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Russia’s Experiment with Diplomacy in Syria Failed
Stephen Lendman
In mid-March, Putin announced the withdrawal of most Russian forces from Syria, saying:
“I consider the objectives that have been set for the Defense Ministry to be generally accomplished. That is why I order to start withdrawal of the main part of our military group from the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic starting from tomorrow, (March 15, coinciding with the beginning of dead-on-arrival peace talks).”
“In a short period of time, Russia has created a small but very effective military group in Syria. The effective work of our military forces allowed the peace process to begin.”
“Russian government troops and (Syrian) patriotic forces have changed the situation in the fight with international terrorism and have seized the initiative.”
Greece Again Surrenders to Troika Bandits
Stephen Lendman
On Sunday, long-suffering Greeks suffered another body blow. Parliamentarians voted 153 to 143 for greater austerity than already, exclusively benefitting Western bankers and large investors, social justice entirely ignored.
A three day anti-austerity strike featured protests and sit-ins. Large parts of Greece’s economy were shut down, including transport, schools and other public services to no avail.
Elected on a pledge to end neoliberal austerity, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipris’ SYRIZA regime betrayed its supporters, letting Western monied interests financially rape and pillage Greece more than already.
Again over the weekend. Legislation enacted included a 5.4 billion euro tax hike, hitting ordinary people hardest. Pensions were cut by 1.8 billion euros, value-added taxes raised from 23 - 24%, and pension contributions were increased by 20% for most workers.
John Kerry Desecrated the Spirit and Significance of Russia’s Great Patriotic War Victory Over Nazism
Stephen Lendman
Soviet Russia’s immense contributions and sacrifices turned the tide of battle, enabling allied forces to defeat Nazi Germany.
Ahead of Monday’s 71st anniversary of WW II’s end, Kerry congratulated EU countries on what they call Europe Day - ignoring reality, praising what he called their “enduring example of democracy, liberty and prosperity…”
None of the above exist. US-led Western countries are at war with their own people, punishing them with neoliberal austerity, serving monied interests exclusively - while devoting their resources to imperial wars, corporate handouts, and repressive crackdowns on nonbelievers. Kerry lied calling America founded on “democratic values…shared…with our European partners.” Western democracy is pure fantasy.
Pure evil rules, America and EU countries increasingly tyrannical, waging endless wars of aggression against nonbelligerent states, disdaining peace, supporting terrorism, not combatting it.
Israel Waging Undeclared War on Gaza
Stephen Lendman
It’s been ongoing since Hamas was democratically elected Palestine’s legitimate government in January 2006 - followed by blockade in mid-2007, an act of war under international law.
The PA is an Israeli creation, a puppet government exclusively serving its interests, led by its illegitimate president Mahmoud Abbas, a longstanding Judas, betraying his people for special benefits he’s afforded.
Slow-motion genocide is official Israeli policy - intending maximum Jews and minimum Arabs. Vicious persecution, collective punishment, extrajudicial killings, isolating Palestinians from Jews, besieging Gaza, and intermittent wars on its defenseless people further its objective.
For days, Israel has been bombing and shelling Gaza on the fabricated pretext of responding to Hamas rockets - the same phony reason used to launch summer 2014 naked aggression. They’re used for self-defense after repeated Israeli attacks or other illegal provocations too grave to ignore.
NYT Endorses US-Sponsored Coup Attempt in Venezuela
Stephen Lendman
The Times is a longstanding mouthpiece for wealth, power and privilege. Its record is deplorable - pro-business, anti-populist, endorsing all US wars of aggression, color revolutions and coups by other means against sovereign independent states.
It denigrated Hugo Chavez throughout his tenure, calling him “a would-be dictator…a populist demagogue…an authoritarian caudillo (strongman),” among other pejoratives.
It bashes President Nicolas Maduro the same way. Its history shows a consistent record of supporting despotic regimes like Saudi Arabia, other repressive Gulf States, Egypt, Turkey and Israel among others, while opposing sovereign independent democratic governments Washington doesn’t control.
