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Green Light for City-owned San Francisco Bank
by Ellen Brown
When the Occupiers took an interest in moving San Francisco’s money into a city-owned bank in 2011, it was chiefly on principle, in sympathy with the nationwide Move Your Money campaign. But recent scandals have transformed the move from a political statement into a matter of protecting the city’s deposits and reducing its debt burden. The chief roadblock to forming a municipal bank has been the concern that it was not allowed under state law, but a legal opinion issued by Deputy City Attorney Thomas J. Owen has now overcome that obstacle.
Rights groups react to Bradley Manning verdict
Mary Shaw
On July 30, in a military trial at Fort Mead, Maryland, war crimes whistleblower Bradley Manning was acquitted of aiding the enemy (the most serious charge against him) but was found guilty of 19 other charges. While serving as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army, Manning had released hundreds of thousands of classified documents to Wikileaks which exposed U.S. war crimes and other government misconduct. Doing so led to his court-martial.
In response to the verdict, Amnesty International suggested that the U.S. government needs to reassess its priorities: "The government's priorities are upside down. The U.S. government has refused to investigate credible allegations of torture and other crimes under international law despite overwhelming evidence," said Widney Brown, Amnesty's senior director of international law and policy. "Yet they decided to prosecute Manning who it seems was trying to do the right thing - reveal credible evidence of unlawful behavior by the government. You investigate and prosecute those who destroy the credibility of the government by engaging in acts such as torture which are prohibited under the U.S. Constitution and in international law... It's hard not to draw the conclusion that Manning's trial was about sending a message: the U.S. government will come after you, no holds barred, if you're thinking of revealing evidence of its unlawful behavior."
Longstanding Bahraini State Terror
by Stephen Lendman
It's official state policy. King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa's one of the region's most ruthless tyrants. Washington supports his worst crimes.
They persist. On July 29, the Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) headlined "Escalation of the Crackdown against Freedom of Expression and Assembly in the Recommendations of the National Assembly Special Session."
"The National Assembly: a Tool of Repression Used by the Government of Bahrain Against Citizens."
Freedom in Bahrain is verboten. It's prohibited. US First Amendment rights are banned. It states:
Bradley Manning: Guilty of Doing the Right Thing
by Stephen Lendman
Final arguments were presented last week. Judge Col. Denise Lind adjourned for the weekend. Tuesday 1PM EDT was verdict day and time.
It didn't surprise. Earlier she refused to dismiss aiding the enemy charges. She let multiple Espionage Act violations stand. She did so disgracefully. Manning faces possible life in prison.
We'll know once sentence is imposed. We'll know more if it holds on appeal. We know plenty now. Lind threw the book at Manning except entirely.
She exonerated him of aiding the enemy. She convicted him of 20 of 22 charges. They include five Espionage Act counts. Expect sentencing to be harsh. Manning faces longterm imprisonment. He may never be free again.
According to Brennan Center for Justice Liberty and National Security Program co-director Elizabeth Goitein:
Israeli/Washington Peace Terms: Unconditional Surrender
by Stephen Lendman
The charade began Monday night. It did so over a traditional Iftar dinner. It's the Ramadan period evening meal. It breaks the daily fast.
It was more like the last supper. According to Christian scripture, Christ shared his last meal with his Apostles. He did so before crucifixion.
Palestinians have been crucified for decades. They're hung out to dry ruthlessly. New talks are worthless. They're fake. They're futile. They're another round of duplicity, failure and betrayal.
Multiple previous efforts produced nothing. This time's no different. Peace for our time won't happen. Netanyahu won't tolerate it. Nor will Washington.
No Reference to J*W allowed
Gilad Atzmon
The Daily Mail reported today:
"Newspaper forced to apologize over anti-Semitic clue in crossword puzzle
● Tribune Media Services newspapers printed a crossword clue where the three-letter answer for Shakespeare's 'Shylock' was 'Jew'
● In response the Anti-Defamation League asked the paper to print an apology and refrain from using clues that perpetuate negative Jewish stereotypes
● The paper issued an apology and promised not to print the clue again"
Waging the Battle of Syria
by Stephen Lendman
Syria's conflict began in March 2011. Resolving it remains elusive. Previous articles explained it's Washington's war. It was planned years ago.
It's about advancing America's imperium. There's nothing civil about it. It's about toppling another independent government. They're not tolerated. Washington wants pro-Western puppet ones replacing them.
War rages. Tens of thousands died. Dozens more do daily. Obama remains unaccountable. His hands are blood-drenched. He's a war criminal multiple times over. He thrives on death and destruction.
The Illusion of Israeli/Palestinian Peace for Our Time
by Stephen Lendman
Talks take place in Washington. Doing so alone assures betrayal and failure. It's certain. America one-sidedly favors Israel. It's duplicitous. It's no honest broker. It never was. It's not now.
No legitimate Palestinian leader would permit Washington's involvement. Collaborators betray their people by doing so.
Talks began Monday night. They did so informally. A State Department statement said the following:
"Today, Secretary Kerry spoke with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and personally extended an invitation to send senior negotiating teams to Washington to formally resume direct final status negotiations."
"Initial meetings are planned for the evening of Monday July 29 and Tuesday July 30, 2013."
Remembering Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907 - 1972)
by Stephen Lendman
He was special. He mattered. He's called a prophet's prophet. He tried to shock people out of complacency into understanding and compassion.
He grew up in Poland. He came from a family of noted rabbis. His world was hasidic ("pious ones") "rebbeim." Rebbe are more than rabbis.
They're the closest Jews come to experiencing prophecy. They taught him. They inspired him. They tested his convictions. They expanded his worldview. He matured into one of them. He surpassed them. He became an important figure.
He was the youngest of six children. His father died when he was aged eight. His maternal uncle adopted him. He was precocious. He showed early signs of greatness.
The morning after blacklisting Hezbollah: is the EU experiencing ‘buyer’s remorse’?
Franklin Lamb
Damascus
It may well have seemed like a fine idea at the European Union’s Foreign Ministers cocktail reception in Brussels, where ample alcohol freely flowed the night before last week’s vote to blacklist the “military wing” of Hezbollah. But shortly after the vote the EU appeared to be experiencing a severe hangover as the stark reality of its impetuous decision began to soak in.
After periodical discussion of the US-Israel demand for blacklisting Hezbollah for more than a year, and adding its name to the EU list of 26 organizations and 11 individuals currently being designated as ‘terrorists’ is in becoming clearer by the day the EU actions may not have been in anyone’s interest except possibly Israel’s.
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