If This Is Not War, What Is?

Replacing Economic Democracy with Financial Oligarchy

By Michael Hudson

At issue is whether Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the rest of Europe will roll back democratic reform and move toward financial oligarchy. The financial objective is to bypass parliament by demanding a “consensus” to put foreign creditors first, above the economy at large. Continue

---

Policymakers Have Made Another Depression Unavoidable

By Mike Whitney

If you slash government spending, lay off workers, and trim the deficits, then spending will slow, incomes will shrivel, GDP will wither, and the economy will slip back into recession. Continue

---

U.S. Could Be Headed for Iraq Redux

By Democracy Now!

Seymour Hersh says the United States might attack Iran based on distorted estimates of Iran’s nuclear and military threat—just "like it did "with Saddam Hussein’s government in Iraq. Continue

---

An Open Letter to the Troops:
You’re Not Defending Our Freedoms

By Jacob Hornberger

Your actions overseas are placing our freedoms here at home in ever-greater jeopardy. Continue

---

God Bless America. And its Bombs

By William Blum

When they bombed Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador and Nicaragua I said nothing because I wasn't a communist. Continue

---

What Does the ICC Stand For?

By Diana Johnstone

It certainly does not deserve its official title, since it studiously ignores truly “international” crimes, such as U.S. and NATO aggression or the many massacres of civilians that result. Continue

---

An Unpalatable Truth
The Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism

By John Pilger

Julian Assange is an editor, publisher and journalist in the oldest and finest tradition of our craft. He is brave. He is a true agent of people. Continue

---

The Most Dangerous Country in the World?
Mexico's Failed War on Drugs

By Michael McCaughan

Citizen confidence in the country's authorities is so low and fear of reprisal so great that most relatives don't even bother registering lost loved ones as missing persons. Continue

---

Calls to Legalise Cannabis and Ecstasy

By Guy Adams

A panel of world leaders called yesterday for the biggest shake-up of drug laws in half a century. "The global war on drugs has failed, with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world," declared the Global Commission on Drug Policy. Continue

---

Tunisia finds 150 bodies from refugee vessels: The bodies of 150 African refugees fleeing turmoil in Libya have been recovered off the Tunisian coast after the vessels carrying them illegally to Europe got into difficulty, a U.N. official said Friday.

House Rejects Bill to Defund NATO Operations in Libya: The vote on Sherman's amendment is separate from another Libya resolution authored by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), which is expected to come up on the House floor Friday

House Passes John Boehner's Modest Libya Resolution, Defeats Dennis Kucinich's Measure to Withdraw Troops: The House of Representatives approved a resolution declaring that “the President has failed to provide Congress with a compelling rationale based upon United States national security interests for current United States military activities regarding Libya”

White Propaganda: Robert Gates: Congressional moves on Libya 'dangerous': Defense Secretary Robert Gates, one of the administration’s most bipartisan figures, on Friday blasted House efforts to curtail U.S. participation in the NATO campaign in Libya , warning that the move would undermine alliances and military operations

72 killed in Pakistan: : Twenty-seven security forces personnel were confirmed dead while 45 militants were reportedly killed in Shaltalo area of a border village in Upper Dir district on Thursday after an attack by hundreds of militants from Afghanistan.

Hundreds besiege Pakistan border area for third day: Hundreds of militants on Friday again besieged a Pakistani area on the Afghan border, shortly after troops claimed to have regained control after fighting killed 34 people, police said.

Making peace with the Taliban? UN pressed to lift Afghan sanctions: Britain and US accept insurgents' demand to end sanctions on ex-Taliban leaders including notorious Mohammed Qalamuddin.

34 shot dead in Hama as protests sweep Syria: Security forces fired on vast crowds of protesters in the central city of Hama Friday killing 34, as the largest anti-regime demonstrations yet swept Syria, rights activists said.

Syrian Internet Networks Shut Down as Protests Intensify: About two-thirds of Syria’s Internet networks became unreachable today as protests against President Bashar al-Assad intensified.

Deadly bombing at Iraq mosque leaves 19 killed, 52 injured: At least 19 people were killed and 52 injured in an explosion targeting worshippers in a mosque in northern Iraq on Friday, police sources said.

Suicide bomber kills 5 at Iraqi hospital: Iraqi officials say a suicide bomber has killed five people at a hospital north of Baghdad where victims from a previous blast were taken.

Iraq Arrests Seen as Effort to Squelch More Protests: Iraqi security forces arrested more than a dozen activists here over the past week in a sweep that rights groups called a pre-emptive strike to prevent a flickering reform movement from springing back to life.

4 Killed : President Saleh and Yemeni PM wounded as clashes continue: Four officers of the elite Republican Guard were killed when two shells crashed into the mosque, the official said.

Yemen President Saleh killed-opposition TV says: Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed on Friday after an attack on the presidential palace, Suhail, a TV station run by the country's opposition, reported.

Mass funeral held in Yemen for 50 killed in violence: Young men carried the bodies in a mass procession as Yemeni protesters gathered in a main street in the capital ahead of Friday prayers.

No proof U.S.-trained forces attack Yemen protestors - U.S.: The Pentagon said on Friday it had no evidence that Yemeni counter-terrorism forces trained by the United States have been used against protesters demanding the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Two Bahraini protesters killed: Two Bahraini anti-government protesters have been killed over the past 24 hours in the Persian Gulf island as Saudi-backed regime forces continue their brutal crackdown.

Bahrain police 'suppress protest': Eyewitnesses say police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching in capital, Manama.

Palestinians cancel Naksa Day march to Israel-Lebanon "border": Organizers say Sunday's planned march marking anniversary of 1967 war to be replaced by strikes across all 12 of Lebanon's Palestinian refugee camps.

Israelis must brace for dark times: The imminent recognition of a Palestinian state by the UN puts Israel on a collision course with the rest of the world. And there is but one way which this could be made less catastrophic.

Get rid of Zionism : The only concession we needed to make, even back in 1967, was giving up the messianic claim that this is our land, from the Bible, and therefore we have a right to it.

Jordanians demand PM's resignation: Protesters, who took to the streets following the Friday Prayers, accuse the government of failing to fight corruption and adopting political and economic reforms.

Controversy dogs Chomsky as he accepts Sydney Peace Prize: In recent weeks the 82-year-old has been one of America's most-hated men, subjected to ''obscenities, intellectual hysteria and death threats'' over remarks following the shooting of Osama bin Laden.

Army judges weigh military trials for civilians: Three Army judges are weighing a question that hasn't cropped up in decades: whether a civilian contractor working for the U.S. military can be tried in a military court. The issue eventually could end up at the Supreme Court.

Greek government to announce billions more in austerity measures: The Greek government is preparing to announce another €6.4 billion ($9.3 billion) in austerity measures, after Moody's, the debt rating agency, cut the country's credit rating three notches, sending it deep into junk status
Stranger than fiction: Three arrested, accused of illegally feeding homeless: Arrest papers state that Cross, Markeson and McHenry helped feed 40 people Wednesday night. The ordinance applies to feedings of more than 25 people.
Goldman Said to Get Subpoena Over Its Role in Crisis: The Wall Street investment bank has received a subpoena from the office of the Manhattan district attorney, which is investigating Goldman’s role in the financial crisis, said one person familiar with the subpoena.
Rich Welfare: Wanda Sykes on Bail Out for the Rich! Must watch 2 minute video
Videographer At Gunpoint To Hand Over Phone: Miami Beach police did their best to destroy a citizen video that shows them shooting a man to death in a hail of bullets Memorial Day.