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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.
Memorandum Creating De-Escalation Zones in Syria
Stephen Lendman
Other articles discussed the agreement reached by Russia, Iran and Turkey.
It created four de-escalation zones effective May 5, prohibiting ground and aerial operations by all parties.
Washington isn’t part of the agreement, the fly in the ointment, likely undermining it because it wants endless war and regime change, not diplomatic resolution.
The Pentagon supports halting all aerial operations except its own, saying it’ll continue combating ISIS, the scourge it supports - pretending otherwise, fooling no one.
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, its chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov and US Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford discussed the de-escalation plan by phone.
Destabilizing Venezuela for Regime Change
Stephen Lendman
Washington wants Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro ousted, social democratic Bolivarian governance abolished, unrestrained predatory capitalism replacing it, Washington getting control over the country’s huge oil reserves, along with gaining another imperial trophy.
Economic war and weeks of street violence were made in the USA, perhaps ahead of tougher Trump administration efforts to forcibly remove Maduro. Days earlier, bipartisan destabilizing Senate legislation was introduced (S. 1018) on the phony pretext of “provid(ing) humanitarian assistance for the Venezuelan people…defend(ing) democratic governance, and combat(ing) widespread public corruption…”
Puerto Rico Declares Bankruptcy
Stephen Lendman
Colonized and exploited by America since 1898, its people, governor and other officials are powerless - ruled by US administrations and Congress.
Islanders have no control over their lives, welfare and destiny, no say over foreign relations, commerce, trade, air space, land and offshore waters, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, US bases on its territory, constitutionality of its laws, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio and television, communications, agriculture, natural resources and more.
For nearly 120 years, it’s been victimized by US imperial rapaciousness. Things finally came to head financially. Puerto Rico is bankrupt, though can’t declare it under US law.
It’s a wasteland of high unemployment, poverty and deprivation. Force-fed austerity exacerbates dire economic conditions.
Islanders are US citizens without enfranchisement on the mainland. They pay federal taxes, getting back pathetically little in return.
Obama Endorses Macron
Stephen Lendman
Meddling where he doesn’t belong is one of his many disreputable ways of operating as state and US senator, president and private citizen.
His 2011 Asia pivot prioritized advancing America’s Pacific region military footprint aggressively - challenging China’s growing economic, political and military strength, along with checking Russia, pressuring regional allies to ally with its scheme or face its wrath.
Installing illegitimate putschist governance in Ukraine, along with deploying large numbers of US-led NATO combat troops near Russia’s borders were major provocations on his watch.
Putin earlier said “(i)f someone threatens our territories, it means that we will have to aim our armed forces accordingly at the territories from where the threat is coming. How else could it be? It is NATO that approaches our borders. It’s not like we are moving anywhere.”
During Obama’s tenure, Washington acted more aggressively than any time since the end of the Cold War - in the Asia Pacific and Europe. He continued Bush/Cheney wars on Afghanistan and Iraq, waged his own on Libya, Syria and Yemen.
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