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Lavrov in Washington
Stephen Lendman
Lavrov is a world-class diplomat. America had no one like him in modern memory.
In dealing with Washington, he has an impossible job, trying to improve relations with a nation hostile to Russia for the last century - since its 1917 revolution, continuing after the Soviet Union’s 1991 dissolution.
On Wednesday, Lavrov met with Rex Tillerson and Trump in Washington. Despite deplorable bilateral relations, his comments were positive, saying:“I had a bilateral meeting with Rex Tillerson, then the two of us were received by President Trump. We discussed, first and foremost, our cooperation on the international stage.”
“At present, our dialogue is not as politicized as it used to be during Obama’s presidency. The Trump administration, including the president himself and the secretary of state, are people of action who are willing to negotiate.”
Trump Approves Heavy Weapons for Kurds, Afghanistan Surge Likely
Stephen Lendman
Trump straightaway in office proved his noninterventionist campaign promises were baloney!
He escalated Bush/Cheney/Obama wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen, threatens possible nuclear war on the Korean peninsula, dashed hoped for improved relations with Russia, and likely intends sending thousands more combat troops to Afghanistan - America’s longest war, lost years ago.
No increased US troop strength can change things. America’s presence is the root cause of raping and destroying the country, devastating long-suffering Afghans - ruled by illegitimate pro-Western puppet governance.
Trump Sacks Comey
Stephen Lendman
Virtually everything happening in Washington is politically motivated, not responsible actions by presidents, Congress and judicial authorities for the general welfare.
FBI history is notorious, an agency protecting privilege from beneficial social change, serving powerful interests exclusively.
Throughout its sordid history, it activities included infiltrating, disrupting, sabotaging and destroying activist groups for ethnic justice; racial emancipation; economic, social, and political equality across gender and color lines; along with elements opposed to imperial wars.
Harmful to the general welfare agency activities continue no matter who’s in charge or staffs high-level positions.
Comey’s firing won’t change a thing. The new director will be like previous ones. America’s police state system needs changing - possible only by committed grass roots activism, never top down by politicians or bureaucrats.
Major Media Organize to Rig Web-Search Results
Eric Zuesse,
The New York Times, as Robert Parry has pointed out, “Cheers the Rise of Censorship”, but only of censorship of any allegations that expose the fraudulence of the NYT’s allegations. The Washington Post, Google, the TV networks, and practically all of the famous providers of ‘news’, have joined forces in order to block from the internet any statements that contradict, or especially any evidence that disproves, what they collectively define to be ’true’; and, while they do this, they add a lie: that their sole aim in doing this rigging of web-search results is to prevent ‘misinformation’ from polluting your mind. They use as an excuse the existence of some flagrantly fabricated reports on obscure websites, but if the mainstream press can ban reports such as those, then they can also ban real news reports, which expose the mainstream’s own lies. In other words: they are implementing their collective power to block you from being able to know that they’re systematically lying. Will the public trust them with this power?
Parry says that if this effort by them is allowed to proceed, then we shall be fully in the Brave New World, of 1984 — and, of course, he is correct in that, which means that everyone should unsubscribe and not pay a cent to all of the ’news’ media that are trying to block the public from having access to evidence and allegations that contradict what these bullies in the ‘news’ media pump as being their mutually-agreed-upon ‘truth’.
Russian/US Foreign Ministers to Meet in Washington
Stephen Lendman
On Monday, a brief State Department statement said “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Washington DC on Wednesday, May 10, to discuss Ukraine, Syria, and bilateral issues.”
“On Ukraine, the sides will discuss the need to stop the violence in eastern Ukraine and resolve the conflict through the full implementation of the Minsk agreements.”
“On Syria, the Secretary intends to discuss efforts to de-escalate violence, provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, and set the stage for a political settlement of the conflict.”
On May 8, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon is meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov in New York for similar discussions.
US/UK/Jordanian Troops Near Syria’s Border a Likely Joint Military Exercise
Stephen Lendman
On Monday, regional media reported large numbers of heavily armed US, UK and Jordanian troops, along with ISIS and al-Nusra terrorists, massed near Syria’s border, heightening fears of possible invasion.
