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The Sanctions Game
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article said the following:
Washington bears full responsibility for imposing illegitimate sanctions on Iran. Other countries are pressured to go along. Doing so harms their own interests.
Heavy-handed US bullying largely gets its way. Rule of law principles and norms are violated. At issue is advancing Washington's imperium.
America's 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) lets presidents claim unusual and/or extraordinary foreign threats, declare a national emergency, and regulate commerce accordingly.
Presidents took full advantage deceptively, unjustifiably, and illegally. Targeting Iran began in November 1979. Iranian assets were lawlessly seized. A full trade embargo followed.
Cycles and Change Mean Hard Times in America
By Timothy V. Gatto
I understand that China is implementing a neo- liberal capitalist model in its economy. China, being a communist nation, it is a little hard to swallow this news. This news made me think about economic systems and how they change over time.
Venezuela has a socialist government and is implementing a socialist model for its economy. Hugo Chavez has changed the top-down system to a socialist bottom-up system. The country was basically a plutocracy. There were several attempts to install a socialist system and there were socialists elected to the presidency. In 1989, Carlos Andres Perez (AD), was elected president again against the background of economic depression (foreign reserves were depleted, balance of payments had largest deficit in history), which necessitates another austerity program, an IMF loan and entry into the GATT. El Gran Viraje relied on macroeconomic stabilization, trade liberalization, privatization, and deregulation. Barriers to foreign investment and exports were lifted, and bureaucratic interference was minimized. Social and political upheaval includes riots, in which between 300 and 2,000 people are killed, martial law and a general strike.
Intensified Warrantless Spying in America
by Stephen Lendman
Newly released ACLU Justice Department documents and Kurt Eichenwald's just published book titled "500 Days: Secrets and Lies in the Terror Wars" provide new information on lawless spying in America.
Eichenwald described "the most dramatic expansion of NSA's power and authority in the agency's 49 year history." It was devised days after 9/11, he said. In fact, it began much earlier.
In December 2000, the NSA said:
"The volumes and routing of data make finding and processing nuggets of intelligence information more difficult. To perform both its offensive and defensive mission, NSA must 'live on the network.' "
Israel Encourages Settler Violence
by Stephen Lendman
Settler violence is terrorism. Even America's State Department says so. Hypocrisy is saying one thing and doing another.
Israeli setter violence is out-of-control. It's risen sharply in recent years because nothing is done to stop it. Israeli extremists literally have license to attack Palestinian civilians, destroy their property and crops, inflict bodily harm, and at times kill.
Last March, the London Guardian headlined "Israel 'turning blind eye' to West Bank settlers' attacks on Palestinians," saying:
Settlers conduct "systematic and expanding campaign of violence against Palestinian farmers, families and children with the Israeli authorities turning a blind eye, according to confidential reports from senior European Union officials."
Washington Plays Hardball with Russia on Syria
by Stephen Lendman
If words could kill, America and Russia might be at war. Hopefully it won't come to that. Given America's rage to fight, even the unthinkable is possible.
Russia and China represent Washington's final frontier. Building up around their borders and encircling both countries with US bases makes anything ahead possible.
Prioritizing peace isn't America's long suit. Unchallenged global dominance assures war. One country after another is ravaged. Multiple direct and proxy wars remain ongoing. Flashpoints easily shift from one region to another or target several at the same time.
Women Demand Civil Rights in Lebanon
Franklin Lamb
Beirut
Tehran and Washington are employing competing strategies via their political allies in Lebanon to win 70 seats in next year’s June 2013 parliamentary election, should they actually be held which is looking doubtful to this observer. Their efforts are designed to control the next government here while widening the spectrum of challenges to the other in order to undermine chances for their adversary gaining regional hegemony.
Both American and Iranian Lebanese allies preparing for the critical election have presented to Parliament different sized electoral districts. The daily boasting and arguing over the dimensions and quality of their proposed electoral districts appear almost Freudian.
Infomercials for Despots
by Stephen Lendman
Sanitizing news and suppressing what's most important is bad enough. Imagine compounding it by producing infomercials for despots. CNN stands accused. More on that below.
It's well known that Western major media represent wealth and power interests. Fox New is a Republican party house organ. It also reflects Rupert Murdoch's worldview.
It features demagoguery, managed news, scandal, sleaze, and warmongering. It's prototypical presstitute media. Famed journalist George Seldes (1890 - 1995) denounced it in books like "Lords of the Press."
Nobel Hypocrisy Wins Again
by Stephen Lendman
Call it a rite of fall. Nobel hypocrisy shows up annually. It came again this year. The only surprise was which disreputable honoree would win.
A surprise of sorts indeed. War criminals often become Peace Prize winners. This year a political/economic union won. Perhaps honoring Wall Street and neoliberal/war mongering organizations awaits. Or maybe Republicans and Democrats for causing so much harm globally.
Expect anything from Nobel Committee members. They represent wealth, power, privilege, imperial lawlessness, and war, not peace. Perhaps they believe war is peace. They'll have to explain why scoundrels regularly win their highest award.
London: Parasites’ Paradise (Or the Best Criminal Sanctuary Money Can Buy)
James Petras
Introduction
Whenever financial swindlers prosper at the expense of investors or a bank jiggers interest rates to bugger their competitors or tax evaders flee fiscal crises or rent gouging petrol monarchies recycle profits or oligarchs pillage economies and drive millions to drink, drugs and destitution they find a suitable secure sanctuary in London. They are wooed and pursued by big British realtors eager to sell them multi-million dollar estates, trophy properties and landmark mansions. Pompous and pretentious British academics convince them to send their progeny to six digit private schools, promising them that when they graduate they will be speaking English through their nasal cavities, rolling their r’s and mastering the art of eloquent but vacuous elocution. British governments, Labor Liberal and Conservative, in the best and most hypocritical legal traditions, fashion the legal loopholes to attract the biggest and wealthiest parasites of the world.
Turkey's High Risk Game
by Stephen Lendman
Turkey is Washington's lead anti-Syrian belligerent. It's playing with fire. It may end up burned. For good reason, Assad blames Ankara for heightened tensions and border confrontations.
On October 11, he told the Turkish daily Aydinlik he has "no difficulties with either Turkish people or its army, only with its government."
Syria was never hostile to Turkey, he added. Belligerent confrontations make relations tense. Ankara plays Washington's lead attack dog. Doing so heightens them further. On October 11, Hurriyet Daily News headlined "Gov't puts army into 'high state of readiness,' " saying: According to an unnamed "high-ranking official:"
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