Rally at the Justice Department for Mike Brown and Against Police Brutality and Militarization

Green Shadow Cabinet

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, August 27 at 4pm, activists will rally outside the Justice Department to call on the Attorney General to help secure justice for Michael Brown and the people of Ferguson, Missouri, as well as an overhaul of US law enforcement tactics in order to stop police brutality and the militarization of our police forces.

Speakers include legal experts and organizers:

• Green Shadow Cabinet Director of Government Transparency and Accountability, Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo
• Institute of the Black World President Ron Daniels
• US Marshall Matthew Fogg
• Attorney Nkechi Taifa
• Kevin Berends of the No FEAR Institute

The Flagrantly Fabricated Ferguson Phenomenon

by Zen Gardner

I’ve avoided getting into this because it’s so goddamn obvious, but I’ve had some requests regarding how I see this “news”. There’s nothing new about it – a convenient ignition point sparked by a lone incident, resulting in expected protest and deliberately inflamed chaos and media mind-pumping. Same old, same old. When will humanity wake up, I don’t know.

I understand the outrage. Not only was there another example of the mindless cop killer meme we see played out daily “subduing” an unarmed suspect by outright killing hIm, but rightfully enraged citizens are treated like mindless savages in a prison ground. The fact that they’ve been caught bussing in looting agent provacateurs to make sure this conflagration gets sufficient fuel should make the hair on people’s necks stand up, but if they haven’t seen the obvious until now they’ll likely be blind to these reports as well.

All while the razor wire fences and military turrets of the totalitarian state get erected around them.  

The World is Waking Up to the Dangers of the Militarized Police State

Written by Nick Bernabe | The Anti-Media

What we are seeing now is a reversal from just a year or so ago when the corporate media glorified the very same tactics being used against the residents of Watertown following the Boston marathon bombing.

I’m sure you remember the pitiful act; video shown by the corporate outlets even depicted residents cheering paramilitary police in armored vehicles in a sort of Orwellian orgy of praise to the state.

While the media glorified the militarized police reaction in Watertown and Boston, many residents told a much more sobering account of the situation.

The Cruel Jest of American ‘Humanitarian Aid’ to Iraq

By Juan Cole

U.S. soldier stands in front of an Iraqi woman’s house during a search for three missing soldiers in Al Thobat, Iraq in 2007. The U.S. Army (CC BY 2.0)

This post originally ran on Juan Cole’s Web page.

The United States of America has no claim on the language of “humanitarian aid” to Iraq after what it did to that country.  It is rather as though Washington should send Meals Ready to Eat to the good people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  One is happy that the U.S. has dropped food aid for the Yezidis trapped on a mountain after they escaped the so-called “Islamic State” of self-styled “caliph” Ibrahim.  But the U.S. press either has a short memory or is being disingenuous when they talk about a humanitarian mission in Iraq!

US-Led Airstrikes Begin Against ISIS Militants in Iraq

Written by Nick Bernabe, Social Media Manager of Free and Equal, March Against Monsanto and Founder of The Anti-Media.

ISIS, now known as IS or the Islamic State, has been sweeping across wide swaths of Iraq and Syria; reportedly slaughtering civilians, Shi’ite Muslims, and other non-Sunni people living in occupied areas. The latest in this string of violence includes up to 40,000 people trapped on Mount Sinjar, surrounded by IS militants, facing death by execution or dehydration.

While the rise of the Islamic State has been blamed on al-Maliki’s Shi’ite dominated government, the Iraqi regime has made no real concessions to appease Iraqi Sunni concerns about being excluded from representation, which has enabled IS’ rapid conquest of the area.

Iraqi Officials Claim US-Led Airstrikes Begin Against ISIS Militants in Iraq

Nick Bernabe | The Anti-Media

Image credit: Ian Vaughan

According to the New York Times, Iraqi and Kurdish officials say that US airstrikes have begun in northern Iraqi areas controlled by ISIS militants,

“Kurdish and Iraqi officials attributed the bombing campaign to American forces. An announcement on Kurdish television of what was described as an American intervention prompted street celebrations and horn-honking by residents of towns under siege by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.”

Pentagon officials have denied these claims.

Congressman Massie: ‘Anger, Frustration, Embarrassment’ When Redacted Portion of 9/11 Report Is Released

Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY)

How Israel Uses Twitter, Facebook & Tinder to Legitimize Murder | Brainwash Update

Public diplomacy in Israel (also hasbara) (Hebrew: הַסְבָּרָה‎ hasbará, "explaining") refers to public relations efforts to disseminate abroad positive information about Israel.  The term is used by the Israeli government and its supporters to describe efforts to explain government policies and promote Israel in the face of negative press, and to counter what they see as delegitimisation of Israel around the world. Hasbara means "explanation", and is also a euphemism for propaganda. 



You can visit our Gaza article archive here.  Poll:  Does the United States' support of Israel make Americans less safe?


