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Obama Sidelines Kerry on Ukraine Policy
Eric Zuesse
On May 21st, I headlined "Secretary of State John Kerry v. His Subordinate Victoria Nuland, Regarding Ukraine,” and quoted John Kerry’s May 12th warning to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to cease his repeated threats to invade Crimea and re-invade Donbass, two former regions of Ukraine, which had refused to accept the legitimacy of the new regime that was imposed on Ukraine in violent clashes during February 2014. (These were regions that had voted overwhelmingly for the Ukrainian President who had just been overthrown. They didn’t like him being violently tossed out and replaced by his enemies.) Kerry said then that, regarding Poroshenko, "we would strongly urge him to think twice not to engage in that kind of activity, that that would put Minsk in serious jeopardy. And we would be very, very concerned about what the consequences of that kind of action at this time may be.” Also quoted there was Kerry’s subordinate, Victoria Nuland, three days later, saying the exact opposite, that we "reiterate our deep commitment to a single Ukrainian nation, including Crimea, and all the other regions of Ukraine.” I noted, then that, "The only person with the power to fire Nuland is actually U.S. President Barack Obama.” However, Obama instead has sided with Nuland on this.
German Banker: Obama Is Destroying Europe
Eric Zuesse
Interviewed on June 6th by German Economic News, the chief economist at Bremer Landesbank, Folker Hellmeyer, says that because of Obama’s sanctions against Russia, German exports declined year-over-year by 18% in 2014, and by 34% in the first two months of 2015 (no later figures), but he asserts that "The damage is much more comprehensive than these statistics show,” because those are only the “primary losses,” and there are in addition “secondary effects,” which get even worse over time.
For example: "European countries with strong business in Russia, including Finland and Austria, are economically hit very hard. These countries consequently place fewer orders from Germany. Moreover, considering that European corporations will circumvent the sanctions, to create production facilities at the highest efficiency level in Russia, we lose this potential capital stock, which is the basis of our prosperity. Russia wins the capital stock,” at the EU’s expense, even though the sanctions are targeted against Russia.
Treatment of East Jerusalem Palestinians: Profile of Israeli Viciousness
by Stephen Lendman
Longstanding Israeli policy leaves East Jerusalem Palestinians deeply impoverished, viciously persecuted and denied fundamental rights everyone deserves.
A mid-May Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) report on East Jerusalem "paints a (disturbing) picture of persistent neglect and increasing (Israeli) violence," the organization said.
Palestinians constitute 37% of East Jerusalem's population. They number over 300,000.
Israel's apartheid wall separates one-fourth of East Jerusalem Palestinians from the rest of the city. They lack basic services and infrastructure Israel refuses to provide.
East Jerusalem Palestinians are permanent residents, not citizens on their own land in their own country.
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.
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