Government forces captured Beit Naim village, southwest of eastern Ghouta near Damascus, Jaish al-Islam terrorists routed.
On Tuesday, terrorists comprising the so-called Free Syrian Army launched a counter-offensive in the southeastern Damascus countryside.
Intense clashes continue. The area’s Tishreen power plant was attacked. Leaked photos show apparent US special forces entering southern Syria, supporting terrorist fighters battling government forces, on the phony pretext of training nonexistent “moderate rebels.”
Syria Supports De-Escalation Zones, Rejects UN Involvement
Stephen Lendman
On Monday, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said his government supports the Russian, Iranian, Turkish plan, adding:
Agreement reached aims to stop “bloodshed and improve the living conditions of the Syrian population…”
He expressed “hope that all armed parties will be committed to the provisions of the memorandum. But if any violation takes place, the Syrian army will be prepared to respond in a decisive manner.”
Thanking the courage and resilience of Syria’s people and military, he said “we are exerting all possible efforts to prevent foreign interference in (our) affairs.”
Damascus rejects US-controlled UN involvement and other international forces as de-escalation zone monitors - including any from NATO and/or regional rogue states hostile to Syrian peace, stability and sovereignty.
Oligarchy Triumphs in France
Stephen Lendman
Elections in America, France, throughout Europe and most other countries prove rule of the people is pure fantasy.
Powerful interests run things, choosing candidates for high office serving them at the expense of ordinary people.
Elections are mostly theater, creating the illusion of democratic governance. None exists in Western countries and most elsewhere.
Viva la dirty business as usual is what governance in France and most other countries is all about, not liberte, egalite, fraternite, or governance of, by and for the people equitably.
Anti-establishment candidate Le Pen was portrayed as too extremist to trust. Longtime insider Macron represents capital’s divine right to rule. The sound of popping champagne corks Sunday night signified French oligarchs celebrating their triumph.
Neither candidate was a popular favorite. In round one voting, over three-fourths of French voters rejected Macron, nearly 80% against Le Pen.
From Richard Nixon to Donald Trump: America’s Great Leap Backwards
James Petras
Introduction
For almost 50 years, the US economy and society has taken a great leap backward - accelerating during the past three Presidencies. Not only have we experienced the reversal of past socio-economic legislation, but also our presidents and Congress have dragged us into multiple aggressive wars. Now, the threat of a nuclear attack against our ‘declared enemies’ is ‘on the table’.
Since the end of the Viet Nam war, US military ‘interventions’ have become wars of long duration. These have cost millions of lives overseas, tens of millions of refugees and scores of thousands of American soldier deaths, permanent injury and serious mental and neuropsychiatric damage. There is no ‘light at the end of the tunnel’, to quote the US General William Westmoreland In retrospect, and after 50 years of decline, the much-maligned Presidency of Richard Milhous Nixon now stands out as a golden age of social, environmental and inter-racial advances, as well as an era of successful peace negotiations and diplomacy. President Nixon, never an ideologue, accepted the reality of a multi-polar world.
Of course, the Nixon Presidency was characterized by serious crimes against humanity, such as the CIA-sponsored coup d’état against the democratically elected Chilean President Allende, the bombing of Cambodia and the genocidal invasion of the newly independent country of East Timor.
Pentagon Intends Continued Aerial Operations in Syria De-Escalation Zones
Stephen Lendman
Washington wants endless war and regime change in Syria, not conflict resolution for peace and stability throughout the country.
On Thursday, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed on creating four de-escalation zones in the Syria, these nations serving as guarantors.
Sergey Lavrov said America “proposed (the idea) at the beginning of this year, with a view to creating conditions to ensure safety of the civilian population, to stop violence in those regions where fierce fighting was underway between government and armed opposition forces.”
Not exactly following Thursday’s announcement. Washington isn’t part of the agreement. It supports halting all aerial operations in designated zones - except its own.
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