Eric Zuesse

Below is a video of “our side” in the Ukrainian civil war carrying out part of the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Mikhail Koval’s, extermination plan, which was injudiciously described by him right after a press conference.

On June 11th, an “Anti-Maidan” or anti-ethnic-cleansing, site, posted to youtube excerpts from previously unpublished press-conference Q&A-session statements by Koval, which were made perhaps immediately following the Defense Minister’s private meeting on June 4th with top NATO officials, who endorsed his plan. This youtube was titled “Secretary of Defense [Mikhailo Koval] About Concentration Camp for Eastern Ukraine People.”

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by Stephen Lendman

On November 10, Putin addressed Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum members. Calling Russia's participation strategically important. Intending expanded cooperation. Through increased trade and investment incentives. "The twenty-first century has already been called 'the Pacific century,' " he said.

"Russia must make use of the competitive advantages offered by this fast-growing economic, technology and innovation centre."

Russian Siberian and Far Eastern regions "offer a unique chance for this vast region’s countries to effectively develop and make use of the opportunities there and further strengthen their potential."

"Cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region is one of Russia's strategic priorities. The overall constructive spirit that characterises our relations with the vast majority of countries in the region is very important."

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by Stephen Lendman

They've been ongoing interminably. Reaching a November 2013 interim agreement. Longstanding US/Israeli hardline policy remains unchanged.

Sanctions Iran wants removed remain in place. New ones were irresponsibly imposed.

By Washington earlier. Unilaterally. By executive order. Circumventing Congress. Violating Geneva's letter and sprit.

EU countries just adding their own. Against Iranian companies and individuals. Showing no interest in resolving things responsibly.

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by Stephen Lendman

International law is clear and unequivocal. Settlements and regional councils are brazenly illegal.

So are West Bank/East Jerusalem closed military zones, no-go areas, nature reserves, national parks, Separation Wall land expropriation, free-firing zones, commercial locations, Jews only roads, checkpoints, other barriers, and other exclusively Jewish areas.

Combined they comprise about 60% of West Bank land. Israel plans annexation. More on this below.

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The people have spoken. Their preference is clear. By an overwhelming majority, the favorite candidate of the American public is NOBODY.

But, wait, that makes no sense. There were election contests all over the country including elections for the House of Representatives in every state. Every contest had a winner. Didn't we hear about turnout above 50% in some states? That's correct. However, the winner by far, consisted of those who simply didn't vote. They chose NOBODY.

Like unemployment, banking, and other critical data coming from the government(s), turnout isn't really turnout. If there are 2,000 voters registered and 1,000 show up to vote, government figures say there was a 50% turnout. But, if there were 3,000 eligible voters, then turnout could better be stated as 33% since only one in three eligible voters bothered to show up.

Here are the real turnout numbers:

• Only 36.6% of eligible voters (real turnout) bothered to vote.
• Six states had real turnout between 50% and 60%
• Eighteen states had turnout between 40% and 49%
• Twenty one states were between 30% and 39%
• Six states had turnout below 30%

Michael McDonald, U.S. Elections Project, George Mason University

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by Stephen Lendman

Both officials met on the APEC summit sidelines. It bears repeating what earlier articles stressed.

Lavrov is a world-class diplomat. A model foreign secretary. Working tirelessly for world peace and stability.

Kerry shames the office he holds. Illegitimate and then some. A serial liar. Unfit to serve.

A war criminal multiple times over. Representing America's dark side. Deploring peace. Supporting imperial wars. Complicit in Ukrainian crisis conditions. Involved in elevating illegitimate fascist putschists to power.

Backing their Donbas war of aggression. Without mercy against freedom-fighting democrats. Civilians in harm's way.

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by Stephen Lendman

Sharonian evil defines him. Unrestrained state terror. Against defenseless Palestinian civilians. Peaceful protesters.

Maliciously claiming they call for Israel's destruction. More on what he said below. On Sunday, Environmental Minister Amir Peretz resigned.

Saying Israel undertook "an earthquake in all fields - diplomatic, social and financial." Netanyahu acted irresponsibly.

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by Stephen Lendman

On November 9, 1989, Berliners began demolishing the wall separating East from West. More on commemorations marking its 25th anniversary below.

Palestinians face their own repression. Israel's Separation Wall one of many ways. Ruled illegal by the International Criminal Court (ICJ).

Calling for it to be dismantled. Reparations paid for lost homes. Businesses. Farmland. Orchards. Olive groves. Other immovable property.

Israel ignores all international laws and rulings. Ones conflicting with its ruthless agenda.

Construction continues. A monstrous 430 mile-long land grab on completion. Stealing 12% of Palestinian land. Build largely for this reason.

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Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD.

Leaders with No accountability and No Shame

Pakistan is in ruins. The nation and its imagery, law and justice, commerce, thinking hubs, political governance all appear dysfunctional and self-contradictory. Eroding freedom of thoughts and action speaks of missing accountability of political elite. The nation is fast becoming victim of a US planned blue-print being used in Iraq. Vengeful sectarian killings and dismantling of economic, political and moral infrastructures to incapacitate the nation by its own sadistic rulers. All fighting against all to end the very existence by collective madness. The paid Pakistani political and security agents are instrumental in carrying out heinous crimes. Increasingly and without any logical redress, common citizens are the targeted aim of the political cruelty. No wonder, once conditions favorable to cruelty are established, it spreads like frightening wildfire. The governance demonstrates dead-ended political conscience of the interest of the people. After decade-old American entrapment in the bogus war on terrorism, the country has lost the energies and capacity to deal with any major problems of security and national unity. The foreign agenda is focused on breaking the moral and spiritual lifelines of the Pakistani nation by its own agents of influence. There are no brave and proactive politicians to stop the continuing political stagnation. The nation faces colossal disaster day in and day out but nobody is held accountable for the crimes. The Generals are convenient spectators and Nawaz Sharif is happy, the herd is politically manageable to complete his inherently fraudulent term of office as prime minister.

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James Petras

Introduction

The US-EU sponsored coup in the Ukraine and its conversion from a stable Russian trading partner, to a devastated EU economic client and NATO launch pad, as well as the subsequent economic sanctions against Russia for supporting the Russian ethnic majority in the Donbas region and Crimea, illustrate the dangerous vulnerability of the Russian economy and state. The current effort to increase Russia’s national security and economic viability in the face of these challenges requires a critical analysis of the policies and structures emerging in the post-Soviet era.

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