democratic Forces is one of them.

Every single day from 10 to 20 people, mainly women and children die due to the lack of drinking water, essential goods, and medicine. Only for the past two months, 250 children passed away in the camp. According to estimates, now more than 50,000 refugees reside there, although initially it was designed only for 25,000.

It turned out that the catastrophe of Al-Hol residents is caused by the illegal actions of the U.S. authorities. Their homes and shelters in the northern and north-eastern part of Syria have been destroyed by the indiscriminate airstrikes of the U.S.-led international coalition.

Apart from Rukban camp situated in the 55-kilometre zone near Al-Tanf, the American servicemen organized ’humanitarian assistance’ for the people in Al-Hol. However, it is really hard to believe in support of Washington to the locals. On the way to supply their bases in other parts of the country, American trucks allegedly deliver humanitarian aid to the camp. Meanwhile, under the guise of good intentions, weapons and military equipment for Kurdish militias flow from Iraq to Syria.

Since March 1, 2019, the United States has already delivered from Iraq six convoys with 100 Humvee jeeps, 150 pickup trucks equipped with machineguns, as well as small arms and grenade launchers, the local activists report.

In fact, Al-Hol residence received no humanitarian aid, and only a small part of the armament fell into the hands of the American soldiers deployed at Sarrin and Harab Isk military bases in the area of Manbij.

Three-quarters of the shipment was delivered to the Kurdish militias in Al-Hol camp and then moved to the settlements of Tell Abyad and Ras Al Ain at the border with Turkey. According to the Middle East experts, these towns could become the starting point of the Turkish army and its proxies’ large-scale military operation against Kurds in northern Syria.

Amid deterioration of the U.S.-Turkish relations, Washington continues to support SDF, that in response keep holding the oil fields in favour of the United States.

The Turkish side repeatedly expressed concern over the long-term and stable relations between the Americans and Kurds. By the way, the Pentagon has announced the allocation of $ 300 million for the train-and-equip program for the Syrian Democratic Forces. Moreover, half of the budget will be spent on the purchase of military transport.

It was also reported that the number of SDF is planned to be doubled – from 61,000 to 121,000 fighters. Exactly after this announcement, first messages on the forced recruitment in north-eastern Syria appeared.

Based on these data, the version of the secret weapons supply by the U.S. to SDF seems quite reasonable. This armament will be enough to disrupt Ankara offensive and create chaos in the north of Syria. Unfortunately, it is happening under the guise of humanitarian aid delivery to the people in need locked in Al-Hol refugee camp.

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In watching the grotesque arrest of Julian Assange being dragged from the Ecuador Embassy, it occurred to me that this ‘show’ in broad daylight was a deliberate attempt to intimidate and convey a message of omnipotent power and control.

Instead, it was the memory of the Collateral Murder video that Wikileaks released in 2010 that came to mind. In 2007, two US Apache helicopters using 30 mm cannon fire attacked a group of civilians outside Baghdad which included two Reuters reporters.   The horror of that video brought the Iraq war in a most graphic manner to include the images of a carefree group unaware that hell on earth was about to descend upon them creating a surreal experience as the helicopter crew dialogue was detached from any emotional reality of what they were about to do.   The two Reuters reporters were holding cameras which were mistakenly identified as AK47s.

Reuters demanded an investigation and later filed an FOIA to obtain a video from one of the helicopters. The US military was unresponsive. Washington Post reporter and MSM member in good standing David Sanger was on board but failed to ever report on the attack.

The video is re-significant since it was originally provided to Julian Assange from intelligence analyst PFC Bradley (now Chelsea) Manning  who was charged and imprisoned for releasing classified data.  Manning was sentenced to 35 years and ultimately pardoned by President Barack Obama who chose not to prosecute Wikileaks as a publisher which might set an inconvenient constitutional conundrum involving some of the establishment’s  favorite media friends.

Instead of treason and espionage charges, which would be difficult to prove since Assange is an Australian, the Assange indictment has, for the time being, focused on Assange and Manning conspiring to crack the DOD password in order to download classified records.  Just days prior to Assange’s arrest, Manning was re-arrested and is now being held for refusing to cooperate with a grand jury investigation of Wikileaks.

It took six hefty men to forcibly remove this one frail, vulnerable man whose arrest the entire world watched and who has now garnered worldwide support. The entire pathetic scene was further evidence that the Deep State, the government, whatever we call those evildoers with hands on all the levers of power, are terrified they have lost control of the narrative.  The public scene of Assange’s removal was a sign of desperation to assure themselves they are still power to be reckoned with.   It was a wave-the-flag type event confirming to the world that the American Empire is indeed in the deep throes of collapse.

Adding to their self imposed wound, the government action was immediately assailed by the newly-empowered voice of Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hi) who is a candidate for President and the strong voice of Fox News Tucker Carlson – both immediately became outliers in their respective fields.   The only other candidate to speak out was former Sen. Mike Gravel who will, hopefully, upset the equilibrium of an otherwise tedious gaggle of establishmentarian candidates at the debate in June.  No other Presidential candidate dared raise their voice, meek and inconsequential though it may be – even those self important rising stars Andrew Yang who plans to use 3D holograms for remote campaigning or Peter Buttigieg who found a way to endear himself to the rank and file by debating vice president Pence on being gay – both were intimidated into silence by Assange’s arrest.

Gabbard, who recently qualified to be on the stage in June for the first debate, said the arrest was “meant to intimidate Americans, to be quiet, behave, toe the line or you will pay the price.” She is sure to be surrounded in June by a slew of faint-hearted candidates as she can take that stage with a straightened backbone. Since qualifying, there is a new invigorated energy about her as if she has earned a level of respect and legitimacy.

Fox News commentator Carlson, who is the only pro-peace voice on commercial tv news, is still reviled by the righteous Obama liberals who support war, Russiagate and the Assange arrest. While obviously a Republican, he defies a neat idological box with a guest list whose faces will never be seen on Maddow or Lemon:  Ralph Nader, Stephen Cohen, Jill Stein, Glenn Greenwald, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Kennedy, John Kiriakou and Gabbard among others although Gravel’s 16 year old campaign managers recently denied Carlson’s invitation in the name of ideological purity.

Carlson offered a litany of reasoning for the arrest that Assange “embarrassed everyone official in Washington, he humiliated HRC showing that the primaries were rigged”, “he made them look like buffoons” and “is now disowned“ by the journalist class.  With his final dart, Carlson added, “Assange’s  real sin was preventing HRC from becoming president” asking ‘Who hurts this country more and it is not him.”

The prosecution of Assange and Manning has provided an opportunity to replay the Collateral Murder video ad nauseum to remind the public exactly what these indictments are really about so that we never forget.  War incites humanity’s evil urges, the goal is always to kill and keep killing until there are no more to kill…war is never quick or easy or neat, war is always malicious and dirty and destroys families, children, homes and entire countries.

Since there is an entire generation of teens coming of voting age and millennials who have only a vague sense of what Julian Assange is about, there needs to be a national campaign to show Collateral Murder everywhere and anywhere.  It should be required viewing in every high school and college in the country.   With a court date in May to consider extradition, the arrest and prosecution of Assange and Manning will provide critical opportunity to discuss merits of the First Amendment and the evils of war – until they are both acquitted.

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Renee Parsons has been a member of the ACLU’s Florida State Board of Directors and president of the ACLU Treasure Coast Chapter. She has been an elected public official in Colorado, an environmental lobbyist for Friends of the Earth and staff member of the US House of Representatives in Washington DC. She can be found on Twitter @reneedove31

Since its inception, Israel has faced difficult political and military challenges. It defines the operational space in which IDF exists, the nature of development of its armed forces, and of individual weapons systems it uses.

The key objective and permanent factors include:

  • Israel’s geography, with the 470km-long country being no more than 135km wide.
  • Hostile environment, including unresolved territorial disputes with neighbors and the Palestinian problem.
  • Close proximity to borders of major cities and critical infrastructure.

At the same time, Israel did not treat its adversaries’ ability to use rockets as a priority for a long time, therefore establishing a comprehensive anti-ballistic missile system was not among its priorities either. The situation changed after the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraq struck Israeli cities using improved Soviet R-17 (NATO classification SS-1b Scud-B) ballistic missiles. At that time, US Patriot PAC-2 ABM systems were used to protect Israeli cities, however, they demonstrated their ineffectiveness. Therefore a decision was made to push the development of the Arrow and Arrow-2 ABM system jointly with the US, with the first systems deployed in March 2000.

The Arrow-2 system was intended to defeat attacks using ballistic missiles with ranges up to 3,000km. However, Hezbollah and Hamas were expanding their use of short-range rocket artillery. The Second Lebanon War of 2006 showed Israel to be vulnerable against such weapons. In that conflict, Hezbollah used a wide range of 107mm, 102mm, 220mm, 240mm, and 302mm rockets of Soviet, Chinese, Syrian, and Iranian manufacture with ranges between 6 and 210km, such as the Fajr-3, Zelzal, Nazeat, and others. Between July 13 and August 13, Israel was the target of 4228 rockets which caused 53 civilian fatalities, 250 wounded, and 2000 cases of light injuries, in addition to considerable damage to infrastructure and housing.

Following this war, Israel’s leaders decided it was necessary to establish a tactical ABM system, and in February 2007 the decision to develop Iron Dome was made, with Rafael Advanced Defence Systems already working on it at that time. Its deployment in Israel began in 2011.

According to Rafael data, Iron Dome is a dual-purpose system: intercepting rockets, shells, and mortar bombs (counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar, or C-RAM), and also very short range air defense (VSHORAD).

Iron Dome’s main mission, according to a Rafael brochure, is protecting civilians in cities, strategic facilities, and infrastructure, and also reducing collateral damage. It may also be used to protect troop convoys and ships. The system can operate around the clock, in any weather and climate.

Iron Dome is intended to rapidly detect, identify, and intercept asymmetrical means of attack, such as:

  • short range rockets (4-70km)
  • mortar bombs
  • artillery shells.

Moreover, when used as a SAM, Iron Dome can engage aerial target, including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, PGMs.

Iron Dome includes the following components:

  • EL/M-2084 truck-mounted multirole radar.
  • Fire control system.
  • Three truck-towed launchers, each with 20 Tamir interceptor rockets.

A single system is capable of protecting an area of 150 km2.

The Tamir missile is equipped with a homing sensor under a metallic ballistic cone to protect it against high temperatures. The cone is ejected several seconds prior to the intercept using the proximity-fused warhead.

Tests of the naval version of Iron Dome concluded in November 2017. There are plans to install it on Sa’ar-5 corvettes and to protect drilling platforms in coastal areas.

One of Iron Dome’s specifics is its ability to identify priority targets, and to intercept only those which pose a threat to protected sites. This ability is provided by the high-tech fire control system integrated with the EL/M 2084 radar.

If the incoming projectile is predicted to fall in uninhabited areas, launch commands are not issued in order to reduce operational expenses since each intercept costs several tens of thousands of dollars.

Intercepts are carried out by Tamir rockets which detonate in close proximity to the intercepted objects. The intercept takes place at the peak of target trajectory to reduce contamination should the warhead carry chemical or biological agents.

The United States have been active in financing the development, production, and servicing of Iron Dome since 2011. The program’s overall cost has been estimated at approximately $4.5 billion, with the US contribution being over $1.5 billion. The US budget for 2018 includes $92 million to finance Iron Dome.

US participation in Iron Dome is motivated by the need to support ABM development by its main ally in the region, and creating a technological base for own future ABM systems. The main US Iron Dome partner has been Raytheon, with some 55% of its components that are financed by the US are made by US contractors, chiefly Raytheon.

Each Iron Dome battery costs about $50 million, while each Tamir rocket is estimated at $20-100 thousand. Operating costs is difficult to estimate.

Iron Dome is being supplied to Canada, Azerbaijan, India, and several other countries. Czech Republic will receive them in the near future. The total volume of sales has reached $2 billion. Israel declared its intent to export the system many times. Interested parties have included South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United States which have voiced interest in buying the system to protect own bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Iron Dome effectiveness is subject of considerable debate among the expert community. Rafael has touted the system as highly effective, with Israel’s Ministry of Defense (MOD) supporting that assessment.

Effectiveness assessments are mainly based on the Second Lebanon War and two IDF operations in Gaza: Pillar of Cloud (2012) and Protective Edge (2014).

Thus according to the IDF, in 8 days of Pillar of Cloud Hamas launched 1506 rockets at Israel, of which 421 were intercepted, 875 fell in unpopulated areas, 58 in populated areas, 6 were killed, 240 were wounded. IDF claims Iron Dome effectiveness was 84%.

However, this data is doubted by US and Israeli experts. First of all, given IDF information on launched and intercepted rockets, system effectiveness should be about 87.9%(421 + 58=479=100%; 421/479*100=87,9%). The operational cost of Iron Dome (including Tamir interceptor rockets) was $25-30 million.

Secondly, according to Israeli police southern district data, some 109 rockets fell in populated areas, not 58. There is also no data on the reasons most of the rockets launched against Israel missed. This is likely due to the low quality of rockets used by Palestinians.

IDF claims that during Protective Edge, Palestinians launched 4500 rockets of which 692 were intercepted [during 50 days]. No additional data was provided, and the high indicated effectiveness (90%) also causes doubts due to the lack of IDF transparency. It’s clear that Iron Dome is not cost-effective. Hamas and Hezbollah rockets cost between $300 (Grad) and $800 (Qassam). When assessing cost-effectiveness, IDF should consider insurance payments for damaged property. Comparing this data for the three above-mentioned operations has led experts to conclude that per-rocket damage has been reduced from $29,500 in 2006, to $9,000 in 2012, and $5,100 in 2014.

Israel's Magic Lamp: Iron Dome Missile Defense

However, some US experts doubt the objectivity of official Israeli data and believe that intercept probability is about 5%. According to Michael Anderson, an expert with the Brock University, reduction in rocket effectiveness since the 2nd Lebanon War was due not only to Iron Dome, but also to a series of other measures, including early warning and bomb shelter improvements. Moreover, Gaza and 2nd Lebanon War can hardly be compared, in part because of the differences in population density between southern and northern Israel. Accurate assessments are also made difficult by absence of sufficient verifiably accurate information, much of which remains classified.

Israel is continuing Iron Dome purchases. It’s also clear Hezbollah, Hamas, and their allies will seek to improve own offensive weapons to make them more effective at overcoming Iron Dome, with two parallel approaches, tactical and technical.

From the technical point of view, the attacker will seek to improve munitions accuracy. If guided artillery shells are used, Iron Dome effectiveness would be much lower. According to IDF air defense commander Zwick Haimovich, Hezbollah and Hamas will be able to strike Israel using cruise missiles. Even when these improved systems are intercepted, they would increase Israel’s expenditures on air defenses because more interceptor rockets would be needed.

