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US and North Korea Have Something in Common: The Highest Incarceration Rates
MARK KARLIN , EDITOR OF BUZZFLASH AT TRUTHOUT
In a recent New York Times (NYT) column, Nikolas Kristof used a 12 question test to point out some of the tragic absurdities of posturing by the big powers and claims to moral legitimacy. He entitled it, "Do You Speak Dictator?"
For instance, if the United States is number one in anything, it is literally the first in the world in the percentage of its population incarcerated. Kristof, in one of his questions, points out, however, that North Korea probably comes in second or maybe even a tie in this dubious distinction award (exact numbers of those imprisoned in North Korea are not available). That's a rather horrifying ranking to possibly share with the world's most isolated dictatorship.
NATO Steps Up Military Pressure on Russia
By Stefan Steinberg and Peter Schwarz
NATO continued its military build-up on the Russian border even as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met in Paris Sunday evening to discuss the conflict over Ukraine. The meeting, involving four hours of “frank” talks, ended with no breakthrough and separate news conferences.
The two men met after Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated his readiness to make certain concessions. Last Friday he phoned US President Barack Obama in Saudi Arabia to discuss a “diplomatic resolution to the crisis.” On Sunday, Kerry dismissed Lavrov’s proposal for a Federal Ukraine that was not part of NATO, cynically declaring that was “up to the Ukrainians”—that is, the fascist-led regime in Kiev backed by Washington.
Current Philippine Government And Military Using ongoing Extra-Judicial Killings Targeting Activists, Poor, Left And Media
By Brian McAfee
On March 25, William Bugatti, a 43 year old human rights worker for Karapatan, one of the Philippines main human rights organizations, Bugatti was shot to death. He was the 12th activist killed so far this year. On March 15 Romeo Capalla, 65, chairperson of the Panay Fair Trade Center, was shot to death. On March 2 Freddie Ligiwi, his father and his brother Edie disappeared, they were found March 8 in a shallow grave. Freddie had been a member of Anakbayan, a left wing organization. Women have also been targeted in the killings. Elisa Lascona. Tulid, 37, a land rights activist was killed October 19, 2013 in front of her husband and 4 year old daughter.
Olmert: Guilty As Charged
by Stephen Lendman
Exceptions prove the rule. Olmert's conviction is big. He's a former Jerusalem mayor (1993 - 2003). Earlier he held Israeli ministerial positions.
He was Israel's 12th prime minister (April 2006 - March 31, 2009). He's an unindicted war criminal multiple times over.
In 2006, he waged lawless aggression on Lebanon. From December 27, 2008 - January 18, 2009, he pursued Operation Cast Lead savagery of Gaza.
His rap sheet is blood-drenched. He remains unaccountable for high crimes too grave to ignore.
In August 2009, he was indicted in three corruption cases. They related to Rishon Tours as well as the Talansky and Investment Center affairs. More on them below.
On January 5, 2012, he and over a dozen others were indicted for allegedly giving or receiving bribes related to various real estate deals.
Canada’s Harper Stokes Imperialism’s Drive Against Russia
By Keith Jones
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been among the shrillest in the chorus of western leaders denouncing and threatening Russia.
He issued a series of inflammatory denunciations of Russian “aggression” during a European tour this past week that began with a trip to Ukraine. During his six hours in Kiev, Harper lauded the government installed by last month’s fascist-spearheaded, US-German organized coup and conferred with its leaders, who include a half-dozen ministers from the fascist Svoboda Party.
If Harper’s aides and the press are to be believed, Canada’s Conservative Prime Minster has led the campaign for the western powers to take provocative measures against Russia. These include the increased deployment of NATO forces on Russia’s borders, sanctions against Bank Rossiya, Russia’s exclusion from the G-8, and the threat of more punishing economic sanctions if Russia does not “completely reverse” its annexation of Crimea.
122 World Leaders on NSA Target List
By Joseph Fitsanakis
A list of high-priority intelligence targets published over the weekend includes the names of over a hundred current and former heads of state, who were systematically targeted by the United States National Security Agency (NSA). The list appears to be part of a wider “Target Knowledge Base” assembled by the NSA in order to help produce “complete profiles” of what the NSA calls “high-priority intelligence targets”.
The list is contained in a classified top-secret briefing created by the NSA in 2009. It was published by German newsmagazine Der Spiegel, which said it acquired it from American intelligence defector Edward Snowden. Snowden, a former computer expert for the NSA and the Central Intelligence Agency, is currently living in Russia, where he has been offered political asylum.
Kerry and Lavrov: World's Apart
by Stephen Lendman
On Sunday, both men met for further talks. They did so in Paris. They discussed Ukraine for four hours. Nothing was resolved.
Kerry demands business as usual. He wants Washington rules enforced. He wants Ukrainians having no say.
Lavrov wants fundamental rule of law principles observed. He wants Ukraine free from fascist putschists.
He wants legitimate governance replacing them. He wants what Ukrainians want. He wants what Washington won't permit. A post-meeting Kerry statement said in part:
"The US and Russia have differences of opinion about the events that led to this crisis."
"Both sides made suggestions on ways to deescalate the security and political situation in and around Ukraine."
The Russians Aren't Coming
by Stephen Lendman
It's back to the future. It's reminiscent of Cold War fearmongering. It claimed the Russians are coming.
Norman Jewison's 1966 film titled "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming" portrayed a Soviet threat, albeit satirically.
Today, outrageous headlines irresponsibly suggest Russian hordes threaten Ukraine. Truth is polar opposite. It doesn't matter.
On March 28, Ukraine's propaganda news service Ukrinform headlined "Russia continues to redeploy troops to Ukrainian border."
It quoted Kiev's Military and Political Studies Center head Dmytro Tymchuk saying:
"According to live data of the Information Resistance group, redeployment of Russian troops to the border of Russia with Ukraine has continued over the past day."
Debunking Western Propaganda
by Stephen Lendman
It's malicious. It's unrelenting. Big Lies repeat one after another. Official sources announce them.
Media scoundrels regurgitate them as gospel. It's standard practice. Agitprop substitutes for accurate reporting.
Ukraine crisis misinformation proliferates. Responsible Russian replies get short shrift. Often they're ignored. Sometimes they're twisted irresponsibly.
On March 28, Vladimir Putin said professional Russian action saved Crimean bloodshed. He thanked "the command and service members of the Black Sea Fleet, other units and formations based in Crimea, for their stamina and personal courage."
He praised their "clear and professional actions." They "avoid(ed) provocations and prevent(ed) bloodshed and ensure(d) conditions for a peaceful and free referendum."
Global Peace, Europe, America and Humanity in Search of Intelligent Leaders
Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD
Towards Understanding the Political Monsters of History
Contemporary superpowers are mere assumed names and abstract titles, not the compelling reality of the global political affairs. Why nothing good comes out of the combined resources of the global institutional working? One perspective could be that if nations of the world are fragmented, soon they will be stagnated and the global warriors would dominate and control them effectively for all purposes. Imagine, if the 21st century informed global community had proactive, moral and intellectual leadership, the global mankind would have embraced the ideas and ideals of future-making to transform the 20th century’s individual endeavors into measurable advancement and to pave the ways for the coming of the 21st century knowledge-based changes as progressive civilizations.
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