March 17, 2015

Power Play Behind Regime Change in Russia

By Pepe Escobar

Provoking the Russian bear is a self-defeating proposition. Continue

The Rage of the Cultural Elites

By Yu Shan

Our country, the former land of the free and home of the brave—it has sunk. We all know this, deep in our hearts, don’t we? Continue

Will the GOP Kick It Away?

By Patrick J. Buchanan

Is this what America has to look forward to if it votes GOP? Another Middle Eastern war, with a country twice the size of Iraq, to strip the country of weapons of mass destruction it does not have? Continue

Opposing Two States, Netanyahu Unmasks GOP-Likud Agenda of Fake Diplomacy

By Robert Naiman

Until now the world has mostly let Netanyahu get away with being a diplomacy faker in his dealings with the Palestinians. Continue

NATO Knew Its Intervention In Libya Would Create Chaos And Aid al-Qaeda: Canadian Military Intelligence

By What's Left

This reveals a dishonest attempt to manipulate public opinion through outright deception. Continue

How Exciting: The Birth of a New Official Enemy!

By Jacob G. Hornberger

Hasn’t the U.S. national-security state done enough damage to people in foreign countries? When are the American citizenry going to finally say to the national-security establishment: “Enough is enough!” Continue

Fidel Castro Warns Venezuela is Ready to Confront US on Sanctions

By AFP

"Today, Venezuela counts on the best equipped soldiers and officers in Latin America," he said. Continue

The Big Dick School of American Patriotism And What We Make of It

By Nan Levinson

The Big Dick School of Patriotism is invested in keeping only one “branch” of government functional: the U.S. military and the national security state. Continue

Gallup: U.S. Population Highly Militaristic

By David Swanson

The United States manages 44 percent claiming a willingness to fight and 31 percent refusing. Continue

Don't Want NSA To Spy On Your Email? 5 Things You Can Do

By Michael Liedtke

More than half of Americans are worried about the U.S. government's digital spies prying into their emails, texts, search requests and other online information. Continue

It’s Official: We Americans R Stupid

By Michael Snyder

Our education system is an abysmal failure, and our young people spend most of their free time staring at the television, their computers or their mobile device. Continue

The Real Irish American Story Not Taught in Schools

By Bill Bigelow

Let’s make sure that our schools show some respect, by studying the social forces that starved and uprooted over a million Irish—and that are starving and uprooting people today. Continue

Africa:

130 rebels killed in fresh South Sudan clashes: Government troops in South Sudan killed up to 130 rebels in the latest fighting following the collapse of peace talks between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, a military official said on Tuesday.

Daesh group says its Tunisian commander killed in Libya: The Daesh group reported late Monday the death of one of its top field commanders in Libya, who was also one of the most wanted militants in Tunisia.

Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie sentenced to death in Egypt: An Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and 13 others, state media has reported. The court referred the case to Egypt's Grand Mufti, the country's senior Sunni authority, the first step in ratifying the death sentences.

Middle East

22 IS militants killed in clashes, airstrike in Iraq: In Iraq's northern central province of Salahudin, the IS militants carried out an attack in al-Dyoum area west of the besieged city of Tikrit, the capital of Salahudin province, but were repelled by the security forces and allied Shia and Sunni militias

Separate attacks kill at least 9 people in Iraq: Police say the deadliest of Tuesday's attacks took place in the town of Tarmiyah when three suicide bombers tried to attack a military headquarters, killing at least four soldiers and wounding 14 others

ISIS fighters killed planting car bomb in Mosul: Seven ISIS militias were reportedly killed on Tuesday as they planted a bomb in a vehicle use against Peshmerga positions, a Kurdish official has told Rudaw.

Iraq's Tikrit offensive stalled by bombs: "They planted bombs on all the streets, buildings, bridges, everything... Our forces were stopped by these defensive preparations," he told AFP on Tuesday.

14 people killed in clashes between Syrian regime, ISIL: At least 12 personnel of the Syrian gov forces as well as two civilians were killed on Tuesday in clashes between the regime and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Tadmur in Homs in central Syria.

Syria denies deadly gas attack: A Syrian military source described the report of an attack in the village of Sarmin in Idlib province as propaganda. “We confirm that we would not use this type of weapon, and we don't need to use it,” the source said.

U.S. Omits Iran and Hezbollah From Terror Threat List: An annual security assessment presented to the U.S. Senate by James Clapper, the director of National Intelligence, has excluded Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from its list of terror threats to U.S. interests, despite both being consistently included as threats in previous years.

Lieberman: As defense minister, I will eliminate Hamas: "The elimination of Hamas is the primary mission of the Israeli government and as defense minister I will carry it out," said Lieberman. "

If Netanyahu is re-elected, Israel has a Europe problem: Netanyahu’s strategy vis-a-vis the Palestinians and the international community has been to stall, to muddle, to talk the talk but not walk the walk.

Business leaders see peace boost if Netanyahu loses Israeli election: An upset victory by Israel's centre-left opposition in Tuesday's election could be a welcome change for a business and corporate sector eager for the "peace dividend" that might come with a government willing to talk with the Palestinians.

Iran says agreement reached on 90% of technical issues in nuclear talks: "There is one very important issue that we still have differences about that in discussions this afternoon we will try to resolve," he added.

Americans largely back Iran talks, poll finds: 68% of US citizens say negotiations with Islamic Republic are best way to curb country’s nuclear ambitions

Pentagon loses track of $500 million in weapons, equipment given to Yemen: The Pentagon is unable to account for more than $500 million in U.S. military aid given to Yemen amid fears that the weaponry, aircraft and equipment is at risk of being seized by Iranian-backed rebels or al-Qaeda, according to U.S. officials.

Asia:

Pakistan executes 12 in single day, officials promise more; The executions are sure to raise concerns over due process and proper oversight of the country's troubled criminal justice system, which rights groups say often does little to protect defendants.

UN, Russia concerned that Islamic State has foothold in Afghanistan: The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan said Monday that recent reports indicate the Islamic State extremist group has established a foothold in Afghanistan, a view echoed by Russia, which urged the Security Council to stop its expansion.

Afghanistan: 19 insurgents killed in military operation: At least 19 Taliban militants have been killed and another wounded a countrywide operations launched by Afghan forces over the past 24 hours.

Afghan Militia Leaders, Empowered by U.S. to Fight Taliban, Inspire Fear in Villages - He explained: He and his neighbors did not fear the Taliban nearly as much as they did their protectors, Rahimullah’s militiamen, who have turned to kidnappings and extortion.

Major American Allies Ignore U.S. Pleas and Join China’s Alternative Bank: UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India All Sign On … South Korea Next?

Europe

Three soldiers killed in eastern Ukraine: Three soldiers were killed and five injured in eastern Ukraine, an army spokesman said on Tuesday, further undermining a month-old ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Putin accuses US over Ukraine coup: “The trick of the situation was that outwardly the [Ukrainian] opposition was supported mostly by the Europeans. But we knew for sure that the real masterminds were our American friends,” President Putin said

The World on the Brink of WWIII: Op-Ed: It so happens that the fate of the world is now being decided in Ukraine, not so much by the Ukrainians themselves as by the US, EU and Russia, whose geopolitical interests have clashed in this region.

Putin blasts attempts to rewrite history of Russia’s role in WWII as ‘cynical lies’: Russian President has instructed Russia’s Victory Day celebration organizing committee to effectively counter attempts to distort the truth about World War II.

Moscow Launches Ruble-Renminbi Futures To "Facilitate Trade Between China And Russia": An "isolated" Russia is looking to outside, and to the east, and as part of its most recent de-dollarization initiative, the Moscow Exchange announced it has started trading Chinese Renminbi-Russian Ruble currency futures.

Greek PM To Meet With Putin Amid Cash Crunch: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will visit Moscow on April 8 after being invited to talks by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a Greek government official said on Tuesday.

The melting of Antarctica was already really bad. It just got worse.: A hundred years from now, humans may remember 2014 as the year that we first learned that we may have irreversibly destabilized the great ice sheet of West Antarctica, and thus set in motion more than 10 feet of sea level rise.

Americas

Evo Morales: Latin America Stands United Against US Aggression : Bolivian President Evo Morales said Tuesday that Latin America is more united than ever against the policies that the United States government is intending to impose on the region.

Identifying Mexico's many dead along US the border: Activists say harsh security measures have 'funneled' migrants into deadly routes with thousands perishing on the trek.

Portland man: I was tortured in UAE for refusing to become an FBI informant: The US no-fly list is being used to intimidate American Muslims into spying on behalf of US authorities

For Every Dollar Spent Influencing US Politics, Corporations Get $760 Back: If one is OK with crony capitalism, essentially stealing from the American citizenry via any number of official means, investing a few bucks in cronies gives amazing returns.

March 16, 2015

Truth Is Our Country

By Paul Craig Roberts

Ninety percent control of the media gives government a Ministry of Propaganda, and that is what exists in the United States. Continue

Merkel’s Uber-Hypocrisy to Japan over War Past… and Present

By Finian Cunningham

Up to 30 million Russians – nearly half of the war’s total dead – paid with their lives in the Third Reich’s bid for hegemony. Continue

The Origin of the ‘New Cold War’

By Eric ZUESSE

Which nation, then, is actually seeking to control the world? Should any nation? Continue

Life Under Isis

By Patrick Cockburn

The everyday reality of living in the Islamic 'Caliphate' with its 7th Century laws, very modern methods and merciless violence. Continue

Bin Laden and Bibi, Together At Last

By Justin Raimondo

Israel’s alliance with al-Qaeda. Continue

Blair's Wars Created Radicalized Muslims, Says Former Deputy PM

By Telesur

Lord John Prescott admitted that he and Tony Blair “were wrong” to invade Iraq. Continue

4 Numbers That Prove America Is a Deeply Messed Up Place
The mainstream media rarely publishes facts like this.

By Paul Buchheit

There's something perversely wrong with a society that creates $30 trillion in new wealth while putting six million more children on food stamps. Continue

The Most Dangerous Woman in America

By Chris Hedges

Kshama Sawant, the socialist on the Seattle City Council, is up for re-election, and the Establishment is determined to defeat her and the ideas she champions before they spread. Continue

When It Becomes Serious, First They Lie--When That Fails, They Arrest You

By Charles Hugh Smith

When lying is no longer enough to gain compliance, then the organs of security are unleashed on dissent and resistance. Continue

The Not So Land of the Free

By Kathy Kelly

U.S. state and federal prison populations have risen, since 1988, from 600,000 to an estimated 1,600,000 in 2012. Continue

Top Ten Arguments for Raising the Minimum Wage

By Bill Quigley

"No business which depends for existence on paying less than living wages to its workers has any right to continue in this country." - President Franklin Roosevelt. Continue

Iraqi forces: over 50 ISIS militants killed in Anbar air strike: More than 50 ISIS militants have been killed in an airstrike that targeted their meeting in the north of Ramadi, the operations command of al-Anbar province said on Monday.

Iraq: 20 Daesh fighters killed in western Anbar province, multiple bomb attacks in Baghdad kill six: 20 terrorists were killed in the clashes that erupted in the central city of Al-Karmah, located 16 km northeast of Fallujah in Anbar province, according to a statement issued by the Baghdad Operations Command.

Mass grave with 27 bodies unearthed in northern Iraq: A mass grave containing the bodies of about 27 people has been discovered in Iraq’s northern province of Kirkuk as ISIL terrorists continue their atrocities in the crisis-hit country. According to Iraq’s Ministry of Human Rights, the bodies were found near the mainly Shia Turkmen town of Basheer on Saturday.

Dozens of ISIL snipers including female sniper killed in Ramadi: Security source stated "The US-led Coalition bombarded the ISIL snipers meeting in al-Razi Hospital Store in of central Ramadi to kill dozens of them including a woman."

Syria's Assad says wants actions, not words from Kerry: Assad said that any international change in attitude regarding Syria's situation would be positive. But he reiterated that foreign countries should stop supporting terrorist groups in Syria

After Kerry, France rejects talks with Assad: France said on Monday that it continues to reject talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said political solution to the Syrian civil war would have be negotiated in the end.