Tactically, the obvious response is placing offensive weapons in direct proximity of targets, given that Iron Dome’s minimum effective range is 4km. Even today Hezbollah can strike 75% of Israel’s territory using systems it currently owns.

Iron Dome has only limited abilities to intercept several targets simultaneously. Therefore Israel’s opponents will seek to increase the density of its rocket volleys. Increasing the number of cheap weapons is the most likely course adversaries will adopt. According to some reports, Hezbollah has already increased the number of its rockets by several times, to more than 100 thousand.

Combining unguided and guided rockets would greatly increase the ability to overcome ABM defenses. Moreover, ABM systems would be degraded if faced by multiple adversaries operating from different directions. According to open source data, Iron Dome is quite sensitive and often reacts to false alarms, for example, from machine-gun bursts. This vulnerability is an obvious one to exploit. The psychological factor also matters. RAND analysts are correct to note that reducing casualties among Israeli civilians has a negative media effect against the backdrop of losses among Palestinians or Lebanese.

In the future, Iron Dome will likely be modernized to address existing problems and to adapt to developments in offensive means.Moreover, fire control and radar systems will be modernized as well. On the one hand, the system will be better able to detect launches and predict trajectories. On the other hand, it’s necessary to improve the ability to identify targets due to its propensity to react to false alarms. These efforts will be accompanied by the development of Iron Beam which is intended to defeat ultra-short range munitions. Israel has limited ability to improve ABM tactics, and include better coordination, where intelligence-gathering plays a big role.

Israel and its adversaries will continue improving their defensive and offensive systems, respectively. They will focus on modernization, improving quality and quantity, development of new weapons, and improving tactics. Hezbollah and Hamas will emphasize tactics changes in the use of their existing arsenals, combined with improving their rockets’ range and accuracy and expanding the variety of weapons systems used. Combining cheap and improved precise rockets in a single salvo will become a more frequent tactic.

Israel, in turn, will continue perfecting Iron Dome and Iron Beam with US assistance. But given the increased arsenals of its adversaries, Tel Aviv will place greater emphasis on its intelligence and special operations to detect and destroy rocket launchers in early stages of conflict. Israel will also be forced to recognize the importance of traditional civil defense and early warning, since Iron Dome may be forced to focus on defending military targets and critical infrastructure when faced with massed attacks. Here too, intelligence and diplomatic instruments will be used to prevent a coordinated attack by several adversaries. Effectiveness of this system in future conflicts will influence its export potential.

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Burning Gothic: Reflections on Notre-Dame de Paris

April 18th, 2019 by Dr. Binoy Kampmark

“But no matter the destruction, the spirit of what it means to be a cathedral can and does survive such catastrophes.” – Becky Clark, Church of England director of cathedrals and church buildings, April 17, 2019 

The destruction of the sacred will engender moving responses.  But the scope, and the particularity of that response varies.  The conflagration affecting Notre-Dame de Paris, located on the Île de la Cité, has become a twenty-four-hour saturation phenomenon.  Thirteen million annual visitors, a geographical pride of place at the centre of Paris, and vast repository of France in all matters religious, cultural and political, would have ensured that.

The attention given to other sites of sacred worth tends to be limited.  It is unlikely, for instance, that pledges of up to $113 million, promised by François-Henri Pinault to assist in the rebuilding project, are going to be heading the way of the more obscure sites of desecrated or damaged history.  A south Louisiana parish, for instance, is desperate for funding in rebuilding three Black churches of historic significance burned down in “suspicious’ circumstances.

“There is clearly something happening in this community,” suggested State Fire Marshal H. Browning.

The funding target for the GoFundMe campaign is $1.8 million.  To date, $1.5 million has been secured.

Notre-Dame will do that to the millionaire and billionaire set: draw attention from the well-heeled and a chance for celebrity posterity in the premier culture league.  (Even wineries such as the Château Mouton Rothschild are re-directing money from auctions to the cause.)  While the idea of purchasing a place of heaven is not as popular as it once was, it still exerts some hold in the secular world through the idea of enduring reputation.  Such gestures of financial promise have also stirred the pot of misplaced empathy for the cultural artefacts of a former colonial power.

People, in short, are not permitted their own singular ways of commemorating or grieving over a damaged or lost icon: they are to be scolded into appropriate acknowledgments and qualifications.  A fine, and slightly perverse example of this came in responses to a remark by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who was rebuked for suggesting that Notre-Dame might be considered in the same breath as “art and architecture”.  Former congressman Joe Walsh fulminated.

“It was a house of worship.  A Catholic Cathedral.  It wouldn’t have been difficult for you to acknowledge that.”

Looking at such structures are also exercises of mutual and mass deception.  Gothic architecture did not always share the enchanting mystery that has made structures such as Notre-Dame de Paris the subject of gooey adoration.  Having lapsed into a mysterious, almost barbaric prior life before the preferences towards Romanesque and the Classicist, such architecture was redeemed by the calls of Romanticism.  Victor Hugo’s pen praised the Gothic form for its freedom, its daring, “encouraging license and dissent from authority,” asserts John Sturrock in his introduction to the 1978 translation of Notre-Dame de Paris(1831), commonly known in Anglophone circles as The Hunchback of Notre Dame.  Hugo’s pen, in making the cathedral the protagonist, did the trick: interest in restoring the weathered, damaged structure was stimulated, halting the till then relentless drive towards tearing down Gothic Paris.

The fire that went through the Cathedral has been described variously as catastrophic and disastrous, but the nature of such creations is their permanent vulnerability and susceptibility to change.  A scene from Hugo’s own masterpiece is worth retelling, describing flames as the hunchbacked bellringer Quasimodo attacks the Truands in an effort to save Esmerelda.  “All eyes were raised to the top of the church.  They beheld there an extraordinary sight.  On the crest of the highest gallery, higher than the central rose window, there was a great flame rising between the two towers with whirlwinds of sparks, a vast, disordered, and furious flame, a tongue of which was borne into the smoke by the wind, from time to time.”

The building is all (well mostly, now) points, sharpness.  It is jagged, skyscraper coherence.  But to suggest that its body and shell was pure in its medieval form is to fall for a common deception perpetuated from the nineteenth century.  The Gothic restoration mania of the period had the effect of turning Notre-Dame into a modern mutilation.

Eugène Emmanuelle Viollet-le-Duc, aided by Jean-Baptiste-Antoine Lassus, tended towards heavy restoration between 1845 and 1864 on the grounds that the original Gothic idea of the cathedral needed fuller realisation.  They knew better.  Being somehow in touch with those spirits, they went to work, warned by archaeological preservationist Prosper Mérimée about the dangers of overly keen touching up.

“A restoration may be more disastrous for a monument than the ravages of centuries.”  Hugo, in the same spirit, observed “the countless defacements and mutilations to which men and time have subjected that venerable monument.”

The now destroyed barbed spire of wood and lead (la flèche) was itself was an addition. Viollet-le-Duc also added a new pulpit; original statues were removed from their resting places of centuries; spectacular gargoyles became a feature; and the south façade’s rose window received undue attention.  Paris-born photographer Danie Aubry aptly observed that the Gothic-mad restorer “should have worked for Disney.”  Ironically enough, Monday’s fire is being “potentially linked” to the $6.8 million renovation work that was already underway.

The visceral and rapid response from French President Emmanuel Macron was one of rebuilding.  Cathedral spokesman André Finot spoke of the structure having suffered “colossal damage”, with the frame obliterated.  Not so, countered an optimistic Macron, taking on board the inspirational guise of Viollet-le-Duc.  The rebuilding project would be grand and hurried.  Forget decades; the President wants the structure to be finished in time for re-opening for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.  “We will rebuild Notre-Dame even more beautifully, and I want it to be completed in five years.”  To that end, an international design competition to rebuild parts of the building has been announced.

The Gothic concept was itself an act of daring on the part of Abbot Suger, who embraced lightness and light in his 1137 design for Saint-Denis.  Platonism, Christianity and religious architecture were wed.  The reconstruction of Notre-Dame might dare to be something different, but many expect a simulacrum of the original.

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Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge.  He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research and Asia-Pacific Research. Email: [email protected]

Featured image is from Sky News

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The Triumph of Evil

April 18th, 2019 by Dr. Paul Craig Roberts

Today (April 17) I heard a NPR “news” report that described the democratically elected president of Venezuela as “the Venezuelan dictator Maduro.” By repeating over and over that a democratically elected president is a dictator, the presstitutes create that image of Maduro in the minds of vast numbers of peoples who know nothing about Venezuela and had never heard of Maduro until he is dropped on them as “dictator.”

Nicolas Maduro Moros was elected president of Venezuela in 2013 and again in 2018. Previously he served as vice president and foreign minister, and he was elected to the National Assembly in 2000. Despite Washington’s propaganda campaign against him and Washington’s attempt to instigate violent street protests and Maduro’s overthrow by the Venezuelan military, whose leaders have been offered large sums of money, Maduro has the overwhelming support of the people, and the military has not moved against him.

What is going on is that American oil companies want to recover their control over the revenue streams from Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Under the Bolivarian Revolution of Chavez, continued by Maduro, the oil revenues instead of departing the country have been used to reduce poverty and raise literacy inside Venezuela.

The opposition to Maduro inside Venezuela comes from the elites who have been traditionally allied with Washington in the looting of the country. These corrupt elites, with the CIA’s help, temporarily overthrew Chavez, but the people and the Venezuelan military secured his release and return to the presidency.

Washington has a long record of refusing to accept any reformist governments in Latin America. Reformers get in the way of North America’s exploitation of Latin American countries and are overthrown.

With the exceptions of Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Nicaragua, Latin America consists of Washington’s vassal states. In recent years Washington destroyed reform governments in Honduras, Argentina and Brazil and put gangsters in charge.

According to US national security adviser John Bolton, a neoconservative war monger, the governments in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua will soon be overthrown. New sanctions have now been placed on the three countries. Washington in the typical display of its pettiness targeted sanctions against the son of the Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega. (See this)

Ortega has been the leader of Nicaragua since for 40 years. He was president 1985-1990 and has been elected and reelected as president since 2006.

Ortega was the opponent of Somoza, Washington’s dictator in Nicaragua. Consequently he and his movement were attacked by the neoconservative operation known as Iran-Contra during the Reagan years. Ortega was a reformer. His government focused on literacy, land reform, and nationalization, which was at the expense of the wealthy ruling class. He was labeled a “Marxist-Leninist,” and Washington attempted to discredit his reforms as controversial leftist policies.

Somehow Castro and Ortega survived Washington’s plots against them. By the skin of his teeth so did Chavez unless you believe it was the CIA that gave him cancer. Castro and Chavez are dead. Ortega is 74. Maduro is in trouble, because Washington has stolen Venezuela’s bank deposits and cut Venezuela off the international financial system, and the British have stolen Venezuela’s gold. This makes it hard for Venezuela to pay its debts.

The Trump regime has branded the democratically twice-elected Maduro an “illegitimate” president. Washington has found a willing puppet, Juan Guaido to take Maduro’s place and has announced that the puppet is now the president of Venezuela. No one among the Western presstitutes or among the vassals of Washington’s empire finds it strange that an elected president is illegitimate but one picked by Washington is not.

Russia and China have given Maduro diplomatic support. Both have substantial investments in Venezuela that would be lost if Washington seizes the country. Russia’s support for Maduro was declared by Bolton today to be a provocation that is a threat to international peace and security. Bolton said his sanctions should be seen by Russia as a warning against providing any help for the Venezuelan government.

Secretary of state Mike Pompeo and vice president Pence have added their big mouths to the propaganda against the few independent governments in Latin America. Where is the shame when the highest American government officials stand up in front of the world and openly proclaim that it is official US government policy to overthrow democratically elected governments simply because those governments don’t let Americans plunder their countries.

How is it possible that Pompeo can announce that the “days are numbered” of the elected president of Nicaragua, who has been elected president 3 or 4 times, and the world not see the US as a rogue state that must be isolated and shunned? How can Pompeo describe Washington’s overthrow of an elected government as “setting the Nicaraguan people free?”

The top officials of the US government have announced that they intend to overthrow the governments of 3 countries and this is not seen as “a threat to international peace and security?”

How much peace and security did Washington’s overthrow of governments in Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, and the attempted overthrow of Syria bring?

Washington is once again openly violating international law and the rest of the world has nothing to say?

There is only one way to describe this: The Triumph of Evil.

“The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned; the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity.” — William Butler Yeats

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This article was originally published on the author’s blog site: Paul Craig Roberts Institute for Political Economy.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

Featured image: A protest outside the United States Consulate in Sydney on January 23 2019 to demand no US intervention in Venezuela. Photo: Peter Boyle

Decent Australians want the Labor Party to win in the forthcoming Australian  elections for the sake of the young, poor, disabled, sick, elderly, unemployed, Indigenous and the environment. However the right wing-dominated Labor Opposition is merely better than the appalling present Coalition Government and is just as bad as a pro-Apartheid Israel, pro-Apartheid, and pro-war US lackey. Now pro-Apartheid Israel Labor has blatantly revealed its pro-Apartheid degeneracy by scrapping an outstanding, anti-Apartheid, anti-nuclear weapons and pro-human rights candidate, Melissa Parke, in the forthcoming Federal election.

  1. Outstanding anti-Apartheid Labor candidate Melissa Parke forced to withdraw by pro-Apartheid Israel Australian Labor Party.

It is relatively common for candidates to be scrapped just before Australian Federal elections because they have been found to have made racist,  homophobic or other offensive comments, have been found to be legally  ineligible because of having dual citizenship of Australia and another country, or have been alleged to have committed some offence from alleged bullying to alleged sexual assault. Indeed in relation to the present Federal election,  an excellent female Labor candidate  withdrew candidacy last year over allegations of bullying but was not re-instated as a candidate after  the allegations were dismissed [1]. Three  Coalition candidates have had to withdraw because of dual citizenship that is prohibited under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution [2, 3] (however while a Jewish Hungarian-origin Greens candidate  for the seat of Canberra has requisitely expunged his Hungarian citizenship, the  fervently pro-Zionist, Jewish Hungarian-origin,  Coalition Government Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg,  has apparently declined to legally expunge his Hungarian citizenship in an example of outrageous Zionist exceptionalism) [3-6].  Now another Coalition candidate has been outed for allegedly disparaging LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Homosexual, Transgender and Intersex) issues [7].

