After U.S. Uproar, Another Syrian “Civilian Massacre” Story Falls Apart Alex Newman Yet another alleged “massacre” of “civilians” by the Syrian regime was in the establishment-press headlines this week, supposedly a brutal killing spree by dictator Bashar al-Assad’s forces in the village of Tremseh that left up to 250 people dead. As has become typical, […]
The Mystery of Arafat’s Death Ray McGovern Exclusive: In 2004, when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat suddenly fell ill and died, suspicions swirled that he might have been poisoned, but no autopsy was performed. Now, nearly eight years later, his death is getting new scrutiny, though ex-CIA analyst Ray McGovern doubts a complete answer will ever […]
Afghans see slow healthcare improvements Agencies Standards of healthcare in Afghanistan have improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban, but security continues to play a large role in determining access to and quality of care provided. In the last 10 years, child mortality rates have fallen by half, with about one in 10 children […]
Nuclear weapons as instruments of peace? Richard Falk A few days ago I was a participant in a well-attended academic panel on “the decline of violence and warfare” at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association held this year in San Diego, California. The two-part panel featured appraisal of the common argument of two […]
On anti-Semitism, war crimes, and old poets Lillian Rosengarten Silence in the face of apartheid is unbearable. We can no longer remain silent nor turn our backs and pretend ignorance to a gruesome occupation of stolen land, the cruelest collective punishment in the open-air sewer prison where Palestinians once lived in peace. The situation has […]
Media Scoundrels Promote War Stephen Lendman Syria is target one, then Iran. The road to Tehran runs through Damascus. Western-backed insurgents can’t match Assad’s security forces. In 2011, Libyan killer gangs had air force support. Without NATO, they’d have been routed. Expect stepped up intervention in Syria. All signs suggest it. The April 10 deadline […]
Hasbara in 1988: ‘despite difficulties, South Africa is a vital, progressive state with much to admire’ Phan Nguyen First of an ongoing series by Phan Nguyen on the use of the apartheid analogy. Defenders of South African apartheid said blacks were doing better there than in other African countries and South Africa was an asset […]
Ten reasons why AIPAC is so dangerous Medea Benjamin The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is one of the most powerful lobby organizations in the country. AIPAC’s clout helps fuel a never-ending cycle of violence in the Middle East. Here are ten reasons why AIPAC is so dangerous. 1. AIPAC is lobbying Congress to […]
Noam Chomsky: The Decline of American Empire (Part 2) The principles of imperial domination have undergone little change, but the capacity to implement them has markedly declined. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com here. The following article is part 2 of Noam Chomsky’s series on […]
[part 1] Noam Chomsky: America’s Decline Is Real — and Increasingly Self-Inflicted Noam Chomsky, TomDispatch.com Significant anniversaries are solemnly commemorated — Japan’s attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, for example. Others are ignored, and we can often learn valuable lessons from them about what is likely to lie ahead. Right now, in […]
Europe’s Own Human Rights Crisis Benjamin Ward To many friends of human rights in Europe, the Arab Spring has been the most thrilling period since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Judging from their soaring rhetoric about yearning for freedom among Arab peoples, European Union leaders share that enthusiasm. Today there is an opportunity, the […]
Israel Teams With Terror Group to Kill Iran’s Nuclear Scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News Richard Engel and Robert Windrem NBC News February 09, 2012 “NBC” — Deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists are being carried out by an Iranian dissident group that is financed, trained and armed by Israel’s secret service, U.S. officials tell […]
Syria: Report of the Arab League Observer Mission Neil Godfrey As a follow up to my earlier post Syria: what we are not being told here is an English translation of the report of the Arab League Observer Mission to Syria. Of particular interest are the statements made in it about the way the media have […]
Declaration of Social Movements Assembly Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil We, people of all continents, gathered in the Assembly of the Social Movements during the Thematic Social Forum Capitalist Crisis and Social and Environmental Justice, fight against the causes of a systemic crisis expressed as the economic, financial, political, food, and environmental crisis, that puts at […]
Targeting AIPAC Stephen Lendman On January 23, Occupy AIPAC announced plans to confront the powerful Israeli Lobby in Washington from March 2 – 6. More on what’s planned below. Since last September, OWS inspired affiliate groups. Among others they include Occupy Together, Occupy Everything, Occupy Arrests, Occupy Police, Occupy Marines, Occupy Veterans, Occupy Writers, Occupy […]