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Flim Flam Fiscal Cliff Legislation
by Stephen Lendman
Senate members met, debated, negotiated, passed stopgap legislation, and largely delayed deficit cutting for later. On Tuesday, the House followed suit. Obama will sign it into law or may already have done so. Media reports announced it. The New York Times headlined "Senate Passes Legislation to Allow Taxes on Affluent to Rise." Members voted 89-8. The Washington Post said "Obama, Senate Republicans reach agreement on 'fiscal cliff.' " The Wall Street Journal headlined "US Budget Compromise Deal Reached."
A New York Times editorial called it "A Tepid Fiscal Agreement." As this is written, House up or down follow-through awaits. Expect House Republicans to back strong party-line Senate support.
The conspiracy to thwart Palestinian hopes for freedom
Stuart Littlewood
This Christmas the Palestinian embassy in London sent out a particularly pathetic message.
Headed Palestine mulling ICC if UN takes no action on settlements, it warned that if the UN Security Council didn't act against Israeli settlements Palestine would "consider complaining to the International Criminal Court, an option made available by Palestine’s admission as a non-member state to the UN in November".
What is there to mull? In all the years since 1967 what action has the Security Council taken to halt Israel's illegal settlements? Even now, does it show any sign of doing so?
Preventing the Coming U.S. Disaster in the Caucasus
By David Boyajian
The United States is risking a disastrous renewal of war in the Caucasus between Armenians and Azeris over the breakaway Armenian-populated Republic of Mountainous Karabagh (RMK, or Artsakh in ancient Armenian).
A new war between Azerbaijan and RMK (with its ally, Armenia) would undoubtedly destroy much of Azerbaijan’s energy industry. This includes key Azeri oil and gas pipelines which lie just a few miles north of RMK and snake through Georgia and Turkey.
Azerbaijan’s economy and corrupt government are massively dependent on oil and gas revenue and would be in deep trouble. The already conflict-ridden Caucasus -- recall the Abkhazia stalemate and 2008’s Russian-Georgian war over South Ossetia – would be hopelessly destabilized. U.S. policy, in particular, would lie in tatters.
Venezuelan Leadership Up for Grabs?
by Stephen Lendman
New reports about Chavez's health raise concerns. He's struggling to recover from complicated cancer surgery. Previous articles explained. More on his current status below.
On October 7, Venezuelans overwhelmingly reelected him. They want no one else leading them. He transformed national politics responsibly. He established participatory democracy and social justice.
He significantly improved the lives of Venezuela's poor. Constitutional and statute law mandate vital social services.
They include universal healthcare, education, subsidized food, housing assistance, land reform, job training, micro-credit, and more. He's a populist hero. He'll be hard to replace.
Beating Up on Iran and Syria
by Stephen Lendman
A new Press TV poll shows 72% of respondents believe ravaging Syria continues "to destroy the (regional) axis of anti-Israeli resistance…."
Only 8% said Washington, its allies, and Islamofacist fighters attacked Assad because he's undemocratic. Neither is America, Israel, key NATO partners, and rogue regional collaborators.
Press TV also reported that Iran's Deputy Armed Forces Chief of Staff, General Massoud Jazayeri, said Israel's threat to attack Iran is falsified hype. Israeli Air Force Commander Major General Amir Eshel accused Iran of arming Hamas. He threatened retaliation to strike at "the heart of Tehran."
Can American leaders lead?
By Alan Hart
The longer version of the headline question is this: Given the corruption of the American political system which puts what passes for democracy up for sale to the highest lobby bidders, will any U.S. President (not only a second-term Obama) ever be able to shape and implement policies which best serve the longer term interests of all Americans rather than the short-term interests of the most powerful lobbies?
Usually that question or something very like it is asked in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict, when a president has demonstrated with rhetoric a desire to advance the co-called peace process and has been blocked by the Zionist (not Israel) lobby and its stooges in Congress. But today, following the slaughter of the innocents in Connecticut, the question has a domestic context.
Two New Year's resolutions for the state of Arkansas
Mary Shaw
West Memphis Three convicted the 1993 murders of three eight-year-old boys
I propose two New Year's resolutions for the state of Arkansas:
1. Fully exonerate the West Memphis Three.
2. Reopen the case and find the real killer(s).
The world will be watching.
On Christmas Day, 2012, the documentary film West of Memphis opened in New York City and Los Angeles. It will be more widely released starting in January. The film tells the updated story of the West Memphis Three - a trio of men who were convicted as teenagers for the 1993 murders of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Presumed ringleader Damien Echols, who was 18 years old at the time of the murders, was sentenced to death. His codefendants, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Miskelley, Jr., who were still minors at the time, were both sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Stop Obama’s Ongoing Grand Charade to Cut Social Insurances
By Margaret Flowers
Here we go again. President Obama is in round three of his ongoing efforts to cut our important social insurances, such as Social Security and Medicare. Whether he succeeds or not is up to us. We can create a stronger economy and healthier population by strengthening and expanding our social insurances and switching to a green energy economy.
Round 1: In April, 2010, shortly after President Obama signed into law a health bill that further privatizes our health care system and while all attention was on this ‘historic achievement’, Obama created the National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. He appointed Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles as chairs of what was commonly known as the Deficit Commission and loaded the panel with 14 deficit hawks out of the total of 18 appointees. The commission was given the power to create a deficit plan that would go to Congress for an up or down vote.
Cliff Notes
by Stephen Lendman
Congressional/administration hype, theater, gamesmanship, brinksmanship, and duplicity define yearend fiscal cliff discussions. Previous articles explained what's at stake. Years ago, Republicans and Democrats conspired to destroy America's social contract. Militarism, imperial dominance, tyranny, corporate/super-rich priorities, class war, and widening the unprecedented wealth disparity followed.
Economist Jack Rasmus calls fiscal cliff subterfuge "austerity American style."
Media scoundrels conceal what readers and viewers most need to know. Fiscal cliff hype shows what they're up against. Eleventh hour discussions continue.
Congress Extends Warrantless Spying
by Stephen Lendman
America's political process is lawless, corrupt and dysfunctional. Fiscal cliff hype, noise and theater continue. Destroying fundamental civil society social protections aren't mentioned.
Rushed through legislation targeted Iran's growing Latin American influence. On December 28, Obama signed the Countering Iran in Western Hemisphere Act.
It requires the State Department to "address Iran's growing hostile presence and activity." Washington wants the Islamic Republic shut out of the region entirely. It wants it isolated globally.
In 2005, Iran had five regional embassies. Today it has 11. Washington's influence is declining. Its traditional backyard grows more independent. Over time, imperial extremism makes more enemies than friends.
Police state harshness intensifies domestically. Presidential diktat authority overrides constitutional law. Secret kill lists mark targeted individuals for death.
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