However the scrapping of  outstanding, anti-Apartheid, anti-nuclear weapons  and pro-human rights candidate and lawyer, Melissa Parke, in the forthcoming Federal election turns morality on its head – in any decent country it is surely the pro-Apartheid candidates  who would be rejected by voters and not decent anti-Apartheid candidates. One is reminded of Samuel Butler’s dystopian novel “Erewhon” that describes a society  in which sociopaths and psychopaths are empowered and treated  with great solicitude whereas the sick are ostracized and maltreated [8]. This episode  demonstrates the power of the Zionist Lobby in Zionist-perverted and subverted Australia, with the cravenly pro-Apartheid Israel, pro-Apartheid and US lackey Australian Labor Party (the ALP, and evidently an Apartheid Labor Party, an Anti-human rights Labor Party) removing a truly  outstanding  candidate, Melissa Parke, for fear of offending the rich and powerful supporters of nuclear terrorist, racist Zionist-run, genocidally racist, democracy-by-genocide Apartheid Israel.

Indeed, surely the fundamental requirement for any candidates for office in a one-person-one-vote democracy like Australia is that they must unflinchingly support the proposition of one-person-one-vote. Presently it appears that in Australia all of Coalition candidates and most of Labor candidates  in practice reject the proposition of one-person-one-vote by fervently supporting grossly human rights-violating Apartheid Israel – the only candidates unequivocally supporting one-person-one-vote are the Greens, the Socialists and a tiny body of decent Labor Leftists,.

In addition to being anti-Apartheid and pro-one-person-one-vote, Melissa Parke is an exemplary former Federal MP, a long-standing Labor Party member, a human rights lawyer, and an anti-nuclear weapons Ambassador for the Nobel Prize-winning ICAN (International  Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons [9].  Melissa Parke on her standing down from candidacy in the Australian Federal elections: “[Israeli treatment of Palestinians] worse than the South African system of apartheid… “I’ve had 20 years’ experience in international relations and law including living and working in the Middle East. My views are well known. But I don’t want them to be a running distraction from electing a Labor government which will take urgent and strong action on climate change. That’s why I have decided to withdraw my candidacy. I look forward to working and supporting the party in other ways” [9].

Image result for melissa parke

Melissa Parke must be commended for her loyalty to Labor and to one-person-one-vote. Further, she is quite correct in that climate change that existentially threatens 7.6 billion people is vastly more important than Israeli Apartheid that violates the lives of 14 million Palestinians. Unfortunately, just as Labor remorselessly ignores the human rights of Palestinians so grossly violated by Apartheid Israel, so its policy on climate change is largely confined to more rapidly  increasing renewable energy than the climate criminal Coalition, although this is actually already being rapidly effected by individual  home owners and corporations regardless of Federal Government policy. Further,  Labor has exactly the same climate criminal policy as the effective climate change denialist , pro-gas and pro-coal COALition in supporting unlimited gas and coal exports.  Greenhouse gas ) GHG) pollution from burning  Australia’s world-leading gas and coal exports is twice that of Australia’s Domestic GHG pollution [10]. Pollutants from the burning of Australia’s coal exports are estimated to kill 75,000 people each year [11].

Indeed, ignored by the climate criminal  Lib-Labs (the Liberal Party- National Party Coalition and Labor)  are  the horrible realities that taking land use and a the Global  Warming Potential  for methane into account,  Australia’s per capita GHG pollution in tonnes CO2-e per person per year  (116 tonnes if including its huge GHG-generating  exports)  is 55 times that of India (2.1 ) [12], and that Australia  is among the world leaders for climate change inaction in 14 areas:  (1) annual per capita greenhouse gas pollution, (2) live methanogenic livestock exports,  (3) natural gas exports, (4) recoverable shale gas reserves that can be accessed by hydraulic fracturing (fracking), (5) coal exports, (6) land clearing and deforestation, (7) speciescide – species extinction, (8) coral reef destruction,  (9) whale killing  and extinction threat through global warming, (10) terminal carbon pollution budget exceedance,   (11) per capita carbon debt,  (12) GHG generating iron ore exports, (13) climate change inaction, and (14) complicity in worsening climate genocide [13].

Image result for bill shorten

Bill Shorten (Labor Leader of the Opposition): “[Melissa Parke has] done the right thing… I don’t share her views…  I have a view that Israel has the right to security behind its borders and the Palestinian people have a legitimate issue in statehood” [9]. Pro-Apartheid Labor and the pro-Apartheid Coalition hide their utterly disgusting moral depravity  behind the fig leaf of the “2-state solution”. However the “2-state solution” is now dead because US-, UK-, Canada-, Australia- and EU-backed Apartheid Israel has now ethnically cleansed 90% of Palestine. A clear, humane solution  to the continuing human rights catastrophe in Palestine is a unitary state (one-state solution, bi-national state) as in post-Apartheid South Africa that would involve return of all refugees, zero tolerance for racism, equal rights for all, all human rights for all, economic decency for all, one-person-one-vote democracy, justice, goodwill, reconciliation, airport-level security, nuclear weapons removal, internationally-guaranteed national security initially based on the present armed forces, and untrammelled access for all citizens to all of Palestine [14-16].

Pro-Zionist Labor leader Bill Shorten evidently disagrees with Melissa Parkes’ expert view (deriving from being  a human rights lawyer  with extensive experience on the ground in the Middle East) that Israeli Apartheid is worse than South African Apartheid. Bill Shorten  is utterly wrong  and should abjectly apologize to the 14 million Indigenous  Palestinian  victims  of genocidal Israeli Apartheid for his deeply offensive comments or otherwise simply remove himself from public  life.

Melissa Parkes’ view that  Israeli Apartheid is an awful racist reality and is worse than South African Apartheid is consonant with the views of a huge body of anti-racist Jewish and non-Jewish humanitarians [17-25] . Thus, for example, those anti-Apartheid heroes  stating that Israeli Apartheid is worse than South African Apartheid notably include Mandla Mandela  (grandson of Nelson Mandela) (2017: “The movement from one settlement to another under heavy security checkpoints reminds us of a lighter experience in Apartheid South Africa of the ciskei homeland. This is more extreme than ciskei, because ciskeins were allowed to travel back and forth into King Williams Town and East London. Palestinians are confined to a settlement, even though in Ramallah they can see Jerusalem, but are not able to go without a permit from the Israeli government”  [26], and anti-racist Jewish South African and anti-Apartheid hero Ronnie Kasrils: “Like the Gaza Strip, the West Bank is effectively a hermetically sealed prison. It is shocking to discover that certain roads are barred to Palestinians and reserved for Jewish settlers. I try in vain to recall anything quite as obscene in apartheid South Africa” [19]. Anti-Apartheid hero Reverend Alan Boesak “[Israeli apartheid is] in its practical manifestation even worse than South African apartheid” [20]. Anti-Apartheid hero Nelson Mandela (1997):

“The UN took a strong stand against apartheid; and over the years, an international consensus was built, which helped to bring an end to this iniquitous system. But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians” [20].

This  large body of anti-racist Jewish and non-Jewish humanitarian  opinion is countermanded by the virulent, false and defamatory assertions  of the Zionists who  defame all critics of Apartheid Israel as “anti-Semites” and defame anti-racist Jewish critics of Apartheid Israel (such as myself) not only as “anti-Semites” but also as “self-hating Jews” and “self-loathing Jews”. The racist Zionists so beloved by  the Australian Lib-Labs are the worst ant-Arab anti-Semites in the world through their support for the ongoing Palestinian Genocide (2.3 million deaths from violence, 0.1 million, or from deprivation , 2.2 million since 1915 ) [22, 27-30]   and the ongoing Muslim Holocaust  and Muslim Genocide (32 million Muslims deaths from violence, 5 million, or avoidably from deprivation, 27 million, in 20 countries invaded by the US Alliance since the US Government’s 9-11 false flag atrocity that killed 3,000 innocent people) [31, 32].  The racist Zionists so loved by  the Australian Coalition and Labor are also the worst anti-Jewish anti-Semites in the world through falsely conflation of these appalling genocidal crimes with all Jews,  including  anti-racist Jewish humanitarians  who resolutely  condemn these crimes.

In stark contrast, the racist  Zionists so fervently supported by the Zionist-subverted and perverted Coalition  and Labor in Australia have an appalling record of genocidally racist assertions from the racist psychopath founder of European Zionism, Theodor Herzl (“We shall try to spirit the penniless population across the border” , “We should there [Palestine] form a portion of a rampart of Europe against Asia, an outpost of civilization as opposed to barbarism”) ,  to the serial war criminal present PM of Apartheid Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu (“Israel should have exploited the repression of the demonstrations in China, when world attention focused on that country, to carry out mass expulsions among the Arabs of the territories”) [33, 34].

  1. Melissa Parke’s anti-Apartheid position has support from the decent Labor Left, Greens and Socialists.

At this point I must confess that my decent, anti-racist position as an anti-racist Jewish Australian derives not just from an innate philosophic humanitarianism but also from lived experience. I must give the disclaimer that for over 50 years I was happily married to a non-Indigenous non-White Australian and, of course, from our circumstances and as humanist humanitarians we were implacably opposed to Apartheid in all its disgusting manifestations in Apartheid South Africa and Apartheid Israel. My dear late wife, Zareena,  was Fiji Indian of Bengali and Bihari origin and came from a large Muslim family. All Zareena’s  grandparents were “5-year slaves” of the British in Fiji  (called “Girmityas” after Indian mispronunciation of “Agreement”) [35-38], and her eminent lawyer father, Abdul Lateef MBE, was a great advocate of inter-ethnic harmony, and helped negotiate independence  of Fiji from Britain [39]. As for myself, I am of British Celtic and Hungarian Ashkenazi Jewish origin. My family made major contributions to Hungary (ask any mathematician or surgeon [39-42]) but  all but a dozen perished in the WW2 Jewish Holocaust in Hungary in 1944-1945 [42, 43].

For anti-racist Jews and indeed all anti-racist humanitarians the core moral messages from the Jewish Holocaust (5-6 million dead, 1 in 6 dying from deprivation) and from the more general WW2 European Holocaust (30 million Slav, Jewish and Gypsy dead) are “zero tolerance for racism”, “never again to anyone”, “bear witness” and “zero tolerance for lying”. However these sacred injunctions are grossly violated by the anti-Arab anti-Semitic , Islamophobic and  indeed anti-Jewish anti-Semitic   racist Zionists running Apartheid Israel and their Western backers variously involved in the ongoing Palestinian Genocide, Iraqi Genocide, Somali Genocide,  Afghan Genocide, Yemeni Genocide and the Muslim Holocaust and Muslim Genocide (32 million Muslims killed by violence, 5 million, or through imposed deprivation, 27 million, in 20 countries invaded by the US Alliance since the US Government’s 9-11 false flag atrocity that killed about 3,000 innocent people, mostly Americans [31, 32].  The racist Zionists and their racist US Alliance backers are anti-Jewish anti-Semitic by utterly  falsely conflating the appalling deeds of Apartheid Israel with all Jews, including anti-racist  Jews opposed to a neo-Nazi Apartheid Israel and its ongoing Palestinian Genocide [19].

To put the sacrifice of outstanding Labor candidate Melissa Parke in context, Australian politics is dominated by the extreme right-wing Liberal Party-National Party Coalition (presently mis-ruling Australia)  and the right-wing-dominated  Labor Party (presently the Opposition), these being collectively known as the Lib-Labs.  The Coalition is economically conservative and variously socially conservative, ferociously neoliberal, and panders to corporations, business, farmers, and the non-Muslim religious right. Labor has trade union origins and ostensibly stands  for the disadvantaged, the workers and the middle class. However when it comes to foreign policy the Lib-Labs are firmly united  as craven pro-war, pro-Apartheid Israel (and hence pro-Apartheid) US lackeys.

Those who supported Nazi Germany could reasonably be described as pro-Nazi. Those who supported Apartheid South Africa  (the Americans, British, Australians and Israelis) could reasonably be described as pro-Apartheid. Those who support Apartheid Israel  (the Americans, British, Australians, Canadians, French, Germans and Israelis) could also be reasonably described as pro-Apartheid. The Lib-Labs who collectively get about 80% electoral support in Australia are fervently pro-Apartheid Israel and hence pro-Apartheid, noting that Apartheid is condemned by the UN as one of the worst of crimes [44]. The Greens (10% of the vote) and the Socialists (1% tops) are genuine anti-racists and  accordingly support Palestinian human rights.

The politically correct racist (PC racist) Australians will vehemently declare  that “I am not a racist”  but  80% of them will give their primary vote to pro-Apartheid Lib-Labs. The Coalition supporters don’t know any better and range from the ignorant and stupid to the homicidally and genocidally greedy. Professor Gillian Triggs, an outstanding former  Australian Human Rights Commissioner, nailed it when she declared that the Coalition “was ideologically opposed to human rights” [45]. The Liberal Party- National Party Coalition has supported all post-1950 US Asian wars, atrocities associated with 50 million Asian deaths from violence or war-imposed deprivation [46-48]. About half of the Liberals, the Far Right Liberals,  are pro-Apartheid Israel, US lackey, pro-war climate change denialists and the other half  are pro-Apartheid Israel, US lackey, pro-war effective  climate change denialists committed to deadly climate change inaction. The National Party represent the farmers whose forebears , variously within living memory,  were involved in the Aboriginal Genocide, Aboriginal Ethnocide and Aboriginal  dispossession, and  are like the war criminal and climate criminal Far Right Liberals.

Labor supporters are a bit more respectable  but are deceived by pro-Apartheid Israel Mainstream media and by overwhelmingly  pro-Apartheid Israel Labor MPs of the Labor Right. In 2014 in response to the latest Israeli Gaza Massacre, 66 MPs signed an open letter stating:

“We the undersigned members of Australian federal and state parliaments, call on all Australian politicians to condemn the ongoing Israeli military bombardment and invasion of Gaza. We call on Australian politicians to support an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire deal which includes an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and to the blockade of Gaza. We call on all Australian politicians to also support the United Nations Human Rights Council’s decision to launch an independent inquiry into purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”.

Of the 66 MPs, there were 2 Independents, 1 former Liberal PM (Malcolm Fraser who subsequently left the Liberal Party), 23 Greens and 40 Labor MPs including Melissa Parke [49].

When  in 2017 former PM Malcolm Turnbull of the less extremist faction of the Liberal Party lavishly  welcomed nuclear terrorist, genocidal racist  and serial war criminal Apartheid Israeli PM Netanyahu to Australia, 60 variously eminent Australians protested thus (2017):

“Australia should not welcome the Prime Minister of Israel We strongly oppose the official visit to Australia of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel continues to defy all United Nations calls for it to comply with international law in respect of its illegal settlement building, and its treatment of the indigenous Palestinian population. Instead, over the last 50 years, Israel has held the people of Palestine under military occupation and: continues to illegally build settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; continues to confiscate Palestinian land; continues to demolish Palestinian homes; continues its policy of imprisonment of Palestinians without trial even of children as young as 12; and continues its blockade of the 1.8 million civilian inhabitants of Gaza. Those actions are not symbolic of a nation desirous of building peace with its neighbours. Those policies build understandable resentment, anger and desperation amongst Palestinians. We want all Israelis and Palestinians to have peace and freedom; we oppose all forms of terrorism and criminal violence by either side. We recognise when there is a gross imbalance of power, conflict will never be resolved” [50] .

