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My Prediction: Bernie Sanders Will Win the White House
Eric Zuesse
On May 12th, I presented my analysis of the polling as of that time, headlining, “The Early Signs of Whom The Next U.S. President Will Likely Be: Presidential Polls Look Confusing Regarding Bernie, But Downright Bad Regarding Hillary & All Republicans.” Based on the net-favorability ratings of candidates in the first poll that had really meaningful results on that most important of all factors (which poll had just been published), and also based on the latest available reliable poll of Americans’ ideological preferences (which had been taken in 2011, but that’s okay because ideology changes only very slowly), I concluded that Vermont U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders was likely to surprise on the upside at the start of his contest, and that, "Sanders would probably be able to crush any Republican except perhaps Rand Paul, if he were to win the Democratic primaries.” He is already surprising on the upside (though pundits haven’t yet caught on that Hillary’s a dud), and so I am now predicting that Sanders will win, first, the Democratic nomination, and then the White House. But, first, to summarize:
Ban Ki-moon Supports Israeli High Crimes
by Stephen Lendman
He's a longstanding imperial tool. He consistently violates core UN Charter provisions - notably Chapter XV, Article 100.
It mandates secretary-generals "not (to) seek or receive instructions from any government or from any other authority external to the Organization."
"Each Member of the United Nations undertakes to respect the exclusively international character of the responsibilities of the Secretary-General and the staff and not to seek to influence them in the discharge of their responsibilities." He broke every major pledge made - including working for nuclear disarmament, advancing global health, sustainable development, education, saving lives, promoting democracy, supporting justice, championing human rights, and "creating a new dimension for the responsibility to protect."
Netanyahu Bluster: Serial Lying Conceals Ugly Truths
by Stephen Lendman
Israel is a repressive, aggressive, lawless, racist police state - ruled by degenerate hate-mongers waging war on Occupied Palestinians and its 20% Arab population.
Netanyahu is an unindicted war criminal - guilty of wars of aggression, mass murder and daily persecution of Palestinians for not being Jews.
He deplores peace, stability, equity and justice. He enforces vicious police state practices. Palestinians challenging Israeli authority risk harassment, beatings, arrest, imprisonment, torture and/or death.
Netanyahu's demagoguery is notorious. He lost credibility long ago. On Sunday, he blustered:
"We are in the midst of a great struggle being waged against the state of Israel, an international campaign to blacken its name."
"It is not connected to our actions. It is connected to our very existence. It does not matter what we do. It matters what we symbolize and what we are."
A Critique of US “Grand Strategy toward China” Seven Mistaken Assumptions, Presumptions and Prescriptions
James Petras
“We will have a very strong (military) presence, very strong continued posture throughout the region to back our commitments to our allies, to protect and work with our partners and to continue ensuring peace and stability in the region, as well as back our diplomacy vis-à-vis China on the South China Sea”.
David Shear, US Department of Defense’s Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs.
Indian President Modi “seals $22 billion of deals on China visit... China had already promised $20 billion of infrastructure investment during (Chinese President) Xi’s visit to India last year”. Financial Times (5/18/165, p. 4)
Introduction
The highly influential Council on Foreign Relations recently published a Special Report entitled, “Revising US Grand Strategy toward China”, (Council on Foreign Relations Press: NY 2015), co-authored by two of its Senior Fellows, Robert Blackwill and Ashley Tellis (‘B and T’), which proposes a re-orientation of US policy toward China. The Report a policy for buttressing ‘US primacy in Asia’ and countering what they describe as “the dangers that China’s geo-economic and military power pose to US national interests in Asia and globally”. The Report concludes by listing seven recommendations that Washington should follow to re-assert regional primacy.
Ukraine Threatens Total Blockade on Donbass
by Stephen Lendman
Kiev junta officials violated virtually all Minsk II ceasefire terms straightaway. An immediate ceasefire was agreed on.
Junta forces attack Donbass areas daily. Civilian neighborhoods are deliberately targeted.
