A Freedom Rider in Gaza City

"Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" is Arabic for "Yes, We Can!"

By RAMZI KYSIA
CounterPunch

Gaza City.

"This morning I walked to the Indian Ocean and made salt in defiance of the British Occupation of India. This morning I marched in Selma, I stood down tanks in Tiananmen Square, and I helped tear down the Berlin Wall. This morning I became a Freedom Rider.

The Freedom Riders of the 21st Century are sailing small boats into the Gaza Strip in open defiance of the Israeli Occupation and blockade. This morning I arrived in Gaza aboard the SS Dignity, part of a Free Gaza Movement delegation of twenty seven doctors, lawyers, teachers, and human rights activists from across the world, including Mairead Maguire - the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

When I close my eyes, I still hear the crash of ocean waves, I still feel the warm sun on my face, and I still taste salt from the sea spray. When I close my eyes, I can still see the Israeli warship that tried to intimidate us when we reached the twenty-mile line outside Gaza, and I can still see a thousand cheering people crowding around our ship when we refused to be intimidated and finally reached port in Gaza City. Today, the proudest boast in the free world is truly, "Nam, Nehnu Nastatyeh!" - "Yes, We Can!"........"

Israel Bars Visit to a Father's Grave

Case Highlights Plight of Palestinian Refugees

By JONATHAN COOK
CounterPunch

"Salwa Salam Qupty clutches a fading sepia photograph of a young Palestinian man wearing a traditional white headscarf. It is the sole memento that survives of her father, killed by a Jewish militia during the 1948 war that established Israel.

“He was killed 60 years ago as he was travelling to work,” she said, struggling to hold back the tears. “My mother was four months pregnant with me at the time. This photograph is the closest I’ve ever got to him.”

Six decades on from his death, she has never been allowed to visit his grave in Galilee and lay a wreath for the father she never met....."

Adib Kawar and Rafik Abi Younis: The uprooting conspiracy of Iraqi Christians

Introduction and translation from Arabic by Adib Kawar
Palestine Think Tank

"What is taking place in Mosul and other parts of Iraq against the Christian component of the Iraqi people, which is one of its oldest components of the Iraqi society, is not the first crime to be committed by the occupation forces and their strategic ally the Zionist state. It was preceded by the Zionist occupation authority in Palestine… The Zionist entity is trying to empty Palestine of its Arab population by means of pitting the different religious components against each other to ease its control on the whole of Palestine and empty it of its indigenous Arab population… The Zionist entity is claiming that Palestinian Arab Christians are migrating from Palestine as a result of “Muslim aggression and terrorism” against them (!!!), it is the contrary, the Zionist state is the “authority” committing its terrorism against all the components of the Palestinian Arab society.....

.....With the development of this dangerous situation it is of utmost importance to stress the following recapitulations:

1. It is not sufficient and persuasive that the counter campaign against what Christians in Iraq should be limited to is protests and denunciations, as what is taking place has exceeded in its size and aims a passing incident against a major component of the Iraqi society, and in particular in the city of Mosul where the plan reaches the extent of complete extermination and expulsion.

2. What is taking place cannot be committed by an expiatory group with limited possibilities by itself to commit such a role throughout Iraq, but it is likely that there is big support by enemy forces led by Israel whose outfits are openly operating day and night backed by U.S. intelligence services. They all aim at destroying the relations that bring together the various components of the Iraqi society and its diversity that is reflected by the Christian presence and their role in the Iraqi society, and so that there will be no more patriotic or national unity, and thus have the stage open for sectarian and denominational conflicts that drives the country one day after another to destruction and fragmentation.

3. The underlying accusations against the resistance forces behind the assaults committed against Christians aim at acquitting occupation forces from the crime and justifying connivance of the Iraqi authority with it....... "

At Israel’s beck and call

By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank

"Under the manifestly false rubric of “restoring law and order,” hundreds of American-trained Palestinian troops have been rounding up Islamic political activists and suspected Hamas sympathizers in the Hebron region.

The operation, code-named “Ishraqato Watan” or “sunrise of the motherland” began three days ago after the Israeli occupation army allowed the 558 troops to move from Jericho to the Hebron area.

The operation is being carried out under the command of Gen. Thiyab al Ali, aka Abu al Fath, who bears the official title of “General Commander of Palestinian National forces.”

This is the same man who in mid September participated in a much publicized meeting with Israeli army commanders at the Jewish colony of Beit El near Ramallah.

During that notorious meeting, Abu al Fath reportedly told his Israeli colleagues that “we are not enemies, we’re friends, and we have one common enemy, and that is Hamas.”......"

Washington's new policy towards Iran

Hasan Abu Nimah, The Electronic Intifada, 29 October 2008

"The Bush administration will establish the first official United States diplomatic presence in Tehran before it leaves office, according to reports published last week. A US interests section in the Iranian capital would be the first step towards restoring full diplomatic ties severed since the 1979 hostage crisis amidst the tumult of the Islamic Revolution.

Senior Bush administration officials informed Tehran of the US offer after rumors began to circulate about it last summer, The Seattle Times reported (24 October). Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is said to view this move with favor. Although the final decision has not been taken by the US, the search is already underway for a diplomat to head the mission.

This is a remarkable turn of events. While the Bush administration seems to have moved away from threats to attack Iran, Israel is still keen on seeing that happen, as are some of its fanatical supporters in Washington. They certainly will do all they can to undermine any US-Iranian rapprochement....."

Video: "Nahr al-Bared, between past and present"

a-films, Electronic Lebanon, 29 October 2008

Part 1



Part 2



"One year has passed since the first Palestinians were allowed to return to the outskirts of the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp, destroyed by the Lebanese army during three months of fighting in the summer of 2007 with Fatah al-Islam, a small Islamist militant group. Meanwhile, up to 15,000 people have resettled in the camp. Many of them are still waiting to freely access their destroyed homes, as the Lebanese army still exclusively controls the "old camp" in the core of Nahr al- Bared, as well as parts of the "new camp" on the outskirts.

Nahr al-Bared refugee camp was a thriving economic center in northern Lebanon, nestled between the city of Tripoli and the Syrian border along the coastal highway that joins the north to Beirut. Although many shops and companies have reopened in Nahr al-Bared, they are struggling with difficult economic conditions and the Lebanese army's tight control of the camp including checkpoints at every entrance.

This 16-minute film was produced in a small workshop in the camp. It deals with the current developments in Nahr al-Bared, focusing on economic aspects and on the reconstruction efforts."

