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Mid-April Venezuelan Presidential Elections Scheduled
by Stephen Lendman
Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena announced Sunday, April 14. Acting President Nicolas Maduro carries Chavez's torch.
He'll do it responsibly. Millions of Venezuelans depend on him. He won't them down. It won't be easy. He faces enormous obstacles. So did Chavez.
Turkey Targets Press Freedom
by Stephen Lendman
No country imprisons more journalists than Turkey. Ragip Zarakolu understands well. He's a prominent human rights activist/publisher. He's a former Nobel Peace Prize nominee. He's been maliciously targeted for years.
In 1998, he won the International Publishers Association (IPA) International Freedom to Publish Award. He couldn't attend the Frankfurt ceremony. Authorities confiscated his passport.
"I told you so..."
By Michael Collins
General Karl W. Eikenberry was right in November 2009 when he urged less support for an Afghanistan ruled by President Hamid Karzai. President Obama and Generals Stanley McChrystal and David Petraeus all wanted a surge. The policy failed. The general won't say it but he told them so in a second opinion solicited by Obama. Look at the facts. (Image)
The Bush administration hand-picked Hamid Karzai to be the first ruler of Afghanistan. Following the axiom, nothing good comes out of the Bush administration; is it any surprise that Karzai oscillated between less than effective and a near disaster? Lately, he's gone nonlinear.
On February 25, Karzai ordered United States Special Forces out of three provinces claiming that Afghan troops tied to the U.S. command were torturing their fellow citizens. As U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel arrived in Kabul on March 11, Karzai accused the U.S. of "colluding with the Taliban." He added the odd notion that the Taliban sought a prolonged U.S. presence in Afghanistan.
Retired Army colonel David Maxwell of Georgetown University remarked: “I cannot see how we could work with such an apparently delusional leader much longer, but unfortunately I do not know if we have any other good options.” Bloomberg, Mar 11
It didn't have to be this way.
New York Times v. Hugo Chavez
by Stephen Lendman
The Paper of Record's history is longstanding and unprincipled. It supports corporate and imperial interests. It deplores populist ones. It features managed news misinformation. It betrays its readers doing so.
When America goes to war or plans one, it marches in lockstep. It's comfortable with neoliberal harshness. It abhors progressive politics. It supports wrong over right.
It suppresses "All the News That's Fit to Print." It ignores America's march to tyranny. It endorses policies demanding condemnation. It's typical Times.
It vilified Chavez throughout his tenure. It did so unfairly. It shamed itself doing so. It matters what it says. It's America's leading voice. It prioritizes propaganda. It has global clout. It lies for power.
After Chavez's December 1998 election, Times Latin American correspondent, Larry Roher, called him a "populist demagogue, an authoritarian….caudillo (strongman)." He lied saying so.
Hugo Chavez, World Leaders and Cancer Deaths—Indications that the Cure Exists (For a Chosen Few)
by Janet C. Phelan
The death this past week of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez raises some disturbing questions. It was reported that the iconoclastic and controversial leader succumbed to a two-year-long battle with cancer. In so doing, he may have been the first world leader to lose his life to cancer since 1980, when the Shah of Iran succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while in exile.
With cancer deaths figuring at 23% of the mortality rate in the United States (cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries and the second leading cause of death in developing countries), one might think that the Big C might be striking down leaders of countries with the same regularity as it afflicts everyone else. The rather unusual and nearly universal tendency for the power elite to sidestep cancer death has raised questions as to whether or not the powers-that-be might be bogarting the cure.
Since Hugo Chavez was leading his country, boldly, in a manner that distinguished his leadership from the lockstep, pro-American arse licking that typifies most of the world's statesmen at this juncture in time, one might ask if the power elite specifically bogarted the cure from Hugo Chavez.
Op-Ed: March for Women's Rights honors those killed by police.
by Ruth Hull
International women's day marchIn Los Angeles, women march in support of their very right to live while families of those killed by police violence speak out and the case against Chris Dorner continues to collapse.
On March 9, 2013 WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend) with the assistance of the ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition and other human rights groups, rallied and marched to protest violence against women in Los Angeles. A rally with powerful speeches was followed by a march from Hollywood and Vine to Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Chants included, “Stop the rape and stop the violence; we know the truth; we won’t be silenced,” and “Wherever we go, whatever we wear, ‘yes’ means ‘yes’ and ‘no’ means ‘no.’”
Time for Outrage!
By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
“Ninety-three years old. The last leg of my journey. The end is in sight. I am lucky to be able to seize the time I have left to reflect on my lifelong commitment to politics: the Resistance and the program designed sixty-six years ago by the National Council of the Resistance.”
These are the opening lines from “A Time for Outrage!” (“Indignez-vous!”) a 35 page book written by Stephane Hessel in 2010 which sold 3 million copies in 30 languages and inspired protests like “Occupy” in the United States and The Indignados in Spain. Hassel died this week at the age of 95.
Each week we see reasons for outrage and, thankfully, more and more people are joining the culture of resistance.
Tuesday, the judge in the Bradley Manning case turned more than 1,000 days in prison, one-third of it in tortuous conditions in Kuwait and Quantico, into 90 days. The judge allowed excuses for the delays based on the complexity of the case and the secret documents involved so that it fell just under the 120 statutory limit for a speedy trial. Judge Denise Lind does not publish her opinions, (also outrageous) but read for two hours in court, making it almost impossible to analyze the basis of her making 1,000 = 90.
Caught red-handed
By Khalid Amayreh in occupied Palestine
It is fairly certain by now that Arafat Jaradat, who died earlier this week at an Israel jail, was tortured to death by his murderous interrogators.
An Israeli propaganda effort to dilute the issue and create an impression of ambiguity surrounding the incident seems to have failed to dispel the damning evidence corroborating the torture hypothesis.
The autopsy performed on the innocent victim's body showed unmistakable signs of physical torture, including lacerations, internal bleeding, broken limbs as well as scars of violent beating and muscle tear.
Besides, the indecisive tone of Israeli denials strongly suggests a certain foul play and that Israel has something to hide.
Serial Killer Heads CIA
by Stephen Lendman
Chalmers Johnson called the CIA the president's private army. Imperial Rome had its praetorian guard. It served and protected emperors.
CIA rogues work the same way. They do lots more than that. Extrajudicial killing is prioritized. Much that goes on is secret. Unaccountability keeps Congress and ordinary people uninformed.
A Nation Mourns
by Stephen Lendman
Venezuelans mourn their great loss. Visceral grief pervades the country. Chavez gave so much to so many. He cared. He showed it. He made a difference. He accomplished so much in 14 years.
The torch passes. On Friday, Nicolas Maduro was sworn in. He's acting president. New elections will follow in about 30 days. Maduro vowed to continue what Chavez began.
"I swear," he said, "in the absolute loyalty to the Commandante Hugo Chavez that we will obey and defend this Bolivarian Constitution with the hard hand of a people willing to be free. I swear."
"There you are, undefeated, pure, transparent, unique, true, alive forever." His voice cracked saying so.
"Mission accomplished comandante," he added! "The struggle goes on." It's vital. Chavez said "Time is short. If we do not change the world now, there may not be a 22nd century." Millions agree.
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