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A Chessboard Drenched In Blood

Pepe Escobar 
Asia Times

"The intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy." Everyone remembers the Downing Street Memo, which unveiled the Bush/Blair "policy" in the run-up to the 2003 bombing/invasion/occupation of Iraq. The "policy" was to get rid of Saddam Hussein via a lightning war. The justification was "terrorism" and (non-existent) weapons of mass destruction (WMD), which had "disappeared", mounted in trucks, deep into Syria. Forget about intelligence and facts. 

The tragedy of MH17 - turned, incidentally, into a WMD - might be seen as a warped rerun of imperial policy in Iraq. No need for a memo this time. The "policy" of the Empire of Chaos is clear, and multi-pronged; diversify the "pivot to Asia" by establishing a beachhead in Ukraine to sabotage trade between Europe and Russia; expand the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to Ukraine; break the Russia-China strategic partnership; prevent by all means the trade/economic integration of Eurasia, from the Russia-Germany partnership to the New Silk Roads converging from China to the Ruhr; keep Europe under US hegemony. 

The key reason why Russian President Vladimir Putin did not "invade" Eastern Ukraine - as much as he's been enticed to by Washington/NATO - to stop a US military adviser-facilitated running slaughter of civilians is that he does not want to antagonize the European Union, Russia's top trading partner. 

Crucially, Washington's intervention in Kosovo invoking R2P - Responsibility to Protect - was justified at the time for exactly the same reasons a Russian intervention in Donetsk and Luhansk could be totally justified now. Except that Moscow won't do it - because the Kremlin is playing a very long game.

The MH17 tragedy may have been a horrendous mistake. But it may also have been a desperate gambit by the Kiev minions of the Empire of Chaos. By now, Russian intel may have already mastered the key facts. Washington's predictable modus operandi was to shoot from the hip, igniting and in theory winning the spin war, and doubling down by releasing the proverbial army of "top officials" brimming with social media evidence. Moscow will take time to build a meticulous case, and only then lay it out in detail. 

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You can visit our Gaza article archive here.  Poll:  Does the United States' support of Israel make Americans less safe?

You can visit our MH17 article archive here.  Poll:  Who do you think shot down Malaysian Airlines Flight MH17?

Pepe Escobar is the author of Globalistan: How the Globalized World is Dissolving into Liquid War (Nimble Books, 2007), Red Zone Blues: a snapshot of Baghdad during the surge (Nimble Books, 2007), and Obama does Globalistan (Nimble Books, 2009). 

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Has the Dept. of Homeland Security Become America's Standing Army?

The Rutherford Institute

If the United States is a police state, then the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is its national police force, with all the brutality, ineptitude and corruption such a role implies. In fact, although the DHS' governmental bureaucracy may at times appear to be inept and bungling, it is ruthlessly efficient when it comes to building what the Founders feared most—a standing army on American soil.



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Western media caught trying to frame Putin over flight MH17

Is Western media trying to frame Putin and destroy his presidency? 

Mainstream media in western countries have rushed to blame Russia and pro Russia Separatists for the missile shot on MH17 flying over Ukraine on Thursday.

However, at this stage there is not enough evidence to support either claims.

The video below reveals another perspective that balances out the mainstream media bias:

Founder and leader of 21^st Century Australia, Jamie McIntyre shares his views regarding the media coverage of this issue:

Western media is attempting to use the Malaysia Airways disaster to destroy Putin’s Presidency. The media is trying to lay blame at his feet despite little evidence that suggests Russia would order such an attack. This rhetoric is not only deceptive but also dangerous.

The Fall of Iraq - What You Aren't Being Told

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Staten Island Gentle Giant, Eric Garner, Killed by NYPD (Video)

Image Source:  The Daily News

Arkansas Police Accountability Project

New York City police officers killed a man Thursday after he broke up a fight between two other men. The cops suspected him of selling untaxed cigarettes, so they will likely claim that the violent escalation and killing of this man, who has been described by family and friends as a "gentle giant' was justified.

The New York Daily News obtained exclusive video of the incident, which shows Staten Island man Eric Garner, 43, begging officers to let him breathe as he lies on the ground helpless.

Now, his family is demanding accountability from the NYPD.

Police said Garner, who was a married father of six children, died of a heart attack during the arrest, according to The Associated Press. The NYPD said Garner had been seen selling untaxed cigarettes, and that he had been arrested before for the same offense.

In the video, Garner denied the allegations and asked a plainclothes officer why he was stopped.

Five Reasons The Situation in Eastern Ukraine is About to Become Much More Dangerous

SCGNEWS

Though this latest phase in the Ukraine crisis might seem like a repeat of recent events, this round is more dangerous for a number of reasons. Here are five of them.



This past week the mainstream coverage of the Ukrainian civil war has focused on Kiev's move to encircle Donetsk. However there are reports coming out of the east right now that indicate that the Ukrainian troops may have just walked into a trap. Specifically the separatists claim to have encircled western troops and have completely stalled their advance.