Washington pretends to know nothing about what's happening in official statements or outrageously blames Donbass freedom fighters for Kiev high crimes.
All heavy weapons were to be repositioned well behind the contact line to create a minimum 50 km security zone. Kiev refused to comply.
Numerous other provisions continue being systematically ignored - including providing safe access, delivery, storage and distribution of humanitarian aid to needy Donbass residents.
On May 28, Ukraine's interior minister Arsen Avakov called for a full Donbass blockade - isolating it from other regions.
Western Long Knives Out for FIFA's Sepp Blatter?
by Stephen Lendman
A separate article discussed US Justice Department indictments against 14 current and former FIFA officials.
Blatter wasn't named but isn't out of the woods. US prosecutors indicated what's announced isn't "the final chapter. It is not over," they said.
FBI Director James Comey indicated "work will continue until all of the corruption is uncovered and a message is sent around the world."
Swiss Attorney General spokesman Andre Marty said Blatter "could be questioned. (E)very person involved in the allocation of the World Cups might be questioned."
Scoundrel Media FIFA Bashing
by Stephen Lendman
Amateur and professional sports are big business. It's no surprise they're rife with corruption. With billions of dollars at stake, anything goes, most often unaccountably.
Organized crime is involved. Crooked deals take place behind closed doors.
Corruption has many forms - including bribes, kickbacks, rigged construction bids, money laundering, front companies, exploitation of amateur athletes, and lots more.
Big-time US college sports are notoriously corrupt. Runaway commercialism is pervasive. Schools sell their souls for lucrative advertiser sponsorships, television contracts, ticket, concession and merchandise sales, licensing fees and other revenue sources.
Washington Wages War on International Soccer
by Stephen Lendman
Is there more to what's going on than meets the eye? In January 2011, FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Russian Sports minister Vitaly Mulko signed a declaration on Russia's official status as 2018 World Cup host nation.
At the time, Vladimir Putin said Russia would "use the experience…already gained in preparing for the Sochi Olympics in 2014."
Blatter expressed "certain(ty) that the World Cup (would) be held at the highest level and…turn into a truly magnificent event."
Russia won out over Britain, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. It plans to host the event in 13 cities. It intends making it first-class world event.
Thank you Rand Paul for a Patriotic Act
Michael Collins
It’s official. The United States government’s main vehicle for the bulk capture of telephonic and electronic communication metadata, Section 215 of the Patriot Act, expired at midnight May 31, 2015 thanks to Senator Rand Paul (R, KY). Paul’s tactics in the United States Senate forced the expiration. This is a major victory for all those whose phone calls, emails, and other electronic communication can be intercepted by a vast array of National Security Agency computer systems and software; just about anybody in the United States.
When Paul announced his intention to force expiration of Section 215, he promised a no compromise effort that would achieve the state goal. Leaders in both parties opposed this effort. Three Republican presidential candidates support extending Section 215: Jeb Bush and Senators Lindsay Graham (R, SC) and Marco Rubio (R, FL). Candidate, Senator Ted Cruz, (R, TX) sided with Paul on the issue. Democrat front-runner Hillary Clinton supported an alternative to the expired provisions while Senator Bernie Sanders, (I, VT) supported Paul’s efforts.
President Barack Obama and his CIA Director John Brennan hauled out the heavy artillery against Paul. On May 29, Obama said:
Policing Solidarity
By Gilad Atzmon
I believe it was my recent expose of JVP’s harassment, slander and herem (excommunication) campaigns that led to a new petition calling on us to “End slander in the pro-Palestine movement online.”
Of course I oppose slander and abuse, but I also reject any form of censorship and thought control. Even though, more than anyone else, I have been the target of vile slander, I will not sign this petition nor will I support it.
The petition pledges to “block”, “delete” and/or “remove” those who behave in such a way as to interfere with ‘unity’. Do I have to remind our activist ‘undersigners’ that while ‘unity’ is not exactly a value, truth, justice and freedom most certainly are?
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