Stephen Lendman

Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, appeared before the
Home Affairs Select Committee in London on Tuesday...MP's
question to Alan Rusbridger: do you love this country?

At stake is press freedom. It remains so.

Press freedom is too important to lose. The right to express thoughts and opinions freely is fundamental. Without it all others are at risk. It's being assaulted in America. It's at risk in Britain. Both countries are democracies in name only. Britain has no constitutional free expression right. Police state ruthlessness threatens America's First Amendment. Waging war on freedom is official policy in both countries. They're partners in crime. Modern technology makes it easy. Ordinary people are targeted. So are newspaper editors and columnists.

Alan Rusbridger is London's Guardian's editor-in-chief. Last August, he discussed real dangers reporters face. He was contacted by an official claiming to represent Prime Minister David Cameron's office. Two meetings followed. Demands were made. He was ordered to destroy all material related to Edward Snowden revelations. Implicit threats were made. Rusbridger called what happened "one of the more bizarre moments in the Guardian's long history."

Rusbridger got an ultimatum. He didn't risk its potential dark side by not complying. Two Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) security experts oversaw the destruction of Guardian hard drives. Whitehall appeared satisfied at the time. Rusbridger called what happened "pointless symbolism." Digital age technology makes cyberspace forever. Once out, content can't be erased. It wasn't the end of the story. Parliament wanted its say. MP grilling followed. Rusbridger was ordered to appear.

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Stephen Lendman

Israel's history is odious. It's bloodstained. False flags and targeted assassinations are specialties. They repeat with disturbing regularity. Pre-emptive murder is official policy.

Overall French/Israeli ties are longstanding. France's ambassador to Israel, Patrick Maisonneuve, said President François Hollande "is a close friend of the State of Israel." Netanyahu said both countries work closely together "to advance and deepen bilateral strategic and economic relations." The relationship includes supporting the worst crimes both countries commit. Their rap sheets are long and loathesome.

Israel murdered Yasser Arafat. Polonium poisoning killed him. Switzerland's Radiophysique (SR) analysis proved it. SR director Dr. Francois Bochud said: "I can confirm to you that we measured an unexplained, elevated amount of unsupported polonium-210 in the belongings of Mr. Arafat that contained stains of biological fluids."

On November 6, Al Jazeera headlined "Exclusive: Swiss study says Polonium found in Arafat's bones." Scientists examined his remains. They found levels at least 18 times above normal. It's clear evidence he was poisoned.

Lausanne-based University Centre of Legal Medicine published a 108-page report. Al Jazeera obtained a copy. Unnaturally high polonium levels were found in Arafat's ribs, pelvis, and "soil stained with his decaying organs." France claims otherwise. Coverup and denial is longstanding official policy. More on that below.

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