The Folly of Sanctions

By Ron Paul

We should be clear about this: sanctions against Iran are definite steps toward a US attack. Continue

Target Iran: Washington's Countdown to War

By Tom Burghardt

The Iranian people know what it means to earn the enmity of the global godfather. Continue

Obama Fulfilling the Neocon Dream
Mass Regime Change in Muslim World?

Glenn Greenwald

It seems pretty clear to me that although we may not be doing it with as much of an overt war as the neocons would like, it’s just a slightly more subtle and different means of achieving the same end. Continue

UN Report on Syria:
Based on Witness Accounts..... OUTSIDE of Syria

By Tony Cartalucci

Humanitarian concerns "dressing up" the military conquest of Syria. Continue

Republicans and Israel: Too Much Love Can Kill You

By Chemi Shalev

It is Obama who would stand a far better chance than any Republican of mustering international support, of enlisting coalition partners and of minimizing Arab rage in case America goes to war against Iran. Continue

Unknown Snipers and Western Backed Regime Change
Death Squads in the Service of Western Intelligenc

By Gearóid Ó Colmáin

The Western powers are the masters of discourse, who own the means of communication. The Arab Spring has been the most horrifying example of the wanton abuse of this power. Continue

U.S. Intervention in the Middle East

By ICH

This partial chronology of U.S. intervention in the Middle East illustrates the lengths to which the U.S. power structure has gone to gain and maintain U.S. domination of the Middle East--a region considered key to the U.S.'s standing as an imperialist world power. Continue

Iran Contra at 25
Reagan and Bush 'Criminal Liability' Evaluations

By The National Security Archive

Reagan Briefed In Advance on Each Group of Missiles Sold to Iran - Bush Chaired Secret Committee that Recommended Mining Harbors of Nicaragua. Continue

Dead Afghan Kids Still Not Newsworthy

By Peter Hart

Back in March, we wondered when U.S. corporate news outlets would find U.S./NATO killing of Afghan kids newsworthy. Back then, it was nine children killed in a March 1 airstrike. This resulted in two network news stories on the evening or morning newscasts, and two brief references on the PBS NewsHour. Continue

Darwinian Stupidity

By Richard Schwartzman

Only a warmongering nation that makes enemies needs military bases all over the globe. Continue

The New Authoritarianism
From Decaying Democracies to Technocratic Dictatorships and Beyond

By James Petras

We delineate a two-stage process of political regression. The first stage involves the transition from a decaying democracy to an oligarchical democracy; the second stage currently unfolding in Europe involves the transition from oligarchical democracy to colonial-technocratic dictatorship. Continue

No to Co-Option
MoveOn is the Opposite of the Occupy Movement

By Kevin Zeese

MoveOn’s History of Undermining Progressive Causes in Support of the Corporate-Dominated Democratic Party. Continue

Secret Fed Loans Helped Banks Net $13 Billion

By Bob Ivry, Bradley Keoun and Phil Kuntz

The Federal Reserve and the big banks fought for more than two years to keep details of the largest bailout in U.S. history a secret. Now, the rest of the world can see what it was missing. Continue

Fitch Drops U.S. Debt Outlook To Negative

By Kevin Carmichael

Fitch said a negative outlook indicates there is a “slightly greater” than 50-per-cent chance that the U.S. credit rating will be downgraded over the next two years. Continue

"How Could This Happen in America?"
Why Police Are Treating Americans Like Military Threats

By William Hogeland

"Disconnect: liberals see a suddenly 'militarized,' possibly federalized police force. Black people see 'the usual.'" Continue

"I'll Occupy"
The 99% is Pissed and We Will Not Be Dismissed!

Song and Video

Lyrics courtesy of Freaked out Nation: Continue

American Deceptionalism

By Paul Rosenberg

Under the growing influence of the 1 per cent, American exceptionalism has become American deceptionalism. Continue

The End of Poverty?