Note that this report is coming from those who openly support the separatists, and the claim that Kiev's forces have been encircled has yet to be confirmed by any major outlets, however Reuters does confirm that the Ukrainian troops have suffered heavy casualties in the past 24 hours, and there are separate reports that the separatists have managed to gain control of a new town on the Russian border within that same time period.

The big picture here is that Kiev's forces may have overextended their forces and supply lines after being lulled into a false sense of momentum by the withdrawal of separatist forces from Slavyansk. There are some who are even speculating that the retreat was a trap. It's too early to know for sure if this assessment is accurate, but it is plausible. This is a common pattern in armed confrontation (The writings of Erwin Rommel regarding modern military tactics are very educational in this regard).

The response from Washington, to lay the blame on Putin and to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, was so predictable you may have the impression that you're watching a rerun from this Spring. Russia of course, reiterated their previous response: that these economic bully tactics will just have a boomerang effect. All par for the course. This phase in the crisis, however, is far more dangerous than the previous ones for a number of reasons.

Reason number one: a diplomatic solution is almost impossible at this point. Poroshenko talked a good game before coming into office, and Putin had expressed optimism after the two discussed the crisis in June. However, regardless of what was said, in the following month the Ukrainian military went on to engage in a full out bombardment of east Ukraine using airstrikes and heavy artillery. This shelling was indiscriminate, and the civilian casualties were very high. For a glimpse of what this assault looked like on the ground watch the video below (Warning: extremely brutal footage).

And this doesn't even begin to address the full scale of the atrocities committed by western forces since this started. For example we've since had the massacre in Odessa which both Kiev and Washington covered up completely.

These war crimes being committed by Kiev have done left a deep psychological mark on the region, building intense hatred and distrust for the government in Kiev.

Reason number two: Putin is under heavy pressure domestically to do something to protect the Russian speakers of east Ukraine. While Kiev has been calling wolf about an imminent ground invasion periodically since this crisis began, word on the street is that Russia is considering imposing a no-fly zone in east Ukraine. Putin obviously doesn't want to go down this road. If he did, the no-fly zone would have been implemented months ago. However if Russia does take such a measure NATO will interpret it as an act of war and the stakes will be ratcheted up yet another notch.  

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Iran Sends Warships to US Maritime Borders

Fars News Agency

TEHRAN (FNA)- Senior Iranian Navy commanders announced on Saturday that the country has sent several fleets of warships to the US maritime borders.

“The Iranian Army’s naval fleets have already started their voyage towards the Atlantic Ocean via the waters near South Africa,” Commander of Iran’s Northern Navy Fleet Admiral Afshin Rezayee Haddad announced on Saturday.

The admiral, who is also the commander of the Iranian Army’s 4th Naval Zone said,

“Iran’s military fleet is approaching the United States’ maritime borders, and this move has a message.”

In September 2012, Iran’s Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari reiterated Iran’s plans for sailing off the US coasts to counter the US presence in its waters in the Persian Gulf.

Sayyari had earlier informed of Tehran’s plans to send its naval forces to the Atlantic to deploy along the US marine borders, and in September 2012 he said that this would happen “in the next few years”.

The plan is part of Iran’s response to Washington’s beefed up naval presence in the Persian Gulf. The US Navy’s 5th fleet is based in Bahrain – across the Persian Gulf from Iran – and the US has conducted two major maritime war games in the last two years.

In September 2011, Sayyari had announced that the country planned to move vessels into the Atlantic Ocean to start a naval buildup “near maritime borders of the United States”.

“Like the arrogant powers that are present near our maritime borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to the American marine borders,” Sayyari said.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, Sayyari gave no details of when such a deployment could happen or the number or type of vessels to be used.

Sayyari had first announced in July, 2011 that Iran was going to send “a flotilla into the Atlantic”.

The Iranian navy has been developing its presence in international waters since 2010, regularly launching vessels in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to protect Iranian ships from Somali pirates operating in the area.

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Letters from Guantanamo Bay - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

As a detainee accuses US military guards of sexual assault, we ask if prison conditions are deteriorating even further.

In a letter obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera, a Guantanamo Bay detainee has accused United States military guards of sexually assaulting him, five months since a mass hunger strike began.

Letters from Guantanamo Bay - Inside Story Americas - Al Jazeera English

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By Any Measure, the U.S. Is the Largest Sponsor of Terror

By Washington's Blog

Preface: As a patriotic American – I was born here, lived here all of my life, and love this country – I want the best for the U.S.  

Lawless actions are tearing my country apart.  I want my country to regain its vision, strength and moral compass.  Thomas Jefferson said that “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism”.  I criticize my country because I know we are better than this … and that if enough people know how far we have fallen, we can start to pull ourselves back and reclaim our greatness.

Many Countries Sponsor Terror … But America Is the Worst

The director of the National Security Agency under Ronald Reagan – Lt. General William Odom said: