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Aftermath of Israeli Anti-Free Speech Law Passage
by Stephen Lendman
Buoyed by passage of their anti-boycott bill, Knesset Yisrael Beitenu and Likud party extremists taste blood and want more. Most worrisome is a proposed measure to investigate leftist group activities, heading for a final vote next week.
YNet News writer Moran Azulay quoted Meretz party chairwoman, Sahava Gal-On, calling it "a political inquisition," adding:
"The Boycott Law has whetted the appetite of the settler Coalition. This is an attempt at perpetuating the persecution of left-wing and civil organizations. What will be the next step? Sham trials? Throwing people into gulags?"
Denunciation of Israel's Anti-Boycott Law
by Stephen Lendman
A previous article discussed it in detail, accessed through the following link:
http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/07/israels-knesset-passes-boycott.html
Before and after its July 11 passage, critics called it outrageous, shameful, lawless, and anti-democratic. More on that below.
In contrast, Netanyahu praised the measure, saying he "authorized the bill. If I hadn't authorized it, it wouldn't have gotten here. I am opposed to boycotts against Israel and boycotts against groups within Israel."
Debt Ceiling Debate Charade Masks Planned Entitlement Cuts
by Stephen Lendman
Short of finalizing details and assuring enough bipartisan support, it's a done deal to slash Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other social spending while leaving outsized military budgets and generous handouts to corporate favorites in place.
At the same time, the timeline to accomplish it is undetermined. Political posturing may extend the August 2 deadline until fall or beyond.
It's how corrupted Washington always works, notably since the 1980s under both parties. Obama was elected to assure continuity and accomplish by rhetorical duplicity what Republicans on their own can't do.
A Decade of US War Costs
by Stephen Lendman
On June 29, Reuters writer Daniel Trotta headlined, "Cost of war at least $3.7 trillion and counting," explaining:
In June, when Obama claimed America's post-9/11 (Iraq/AfPak) wars cost $1 trillion, he did what he does best - lied about how much, in fact, was spent and projected, five or more times his figure.
According to a June Brown University Watson Institute for International Studies (WIIS) "Cost of War" report, up to $5,444 trillion was spent and projected with all related expenses and obligations included. More on that below.
Nato and Rebel Atrocities in Libya
by Stephen Lendman
Previous articles discussed:
-- NATO's illegal Libya aggression;
-- American and Western media in the lead cheerleading it; some reporters, in fact, complicit with NATO forces by supplying target coordinates;
-- planning it many months (perhaps years) before fighting began last winter;
-- waging it to conquer, colonize, loot, and balkanize Libya, masquerading as humanitarian intervention;
A Murdoch produced scandal
Kourosh Ziabari
The scandalous closure of the "News of the World" tabloid after 168 years of publication once again demonstrated the Western media's lack of adherence to codes of ethics and morality in journalism and showed to the international community that what is advertised as the freedom of speech in the West is nothing but unrestrained violation of the privacy of innocent citizens and betrayal to the common values of a civil society.
The "News of the World" was voluntarily closed down on July 10, 2011 after it was revealed that the staff and workers at the magazine had been clandestinely hacking the phone conversations of a number of high-ranking public figures in the UK including politicians, members of Royal Household and also ordinary citizens for many years. This unprecedented incident hugely damaged the reputation of the Zionist media mogul Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation and stirred a widespread controversy all over the UK.
Freedom Flotilla II: Final Thoughts
by Stephen Lendman
Palestinian analyst/advocate/author and former journalist Nadia Hijab is right, saying "(i)t was never about aid."
In her article titled, "Freedom Flotilla II: No to a Kinder, Gentler Siege," she said like earlier and new initiatives to come, it's "a political act" against Israel's illegal occupation/Gaza blockade - forced isolation, in fact, since 1988 "permit system" terrorism was instituted.
Is News Corp Finished - Senator Rockefeller Tells Feds to Investigate Fox Hacking of 9/11 Victims
There are some crimes so universally offensive that even mentioning the suspected crime has devastating effects. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) raised just such a question yesterday. In a brief press statement, the Senator said:
"The reported hacking by News Corporation newspapers against a range of individuals - including children - is offensive and a serious breach of journalistic ethics. This raises serious questions about whether the company has broken U.S. law, and I encourage the appropriate agencies to investigate to ensure that Americans have not had their privacy violated. I am concerned that the admitted phone hacking in London by the News Corp. may have extended to 9/11 victims or other Americans. If they did, the consequences will be severe." Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, July 12 (Image: NASA)
Sensationalism In America's Media
by Stephen Lendman
Its history is long and sordid, dating back centuries elsewhere since the 1500s or earlier. In 19th century America, the penny press and yellow journalism featured it with regular coverage of crime, tragedy, gossip, and other ways to stimulate sales.
Newspaper editor Frederic Hudson published a history of American newspapers titled, "Journalism in the United States, from 1690 to 1872," an authoritative text saying:
"The penny press arrived in New York on January 1, 1833, when Horatio David Shepard teamed up with Horace Greeley and Francis W. Story and issued the Morning Post."
Israel's Knesset Passes Boycott Prohibition Bill
by Stephen Lendman
Israeli outrages never quit. Besides lawlessly stealing Palestine, slaughtering and dispossessing its people, occupying its remaining 22% for over 44 years, blockading Gaza, committing high-seas piracy and murder to keep out humanitarian aid, and arresting European and other human rights advocates showing up to protest, another example highlights Israel's rogue state status.
On July 11, Haaretz writer Jonathan Lis headlined, "Israel set to vote on controversial law penalizing boycotters," saying:
Israel's "controversial 'Boycott Bill' is expected to come up for its second and third (Knesset) votes" today, despite Netanyahu earlier wanting it delayed, expected criticism from Knesset Legal Advisor Eyal Yinon, and opponents holding a protest press conference.
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