Britain: Assad has no role in Syria’s future: “As the (British) foreign secretary said last week, we will continue applying sanctions pressure to the regime until it reassesses its position, ends the violence and engages in meaningful negotiations with the moderate opposition.”

Turkey slams Kerry's call for dialogue with Assad: Turkish foreign minister reiterates call for Assad to step down unconditionally amid straining relations with the US.

Yemen's Houthis free prime minister from house arrest: Khaled Bahah says his release was a goodwill gesture by the Shia rebel group to ease talks on political transition.

War criminal: Tony Blair says democracy isn't everything amid claims he is to step down as Middle East envoy: Tony Blair has questioned the value of democracy in the Middle East saying “effective government” is more important - amid reports that he is preparing to step down from his high-profile role as peace envoy to the region.

Iran deal could start nuclear fuel race - Saudi Arabia: A senior member of the Saudi royal family has warned that a deal on Iran's nuclear programme could prompt other regional states to develop atomic fuel. Prince Turki al-Faisal told the BBC that Saudi Arabia would then seek the same right, as would other nations.

Pakistan declines to join Saudi Arabia's anti-Iran alliance: Saudi Arabia's campaign to build a broad Sunni alliance to contain Iran has apparently suffered at least a setback from Pakistan. Islamabad has opted, at least for now, to avoid becoming entangled in the sectarian cold war between Riyadh and Tehran.

Germany urges its partners, Iran to grab nuclear deal: Germany is urging its international partners and Iran to seize the opportunity to negotiate an end to the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program ahead of an end-of-month deadline.

Democrats breaking with Obama on Iran deal: Report: Several Democratic senators are breaking with the Obama administration on diplomacy with Iran, expressing their support for Republican legislation that would impose new sanctions on the Islamic Republic, according to a report.

'No Palestinian state if I remain PM’ – Israel’s Netanyahu on election eve: Benjamin Netanyahu said as long as he remains Israel’s prime minister he won’t allow the creation of a Palestinian state. The words came a day before the parliamentary election, in which the polls predict victory to rivals of Netanyahu’s Likud party.

Netanyahu vows wave of E.Jerusalem buildings if elected: : Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday that if reelected he will build thousands of illegal, settler homes in occupied, Arab east Jerusalem to prevent future concessions to the Palestinians.

Why Are US Taxpayers Subsidizing Right-Wing Israeli Settlers?: In the United States, few politicians have questioned why American taxpayers continue to subsidize the Hebron settlers, accused by international observers of human rights violations that include thefts, battery, and murder.

One person killed, another injured in Libyan Misrata city; One person killed and another injured in an improvised car bomb explosion targeting a security base in the Libyan city of Misrata on Monday.

Families flee Libya's Sirte as clashes with Islamic State escalate: One resident leaving the city said Islamic State had told them that more fighting was likely in the next few days. Fuel was running short in Sirte while some shops had closed, he said.

Afghan army says kills 10 militants affiliated with ISIS: Afghan security forces have killed 10 fighters who claimed to be from ISIS in Afghanistan, officials said, amid reports that growing numbers of disgruntled Taliban fighters have joined the militant group that controls much of Syria and Iraq.

Afghanistan - 4 killed, 5 injured in Helmand suicide car bombing: At least four people were killed and five others were injured following an explosion in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.

Afghanistan - 5 soldier martyred, 11 insurgents killed in separate military operations: Five Afghan National Army soldiers have been martyred while eleven insurgents killed during separate military operations in past 24 hours, a statement issued Monday morning by the Ministry of Defense states.

Thirteen bodies found in Pakistan were detainees of army - residents: Shepherds found 13 bullet-riddled bodies in northwestern Pakistan, officials said Sunday, and two local residents identified them as men detained by the military in January.

Pakistani Christians riot after two churches bombed during prayer services: Fourteen people were killed and more than 70 injured when two Taliban suicide bombers attacked churches in Pakistan's Lahore on Sunday, sparking mob violence in which two other suspected militants died.

US Think Tank 'Stratfor' Draws up NATO-Russia War Scenarios: In case Russia floods East Ukraine with a quarter of a million troops, which Stratfor sees as a possibility, the US thank tank envisages a NATO air strikes against Russian forces

Ukrainian President: Enormous IMF Loan Won’t Help Ordinary Ukrainians: President Petro Poroshenko has admitted that a new $17.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund and its associated austerity measures will not improve the lives of ordinary Ukrainians—but will help pay foreign creditors and fund the country’s ongoing civil war.

Massive surprise drills launched in Arctic on Putin’s orders (VIDEO): Thousands of Russian troops were put on alert Monday morning after President Putin ordered a surprise large-scale military drill to test the armed forces' readiness to counter challenges in the country’s north and particularly in the Arctic.

US General Who Wants to 'Start Killing Russians' Reacts to Criminal Probe against Him; Russian authorities launched a criminal investigation against retired US Army Major General Robert H. Scales for openly calling for violence against the people of Russia.

UK: Rising energy prices will challenge western way of life – MoD report: A little-known Ministry of Defence (MoD) report published earlier this year warns that converging global trends will dramatically affect UK economic prosperity through to 2040.

The dollar has hit a 12-year high against the euro: The dollar hit a 12-year high against the euro Monday, ahead of a closely watched Federal Reserve policy meeting this week, while oil prices fell again as US supplies continued to build.

Brazil’s Right Wing March for Impeachment of President: Right-wing protesters swarmed ministerial buildings in the Brazilian capital Brasília and along Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro early Sunday as part of nationwide demonstrations calling for the impeachment of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

Venezuela: President Maduro granted power to govern by decree: He requested the approval of the Enabling Law after the United States issued new sanctions against Venezuelan officials.

Venezuelans March against Obama Threats: Thousands attended the march, which was addressed by President Maduro, who described it as highlighting the unity of the Venezuelan people in the face of such external threats.

Press Laughs After U.S. Spokeswoman Claims We Do Not Support Coups: Video - As a matter of long standing policy the United States does not support transitions by non-constitutional means. Political transitions must be democratic, constitutional, peaceful, and legal.

NASA: Earth Tops Hottest 12 Months On Record Again, Thanks To Warm February: NASA reported this weekend that last month was the second-hottest February on record, which now makes March 2014–February 2015 the hottest 12 months on record.

US denies UN investigator chance to interview Guantánamo detainees: Shortly after the Pentagon took a battery of pro-Guantánamo US senators for a tour of its infamous detention center, it confirmed that it will deny the United Nations’ torture investigator interviews with Guantánamo Bay detainees.

How the FBI Created a Terrorist: The FBI provided all of the weapons seen in Osmakac’s martyrdom video. The bureau also gave Osmakac the car bomb he allegedly planned to detonate, and even money for a taxi so he could get to where the FBI needed him to go.

ACLU files new lawsuit over Obama administration drone 'kill list' : Information sought by the ACLU includes long-secret analyses establishing the legal basis for what the administration terms its “targeted killing program” and the process by which the administration determines that civilians are unlikely to be killed

A Police Gadget Tracks Phones? Shhh! It’s Secret: A powerful new surveillance tool being adopted by police departments across the country comes with an unusual requirement: To buy it, law enforcement officials must sign a nondisclosure agreement preventing them from saying almost anything about the technology.

March 15, 2015

CNN Is Beating the Drums of War

By Paul Craig Roberts

Blitzer’s program is part of the orchestrated propaganda campaign whose purpose is to prepare Americans for conflict with Russia. Continue

Nuland’s Mastery of Ukraine Propaganda

By Robert Parry

“This manufactured conflict — controlled by the Kremlin; fueled by Russian tanks and heavy weapons; financed at Russian taxpayers’ expense — has cost the lives of more than 6,000 Ukrainians: Victoria Nuland. Continue

A Green Light for the American Empire

By Ron Paul

The more powerful the empire, the greater is the need for the government to hold it together by propaganda and lies. Continue

The IS Shock, the 'New Cold War,' and the Unmentionable History of US Empire

By Paul Street

The Islamic State group is, among other things, a predictable blowback consequence of the brazenly criminal, mass-murderous United States invasion and occupation of Iraq between March of 2003 and 2011. Continue

Atrocities Committed by U.S.-Trained Iraqi Forces — Again

By Peter Maass

U.S.-backed forces in Iraq are committing the same type of horrific war crimes — wanton killings of prisoners, beheadings, torture — as the Islamic State fighters on the other side of the front line. Continue

Terrorists: The US Creates Them, Turkey Trains Them, Qatar Finances Them

By Dr. Mohamed Elmasry

We used to believe it is a crime to organize, support and give political cover to terrorist organizations. Things have changed. Continue

Guiding Obama into Global Make-Believe

By Ray McGovern

The Orwellian concept of 'information warfare' holds that propaganda can break down enemies and decide geopolitical outcomes, a strategy that has taken hold of the U.S. government’s approach to international crises, especially the Ukraine showdown. Continue

Why I Hope Israel’s Elections Will Give Netanyahu a Fourth Term as Prime Minister

By Alan Har

Netanyahu is a disaster for Zionism so let's have more of him. Continue

Power of Ten: How Neocons and the Fake-left Took Over British Establishment

By Neil Clark

How was our country taken over by these people whose extremist pro-war views most certainly do not reflect the views of the majority of the British public? Continue

1,000 Days: Julian Assange, Ecuador and the US War on Truth

By Isobel Finbow

This is the tale of one of the greatest battles over freedom of speech in modern history, and how the tiny nation of Ecuador became an internationally recognized champion of human rights against the opposition of two imperialist giants. Continue

Lies and myths about Greece and Europe’s debt

By Conn Hallinan

Behind the current crisis between Greece and the European Union (EU) lays a fable that bears little relationship to why Athens and a number of other countries in the 28-member organization find themselves in deep distress. Continue

International coalition bombing killed 50 Iraqi soldiers in Anbar: The head of Irada bloc MP Hanan al-Fatlawi said that the indiscriminate shelling of the US-led coalition has left 50 soldiers dead and dozens of others wounded in Anbar, demanding the government and the House of Representatives to take a stand on the coalition’s bombing toward the Iraqi Army and the Volunteer Fighters.

Iraqi offensive on Tikrit stalled for third day: - Islamic State fighters traded sniper fire and mortar rounds with Iraqi troops and allied Shi'ite militia forces on Sunday in the city of Tikrit but no major advances were made by either side, a military official who returned from the front said.

Iraqi militia loyal to Shiite cleric al-Sadr joins fight for Islamic State-held Tikrit: About a dozen heavily armed trucks packed with fighters left Baghdad for Samarra earlier Sunday.

Iraqi official: coalition airstrikes needed in Tikrit: Staff Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi said on Sunday he had asked the defence ministry to request coalition involvement, but "no air support was provided".

New ISIS Video Shows Commandos Training For Battle In Mosul: Video - ISIS has released a video showing a new military unit doing commando-style drills in preparation to defend the Iraqi city of Mosul. The eight-minute video, called “army of hardness,” shows soliders landing with a rope from bridges, storming buildings and using a variety of weapons.
 

Leader of IS 'Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi': I met the “Prophet Muhammad” and he ordered me to leave Mosul: The fear is spreading among the militants in Mosul for the predictions of liberating Mosul especially the leaders, a newspaper information pointed out that the leader of the so-called Islamic State 'Abu Baker al-Baghdadi' had a dream when the prophet Mohammad ordered him to leave Mosul province without fighting.

Syrian Army Strikes Nusra front in Quneitra Countryside: 120 Killed, Injured : Around 120 militants were killed and injured in a Syrian army raid that targeted a military camp and command center for Nusra front in Quneitra countryside

Vatican backs war to stop IS 'genocide': Tomasi said a coordinated and "well-thought-out coalition" was needed to do everything possible to achieve a political settlement without violence. "But if that's not possible, then the use of force will be necessary," he added.

Syria's opposition to discuss leaving Assad in power: Syria's opposition is expected to meet in Cairo in April to discuss a proposal for allowing President Bashar al-Assad to stay in power for two more years, an opposition figure said Saturday.