Documentary

Filmmaker Philippe Diaz examines the history and impact of economic inequality in the third world, and makes the compelling argument that it's not an accident or simple bad luck that has created a growing underclass around the world. Continue

US kills 18 people in Somalia: According to a Transitional Federal Government (TFG) officer, the incident occurred in an al-Shabab training camp in the town of Badade.
 

17 killed, MP wounded in Iraq attacks: At least 17 people were killed and more than 50 wounded, among them an Iraqi member of parliament, on Monday in a wave of bloody attacks mainly in and around Baghdad, security officials and an MP said.

US refuses to apologise for Pakistan air strike that killed 24 soldiers: Closing the border crossings will halt almost half of supplies for the Nato-led force, including British troops.

Pakistan: CIA ‘Black Night’ out to fuel sectarian strife in Muharram: The intelligence agencies have raised fears of terrorism across the country as a CIA-backed squad has been tasked to carry out terrorists activities to stoke sectarian strife during Muharram.

Violation of Pak sovereignty not acceptable: China, Russia: China expressed deep shock and strong concern over the incident and extended condolences to the aggrieved families. He said that Pakistan’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected

'Bugsplat': The ugly US drone war in Pakistan: It's time for the US to re-examine the consequences of its dehumanising, deadly attacks in Pakistan.

Pakistan says Supply line permanently stopped: Malik: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said the Nato supply line had not been suspended but permanently stopped, making it clear that containers that had been stopped would not be allowed to cross the Pak-Afghan border.

Russia Considers Blocking NATO Supply Routes: —Russia said it may not let NATO use its territory to supply troops in Afghanistan if the alliance doesn't seriously consider its objections to a U.S.-led missile shield for Europe, Russia's ambassador to NATO said Monday.

NATO Kills 3 Afghan Women: Three rockets were fired into civilian homes in Zhari district of Kandahar province on Monday, the dpa news agency cited provincial governor spokesman Zalmai Ayoubi as saying.

US general orders troops retrained after 7 Afghan civilians killed : The top commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan has ordered retraining of coalition forces after seven civilians were killed in a military operation last week in the southern part of the country, coalition officials said Tuesday.

If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail: US faces more threats than decade ago, warns head of its military: General Martin Dempsey says transformation in military thinking needed during maiden speech as chair of US joint chiefs of staff

Syrian "rebel" ambush kill 3 soldiers: "Rebel" forces ambushed an army vehicle in northern Syria on Tuesday, killing three soldiers and capturing two others, Syrian human rights observers said.

Presstitute alert: ... West demands Security Council action on Syria: The United States and Germany on Monday led Western calls for the divided UN Security Council to act on Syria's deadly assault against protests after UN investigators said crimes against humanity had been committed.

Presstitute alert: ... Syria calls Arab sanctions 'economic war': Foreign minister slams Arab League's decision to impose sanctions as thousands rally against move in several cities.

Dark clouds of war shrouding Syria: As a latest sign of Western intervention, the nuclear aircraft-carrier USS George HW Bush has reportedly anchored off Syria. The ship is capable of carrying up to 70 aircraft, including 48 attack jets. The aircraft-carrier is escorted by a group of vessels which contains a destroyer.

Russian warships head for Syria: The Russian battle group will consist of three vessels led by the heavy aircraft-carrying missile cruiser, Admiral Kuznetsov.

Russia rejects arms embargo on Syria: FM: Russia rejects any arms embargo imposed on Syria and Moscow would try to avoid a repeat of the Libyan scenario in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.

Russia’s NATO envoy to visit China, Iran over missile defense: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev outlined on Wednesday a series of possible “appropriate measures” if missile defense talks between Moscow and Washington result in failure, including the deployment of “advanced offensive weapon systems” targeting the European component of the missile defense network.

Iran inks payback law to expel British ambassador: A bill to downgrade Iran's ties with Britain got final approval on Monday a day after parliament approved the measure compelling the government to expel the British ambassador

Iran regrets some protesters' actions: Iran's Foreign Ministry has expressed regret over the “unacceptable actions” of a number of protesters during Iranian students' gathering in front of Britain's embassy in Tehran.