The 60 signatories included 6 MPs, namely Jon Stanhope (Labor ACT Chief Minister 2001-2011), Alan Griffin (former Federal Labor MP and a Minister),  Jill Hall (former Federal Labor MP), Laurie Ferguson (former Federal Labor MP),  Sandra Kanck (former  SA State Democrat MP) and Melissa Parke, (former WA Federal Labor MP, lawyer for the United Nations in Gaza and an Ambassador for ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons  that won the  2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its role in achieving the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons) [51].

  1. The Apartheid Israel realities ignored in gross lying by omission by utterly mendacious,  pro-Apartheid Lib-Lab Australia.

The Zionist-subverted, US lackey Australian Lib-Labs maintain  a fiction of a “balanced approach” for an ultimate  2-state solution between 2 assertedly “equal” disputants  . This racist fiction ignores the realities of a nuclear-armed Apartheid Israel  with a huge army, navy and air force  (state terrorism) physically and brutally occupying the Occupied Palestinian territories inhabited by utterly impoverished Occupied Palestinians, of whom a few  armed with limited knives, small arms and home-made,  ineffectual rockets permit  the Western descriptive of the Palestinian Hamas as  “terrorists” (a descriptive also applied to the lightly armed  Hezbollah soldiers defending Lebanon from the might of nuclear terrorist Apartheid Israel).  90% of Palestine has now been ethnically cleansed, this rendering the 2-state solution dead.  An updated  summary of the Palestine realities ignored by the mendacious, genocidally racist, pro-Zionist, pro-Apartheid, anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab anti-Semitic, anti-Asian, Islamophobic and covertly White Supremacist  Australian Lib-Labs is given below:

(1) In 1880 there were 500,000 Arab Palestinians and 25,000 Jews, 50% of the latter being immigrants. The Palestinian  Genocide commenced with the famine deaths of 100,000 Palestinians associated with  conquest of Palestine  in WW1 by the British and the Australian  and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

(2) The violent killing of Indigenous Palestinians commenced with the 1918 Surafend Massacre by ANZAC soldiers in which about 100 Palestinian villagers were massacred.

(3) Since the British invasion of Palestine in WW1 there have been 2.3 million Palestinian deaths from Zionist violence (0.1 million) or from imposed deprivation (2.2 million) – a Palestinian Genocide.

(4) There are 8 million Palestinian refugees, 7 million Exiled Palestinians, 5 million Occupied Palestinians, and 1.9 million Israeli Palestinians, with  all of these 14 million Palestinians variously excluded from all or part of Palestine.

(5) Of about 14 million Palestinians (50% children, 75% women and children), 7 million are forbidden to even step foot in their own country, 5 million are highly abusively imprisoned in the blockaded and bombed   Gaza Concentration Camp (2.0 million) or in ever-dwindling West Bank ghettoes  (3.0 million),  and 1.9 million live as Third Class citizens as Israeli Palestinians under over 60 Nazi-style Apartheid Israeli race laws.

(6) 90% of Palestine has now been ethnically cleansed of Indigenous Palestinian  inhabitants in an ongoing war criminal ethnic cleansing that has been repeatedly condemned by the UN and most recently by UN Security Council Resolution 2334 that was unanimously supported (with a remarkable Obama US abstention).

(7) GDP per capita is US$3,000 for Occupied Palestinians as compared to US$40,000 for Israelis.

(8) Through  imposed deprivation, each year Apartheid Israel passively  murders about 2,700 under-5 year old Palestinian  infants and passively murders 4,200 Occupied Palestinians in general who die avoidably from deprivation each year. under Israeli Apartheid. There is a circa 10 year life expectancy gap between Occupied Palestinians ands Israelis, this grossly violating Articles 55 and 56 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War that demand that an Occupier must provide life-sustaining food and medical services to the Occupied “to the fullest extent of the means available to it”.

(9) This century Apartheid Israel has violently killed an average of about 550 Occupied Palestinians each year.

(10) Occupied Palestinians are deprived of essentially all human rights and civil rights by Apartheid Israel.

(11) Nuclear terrorist, serial war criminal, genocidally racist, democracy-by-genocide Apartheid Israel determines that 72% of its now 50% Indigenous Palestinian subjects who are Occupied  Palestinians  cannot vote for the government  ruling them i.e. egregious Apartheid.

(12) In its genocidal treatment of the Palestinians, US-, UK-, Canada-, France- and Australia-backed Apartheid Israel ignores numerous UN General Assembly Resolutions and UN Security Council Resolutions, the UN Genocide Convention, the Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Rights of the Child Convention, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and many other aspects of International Law.

(13) Apartheid Israel has attacked 12 countries and  occupied 5 with 1950-2005 avoidable deaths from deprivation in countries  neighbouring  and variously occupied by Apartheid Israel totalling 24 million.

(14) 5 million Occupied Palestinians  (half of them children) are routinely blackmailed through torture or denial of life-saving medical care to spy on fellow Palestinians for Apartheid Israel.

(15) 5 million Occupied Palestinians (half of them children) are excluded by armed military check points from Jews-only areas and Jews-only roads.

(16) 50% of Israeli children are physically, psychologically or sexually abused each year  but 100% of Occupied Palestinian children are subject to traumatizing human rights abuse by the serial war criminal Israel Defence Force (IDF) through actual or threatened deadly violence.

(17) With continuing blockade and after repeated, large-scale  destruction of homes, schools, hospitals ands infrastructure, conditions in the Gaza Concentration Camp are appalling, with the UN warning that it is becoming unliveable

(18) Since March  2018 the Israelis have  killed about 200 unarmed Palestinians  and wounded about 18,000  more  out of scores  of thousands of unarmed Occupied Palestinians protesting in Gaza (in  the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in Apartheid South Africa police killed  69 demonstrators  and wounded 220 more).

(19) Apartheid Israel has been stealing water from Occupied West Bank aquifers but water allocations to Occupied Palestinians violate WHO standards for potable water .

(20) US-backed Apartheid Israel has attacked 12 countries including all its immediate neighbours, has up to 400 nuclear weapons and possesses missile delivery systems including  those based on Germany-supplied submarines.  This dangerous, war-exacerbating conduct acutely threatens   all 13.9 million Israeli subjects, these   comprising 6.6 million Jewish Israelis ,  1.9 million Indigenous Palestinian Israelis, 5 million Occupied Palestinians,  and 0.4 million non-Jewish and non-Arab  Israeli subjects (for detailed documentation see [29]).

  1. Double standards and egregious cognitive dissonance of the pro-Apartheid Australian Coalition and Labor Lib-Labs.

Outstanding human rights  lawyer and former Labor MP, Melissa Parkes, was effectively forced to relinquish her candidacy in the forthcoming  Australian elections because her expert, first-hand  assessment of the ongoing Palestinian catastrophe –  summarized in the term Israeli Apartheid –  differed from the utterly false and “benign”, Zionist-derived   perceptions of the right-dominated,  Zionist-subverted,  US lackey and pro-Apartheid Australian Labor Party Opposition ,  and indeed of the similarly Zionist-subverted, extreme right-dominated , pro-Apartheid Coalition Australian Government.

Decent Australians want the Labor Party to win the forthcoming Australian elections for the sake of the disadvantaged because the mendacious and neoliberal Coalition has a cruel and deadly disregard for disadvantaged Australians. Indeed about 80,000 Australians  die preventably  each year from “life-style” and “political choice” reasons, but this is not reported by Australia’s  mendacious Mainstream media  [52]. Of course this massive mendacity is not peculiar to Australia – it is entrenched in all  the racist, neoliberal and pro-Apartheid US Alliance countries. Lying by commission  and omission short-circuits rational risk management that is crucial for societal safety [53], noting that  lying by omission is far, far worse than lying by commission  because the latter at least permits public refutation and public discussion [54].

For nearly 2 decades Australia has been in the grip of Neocon American and Zionist  Imperialist (NAZI)-promoted terror hysteria that has led to draconian anti-terrorism laws, massive spying on Australians, and the creation of a quasi police state [55-58]. Thus, for example,  reportage of illegal or questionable operations by Australian Intelligence  (with or without Israeli, American  or other foreign involvement) is punishable by up to 10 years in prison [58]. Past Australian Intelligence crimes such as helping the US overthrow foreign governments (democratically elected or otherwise),  spying on foreign political figures or governments, and targeting illegal drone attacks with extra-judicial executions of people the Americans  don’t like (including Australians) were on the public record prior to this Nazi-style legislation that was supported by both the US lackey Labor Opposition as well as by the US lackey  Coalition Government . One supposes that since passage of  this regressive  legislation in 2014,  Australian Intelligence has had impunity to do the same sorts of things and worse. The Zionist-subverted Lib-Labs permit the US to share a huge volume of  raw intelligence on Australians  with Apartheid Israel [55].

Under the Coalition but with craven Labor Opposition support, Australia has become second only to Trump America as a supporter of nuclear terrorist, racist Zionist-run, genocidally  racist, serial war criminal, grossly human rights-abusing, democracy-by-genocide Apartheid Israel. The Zionist-subverted and  pro-Apartheid  Labor Opposition and Coalition Government have trashed Australia’s international reputation abroad and are party to Zionist  subversion of Australian democracy and  institutions at home [59, 60].

The  2019 Christchurch Massacre of 50 Muslims by an Australian White Supremacist has tempered public expressions of the Neocon American and Zionist  Imperialist (NAZI)-emplaced anti-Arab anti-Semitism and Islamophobia that is entrenched in Australia [61]. However a new target has emerged: China, notwithstanding  the hard reality that China is Australia’s biggest trading partner [62, 63]. Laws have been rushed through (with the  Chinese as targets) making foreign political donations and unregistered foreign lobbying illegal [64-69] but there are no constraints on wealthy Zionists with a fanatical support for Apartheid Israel being major political donors and political lobbyists. Australian Democracy has become a Plutocracy, Kleptocracy, Murdochracy, Lobbyocracy, Corporatocracy and Dollarocracy in which Big Money purchases people, politicians, parties, political influence, public perception of reality,  votes , more power and more private profit. The Greens want major constraints on this perversion of democracy [70].

Thus former PM Rudd revealed that 20% of his electoral funding came from the Jewish community (0.5% of the population) [71] but  his attempts to placate the Zionist Lobby over his defence of Australians from Israeli  crimes (violent kidnapping of Australians in international waters  and large-scale forging of Australian passports for terrorism purposes) were unsuccessful –  within a month he was removed from office in a US-approved, Mining  Corporation-backed, pro-Zionist-led Coup [72, 73]. Conversely union leader Bill Shorten’s public image in Australia was greatly enhanced in the Beaconsfield Mine accident in Tasmania, during which Australia’s biggest white collar  criminal and also a fervently pro-Zionist Jew, Richard Pratt,  famously gave Shorten use of  his private jet to fly to Tasmania [74, 75]. Shorten also flew on holiday to Easter Island, Argentina and Cuba with his former wife, financier Deborah Beale, on Pratt’s private jet [75].

The Chinese Government ,  like other governments including  Australia’s,  seeks to increase its influence and  to obtain information both overtly (licitly)  and covertly (illicitly). However while Australian politicians have been severely punished for merely having dinner with Chinese business figures [62, 63],  there is massive Israeli subversion of Australian politicians through free trips to Apartheid Israel and benign media coverage if they ignore the horrendous crimes of this neo-Nazi Apartheid state [77].  Indeed the number one  rule of Australian politics (as for UK, Canadian and US politics)  is not to offend the genocidally racist and  Australia- and human rights-betraying Israel Lobby. Thus Ali Kazak (former Palestinian Ambassador  to Australia):

“Forget China, no country has interfered, spied and endangered Australia’s security, sovereignty and the integrity of its national institutions more than Israel and its powerful lobbyists, writes Australia” [78].

The utterly  cowardly, timorous, gutless and yellow  Australian  Lib-Labs ignore the kidnapping, shooting, tasering, imprisonment, robbing, mangling, killing, torturing, defaming, abusing, deceiving, perverting and subverting of Australians variously by genocidally  racist  Israeli Zionists or by traitorous  Australian Zionists [60].   

Melissa Parke was forced to remove herself from candidacy in the forthcoming Federal elections  for being critical  of Apartheid Israel.  However other decent, anti-racist Australians, including  myself, have similarly fallen foul of the Zionist Lobby. Thus Muslim Australian engineer and ABC journalist  Yassmin Abdel-Magied made the mistake of simply publishing on her Facebook page the following 7 words: “Lest we forget (Manus, Nauru, Syria, Palestine)”. Savaged by public outcry, Ms Abdel-Magied rapidly deleted the post and apologized, the ABC apologized and a month later removed her TV program, and Yassmin Abdel-Magied left for London [79].  The post was correct and her silencing by rabid jingoists was  a stain on Australia and an attack on free speech [79]. Other Australian truth-tellers variously subject to  attempted to ferocious Zionist  censorship  include author and teacher Paul Gilby (for referring to US and Israeli state terrorism) [80, 81], top  columnist  Mike Carlton (for criticizing the horrendous  2014  Gaza Massacre by Apartheid Israel) [82], and academic Dr Sandra  Nasr (for comparing Biblical and present-day Palestinian Genocides) [83]. A resolutely  truth-telling, scientist and humanitarian,  I have been rendered “invisible” to Mainstream Australia over the last  10 years through remorseless and false defamation by Zionists.

The pro-Zionist, pro-Apartheid, US lackey Liberal Party-National Party Coalition and the Australian Labor Party (aka the Lib-Labs) utterly ignore the horrendous Palestinian realities listed in items 1-20 in Section 3 above. While Labor has scrapped outstanding anti-Apartheid candidate Melissa Parke for her expressions of  humanity and support for Palestinian human rights, the Lib-Labs have turned  a blind eye to 6 pro-Zionist Jewish Lib-Lab MPs (fervently pro-Israel and entitled to be Israeli citizens) who have sat in the Australian Federal  Parliament for the last 3 years but who may be in violation of Section 44 of the Australian  Constitution that states (my emphasis in capitals)  that any person “under ANY acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or … a subject or a citizen or ENTITLED to the rights or privileges of a subject or citizen of a foreign power” is ineligible to be a Member of Parliament. Indeed the present Coalition Government’s Treasurer , Josh Frydenberg,  is – like me – of Jewish Hungarian origin  and has  dual Hungarian citizenship and Australian citizenship and is thus ineligible  to be an  Australian Federal MP [84-87].