Kerry Says ’ US Must Negotiate With Assad To End Syria Conflict : Kerry did not repeat the standard US line that Assad had lost all legitimacy and had to go. More than 215,000 Syrians have been killed and millions have been displaced by the conflict.

Kerry would be willing to talk with Syria's Assad: Kerry said the U.S. is pushing for Assad to seriously discuss a transition strategy to quell the Arab country's four-year civil war.

US does not want to see Syrian regime ‘collapse’ — CIA: CIA Director John Brennan said Friday the United States does not want to see a chaotic collapse of the Syrian regime as it could open the way to Islamist extremists taking power.

Double agent 'worked as courier to deliver money to IS': Turkey announced Thursday that it had arrested an intelligence agent working as a spy for an unidentified country in the US-led coalition and said he was a Syrian national. Media reports in Turkey have said he was working for Canadian intelligence -- a claim rejected by Ottawa.

Reports link Islamic State recruiter to Canadian Embassy in Jordan: Canada’s embassy in Jordan, which is run by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s handpicked ambassador and former top bodyguard, is being linked in news reports to an unfolding international terrorism and spy scandal.

Right-Wing Israeli Newspaper: "Israel Should Nuke Germany and Iran: The article claims that only through the nuclear annihilation of Germany and Iran, with 20 or 30 nuclear bombs, can Israelis prevent destruction of the state.

John Kerry slams "unconstitutional" GOP letter to Iran: "I'm not going to apologize for the unconstitutional, un-thought-out action by somebody who's been in the United States Senate for 60-something days," Kerry

White House Issues Saturday Night Iran Deal Warning To Senate: White House lays out the administration's concerns should Corker's Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 end up becoming law.

Report: Netanyahu tried to nix Mossad briefing to senators on Iran: Netanyahu reportedly attempted to keep US lawmakers from hearing warning against new Tehran sanctions

Herzog: I’d agree to have Likud in my coalition: Zionist Union leader says he’s willing to lead a unity government, but dodges question on his party’s position if Netanyahu were to win

Senate panel probing possible Obama administration ties to anti-Netanyahu effort: A powerful U.S. Senate investigatory committee has launched a bipartisan probe into an American nonprofit’s funding of efforts to oust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the Obama administration’s State Department gave the nonprofit taxpayer-funded grants, says FoxNews.com

US shuts Saudi embassy over security fears: The US embassy in Saudi Arabia said it had suspended consular services in the kingdom for two days due to "heightened security concerns", after warning of threats against Western oil workers.

Asia

Twin bombings at churches in Pakistan kill 14, wound 78: Bombs outside two churches in the Pakistani city of Lahore killed 14 people and wounded nearly 80 during Sunday services, and witnesses said quick action by a security guard prevented many more deaths.

CIA money from secret slush fund ended up in hands of al-Qaida – report: Money used to pay a ransom for an Afghan diplomat reached al-Qaida in 2010, according to Afghan and Western officials, but CIA declined comment.

ISIS commander among 10 killed in Helmand operation; General Zahir Azimi, said that Hafiz Wahidi succeeded Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim, as ISIS head in Afghanistan. Khadim was killed in a drone strike in Helmand province around one month ago.

US role in Philippine clash revealed: After an earlier denial by the US embassy in the Philippines, Manila says US personnel were indeed involved in Oplan Exodus, the botched police operation in the town of Mamasapano, province of Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

Africa

45 Egypt "militants" killed in army raids: Forty-five militants were killed in army raids in the past week in Egypt, the military said on Sunday.

Sisi: Egypt needs $200-$300 bn for development: Call for further aid and investment made as contracts worth billions in dollars signed at special conference at Red Sea resort

15 people killed in violent clashes in Libya: Over 15 people were killed and 10 others injured in violent clashes on Saturday between forces of the General National Congress (GNC) and the Islamic State (IS) affiliates in Libya's western city of Sirte, according to a military source.

EU proposal to send soldiers to Libya met with skepticism: European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini wants the EU to consider sending soldiers to Libya to back up a potential national unity government but the plan has met with skepticism from EU governments worried about the risks.

How Nato's toppling of Gaddafi has turned to disaster; “It wasn’t meant to be like this,” she said. “We have lost our dignity. We fought Gaddafi so that we could speak freely. Now it’s the same as before, but with less security.”

U.S. unease about nuclear-weapons fuel takes aim at a South African vault: Enough nuclear explosive to fuel half a dozen bombs, each powerful enough to obliterate central Washington or most of Lower Manhattan, is locked in a former silver vault at a nuclear research center near the South African capital.

MI6 agent ‘admitted’ plot to kill Congo’s first democratic leader: The British Secret Intelligence Service may have played a role in the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Congo, according to remarks said to have been made by MI6’s former head of station in the region.

Europe

Putin : US masterminds behind Ukraine coup, helped train radicals: The Ukrainian armed coup was organized from Washington, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview for a new documentary aired Sunday. The Americans tried to hide behind the Europeans, but Moscow saw through the trick, he added.

Americans Haven't Disliked Russia This Much since at Least 1989: As Washington increasingly makes Russia its enemy, the pliant American public follows

What They’re Not Telling You About Monsanto’s Role in Ukraine: Make no mistake that what is happening in the Ukraine now is deeply tied to the interests of Monsanto, Dow, Bayer, and other big players in the poison food game.

War criminal: Tony Blair adds to Labour warchest to help Miliband fight the Unions: Blair ha come under fire for his brokering, with MPs loyal to Unite claiming his behaviour was “underhand” and would cost the party seats.

Americas

UNASUR Extraordinary Meeting on Venezuela Begins in Quito: The bloc of countries will discuss Monday's executive action approved by U.S. President Barack Obama, declaring Venezuela an “extraordinary threat to national security.”

Correa Says Obama's Statement on Venezuela is 'Embarrassing' : The Ecuadorean President issued a statement criticizing the U.S. agression toward Venezuela, asking “how long will we have to put with these things

“The Other Ayotzinapa”: Organizing Against Feminicide in Mexico: The epidemic of violence against women grows and justice for its victims remains relegated to a labyrinth of impunity, inefficiency and government indifference.

Canada: Bill C-51 'Day of Action' protests denounce new policing powers: Protests were held across Canada against the government's proposed anti-terrorism legislation, which would give police much broader powers and allow them to detain terror suspects, and give new powers to Canada's spy agency.

Jeb Bush sold patronage and favors to his top political donors; The AP analysis of Bush's 275,000 FOIA'ed emails show that "donations" to his campaign were really more like "purchases."

Only 1 Year of Water Left in California, US, Warns NASA: The expert blamed the system of irrigation used by Californian famers implemented since the 20th century, calling it “excessive and unsustainable.” Famiglietti said about two-thirds of the annual losses in the reservoirs were due to “groundwater pumping for agricultural irrigation in the Central Valley.

March 14, 2015

Lies, Damned Lies, And War Propaganda
War With Iran is Probably Our Best Option

By Joshua Muravchik

What if force is the only way to block Iran from gaining nuclear weapons? That, in fact, is probably the reality. Continue

Nato War Propaganda: A Danger to Russia And World Peace

By Christopher Black

Since wars of aggression are criminal acts, incitements to engage in them are also criminal acts. Continue

The Best Congress Money Can Buy

By Eric Margolis

Not since a groveling Roman Senate voted to approve Emperor Caligula’s favorite horse, Incitatus, as imperial consul has there been such a embarrassing spectacle. Continue

Dysfunction in Nigeria

By Craig Murray

The media now have a new cartoon figure of hate in the bearded, bobble-hatted leader of Boko Haram. But armed rebellions of thousands of people do not just happen. Continue

Glenn Greenwald vs Former GCHQ Director David Omand on ISC Surveillance Report

Video Newsnight

The Intelligence and Security Committee of the UK Parliament (ISC) issued a lengthy report on the surveillance practices of GCHQ. Invoking the now-standard Orwellian tactic of claiming that “bulk collection” is not “mass surveillance,” Continue

America - The Beacon For Freedom' Where You Can Torture With No Fear Of Prosecution

By Leyla Gimalieva

Despite admitting that the US has been a serial practitioner of torture, Obama has declared that not one perptrator will face prosecution. Continue

Look Out America: The Venezuelans Are Coming

By Matt Carr

The US colluded with some of the worst regimes in the western hemisphere in an attempt to turn back a revolutionary tide. Continue

US vs Venezuela: Regime Change & Resilience

Audio

Abby Martin spoke with Latin America expert Mark Weisbrot about the hidden agenda behind Obama's absurd declaration that Venezuela is an "extraordinary threat" to national security. Continue

How ‘Free Markets’ Defame ‘Democracy’

By Robert Parry

It doesn’t matter what most voters want; they must accept the “magic of the market” to be deemed a “democracy.” Continue

Noam Chomsky - State Power Trumps Actual Security Again and Again

Video

Noam Chomsky speaks about the long history of U.S. policymakers risking everything in order to increase the power of the U.S. government over some part of the world. Again and again the actual safety of American people was risked. Continue

Is the U.S. Against Children's Rights?

By César Chelala

U.S. would be the only country in the world that hasn’t yet ratified the US Convention on the Rights of the Child. Some parents have expressed concern that the Convention will eliminate parents’ rights to discipline their children. Continue

"Margin Call from Hell"
Why a Stronger Dollar will Lead to Deflation, Recession and Crisis

By Mike Whitney

If that isn’t an argument for “ending the Fed”, then I don’t know what is. Continue

Syrian Army Repels Terrorists' Attack on Strategic Town in Hasaka: The Syrian troops killed tens of terrorists and injured dozens more in fierce clashes over control of Bab Al-Khayer town. They also destroyed terrorists' vehicles equipped with machine guns.

Assad relative assassinated in Syria: activists: "Mohammad Assad, the son of one of the Syrian president's cousins, was killed by five bullets to the head in the village of Qardaha," Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

Iraqi forces killed ISIL attackers in Ramadi, Tikrit - source: The Iraqi army Saturday thwarted a series of suicide attacks by ISIL militants in cities of Ramadi and Tikrit, and killed the attackers, a source at the Anbar Operations Command said.

Despite boobytraps, human shields ISIL near 'collapse' in Tikrit? : Islamic State fighters killed the prominent leader of a Shiite militia in the battle of Tikrit Saturday, but Iraqi officers said the dwindling band of extremists were in "total collapse." Iraqi government leaders predicted ISIL fighters in the city will be defeated in two or three days.

Iraqi troops pause, await back-up in battle for Tikrit against militants: Iraqi forces and mainly Shi'ite militiamen battling to wrest full control of the city of Tikrit from Islamic State militants paused their offensive for a second day on Saturday as they awaited reinforcements, a military source said.

Kurdish oil deal with Baghdad unravels as tensions rise: A four-month-old oil deal between Iraq and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region is close to unraveling after payments from Baghdad dried up, prompting Arbil to threaten to sue buyers and ramp up independent oil exports.

Report: Israel treating al-Qaida fighters wounded in Syria civil war: Israel has opened its borders with Syria in order to provide medical treatment to Nusra Front and al-Qaida fighters wounded in the ongoing civil war, according to The Wall Street Journal.

United States to Provide $70 Million in Aid to Syrian Opposition: The proposed funds would include $30 million to bolster the Syrian opposition and local governance structures in their efforts to provide basic services in the war-torn country, according to Anadolu.

'I will always support Israel' - Jim Murphy : Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy has pledged his lifelong support for Israel during his first address to Glasgow's Jewish community as leader of the Labour party in Scotland.

Germany Blasts Republicans in U.S. on Iran Nuclear Talks: German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s foreign minister criticized U.S. Republican lawmakers for questioning nuclear talks with Iran, saying in Washington that they’re undermining efforts to forge an agreement.

Nigeria acknowledges presence of foreign mercenaries: Mercenaries from South Africa and other countries are actually playing a decisive fighting role on the frontlines.

