2018-12-04: News Headlines

LKTI (2018-12-04). Mueller signaled that he's ready. Is Trump? zcomm.org Get ready for Mueller's end game…

Consortiumnews (2018-12-04). The Guardian's Vilification of Julian Assange. consortiumnews.com The Guardian did not make a mistake in vilifying Assange without a shred of evidence. It did what it is designed to do, says Jonathan Cook. By Jonathan Cook Johanthan-Cook.net It is welcome that finally there has been a little… Read more →

teleSUR (2018-12-04). Mexico, US Foreign Ministers Have 'Friendly Conversation'. telesurenglish.net Mexico's newly inaugurated Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard, meets with Mike Pompeo in what Ebrard called a 'friendly conversation;' Pompeo has been mute.

RFE (2018-12-04). U.S. Urges Europe To Impose Sanctions On Iran Over Missiles. iranian.com The Trump administration is urging Europe to impose tough new sanctions on Iran over its ballistic missile program. The call comes as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to meet European officials in Brussels this week and after the U.S. and others condemned an Iranian missile launch over the weekend. Iran is expected to be […]

Mark Fitzpatrick (2018-12-04). Iran's Missile Test: A Provocation, Not A Violation. iranian.com Iran's reported test of a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) on December 1 gave its enemies further ammunition in their vitriolic campaign against the regime. But in exaggerating the offense, the Trump administration has undermined its case. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced the missile launch, claiming, incorrectly, that it was a violation of UN Security […]

RT (2018-12-04). Manafort talked to Ecuador's president on getting rid of Assange — report. rt.com Donald Trump's disgraced ex-campaign manager and the Ecuadorian President considered the possibility of handing over the founder of WikiLeaks to the US in exchange for relief of debts, a news report claims.

Shared by Samantha Borek (2018-12-03). Bush Sr.'s Ignored Legacy: War Crimes, Racism, Obstruction of Justice. truthout.org George H.W. Bush died in Houston on Friday night at the age of 94. Bush was elected the 41st president of the United States in 1988, becoming the first and only former CIA director to lead the country. He served as Ronald Reagan's vice president from 1981 to 1989. Since Bush's death, the media has honored the former president by focusing on his years of service and his call as president for a kinder, gentler America. But the headlines have largely glossed over and ignored other parts of Bush's legacy. We look at the 1991 Gulf War, Bush's pardoning of six Reagan officials involved in the Iran-Contra scandal and…

Alan MacLeod (2018-12-03). Misreporting Manafort: A Case Study in Journalistic Malpractice. fair.org The Guardian ( 11/27/18) added "sources say" to the headline after publication. | In what has been described as potentially the biggest story of the year, the Guardian's Luke Harding ( 11/27/18) reported last week that Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, he…

Democracy Now! (2018-12-03). Mehdi Hasan on George H.W. Bush's Ignored Legacy: War Crimes, Racism and Obstruction of Justice. democracynow.org George H.W. Bush died in Houston on Friday night at the age of 94. Bush was elected the 41st president of the United States in 1988, becoming the first and only former CIA director to lead the country. He served as Ronald Reagan's vice president from 1981 to 1989. Since Bush's death, the media has honored the former president by focusing on his years of service and his call as president for a kinder, gentler America. But the headlines have largely glossed over and ignored other parts of Bush's legacy. We look at the 1991 Gulf War, Bush's pardoning of six Reagan officials involved in the Iran-Contra scandal and ho…

Bill Blum (2018-12-03). 5 Reasons Trump Won't Fire Mueller. truthdig.com For those who fear that Donald Trump is about to lower the boom on special counsel Robert Mueller, take a deep breath and slowly exhale. Despite all you've heard from Trump himself, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and law professor …

aclu (2018-12-03). The Government Is Trying to Keep Key NSA Spying Rules Secret. aclu.org We're telling a federal appeals court that democracy has no room for secret law on surveillance of Americans. | A federal appeals court in New York will hear oral argument on Tuesday in our lawsuit fighting for the public's right to know the legal justifications for government spying. | The Freedom of Information Act suit seeks the release of secret memos written by government lawyers that provided the foundation for the warrantless surveillance of Americans' international communications. In essence, these memos serve as the law that gove…