The egregious cognitive dissonance of the US lackey Lib-Labs over Apartheid Israel derives heavily from their craven support for Zionist-dominated America and blind acceptance of Zionist hasbara (propaganda). No doubt, only when the  long-suffering Americans  throw off the shackles of the traitorous racist  Zionists  will the US lackey Lib-Labs discard their support for Israeli Apartheid. As we approach the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter it is worth noting that there is no non-Biblical evidence for the Hebrew Exile from Egypt, for the Kingdom of David and Solomon,  or the Exile of Jews from Palestine. Indeed the cultural and ethnic descendants of the Palestinian Jews at the time of Jesus are today’s sorely oppressed Palestinians, whose  the Jewish Israeli oppressors  largely descend from Berber, Yemeni and Khazar converts to Judaism in the first millennium AD [88-94]. Indeed I am walking proof of the untruth of the Zionist assertion  that the Eastern European Jews (Ashkenazim) derived from Palestine via Spain, and thence Western Europe – DNA analysis says that I am  57% Ashkenazi Jewish and 24% British Celtic with zero English, Western European, Middle Eastern or Palestinian contribution.

Final comments

What can decent people do? Decent anti-racist folk  around the world must (a) inform everyone they can about the horrendous crimes of Apartheid Israel , (b) demand the sidelining from public life of racist Zionists and their racist supporters, and (c)  urge and apply Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Apartheid Israel and all people, politicians, parties, collectives, countries and corporations supporting this nuclear terrorist, neo-Nazi rogue state and its ongoing  Palestinian Genocide.

Decent Australians  fervently hope that the present pro-Zionist, pro-Apartheid,  and effectively climate change denialist Coalition will be kicked out in the May 2019 elections,  and be replaced by a Labor Government that will ameliorate the lives of millions of disadvantaged Australians and take some  action, albeit disgracefully limited, on the worsening climate emergency. In Australia’s compulsory,  preferential voting system, decent Australians who care for human rights, future generations and the environment will utterly reject the pro-Apartheid Coalition, vote 1 Green, put the racist One Nation Party last, and put the pro-Apartheid Coalition second last.

*

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This article was originally published on Countercurrents.

Dr Gideon Polya taught science students at a major Australian university for 4 decades. He published some 130 works in a 5 decade scientific career, most recently a huge pharmacological reference text “Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds” (CRC Press/Taylor & Francis, New York & London , 2003).

Notes

[1]. “Emmar Husar”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Husar .

[2]. Sumeyya Ilanbey and Noel Towell, “Three Liberal candidates dumped from party two days into the campaign”, Sydney Morning Herald,  12 April 2019: https://www.smh.com.au/federal-election-2019/three-liberal-candidates-dumped-from-party-two-days-into-the-campaign-20190412-p51doj.html .

[3]. “Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_44_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia .

[4]. Sally Whyte, “A 14-month battle to run for parliament: a triple citizen’s experience”, Sydney Morning Herald,  16 February 2019: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-14-month-battle-to-run-for-parliament-a-triple-citizen-s-experience-20190215-p50y3i.html .

[5]. “Hungarian nationality law”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_nationality_law .

[6]. Caitlin Gribben, “Mark Dreyfus draws Josh Frydenberg back into citizenship saga”, ABC News, 11 December 2017: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-10/josh-frydenbergs-citizenship-dividing-labor/9244440 .

[7]. Robert Burton-Bradley and Jason Fang, “Liberal Chisholm candidate Gladys Liu caught disparaging LGBTI issues, blames Chinese community ”, ABC News, 15 April 2019: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-15/chisholm-candidates-comments-on-same-sex-marriage-released/11004596 .

[8]. Samuel Butler, “Erewhon”, 1872.

[9]. “Labor candidate Melissa Parke  pulls     out of Curtin contest over Israel comments”, Guardian, 13 April 2019: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/apr/13/labor-candidate-melissa-parke-pulls-out-of-curtin-contest-over-israel-comments .

[10]. “2011 climate change course”: https://sites.google.com/site/300orgsite/2011-climate-change-course .

[11].  “Stop air pollution deaths”: https://sites.google.com/site/300orgsite/stop-air-pollution-deaths .

[12]. Gideon Polya, “Revised Annual Per Capita Greenhouse Gas Pollution For All Countries – What Is Your Country Doing?”, Countercurrents, 6 January, 2016: http://www.countercurrents.org/polya060116.htm

[13]. Gideon Polya, “Offences of Pentecostal Christian Scott Morrison, PM after Australia’s fourth PM-removing coup in 5 years”, Countercurrents, 18 September 2018: https://countercurrents.org/2018/09/18/offences-of-pentecostal-christian-scott-morrison-pm-after-australias-fourth-pm-removing-coup-in-8-years/ .

[14]. Gideon Polya, “Israeli Jewish Nation-State Law enshrines Apartheid and genocidal racism”, Countercurrents, 24 July 2018:  https://countercurrents.org/2018/07/24/israeli-jewish-nation-state-law-enshrines-apartheid-and-genocidal-racism/ .

[15]. Gideon Polya, “Democratic one-state solution ( unitary state, bi-national state) for post-Apartheid Palestine”, Countercurrents, 22 Decemebr 2018: https://countercurrents.org/2018/12/22/democratic-one-state-solution-unitary-state-bi-national-state-for-post-apartheid-palestine/ .

[16]. “One-state solution, unitary state, bi-national state for a democratic, equal rights, post-apartheid Palestine”, : https://sites.google.com/site/boycottapartheidisrael/one-state-solution  .

[17]. “Boycott Apartheid  Israel”: https://sites.google.com/site/boycottapartheidisrael/.

[18]. “Gaza Concentration Camp”: https://sites.google.com/site/palestiniangenocide/gaza-concentration  .

[19]. “Jews Against Racist Zionism”: https://sites.google.com/site/jewsagainstracistzionism/ .

[20]. “Non-Jews Against Racist Zionism”: https://sites.google.com/site/nonjewsagainstracistzionism/ .

[21]. “Nuclear weapons ban, end poverty and reverse climate change”: https://sites.google.com/site/drgideonpolya/nuclear-weapons-ban .

[22]. “Palestinian Genocide”: https://sites.google.com/site/palestiniangenocide/ .

[23]. Apartheid Israeli state terrorism: (A) individuals  exposing Apartheid Israeli state terrorism, and (B) countries subject to Apartheid Israeli state terrorism.”, Palestinian Genocide: https://sites.google.com/site/palestiniangenocide/apartheid-israeli-state-terrorism .

[24].  “Stop state terrorism” : https://sites.google.com/site/stopstateterrorism/  .

[25]. “State crime and non-state terrorism”: https://sites.google.com/site/statecrimeandnonstateterrorism/  .

[26]. Yaseen Kippie, “Mandla Mandela called Apartheid Israel worse than Apartheid South Africa”, 91.3 FM Voice of the Cape, 1 December 2017: https://www.vocfm.co.za/mandla-mandela-calls-apartheid-israel-worse-apartheid-south-africa/ .

[27]. Gideon Polya, “WW1 Start Centenary, Ongoing Palestinian Genocide, Latest Israeli Gaza Massacre & Western Lying”, Countercurrents, 5 August, 2014: https://countercurrents.org/polya050814.htm  ).

[28]. Gideon Polya, “100th anniversary of 1918 Australian and New Zealand Surafend Massacre of Palestinians”, Countercurrents, 10 December 2017: https://countercurrents.org/2018/12/10/100th-anniversary-of-1918-australian-new-zealand-surafend-massacre-of-palestinians/ .

[29]. Gideon Polya, “70th anniversary of Apartheid Israel & commencement of large-scale Palestinian Genocide”, Countercurrents, 11 May 2018: https://countercurrents.org/2018/05/11/70th-anniversary-of-apartheid-israel-commencement-of-large-scale-palestinian-genocide/ .

[30]. Gideon Polya, “Israeli-Palestinian & Middle East conflict – from oil to climate genocide”, Countercurrents, 21 August 2017: https://countercurrents.org/2017/08/21/israeli-palestinian-middle-east-conflict-from-oil-to-climate-genocide/ .

[31]. Gideon Polya, “Paris Atrocity Context: 27 Million Muslim Avoidable  Deaths From Imposed Deprivation In 20 Countries Violated By US Alliance Since 9-11”, Countercurrents, 22 November, 2015: https://countercurrents.org/polya221115.htm .

[32]. “Experts: US did 9-11”: https://sites.google.com/site/expertsusdid911/ .

[33]. “Zionist quotes re racism and Palestinian Genocide”, Palestinian Genocide :  https://sites.google.com/site/palestiniangenocide/zionist-quotes .

[34]. Gideon Polya, “Zionist quotes reveal genocidal racism”, MWC News, 12 January 2018: http://mwcnews.net/focus/analysis/69955-zionist-quotes-reveal-genocidal-racism.html .

[35]. Rajendra Prasad, “Tears in Paradise. Suffering and struggle of Indians in Fiji 1879-2004”(Glade, Auckland, New Zealand, 2004).

[36]. Gideon Polya, “Review: “Tears In Paradise. Suffering and Struggle Of Indians In Fiji 1879-2004” by Rajendra Prasad – Britain’s Indentured Indian “5 Year Slaves””, Countercurrents, 4 March, 2015: https://countercurrents.org/polya040315.htm .

[37]. Kavia Ivy Nandan (editor), “Stolen Worlds. FijiIndian Fragments”, Ivy Press International , 2005.

[38]. Gideon Polya, “Anti-Indian subversion of Fiji by Apartheid Israel, Pro-Apartheid Australia & pro-Apartheid America”, Countercurrents,  20 October 2017: http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/10/20/anti-indian-subversion-of-fiji-by-apartheid-israel-pro-apartheid-australia-pro-apartheid-america/ .

[39]. “Abdul Lateef”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Lateef_(Fijian_lawyer) .

[40]. “Eugen Pólya [Jeno Pólya]”, Wikjpedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugen_P%C3%B3lya .

[41].  “George Pólya”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_P%C3%B3lya

[42]. Harold and Loretta Taylor, “George Pólya. Master of Discovery”,Dale Seymour, Palo Alto, 1993.

[43]. John Bela Polya, “Autobiography”.

[44]. John Dugard, “International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the crime of Apartheid”, Audiovisual Library of International Law: http://untreaty.un.org/cod/avl/ha/cspca/cspca.html .

[45]. Michael Slezak, “Gillian Triggs: Australian government “ideologically opposed to human rights””, Guardian, 25 July 2017: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/jul/26/gillian-triggs-australian-government-ideologically-opposed-to-human-rights .

[46]. Gideon Polya, “Body Count. Global avoidable mortality since 1950”, that includes a succinct history of every country and is now available for free perusal on the web: http://globalbodycount.blogspot.com/  .

[47]. Gideon Polya, “As UK Lackeys Or US Lackeys Australians Have Invaded 85 Countries (British 193, French 80, US 70)”, Countercurrents, 9 February, 2015: http://www.countercurrents.org/polya090215.htm .

[48]. Gideon Polya, “Review: “The Cambridge History Of Australia” Ignores  Australian Involvement In 30 Genocides”, Countercurrents, 14 October, 2013: http://www.countercurrents.org/polya141013.htm.

[49]. “Australian MPs take action on Gaza”, The Greens, Lee Rhiannon, 27 July 2014: https://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/articles/australian-mps-take-action-gaza .

[50]. “Australia should not welcome the Prime Minister of Israel”: https://apanaustralia.files.wordpress.com/2017/02/statement_netanyahu_signatories_for_release_final.pdf.

[51]. “Melissa Parke, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melissa_Parke .

[52]. Gideon Polya, “Australian State Terrorism –  Zero Australian Terrorism Deaths, 1 Million Preventable Australian Deaths & 10 Million Muslims Killed By US Alliance Since 9-11”, Countercurrents, 23 September, 2014: https://countercurrents.org/polya230914.htm .

[53]. Gideon Polya: https://sites.google.com/site/drgideonpolya/home .

[54]. “Lying by omission”: https://sites.google.com/site/mainstreammedialying/lying-by-omission .

[55]. Philip Dorling, “US shares raw intelligence on Australian  with Israel”, Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 2013: http://www.smh.com.au/national/us-shares-raw-intelligence-on-australians-with-israel-20130911-2tllm.html .

[56]. Gideon Polya, “Terror Hysteria –  Draconian New Australian Anti-Terrorism Laws Target Journalists,  Muslims And Human Rights”,  Countercurrents, 8 October, 2014: https://countercurrents.org/polya0810114.htm .

[57]. Gideon Polya, “50 Ways Australian Intelligence Spies On Australia And The World For UK , Israeli And US State Terrorism”,  Countercurrents, 11 December, 2013: https://countercurrents.org/polya111213.htm .

[58]. Mark Pearson, “Journalists face jail for reporting intelligence operations – with no public interest defence”,  Journlaw, 3 October 2014: https://journlaw.com/2014/10/03/journalists-face-jail-for-reporting-intelligence-operations-with-no-public-interest-defence/ .

[59]. Gideon Polya, “Dual Israeli citizenship & Zionist perversion of America, Australia , India and Humanity”, Countercurrents, 30 July 2017 : https://countercurrents.org/2017/07/30/dual-israeli-citizenship-zionist-perversion-of-america-australia-india-humanity/ .

[60]. Gideon Polya, “Racist Zionism and Israeli State Terrorism threats to Australia and Humanity”: https://sites.google.com/site/palestiniangenocide/racist-zionism-and-israeli .

[61]. Gideon Polya, “Australian’s massacre of 50 Muslims in New Zealand spotlights entrenched Australian Islamophobia and anti-Arab anti-Semitism”, Countercurrents, 1 April 2019: https://countercurrents.org/2019/04/01/australians-massacre-of-50-muslims-in-new-zealand-spotlights-entrenched-australian-islamophobia-anti-arab-anti-semitism/ .

[62]. Gideon Poilya, “US lackey Australia attacks free speech of Senator Dastyari, Muslims, Chinese, journalists  and truth-tellers”, Countercurrents, 10 December 2017: https://countercurrents.org/2017/12/10/us-lackey-australia-attacks-free-speech-of-senator-dastyari-muslims-chinese-journalists-truth-tellers/ .

[63]. Gideon Polya, “Australian Sinophobia and China-bashing from colonial persecution and White Australia to Trump America’s Asian deputy sheriff”, Countercurrents, 26 January 2018: https://countercurrents.org/2018/01/26/australian-sinophobia-china-bashing-colonial-persecution-white-australia-trump-americas-asia-deputy-sheriff/ .

[64]. National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2018, Parliament of Australia: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22legislation/billhome/r6022%22.

[65]. Gareth Hutchens, “Sweeping foreign interference and spying laws pass Senate”, Guardian, 29 June 2018: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/29/sweeping-foreign-interference-and-spying-laws-pass-senate .

[66]. “Australia passes foreign interference laws amid China tension”, BBC, 28 June 2018: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-44624270 .