We've done it again

The Free Gaza Movement

"For Immediate Release Date : 10-29-2008

LARNACA - The Free Gaza Movement is delighted to announce that their third boat, the SS Dignity carrying 27 crew and passengers arrived in Gaza at 8:10 Gaza time, in spite of Israeli threats to stop them. In the pouring rain, the boat pulled into port amid cheers from the people of Gaza and tears from the passengers.

David Schermerhorn, one of the crew members called an hour before the boat entered the waters of Gaza and said, "There is a rainbow stretching across the Mediterranean from where we are right now."

Yesterday, The Israel Navy said they would stop the stop our vessel once it reached Israel's territorial waters. Apparently to save face, they said they would harm our boat, arrest us and tow us IF we entered Israeli waters. The problem for Israel is that the SS Dignity had no intention of getting anywhere near those waters.

One of the organizers, Huwaida Arraf cheered, "Once again we've been able to defy an unjust and illegal policy while the rest of the world is too intimidated to do anything. Our small boat is a huge cry to the international community to follow in our footsteps and open a lifeline to the people of Gaza."

For the second time, the Free Gaza Movement has demonstrated that the might of the Israeli navy is no match for a small boat of human rights activists determined to call to the attention of the world the occupation of the people of Gaza.

Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council added, "Despite the injustice against the Palestinian people, we believe in justice and will keep on trying to break Israel's siege. The occupation has divided the Palestinians, but our nonviolent resistance has united us."

Osama Qashoo, one of the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement, overjoyed for the second time in three months, "We are all capable of leading a nonviolent and effective movement to end the Israeli Apartheid and expose the injustice that has been meted out to the Palestinians. We in the FG movement have provided the new dictionary, it's up to the Palestinians and the Israelis and the Internationals to add the words."......"

Morocco king's Jewish aide urges Israel to adopt Saudi peace plan

Full Speed Normalization with Israel, with Nothing in Return!

"A Jewish adviser to Moroccan King Mohammed VI called on Israel on Tuesday to adopt the 2002 Saudi peace initiative, which offers Israel normalized relations with the Arab world in exchange for its withdrawal to the 1967 borders, and to advance the peace process with the Palestinians.

"I am a Jew with a commitment," said Andre Azoulay. "I'm an Arab Jew. I advise the king of Morocco... The Arab mainstream sees Israel as the party responsible for preventing peace, not the Arabs," he added, speaking at a conference marking ten years since the founding of President Shimon Peres' peace center, held in Tel Aviv this week.

Azoulay was recently appointed president of the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures in Alexandria, Egypt, and he is soon scheduled to meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak....."

The House of Saud, the House of Zion?

Saudi king invites Israel to New York interfaith conference

"Peres, Livni consider attending interfaith dialogue conference in UN; first time Israel invited to event organized by Saudi Arabia. 'Nothing can purify Islam's reputation except for the extension of Muslims' hands to their brothers in other religions,' says King Abdullah

Saudi King Abdullah has green-lighted Israel's participation in a meeting at the United Nations next month to discuss his initiative to promote interfaith dialogue, marking the first time the Jewish state has been invited to a conference held under the auspices of the kingdom......"

Analysts Question Timing of Syria Raid

By Ali Gharib

"WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (IPS) - A cross-border raid into Syria by U.S. forces in Iraq, and a subsequent stonewalling by U.S. officials unwilling to divulge details, has led to rampant speculation among U.S. analysts about the origins and meaning of the attack.

"So the question is: Why?" wrote geo-strategic analyst and journalist Helena Cobban on her blog, wondering if the raid could have been pulled off without explicit permission from the highest levels of the President George W. Bush administration.

"So why now at the end of the Bush administration, with Washington trying to play nice with Damascus and tensions easing throughout the region, would U.S. forces stage such a gambit?" echoed Borzou Daragahi on the Babylon and Beyond blog at the Los Angeles Times website....."

The Other Election

A Good Piece

by William S. Lind

"While the world's eyes are fixed on the American election coming up soon, another election with equal importance for America's future crawled onto the calendar over the past weekend.....

At present some, polls suggest the Likud Party will win. If that happens, it will mean as much for America as for Israel. Why? Because America's Middle Eastern policy is effectively the tail on Likud's dog. Many American neocons, those great guys who gave us the war in Iraq, are de facto members of Likud. Several leading American neocons wrote Likud's strategy for Israel, which calls for someone – guess who? – to destroy every Middle Eastern country that could be a threat to Israel. The American invasion of Iraq represented in part that strategy being put into effect.

Those who imagine an Obama victory will see the neocons shown the door are in for an unpleasant surprise......

A Likud government in Israel come next spring would make two wars virtually certain: a war between Israel and Hezbollah and another between Israel and Iran. The Israeli military leadership recently announced that in the event of another war with Hezbollah, Israel would destroy Lebanon's civilian infrastructure throughout the country......

An Israeli attack on Iran, in turn, could bring about the loss of the army America has in Iraq. If I sound like Cato in repeating this warning endlessly, I do so with reason......

To this happy picture a Likud government in Israel might add a war with Syria and an open U.S. break with Pakistan......"

The Best Punching Bag, or Your Money Back!

Syria jails 12 dissidents

Al-Jazeera

"A Syrian court has sentenced 12 political dissidents to jail for political crimes after they had called for democratic reforms.

The 11 men and a woman were arrested after holding a meeting to revive a movement urging freedom of expression and a democratic constitution for Syria, which has been ruled by the Ba'ath party for four decades.

The 12 dissidents received between two and two and a half years in prison after being convicted on charges which included "weakening national morale".

Among the convicted was prominent activist Riad Seif, who has cancer......."

Real News Video with Pepe Escobar: Obama’s got a brand new bag

Obama is gaining ground even in red Georgia; James Brown, a Republican, might have endorsed him



"The Godfather of Soul James Brown, who sprang up to legend from Augusta, Georgia, was a staunch Republican but also an icon of the civil rights movement. The fact that Senator Barack Obama is gaining ground even in red Georgia - where early voting favors him - would not have displeased the Godfather; Pepe Escobar argues that James Brown would have found many points in common with a black man with historical consciousness and fighting for social justice. Republicans, meanwhile, prefer to depict Obama as a dangerous marxist."

Brace yourselves - George Bush will soon be free to do just what he wants

The raid on Syria is a dark portent. The current president has three long, unaccountable months to cement his legacy

Jonathan Freedland
The Guardian, Wednesday October 29 2008

"We are about to enter the twilight zone, that strange black hole in political time and space that appears no more than once every four years. It is known as the period of transition, and it starts a week from today, the time when the United States has not one president but two. One will be the president-elect, the other George Bush, in power for 12 more weeks in which he can do pretty much whatever he likes. Not only will he never again have to face voters, he won't even have to worry about damaging the prospects of his own party and its standard bearer (as if he has not damaged those enough already). From November 5 to January 20, he will exercise the freest, most unaccountable form of power the democratic world has to offer.