Powerful Libyan militia alliance in rare clash with IS: -Rare clashes between jihadists from the Islamic State group and fighters from the Fajr Libya militia coalition erupted Saturday in the central city of Sirte, security and militia officials said.

Investors pledge billions to Egyptian junta at Sharm el-Sheikh conference: The conference amounted to a political endorsement by finance capital of the Sisi junta’s bloody repression of the working class, whose demands for bread and equality drove a revolutionary upsurge that toppled US-backed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

48 "militants" killed in air strikes in Tirah Valley: : Forty-eight militants were killed and several others sustained injuries when Pakistan Air Force (PAF) fighter aircraft blitzed their hideouts in the Tirah Valley of Khyber Agency on Friday, official sources said.

Afghanistan: : 21 insurgents killed in raids: At least 21 armed militants were killed and eight others wounded in different crackdowns within past 24 hours, Ministry of Interior claimed.

US kills six people in Pak-Afghan border area: The sources said that unmanned aircraft targeted a militant hideout in Reena area on the Afghan side of the border, killing six people including two “key militant commanders”.

The occupation continues: Officials: US to Keep Higher Level of Troops in Afghanistan: The Obama administration is abandoning plans to cut the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan to 5,500 by year's end, bowing to military leaders who want to keep more troops, including many into the 2016 fighting season, U.S. officials say.

Myanmar 'border raid' angers China: China sends fighter jets and lodges a protest after a Myanmar warplane reportedly dropped a bomb on its territory, killing four civilians.

Poroshenko: 11 EU states struck deal with Ukraine to deliver weapons, including lethal: Ukraine has concluded deals with eleven countries of the EU on delivery of weapons, including lethal, President Petro Poroshenko told the country’s TV. He, however, didn’t mention which countries will provide ‘defensive aid’ to Kiev.

Nemtsov Ukraine report 'due soon': A report on Russia's role in the Ukraine conflict - compiled by murdered opposition politician Boris Nemtsov - will be released in April, his ally tells the BBC.

Ex-governor of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region found dead in his home: "There are grounds to believe that he had been driven to suicide," Gerashchenko said in an interview aired by a Ukrainian television channel. Peklushenko’s body - with a bullet in the neck - was found in the Solnechnyi village on Thursday. Law enforcers are working at the scene.

Cleaning the Field? Seven High Profile Suicides in Ukraine in One Month: Former members of Party of Regions are becoming an endangered species in Ukraine. They all got suicidal tendencies in the same month

Russia rejects U.S. concerns over Vietnam base role in bomber flights: “It is strange to hear such statements from representatives of the state whose armed forces are permanently stationed in a number of Asia-Pacific countries and which continues to increase its level of military activity in the region," Russia's Defense Ministry said.

‘UK detention center is a prison’ – hunger striker’s relative: Nabi has alleged that some of the hunger strikers are being beaten up, and cases of deaths in detention are simply being ignored.

CIA Director Describes How the U.S. Outsources Terror Interrogations: Brennan’s remarks confirm what journalists have long reported: that the Obama administration sometimes helps other countries do the dirty work of snatching and interrogating terror suspects–keeping the U.S. at arm’s length from operations that are ethically and legally dubious.

An 'Obvious and Conspicuous' Injustice, says Assange on Asylum: In an exclusive interview with teleSUR, Julian Assange talks about why he chose Ecuador for asylum and the ongoing U.S. investigation into WikiLeaks.

Why is the U.S. really sanctioning Venezuela?: While the administration claims Venezuela poses a dire threat to our security, the facts show a different reality

Venezuela Conducts 10 Days of Military Exercises: The Venezuelan military says it's ready to defend the country from any possible U.S. invasion.

Venezuelan Social Movements Take to the Streets to Oppose U.S. Aggression: This latest move by the U.S. administration has been roundly condemend by a host of nations and regional bodies, including Cuba, Ecuador, Bolivia, Argentina, UNASUR, CELAC, and most recently China and Russia.

Mexico Agrees to Regional Gas Pipeline: “To push forward development in Guatemala and Central America, there needs to be the identification, definition and advancement in making concrete a project that would mean transporting gas from Mexico for the whole region,” said president Peña Nieto during the ceremony.

Ernesto Zedillo: 'Decriminalise drug consumption': Mexico's former president discusses the 'war on drugs' and his controversial proposal to rid his country of violence.

March 13, 2015

NATO’s Shadow of Nazi Operation Barbarossa

By Finian Cunningham

The West has never suffered in history to the depth that the Russian people have; Continue

German, European Govs: America’s “Dangerous Propaganda”

By Robert Barsocchini

German government officials have “recently referred to U.S. statements of Russian involvement in the Ukraine fighting as ‘dangerous propaganda'”. Continue

How ISIS Became the Face of Evil

By Arun Gupta

The Islamic State’s gruesome propaganda serves its purposes well, and those of the United States too. Continue

The Secret Saudi Ties to Terrorism

By Daniel Lazare

This is the dark side of the alliance that Washington has struggled to keep under wraps. Continue

How Iran and the US intersect in “Syraq”

By Pepe Escobar

The power that is actually corralling and subduing the fake Caliphate on the ground in Iraq is not the hyper-power, but Iran, which is offering tactical, strategic and air support to Baghdad. Continue

The Real Story Behind The Republicans’ Iran Letter

By Gareth Porter

The response to the letter has primarily distracted public attention from the real issue it raises: how the big funders of the Likud Party in Israel control Congressional actions on Iran. Continue

Who’s Afraid of the Israel Lobby?

By Andrew Levine

Why then did they US Congress make spectacles of themselves listening, yet again, to what Benjamin Netanyahu has to say about Iran? Why would they care? Why would anybody care what Netanyahu thinks? Continue

The Art Of Becoming Human

By Pete Dolack,

You were not willing to risk yourselves for our nation but you sent hundreds of thousands of young men and women to be sacrificed in a senseless war with no more thought than it takes to put out the garbage. Continue

The CIA And America's Presidents
Some rarely discussed truths shaping contemporary American democracy  

By John Chuckman 

It is actually hard to imagine now any possibility of someone’s being elected President and opposing what the CIA recommends. Continue

The Decline and Fall of the American State; Enjoy It

By Karen Kwiatkowski

Each day brings more lies from government, military, intelligence apparatus, law enforcement, big banking, big business, big pharma, "common core," and the whole global warming conglomerate. Continue

Obama’s Selma Song: America Is Not Racist – It’s Just Ferguson

By Glen Ford

For Obama and Holder, the routine killing of unarmed Blacks by police is “tragic,” but not evidence of anything endemic in American society – certainly, not something for the U.S. Justice Department to worry about. Continue

Iraq: 40 troops, 10 Daesh militants killed in Anbar: Daesh militants dug a tunnel underneath an Iraqi military headquarters and killed several Iraqi troops in a daring attack in western Anbar.

26 Iraqi soldiers killed in clashes with IS: A total of 26 members of Iraqi security forces were killed and 72 others wounded in clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants Friday in northern Iraq, security sources said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Islamic State conflict: Iraqi forces 'push into Tikrit': About 3,000 Iraqi soldiers and police made a final push for the city, backed by 20,000 Popular Mobilisation Shia militiamen and a much smaller force of Sunni tribesmen.

Iraq troops killed in Anbar blast, U.S. says wasn't coalition strike: The source said he believed the bomb was launched from a U.S.-led coalition aircraft, but coalition spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gilleran said the only strike it carried out in the province did not result in any "friendly casualties".

Video seems to show 3 UK girls before they went to Syria: Turkish authorities said the man was working for the intelligence service of a country that is part of the anti-IS coalition, but did not publicly name the country. On Friday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the man was a Syrian citizen.

Assad Must Go, Says United States: " Assad must go and be replaced through a negotiated, political transition that is representative of the Syrian people," she added.

Is This Really The First Time Syrian Rebels Have Been Aided By The US?: The first evidence of the American military training opposition fighters in Syria was recorded on March 6, 2012, in an email thread released by WikiLeaks as part of The Global Intelligence Files.

Turkish coastguard opens fire on refugee ship: Coastguard opens fire to stop cargo vessel carrying 337 mainly Syrian refugees heading towards European Union waters.

Reports: “Israeli Soldier Killed As Syrian Army Targets Gunmen In al-Quneitra”: The reports allege the officer was among a number of Israeli commanders who met with leaders of the “Free Syrian Army” a few days ago, including Abu Osama an-Na’imi, who was also killed in the incident.

Security Council reportedly starting talks on lifting Iran sanctions: Officials say major world powers considering a resolution to remove UN sanctions if a nuclear deal goes through

Republicans protest talks on ending UN sanctions on Iran: The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee warned President Barack Obama on Thursday not to try an end-run around Congress by getting the United Nations to implement a nuclear deal with Iran.

Iran ready to fund Yemeni power stations, Al Houthis say: Iran will provide Yemen with fuel for a year and build a power station, the Yemeni state Saba news agency reported.

Yemen: GCC invites Houthis to Riyadh conference: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has said that Yemen’s Shi’ite Houthi group will be invited to attend peace talks in Riyadh, but only if they recognize the “legitimacy” of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi.

Netanyahu Using Congressional Address In New Campaign Ad, Just As Critics Warned: Netanyahu is using his speech as a prop in a campaign commercial back in Israel, where the prime minister is shown basking in the applause of members of Congress who did not boycott his speech.

Is This the Man Who Could Beat Netanyahu: Isaac Herzog has maintained a lead in opinion polls but winning the election is not enough to become prime minister

Islamic State Group Accepts Boko Haram's Pledge of Allegiance: "We announce to you to the good news of the expansion of the caliphate to West Africa because the caliph... has accepted the allegiance of our brothers of the Sunni group for preaching and the jihad,” said Mohammed al-Adnani, a spokesperson for the group.

US kills three people in Somali: A suspected drone attack killed three alleged, members of Somalia's al Shabaab Islamist rebel group on Thursday in southern Somalia while they were driving in a car, residents said.

Kenya Police: 3 people killed in attack on governor's convoy: Islamic militants attacked a governor's convoy in north Kenya on Friday for the second time in five months, killing three people, a police official said.

Italian Premier Renzi calls for intervention in Libya: There is an absolute need to intervene in Libya before Islamic State (IS) militias systematically conquer part of the country, said Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in an interview broadcast by the Sky TG24 news.

Sisi kicks off Egypt's economy conference as bombs rock Cairo: Egypt's president kicked off a high stakes international conference on Friday afternoon in which the country will attempt to attract an estimated $60bn to jump start its troubled economy.

Will foreign investors in Egypt have blood on their hands?: News Analysis - The Sisi regime is corrupt. Recent leaks have shown the leadership of the armed forces - ostensibly in charge of the country’s economic recovery - routinely syphoning money from the public coffers.

Russia to supply Antey-2500 missile system to Egypt by end of 2016 — source: "In accordance with the contract, Egypt will receive the Antey-2500 anti-ballistic missile system with three divisions, including a command post. The contract is worth more than $1 billion

Egypt to build new administrative and business capital: It says the city will house up to five million residents and be built in the corridor between Cairo and the Red Sea.

Kiev Admits Existence of Contracts on Delivery of Lethal Weapons From EU: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that Ukraine has contracts with a range of EU countries on delivery of weaponry, including lethal.

Victoria Nuland Talks Nonsense and Plans for War; While Nuland describes Crimea and eastern Ukraine as in the grip of a “Reign of Terror”, over 90 percent Crimeans support unification with Russia. The fact Nuland is prepared to depart so far from reality when discussing Ukraine is dangerous rather than funny.

German Officials: Claims of Russian Invasion of Ukraine Are American Propaganda: The German government is expressing increased annoyance over what it is calling “dangerous propaganda” meant to sabotage the ceasefire.

Bulgaria, United States to start military drills amid Ukraine crisis; NATO allies Bulgaria and the United States will stage a series of joint military drills over the next three and a half months, the Bulgarian defense ministry said on Friday, amid increased tensions with Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

Putin informed that Nemtsov murder suspects could have been tortured — human rights chief: According to Fedotov, the president has been informed of the results of the visit by members of the Civic Supervisory Commission Andrey Babushkin and Eva Merkacheva to a pre-trial detention centre in Moscow, where they met several detainees held there.

