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Bank Crimes Pay: Under the Thumb of the Global Financial Mafiocracy
Andrew Gavin Marshall
On Nov. 13, the United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced it was charging 10 individual bankers, working for two separate banks, Deutsche Bank and Barclays, with fraud over their rigging of the Euribor rates. The latest announcement shines the spotlight once again on the scandals and criminal behavior that have come to define the world of global banking.
To date, only a handful of the world’s largest banks have been repeatedly investigated, charged, fined or settled in relation to a succession of large financial scams, starting with mortgage fraud and the Libor scandal in 2012, the Euribor scandal and the Forex (foreign exchange) rate rigging. At the heart of these scandals, which involve the manipulation of interest rates on trillions of dollars in transactions, lie a handful of banks that collectively form a cartel in control of global financial markets – and the source of worldwide economic and financial crises.
Fascists Win Control of Venezuela’s National Assembly
by Stephen Lendman
For the first time since Chavez’s 1998 electoral victory, US-supported neoliberal fascists won majority control of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
With 96% of the vote counted as this is written, Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) candidates won 99 seats, the ruling socialist coalition Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) only 46.
Results for 19 regular and three indigenous seats have yet to be announced. Their results are key. Majority legislative rule alone won’t threaten Bolivarian social justice.
Venezuela Analysis explained if MUD wins 100 seats (almost certain as this is written), it’s “able to remove ministers from the presidential cabinet.”
Obama Bombs Syria’s Military
by Stephen Lendman
US, UK, French, Canadian, Israeli and Australian bombing of Syrian targets has nothing to do with combating ISIS or other terrorist groups as falsely claimed - entirely intended for regime change, wanting Western-controlled puppet governance replacing Syrian popular choices.
On Sunday, Syria’s Foreign Ministry reported US-led warplanes attacked an army camp in Deir ez Zor province - killing three soldiers, injuring 13 others, as well as destroying three armored vehicles, four military vehicles, an arms and ammunition depot, as well as 23mm and 14.5mm machine guns.
In Monday letters addressed to the UN secretary general and UN Security Council president, Syria condemned the US-led “act of aggression” in flagrant violation of UN Charter principles.
Israel Sentences Palestinian MP to 15 Months in Prison
by Stephen Lendman
Khalida Jarrar is a highly respected Palestinian Legislative Council member, a civil society leader, and PLC Prisoners Commission head. She’s vice-chair of the Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.
In April, Israeli forces abducted her pre-dawn. She’s been lawlessly administratively detained, uncharged and untried, until subjected to a kangaroo, mandated to convict, military tribunal.
So-called evidence against her is fabricated, of no validity whatever. Her arrest, detention and sentencing is entirely politically motivated. She committed no crimes. Earlier charges against her were reduced from 12 to two - membership in a legal organization Israel banned for political reasons (the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - PFLP) and incitement, targeting her right of free expression.
Inequality in America, the Fish that Rots from the Head
Eric Zuesse
Inequality of wealth is inequality of power. A study just released finds that "America’s 20 wealthiest people — a group that could fit comfortably in one single Gulfstream G650 luxury jet — now own more wealth than the bottom half of the American population combined, a total of 152 million people in 57 million households.” How much political power do the people who would be inside that jet — and their friends — actually have?
The first-ever thorough scientific and academic study of whether the U.S. is a democracy was published in 2014, and it finds, as an overwhelming statistically established fact now, that the U.S. definitely is not a democracy. This landmark study, by Gilens and Page, finds that, "When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy.” Conservatives tried to deny the very meaning of this study by saying such things as that “America is a republic, not a democracy,” but they were just trying to distract from the findings, which are: the U.S. is a dictatorship, not a democracy. A republic is simply another word for a “democracy.” Every democratic nation functions by means of elected representatives. So what? The “republic” matter is raised only to distract away from the reality, not in order to understand the reality.
US Media Support Fascism Over Democracy in Sunday’s Venezuelan Elections
by Stephen Lendman
On Sunday, Venezuelans will elect 165 National Assembly deputies, members of its unicameral legislature. Ruling Bolivarian United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) candidates face US-supported Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) fascists.
During hard times of economic weakness, high inflation, and other major problems, Bolivarian social justice faces its stiffest challenge. Preserving it is crucial for the welfare of millions of poor and low-income Venezuelans, benefitting hugely from its vital services, ones most Americans can’t imagine - including free universal healthcare and education to the highest levels, low-cost housing and subsidized food, at risk of being curtailed or lost if fascists prevail with a large enough legislative majority.
Germany Joins US Anti-Syrian Coalition
by Stephen Lendman
Germany is part of the problem, not the solution, allied with Washington’s imperial agenda - focused in Syria on ousting Assad, despite his overwhelming popular support.
On Friday, Germany’s parliament (Bundestag) overwhelmingly approved sending 1,200 combat troops to Syria, allegedly in an advisory role, including at least six warplanes and a frigate.
The action constitutes an illegal deployment without Security Council or Damascus authorization, joining America’s criminal coalition against regional peace and security.
Assad Blasts Illegal Western Intervention in Syria
by Stephen Lendman
Interviewed by The (UK) Sunday Times, he accused Western countries no “will to fight terrorism. We know from the very beginning that Britain and France were the spearheads in supporting the terrorists in Syria, from the very beginning of the conflict” Obama launched.
Foreign intervention is only legal in cooperation with the Syrian government or if authorized by Security Council members. Western nations “don’t have the will, and they don’t have the vision on how to defeat terrorism.” Examine reality on the ground, Assad stressed. Since US-led coalition nations began operations last year, “ISIS and al-Nusra and other like-minded organizations or groups, were expanding, expanding freely. What was the situation after the Russians participated in fighting terrorism directly? ISIS and al-Nusra started shrinking.”
Netanyahu Blames Palestinians for Israeli Crimes
by Stephen Lendman
Israeli soldiers and police continue daily state terror against defenseless Palestinians, waging war against the entire population, wanting to live free from occupation harshness after a near-half century of ruthless repression.
On Sunday, Netanyahu blamed the PA puppet regime Israel installed for failing to resolve the ongoing conflict. “Israel will not be a binational state,” he blustered.”“But in order for there to be peace, the other side must decide that they also want peace, and unfortunately that is not what we are seeing.”
He blamed Abbas and other PA officials for inciting ongoing violence he instigated. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom rightfully accused Israel of extrajudicially executing Palestinians.
Russia Calls Soros a Threat to Its National Security
by Stephen Lendman
George Soros is a notorious international con man, a multi-billionaire predatory investor - known for profiting from human misery.
He uses his ill-gotten wealth to accumulate more, supports US imperial wars, and wants Putin as well as other independent leaders replaced by Western-controlled puppets, opening new avenues for his predation. At age 85, his dirty tricks continue unabated.
Moscow’s Prosecutor General’s office called his Open Society Institute and Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation a “threat to Russian national security” and constitutional order, banning its citizens and groups from participating in their activities.
His groups are now listed as undesirable foreign organizations. An investigation into their activities was launched.
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