How Bush might use it is a question that gained new force at the weekend, when US forces crossed the Iraqi border into Syria......

However we are meant to read it, the attack on Syria looks a lot like a parting shot from Bush, an end-of-the-movie reminder of what this long and bloody saga has been about. A small operation, causing eight deaths, it nevertheless captures much of the Bush ethos that has ruled the globe these past eight years. It was unilateral; it trampled on state sovereignty; and it relied on force as a first, not last, resort. As a souvenir of the Bush era, it would be hard to top.

But it may not be the final act. For we have not yet entered the twilight zone proper. That will come only when polls close next Tuesday. When the transition begins, all kinds of surprises are possible.......

Of course, Bush may be thinking of a parting gift more in keeping with the record of the last eight years. He and Cheney might decide, what the hell, we have one last chance to whack Iran - and let the new guy clear up the mess. Not likely, but possible. For in the twilight zone, anything can happen."

By Steve Bell, The Guardian

The strike that shattered US-Syria ties

By Sami Moubayed
Asia Times

".....Syrians already feel that the US is ungrateful for a range of accomplishments in which Syria has assisted, such as harboring 1.5 million Iraqi refugees, tightening control of the border, hammering out the Doha Agreement, ending the presidential dilemma in Lebanon, and helping moderate the behavior of Iran.

Although the US is upset that Syria has managed to shake off US-imposed isolation, Washington does realize that Syria's cooperation is needed to get things done in the Middle East. In December 1990, former US secretary of state James Baker described Syria as "a major Arab country who happens to share the same goals as we do"......

The late president Hafez al-Assad, eager to comply, met with Baker for the first time on September 14, 1990, signaling the start of a 10-year honeymoon between Damascus and Washington. Then, on November 23, Assad met with Bush, who requested Syrian support in Operation Desert Storm, and promised to hold an Arab-Israeli peace conference once Kuwait was liberated......

In response, Bush refused to channel $400 million in housing-development loans to the Israeli housing minister, who was none other than Ariel Sharon. The money had been earmarked to settle Russian Jews coming in from the former Soviet Union into the West Bank and Gaza. Giving them a free hand in Lebanon was another reward by the US administration to the Syrians; a reward for Assad's participation in Desert Storm.

As Bush promised Assad, the Madrid Conference took place in October 1991. In 1994, he gave a speech at Tufts University in which he said, "Syria's role is important to American interests." Two years later, Baker gave another speech at Tufts, saying: "Had it not been for Syria's approval and positive position, adopted by president [Hafez] al-Assad, the peace process would not have been launched."

President Bill Clinton tried again to court Syria, meeting with Assad twice in 1994, once during an historic visit to Damascus. He noted that Syria "is the key to the achievement of enduring and comprehensive peace" in the Middle East. A satisfied Syria smiled at the initiatives and gestures of the United States....."

A third Palestinian Intifada in the making

By Ramzy Baroud
Asia Times

"As the likelihood rises of a third Palestinian uprising, the second and first must be scrutinized. Palestine's revolts have historically been against the failings of their own leaders and the railroading of their cause by other Arab states, as well as the Israeli occupation. While it is certain a third Intifada will result in new, unpredictable realities, it is clear the Palestinian people need to reassert ownership of their destiny.....

Palestinian uprisings are often a collective response to hard questions. The chances are the next Intifada - as surely there will always be one as long as the occupation continues - will find again a popular rejection of the ills which have afflicted the Palestinian cause, It would once again reassert the relevance, if not the leading role of the Palestinian people as the real owners of their fate, and guards of their own struggle. "

The New Neo-Con Reality

The End of the American Road

By PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS
CounterPunch

""We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you're studying that reality -- judiciously, as you will -- we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors . . . and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do."

--Bush White House aide explaining the New Reality

The New American Century lasted a decade. Financial crisis and defeated objectives in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Georgia brought the neoconservative project for American world hegemony crashing to a close in the autumn of 2008.......

Perhaps the neoconservative project for world hegemony would have lasted a bit longer had the neocons possessed intellectual competence......."

Joe the Cheater by Khalil Bendib

(Click on cartoon to enlarge)

Latin American’s ‘New Left’ In Crises as the ‘Free Market’ Collapses

Latin America is entering a period of profound economic recession, financial crises, collapsing stock market quotations, prices, deep devaluation of its currencies, growing unemployment, declining revenues and the prospect of a prolonged socio-economic recession.

By James Petras

"The economic breakdown, which is still unfolding, affects the entire political spectrum, extending from the far-right Uribe regime in Colombia to the social-liberal Chilean and Brazilian governments of Bachelet and Lula da Silva to the ‘center-left’ regimes of Evo Morales in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador and even to the leftist government of Hugo Chavez.

It is not surprising to see that rightist regimes1, embracing neo-liberal doctrines and deeply enmeshed in free trade agreements with the US, following its path to economic collapse. The deepening crisis has affected, with equal or greater force, the so-called ‘center-left’ regimes of Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Bolivia and Nicaragua......."

A generation of traumatized children

Sameh A. Habeeb writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, 27 October 2008

"Experience of terror and trauma is the norm for children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, especially those living in the Gaza Strip. As the Israeli siege creates a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, an entire generation of traumatized children suffers an absence of psychological care. While the current ceasefire is a welcome respite, it does not relieve children of their fears and nightmares....."

Egypt Condemned for Blocking Foreign MPs to Enter Gaza

Al-Manar

"28/10/2008 “The European Campaign to Lift Gaza Siege” has denounced the decision of the Egyptian authorities in which the International Members of Parliaments delegation, that includes tens of Arab and foreign MPs, was not allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through Rafah border crossing in the beginning of November. The Campaign added that this is considered a part of the siege.

Head of the international MPs delegation Lord Nazir Ahmed condemned the Egyptian decision saying, “We condemn Egypt’s decision concerning not letting us enter the Gaza Strip and we find it strange though the goal of this visit is humane.”

In a press statement, Lord Ahmed added, “We believe that it is the international MPs’ right to be aware of the tragic situations in the Strip, and we were expecting from Egypt, that claims it was helping the Palestinians to lift their siege, to open Rafah crossing in front of the delegation to let it see these tragic situations.”

For his part, Dr. Arafat Madi, the head of the European campaign, stated from Brussels that the Egyptian decision is “a real participation in the blockade imposed on Gaza since over sixteen months and led to the death of more than 255 Palestinian patients till now.”......"

Let Them Eat Cake and Drive a BMW!

