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America’s Intelligence Spying Scandal Draws Global Outrage
Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.
From George Bush onward to President Obama, the sadistic politics of the few flourishes in darkness being unable to know the difference between the foes and friends, fair and foul. The draconian mindsets try to envisage the unknown - the distant future out of the perpetuated animosity if missing dots and codes and secret voices could usher something useful to protect the solidarity of the few warmongers. They have not learned any lessons from the living history to be compatible with the civilized norms of the contemporary relationships. Edward Snowden and Glenn Greenwald are blamed for much of the uproar coming out of the disclosures of secretive American spying networks, yet, both are taken seriously by the global community and appear to have earned moral and intellectual credibility as responsible citizens of the global mankind. President Obama and others need to work hard to earn respect, not claim it. In the 21st century knowledge-based rational culture of global thinking and relationships most nations have one image, one face to be recognized with in international affairs, but America has many and conflicting ones unknown to the informed global community. Its policies and practices have generated worldwide reactions coupled with resentment and interwoven emotions of fear and hatred. Its most reliable allies and ethnically trusted friends are questioning its sincerity and intents of collaborative relationships. America’s individualistic absolute rulers and politicians are not deterred but appear out of touch to defend their conspired onslaught on the friendly European and other nations by the on-going illegal spying networks conducted by the NSA- the federal agency under scrutiny.
Counterinsurgency, Death Squads, and the Population as the Target: Empire Under Obama, Part 4
By: Andrew Gavin Marshall
While the American Empire – and much of the policies being pursued – did not begin under President Obama, the focus of “Empire Under Obama” is to bring awareness about the nature of empire to those who may have – or continue – to support Barack Obama and who may believe in the empty promises of “hope” and “change.” Empire is institutional, not individual. My focus on the imperial structure during the Obama administration is not to suggest that it does not predate Obama, but rather, that Obama represents ‘continuity’ in imperialism, not “change.” This part examines the concept of ‘counterinsurgency’ as a war against the populations of Iraq, Afghanistan and spreading into Pakistan.
Whistle-blowers: Trying Hard Not to Adjust to a Sick Society
By Gary G. Kohls, MD
“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti, Asian Indian philosopher
Last weekend, I talked my two grandsons into joining me to watch “The Fifth Estate”, the new feature film about WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange. The movie is being marketed as an “action thriller” and is reportedly having a hard time competing, revenue-wise, with two current block-buster movies, “Gravity” and “Captain Phillips”. (I don’t doubt that fact because, at the end of the Saturday afternoon screening, we were the only ones left in the theater; folks who had been in the audience at the beginning had bailed out, presumably for more mindless, more entertaining fare elsewhere in the multiplex theater.)
NSA Spies on Pope
by Stephen Lendman
NSA spies on world leaders, so why not? Even the Holy See isn't spy proof. It's not off limits.
Pope Francis is monitored. Most likely Benedict XVI. Perhaps John Paul II through at least some of his papacy. NSA spies globally. No one's safe from its intrusive eye.
On October 30, the Italian publication Panorama headlined "Esclusiva Panorama: Datagate, anche il Papa è stato intercettato (Exclusive Panorama: Datagate, even the Pope was intercepted).
Reuters covered the story. On October 30, it headlined "Italian magazine says US spies listened to pope, Vatican says unaware."
Internal Vatican communications are monitored. So are phone calls from the Domus Sanctae Marthae. It's Pope Francis' current home. It's where cardinals reside during papal conclaves.
Israel's Deplorable Human Rights Record
by Stephen Lendman
The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) conducts Universal Periodic Reviews. It calls doing so "a unique process which involves a review of the human rights records of all (193) UN Member States."
It's an "opportunity for each State to declare what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situations in their countries and to fulfill their human rights obligations."
It's "designed to ensure equal treatment for every country when their human rights situations are assessed."
In January, Israel became the first country to opt out. It no-showed disgracefully. It calls legitimate criticism anti-Israeli bias. It got a second chance. On October 29, it showed up in Geneva. Complicit EU allies rigged the process. Doing so gave Israel special treatment. It's the only UN member state so afforded.
Anti-Defamation League's Top 10 Anti-Israeli Groups
by Stephen Lendman
ADL fronts for Jewish supremacy. It supports Israeli rights over Arabs. It backs occupation harshness. It believes colonizing Palestine for dominance and exploitation is OK.
It's one of 52 Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization (CPMAJO) Zionist organizations.
They disseminate pro-Israeli propaganda. They conduct smear campaigns against its critics. They spew hate and malicious lies.
They do so under the ruse of fighting anti-semitism. They claim support for human rights equitably for all. Their policies are polar opposite.
ADL's history is long and disturbing. It's shamelessly loathsome. It believes Arabs are inferior to Jews.
Remembering Michael Mandel
by Stephen Lendman
On October 27, Mandel died peacefully at home. He passed from cardiac amyloidosis. It's a rare heart disease. It causes arrhythmias, heart blockage disturbances and death.
He died in his 67th year. He went much too soon. He was too good a man to lose. He's badly missed.
He was seriously ill for months. He was a good friend. He was a valued guest on this writer's Progressive Radio News Hour. Since earlier this year, he was too ill to return.
He's survived by his wife Karen, children Max, Giulia, Lucy, Tevi and Orly, and sister Sharon Fuller.
Iranian Reality v. US/Israeli Lies
by Stephen Lendman
Beating up on Iran is longstanding. For Israel, Washington and most Western states, the Islamic Republic can do no right.
Lies substitute for truth. Fiction pretends it's fact. Iran's nuclear program is entirely peaceful. No evidence suggests otherwise.
Iran threatens no one. Not according to New York Times editors. "No country feels more threatened than Israel," they say.
This type bluster rings hollow. Iran hasn't attacked another country in centuries. It threatens none now. Don't expect Times editors to explain.
Obamacare Sticker Shock
by Stephen Lendman
Obama sold smoke and mirrors. He makes used car salesmen look respectable by comparison. His Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides unaffordable coverage.
Millions of households have to pay 40% or more out-of-pocket. It's for co-pays and deductibles. It's on top of costly premiums.
Coverage for 50-year-olds making $46,100 is $10,585. Co-pays and deductibles add up to another $6,250.
Healthcare in America is double its cost in other developed countries. It's increasingly less affordable. Little is done to constrain annual price hikes. It wasn't always this way. A previous article explained.
In 1960, healthcare as a percent of GDP was 5.1%. In 2002, it was 15%. In 2011, it was 17.9%. By 2020, it'll exceed 20%.
Palestinian Prisoner Releases
by Stephen Lendman
Thousands of Palestinian political prisoners languish in Israel's gulag. It's one of the world's worst.
Many innocent victims are held uncharged or tried. Thousands are wrongfully imprisoned based on nonexistent secret evidence. Women are treated like men. Children are treated like adults.
Horrific conditions include cruel and degrading treatment, food unfit to eat, medical neglect, poor ventilation, sanitation and personal hygiene, inadequate clothing, and frequent solitary confinement for any reason or none at all.
Last summer, Netanyahu got cabinet approval to release 104 prisoners. Freeing them is coincidental with so-called peace talks.
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