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Phony US Accusations of Aggressive Russian Behavior
Stephen Lendman
So-called “Russian aggression” is a US-invented canard, a Russia bashing tactic, a malicious Big Lie.
At NATO headquarters in Brussels, Secretary of State Tillerson falsely accused Moscow of “agitation” and “aggression,” saying NATO is committed to counter it.
In London, Defense Secretary Mattis lied, saying “(w)e have seen Russian activity vis-a-vis the Taliban,” adding:
“I’m not going to say at this point if that has manifested into weapons and that sort of thing, but certainly what they’re up to there in light of their other activities gives us concern.”
Days earlier, US NATO commander General Curtis Scaparrotti told Senate Armed Services Committee members he’s “seen the influence of Russia of late - increased influence in terms of association and perhaps even supply to the Taliban.”
Tillerson, Mattis and Scaparrotti provided no evidence supporting their allegations. There is none. No Russian “aggression” or “agitation” exists, no aid to Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
Manipulating the American Mind
Stephen Lendman
In today’s information age, so different from my early years and young adulthood, it’s simple to stay well informed.
Yet too few people bother, relying instead on media propaganda, especially so-called television “news,” brainwashing them, assuring they’re good citizens and stay that way, suppressing what everyone most needs to know.
My own brother believes The New York Times and other media like it are reliable sources of news, information and opinion. I haven’t convinced him otherwise, nor gotten him to follow my writing - done pro bono. No one directs what I say or pays me a dime.
It’s my way late in life to give back for blessings afforded to too few others - especially in America, once a land of opportunity when I grew up, now serving its privileged few alone, most others left out entirely, facing unemployment, underemployment, poverty and for too many appalling human misery.
Venezuela’s Controversial High Court Ruling Reversed
Stephen Lendman
What’s it all about? On March 29, Venezuela’s Supreme Court (TSJ) ruled the National Assembly in contempt of court for continuing to allow three anti-Bolivarian politicians to be seated in the body despite elections they won declared null and void - because of irregularities discovered.
The High Court ordered them re-re-run. Evidence revealed vote-buying. Permitting the disputed deputies to hold their seats would give anti-President Maduro forces broader powers with a two-thirds majority.
The TSJ’s order was ignored, three disputed deputies sworn in illegally. Last August, TSJ justices declared National Assembly Presiding Council members and disputed deputies in contempt of court.
Zionist Zealots Inside and Outside AIPAC Conference
Stephen Lendman
A rogue’s gallery of Zionist zealots addressed attendees at the Washington Convention Center, including numerous congressional members - proceedings held from March 26 - 28.
Protesters called the conference an AIPACalyse, outside as well as inside this year.
The Jewish Defense League (JDL), founded by Meir Kahana, supports anti-Arab violence. The Department of Homeland Security called it a “former terrorist organization.”
The FBI considers it “a right-wing extremist group,” accusing it of plotting and carrying out violent incidents.
Slim Chances for Improved US/Russia Relations
Stephen Lendman
According to the Wall Street Journal, the White House “pushe(d) off the Kremlin’s proposals for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin and takes an increasingly skeptical view of reaching a grand bargain with Moscow.”
In mid-April, Tillerson will meet with Sergey Lavrov in Moscow for the first time since a brief get-to-know-you meeting on the sidelines of the Bonn, Germany G20 foreign ministers summit.
Heightened anti-Russia sentiment in Washington prevents improved bilateral relations, unlikely any time ahead as long as it’s prudent to predict.
Republican and Democrat senators vowed to “go wherever the intelligence leads us.” House members are “bogged down amid partisan acrimony,” the Journal explained.
US intelligence claims about Russian US elections hacking were fabricated. No evidence corroborates them. None exists except what’s invented - to bash Russia and undermine Trump.
Russia Bashing Senate Hearing
Stephen Lendman
Thursday’s hearing on Russia was reminiscent of the Spanish Inquisition - a nation and its leadership on trial, spurious accusations featured, made-for-television witch-hunt proceedings.
McCarthyism is back on steroids. Intense bipartisan Russia bashing risks possible military confrontation.
Fabricated claims about Russian US election hacking persist - despite no evidence suggesting it. Congress is spoiling for a fight.
The Thursday Senate Select Committee on Intelligence open hearing was Orwellian titled “Disinformation: A Primer in Russian Active Measures and Influence Campaigns.”
Netanyahu’s Phony New Settlement Construction Policy
Stephen Lendman
The new policy replicates the existing one - unrestrained construction on stolen Palestinian land.
On the one hand, Israel said it’ll “significantly rein in the footprint” of settlement construction, limiting it “wherever possible” in new areas - a meaningless statement, intending unrestrained longstanding policy.
Netanyahu proved it by announcing Israel’s first new settlement since the 1993 Oslo Accords.
It’ll be located north of Ramallah - on Palestinian land registered as belonging to Israel. Security cabinet members approved it unanimously.
Iran Key Player in Combating Terrorism in Syria
Stephen Lendman
Iran is falsely accused by Washington, Israel, AIPAC and other dark forces of being the world’s “biggest sponsor of terrorism” - a despicable Big Lie.
It’s the price it pays for 38 years of sovereign independence, free from US dominance, refusing to serve its imperial interests.
On Thursday, Sergey Lavrov praised Iran as a “powerful player” in combating terrorism in Syria, saying:
“What we do now with Iran and those that cooperate with us and the Syrian army is fighting terrorists in Syria.”
“Iran is a powerful player on the ground, legitimately invited by (Assad’s) government” - combating the scourge of US-supported terrorism.
No Investigation of Clinton Foundation Uranium Deal with Russia
Stephen Lendman
Judicial Watch earlier investigated a controversial Clinton Foundation 2010 uranium deal with Russia. As secretary of state, Hillary used her position for profit-making.
In his book “Clinton Cash,” Peter Scheweizer raised questions about the deal and others, involving millions of dollars of Clinton Foundation donations from foreign governments and other sources.
The foundation was used as a money-laundering, pay-to-play, self-enrichment racket, masquerading as a charitable NGO.
Federal, state and international laws prohibit operating so-called public charities for private gain. The Clinton Foundation systematically ignores its legal obligations - unaccountably so far.
Republicans Demand the Impossible in a Healthcare Bill
Eric Zuesse
Republicans demand a healthcare bill (or medical system) that will simultaneously (and without sacrificing quality of healthcare) reduce their total expenses on medical care — including their insurance premiums and their out-of-pocket costs — and that will also be more free-market (with less government involvement and regulations) than in existing U.S. healthcare policy (both before and after Obamacare began); they want more free-market, and less cost, and also no sacrifice on quality.
The economic data show that (by far) the most cost-effective medical care is in countries that have socialized healthcare; the least cost-effective (meaning the least efficient) medical care is in countries that have not socialized healthcare, and the middle that’s between those two extremes is countries (there is only one: Switzerland) that are between those two categories: countries that legally require everyone to have health insurance but that remove the profit-motive from health insurance by having (as Switzerland puts it) “60 government-approved non-profit insurance providers offer basic mandatory insurance and optional loss-of-earnings [disability] insurance in accordance with legal requirements and the supervisory authority’s directives.” America’s propagandists for Obamacare had been saying such things as "Switzerland Has Its Own Kind of Obamacare — and Loves It”, and mentioned that "For many Americans, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which makes health insurance mandatory, is a bitter pill to swallow” but that it’s really “a victory for common sense,” but they were misrepresenting the extent to which the Swiss system is similar to Obamacare, and also misrepresenting (over-praising) the Swiss system’s track-record of performance.
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