Saudi luxury car sales seen rising despite global crisis

"Recession fears may be gripping much of the global economy, but in the world's largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia car manufacturers are betting on more big spending......

"The luxury car market in Saudi Arabia is the biggest one in the Gulf region, so for the BMW group it is the potential market focus," said Reiner Braun, sales director at Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors which imports BMW and other cars.

"The global crisis will certainly have an impact on all markets worldwide but ... the Middle East will probably be the most stable (market)."....."

So Easy for Israelis to Shoot to Kill

By Cherrie Heywood

"RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 28 (IPS) - Israeli soldiers shot and killed three young Palestinians in the Ramallah district of the central West Bank last week. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed the Palestinians were about to throw Molotov cocktails at soldiers and settlers in the Bet El settlement.

But the circumstances in which the young men were shot, whether they actually did throw or attempt to throw firebombs, and if they actually threatened the lives of any soldiers or settlers, has been questioned.

IPS visited the area where two of the killings took place in the Palestinian refugee camp Jelazon, north of Ramallah. The families of the deceased gave a completely different version of events to that of the IDF, and accused the Israelis of premeditated murder......."

Political Crisis in Israel May Boost Hawks

By Robert Dreyfuss
The Nation

"The former Mossad agent who leads Israel's ruling party, Kadima, failed in her effort to put together a government, but there's a chance that Tzipi Livni will never become prime minister. That's because Israel's leading uber-hawk, Bibi Netanyahu, is making strong showings in the polls in the run up to what seems likely to be an election early in 2009. A Netanyahu victory would make neoconservatives delirious with joy. For earth's human population, however, the news isn't so good......."

Out of Iraq? Not if Bush and Maliki Can Help It

by Phyllis Bennis

"Despite the recent surge of attention to the U.S.-Iraqi negotiations over an agreement to keep U.S. troops in Iraq for years into the future, the resulting agreement or lack of agreement is likely to have little actual impact on the occupation. The negotiations are being conducted by representatives of President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki – neither of whom actually wants the U.S. troops to leave (Maliki's government would not likely survive the withdrawal of U.S. troops, and Bush remains committed to permanent U.S. control of Iraq, its oil, and its strategic location for U.S. military bases).

But both Bush and Maliki face political and electoral pressures to posture as if they do want a timetable for troop withdrawal. As a result, most of the negotiations seem to have focused less on substantive disagreements between the two sides, and more on finding language that disguises the reality of continued occupation and U.S. domination, with politically acceptable language extolling Iraqi sovereignty......"

Al-Jazeera Video: Amateur footage of alleged US raid inside Syria - 28 Oct 08

"Mobile phone footage - said to be of the aftermath of a US helicopter raid inside Syria - has been given to Al Jazeera. It shows helicopters flying over a Syrian village and the bodies of the victims of the raid.......

Warning: Contains images some viewers may find distressful. "

Syria: US goes it alone again

Simon Tisdall
guardian.co.uk, Monday October 27 2008

"Syria's shrill protests over yesterday's US special forces raid are a measure of the political and military weakness, bordering on impotence, of Bashar al-Assad's hollowed-out regime. But the hit-and-run attack, similar in concept and execution to September's US incursion into Pakistan, also reflects the near-bankruptcy of the Bush administration's "war on terror" strategy, which seems to grow more dangerously reckless by the day.

In some ways it is surprising Assad is still around to protest. Syria's humiliating troop withdrawal from Lebanon, sanctions, internal dissent, and UN inquiries into the Syrian president's alleged link to the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri all suggested, not so long ago, that regime change in Damascus was imminent.

Assad's survival has come at a high cost to Syria's standing and freedom of manoeuvre. Attempting to fend off isolation, he has edged uncertainly into indirect peace talks with Israel, into a diplomatic accommodation with his Lebanese blood-foes, and into the hot embrace of France's Arabophile president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Assad's foreign minister was in London today, pursuing this ambivalent western rapprochement.......

The US attack is but the latest in a series of unanswered affronts to Syria. In September last year Israeli bombers destroyed a supposed nuclear facility. There have been several violent deaths of senior regime figures, such as the army general Mohammed Suleiman, and of Syria's proteges, such as Hizbullah's Imad Mughniyeh. And there have been "hot pursuit" US cross-border attacks before, notably in 2005 when a border guard was killed.

"The common denominator of all these operations is that nobody takes the Syrians seriously any more, given the repeated violations of their sovereignty. It is doubtful the domestic security situation there has ever been this unstable," said Amos Harel of the Israeli newspaper, Ha'aretz......."

US raid is a warning to Assad

Syria's relationship with the west may be improving, but yesterday's raid shows Washington still has its doubts

Ian Black, Middle East editor
guardian.co.uk, Monday October 27 2008

".....Yet the irony of yesterday's raid is that in recent months Syria had tightened control of the border, even winning public recognition from the former US commander, General David Petraeus. Analysts say that one reason for this tightening of control was alarming evidence of "blowback" from al-Qaida-type groups mounting attacks in Syria and Lebanon.

Still, Syria has refused point-blank to renew intelligence cooperation with the Americans until they send an ambassador back to Damascus. US officials have made no secret of their frustration: so the unofficial message from Washington is that "if the Syrians won't deal with this problem we'll do it ourselves".

It is possible — though unlikely — that the decision to carry out yesterday's raid into sovereign territory was taken by a US military commander without seeking clearance from Washington. Assuming it was cleared at the political level, it may have been intended as a broader warning to Syria at a time when the US and Israel say openly that they are trying to persuade President Bashar al-Assad to detach himself from his alliance with Iran and coax him into meaningful peace talks with the Jewish state.

Indeed, the concept behind the raid appears to have borrowed from Israel [COMMENT: The "concept"? It is simply that the Rabbit is a punching bag and he will do nothing in return; all he cares about is for his regime to survive and for him to stay in power. To the contrary he will try even harder to become more "pro-West." Notice the current visit by his fat boy foreign minister to London. Could an address by the Rabbit to the Knesset, delivered in person, be far?], which last September bombed the alleged site of a nuclear reactor in northern Syria — even as it was contemplating pursuing peace talks with Damascus over the Golan Heights. This February's assassination of a key Hizbullah leader in the heart of Damascus was seen as another warning "message" to Assad......."

Contributed by Anonymouse



This cartoon by Imad Hajjaj is a sarcastic comment about the "Sunni" Arab puppet regimes obeying American orders and sending their ambassadors to the Green Zone in Baghdad.

The banner reads: Enemies of the Sunnis and friends of the US welcome the opening of the embassies of the enemies of the Shi'as and friends of the US. Long live US efforts to bring the two sects together!