[67]. Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2018, Parliament of Australia: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22legislation/billhome/r6018%22 .

[68]. Paul Karp, “Coalition bill to ban foreign political donations passes Senate”, Guardian, 15 November 2018: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/15/coalition-bill-to-ban-foreign-political-donations-passes-senate .

[69].Yee-Fui Ng, “The foreign donations bill will soon be law – what will it do and why is it needed?”, The Conversation, 28 November 2018:  https://theconversation.com/the-foreign-donations-bill-will-soon-be-law-what-will-it-do-and-why-is-it-needed-107095  .

[70]. Larissa Waters, “Donations data show our democracy is for sale”, 1 February 2019: https://larissa-waters.greensmps.org.au/articles/donations-data-shows-our-democracy-sale-0  .

[71]. Michelle Grattan, “Car sparks brawl over political influence of Melbourne Jewish Lobby”, The Conversation, 10 April 2014: https://theconversation.com/carr-sparks-brawl-over-political-influence-of-melbourne-jewish-lobby-25482 .

[72].  Antony Loewenstein, “Does the Zionist Lobby have blood on its hands in Australia?”: http://antonyloewenstein.com/2010/07/02/does-the-zionist-lobby-have-blood-on-its-hands-in-australia/ .

[73]. Gideon Polya, “Pro-Zionist-led Coup ousts Australian PM Rudd”, MWC News, 29 June 2010: http://mwcnews.net/focus/politics/3488-pro-zionist-led-coup.html .

[74]. Andrew Rule, “Bill Shorten: the sun also rises”, Sydney Morning Herald, 26 September 2009: https://www.smh.com.au/national/bill-shorten-the-son-also-rises-20090926-g6kq.html .

[75]. “Showbag Bill & Pratt the Younger”, Middle East Reality Check, 14 October 2013: http://middleeastrealitycheck.blogspot.com/2013/10/showbag-bill-pratt-younger.html

[76]. Aaron Patrick, “Bill Shorten flew in Pratt’s private jet to  Cuba”, Financial Review, 10 February 2917: https://www.afr.com/news/politics/national/bill-shorten-flew-in-richard-pratts-private-jet-to-cuba-20170209-gu8z2k .

[77]. “I’ve been to Israel too”, Middle East Reality Check, 30 March 2009:  http://middleeastrealitycheck.blogspot.com/2009/03/ive-been-to-israel-too.html .

[78]. Ali Kazak, “Why should Israel’s lobby have different standards?”, Independent Australia, 9 November 2017: https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/does-the-nation-have-a-new-white-australia-foreign-affairs-policy,10913 .

[79]. Gideon Polya, “Yassmin Abdel-Magied censored on Anzac Day – jingoists trash Australian free speech”, Countercurrents, 28 April 2017: https://countercurrents.org/2017/04/28/yassmin-abdel-magied-censored-on-anzac-day-jingoists-trash-australian-free-speech/ .

[80]. Letters to The Age newspaper (Melbourne, Australia) re Zionists and politicians demanding the banning  of a politics book for high school students and mentioning US and Israeli state terrorism: http://www.theage.com.au/news/letters/he-who-shouts-loudest-not-necessarily-the-best/2006/09/16/1158334730192.html?page=fullpage .

[81]. Paul Heinrichs, “Textbook links US and Israel to “state terrorism””, The Age, 10 September  2006: https://www.theage.com.au/national/textbook-links-us-israel-to-state-terrorism-20060910-ge33s6.html .

[82], Gideon Polya, “Mike Carlton, Top Australian Columnist, Forced From Job For Criticizing Apartheid Israeli Gaza Massacre”,  Countercurrents, 8 August, 2014: https://www.countercurrents.org/polya080814.htm .

[83]. Gideon Polya, “Academic Free Speech Under Zionist Attack At Notre Dame Australia And LSE, UK”, Countercurrents, 16 December, 2015: https://countercurrents.org/polya161215.htm .

[84]. Gideon Polya, “Australia’s pro-Zionist PM Turnbull’s Jewish heritage may mean he is ineligible to be an MP”, Countercirrents, 17 September 2017:  https://countercurrents.org/2017/09/17/australian-pro-zionist-pm-turnbulls-jewish-heritage-means-he-may-be-ineligible-to-be-an-mp/ .

[85]. “Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_44_of_the_Constitution_of_Australia .

[86]. “Hungarian nationality law”, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_nationality_law .

[87]. Caitlin Gribben, “Mark Dreyfus draws Josh Frydenberg back into citizenship saga”, ABC News, 11 December 2017: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-10/josh-frydenbergs-citizenship-dividing-labor/9244440 .

[88]. Eran Elhaik,”Ashkenazic Jews’ mysterious origins unravelled by scientists  thanks to ancient DNA”,  The Conversation, 5 September 2018: https://theconversation.com/ashkenazic-jews-mysterious-origins-unravelled-by-scientists-thanks-to-ancient-dna-97962 .

[89]. Eran Elhaik, “Uncovering ancient Ashkenaz – the birthplace of Yiddish speakers”,  The Conversation, 6 May 2016: https://theconversation.com/uncovering-ancient-ashkenaz-the-birthplace-of-yiddish-speakers-58355 .

[90]. Arthur  Koestler, “The Thirteenth Tribe: The Khazar Empire and its Heritage”, Hutchinson, 1976.

[91]. Shlomo Sand, “The Invention of the Jewish People”, Verso, London, 2009.

[92]. Marta D. Costa et al, “A substantial prehistoric European ancestry amongst Ashkenazi maternal lineages”, Nature, 2013: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131008/ncomms3543/full/ncomms3543.html .

[93]. “The rise and fall of the “Dutch Jerusalem””, ABC Late Night Live, 4 March 2019: https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-dutch-jerusalem/10868280 .

[94]. Marta D. Costa et al, “A substantial prehistoric European ancestry amongst Ashkenazi maternal lineages”, Nature, 2013: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131008/ncomms3543/full/ncomms3543.html .

Soon, this blog will be illegal.

No, I’m not selling drugs or peddling child pornography. I write about America’s wars and the primary objective of those illegal and immoral wars—to make Israel the hegemon of the Middle East along with Saudi Arabia. All US foreign policy in that region centers on those two nations.

The following may soon be classified as hate speech and anti-semitism (as increasingly criticism of the Jewish state and its Zionist political ideology are considered crimes). 

Jewish neocons found their way into the Reagan administration and later the Bush Junior White House and Pentagon. Huddled under the wing of Vice President Dick Cheney, they plotted to attack and destroy Israel’s enemies. Neocon ideologues strategized and published papers on these manufactured wars, most notably a paper presented to then Israeli president Bibi Netanyahu. It called for taking out Iraq and Syria. Israeli academics have written on this subject for decades. The nation’s early leaders engineered border provocations and false flag attacks (the Lavon Affair) to destabilize the region. Southern Lebanon is considered a valuable asset primarily for its water resources (e.g. “Operation Litani”) and the Golan Heights in Syria was occupied for its strategic value. 

Israel, of course, is unable to destroy its enemies, so that task is left to America and its neocons. The American people were lied into a war on Iraq. Both Israel and the US knew Saddam Hussein didn’t have the capability to threaten Israel militarily. Beyond its oil, Iraq held little strategic value for the US and its corporatocracy. However, it did have the ability to cause trouble, especially in regard to the Palestinians. 

Syria’s relationship with its Lebanese neighbor and its stubborn refusal to simply handover the occupied Golan to the Israelis is also a problem. It was one of several objectives behind a manufactured color revolution in Syria under the aegis of the “Arab Spring,” an objective that has thus far resulted in the murder of around 600,000 Syrians. 

The Bush era neocons (including John Bolton, now national security adviser, and Elliot Abrams, a key Bush coconspirator) had an ambitious laundry list of nations to be destroyed—Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and importantly Iran, the only serious challenger to Israel. The Obama administration added Libya and began covert operations in Africa. 

Trump took the baton from Obama after he told us he wasn’t into “nation-building” and was a populist “America First” noninterventionist. The American people were lied to again, but then this is now normal behavior. 

After 9/11 and years of aggressive war propaganda, it is now common for the American people to believe these lies. Meanwhile, endless diversion in the form of super-hyper and potentially violent partisanship between factions of the establishment political class keep most Americans distracted from larger issues—war and the bankster-rigged economy. It should be noted that criticism of central banks and monetary policy are also considered hateful antisemitism. 

In short, US foreign policy, directed by high-level neocons, is not conducted in the interest of the American people. It benefits Israel, which also takes billions every year from the American taxpayer. 

Bush the intellectual midget was unable to provide and explanation why nuclear and biological weapons were not found in Iraq—instead, he made a comedy routine out of this “intelligence failure” and the systematic murder of eventually well over a million Iraqis. In truth, WMDs were not the reason for the invasion and occupation. The real objective was to produce violent sectarianism and division, thus making sure Iraq was preoccupied with its own serious problems and not calling for Palestinian justice. The same basic plan was reproduced in Libya, another oil-rich nation with a strong sense of pan-Arab nationalism, thus aligned with the Palestinians and regarding Israel as a renegade Zionist apartheid state. 

Donald Trump’s sycophantic fawning over Israel—undoubtedly under the influence of his Orthodox Jewish son-in-law—has opened the floodgates: the US embassy moved to Jerusalem, Trump signed off on Israel’s theft of Syria’s Golan Heights, and of most value for Israel, the US under Trump is ramping up rhetoric, imposing additional sanctions, and promising military action against Iran. The latest move: Trump has designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization (and the Iranians in turn designated the US Central Command as a terrorist organization).

Such criticism of Israel will soon be illegal. Democrats and Republicans are working together to make criticism of Israel a criminal offense. South Carolina passed a law making it illegal to boycott Israel, while Florida passed legislation outlawing antisemitic thoughtcrime. Tennessee worked to pass what it calls the Anti-Semitism Awareness Bill. After this failed to gain traction, Tennessee passed a resolution declaring unequivocal support for Israel. At the same time, the US House enacted a resolution “condemning anti-Semitism” following remarks made by House freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar’s criticism of AIPAC and the influence of Israeli-American lobbying. 

Now that criticism of Zionism and the Israeli state is criminal —according to the propaganda media and a manipulative ruling elite—we can expect any principled discussion of Israel, its treatment of the Palestinians, and its effort in unison with the neocons to get a shooting war going with Iran, to be punished by muzzle, fines, and possible prison time. 

Remarkable or not, this situation—most prominently the disassembly of the First Amendment and another devastating war—is hardly even a minor concern for many Americans. The criminalization of speech is something that happened in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, and East Germany under the watch of the Stasi, and we were told it was impossible in America with our bounty of rights. 

Those rights—rights we are born with—are now increasingly denied by law. In the near future, such laws may be used to shutdown any number of websites and social media accounts that dare criticize Israel, as that criticism—that speech—is now equivalent to violence.

*

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This article was originally published on the author’s blog site: Another Day in the Empire.

Kurt Nimmo is a frequent contributor to Global Research.

Featured image is from TheFreeThoughtProject

The Strategy of Controlled Chaos

April 18th, 2019 by Manlio Dinucci

Everyone against everyone else – this is the media image of chaos which is spreading across the Southern shores of the Mediterranean, from Libya to Syria. It is a situation before which even Washington seems powerless. But in reality, Washington is not the sorcerer’s apprentice unable to control the forces now in motion. It is the central motor of a strategy – the strategy of chaos – which, by demolishing entire States, is provoking a chain reaction of conflicts which can be used in the manner of the ancient method of “divide and rule”.

Emerging victorious from the Cold War in 1991, the USA self-appointed themselves as “the only State with power, reach, and influence in all dimensions – political, economic and military – which are truly global”, and proposed to “prevent any hostile power from dominating any region – Western Europe, Eastern Asia, the territories of the ex-Soviet Union, and South-Western Asia (the Middle East) – whose resources could be enough to generate a world power”.

Since then, the United States, with NATO under their command, have fragmented or destroyed by war, one by one, the states they considered to represent an obstacle to their plan for world domination – Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria and others – while still others are in their sights (among which are Iran and Venezuela).

In the same strategy came the coup d’État in Ukraine under the direction of the USA and NATO, in order to provoke a new Cold War in Europe intended to isolate Russia and reinforce the influence of the United States in Europe.

While we concentrate politico-media attention on the fighting in Libya, we leave in the shadows the increasingly threatening scenario of NATO’s escalation against Russia. The meeting of the 29 Ministers for Foreign Affairs, convened in Washington on 4 April to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Alliance, reaffirmed, without any proof, that “Russia violated the FNI Treaty by deploying new missiles with a nuclear capacity in Europe”.

One week later, on 11 April, NATO announced that the “update” of the US Aegis “anti-missile defence system”, based at Deveselu in Romania, would be implemented this summer, assuring that it would “not add any offensive capacity to the system”.

On the contrary, this system, installed in Romania and Poland, as well as on board ships, is able to launch not only interceptor missiles, but also nuclear missiles. Moscow issued a warning – if the USA were to deploy nuclear missiles in Europe, Russia would deploy – on its own territory – similar missiles pointed at European bases.

Consequently, NATO’s spending for « defence » has skyrocketed – the military budgets of European allies and those of Canada will rise to 100 billion dollars in 2020.

The Ministers for Foreign Affairs, united in Washington on 4 April, agreed in particular to “face up to Russia’s aggressive actions in the Black Sea”, by establishing “new measures of support for our close partners, Georgia and Ukraine”.

The following day, dozens of warships and fighter-bombers from the United States, Canada, Greece, Holland, Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria began a NATO aero-naval war exercise in the Black Sea at the limit of Russian territorial waters, using the ports of Odessa (Ukraine) and Poti (Georgia).

Simultaneously, more than 50 fighter-bombers from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Holland, taking off from a Dutch airbase and refuelling in flight, practised “offensive aerial missions of attack against earth-based or sea-based objectives”. Italian Eurofighter fighter-bombers were once again sent by NATO to patrol the Baltic region to counter the “threat” of Russian warplanes.

The situation is increasingly tense and can explode (or be exploded) at any moment, dragging us down into a chaos much worse that of Libya.

*

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This article was originally published on Il Manifesto. Translated by Pete Kimberley.

Manlio Dinucci is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization.

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A estratégia do caos encaminhado

April 17th, 2019 by Manlio Dinucci

Tudo contra todos: é a imagem mediática do caos que se alarga à mancha de petróleo na costa sul do Mediterrâneo, da Líbia à Síria. Uma situação perante a qual até Washington parece impotente. Na realidade, Washington não é um aprendiz de feiticeiro incapaz de controlar as forças postas em movimento. É o centro motor de uma estratégia – a do caos – que, ao demolir Estados inteiros, provoca uma reação em cadeia de conflitos a serem utilizados de acordo com o critério antigo – “dividir para reinar”.