Gingrich calls for bombing Iran refineries: The former House speaker opined that the US could break Iran within a year with "cutting off the gasoline supply to Iran and then, frankly, sabotaging the only refinery they have."

Evangelicals Flocking Toward Newt Gingrich: How the religious right is learning to love the adulterous, thrice-married former speaker.

Pregnant New York Times Journalist, Strip Searched By Israeli Soldiers : Israel's Defense Ministry apologized Monday for the treatment of a pregnant American news photographer who said she was strip searched and humiliated by Israeli soldiers during a security check.

Saudi regime increases troops in Qatif: Over the past several days, Saudi security forces have killed five protesters and injured many others in the Eastern Province. The funerals for the victims have usually turned to demonstrations with protesters chanting slogans against the Al Saud regime.

Kuwait cabinet resigns amid political crisis: Prime minister and cabinet submit resignations to emir following accusations of corruption, state television reports.

Libya leaders acknowledge abuse of prisoners: The acknowledgment comes a day after the U.N. released report a detailing alleged torture and ill treatment in lockups controlled by the forces that overthrew dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Thousands of prisoners in Libya denied legal process - UN: Libyan "revolutionaries" are holding an estimated 7000 prisoners who have no access to legal process because police and the courts are not functioning, according to a United Nations report.

Libya says ex-deputy PM suspect in general's killing: - Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC) said on Monday a former NTC deputy prime minister was suspected of involvement in the killing of one of the rebel movement's most senior military commanders.

NATO troops shot, wounded in brutal Kosovo clashes (VIDEO): At least two Kosovan Serbs and two NATO peacekeepers were injured in a fresh wave of violence in northern Kosovo, casting doubts on whether the conflict could be resolved in the near future.

Bradley Manning treatment in custody concerns MEPs: Open letter to US authorities raises human rights fears and urges access for UN special rapporteur on torture to whistleblower

Feds Withholding Evidence Favorable to Bradley Manning, Lawyer Charges: The civilian lawyer for Bradley Manning, the Army private who allegedly leaked tens of thousands of classified U.S. government documents to WikiLeaks, is seeking to question the severity of the leak by requesting the government’s own internal damage assessments that reportedly contradict statements that Manning irreparably damaged national security.

Internet has become 'surveillance machine': Julian Assange: The former hacker criticised journalists and the mainstream media for becoming too cosy with the powerful and secretive organisations they were supposed to be holding to account.

Herman Cain Reassessing Campaign Amid Allegations: An adviser to Cain said the former businessman told staff he will spend the next two days assessing his candidacy, and that he would base his decision on two factors. One, whether or not he still has enough support to go on, and two, the toll it is taking on his family.

Venezuela brings home gold reserves: Cheering crowds line streets as first batch of bullion, previously held in UK, is deposited in central bank in Caracas.

IMF drawing up £500bn package to save Italy, Spain and the euro: Any IMF involvement in European rescue packages would be partly underwritten by British taxpayers, which could leave this country liable if Italy and Spain did not repay any international loan.

Death of a currency as eurogeddon approaches: It's time to think what hitherto markets have regarded as unthinkable – that the euro really is on its last legs.

Democrat calls for hearing on 'secret' bank loans from Federal Reserve: A top House Democrat is calling for a hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke following a report that the central bank secretly committed more than $7 trillion to save banks during the financial crisis.

Citigroup-SEC settlement rejected by New York judge: Jed Rakoff blocks $285m CDO settlement, arguing that the deal obscured an 'overriding public interest in knowing the truth'

Who Owns Your Home?: If the house you bought has ever been in foreclosure, there's a strong chance you have a problem.

U.S. to restart construction of nuclear reactors: After 34 years, the United States is expected to resume construction of nuclear reactors by the end of the year, and Toshiba will export turbine equipment for the reactors to the U.S. early next month, it was learned Saturday.