US raid in Syria spooks Iran

By Kaveh L Afrasiabi
Asia Times

"The incursion by US forces into Syria from Iraq reinforces the view in Iran that the pending security agreement between Baghdad and Washington is not simply an internal matter for Iraqis to decide, but rather a regional issue that calls for direct input by Iraq's neighbors. Worse, Tehran fears that the US action is a dress rehearsal for a strike against its "terrorist" Revolutionary Guards......"

Populism Arising—but Will It Be the Killer Kind?

By Chris Hedges

"The old assumptions and paradigms about capitalism and free markets are dead. A new, virulent populism, still inchoate, is slowly and painfully rising to take their place. This populism will determine the future of the country. It is as likely to be right-wing as left-wing....."

'US needs Iran in Afghanistan'

Press TV

"Two senior US political analysts have advised Washington officials to unlock the key to their problems in Afghanistan by talking to Iran.

"Few countries were as helpful to the United States in its early involvement in Afghanistan as Iran. Yet after the fall of the Taliban, the US failed to capitalize on the possibilities of that strategic relationship," Lawrence J. Korb and Laura Conley wrote in a Boston Globe article....."

Joke of the Day? Syrian diplomat: Syria reserves the right to respond to U.S. attack (possibly in the year 2080)

"A Syrian diplomat called a U.S. helicopter strike on a Syrian village near the border with Iraq on Sunday an "outrageous crime," adding that Syria reserves the right to respond accordingly....."

Dennis Ross And The Run-Up to An Attack On Iran

By Ira Glunts
Palestine Chronicle

"I recently had the opportunity to ask former U.S. Middle East envoy Dennis Ross this question: Should the U.S. create foreign policy on the basis of what Israel perceives or threatens to do? His answer was startling and ominous.

Dennis Ross is a bright shining lie. He is the type of brilliant bureaucrat that can lie the U.S. into a war with the credibility of a Colin Powell and the blind dedication of a Douglas Feith. His war of choice is Iran, and if all goes according to his envisioning, he will be a prominent player in an Obama administration when the first American-supplied smart bomb is dropped in a U.S.-sanctioned Israeli attack on Iran in 2010....."

The Diplomacy of Lying

By John Pilger

".....As in many parts of the world, the British role is that of subcontractor to Washington. The bloody "Plan Colombia" was the design of Bill Clinton, the last Democratic president and inspiration for Blair's and Brown's new Labor. Clinton's administration was at least as violent as Bush's – see UNICEF's report that 500,000 Iraqi children died as a result of the Anglo-American blockade in the 1990s.

The lesson learned is that no presidential candidate, least of all a Democrat awash with money from America's "banksters," as Franklin Roosevelt called them, can or will challenge a militarized system that controls and rewards him. Obama's job is to present a benign, even progressive face that will revive America's democratic pretensions, internationally and domestically, while ensuring nothing of substance changes.

Among ordinary Americans desperate for a secure life, his skin color may help him regain this unjustified "trust," even though it is of a similar hue to that of Colin Powell, who lied to the United Nations for Bush and now endorses Obama. As for the rest of us, is it not time we opened our eyes and exercised our right not to be lied to, yet again? "

October Surprise?

Don't be too surprised…

By Justin Raimondo

".......No, I'm talking about the deliberate use of American military power to enhance the election chances of a presidential candidate. As I write this, news is breaking of a U.S. attack on the Syrian village of al-Sukkariya, under the pretext of pursuing "al-Qaeda in Iraq" – a "special operation" that is not being acknowledged by the U.S. military. One wonders what other "special operations" our government has in mind for the next eight days. Below is a list of possible scenarios:

* Iraq: The Syrian incursion is an exemplar of the strongest possibility, one that is built into our occupation of Iraq. As we've said from the beginning here at Antiwar.com, the war cannot be contained within the borders of Iraq. It is bound to spill over – providing a convenient pretext to expand and escalate the conflict, and draw in Iran.
Despite all the blustering and threats delivered by Israeli and American government officials, a direct attack on Iranian territory has always been the least likely possible avenue to a war against the mullahs. If and when it comes, the confrontation between Washington/Tel Aviv and Tehran will be sparked by an attack on an Iranian proxy. Hezbollah has proved pretty much impervious, however, and much too strong militarily. That leaves only Syria – the weakest link in Iran's regional alliance. Just this past May, the Syrians signed a mutual defense pact with the Iranian government: any action against Syria will call Tehran's bluff.

* The Caucasus: Several inauspicious (and highly suspicious) incidents have recently occurred in and around the former Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the scene of a recent invasion by Georgian troops. Although repulsed by the Russian military, the Georgians are not taking their defeat lying down. They have reported murdered the head of Abkhazian intelligence, and they continue to sporadically shell Abkhazian and Ossetian positions.
The Russians, for their part, have withdrawn from the combat zone and are taking up positions in Abkhazia and South Ossetia proper, refusing to be drawn into the trap. Whether the Georgians can lure them in, however, is an open question.
In any event, the Caucasus is one region to watch very closely right up until election day, simply because the leverage of reckless "allies," such as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, increases enormously during election season, when they can easily call attention to their own agendas and rally their American amen corner to the cause.

* Al-Qaeda: Another source of a possible game-changer is, of course, Osama bin Laden. While most of the chatter around this subject is concerned with the possibility of a major terrorist attack, an October surprise brought to us by al-Qaeda needn't be quite so dramatic. Bin Laden always seems to pop up around election time with one of his video or audio tapes, mysteriously delivered to al-Jazeera as if by a genie on a magic carpet, and what he says – or doesn't say – could affect the election one way or the other. ......"

Al-Jazeera Cartoon: "Security" Agreement with the Occupation

ملاحظتان حول الحالة

عزمي بشارة

"1- إذا كانت وحدة وطنية.. فلماذا الانتخابات!!
إذا تم التوصل إلى وفاق وطني فلسطيني عبر إعادة تشكيل وبناء م.ت.ف (منظمة التحرير الفلسطينية) وعبر حكومة وحدة وطنية فلماذا ولأي هدف تجري الانتخابات الفلسطينية، وعلى ماذا إذا كان الفلسطينيون بدون دولة؟
......
......
2- حول التعاطي الإسرائيلي مع مبادرة السلام العربية
كان الخطر الرئيسي في مبادرة السلام العربية أن لا تحسن صورة المملكة العربية السعودية في الغرب وفي الرأي العام الأميركي (وقد كان هذا هدفها الحقيقي بعد 11 سبتمبر/أيلول) من جهة، وأن تسقط ثوابت من الموقف العربي دون مقابل إسرائيلي من جهة ثانية.