Majority US supported Venezuelan National Assembly fascists openly call for ousting democratically elected President Maduro.
Erdogan Family’s Ill-Gotten Wealth
Stephen Lendman
Earlier reports said he and son Bilal amassed tens of millions of dollars from colluding with ISIS to sell stolen Iraqi and Syrian oil, along with other dubious activities.
Germany’s Bild newspaper asked how he and family members amassed great wealth. His annual salary is modest, Bild saying:
“While their father earns some 50,000 euros per year, his children bathe in luxury. Where does it come from?” No “official data” explain it. His son Ahmet’s estimated net worth is around $80 million. How was it gotten, asked Bild? “(D)oes he get support from (his father’s) government?”
His younger son, Bilal, reportedly is involved in “shady and criminal deals.” Last fall, he fled to Italy, accompanied by armed guards, on the pretext of completing his doctoral dissertation.
Washington’s War on Yemen
Stephen Lendman
Obama waged naked aggression on Yemen throughout his tenure, along with bombing half a dozen other countries illegally, exceeding the worst of George Bush.
He’s a constitutional lawyer. In 2008, he admitted presidents don’t “have power under the Constitution (and international law) to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”
None existed throughout his time in office. Every country America attacked since WW II posed no threat to the nation’s security. Yet endless US wars of aggression rage in multiple theaters.
Yemen is Obama’s war, partnered with Saudi Arabia, other Gulf States and Israel, orchestrating terror-bombing, choosing targets to strike, committing slow-motion genocide against millions of affected Yemenis.
Horrific Israeli Mistreatment of Palestinian Children
Stephen Lendman
Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) and the Addameer prisoner support and human rights group explain Israel arrests, prosecutes, imprisons and mistreats around 700 Palestinian children annually, some aged 12 or younger.
Virtually none are targeted and abused for anything more than a minor misdemeanor, most entirely innocent of any offense. Once charged, guilt is automatic.
With 50 times the Israeli Arab and Palestinian population, it’s the equivalent of America imprisoning around 35,000 children each year.
DCIP calls it “no way to treat a child. Help us end this,” explaining “(f)rom the moment of arrest, Palestinian children encounter ill-treatment and torture at the hands of Israeli forces. Three out of four experience physical violence during arrest or interrogation.”
“Israel is the only country in the world to automatically prosecute children in military courts that lack basic safeguard for a fair trial.”
How Islamic State Gets German Weapons
Said Al-Khalaki
Germany has been supplying weapons to Iraqi Kurdistan since October, 2014. That was a crucial moment that determined the further foreign political course of Germany. Feeling pressure from the United States, the Cabinet of Germany lifted a ban on weapons and military vehicles' supplies to crisis war-torn regions. According to German government officials, Germany realized the Kurds could stand up to ISIS terrorists. "The Kurdish fighters are manning the front line against the Islamic State", German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen stated. At the same time, Washington celebrated its victory as well: the White House had managed the Germans to dance to the U.S. tune. However, it has become known this January that black markets in Northern Iraq openly sell German weapons. Berlin demanded that the Kurdish leadership account for using supplied armory. The report revealed that a part of the weapons delivered by Germany to the Kurds fell into the hands of terrorists. Inside Syria Media Center focused on this issue deciding to find out the way military cargos were delivered to Iraqi Kurdistan.
Sweatshop Turkey
strong>Stephen Lendman
Turkey shamelessly exploits its Syrian refugee population. Hundreds of thousands of adults and children work for sub-poverty wages under deplorable conditions.
State-authorized sweatshops exist in many parts of the world, Turkey a notorious example, a hugely repressive police state, profiting from human misery.
London’s Guardian reported on Syrian child refugees in Turkey, many unable to go to school, forced to choose between harsh sweatshop labor or war at home.
They work 12 hours a day, six days a week, earning sub-minimum wage pay and no benefits. Syrian Relief Network (SRN) director Kais al-Dairi explained “irreversible” harm done to vast numbers of young Syrian refugee children.
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