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Rand Paul v. NSA Spying
by Stephen Lendman
He's Kentucky's junior senator. He's leading a class-action lawsuit. He's filing it in US District Court for the District of Columbia.
It's against the Obama administration's mass surveillance program. He urged everyone "to stop Barack Obama's NSA snooping on the American people."
His lead lawyer is former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli. He's acting as a private individual, not a US senator. More on this below.
Paul is a right-wing Republican. He's a Tea Party favorite. He's anti-populist and corporatist.
He prioritizes national defense. He does it at a time America's only enemies are ones it invents. At the same time, he's against preemptive wars.
The Tasks of the People-Powered Movement for 2014: Build Broad National Consensus for Paradigm Shifting Change
By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers
In our last article, “Major Social Transformation Is a Lot Closer than You May Realize,” we defined where today’s social-political movement is within the eight stages of successful movements. We have passed the “Take-Off Stage” (Stage 4), gotten through the “Perception of Failure” (Stage 5) and are in the phase of “Building Majority Support” (Stage 6) which is the last stage before “Victory.” In this article we delve deeper into the tasks of the movement in this stage and apply those tasks to current issues faced today.
In this stage, which can take many years, the primary task of the people-powered social movement is to build national consensus through broad and deep grassroots organizing. The power holders are currently in a crisis management mode. They continue to defend their policies while shifting positions and taking countermeasures to undermine people power. During this stage public opinion is shifting, majorities oppose the current situation and are beginning to see that new alternative solutions must be put in place. People-powered activists are in a battle with the power holders for the hearts and minds of super-majorities of the people.
Top 10 Proofs People Can Be Completely Manipulated Without Hypnosis
By David Swanson
1. Any article listing the top 10 of anything will be widely read.
2. A poll of people in 65 countries, including the United States, finds that the United States is overwhelmingly considered the greatest threat to peace in the world. The consensus would have been even stronger had the United States itself not been polled, because the 5 percent of humanity living here is largely convinced that the other 95% of humanity -- that group with experience being threatened or attacked by the United States -- is wrong. After all, our government in the U.S. tells us it's in favor of peace. Even when it bombs cities, it does it for peace. It's hard for people under the bombs to see that. We in the U.S. have a better perspective.
3. Polls in the United States through the 2003-2011 war on Iraq found that a majority in the U.S. believed Iraqis were better off as the result of a war that severely damaged -- even destroyed -- Iraq[1]. A majority of Iraqis, in contrast, believed they were worse off.[2] A majority in the United States believed Iraqis were grateful[3].
US Universities of Shame: Part II
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed the American Studies Association (ASA). Its boycott of Israeli academic institutions matters.
It followed Association for Asian American Studies (AAAS) members unanimously approving one last April.
They acted responsibly. Doing so reflects growing BDS support. It's happening in Europe. It's gaining US adherents.
They reject Israeli lawlessness. They deplore occupation harshness. They denounce decades of crimes of war, against humanity and genocide.
Over 90 US college and university presidents are polar opposite. They support wrong over right. They did it disgracefully. They violate fundamental moral, ethical, and legal standards doing so.
They ignored cold hard facts. They ignored decades of Israeli high crimes. They ignored its viciousness. They ignored its contempt for Islam. They ignored how it treats non-Jews.
Kerry's Peace Plan: Worthless
by Stephen Lendman
PLO secretary-general Yasser Abed Rabbo criticized Kerry's plan. The PA will ignore its "worthless framework," he said. It mocks legitimacy.
It's totally one-sided. It ignores Palestinian rights. Peace depends on fixed borders, he said. They must be within pre-1967 lines.
Including East Jerusalem is essential. Rabbo dismissed Kerry's land swap deal. It includes placing Israeli Arabs within what's called the Little Triangle. It's in central Israel. It's along its side of the Green Line.
Kerry proposed including this land within a new Palestinian state. In return, Israel would annex settlements, related areas and more.
They're in Area C. It comprises over 60% of West Bank land. It includes its most valued parts. Israel considers it sovereign territory. International law calls it stolen.
Legislating Tyranny
by Stephen Lendman
Police state lawlessness reflects official US policy. Numerous examples explain. Congress opposes fundamental freedoms.
It terrorizes most people. So do rogue US administrations. Washington is more ruthless today than ever.
Waging war on humanity is much worse. It's ongoing globally. It's reflected in congressional legislation.
Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF - September 2001) approved open-ended permanent wars. They rage out-of-control. They do so at home and abroad.
The FY 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) targets freedom. It prioritizes militarism and permanent wars. It authorizes over $600 billion for global belligerence, mass killing and destruction.
It's a portion of what America spends overall. Around $1.5 trillion or more annually goes for domestic and foreign militarism.
Palestinian Children in Cages
by Stephen Lendman
Israel willfully, systematically, maliciously and lawlessly abuses detained Palestinian children. They're treated like adult prisoners.
Mercy isn't Israel's long suit. Nor are peace, equity, justice or respect for fundamental human and civil rights.
Israel spurns them repeatedly. It's standard practice. It remains unaccountable for grave crimes against humanity.
The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI) calls torture and ill treatment of any kind morally, ethically and legally incompatible with democratic values.
PCATI "advocates for all persons - Israelis, Palestinians, labor immigrants, and other(s)." It does so to "protect them from torture and ill treatment by" Israeli interrogation and enforcement authorities.
It does it in accordance with rule of law principles and other democratic values. It challenges longstanding lawless Israeli practices.
War Criminals By Default
By Alan Hart
My last thought for 2013 is that for their failure to co-operate and coordinate to make the United Nations work to stop the slaughter and destruction in Syria, the leaders of the five permanent and controlling members of the Security Council - the U.S, Britain, France, Russia and China - are war criminals by default.
And I agree with an end of the year review comment by Basma Atassi for Al Jazeera. As more videos emerged of atrocities, “the international community’s inaction continued to give Syrians the message that their human worth is insignificant. The perpetrators (on all sides) have a free ride to kill and the victims have no place to go for justice.”
The perfect storm in Turkey - corruption, conflict, conspiracy
Michael Collins
The Republic of Turkey is consumed by intense conflict, conspiracy charges, and underlying financial problems that simply won't go away. A perfect storm is brewing in Turkey. (Image-summer protests, Turkey)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government and supporters are charged with a secret gold-for-oil deal with Iran. The deal, in violation of trade sanctions against Iran, enriched the PM's ministers and other key supporters involved (including the PM's son), according to prosecutors. The deal also involved misreporting billions of dollars in trade, which, in turn, resulted in Turkey overstating national income and understating its current account deficit.
A more ominous charge focuses on Erdogan's open support of a wealthy Saudi known for funding al Qaeda and the PM's alleged support of Al Qaeda fighters engaged against the Syrian government. Just today, we saw this headline: Turkish governor blocks police search on Syria-bound truck reportedly carrying weapons . Erdogan is a strong supporter of the Syrian rebels, assumed recipients of the weapons.
Military Madness, The TPP and The Empire
By Timothy Gatto
I spent almost 21 years in the military so it should be no surprise when I tell you that I still spend a lot of time thinking about it. What is surprising however, is that I generally have a negative view of the military, from the time I spent in it, and all that has happened since I left. It is really hard for me to adequately express my opinions about the military to people that have never served in the military and it is just as difficult to express my views to someone that did serve.
Why would I want to write about it then? It is probably because the military has been such a large part of my life, and because it is an exceptional reflection of our nation's dysfunctional political system and also our morally bankrupt foreign policy. I would like to start by examining the American people's view of the military.
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