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Europe in Crisis
by Stephen Lendman
Four and a half years after crisis conditions erupted, nothing's been done to resolve them. The smartest guys around haven't fixed things.
On June 14, rumors circulated about coordinated central bank intervention. European banks are especially troubled. Recapitalizing them hasn't worked.
Expecting more of the same to accomplish what hasn't so far worked is another way of defining failure.
Along with talk of more stimulus, Egan-Jones Ratings, an independent NRSRO (Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization), downgraded French sovereign debt from A- to BBB+ with a negative outlook. Doing so shows core European weakness.
Washington's Imperial Brinksmanship
by Stephen Lendman
Syrian violence rages. Washington bears direct responsibility. Regime change plans are longstanding. Military intervention is planned. Expect it. It's coming.
Pretexts are easy to create. Large scale insurgent massacres blamed on Assad may trigger war. False flags always work. So does intense propaganda. More on that below.
On June 14, CNN said:
"The U.S. military has completed its own planning for how American troops would conduct a variety of operations against Syria, or to assist neighboring countries in the event action was ordered...."
"In recent weeks, the Pentagon has finalized its assessment of what types of units would be needed, how many troops, and even the cost of certain potential operations...."
Pentagon officials spoke on condition of anonymity. Joint Chiefs head General Martin Dempsey said the Pentagon expedited plans to intervene militarily if asked.
Expect Britain, France, other NATO states, and regional involvement.
Greece: What Can be Done?
James Petras
Introduction
Greece faces the unenviable choice between accepting the terms of “the Troika” and facing the continuation and deepening of a socio-economic crises, which includes five years of negative growth, over 23% unemployment, an astronomical rise in poverty (from less than 15% to over 40%) and mounting suicides, or a rejection of the “memorandum”, and a likely cut-off of Eurozone funding and capital markets with virtually few reserves to cover salaries, pensions or public services.
While the immediate cost of a break with catastrophic conditions imposed by Eurozone bankers may be high, it opens up the possibility of transforming the internal and external relations and structures which led Greece to ground zero.
Crises as Opportunity?
May God be with Egypt
By Khalid Amayreh
Employing legalistic chicanery, blatant deceit and contemptible conspiracies, the remnants of the Mubarak regime seem hell-bent on aborting the Egyptian revolution.
On Thursday, 14 June, the so-called Constitutional Court, an entity that was utterly silent during 30 years of corruption, tyranny and repression under the previous regime, issued a hasty decision, dissolving the People's Assembly or Parliament.
This parliament was elected only three months ago in perfectly transparent elections observed by the entire world and supervised by the Egyptian judicial system. None of the judges then questioned the legality and transparency of the elections. They all boasted about the democratic credentials of the ruling junta, saying that Egypt was entering a new era of human rights, political freedoms and civil liberties.
Scoundrel Media Support for Obama
by Stephen Lendman
Months before November's election, New York Times editors made their choice: Obama in 2012. Expect an official endorsement to follow.
Editorial support signals it. On June 14, The Times headlined "The Political Contrast," saying:
Obama's recent Cleveland community college speech "contrast(ed) his goals and the failed Bush-era policies that Mitt Romney is trying to resurrect."
He claimed "no meaningful difference between the trickle-down economics of George W. Bush, rejected (and) the plans supported by Mr. Romney and his Republican allies in Congress."
"All the elements are there, from the slavish devotion to tax cuts for the rich, to a contempt for government regulation, to savage cutbacks in programs for those at the bottom."
Gaza Blockade’s Fifth Anniversary
by Stephen Lendman
Gaza's blockade is illegal. Collective punishment is prohibited. Fourth Geneva's Article 33 states:
"No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."
"Pillage is prohibited."
"Reprisals against protected persons and their property are prohibited."
Israel spurns all international laws and its own. It commits crimes of war and against humanity with impunity.
Isolating Gaza is a war crime. June 14 marked the blockade's fifth anniversary. Around 50 international human rights and organizations, as well as six UN bodies called for immediately lifting it.
Presidential Medal of Freedom Hypocrisy
by Stephen Lendman
On July 6, 1945, Harry Truman authorized awarding the Medal of Freedom "to any person....who, or on after December 7, 1941, has performed a meritorious act or service which has aided the United States in the prosecution of a war against an enemy or enemies and for which an award of another United States medal or decoration is considered inappropriate."
On February 22, 1963, Jack Kennedy ordered it be replaced by Presidential Medal of Freedom.
It's awarded "for especially meritorious contributions to (1) the security or national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."
The Presidential Medal of Freedom mocks what it claims to represent.
Loi 78: Québec will become a third world country
Mohamed Kamel
By adopting the law known in Quebec as “Loi 78”, Quebec is choosing the path of many of the third world countries that refused to recognize people’s rights to protest against government’s poor performance and malfunction.
Yes, in Quebec we have the charter of human rights and freedom, a charter that the Quebec government is not respecting by adopting this law. A law that denies people’s basic right in assembly and in expressing their refusal of the government’s abuse of power. It is the first time in Quebec modern history where people are accepting to restrict their own freedom. A restriction is going to be in exchange of a broken future.
JPMorgan Chase on Capitol Hill
by Stephen Lendman
On June 13, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon testified before the Senate Banking Committee. He discussed his firm's recent trading loss and industry practices.
It was more of a homecoming than grilling. Washington is Wall Street occupied territory. Foxes guard the hen house. Regulators don't regulate. Oversight is absent.
Investigations rarely happen. Those conducted are whitewashed. Criminal fraud is institutionalized. It's encouraged, not curbed.
Congress, the administration, SEC, and credit rating agencies are incestuously involved with giant banks and other major financial institutions. Whatever they want, they get.
Olympism Profiteering, Exploitation and Corruption
by Stephen Lendman
Olympism is more about profiteering, exploitation, and cynicism than sport.
Helen Jefferson Lenskyj knows it well. More on her writings below.
For over a century, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) hypocritically advanced notions of peace, unity, friendship, and sport the way it's meant to be.
The Olympic Movement's Charter states:
The IOC's mission "is to promote Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement."
It's "to encourage and support the organisation, development and coordination of sport
and sports competitions."
It's "to oppose any political or commercial abuse of sport and athletes."
Overall, the Charter features a high-minded laundry list concealing Olympism reality. Truth and full disclosure belie deceptive hyperbole.
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