UK support for China-backed Asia bank prompts US concern: The US has expressed concern over the UK's bid to become a founding member of a Chinese-backed development bank. The UK is the first big Western economy to apply for membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Julian Assange to be questioned by Swedish prosecutors in London: Lawyers for Julian Assange have claimed victory after a Swedish prosecutor bowed to pressure from the courts and agreed to break the deadlock in his case by interviewing the WikiLeaks founder in London. 

Venezuela's Maduro says may go to U.S. to challenge Obama: - Ridiculing the U.S. qualification of Venezuela as a security threat, President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday he may travel to Washington to challenge American counterpart Barack Obama.

US General Says Venezuela Coup Possible, Denies Involvement: The high-ranking military official has made confusing statements about possible U.S. involvement in coup plans in Venezuela.

Bolivia Demands US Ask Venezuela for 'Forgiveness': “If Obama doesn’t want to meet his match at the Summit of the Americas, he should ask Latin America, and especially Venezuela, for forgiveness. If he doesn’t, he’ll be up against anti-imperialist presidents and governments,” said Morales.

US Military University Accused of Hiring Human Rights Abusers: A military university funded by the U.S. government has been accused of hiring a former Colombian military commander accused of complicity in a 1997 massacre.

Police State Canada?: Back in 2006, the newly elected Prime Minister of Canada, right-wing Conservative Stephen Harper warned that “You won’t recognize Canada when I’m through with it.” After nine grueling years, that’s already true in many ways.

Canadian Town Bans Spitting, Swearing And Gathering In Groups Of Three Or More: What has prompted this move towards a more controlled populace? The answer appears to be that it's just something the town's law enforcement wanted.

Judge Rules Philadelphia Buses Must Run Anti-Islam Ads Featuring Hitler: "Islamic Jew-Hatred: It’s in the Quran," with a picture of Hitler meeting with Muslim nationalist Haj Amin al-Husseini, who was active in pan-Arabism when Palestine was a British territory.

After first lab-grown burger, test-tube chicken is next on menu: Two years after scientists cooked up the first test tube beef hamburger, researchers in Israel are working on an even trickier recipe: the world's first lab-grown chicken.

Starving Sea Lions Washing Ashore by the Hundreds in California: Experts suspect that unusually warm waters are driving fish and other food away from the coastal islands where sea lions breed and wean their young.

March 12, 2015

This Is a Declaration of War

By Bruce K. Gagnon

One can't help but wonder if the recent 'victory' of the self-defensive forces in eastern Ukraine wasn't allowed by Washington and Kiev as a way to get public opinion behind the already well established plans for even more NATO escalation. Continue

It’s Nato that’s Empire-building, Not Putin

By Peter Hitchens

After 23 years of sullenly appeasing the West, Moscow finally said ‘enough’. Since we’re all supposed to be against appeasement, shouldn’t we find this action understandable in a sovereign nation. Continue

The National-Security State’s ISIS Racket

By Jacob G. Hornberger

If U.S. forces don’t bomb ISIS, the argument goes, ISIS will take over Iraq, and Syria, and Lebanon, and Europe, and Asia, and Latin America, and then the United State. Continue

Ten Reasons to Vote Against the Use of Military Force

By Dennis Kucinich

This is the time for Congress and the administration to rethink the failed national security strategy, the failed doctrine of intervention, the failed “right to protect” Continue

Farrakhan: Netanyahu Aims Drive U.S. to War With Iran

Must Watch - Video

"I know what America is. America is something that can be moved easily". Israeli PM Netanyahu. Continue

Arab World: Political Disintegration and Search for Reason

Dr. Mahboob A. Khawaja

Muslim disunity has made it possible for Israel to dispossess the Palestinians, for the U.S. to invade Iraq, and for the U.S. to rule much of the region..” Continue

How Governments Twist Terrorism

By Philip Giraldi

The United States and Israel in particular use the terrorism label to demonize opponents, drum up fear, and generate popular support for security policies that might otherwise be unpalatable. Continue

Maybe Obama’s Sanctions on Venezuela are Not Really About His “Deep Concern” Over Suppression of Political Rights

By Glenn Greenwald

The real question is this: if concern over suppression of political rights is not the real reason the U.S. is imposing new sanctions on Venezuela (perish the thought!), what is? Continue

How the US Funds Dissent Against Latin American Governments

By Pablo Vivanco

The U.S. provided right-wing dictatorships in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela and Ecuador with technical and military support for the goal of hunting down and killing political opponents. Some estimate that Operation Condor killed between 60,000 and 80,000 people. Continue

Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States

Video Documentary - (Subtitulado Español)

Documentary recounts the final phase in the U.S.’s metamorphosis from a republic into an empire. It also outlines the financial, business and geopolitical interests underlying the War on Terror. Continue

Americans Name Government as No. 1 U.S. Problem

By Justin McCarthy

Satisfaction with the direction of the U.S. remains relatively upbeat compared with figures from recent years, but two-thirds of Americans continue to be dissatisfied. Continue

Iraq: 48 killed, 34 injured in Ramadi attacks: At least 48 people, including 43 suspected Daesh militants and two police officers were killed, and 34 others were injured in multiple attacks in western Anbar province’s Ramadi city Wednesday, officials said, APAreports quoting Anadolu Agency.

Airstrike kills 22 Iraqi soldiers, U.S. denies coalition involvement: According to an Iraqi military officer and a police source, 22 soldiers were killed when an airstrike believed to be launched by a US-led coalition aircraft hit the headquarters of an army company on the edge of Ramadi city, Anbar's provincial capital on Thursday.

Iraqi forces 'push into Tikrit': Iraqi government forces are pushing into Tikrit on several fronts, forcing Islamic State militants to fall back to the city centre, officials say.

Video appears to show ISIS beheading alleged 'informants': Video

At least 50 government soldiers and rebels killed in Syria village battle: Rebels led by al-Nusra Front launched an all-night assault on Doreen, Latakia province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports. A Syrian military source told Reuters the army had repelled the attack.

Engineering Consent For Attack On Syria?: Left alone against Syrian army, US-trained rebels cannot beat ISIS: opposition: U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday that the United States did not appear to have clear-cut legal authority to protect Syrian rebels against attacks by Syrian government forces.

Engineering Consent For Attack On Syria? Islamic State ‘metastasizing,’ U.S. intervention desperately needed: Defense Secretary Ashton Carter: The Islamic State is “metastasizing” outside of Syria and Iraq, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Wednesday, urging Congress to quickly grant President Obama war authority without any limits on where the U.S. could strike terrorists.

Obama's request to authorise military force against Islamic State faces roadblock from fellow Democrats: US President Barack Obama's request to authorise military force against Islamic State has made little progress since he sent it to Congress, and it may never pass, due largely to opposition from his fellow Democrats.

Aid agencies slam UN Security Council over Syria: More than 20 international aid organisations have sharply criticised the United Nations Security Council, saying it has failed to implement three resolutions passed last year seeking to boost humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians.

Were mere copies of Iraq’s national treasures destroyed?: An IS propaganda video showed Islamic State fighters destroying ancient treasures, but now Iraqi antiquities authorities have said IS mostly destroyed duplicates. Birgit Svensson reports from Iraq.

Israel destroys EU-funded West Bank shelter for Palestinians while expanding illegal settlements: "We condemn today's demolition of temporary shelters funded by the European Union... as part of its response to the needs of the affected communities," an EU statement said, according AFP.

Netanyahu plays security card as rivals open poll lead: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conceded Thursday that the center-left opposition could win next week's general election and appealed to voters not to take the chance with national security.

Second ex-Mossad chief joins chorus criticizing Netanyahu: Shabtai Shavit and other former defense officials say PM driving US and Israel apart, botched summer war against Hamas

Peres endorses ‘levelheaded’ Herzog for prime minister: Former president and PM praises ‘dedicated’ Zionist Union leader; Likud slams ‘avowed leftist’ Peres

Senators’ Iran letter was meant to be lighthearted, aides say: “The administration has no sense of humor when it comes to how weakly they have been handling these negotiations,” a senior Republican aide was quoted as saying

Stuxnet leak probe stalls for fear of confirming US-Israel involvement: A criminal leak investigation into a top military official has stalled out of concern it could force US officials to confirm joint US-Israeli involvement behind the Stuxnet worm that targeted Iran's nuclear program, according to a media report published Wednesday.

Somali police say 9 dead in attack on Baidoa government HQ: - Suspected Islamic militants attacked the headquarters of Somalia's South Western State government in Baidoa, killing at least four government soldiers and two civilians, a Somali official said Thursday.

Islamic State militants claim bomb attack in Libyan capital: A bomb placed under a police car close to the Foreign Ministry in central Tripoli caused damage, local security spokesman Essam Naas said, and one officer was slightly wounded.

13 Militants Killed in Pakistan: At least 13 militants have been killed in two different search operations by Pakistani security forces in the restive Baluchistan province in last 24 hours, a minister said today.

At least seven Afghan police killed in ambush: officials: Up to 30 attackers ambushed the policemen in Kunduz province as they were travelling to neighbouring Takhar province to collect their salaries, Nasruddin Khan, Dashti Archi district governor told AFP.

Nemtsov's daughter blames Putin for murder: Russian opposition leader's daughter says president is "politically" responsible for her father's death. "After his death the opposition is beheaded and everybody is frightened," she said.

EU Parliament votes for intl investigation into Nemtsov murder: The European Parliament is urging an international investigation into the murder of Russian opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.

Russia’s disconnection from SWIFT tantamount to atomic weapon — Polish foreign minister: "It should be borne in mind that this weapon acts in both ways and can strike against all of us," the Polish foreign minister said at a joint press conference with UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond in Warsaw.

Ukraine to receive $17.5bn from IMF to save economy: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has agreed to extend $17.5bn in loans to Ukraine in an effort to pull back the country from the verge of economic collapse. On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed off on legislative measures to drastically reduce spending and also approved changes to the tax system.

US Bullies Vietnam to Stop Military Cooperation With Russia: The US Department of State confirm that America is pushing Vietnam to stop letting Russia use Cam Ranh Bay military base. Russian air force recently used the facility to refuel nuclear-capable bombers.

UK surveillance laws need total overhaul, says landmark report: . The current laws could be construed as providing the agencies with a “blank cheque to carry out whatever actives they deem necessary”, it says.

CIA Papers Suggest Murder of Ecuador's Former President; After reviewing declassified CIA documents, the Ecuador's Attorney General Galo Chiriboga revealed Wednesday that former Ecuadorean President Jaime Roldos could have been murdered, a theory that has surrounded the 34-year old case.

Colombia Bogota explosion injures police officers: The device, which was packed with shrapnel, went off as a police convoy was driving through the southern neighbourhood of Quiroga.

EU Parliamentarians Join US-Led Aggressions on Venezuela; The resolution follows a statement by the U.S. on Monday claiming that Venezuelan government authorities posted an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.” The statement also referred to the arrest of some opposition leaders who encouraged the violence.

Mexican mayoral candidate murdered in Guerrero state: The decapitated body of a politician has been found in one of Mexico's most violent states, Guerrero, where she had been standing for mayor in June's elections.

Canadian defense minister tweets hoax photos from anti-Muslim hate sites: Muslims in Canada have strongly condemned their country’s defense minister for tweeting hoax photographs purporting to depict enslavement and oppression of women and girls by Muslim men. This comes amid accusations that the government is deliberately stoking anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.

in world gone crazy: Lindsey Graham: As president I would deploy the military against Congress: Lindsey Graham announced that if he is elected president in 2016, his first act will be to deploy the military in Washington to force Congress to reverse cuts to the defense and intelligence budgets.

Mysterious spy cameras collecting data at US post offices: Within an hour of FOX31 Denver discovering a hidden camera, which was positioned to capture and record the license plates and facial features of customers leaving a Golden Post Office, the device was ripped from the ground and disappeared.

