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Iran Inaugurates President Hassan Rohani
by Stephen Lendman
On June 14, Iranians elected Rohani decisively. He won a clear first round majority. He'll serve four years. He's head of state.
Obama failed to congratulate him. He hasn't recognized his legitimacy. He's a longtime distinguished leader. He's held numerous high level positions.
He combines diplomacy, politics and scholarship. He's called the "Diplomat Sheikh." He's written many books, articles and research papers.
He urges peace and reconciliation. He promises "government of hope and prudence." He pledged "constructive interaction with the world."
What's It Like to "Go to Jail for Justice?" One Person's Story
By Linda W. Swanson
At age 69, I recently found spending thirteen hours in a Washington, DC, jail one of the most invigorating experiences I've ever had, and it seems to have already helped to make the world a better place!
The US State Department had hired a company with ties to tar sands profiteers to evaluate the safety of a tar sands pipeline, with predictable results. In the week since my husband and I and fifty-two other people of all ages and backgrounds were arrested for protesting the company involved, the State Department has decided to initiate an inquiry to determine if there was a conflict of interest. Certainly we were not alone in shining a light on this particular corruption, but I'm convinced we made a difference and played a part in that turnaround.
When There is no Terrorism, There is Terrorism of Wars
Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD
“….Human nature is at least in part wicked and in part foolish, how can human beings be prevented from suffering from the results of their wickedness and folly? ….Men simply do not see that war is foolish and useless and wicked. They think on occasion that it is necessary and wise and honourable, for war is not the work of bad men knowing themselves to be wrong, but of good men passionately convinced that they are right.” (C.E M. Joad. Guide to Modern Wickedness, 1936).
Goldman Sachs Trader Conviction: Hold the Cheers
by Stephen Lendman
On August 1, Goldman's Farbice ("Fabulous Fab") Tourre was convicted on six of seven counts.
They involve "making materially misleading statements and omissions in connection with a synthetic collateralized debt obligation (CDO) GS&Co structured and marketed to investors."
They're about being "directly or indirectly engaged in transactions, acts, practices, and a course of business that violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, 15 USC 77q(a) ("the Securities Act") and Exchange Act Rule 10b-5, 17 CFT 240.10b-5."
"The Commission (sought) injunctive relief, disgorgement of profits, prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and other appropriate and necessary equitable relief from both defendants."
The verdict came down as follows:
"1. With respect to the SEC's claim that defendant Fabrice Tourre violated Section 17(a)(1) of the Securities Act, we, the jury find defendant Fabrice Tourre liable."
2. With respect to the SEC's claim that (he) violated Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act: liable.
3. With respect to the SEC's claim that (he) violated Section 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act: liable.
4. With respect to the SEC's claim that (he) violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5(a): liable.
Fake Washington Terror Threat
by Stephen Lendman
They're in various forms. They repeat with disturbing regularity. America's war on terror targets Islam. At issue is duplicitous scaremongering. It advances Washington's imperium.
Wars of aggression follow. False arrests target innocent victims. Terror threats repeat. They're strategically timed. They change the subject. They divert attention.
They fool most Americans. They do so most of the time. Here we go again. Media scoundrels march in lockstep. They regurgitate Big Lies.
On August 2, The New York Times headlined "Qaeda Messages Prompt US Terror Warning," saying:
"The United States intercepted electronic communications this week among senior operatives of Al Qaeda, in which the terrorists discussed attacks against American interests in the Middle East and North Africa, American officials said Friday."
"The intercepts and a subsequent analysis of them by American intelligence agencies prompted the United States to issue an unusual global travel alert to American citizens on Friday, warning of the potential for terrorist attacks by operatives of Al Qaeda and their associates beginning Sunday through the end of August."
Kerry Supports Egypt's Coup
by Stephen Lendman
When is a coup not one? When John Kerry claims otherwise. When he says it restores democracy.
It can't reinistate what doesn't exist. It can't do it by military takeover. Perhaps Kerry doesn't understand. merica never had democracy. It has none now.
Coup d'etat power rules. Elections are a useful fiction. People have no say. Monied interests run things. According to Paul Craig Roberts:
"The regime ruling in Washington today lacks constitutional and legal authority. Americans are ruled by usurpers…(They) claim that the executive branch is above the law…"
They call "the US Constitution a mere 'scrap of paper.' " It's quaint and out-of-date. "An unconstitutional government is an illegitimate" one.
A Formula for Palestinian Survival in Damascus
A Formula for Palestinian Survival in Damascus
by FRANKLIN LAMB
Western side of Yarmouk Camp, Damascus
For more than a year, Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp, one of nine in Syria, has been a war zone between supporters of the Syrian government and those seeking its overthrow. But the number of camp residents actively engaged in fighting on either side is negligible, according to Dr. Hamed Mouad.
Mouad is author of the first book on Yarmouk camp history and its sociology. Many of his relatives are camp residents, or were at any rate, until they had to flee eight months ago. Despite great pressure to help “liberate” the camp—pressure put upon them from both sides of this war—the residents here, insisting on neutrality, overwhelmingly refused to join either side in the conflict. And for this they have paid a big price.
Israeli Referendum Measure Blocks Land for Peace
by Stephen Lendman
Netanyahu heads Israel's worst government in history. It's hardline. It's extremist. It's fascist. It spurns Palestinian rights. It deplores peace. It enforces occupation harshness.
On August 1, Haaretz headlined "Bill requiring referendum on ceding land passes first Knesset reading."
Doing so lacks legitimacy. Israeli's have no legal authority. Palestinians alone may vote up or down on issues relating to their land.
Israelis have no right to decide for them. Territorial residents have sole authority. A previous article explained. Netanyahu called enactment essential, saying:"Any agreement, if it is achieved in negotiations, will be brought as a referendum."
Trapped in a Killing Field: MIT Study Suggests Travel Restrictions in the Event of an Epidemic
by Janet Phelan
A study published in The Royal Society Interface by researchers at MIT may influence policy as to potential travel restrictions in an epidemic.
The study suggests that such restrictions will slow the progress of a pandemic. What is implicit in the paper's recommendations is that people may be confined—quarantined in fact—to a heavily affected area, thus reducing their individual chances to survive but also mitigating the spread of the contagion.
As reported in Bioprepwatch, the study “compared contagion rates in two scenarios, one with travel restrictions and one without the restrictions. Previous research showed that individuals who become aware of an epidemic travel by taking the shortest route to avoid infected areas, even if they are already infected. The behavior, known as selfish behavior in game theory, exposes people in uninfected areas to disease.” Using computer modeling, the study tracked a hypothetical infectious disease as it advanced through commuting networks in the contiguous U.S.A.
Heightened Russia Bashing
by Stephen Lendman
Doing so suggests reinventing the Evil Empire. It's back to the future. It's the new Cold War. It doesn't surprise.
Media scoundrels march in lockstep with America's worst policies. They do so disgracefully. They shame themselves repeatedly.
They lack legitimacy. They're managed news manipulators. They're not credible journalists. They never were. They're not now.
They're venting over Russia granting Edward Snowden asylum. They criticize what deserves praise
The New York Times called Russia "defiant." Granting Snowden safe refuge ignored "pleas and warnings from President Obama and other senior Americans."
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