ولن نطيل الحديث حول الشق الأول، أما بالنسبة للشق الثاني، ففي الحقيقة ذهبت التنازلات مجانا في مبادرة علاقات عامة لم تعرها إسرائيل اهتماما.
....."

The Madness of the Crowd: Going Up and Finally Crashing!

Nikkei plunges to 26-year low

Al-Jazeera

"Shares in Japan have plunged to their lowest level in more than a quarter of a century in another brutal day for Asian stocks.

In Tokyo the benchmark Nikkei index closed Monday's trade down 6.36 per cent, to end the day at its worst closing level since October 1982.

The index has lost more than 20 per cent since last Monday and nearly 40 per cent in the last month alone......"

Al-Jazeera Video: US acknowledges raid on Syrian border town

"A US official has confirmed that Special Forces carried out a raid inside Syrian territory on Sunday, targeting fighters staging attacks in Iraq.

Syria said the soldiers attacked a house in a farming area near the town of Abu Kamal, about 8km inside the border with Iraq.

Al Jazeera's Tom Ackerman reports."

Al-Jazeera Video: Egyptian court fines Cairo News publisher - 27 Oct 08

"The owner of one of Egypt's largest media companies has been hit with a $27,000 fine. An Egyptian court found Nader Gohar, who owns the Cairo News Company, guilty of violating licensing laws.He says he plans to appeal the verdict.

Al Jazeera's Amr el-Kahky reports. "

Real News Video: Suheir Hammad on "Salt of This Sea"

Star of the first film ever to be written and directed by a Palestinian woman speaks on Palestine



"Suheir Hammad, poet and star of "Salt of This Sea" Speaks on the movie, which premiers at the Toronto Palestine Film Festival. She talks on the various worlds within Israel/Palestine and on the experience of access, segregation, and privilege."

Bio

Suheir Hammad is a Palestinian-American poet, author and political activist. Born to refugee parents in Amman, Jordan, Hammad has spent the majority of her life in Brooklyn, New York City. World renowned for her spoken word and written poetry, Hammad has won multiple awards. Her works include Born Palestinian, Born Black, Drops of This Story, and Zaatar Diva. Hammad is also the star of Salt of This Sea, the first film ever to be written and directed by a Palestinian Woman (Annemarie Jacir).

'Salt of This Sea' Trailer



"Soraya, born in Brooklyn in a working class community of Palestinian refugees, discovers that her grandfather's savings were frozen in a bank account in Jaffa when he was exiled in 1948. Direct, stubborn, and determined to reclaim what is hers, she fulfills her life-long dream of "returning" to Palestine. Slowly she is taken apart by the reality around her and is forced to confront her own anger. She meets Emad, a young Palestinian whose ambition, contrary to hers, is to leave forever. Tired of the constraints that dictate their lives, they know in order to be free, they must take things into their own hands, even if it's illegal."

'الفيتو' الاسرائيلي و'جامعة موسى'

'الفيتو' الاسرائيلي و'جامعة موسى'

عبد الباري عطوان

بالأمس الغت الحكومة الاردنية مؤتمراً متوسطياً حول المياه احتجاجاً على رفض اسرائيل مشاركة وفد" يمثل الجامعة العربية فيه، لانها ليست دولة متوسطية. هكذا وبكل بساطة.
في الزمن العربي 'الغابر' كان العرب هم الذين يرفضون اي مشاركة اسرائيلية في مؤتمرات يدعون اليها، وينسحبون من قاعة الجمعية العامة للامم المتحدة بشكل جماعي، اذا اعتلى المندوب الاسرائيلي منبرها، وتفعل الشيء نفسه وفود دول اسلامية وعالمثالثية تضامناً ومساندة. الآن باتت اسرائيل هي التي تعترض وتحتج، وتجد دعماً ومساندة من الكثيرين، بينهم عرب للأسف الشديد، بحيث باتت رغباتها ملباة بالكامل.
السيد عمرو موسى الأمين العام لجامعة الدول العربية أرعد وازبد، وهاجم ذلك 'الفيتو' الاسرائيلي ضد مشاركة جامعته في 'الاتحاد من اجل المتوسط'، وقال 'لا افهم مطلقاً ان تناقش مبادرة الجامعة العربية، والجامعة غير موجودة، نحن لن نقبل مثل هذا النوع من الهزل'.
ما لا يريد السيد موسى الاعتراف به هو ان هذه العجرفة الاسرائيلية ما كان لها ان تكون بالصورة التي شاهدناها لولا مواقف جامعته 'المائعة' و'المتهاونة'، وتهافتها على المشاركة في اي مؤتمر او اجتماع تشارك فيه الدولة العبرية.
...
....
هذا الفجور الاسرائيلي، والاذعان العربي في مقابله، يتمان في وقت تنهار فيه اقتصاديات العالم الغربي الداعم الاساسي لاسرائيل، وتشهد الخارطة السياسية العالمية ظهور قوى عظمى جديدة مثل الصين والهند وروسيا والبرازيل وايران (العرب ليس لهم اي ذكر ولن يكون في المستقبل القريب)، وتتعرض فيه امريكا لهزيمتين قاسيتين في افغانستان والعراق.
المنطق يقول على العرب ان يستأسدوا وان يتعاملوا بطريقة مختلفة مع اسرائيل وحلفائها الاوروبيين والامريكان، خاصة انهم يملكون ثروات مالية واقتصادية هائلة بسبب عوائد النفط (تريليون دولار سنويا)، ولكن ما يحدث هو العكس تماما، فقد تعودوا على الهوان، وتلقي الصفعات دون ان يكون لهم الحق في الشكوى من الألم.
نطمئن السيد موسى بان اسرائيل لن تعير اي اهتمام لاحتجاجاته، وستواصل استخدام 'الفيتو' ضد جامعته، او من تشاء من الحكومات المشاركة فيها، لانها تعلم جيدا ان الحكومات العربية تتهافت للتطبيع معها دون اي شروط، وتتوسل اليها ان تقود تحالفا عربيا اسرائيليا هي قائدته في مواجهة ايران، العدو الجديد للعرب.
فقد غاب عن ذهنه ان اسرائيل باتت تقاطع القنوات الفضائية العربية لأنها تنتقد احتلالها وممارساتها الاجرامية، بحجة انها قنوات 'غير مهنية' و'غير موضوعية'، وترفض اعتماد بعض المراسلين العرب اذا خرجوا عن تعليماتها في التغطية، وقدموها كقوة بطش واحتلال. وما حدث مع 'الجزيرة' احد ابرز الأمثلة في هذا الخصوص.
ختاما نقول للسيد موسى إن مبادرة السلام العربية ستعدّل وفق الشروط الاسرائيلية، وسنرى تطبيعا عربيا مجانيا بين الدول التي لم تطبع في العلن بعد، ونؤكد له انه حتى لو وجّه دعوة اليها للانضمام الى الجامعة العربية فانها لن تتردد في رفضها تكبرا واشمئزازا، فكيف تقبلها وهي الآمر الناهي في الاتحاد المتوسطي، وتتدفق عليها الدعوات للمشاركة في تجمع اقليمي آخر يضمها مع العرب والاتراك والايرانيين ومن قبل مسؤولين عرب؟
"

Kurds Behind Violence Against Assyrians in Mosul: Iraqi MP

Via Uruknet.info

"Baghdad (AINA) -- Iraqi Parliament member Osama Al Najifi said to the Iraq News Agency on Saturday that Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has confirmed that Kurdish political parties are carrying out the violence against Mosul's Assyrian community (AINA 10-16-2008).