The Surveillance State's Greatest Enemy? The U.S. Constitution: Even if proponents of the NSA win over public opinion, their agenda will still be contrary to the Fourth Amendment.

‘Is the United States hiding something?’: UN torture expert refused access to Guantánamo Bay and US federal prisons: Juan Méndez said he had been waiting for more than two years for the United States to provide him access to a range of state and federal prisons, where he wants to probe the use of solitary confinement.

Video emerges of Ferguson cops shooting (Warning: Strong language): An amateur video has emerged online showing exactly the moment two policemen were shot during a rally near Ferguson police department.

Ferguson police chief Thomas Jackson quits: The police chief of Ferguson, Missouri, has agreed to resign after a federal report alleged widespread racial bias in his department.

How Chicago police used marijuana to disappear young people at Homan Square: Marc Freeman and ‘Stephanie’ detained for hours inside so-called ‘black site’ so they would confess and implicate others

Fake IRS agents target more than 366,000 in huge tax scam: — Fake IRS agents have targeted more than 366,000 people with harassing phone calls demanding payments and threatening jail as part of a huge nationwide tax scam that has cost taxpayers $15.5 million.

March 11, 2015

Saving World Heritage – the West’s New R2P Pretext

By Finian Cunningham

The suspicion is that the West is preparing to use this powerful emotive backdrop as a new pretext to justify military intervention. Continue

Official Washington’s Delusions on Delusions

By Robert Parry

The chasm between reality and the U.S. political/media elite continues to widen with Official Washington’s actions toward Iran and Russia making “the world’s sole remaining superpower” look either like a Banana Republic (on Iran) or an Orwellian Dystopia (regarding Russia). Continue

Did 47 U.S. Senators Just Commit Treason By Attempting to Sabotage Iran Deal?

By David Knowles

“Republicans are undermining our commander-in-chief while empowering the ayatollahs,” Continue

Shutting Down AIPAC

Removing Israel from American politics

By Philip Giraldi

Apart from being a recipient of more than $3 billion per year from the US taxpayer, Israel is no ally and never has been. Continue

A "New World Order"
A Receipe For War Or Peace

By Perdana Global Peace Foundation

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Mahathir warned that the Transpacific Partnership or TPPA is a New World Order strategy by a powerful pact of people led by the US to dominate the world economy. Continue

Obama Absurdly Declares Venezuela a Security Threat

By Mark Weisbrot

Is Venezuela financing a coming terrorist attack on U.S. territory? Planning an invasion? Building a nuclear weapon? Continue

The CIA's Torturers and the Leaders Who Approved Their Actions Must Face the Law

By Chelsea E Manning

Even the most junior level intelligence officers know that torture is both unethical and illegal. So why didn’t our political leaders? Continue

Postcard from the End of America: Washington D.C.

By Linh Dinh

All capitals strive to be showcases, sure, but very few, or perhaps none, is as successful at blocking out its nation’s true ugliness and failures. Continue

Iraq: 48 killed, 34 injured in Ramadi attacks: At least 48 people, including 43 suspected Daesh militants and two police officers have been killed in multiple attacks in western Anbar province’s Ramadi city.

17 killed in car bomb attacks, clashes in Iraq; The attacks started in the morning when seven car bombs detonated at checkpoints and military bases in the government-held areas in the city, located about 110 km west of Baghdad, Xinhua quoted the source as saying.

Iraqi forces beat ISIS in Tikrit, reach city center: Iraqi military forces and Shitte militias entered central Tikrit, declaring it “liberated” from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Tuesday, following 10 days of a major offensive on the hometown of former president Saddam Hussein.

'Dirty Brigades': US-Trained Iraqi Forces Investigated for War Crimes: The investigation, being conducted by the Iraqi government, was launched after allegations of “war crimes,” based in part on dozens of ghastly videos and still photos that appear to show uniformed soldiers and militia members massacring civilians, torturing and executing prisoners, and displaying severed heads.

ISIS battling Kurdish forces in northeast Syria: Hundreds of fighters from the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have launched an attack on Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria, triggering fierce fighting that has killed dozens on both sides, a group monitoring the war said on Wednesday.

Turkey shuts border crossings as fighting worsens around Syria's Aleppo: Dozens of people were killed last Wednesday when insurgents attacked a Syrian government security building in the city, bombing it and then launching a ground assault.

U.S. leaves door open to strike Assad forces if U.S.-trained rebels attacked: The U.S. has not ruled out possible airstrikes against President Bashar Assad's forces in Syria if the moderate rebels being trained to fight the Islamic State there come under attack, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said Wednesday.

70 rebels defect to Syrian army in Damascus suburb: Around seventy Syrian rebels have fled from an opposition held suburb south of the Syrian capital and surrendered with their light arms to the Syrian army, an activist group and an army source said on Wednesday.

Saudis recall Sweden ambassador amid diplomatic row; Earlier this week, Sweden said it would end a long-standing defence co-operation deal between the countries. The agreement, worth millions of dollars in Swedish arms exports, is due to expire in May.

A Twisted Tribute: Op-Ed: You'll never guess who America's top general is honoring as a hero. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia.

GOP Presidential Hopefuls Add Their Support To Senate Republican Letter On Iran: Not to be outdone by their potential GOP rivals in the Senate -- Rand Paul (Ky.), Ted Cruz (Texas) and Marco Rubio (Fla.), who all signed the letter -- Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry both announced their support for the letter on Tuesday.

Rand Paul’s Munich: Op-Ed: In signing the Cotton letter he’s become the Neville Chamberlain of the liberty movement

GOP senators' letter to Iran is a treacherous betrayal of the U.S. constitutional system: Op-Ed: Regardless of President Obama’s fecklessness in negotiating a nuclear deal with Iran, 47 Republican U.S. senators engaged in treachery by sending a letter to the mullahs aimed at cutting the legs out from under America’s commander-in-chief.

Immediately After Launching Effort to Scuttle Iran Deal, Senator Tom Cotton to Meet with Defense Contractors: Cotton strongly advocates higher defense spending and a more aggressive foreign policy. As The New Republic’s David Ramsey noted, “Pick a topic — Syria, Iran, Russia, ISIS, drones, NSA snooping — and Cotton can be found at the hawkish outer edge of the debate …

Ezra Levant vs Noam Chomsky: The Complete Interview: Video : The state of free speech in America today, Obama's U.S. foreign policy, Israel and the rise of anti-semitism and more.

500 Boko Haram militants killed in Niger, official says: The provisional count of 513 since Feb. 8 does not take into account land and air operations launched Sunday jointly by Niger and Chad's army in Nigeria, Capt. Adili Toro said.

Four killed, 20 injured in Nigeria blast: The blast occurred in Maiduguri, the capital of the Borno state, around 4 pm, Xinhua reported citing a senior medical staff. The source added that some of the injured victims had sustained severe burns.

Air strike hits western Libyan town: officials: At least one warplane belonging to an armed group controlling Libya's capital attacked a western town allied with the internationally recognized government on Wednesday, officials said, the latest in a series of tit-for-tat attacks.

Afghanistan: 13 Killed In Afghan Bombings: The bloodiest attack targeted a checkpoint outside of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province, killing eight people and wounding more than 20.

6 "rebels" killed in Nangarhar drone strike: Khama Press quoted the spokesman as saying that the drone targeted a corolla vehicle of the militants in Mohmand village of Achin district where six rebels were killed and their ammunition was destroyed.

One Killed As Pakistan Rangers Raid Karachi Offices Of Political Party MQM: Pakistani paramilitary troops raided the headquarters of the controversial and powerful Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) party in Karachi on Tuesday, making about 20 arrests, seizing weapons and closing down the office,

Fukushima residents take cancer testing into their own hands: Fukushima residents have taken cancer and radiation testing into their own hands, saying authorities are lying to them about the safety of their community.

Nemtsov murder: Zaur Dadayev confession 'forced': The former policeman said he had only confessed to make sure a friend who was arrested with him would be released. He had planned to tell a court hearing on Sunday the truth, Mr Babushkin said, but was not given a chance to speak. He said he was beaten and had a bag pulled over his head, which was only taken off after arriving in Moscow.

Russian News Segment Showing Western Propaganda About the Nemstov Murder : Video - Russia's Channel One has somehow managed to perfectly encapsulate everything that is wrong with western media, and in only 5 minutes. Words can't do it justice.

Propaganda alert: Russian military shelled Ukraine from mid-July, report says: Moscow’s involvement in conflict has been on such a scale that strain on its military is starting to show, according to report by Royal United Services Institute

Ukraine: 'How Europe failed to slay the demons of war': In an extract from his new book, historian Richard Sakwa argues that the current conflict has its roots in the exclusion of Russia from genuine partnerships since the end of the cold war

US to deliver 'non-lethal' aid to Ukraine forces: Drones, Humvees and other "defensive" equipment to be sent to Kiev to help its fight against pro-Russia separatists.

Fox News analyst: ‘Start killing Russians’ to save Ukraine (VIDEO): A military analyst has told Fox News that the only way to turn the tide in conflict in Eastern Ukraine is to “start killing Russians.” The former general alleged there are 12,000 Russian regular troops currently “camped” on Ukrainian territory.

As part of Russian territory Crimea can host nuclear weapons – Foreign Ministry: “I don’t know if there are any nuclear weapons there at the moment and I am not aware of such plans, but in principle Russia can do this,” the head of the ministry’s Department for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Weapons Control, Mikhail Ulyanov, told a Wednesday press conference in Moscow.

IMF's offer Ukraine can't refuse?; Ukraine will receive an IMF credit worth $15.4 billion only after Ukraine reduces its national debt to 70% of GDP. I suppose this is IMF's way of saying "when Hell freezes over" because currently Ukraine's debt is closer to 100% of GDP due to both hand-over-fist borrowing and the collapse of the real economy.

Putin Eyes Single Currency for Eurasian Union Trade Bloc: President Vladimir Putin requested Russia's government and Central Bank work with financial regulators in the bloc's member nations to present by Sept. 1 a report "defining the vector of financial and currency integration within the Eurasian Union and examining the desirability and possible creation of a currency union in the future."

Greece threatens to seize German property: Germany says it won’t pay Greece World War 2 reparations after Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said Berlin is using legal tricks to avoid paying compensation. Germany says it’s honored its obligations, while Greece says it may start seizing German property.

New Zealand Targets Trade Partners, Hacks Computers in Spy Operations: New Zealand is conducting covert surveillance operations against some of its strongest trading partners and has obtained sophisticated malware to infect targeted computers and steal data, newly released documents revea

Swedish Supreme Court Approves Assange's Appeal Hearing: Assange fears that any extradition to Sweden would see him onwardly extradited to the U.S., where the FBI continues a criminal investigation into him.

The real reason why Assange is not questioned in London: "A matter of prestige": It seems increasingly clear that the prosecutor?s refusal to accept Assange?s offer to be interviewed in London has much to do with prestige and little with law.

Venezuelan Parliament Passes Law to Confront US Aggression: The Venezuelan National Asembly passed the enabling law that allows the country's president to act to protect the peace against recent threats made by the United States government of Barack Obama. President Correa Confirms UNASUR Summit on 'Gross' US Threat to Venezuela: The president said the meeting will address the “gross, illegal, shameless, outrageous, and unjustified act of interference by the United States."

Venezuela Calls for Defensive Military Exercise: The country's armed forces along with people’?s militias will conduct a defensive military exercise in light of new threats from the U.S.

CIA Gave Justice Department Secret Phone Scanning Technology: The Central Intelligence Agency played a crucial role in helping the Justice Department develop technology that scans data from thousands of US cellphones, part of a little-known high-tech alliance between the spy agency and domestic law enforcement.

Atlanta police shoot naked and unarmed black man: DeKalb County Police Chief Cedric Alexander said no weapon was found at the scene, and suggested that the man may have suffered from mental illness.

Utah Lawmakers Vote To Allow Execution By Firing Squad: The bill, which passed by a vote of 18-10, would call for the use of a firing squad if lethal drugs could not be obtained at least 30 days in advance of a scheduled execution.