Tendo saído vitoriosos da Guerra Fria, em 1991, os USA autoproclamaram-se  “o único Estado com uma força, uma escala e uma influência, em todas as  dimensões – política, económica e militar – verdadeiramente global”, propondo-se “impedir que qualquer poder hostil domine uma região – Europa Ocidental, Ásia Oriental, o território da antiga União Soviética e o Sudoeste Asiático (Médio Oriente) – cujos recursos seriam suficientes para criar uma potência global”. Desde então, os EUA e a NATO sob o seu comando, fragmentaram ou demoliram com a guerra, um após outro, os Estados considerados obstáculos ao plano de domínio global – Iraque, Jugoslávia, Afeganistão, Líbia, Síria e outros – enquanto mais alguns (entre os quais o Irão e a Venezuela) ainda estão na sua mira.

Nessa mesma estratégia está incluído o golpe de Estado na Ucrânia, sob direcção USA/NATO, com o fim de provocar na Europa, uma nova Guerra Fria, a fim de isolar a Rússia e fortalecer a influência dos Estados Unidos na Europa.

Enquanto a atenção político-mediática se concentra no conflito na Líbia, deixa-se na sombra o cenário cada vez mais ameaçador da escalada da NATO contra a Rússia. A reunião dos 29 Ministros dos Negócios Estrangeiros, convocada em 4 de Abril, em Washington, para celebrar o 70º aniversário da NATO, reiterou, sem qualquer prova, que “a Rússia viola o Tratado INF, instalando, na Europa, novos mísseis com capacidades nucleares”.

Uma semana depois, em 11 de Abril, a NATO anunciou que neste verão haverá uma “actualização” do sistema USA Aegis de “defesa antimíssil”, instalado em Deveselu, na Roménia, assegurando que a mesma actualização “não oferece nenhuma capacidade ofensiva ao sistema”. Este sistema, instalado na Roménia e na Polónia e a bordo de navios, pode lançar não só mísseis interceptores, como também mísseis nucleares.

Moscovo advertiu que, se os EUA instalarem mísseis nucleares na Europa, a Rússia distribuirá no seu território, mísseis idênticos apontados para as bases europeias. Consequentemente, aumentam as despesas para a “defesa” da NATO: os orçamentos militares dos aliados europeus e do Canadá, aumentarão até 2020, para 100 biliões de dólares.

Os Ministros dos Negócios Estrangeiros da NATO, reunidos em Washington, em 4 de Abril, comprometeram-se em particular, a “enfrentar as acções agressivas da Rússia na região do Mar Negro”, estabelecendo “novas medidas de apoio aos nossos parceiros chegados, a Geórgia e a Ucrânia”. No dia seguinte, dezenas de navios e caça bombardeiros dos Estados Unidos, Canadá, Grécia, Holanda, Turquia, Roménia e Bulgária iniciaram um exercício de guerra naval da NATO, perto das águas territoriais russas, usando os portos de Odessa (Ucrânia) e Poti (Geórgia).

Ao mesmo tempo, mais de 50 caça bombardeiros dos Estados Unidos, Alemanha, Grã-Bretanha, França e Holanda, decolando de um aeroporto holandês e reabastecidos em voo, exercitavam-se em “missões aéreas ofensivas atacando alvos em terra ou no mar”. Por sua vez, bombardeiros italianos Eurofighter serão enviados pela NATO, para patrulhar novamente a região do Báltico contra a “ameaça” dos aviões russos.

A corda está cada vez mais tensa e pode quebrar-se (ou ser quebrada) a qualquer momento, arrastando-nos para um caos muito mais perigoso do que o da Líbia.

Manlio Dinucci

Artigo em italiano :

La strategia del caos guidato

Il manifesto, 15 de Abril de 2019

Tradutora : Luisa Vasconcellos

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Em Florença, celebração em oposição ao 70° aniversário da NATO

April 17th, 2019 by Comitato No Nato No Guerra

O 70º aniversário da NATO foi celebrado por 29 Ministros dos Negócios Estrangeiros, que se reuniram, não no quartel general da NATO, em Bruxelas, mas no do Departamento de Estado em Washington. O ‘mestre de cerimónias’ foi o Secretário Geral da NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, que apenas anunciou o discurso de abertura do Secretário de Estado, Michael Pompeo.

A NATO – explica o Departamento de Estado – é importante porque, graças a ela, “os Estados Unidos podem enfrentar melhor, politica e  militarmente, as ameaças globais globais aos seus interesses: a NATO permanece fundamental, para as operações militares USA na região transatlântica (isto é na Europa) e noutras regiões estrategicamente críticas, como o Médio Oriente e a Ásia Meridional”. Portanto, é o próprio Departamento de Estado que nos diz claramente, que a NATO é uma ferramenta dos Estados Unidos.

Nenhuma reacção política, em Itália. A única resposta veio da Conferência que, promovida pelo Comitato No Guerra No NATO e pelo Global Research, um centro de pesquisa liderado por Michel Chossudovsky, reuniu cerca de 600 participantes no Cine-Teatro Odeon, em Florença, no dia 7 de Abril.

As conclusões descritas a seguir, estão expostas na:

DECLARAÇÃO DE FLORENÇA,

CRIANDO UMA FRENTE INTERNACIONAL DESTINADA À SAÍDA DA NATO

Ø  “O risco de uma guerra gigantesca que, com o uso de armas nucleares poderia marcar o fim da Humanidade, é real e está a aumentar, mesmo que não seja percebido pela opinião pública, mantida na ignorância do perigo iminente.

Ø  É de vital importância, o empenho máximo em sair do sistema de guerra. Este facto levanta a questão da Itália e de outros países europeus pertencerem à NATO.

Ø  “A NATO não é uma aliança. É uma organização sob o comando do Pentágono, cujo objectivo é o controlo militar da Europa Ocidental e Oriental.

Ø  As bases dos Estados Unidos, nos países membros da NATO, servem para ocupar esses países, mantendo uma presença militar permanente que permite a Washington influenciar e controlar as decisões políticas e impedir as verdadeiras escolhas democráticas.

Ø  “A NATO é uma máquina de guerra que age de acordo com os interesses dos Estados Unidos, com a cumplicidade dos principais grupos de poder europeus, cometendo crimes contra a Humanidade.

Ø  “A guerra de agressão conduzida pela NATO, em 1999, contra a Jugoslávia, abriu caminho para a globalização das intervenções militares, com as guerras contra o Afeganistão, Líbia, Síria e outros países, em completa violação do Direito Internacional.

Ø  “Essas guerras são financiadas pelos países membros, cujos orçamentos militares estão constantemente a aumentar  à custa das despesas sociais, a fim de apoiar programas militares colossais, como o programa nuclear no montante de 1.2 triliões de dólares.

Ø  “Os EUA, violando o Tratado de Não Proliferação, instalaram armas nucleares em 5 países não nucleares da NATO, com o pretexto da falsa “ameaça russa”, colocando em risco a segurança da Europa.

Ø  “Para sair do sistema de guerra, que nos prejudica cada vez mais e nos expõe ao perigo iminente de uma guerra aniquiladora, devemos deixar a NATO, afirmando o direito de existir como Estados soberanos e neutros.

Ø  “Desta maneira, é possível contribuir para o desmantelamento da NATO e de qualquer outra aliança militar, para a reconfiguração das estruturas de toda a região europeia, para a formação de um mundo multipolar no qual se concretizam as aspirações dos povos à liberdade e à justiça social.

Ø  Propomos a criação de uma frente internacional NATO EXIT, em todos os países europeus da NATO, construindo uma rede organizadora de base capaz de encorajar, a luta necessária e difícil, para alcançar este objectivo vital para o nosso futuro.

Comitato No Guerra No Nato/Global Research, 

Florença, 7 de Abril de 2019

 

il manifesto,

Petition update, 9 de Abril de 2019


NO WAR NO NATO

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Tradutora: Maria Luísa de Vasconcellos

 

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By now, most of us should have come to realize that plant, animal and human life is not eternal on this planet. For several decades atmospheric scientists have been warning that the orgy of anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, if it is permitted to continue at current rates, will bring life as we know to an end. Where scientists disagree, and where there remains growing debate, concerns the timeline before global warming’s acceleration cascades into runaway conditions leading towards our demise. Nevertheless, one thing seems certain, for anyone who bothers to follow the steady flow of climate change reports and updates, every year conditions are becoming more dire than the previous years. And as scientists consistently have had to reevaluate their earlier predictions, the situation is turning more drastic.

Not to be outdone by the fossil fuel industry’s addiction to burning fossil fuels, nor our blusterous neoliberal capitalist rush to establish full spectrum economic dominance, the telecommunications industry and Silicon Valley are eager to enter the horse race to imperil human existence. In the past we have regularly reported on the corruption that is endemic in our federal health agencies and the pharmaceutical industry, in the nuclear power industry and industrial agriculture. Now we address the culture of deception that permeates the telecommunications and wireless regime, and its irresponsible denialism about electromagnetic frequency radiation’s effects on plant and animal life.

The roll out of 5G (Fifth Generation) technology across the nation is being framed as a sprint contest against China, which is also determined to transition to 5G.

Europe, in defiance of American pressures, is now leaning towards the Chinese company Huawei to service the European continent. It is expected that by 2024, about 40 percent of the world’s population will be connected to the 5G network. That means tens of billions of devices, from cars to refrigerators, traffic lights, surveillance equipment, utility smart meters and phones will be interlinked to a global web of EMF technologies. Nothing with an electronic chip will be exempt. No plant or tree, insect, bird, fish, animal or human will be able to escape 24-hour a day exposure to enormous amounts of electromagnetic pollution. Already this new generation technology is being aggressively promoted and marketed to the public without any mention of its catastrophic risks. The organization Physicians for Safe Technology is now warning that its predictable adverse effect will create “biological, environmental as well as societal disruption” and will “be difficult or impossible to reverse.”

Whereas the current 4G technology succeeded in a complete digital migration enabling higher speeds for mobile phones, video and internet interfaces, in the words of President Obama’s FCC chair Tom Wheeler, 5G will be the “Internet of Everything.”

“If something can be connected,” Wheeler told a National Press Club audience in 2016, “it will be connected in the 5G world. But with predictions of hundreds of billions of microchip-enabled products from pill bottles to plant waterers, you can be sure of only one thing: the biggest IOT [Internet of Things] has yet to be imagined.”

Wheeler believes he is in charge of this revolution:

“the 5G revolution will touch all corners and that is damn important.”

The Obama administration’s FCC launched the Spectrum Frontiers rules to mandate 5G rollout as a “national priority.” In the rules, we find a disturbing initiative; that is, technology will drive policy rather than vice versa. Wheeler stated this in no uncertain terms. In other words, the private telecommunications industrial complex is being given precedence over elected legislators, including Congressional leaders who voice deep concerns about 5G’s threats. It also has precedence over the warnings voiced by the medical, health and environmental agencies.

However, the 5G race actually goes back to the Clinton White House. In 1996, Clinton foolishly handed over to the telecommunications industry carte blanche power over state and local governments to install 5G technologies. The Telecommunications Act (TCA) is a dismal piece of legislation. It is another incident where Clinton was a far more loyal enabler to private corporate interests instead of the public. Clinton’s TCA decrees that no health or environmental concern can interfere with telecom installations. It gives full power to the FCC to regulate telecom EMF’s health effects, yet the FCC is not a health agency nor are there any biomedical experts in the FCC. In addition, the Act takes away the authority of town, city, and county councils to rule against 5G stations and cell tower installments. And if towns vote to prevent a 5G tower being erected near a school or children’s park, or a crowded neighborhood, the companies have the right to sue.

For example, in the prosperous town of Moraga in the San Francisco Bay Area, town council efforts are underway to prevent the installation of a 5G cell tower. The initiative is being launched by a woman whose husband, a heavy cell phone user since the mid-1980s, developed a brain tumor near the ear where he held the phone for many years. Moraga is mobilized to bring a halt to the tower. But it is losing battle. And there are similar cases occurring throughout the country as the pubic becomes increasingly warned about 5G health risks.

No argument can be raised against the benefits that wireless technologies have brought to the world. They have contributed to remarkable advances in medical diagnostic tools, security equipment, better telecommunication networks for governments, businesses and organizations, entertainment, faster connections on the worldwide web, connected the internet with mobile phones, and much more. Consequently it has also been a boon for job growth. But their disadvantages and defects have largely been hidden from public view. And the telecommunication industry and government officials have been completely aware of these risks for over half a century. Other risks are being identified and described as independent research and analysis outside the purview of corporate telecom oversight continues.

Unfortunately the government is not investing in the necessary safety studies to determine whether rolling out 5G is a wise policy. Wheeler, the initial architect for the nation’s 5G strategy, has never acknowledged that there are known health risks associated with electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) . He is a product of the same private industrial mindset that has churned out climate change deniers in the big oil companies and pesticide- and GMO-risk deniers in the Big Agriculture.

Americans need to wake up to the fact that they are facing a formidable enemy in the telecommunication industry. The FCC and the cartel of telecom companies and Silicon Valley remain in complete denial about the multitude of health risks that 5G antennas, mobile phones, smart meters and other electronic appliances that will be connected with 5G, have been shown to contribute towards. Wheeler, who was appointed by Obama, took the reins of the FCC with an intention to push 5G technology regardless of any opposition. He also originally opposed net neutrality that would financially benefit internet providers’ coffers at the public’s expense. The subsequent backlash from Silicon companies such as Google, Microsoft, eBay, etc., forced the FCC to back pedal. There was never any question about Wheeler’s loyalty to his masters in the cable and wireless industry. Before entering politics, he was a venture capitalist and lobbyist for the telecommunications industry, a former president of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, a CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, and the only person to twice be inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame. What Wheeler accomplished in office on behalf of the telecommunications industry is analogous to the successes of Wall Street bankers within during the Clinton presidency to dismantle consumer protections from casino investments. Since leaving the FCC, Wheeler has become a Fellow at the corporate-centrist Brookings Institute where he continues to advance telecommunication’s commercial interests

Unfortunately the situation has worsened under Trump. The current FCC Consumer Advisory Panel is controlled by the Koch Brothers’ American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — staunch opponents of net neutrality, municipal broadband and consumer protections. The agency intends to grant the telecommunications industry with subsidized access to all local and state public properties. This will make the telecommunication industry’s dominance over state, city and state council rights complete.

Much of the technology that will be utilized by 5G is not completely new. The US and Soviet militaries have been experimenting with high electromagnetic frequency and microwave weaponry since the 1960s. A 1985 declassified CIA report on “Soviet Directed Energy Weapons” reveals that the Russians had been conducting extensive research in microwave particle beams and electromagnetic frequency directed laser weapons since the early 1960s. Their research was thorough and conceivable more advanced than the US military efforts.

