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Mitt Romney's gaffes abroad show that his numbers just don't add up
By Mamoon Alabbasi
US presidential candidate Mitt Romney ended a three-country world tour of Britain, Israel and Poland without appearing to have learned much from his overseas trip. Even in his attempts to water-down the impact of some of his gaffes, following an influx of negative press, he seems to have stuck to the flawed logic behind them, especially when it comes to the economy.
It all started with what he thought was a simple remark regarding Britain's hosting of the 2012 Olympic Games, when he said of the event- almost on the eve of its opening ceremony - that "there are a few things that were disconcerting [1]." The event has been 15 years in the planning with an expected cost of £9 billion (almost $14 billion). The timing couldn't have been more distasteful, prompting one commentator to note that the Republican challenger "is perhaps the only politician who could start a trip that was supposed to be a charm offensive by being utterly devoid of charm and mildly offensive [2]."
Full-Scale War in Syria
by Stephen Lendman
Former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov calls it "full-scale civil war." It's full-scale but not civil.
Syria's been invaded. Civil war implies two internal warring sides. That's very much not the case. Primakov said:
"Mercenaries and volunteers from other states are fighting (Assad) jointly with" violent internal forces. Most Syria opponents are nonviolent. They want peaceful conflict resolution. Washington has other ideas.
"President Obama has given a direct order to the CIA to support the Syrian opposition."
"That is flagrant interference in internal affairs of a sovereign state, which does not endanger the United States or anyone else."
Obama's War on Humanity
by Stephen Lendman
Obama targets humanity at home and abroad. Illinoisans paying attention knew long ago. He served as senator for the state's 13th district.
He sold out straightaway. Real estate interests had their man. Gentrification demolitions rewarded them. Poor folks were driven out. Most were Black.
Banking, finance, insurance, and real estate interests comprised his political base then and now. Needs of constituents he represented were ignored. Community uplift rhetoric disguised harming people who needed help.
Critics called his record kick back cronyism. Convicted felons and big monied interests funded him. Every dollar invested returned multiples.
Pay-to-play was always Chicago's way. City and state politics are notoriously corrupt. Obama played the game down and dirty.
He earned his bona fides. He was well suited for bigger and better things in Washington. He was singled out and took full advantage. Nationally he betrayed the poor and disadvantaged the way he did in Illinois. Globally it's much worse.
Thinking the Unthinkable in Turkey - What if Assad Survives?
If saying it were so could make it so, the Syrian government would have toppled by now. United States Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has called for Assad to leave Syria at nearly every stop on her not so diplomatic missions of late. She and the NATO countries support the Syrian rebels. According to the NATO storyline, it seems almost inconceivable that Assad can survive. The article re-posted below tells a different story. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will blame Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu sooner or later for the problems to date or, most certainly the reporter points out, for any outright failure of Turkey's deep involvement in the internal affairs of its neighbor to the south, Syria. Of note, the foreign minister has behaved oddly lately. He visited the Kurdish section of Iraq without informing the government of Iraq, which is furious over the incident. Michael Collins
From Alakhbar English edition, Creative Commons license
Davutoglu: Betting on the Fall of Assad
By: Hüsnü Mahalli Published Tuesday, August 7, 2012
It now appears that the political future of Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu very much depends on the fate of Syria. If the Assad regime falls, then Davutoglu may very well become prime minister. But if the regime survives, Turkey’s top diplomat will be scapegoated and possibly sacked.
To War or Not to War
by Stephen Lendman
Will Obama wage more wars or won't he? He's already fighting multiple direct and proxy ones. November elections approach. Electoral priorities dictate policy.
On the one hand, Americans are fed up with wars. More risks offending supporters who want current ones ended. Holding back gives Republicans a campaign issue. Acting tough against alleged enemies sometimes sells well. Smart money says not now.
Doing the right thing doesn't matter. Imperial priorities take precedence. Odds favor full-scale Syrian intervention. Timing alone remains unknown. Consequences can wait for later. Will Iran be next?
On August 3, Haaretz headlined "Netanyahu: If Israel attacks Iran, I will take responsibility for the consequences," saying:
He criticized Israeli security officials for suggesting they're concerned about taking responsibility for agreeing.
The Two Faces of a Police State: Sheltering Tax Evaders, Financial Swindlers and Money Launderers while Policing the Citizens
James Petras
“There is a degree of cynicism and greed which is really quite shocking” - Lord Turner Bank of England, Financial Service Authority, “The rotten heart of finance” The Economist
Introduction
Never in the history of the United States have we witnessed crimes committed on the scale and scope of the present day by both private and state elites.
An economist of impeccable credentials, James Henry, former chief economist at the prestigious consulting firm McKinsey & Company, has researched and documented tax evasion. He found that the super-wealthy and their families have as much as $32 trillion (USD) of hidden assets in offshore tax havens, representing up to $280 billion in lost income tax revenue! This study excluded such non-financial assets as real estate, precious metals, jewels, yachts, race horses, luxury vehicles and so on. Of the $32 trillion in hidden assets, $23 trillion is held by the super-rich of North America and Europe.
Targeting Chavez
by Stephen Lendman
Since taking office in February 1999, Chavez has been Washington's number one Latin American enemy.
He worries US officials for good reason. He's a powerful threat. He represents a good example. Venezuela's social democracy shames America's. Bolivarianism works.
So does its political system. Elections are open, free and fair. US electoral politics lack legitimacy. Democracy is moribund. Candidates are pre-selected. Big money owns them. Key outcomes are predetermined. Duopoly power runs everything.
On October 7, Venezuelans again head to the polls. Chavez seeks reelection. He remains overwhelmingly popular. Washington dreads the idea of having him around for another six years.
Day of Infamy at General Assembly
by Stephen Lendman
On August 3, The General Assembly ignored rule of law principles. Member states are sworn to uphold them.
It passed a non-binding Syrian resolution 133 - 12. Thirty-one nations abstained. Cowardice defines their failure to do the right thing.
Saudi Arabia drafted the measure. It partnered with Qatar and perhaps Bahrain doing so. They're regional axis of evil co-conspirators. Compared to them, Assad is saintly.
Russia called the measure "biased and unbalanced." It was that and much more. It ignored reality on the ground. It ran cover for Washington's proxy war.
It endorsed daily slaughter and destruction. It ignored Western/Arab League/Israeli responsibility for ravaging another nonbelligerent country. It spurned millions of Syrians.
Mad Dog Leaders Threaten Humanity
by Stephen Lendman
A common thread defines Obama and Netanyahu. Their agenda threatens humanity. Both head modern-day Spartas.
Israel is very much involved in Washington's war on Syria. At issue is destroying another independent state, murdering thousands, planning more wars, and threatening the entire region and beyond.
Iran is next in line. Saber rattling combines with war by other means. It includes sanctions, subversion, instability, cyberwar, targeted assassinations, other disruptive actions, and relentless scoundrel media vilification and fearmongering.
Ordinary citizens: the silent victims of anti-Iranian sanctions
Kourosh Ziabari
While the United States and European Union are vehemently competing with each other in the seemingly endless race of imposing sanctions on Iran, the ordinary Iranian citizens are experiencing the most breathtaking, agonizing impacts of the crippling embargoes.
On July 31, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) sent a letter to all members of the U.S. Congress, demanding a concerted action to approve The Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act which imposes a new set of sanctions on Iran's energy and transportation sector.
On August 1, the media reported that the Congress has ratified the bill and it's waiting to be signed by the president.
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