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Saudis Host UN Human Rights Conference
by Stephen Lendman
Letting one of the world's most egregious human rights abusers host the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) June 3 and 4 UN human rights conference is like having a Mafia godfather host a session on gun control.
The conference addressed "the full and effective implementation of UN Human Rights Council Res. 16/18."
Adopted on April 11, 2011, it's titled "Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and Stigmatization of, and Discrimination, Incitement to Violence and Violence Against, Persons Based on Religion or Belief."
It mandates all UN Member States "promote and encourage universal respect for and observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to, inter alia, religion or belief."
It calls on all Member States to respect, encourage and foster religious freedom and pluralism. Its provisions are polar opposite Riyadh policies.
Imagine a nation hosting a conference on religious and other freedoms where religions other than fanatical Wahhabism are considered apostate. Practicing them is criminalized - subjecting adherents to lengthy prison terms, public whippings, heavy fines and at times death by beheading.
Vincent Bugliosi and The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder
Michael Collins
“If we want to deter future presidents from taking this nation to another war under false pretenses, some president in the future that gets a funny thought, I think that deterrence would increase immeasurably if he knew what America did to George Bush, put him on trial for murder, and if he was convicted, of course, the punishment would either be life imprisonment or the imposition of the death penalty.” Vincent Bugliosi, Murder Trumps Torture - An Interview, Michael Collins, Aug 8, 2009
Vincent Bugliosi was a true patriot and a tireless, fierce advocate for the people. His death at age 80 marks a time to remember his vision of an American future based on decency, civility, and the respect for both the law and the people the law should protect. This article excerpts three interviews I conducted with Bugliosi on his 2008 book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder.
What’s Wrong with the Administration’s Trade-Deal Arguments
Eric Zuesse
Here is from the June 3rd article at the pro-trade-deals Americas Society & Council of the Americas, "Summary: The Trans-Pacific Partnership - What's at Stake for the Western Hemisphere?” in which the Democratic congressman, Gregory Meeks, a Co-Chair of the Friends of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Caucus, states the core of the Administration’s case on its proposed trade-deals. The article reports:
According to Congressman Meeks, 'TPP is a force for positive change across the board for all countries, whether or not they belong to TPP,' although this transformation will require rigorous action. Countries in Central and South America understand that economic reforms and harmonized trade rules are only one side of the coin. On the reverse side, they are committed to addressing socio-political demands, inequality issues, violence, and the informal sector in the economy.
Israel Detonates Dirty Bombs Near Palestinian Bedouin Communities
by Stephen Lendman
Dirty bombs are radiological weapons combining radioactive material with conventional explosives. On detonation, they contaminate the affected area. The US Energy Department says radiation exposure is "fairly high" but not fatal.
Nuclear expert Helen Caldicott explains no amount of radiation is safe and amounts exposed to are cumulative. Cell mutations result causing cancer and other diseases.
The difference between dirty bombs and nuclear ones is latter ones are hugely destructive and kill large numbers of people instantly.
The harmful effects of dirty ones take time to develop making it easy to attribute later illnesses and deaths to other causes.
Obama Wants More Sanctions on Russia
By Stephen Lendman
Obama commented after two days of G-7 discussions. He repeated tired old demagogic boilerplate we've heard many times before.
"(W)e're…here to stand up for the fundamental principles that we share as democracies: for freedom; for peace; for the right of nations and peoples to decide their own destiny; for universal human rights and the dignity of every human being," he blustered. Fact: Democracy in America is pure fantasy. Monied interests control everything. Ordinary people have no say whatever. Elections are farcical when held.
Fact: Throughout his tenure, Obama waged war on fundamental freedoms - including targeting more whistleblowers of government wrongdoing than all his predecessors combined and making America a Big Brother society more than earlier.
US/Saudi Genocide in Yemen
by Stephen Lendman
Yemen is Obama's war. It was planned and orchestrated long before naked aggression began.
Ongoing genocide affecting millions of Yemenis is Obama's latest atrocity. It's conducted by Saudi-led proxies and Israel.
An entire country is being raped and destroyed - thousands of its people murdered, mainly civilians, thousands more maimed for life. It's another of history's great crimes. Washington bears full responsibility. What's ongoing is largely unreported - 24 million people at risk are ignored.
On June 5, London's Guardian headlined "Saudi-led naval blockade leaves 20m Yemenis facing humanitarian disaster" - 80% of the population. Lack of sanitation alone risks spreading life-threatening diseases to epidemic levels.
G-7 Leaders Stay Tough on Russia - Irresponsibly
by Stephen Lendman
Obama pressured other G-7 leaders to stay hardline on Russia well before summit discussions began on Sunday - a policy benefitting America at their expense.
How long they'll go along with what's clearly not in their interest remains to be seen. What can't go on forever, won't.
Russia plans longterm. It sees normalization ahead at some point with key EU "partners." Don't expect US softening given its longstanding regime change objective.
Washington wants pro-Western stooge governance replacing Vladimir Putin. He's a strong proponent of respecting the sovereign independence of all nations.
He fundamentally opposes America's imperial agenda. He's sharply at odds with its unipolar worldview. He enjoys overwhelming popular support at home.
Saudi Blogger Imprisoned for Supporting Free Speech
by Stephen Lendman
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's most repressive police states. Its barbarism is widely acknowledged. Fundamental rights guaranteed under international law are ruthlessly denied.
VV is a Saudi blogger. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, 1,000 lashes (50 at a time), and a one million riyals fine (around $250,000) for championing free speech on his site.
It was titled Saudi Free Liberals Forum until shut down after his 2012 arrest. Riyadh's kangaroo/rubber-stamp High Court upheld his sentence for insulting Wahhabi-style Islam - a fanatical Sunni sect. Initially he was charged with apostasy - a capital offense in the Kingdom. In 2013, the accusation was dropped.
In January, he got his first 50 lashes after Friday prayers outside Jeddah's Al-Juffali mosque.
Khader Adnan: Hunger Striking for Justice
by Stephen Lendman
Adnan is one of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners languishing in Israel's gulag.
He's held along with hundreds of others uncharged in administrative detention - a lawless practice Israel uses to imprison Palestinians for their activism, not any crimes they committed.
He was detained earlier uncharged after his lawless December 2011 arrest. He became a global cause celebre after refusing food for 66 days.
On April 17, 2012, Palestinian Prisoners Day, he was released - but not freed from Israeli persecution.
In August 2014, he was rearrested uncharged - again lawlessly administratively detained. In January, his detention was extended for another six months.
Following his initial arrest, he had three Israeli Military Court hearings. The first reviewed his arrest. The next two concerned so-called (nonexistent) secret evidence from two supposed witnesses - both unnamed.
G-7 Summit: Russia Bashing Featured
by Stephen Lendman
G-7 British, Canadian, French, German, Italian, Japanese and US leaders meeting Sunday and Monday in Germany intend assuring dirty business as usual continues.
Expect Russia bashing to be featured - including extending lawless sanctions and irresponsibly blaming Putin for US orchestrated/Kiev aggression in Donbass.
Russia is the continent's leading peacemaker - fundamentally against war, other forms of violence and instability. At the same time, prioritizing mutual cooperation with all nations - especially on issues mattering most.
G-7 countries are belligerents, irresponsibly bashing Russia for their own self-interest. Even Japan upgraded its military alliance with Washington - partnering against China.
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