Ferguson cancels municipal court for the week, will seek new judge: Ferguson Municipal Court Judge Ronald Brockmeyer resigned Monday, the same day the Missouri Supreme Court transferred all of Ferguson's cases to the St. Louis County Circuit Court.

The Student Debt Time Bomb: College debt now touches one in five U.S. households and exceeds total credit card indebtedness.

AP sues State Department, seeking access to Clinton records: The Associated Press filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the State Department to force the release of email correspondence and government documents from Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as secretary of state.

The Hillary Clinton e-mails, by the numbers: A document send to the news media after her press conference on Tuesday provided more details on how many e-mails from Hillary Clinton's e-mail account were turned over to the State Department, how many weren't, and how she and her staff made the distinction.

March 10, 2015

Splitting the Atlantic Alliance
NATO Lies and Provocations

By Mike Whitney

The Euro-leaders have been going along with the lies to keep the public in line. In other words, it’s a healthy dose of perception management for the sheeple. Continue

NATO General Breedlove says Russian Army Still in Ukraine Despite Ceasefire

Video

General Philip Breedlove declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin had once again "upped the ante" and said the situation in the Donbas was "getting worse everyday." Continue

Russia’s Remarkable Renaissance

By F. William Engdahl

It may be the factor that saves our world from a one world dictatorship of the bankers and their military. Continue

Netanyahu: He Came, He Saw, He Conquered.
The Power of Israel over the United States

By Prof. James Petras

There is only one reason that Netanyahu is received as a Viceroy overseeing and dictating strategic policy to what clearly is a servile colonial legislature. Continue

Does Iran Really Want a Bomb?

By Patrick J. Buchanan

While Iran and its allies are fighting al-Qaida and ISIS, Turkey and our Arab allies are malingerers at best and collaborators at worst. Continue

US Preparing for Military Aggression on Venezuela

By Atilio Borón

History shows that when the U.S. denounces a country, it is often a pretext for intervention and regime change. Continue

The Foundations of Our Extinction

By Butler Shaffer

If we are to end our intra-species combat with one another in time to avoid becoming the first known species to engineer its own extinction, we must identify the causes of our aggression. Continue

Who Is Running The Global Show?

Audio

Ellen Brown Interviews Paul Craig Roberts About The Greek, Russian, and US Situations: History Explained From Reagan To The Present. Continue

The NSA Has Taken Over the Internet Backbone. We're Suing to Get it Back.

By Patrick C. Toomey

Every time you email someone overseas, the NSA copies and searches your message. It makes no difference if you or the person you're communicating with has done anything wrong. Continue

Don’t Trust Your Phone, Don’t Trust Your Laptop

By John Naughton

Edward Snowden’s astute revelations show that no electronic communications device – from hard disks to sim cards – is trustworthy. Continue

US Intel Vets Oppose Brennan’s CIA Plan

By Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

Do we really believe that terrorists slip out of the womb screaming “I hate America”? Continue

Iraq: 350 Daesh militants killed in Anbar operation: Iraqi army seized control of large areas in Anbar province and killed 350 suspected Daesh militants within four days of its ongoing operation in the area, the Iraqi military said in statement late Monday.

Iraqi army, volunteer forces enter Tikrit from multiple directions:" Iraqi forces have reportedly taken control of the al-Qadisiyah neighborhood from ISIL Takfiri terrorists. The Takfiris are now besieged in the center of the city. According to reports, the streets of Tikrit have been covered with dead bodies of the ISIL members. Some of the terrorists were killed by the Iraqi forces, while others were executed by their fellow Takfiris for fleeing the battle.

ISIS fighters pushed out of town near Tikrit: mayor: Iraqi troops and militias drove ISIS militants out of the town of Al-Alam Tuesday, fighters and a local official said, clearing the way for an offensive to retake the nearby city of Tikrit from the ultra-radical group.

Watch: Iraqi militia chief shot during television interview: Mohamed Abu Ali Al Jubirawi, who leads a Shia militia fighting ISIL in Anbar province, was targeted by a sniper on March 7, according to news agency Storyful.

103 civilians killed by anti-IS coalition, including US aid worker: NGO: A Syrian NGO on Tuesday claimed that the US-led international coalition’s airstrikes on the Islamic State and other groups in Syria has killed 103 civilians since its campaign started in September 2014.

27 ISIL, Kurdish fighters killed in Ain Al-Arab clashes - SOHR: Twenty-seven fighters from ISIL and the Kurdish people protection units were killed in clashes in Ain Al-Arab, Kobane, outside the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

ISIS kills at least nine of its own in infighting in Syria - monitor: At least nine members of ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) were killed during infighting in northwestern Syria after some of them tried to flee over the Turkish border, a group monitoring the conflict said on Monday.

ISIS Child Soldier Allegedly Executes Israeli Mohamed Said Ismail Musallam, Threatens Mossad In Video: The Islamic State group on Tuesday released a video purporting to the show the execution of an Israeli citizen it claimed was a member of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Mohamed Said Ismail Musallam, 19, was captured by the ISIS militants after they allegedly discovered he was a spy.

US, Israeli Military Advisors Accused of Aiding ISIL Arrested in Iraq; Iraqi counter-terrorism forces arrested four foreign military advisors from the United States and Israel who were aiding the Islamic State, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reports.

White House Cannot Confirm Reports on US Advisors Allegedly Aiding ISIL: Washington does not have information to confirm press reports that US and Israeli military advisors were arrested while allegedly aiding Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Iraq, a US State Department official told Sputnik on Tuesday.

Hamas offers long-term calm in exchange for end of blockade: Hamas recently sent a series of messages to Israel indicating interest in a long-term ceasefire lasting for several years, in exchange for an end to the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, sources told The Times of Israel.

PA calls for arrest of Liberman for saying anti-Israel Arab citizens should be beheaded: “It’s shocking that the foreign minister spoke in a blatantly racist way against 20 percent of the citizens of the country he is supposed to represent,” Shek stated.

Senator Who Organized Letter To Iran Has Said He Wants To Sabotage Negotiations: Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), previously told a conservative audience that the goal of congressional action should be to scuttle talks with Iran. The U.S. should, instead, engage in a policy of "regime change," he argued.

Ex-Yemen leader asks President Hadi to go into exile: Ali Abdullah Saleh accuses his successor, who has re-established presidency in Aden city, of destroying the country.

34 killed by female suicide bomber at Nigerian market: At least 34 persons were killed by a teenage girl suicide bomber on Tuesday at a crowded market in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, said witnesses.

8 killed in Boko Haram Ambush: It was learnt that the terrorists laid ambush at Ngamdu village along the Maiduguri/Damaturu road at about 9:30am on Tuesday.

Deadly bomb attacks hit Egypt's Sinai peninsula: Bomb attacks targeting the police and army in Egypt's restive Sinai peninsula have killed two people and wounded more than 30, officials say.

Algerian army kills three Islamist militants: ministry: Soldiers killed three Islamist militants and seized guns and explosives southwest of the Algerian capital on Tuesday, the defense ministry said.

ISIS Seizes Opportunity in Libya’s Turmoil: The Islamic State has established more than a foothold in this Mediterranean port. Its fighters dominate the city center so thoroughly that a Libyan brigade sent to dislodge the group remains camped on the outskirts, visibly afraid to enter and allowing the extremists to come and go as they please.

Turkey slams Egypt, UAE for claims it shipped weapons to Libya through Malta: "We never deliver weapons to Libya," Mevlut Çavusoglu said when asked by MaltaToday at a press conference. "These libellous claims are coming from Egypt and the UAE, two countries that have provided weapons to Libya."

Libya to run out of cash as fighting takes its toll: Libya will "run out of money" in 18 months despite once being one of Africa's richest countries, officials have warned, as internecine fighting grinds its oil and gas industry to a halt.

Ivory Coast's former first lady Simone Gbagbo jailed: Ivory Coast's former first lady, Simone Gbagbo, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for her role in the violence that followed the 2010 elections.

Official says suicide car bomber kills 8 in Afghanistan: A suicide car bombing at a police checkpoint in southern Afghanistan killed eight people Tuesday and wounded 23, an Afghan official said.

Hamid Karzai: Afghanistan in danger of sliding 'under thumb' of Pakistan: Afghanistan’s historic struggles against British imperialism and Soviet invasion will have been in vain if the country succumbs to pressure from neighbouring Pakistan, Hamid Karzai has warned in an interview with the Guardian.

Afghan artist in hiding after sexual harassment protest: Kubra Khademi receives death threats after walking through Kabul in iron underwear to highlight abuse facing women.

Four Taliban Fighters Killed In Pakistan's Karachi: Authorities said the militants had been involved in several terrorist attacks on security forces.

China's mega international payment system is ready, will launch this year - report: The China International Payment System (CIPS) is due to kick off this year, bringing the yuan a step closer to becoming a global trading currency, as the new system will make payment transfers just as easy as in dollars and euro.

U.S. Military Moves To Russian Borders For First Time Ever: Approximately 750 U.S. Army and military vehicles and equipment, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery pieces and helicopters from the 3rd Infantry Division arrived in Riga, Latvia, on Monday by ship to support Operation Atlantic Resolve and planned Army-Europe multinational training exercises in that region.

Russia vows to respond to NATO presence near border: "The expanding military presence near the Russian border is not contributing to the restoration of trust with NATO," said Lavrov in a joint press conference with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo on Tuesday.

‘We did what we had to do’: Putin opens up on Crimea reunification plan: “It was the night of the 22nd,” Putin told Rossiya One’s Andrey Kondrashov. “We were done by 7 am. And I won't conceal it, when we were saying goodbye, I told my colleagues – there were four of them – that the situation in Ukraine has evolved in such a way that we have to start work on returning Crimea to being a part of Russia. We couldn't abandon the territory and people who live there, couldn't just throw them under this nationalist bulldozer.”

Ukraine: Poroshenko confirms rebel weapons moved: Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says pro-Russian rebels in the east have withdrawn a "significant" amount of heavy weapons. Speaking on TV, Mr Poroshenko said his government forces had also pulled back "the lion's share" of their rocket and heavy artillery systems.

The United States should provide weapons to Ukraine: Zbigniew Brzezinski: At a conference at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Brzezinski also emphasized that Russia is not ready for even a small war with the West.

Ukraine's NATO Membership Should Be Off the Table - Brzezinski: Former US National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski said that the US should make an arrangement with Russia ensuring that even if Ukraine becomes a member of the European Union, it will not become a member of NATO.

Russia, ISIS ‘greatest threats’ to UK security – Foreign Secretary Hammond: His speech comes only two days before a backbench debate on defense spending in the Commons, where MPs will discuss the UK’s current commitment to NATO’s 2 percent of GDP spending target.

Russia returns to Africa amid increasing isolation: Using old Soviet connections, Uganda and Russia sealed an energy deal - the latest in a string of Moscow moves.

Greece has enough cash to pay second IMF loan tranche: sources: Greece’s newly-elected government must pay around 1.5 billion euros to the IMF this month, but its cash reserves are dwindling as it seeks to rework a bailout deal with its European partners. It made the first, 310-million-euro payment on Friday, and the final two installments are due on March 16 and 20.

The CIA Campaign to Steal Apple’s Secrets: RESEARCHERS WORKING with the Central Intelligence Agency have conducted a multi-year, sustained effort to break the security of Apple’s iPhones and iPads, according to top-secret documents obtained by The Intercept.

Wikimedia v. NSA: Challenge to Mass Surveillance Under the FISA Amendments Act: The ACLU has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the NSA’s mass interception and searching of Americans’ international communications. At issue is the NSA's “upstream” surveillance, through which the U.S. government monitors almost all international – and many domestic – text-based communications.

Sign of Hope? Swedish Supreme Court Grants Julian Assange Appeal Hearing: As he waits in limbo inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, the Swedish Supreme Court has decided to accept an appeal hearing for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. The decision comes after Assange issued a challenge to his arrest on February 25.