"The prime minister showed me a document which he said proves the involvement of Kurdish militias in threats and killings against the Christian Assyrians in Mosul," stated Al Najifi, and said the prime minister told him "Your accusations against the Kurds have proven true." He notified the Iraqi News Agency that the committee charged with investigating the attacks on Assyrians in Mosul has clear proof of Kurdish involvement.

Al Najifi joined Assyrian MP Yonadam Kanna in calling for second Army Unit in Mosul -- composed mostly of Kurds -- to be replaced (AINA 10-24-2008). On October 19 Yonadam Kanna, a native of northern Iraq, said 90% of the attacks occurred in the areas which are under the control of the second army unit in Mosul.

Nuri Al Maliki hinted at Kurdish involvement earlier in the week when his office issued a statement on the events in Mosul, saying "political interests are behind what has taken place" (AINA 10-24-2008). The Iraqi parliament is expected to disclose the results of the investigation committee during the coming week."

Israel refuses to allow 120 health professionals into Gaza

"A group of 120 doctors, nurses, medics and medical researchers will hold a protest at Erez border crossing after Israel denied them entry into Gaza for a medical conference with Gazan doctors.

In a statement to the press, the medical professionals, who hail from the U.S., Canada, Holland, Italy and the UK, stated that Israel was engaging in “a deliberate attempt to stop professional communication and exchange between the international medical community and Gaza medical professionals.”

Many of the medical professionals who made the trip to Israel (the only way to enter the besieged Gaza) are mental health practitioners, and were coming to Gaza to offer expertise on the growing epidemic of mental health problems that have arisen in Gaza in the wake of the Israeli siege.

During the last two years of siege, Palestinians in Gaza have faced unemployment rates of near 90%, along with months-long bombardments by Israeli forces, and a chronic shortage of food, fuel and medical supplies. These conditions have created a severe mental health crisis that Palestinian doctors have been unable to address. A recent study found that 96% of Gazans say they are depressed, and nearly half of all schoolchildren find themselves unable to complete school assignments due to less energy, and physical pain.

The international medical professionals were scheduled to participate in a conference entitled “Siege and Mental Health, Walls vs. Bridges”, from the 27th - 28th of October. They had applied for special permits from the Israeli government, but the permits were denied.

Israel has kept the civilian population in Gaza under a siege that violates international human rights law and the Fourth Geneva Convention, keeping the 1.4 million people of Gaza imprisoned inside the small coastal strip, unable to leave, and preventing essential supplies from entering.

The conference participants traveled to Ramallah, in the West Bank, where they will participate in the conference through videoconferencing."

Iraq: Why the End is in Sight

COMMENT: This is one of the times I disagree with Tony Karon's analysis

By Tony Karon

"Don’t take this to the bank (hell, what can you take to the bank these days?) but Rootless Cosmopolitan suspects that the war in Iraq is drawing to a close — and it will hardly end on the terms of those who initiated it. And it’s the confluence of two factors that will hasten its close on terms less than favorable to the U.S. no matter how robust the commitment of any in Washington to continue it. The first factor hastening the war’s closure, quite ironically, is the very democracy that the U.S. invasion brought into being; the second is the retrenchment of U.S. power globally, which has been visibly underway since the U.S. mired itself in Iraq, and will now be accelerated by the sharp downturn of the U.S. economy......"

YES, WE ARE COMING

The Free Gaza Movement

"For Immediate Release Date : 10-26-2008

On Saturday, October 25, 2008, the Free Gaza Movement sent our formal notice to Israel, the Occupying Power in the Gaza Strip, that we intend to enter the port of Gaza City on October 29. We expect no interference from the Israeli authorities. Although our message acknowledges Israel's control over Gaza, we do not accept Israel's right to prevent us from sailing into the Gaza Strip. [See attachment for text of the letter].

As part of the message, we invited Aharon Abramovitz, Minister of Foreign Affairs and/or Ehud Barak, Minister of Defense, to join the voyage to witness first hand the devastating effects of Israel's illegal policies on the occupied civilian population of the Gaza Strip (Please leave your weapons at home, we are nonviolent).

Huwaida Arraf, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza Movement said, "Israel is committing war crimes by imposing collective punishment on the 1.5 million people in Gaza. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Conventions prohibits their actions. However, since Israel is the Occupying Power and maintains effective control of the area, we have put them on notice that we're coming. Since they grossly abuse their power, we are not asking them for their permission."

Israel continues to exert behind-the-scenes pressure on many of the people who have been assisting the Free Gaza Movement, hoping they can stop the boat before it leaves port. Despite their massive pressure, threats and intimidation last August, Israel ultimately admitted to the world that we were nonviolent and did not constitute any kind of security threat, and our boats sailed safely into the port of Gaza, the first boats filled with Internationals to arrive there in 41 years. Israel is at it again, this time trying to stop us before we leave the port.

"It's ridiculous that Israel is so frightened of us. We are carrying doctors and human rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire. We also have medical supplies on board our boat; there is absolutely no reason why they should stand in our way this time either," said organizer Greta Berlin......"

Nukes: Too Deep to Hit

Newsweek

"Western intelligence experts believe that Iran's nuclear facilities are so deep underground that it would be difficult for Israel to wipe them out, or even significantly damage them, with a quick airstrike. In order to deal a serious setback to Iran's nuclear program, at least four key sites inside Iran would have to be hit, said one Western official, who asked for anonymity when discussing sensitive information. The facilities, however, are located in tunnels fortified by barriers more than 60 feet thick. According to this official and other U.S. experts, Israel does not possess conventional weapons capable of knocking out the facilities. Breaking through the thick shell would require, at minimum, several bunker-buster bombs striking precisely the same spot. "These targets would be very hard to destroy," said former U.N. nuclear expert David Albright. Theoretically, Israel could do a lot more damage with a nuclear strike. But U.S. and other Western experts say there is no reason to believe the Israelis will abandon their policy against shooting first with nukes........"

