Stephen Lendman

Israel under Netanyahu reflects Arundhati Roy's view. Her book titled "Field Notes on Democracy" explained.

"What kind of India do they want," she asked? "A limbless, headless, soulless torso left bleeding under the butcher's clever with a flag driven deep into her mutilated heart?"

She compared Hindu right wing persecution of Muslims to Hitler's war on Jews. Occupied Palestinians are treated the same way. Hitler terrorized Jews for a dozen years. Israel waged war on Palestinians for decades. It rages out-of-control. It shows no signs of ending.

During his first late 1990s prime ministerial term, Netanyahu was Israel's most polarizing leader. He exceeded the worst of his predecessors. Right-wing extremists adore him. He's worse than ever now. Polls favor his January 22 reelection. Israelis will have themselves to blame. They're as out of touch as Americans. They accept what demands rejection. Netanyahu wages war on democracy. He threatens his own people. He defies them. He gives chutzpah new meaning. He spurns Palestinian rights. He accelerated lawless settlement construction. He's stealing Palestinian land faster than ever. His E1 Ma'aleh Adumin plan drew flack.

At issue is separating the West Bank from Jerusalem, Judaizing the entire city, surrounding Palestinian urban areas with encroaching Israeli settlements, and driving the last spike into the corpse of a two-state solution. It's no longer possible with or without E1 development. Proceeding with it divides the West Bank into separate north/south areas. Doing so reflects Netanyahu's divide, conquer, steal, and ethnically cleanse strategy. He calls Occupied Palestine "disputed territory." He believes Jews have sole "natural right and territorial claim." He spurns international law.

More »

Stephen Lendman

Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit "inspect"
a house as they search for a Taliban position near the town
of Garmser, Helmand Province. (Source: Marine Times)

America came to stay. Accelerated withdrawal claims reflect subterfuge. Washington officials and media scoundrels don't explain. Misinformation and illusion substitute for reality.

Reuters headlined "Obama, Karzai accelerate end of US combat role in Afghanistan." "Obama's determin(ed) to wind down a long, unpopular war."

The New York Times headlined "Obama Accelerates Transition of Security to Afghans." Obama is "eager to turn a page after more than a decade of war." "(B)eginning this spring American forces (will) play only a supporting role in Afghanistan."

The Washington Post headlined "Obama announces reduced US role in Afghanistan starting this spring." Plans are "for a small troop presence in the country after the American mission formally ends there in 2014."

On January 11, Obama and Karzai's joint press conference was more surreal than honest. Duplicitous doublespeak substituted for truth. "(T)ransition is well underway," said Obama. Plans are for Afghan forces to replace Americans. By yearend 2014, they'll "have full responsibility for their security, and this war will come to a responsible end." [At the same time, US forces will] "continue to fight alongside (Afghans) when necessary." [By spring 2013,] "our troops will have a different mission - training, advising, assisting Afghan forces. It will be a historic moment and another step toward full Afghan sovereignty." "Afghanistan (has) a long-term partner in the United States of America."

Obama didn't say what troop strength will remain. Drone wars continue daily. US Special Forces and CIA elements came to stay. Search and destroy missions are prioritized. It's Washington's longest war. Iraq and Afghanistan are its most costly ones. Iraq boils out of sight and mind. Afghanistan rages. Experts agree. The war was lost years ago. It continues. Why US officials don't explain.

More »

Danny Weil

From Ecuador to Djibouti: A Tale of Cocaine Trafficking, Sex Crime Charges & Extraordinary Rendition

As reported at Dailycensored.com on November 14, 2012, two sources have alleged that the CIA has been engaging in cocaine trafficking in Chile to fund an $88 million campaign to defeat President Rafael Correa in Ecuador’s upcoming presidential election: former British Diplomat Craig Murray, and Chilean journalist Patricio Mery Bell.

It is no secret that the US wants to see Correa defeated and the presidential election scheduled next month in Ecuador will see whether he is. He has enacted policies the US government considers adverse to US interests including closing the US military base in Ecuador. Moreover, it is likely the US sees the defeat of Correa as key to getting its hands on Julian Assange.

There is also the $19 billion judgment by an Ecuadorean court against Chevron for despoiling the Amazon rainforest. A group of the plaintiffs have recently begun initiating legal proceedings to seize Chevron’s assets in Canada, Brazil and Argentina.

The allegations of Cocaine trafficking are strikingly similar to cocaine trafficking by the CIA in the 1980s to fund the Contras in Nicaragua.

Patricio Mery Bell is head of the Panorama news service in Chile. In October 2012, Bell arranged to meet with the Ecuadorian president while Correa was in Chile, to present evidence of CIA cocaine trafficking in Chile to fund Correa’s defeat. On his way to meet with Correa, Patricio Bell was arrested and charged with assaulting a woman. His cell phone, which contained evidence to be presented to Correa, was confiscated and never returned.

More »