Screenshot from the CIA

The only practical and conceivable benefit 5G has for the average consumer is speed. It is anticipated to be at least 10 to 100 times faster than the current 4G technology, which in turn was 10 times faster than 3G. Therefore, for those impatient with download times, it is largely only time-saving perk with greater interface capabilities with other wireless devices. However, it will be far greater boon to the Defense Department’s development of weapons and crowd control technologies. With 5G circumnavigating the globe, we cannot begin to imagine the horrid possibilities of future weapons, which could even include directed measures to trigger illnesses and disease in a foreign populations. With the 5G rollout we will be finally be on the path of entering an Orwellian nightmare.

A plethora of medical and environmental research has accumulated about the health and ecological risks of electromagnetic frequency radiation (EMF) and microwaves. To avoid confusion, 5G transmission is within the microwave band frequency. It is estimated that there are over 10,000 peer-reviewed clinical studies mentioning serious molecular biological injury and defects to organs, neurons, cells and cellular function, and DNA damage to plants, animals and humans alike. Between August 2016 and September 2018, over 400 new studies on electromagnetic radiation risks have been compiled by public health Professor Joel Moskowitz at the University of California at Berkeley. These studies cover earlier generation technologies, whereas 5G will be far more evasive and less safe. Compared to 4G technology in use today, every 5G base station will contain hundreds of thousands of antennas each aiming laser like microwave beams to all devices. In an urban area, base stations would be installed 100 meters (328 feet) apart.

For example, a study published in the August 2018 issue of Journal of Medical Imaging and Health Informatics concluded after an extensive review of the medical literature that “incidence of cancer cases was remarkably higher among people who resided in 400 meters from mobile antennas, in comparison to those who lived further away. Females reported statistically more health complaints than males. Inhabitants living close to cellular antennas are also at increased risk for developing neuropsychiatric complaints.” Under the 5G regime every American in a suburb or city will be living 100 meters or less from an antenna. Our lives will exist in a stew of what some now call “electrosmog.”

The Competence Initiative for the Protection of Humanity, the Environment and Democracy in Germany has published one of the most thorough series of reports on the health, biological and environmental implications of long-term exposure to electromagnetic frequencies emitted from wireless communication technologies. The Initiative is a multi-disciplinary coalition of independent medical doctors, biologists, psychologists, environmental scientists, attorneys and representatives from other disciplines. Although the research primarily covers 3G and less, the science is daunting and should sound alarms of 5G’s far more destructive health risks. Even with 3G, the evidence is conclusive that the rise in brain tumors and cancer is attributable to the overuse of mobile phones. One summary report concludes that the genotoxic effects of phone radiation “can trigger irreversible damage in genomes and reversible ones in epigenomes.” Damage to cells’ mitochondria is particularly disturbing since mitochondrial DNA is directly passed down from mothers to their offspring. Back in 2011, the World Health Organization classified EMF radiation as a likely human carcinogen based upon wireless phones’ increased risk for developing malignant brain glioma tumors. The announcement was based upon scientists from 14 countries reviewing hundreds of scientific studies. Since then, the largest study of its kind through the National Toxicology Program, at a cost of $25 million, concluded without reservation that EMF exposure below the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection guidelines — which most countries follow — increases the incidence of brain and heart cancers in animals, including humans.

In 2016, the Europa EM-EMF guideline found “strong evidence that long-term exposure to certain EMFs is a risk factor for diseases such as certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and male infertility…Common EHS (electromagnetic hypersensitivity) symptoms include headaches, concentration difficulties, sleep problems, depression, lack of energy, fatigue, and flu-like symptoms.”

All developed countries, which have the highest levels of EMF exposure and wireless device usage, are witnessing a rapid decline in male fertility. However, this trend is being observed globally. Since 1973 when close record keeping started to 2011, well into the wireless world, sperm concentrations have decreased 53 percent. The researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem who conducted the study predicts that large majority of men in the Europe could be completely infertile by 2060. According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), 85 percent of couples are unable to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of trying. Male sterility is the primary problem among 30-50 percent of couples. Curiously, the HHS makes no mention of EMF exposure among its lists of probable causes, although it notes medical radiation treatments.

Yet barely do we hear about the increasing amount EMF exposure and mobile phone usages association with these rising male infertility trends. Researchers at the National Academy of Medical Sciences in Ukraine, placed study participants’ sperm samples in incubation conditions either with our without Wifi mobile phone exposure. Sperm exposed to EMF showed substantial DNA fragmentation and loss of motility. More comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies out of Hanyang University in Seoul concluded that EMF exposure dramatically altered reproductive endocrine hormones, gonadal function, embryonic development, pregnancy and fetal development. In addition, pineal gland measurements observed a decrease in melatonin, which would contribute to either sleeplessness or poor quality of sleep that is commonly noted by persons with EMF sensitivities. Sperm germ cell morphology declined and apoptosis of male germ cells were observed. In addition, EMF adversely affected women’s ovaries with decreases in the estrus cycle and follicle growth.

The telecommunications industry and FCC deny these types of findings because living in a sea of 5G microwave exposure these health risks will multiply exponentially in time.

In the Competence Initiative’s report Bees, Birds, and Humans: Electrosmog’s Destructive Effects on Nature, German biologist Dr. Ulrich Warnke states:

“The information-processing and function systems of today’s humans, plants and animals are bombarded with artificial magnetic, electric and electromagnetic fields from numerous mobile and telecommunications sources in a concentration and intensity as never before. The consequences of these developments put forth by their critics cannot be overlooked any longer. Bees and other insects are disappearing. Birds avoid certain regions and are disoriented in others. Humans suffer functional problems and other sicknesses. And the evidence that suggests some of these problems may be inheritable means we’re passing them on to the next generation.”

As we noted above, Russia, before and during the years after the Soviet era, aggressively conducted experiments to determine microwave technologies activities on human health and the environment. Between 1960 and 1997, Russian scientists published 878 known studies measuring microwave effects on human and animal health and the environment. The studies are largely unknown in the US nor are they encouraging. In fact, they are outright frightening because these health threats have been known for a very long time and are being completely brushed aside. If 4G technology had been categorized and regulated as a pharmaceutical drug, it would have been black boxed and removed from the market long ago. And 5G will be far more toxic.

The Soviet studies on EMF exposure’s adverse effects on health and their symptoms’ prevalence of frequency, many which appear to have been replicated, monitored research subjects for 5 to 10 years. In other words, the researchers were interested in measuring the long-term effects from EMF exposure. They also involved thousands of subjects. Among the medical disorders identified were:

  • Neuroasthenia and sensory somatic disorders — 91% frequency after 10 years
  • CNS and autonomic nervous disorders — 59% frequency after 5 years
  • Cardiovascular disease — 66% frequency after 5 years
  • Circadian rhythm interruption and body temperature disruption – 85% frequency after 10 years
  • Hypoglycemia – 59% frequency after 10 years
  • Sensorimotor disorders and chronic fatigue – 59% frequency after 10 years
  • Depression – 66% frequency after 5 years
  • Resting tremors, tinnitus, hair loss – 59% frequency after 5 years
  • Memory loss and chronic headaches – 50% frequency after 5 years

Other disorders identified included loss of muscle strength, thyroid hyperactivity, deterioration of eye sight, psycho-neurovegetative dystonia, asthenia, cardiac pain, etc. The Soviets also found that EMF’s adverse effects accumulated with longer exposure; younger children had much higher sensitivity to EMF fields than adults; and, the decline in a person’s health increasingly amplified EMF’s adverse effects. Most important, these studies were conducted back in the 1960s. When Professor C. Susskind from the University of California at Berkeley introduced the Soviet’s research during a 1968 US Senate hearing to evaluate microwaves’ biological effects, his suggestions that the US should make an effort to replicate the Soviet’s research and determine microwave safety, were ignored and dismissed.

We have only touched upon 5G’s potential threats to human life. However, it will also have devastating consequences on wildlife, plants and the environment. A large body of scientific literature already exists to corroborate 5G’s catastrophic environmental threats. For those concerned with climate change, the 5G rollout will also contribute to a warming Earth. The rollout does not portend to be green or clean. Nobody is speaking about the 20,000 plus satellites that will orbit around the planet and need to be launched by 20,000-plus rockets to advance the 5G vision. These rockets will be fueled by a new type of hydrocarbon engine. A paper released by the Aerospace Corporation predicts that this will “create a persistent layer of black carbon particles in the northern stratosphere.” (Greenhouse gases normally remain in the troposphere above the earth’s surface). This would likely deplete the ozone by 1 percent and the polar ozone layer by as much as 6%. The report concludes that “[A]fter one decade of continuous launches, globally averaged radiative forcing from the black carbon would exceed the forcing from the emitted CO2 by a factor of about 10 to the fifth power.” In other words, 5G will have a substantial carbon footprint at a time when we must drastically cut our greenhouse gas emissions to curtail the speed of reaching critical tipping points.

The federal government and telecommunication industry are making every effort to hide the predictable inimical consequences to life on earth once 5G is fully installed and operating. During Wheeler’s optimistic pep talk at the National Press Club, no mention was made about 5G detractors or ever increasing health warnings being articulated by the scientific community. Nor will the mainstream media lend its airwaves to address these deeply disturbing issues. The media is completely compromised by the telecom industry. Its conflicts of interests are rampant.

In our opinion, the 5G rollout is a naive experiment with potential holocaust-like dimensions in the long-term. The United States, unlike Europe, has never felt obliged to follow UNESCO’s Precautionary Principle to avoid “morally unacceptable harm” when the science is plausible but still uncertain. In the case of 5G, the harm to human life is certain, and in the view of Dr. Lennart Hardel, an oncology professor at University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden, it may be in violation of the Nuremberg Code.

The preponderance of quality peer-reviewed scientific data has established a direct link between EMF radiation emitted from mobile phones, computers and lap tops, and 3G to 5G antennas and towers with a multitude of illnesses. Unfortunately, based upon the lack of critical thinking and in-depth reporting evident in the mainstream media, we are reasonably confident that this expose and the excellent articles by many others will make very little impact. Mainstream media’s track record for denying scientific warnings about other human-made threats to health and life confirms our confidence. Almost nothing is being done in the US, and many other nations, to lessen global warming trends. The professional corporate class will do nothing, even if they understand climate change’s threats. There is simply too much profit to be made by not disrupting the status quo of conducting business-as-usual.  Now, there is the national priority to push the throttle to its limit to develop worldwide wireless connectivity.  Silicon Valley and its thousands of bright young minds will not wake up tomorrow and suddenly have a conscience committed to a universal set of morals and ethics. Like the generations before them, they are simply chasing the profits.  Federal legislators have always followed the money. Federal regulatory agencies such as the FCC, USDA, EPA, FDA and CDC are fully captured by Wall Street and multinational corporations. State legislators are following ALEC and its funders, who create and provide bills and policies favoring special corporate interests. These laws almost never benefit the citizens of the states.

We could have learned a lesson about why 5G will not be halted for proper review by looking at past history: our failed wars and the catastrophic consequences of our regime changes such as in Libya and Honduras. Even the arrest of Julian Assange. By now, we should have learned the lessons of how Washington has handled other scientifically proven dangers to the public:  genetically modified crops and chemicals like Roundup, mandatory vaccination, the dietary and environmental factors associated with our epidemics in obesity, diabetes, autism, heart diseases, etc, and the evisceration of consumer protection laws such as the Clean Water and Clean Air acts. Rarely do we ever read an honest, truthful expose in any major media source about the institutions and organizations that hold power over our lives, such as the Business Round Table, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Davos dilettantes. Nor is there ever concise reporting about the intelligence specter of the Deep State.

If we truly cared about 5G’s global peril to all of planetary life and humans, by extension we would have cared about all of these other threats foreshadowing our lives.  They are all interconnected.  So, are we hopeless? No, because there will always be a tiny segment of the American population who “get it” and in turn becomes an agitating voice against those in power. Unfortunately, those who “get it” are excluded from every critical forum where their voices most urgently need to be heard, especially within the mainstream media that protects the power elite and oligarchs. Hence, Americans find themselves in an economic, medical, political and pseudo-scientific echo chamber.  We hope this article provides a small source of light for those who wish to understand the future arrival of the 5G matrix.

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Richard Gale is the Executive Producer of the Progressive Radio Network and a former Senior Research Analyst in the biotechnology and genomic industries.

Dr. Gary Null is the host of the nation’s longest running public radio program on alternative and nutritional health and a multi-award-winning documentary film director, including Poverty Inc and Deadly Deception.

Selected Articles: Preventing the Sale of Venezuelan Oil to Cuba

April 17th, 2019 by Global Research News

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Julian Assange and the Agenda for Global War

By Prof. James Petras, April 17, 2019

Never has the mass media been so thoroughly discredited by official documents which directly contradict the official propaganda, mouthed by political leaders and parroted by ‘leading’ journalists.

The Price of Participating in Society Is the Sacrifice of Privacy and Self

By John Stanton, April 17, 2019

In what is arguably one of the most craven opportunistic moves by a business/media group to increase its circulation/profitability, on 10 April the New York Times (NYT) embarked on what it describes as its Privacy Project. 

Between Yes and No, Heaven and Earth with Albert Camus on a Spring Morning

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For a writer to fight injustice to the exclusion of creating beauty and living passionately contradicts the deepest desires of the human heart.  Albert Camus taught us this.

Preventing the Sale of Venezuelan Oil to Cuba: Killing Two Birds with a Stone

By Nino Pagliccia, April 17, 2019

Recent US sanctions have been directed at the heart of Venezuela’s economy: the oil industry, an industry that has also been crippled by the continued sabotages on the electric power grid of the country.

A Cathedral and a Mosque Engulfed in Fire; One Ravages the Past, the Other Threatens the Future

By Soraya Sepahpour-Ulrich, April 17, 2019

World leaders were quick to react to the tragedy of this fire.  News headlines around the world brought this disastrous incident to every living room around the globe and nations commiserated with the French. The inaudible sigh of relief was palpable when the structure was saved and with it, the history that laid within the walls. The past was not lost.

Annexation of West Bank May Provide Key to Unlocking Netanyahu’s Legal Troubles

By Jonathan Cook, April 17, 2019

The culmination of his dirty tricks campaign was an election-day stunt in which his Likud party broke regulations – and possibly the law – by arming 1,200 activists with hidden cameras, to film polling stations in communities belonging to Israel’s large Palestinian minority.

Permissible Influences: Israel and the Australian Elections

By Dr. Binoy Kampmark, April 17, 2019

In Australia, anybody who either defends Palestinians against Israeli policy during their political career, especially prior or during an electoral campaign, or insists that Israeli policy falls well short of humanitarian standards, is deemed a rabid anti-Semite frothing with manifest hatred.

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