MI Chief: Syria Has Become Hezbollah De Facto Arsenal

Al-Manar

"26/10/2008 Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin told the cabinet on Sunday that Syria was continuing to arm Hezbollah, and had in fact become the Lebanese resistance group's arsenal.

"(President Bachar) Assad is continuing to throw open the doors of Syria's warehouses for Hezbollah, and has become 'Hezbollah's arsenal.' Assad trusts Hezbollah more than his own army and Hezbollah operatives act in Syria as if it's their own [country]," said Yadlin.

A key Israeli demand in indirect peace negotiations with Syria is that it cut its ties with Hezbollah, and in particular, cease supplying the resistance group with weapons.

Yadlin did actually say he believed Assad was interested in a peace deal with Israel "on his conditions," but was waiting for the establishment of a new administration in the United States.

Yadlin added that, "The Syrians have removed almost every restraint; in their irresponsible behavior they are giving Hezbollah possession of almost every strategic capability they own."

Yadlin also said that Hezbollah is still seeking to avenge the death of its former military commander Imad Mughniyeh, who was assassinated in a bombing in February that shook a residential neighborhood of Damascus. Hezbollah says it was orchestrated by Israel. "

Nowhere Left to Hide!

Barron's

(Click on table to enlarge)

Current Al-Jazeera (Arabic) Online Poll

The question is:

Do you expect success for the Egyptian proposals to bridge the gap between Hamas and Fatah?

With about 400 responding so far, 85% said no.

Look, Look: Finally a Protest in the Arab World! But Wait, These Are the Arab Fat Cats Losing Their Shirts!

Besides Danish Cartoons and Falling Stocks, is There Anything Else the Arabs Care About??

Falling shares trigger Gulf protest

Al-Jazeera

"Kuwaiti traders have staged another walkout after shares in the oil-rich Gulf region plunged in panic over a global recession.

The traders left the trading chamber at the Kuwait Stock Exchange on Sunday after the index dived more than 300 points a few minutes after the opening.

They had also deserted the stock market on the week's final day on Thursday.

About 30 of the traders marched to the nearby council of ministers building where the cabinet was reported to be in an emergency session to discuss a bill to guarantee bank deposits......."

Real News Video: Media and bailout failure

Danny Schechter: The effects of the financial meltdown are spreading as the bailout fails to work

Real News Video: US Iraq troop deal "crushing defeat" for Bush

Gareth Porter: Bush admin is desperate for troop agreement as end date of UN authorization nears



"In an article on ipsnews.net, journalist and investigative historian Gareth Porter analyzed the final draft of the US Iraq Status of forces agreement on the US military presence in Iraq. He states that the agreement “represents an even more crushing defeat for the policy of the George W. Bush administration than previously thought.” The deal not only calls for a clear deadline for a withdrawal of combat troops by 2011, it will also be unlikely the a residual non-combat force of US Troops would be allowed to remain in Iraq for training and support purposes. Porter also states: “The clearest sign of the dramatically reduced U.S. negotiating power is the willingness of the United States to give up extraterritorial jurisdiction over U.S. contractors and their employees and over U.S. troops in the case of major and intentional crimes that occur outside bases and while off duty.” The Real News Network spoke to Gareth Porter."

Real News Video: Democracy and militarism

Howard Zinn: The financial and war crisis have created an opportunity for real change Part 5/5



"In the final segment of our interview with Howard Zinn we explore the idea of the United States as a source of freedom and democracy in the world. Prof. Zinn outlines the long history in the US of linking military pursuits with the cause of freedom and democracy, a marriage which Prof. Zinn believes is still used due to inappropriate historical education. Prof. Zinn believes that it is time to drop war altogether as a practice and begin the hard but fruitful transition to an economy based on domestic improvement rather than military dominance. He finishes by adding that education is most affective when coinciding with a changing reality and that the combination of the financial crisis and the military crisis are creating such a scenario."

Obama, the first-rate Republican

Is there anything the front-runner will not say to become President? No progressive cause would have a chance with him in charge

A Good Comment

By Alexander Cockburn
The Independent

"As a left-winger I might be expected to be supporting Barack Obama. And indeed, in these last days I've been scraping around, trying to muster a single positive reason to encourage a vote for Obama....

Obama wants to enlarge the armed services by 90,000. He pledges to escalate the US war in Afghanistan; to attack Pakistan's territory if it obstructs any unilateral US mission to kill Osama bin Laden; and to wage a war against terror in a hundred countries, creating a new international intelligence and law enforcement "infrastructure" to take down terrorist networks. A fresh start? Where does this differ from Bush's commitment on 20 September 2001, to an ongoing "war on terror" against "every terrorist group of global reach" and "any nation that continues to harbour or support terrorism"?......After eight years of Bush, Americans are receptive to reassessing America's imperial role. Obama has shunned this opportunity. If elected, he will be a prisoner of his promise that on his watch Afghanistan will not be lost, nor the white man's burden shirked.....

....In the event of Obama's victory, the most immediate consequence overseas will most likely be brusque imperial reassertion. Already, Joe Biden, the shopworn poster boy for Israeli intransigence and Cold War hysteria, is yelping stridently about the new administration's "mettle" being tested in the first six months by the Russians and their surrogates. Obama is far more hawkish than McCain on Iran......

Obama's run has been the negation of almost every decent progressive principle, with scarcely a bleat of protest from the progressives seeking to hold him to account. The Michael Moores stay silent. Obama has crooked the knee to bankers and Wall Street, to the oil companies, the coal companies, the nuclear lobby, the big agricultural combines. He is more popular with Pentagon contractors than McCain, and has been the most popular of the candidates with Washington lobbyists. He has been fearless in offending progressives, constant in appeasing the powerful......

...The standard these days for what the left finds tolerable is awfully low. The more the left holds its tongue, the lower the standard will go."

Don't expect China to get the West out of this mess

Will Hutton
The Observer, Sunday October 26 2008

"With the markets crashing once more and the last rites being pronounced over Western capitalism, the consensus is that autumn 2008 is when global economic power will have been seen to pass to Asia in general and China in particular. This is the new economic powerhouse. Its growth may slow a little while the West flounders, but it will emerge from this recession as the world's centre of economic and financial gravity. Goodbye, USA. Hello, the Chinese Communist party.

It is fashionable foolishness that ignores some brute realities.The first is that Asia, except Japan, remains in essence a subcontractor to the West. Two-thirds of China's exports, for example, are made by foreign companies who essentially reprocess imports of semi-manufactured goods that are then shipped to Europe and the US....."