New memories implanted in mice while they sleep: Sleeping minds: prepare to be hacked. For the first time, conscious memories have been implanted into the minds of mice while they sleep. The same technique could one day be used to alter memories in people who have undergone traumatic events.

U.S. declares Venezuela a national security threat, sanctions top officials: The United States on Monday declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

Venezuelan leader Maduro condemns new US sanctions: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called the latest US sanctions "the most aggressive, unjust and harmful step that has ever been taken by the US against Venezuela". In a televised address, Mr Maduro named one of seven officials sanctioned by the US as his new interior minister

Cuba, Bolivia, World Condemn US Sanctions on Venezuela: “How is Venezuela a threat to the United States? Thousands of kilometers away, without strategic weapons and without the resources … to conspire against the U.S. constitutional order; the (White House) declaration has little credibility,” read a statement published in newspaper Granma.

Bolivia to Raise Minimum Wage by 15 percent: Bolivian President Evo Morales made the announcement following lengthy negotiations between government officials and representatives from Bolivia’s largest trade union (COB).

Terror in Coahuila: Up to 300 disappeared in Mexico’s forgotten massacre: The official number of 1,808 disappeared in Coahuila is a hair-raising figure, more so because the majority of cases occurred in four years, since 2009. The real figure is unknown, but it likely far exceeds the official number, said Jorge Verástegui, founder of United Front for Coahuila’s Disappeared, or Fundec.

Mexico Oil, the US and “Narco – Terrorism?”: The drug war brought U.S. commandos into Mexico, but the opening of the country’s once publicly-owned energy resources to foreign investors may provide justification for the secretive American presence there to escalate—especially if the cartels are successfully painted as “narcoterrorists.”

Consumer Spending Tumbles: Stick a fork in the now proven wrong theory that plunging gas prices would boost consumer spending. Why? Because 4 months after the full impact of tumbling gas price was said to become apparent, consumer spending is not only not picking up, it is in fact slowing down more

Recovery? 50% More New Yorkers Sleeping In Shelters Than In 2010: February’s auto sales numbers and the rising rate of repeat foreclosures in January suggest that perhaps autos and housing aren’t doing as well as the media would have you believe.

UN expert slams US as only nation to imprison kids for life without parole: The United States was singled out Monday by a United Nations expert on torture for being the only country in the world that continues to sentence children to life in prison without parole.

America is literally on fire: How out-of-control oil spills are destroying our population centers: Disasters are raging with such force and regularity that firefighters have to give up. Welcome to the new reality

Temporary injunction bars man from smoking inside his Washington home after neighbors sue: A judge issued a temporary injunction last week saying neither Gray nor any family or guests may smoke in the home the family has owned for 50 years. Gray's sister, Mozella Johnson, says they will fight.

March 09, 2015

Berlin Rumbles Washington’s Hidden War Agenda

By Finian Cunningham

Washington’s reckless attempts to scuttle the shaky ceasefire in Ukraine are unnerving Germany. Continue

Why Is the West Spoiling for a Fight with Russia?

By Murray Dobbin

Canada, Britain, the U.S. and the boys with their toys in NATO headquarters are looking for a fight with Russia. Continue

German Intel: Breedlove is Bonkers!

By y Daniel McAdams

What official Germany really thinks about the US neocon push to war with Russia over Ukraine. Continue
Putin Wants to Eat Your Children

By David Swanson

It's Vladimir Putin's turn, which means Russia is at risk, which means the world is at risk. Continue

The Future Gaddafi Foresaw
Libya, ISIS and the Unaffordable Luxury of Hindsight

By Ahmad Barqawi

The bloody joke is on all of us; Gaddafi knew what he was talking about; Continue

The Real Story on Iran, US, Russia and China

By Pepe Escobar

The real story is, and will continue to be, how Iran, the key power in Southwest Asia, is about to be positioned in the nonstop complex ballet between the US, Russia and China. Continue

The Speech

By Uri Avnery

Iran is evil incarnate. It leaders are subhuman monsters. All over the world, Iranian terrorists are at work planning monstrous outrages. Continue

Republicans Warn Iran -- and Obama -- That Deal Won't Last:

By Josh Rogin

A group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran's leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama's administration won’t last after Obama leaves office. Continue

'Shadow CIA' Stratfor Claims EU, Russia Will Fall Apart

By Sputnik

Austin-based think tank Stratfor has released its Decade Forecast 2015-2025, predicting the imminent collapse of Russia and the EU and the decline of China, while the US and its allies flourish. Continue

War with Isis: The Kurdish Tiger's Roar Is Worse Than Its Bite

By Patrick Cockburn

These are the people who are paying the price for the Kurdish leadership’s delusions of grandeur and security. Continue

The Whoredom of the Left

By Chris Hedges

As prostitution and pornography become normalized, so does male violence against women. Continue

How to Die of Dumb

By William Rivers Pitt

Sen. James Inhofe, Republican of Oklahoma since 1994, took to the floor of the Senate the other day with a snowball in a bag. Continue

210 killed as Chad and Niger armies take two towns from Boko Haram: Chadian military source says 200 rebels killed in battle to seize Malam Fatouri and Damasak in northeast Nigeria. Ten Chadian soldiers were killed in the offensive that began on Sunday, the source told AFP news agency on Monday.

ISIS video claims to show execution of two Libyan soldiers : Footage shows three balaclava-clad gunmen standing behind the prisoners who are believed to have been captured in battles for the terror group's Libyan stronghold of Derna.

Libyan general sworn as top commander as his planes hit Tripoli airport: Extending a series of tit-for-tat strikes, the attack coincided with the swearing-in of Gen. Khalifa Haftar, one of the most divisive figures in post-revolutionary Libya, as army commander for the recognized government.

US-Led Airstrikes in Syria Kill 30, Mostly Civilians: According to reports from the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, several militants were killed in the attack. However, the rest of the victims were civilians and workers. Syrian authorities have not yet made an official statement.

Civilian deaths reported in coalition air raid on Syria refinery: US joint task force promises probe into monitoring group's claim of civilian fatalities in attack near Turkish border.

Nine Nusra fighters killed in Syria airstrike: An airstrike in northwestern Syria Sunday hit a camp used by the Nusra Front and killed at least nine of its fighters, an activist group said, in the second big attack on the group there in recent days.

German woman, 19, killed fighting ISIS in Syria: A German woman fighting with Kurdish militiamen was killed during heavy fighting with ISIS in northwestern Syria, officials said Monday, becoming the third known Westerner to be killed after taking up arms with Kurdish forces battling the extremist militants.

Iraq kills 60 ISIL militants in restive west: “Security forces, with support from the Army’s Air Force, have managed to conduct a painful strike on ISIL sites in the area of al-Qa’im,” the ministry spokesman General Officer Saad Mo’en said in the statement. “The operation resulted in killing 60 terrorists, including a number of top leaders within the ISIL group,” the spokesman added.

ISIS executes 20 opponents in northern Iraq: officials: The killings of the men, who wanted to join anti-ISIS paramilitary forces known as Popular Mobilization units, took place in the town of Hawijah, a police intelligence officer and two local officials said.

4 Dead in Al Qaeda's Attack on Yemen Army Base, Say Residents: At least two militants and two soldiers died in an Al Qaeda assault on an army base in southern Yemen early today, officials and residents said, in another sign of unravelling security.

PA arrests 30 Hamas activists in West Bank sweep: The arrests were taking place in tandem throughout the West Bank in a highly coordinated operation, Israel Radio said.

Israeli FM calls for beheading of Arab citizens disloyal to Israel: "Whoever is against us, there's nothing else to do. We have to lift up an axe and remove his head, otherwise we won't survive here." Lieberman said

Netanyahu says Israel will not cede land to Palestinians: "Today Netanyahu revealed his true face," Erekat said. "Since 1993, he worked hard for the destruction of the option of peace and the option of a two-state solution."

Republicans Warn Iran -- and Obama -- That Deal Won't Last: A group of 47 Republican senators has written an open letter to Iran's leaders warning them that any nuclear deal they sign with President Barack Obama's administration won’t last after Obama leaves office.

Afghanistan: 12 insurgents killed in separate incident: Six insurgents were killed in a fighting erupted between two insurgent groups and six others were killed in separate military actions.

Taliban to get 30% share in Afghan govt: Report: During the widely-reported peace talks, the Afghan government would offer Taliban with a 30 per cent share in the cabinet and in three provinces, Pakistani media reports on Sunday.

Tokyo firebombing - survivors recall most destructive air raid in history: An estimated 100,000 people perished in the firebomb raid on Tokyo in the night of March 9-10, 1945. At the same time, 1 million were rendered homeless and over 41 square kilometers of the city were razed to the ground.

Tensions reignite in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict: An escalation in attacks on civilians in the South Caucasus region is stoking fears of a return to all-out war.

Banned in China: "Under The Dome" Documentary on China's Pollution by Chai Jing (Best English Subtitles)

Marc Faber: Prepare for a Gold-Backed Chinese Currency: China will eventually switch to a gold-backed currency. He bases this on the widespread understanding that China has larger gold reserves than is officially reported. Faber also explained why the US dollar’s days as a global currency are numbered.

Prime suspect says Nemtsov killed over 'negative comments on Muslims' – report: Zaur Dadaev, who had reportedly confessed involvement in Nemtsov’s murder, said he organized the crime in revenge for the opposition leader’s “negative comments on Muslims and Islam,” according to Rosbalt’s source in law enforcement.

Kasparov Expects Violent Uprising in Russia: Putin’s opponents from all over the world keep using the murder of the opposition politician to put the blame on the Russian President. It is clear that a Russian revolution is their intended aim.

Russia Responds To European Army Proposal: Rattles "Nuclear" Sabre: First deputy chairman of the United Russia faction in the State Duma, Frants Klintsevich, told the media on Sunday that "in the nuclear age extra armies do not provide any additional security. But they surely can play a provocative role," adding it was regrettable that such ideas had already met with some support.

US sends heavy armor to Baltic states to 'deter' Russia: The deliveries are intended to "demonstrate resolve to President [Vladimir] Putin and Russia that collectively we can come together," U.S. Major General John R. O'Connor told AFP as he oversaw the delivery of the equipment in the port of Riga.

Putin signs law on ratification of $100 billion BRICS New Development Bank deal: The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) was set up to challenge two major Western-led giants – the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. NDB's key role will be to serve as a pool of currency for infrastructure projects within a group of five countries with major emerging national economies - Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

European Central Bank Launches Trillion-Euro Stimulus: The chief monetary authority for the 19 countries that use the euro confirmed Monday it had begun the purchases, which aim to make credit cheaper, boost growth and raise inflation. ECB President Mario Draghi had announced the start date last week, sending stocks higher and the euro lower.

Extremism in Britain: Now the crackdown is launched: A leaked draft of the Home Office’s new counter-extremism strategy, seen by The Telegraph, targets Sharia courts and calls for a ban on radicals working unsupervised with children over fears the young could be brainwashed.

UK finally repays its First World War debts: Britain's outstanding First World War debt has been repaid after the chancellor redeemed £1.9 billion from an outstanding bond – almost 100 years after the war ended.

Abbott: Australia 'sick of being lectured' on migration: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said the country is "sick of being lectured" by the UN over its treatment of asylum seekers. It comes after the special rapporteur on torture said some aspects violated the convention against torture. Australia detains all asylum seekers who arrive by boat, holding them in offshore processing camps.

Australia: High-risk inmates at NSW super-max jail banned from speaking Arabic: State attorney general says 13 prisoners charged with terror offences will be banned from using languages other than English in phone calls and visits

Florida officials banned form saying 'climate change' or 'global warming' : Former staff members from the state's Department for Environmental Protection (DEP) confirmed they were not allowed to use the phrases in reports, emails or official communications because it is 'not a true fact'.

10 Reasons Why The US Unemployment Numbers Are A Massive Lie: It is my contention that the official “unemployment rate” has become so politicized and so manipulated that it is essentially meaningless at this point. The following are 10 reasons why.