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US officials confess to targeting Iran’s civilian population, Condemned by every syllable they utter
Franklin Lamb
Tehran -- Azadeh, a graduate law student from Tehran University, on the sidelines of Iran’s Third Annual Hollywoodis (http://www.hollywoodism.orghttp) reminded her interlocutors, of the obvious damming admissions last week by two US politicians:
“It would be a defense lawyer’s worst nightmare wouldn’t it? I mean to have one's clients, in this case the Vice-President of the United States and the outgoing Secretary of state confess so publicly to serial international crimes against a civilian population?”
The confessions and the crimes, she correctly enumerated to her audience, were those admitted to by US Vice-President Joe Biden and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this past week.
Whitewashing Extrajudicial Killing
by Stephen Lendman
Extrajudicial killing is official US policy. Doing so violates fundamental international, constitutional, and US statute laws.
Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:
"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person."
Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states:
"Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life."
Common Article 3 of the four Geneva Conventions states:
"(T)he passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples" are prohibited at all times under all circumstances with no exceptions.
Washington and Israel Target Iran
by Stephen Lendman
Escalating anti-Iranian tensions continues. More on what's ongoing below.
February 10 marks Iran's 1979 revolution's 34th anniversary. On January 31, 10 days of commemorative activities began.
Imam Khomeini was exiled for 15 years in Paris. On February 1, 1979, he returned to Tehran. Doing so marked the beginning of Ten Days of Dawn.
On February 10, they culminated successfully. A generation of repressive Reza Shah Pahlavi rule ended. He was Washington's man in Tehran.
Big Oil’s in Good Hands with Sally Jewell
by Stephen Lendman
On February 6, Obama chose Jewell as new Interior Secretary. More on her below.
She'll replace Ken Salazar. He supported BP's Deepwater Horizon operation. He ignored environmental risks. He approved BP's exploration plan with no environmental analysis.
His negligence permitted Gulf of Mexico disaster. After BP's rig exploded, he granted "categorical exemptions" to expand offshore drilling. He surpassed Bush administration policies.
He and Obama share culpability. They back dangerous nuclear expansion. They're beholden to oil and gas interests. Drill, drill, drill is official policy. Lip service alone is paid to environmental concerns.
Salazar's environmental record was deplorable. As junior Colorado senator, he opposed fuel efficiency. He supported unrestricted oil and gas drilling on federal lands.
New York Times Misinformation on Syria
by Stephen Lendman
Managed news misinformation reflects official Times policy. It's standard practice. It's longstanding.
Truth is verboten. It's systematically avoided. Readers are betrayed. They're lied to daily.
On January 31, the Gloria Center Global Research in International Affairs asked if Times editors published "obviously faked photos." PJ Media's Middle East editor Barry Rubin's report was featured.
Suspect photos should have raised red flags. They should have been rejected. Times editors gave them front page coverage. Others were featured in a gallery online.
The front page caption read:
"Top, two insurgents in Damascus took positions before being hit by army snipers; the fighter on the right died soon after being dragged from the line of fire."
"On the political front, Syria’s top opposition leader expressed a willingness for the first time to talk with the government."
Extrajudicial Killing: Official US Policy
by Stephen Lendman
Since taking office, Obama headed America toward full-blown tyranny. He enforces Bush administration police state laws. He added more of his own. He governs like a tinpot despot. He targets free expression, dissent, whistleblowing, and other constitutional freedoms. He usurped diktat authority.
He spurns civil protections, judicial fairness, and other fundamental rights. Abuse of power is institutionalized.
By executive order, he authorized anyone indefinitely detained with or without charge on his say. He promised to close Guantanamo but keeps it open. He operates a secret global torture prison network.
Israeli State Terror Crowd Control Weapons
by Stephen Lendman
State terror is official Israeli policy. Community incursions, assaults, and other violent incidents occur daily. Palestinian suffering follows.
They have no rights. Peaceful demonstrators are attacked. In August 1967, Israel issued Military Order No. 101 ("Order Regarding Prohibition of Incitement and Hostile Propaganda Actions," as later amended).
Public or private political gatherings, assemblies, processions, or vigils of more than 10 Palestinians without permission are prohibited.
Any attempt to "influence public opinion….in a manner liable to harm public safety or public order" is considered lawless.
Publications "contain(ing) material with political significance" are banned. They include printed, photographed, recorded, filmed, online, or other materials.
Displaying national symbols is prohibited. Military commanders have full authority. They "may empower any soldier or police officer….to exercise his powers in accordance with this order."
Targeting Younas Abdullah Muhammad
by Stephen Lendman
American disparagement of Muslims is longstanding. In his book "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People
From silent films to recent ones, they advance prejudicial attitudes. They reinforce malicious stereotypes. They foster notions of Western values, high-mindedness, and moral superiority.
Post-9/11, the gloves came off. Fear-mongering replaced reason. It's used for political advantage. Muslims are maliciously targeted. They're characterized as gun-toting terrorists.
Rule of law principles don't matter. Innocent victims are persecuted for their faith, ethnicity, prominence, activism, and charity. Guilt by accusation is policy.
Some of America's best and brightest are targeted, hunted down, rounded up, falsely charged, detained, isolated, denied bail, tortured, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence, convicted on bogus charges, and given long sentences for being Muslims in America at the wrong time.
Inaugural Hypocrisy
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed America's quadrennial exercise in hypocrisy. I's institutionalized. It conceals the nation's dark side.
Pomp and circumstance hide neoliberal harshness. War is portrayed as peace. Lawless government is called legitimate. Democracy never existed and doesn't now.
Freedom in America is endangered. Bipartisan complicity plans destroying it altogether.
America is on a fast track toward tyranny and ruin. Police state laws threaten everyone.
Activism and dissent are marginalized. Increasingly they're not tolerated. Supporting what's right is called dangerous to national security.
Targeting Chavismo
by Stephen Lendman
Dark Washington forces never quit. Nor do media scoundrels. Chavez is fair game. Since 1999, he's been maliciously targeted and maligned. Ill or well makes no difference.
Alberto Barrera Tyszka and Cristina Macano are unapologetic. They represent neoliberal corporate views. They got feature New York Times op-ed space. They headlined "Chavez, the missing President," saying:
Venezuela is "experiencing the very odd circumstance of being both with and without its leader; he is not here, but his voice endures."
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