Roger Harris (2018-12-03). Mexico on the Eve of AMLO: "So Far from God and So Close to the United States" counterpunch.org The full quote by Porfirio Díaz is: "Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States." Mexican President Díaz (1876-1880 and 1884-1911) got it at least half right. Mexico has suffered in the shadow of the Colossus of the North, but Mexico is not poor. Mexico is rich in many ways, More

Shared by Samantha Borek (2018-12-03). Ohio's Republicans Are Gambling on the Supreme Court to Restrict Abortion Access. truthout.org Ohio's extremely conservative legislature is on a tear: Within days of the election, the House pushed though an anti-abortion bill so onerous that it would effectively ban abortion. | And the state didn't stop there. Legislators scheduled hearings on another bill that would criminalize abortion, potentially threatening patients and providers with the death penalty. | Here's where things get extra bizarre: Ohio's new legislature sits in January, but these aren't your a…

Mark Gruenberg (2018-12-03). Kentucky Supreme Court upholds GOP-passed "right-to-work" law. peoplesworld.org

wsws (2018-12-03). Sri Lanka: Factional deadlock remains in lead up to Supreme Court ruling. wsws.org President Sirisena has failed in his attempts to secure a parliamentary deal with the opposition UNP and TNA aimed at ending the country's continuing political crisis.

Tehran Times (2018-12-03). Iran Missile Test Not A 'Violation' Of UNSCR 2231. iranian.com Mark Fitzpatrick, the executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) says despite Washington's claims, Iran's missile testing activities do not violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231. Fitzpatrick made the statement in a tweet on Saturday after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed in a tweet earlier the day that Iran was […]

RT (2018-12-03). Trump ignites bromance with China's Xi, as intel agencies warn of Chinese 'aggression'. rt.com Flames of bromance were stoked at the Argentina G20 summit, with President Trump boasting of a newfound friendship with Chinese presidentt Xi Jinping. To US intelligence agencies though, the friendship could be dangerous. |

RT (2018-12-03). Why the fuss over Michael Cohen? Lying to Congress is an American pastime (VIDEO). rt.com The media wants blood after Donald Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen, pled guilty to making false statements to Congress. Apparently, only intelligence agencies can lie to Congress and get away with it. |

Consortiumnews (2018-12-01). The Guardian/Politico Psyop Against WikiLeaks. consortiumnews.com The claims made by Luke Harding and The Guardian that Assange met Manafort will never be proven true, and they know it. And we should never let them forget it, says Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone Caitlinjohnstone.com For the first few hours… Read more →

Consortiumnews (2018-12-01). George H.W. Bush, the CIA and a Case of State-Sponsored Terrorism. consortiumnews.com Forty-two years ago, a car-bomb exploded in Washington killing Chile's ex-Foreign Minister Orlando Letelier, an act of state terrorism that the CIA and its director George H.W. Bush tried to cover up, Robert Parry reported on Sept. 23, 2000. By… Read more →

Aaron Maté (2018-11-30). Mueller Takes Aim, but Is Trump in Trouble? thenation.com Mueller Takes Aim, but Is Trump in Trouble?

James Risen (2018-11-30). As the Mueller Probe Heats Up, Donald Trump's Lies Are Giving Way to the Truth. theintercept.com

Yanis Varoufakis (2018-11-29). On Julian Assange and the Political Economy & future of Europe. zcomm.org Interview on the socio-economic transformations taking place within the core of the European Union and how much time is left until it disintegrates…

Democracy Now! (2018-11-29). Headlines for November 29, 2018. democracynow.org Senate Votes to Advance Resolution to End War in Yemen, White House Blocks CIA Director From Briefing Senate on Khashoggi Murder, Senate Blocks Vote to Protect Special Counsel Mueller's Probe, Trump: A Pardon for Ex-Campaign Chair Manafort is "Not Off The Table", Tension Escalates Between Russia & Ukraine, Senate Advances Judicial Nominee Who Worked to Suppress Black Votes, House Dems Nominate Rep. Pelosi for House Speaker, Afghanistan: U.S. Airstrikes Kill at Least 30 Civilians, U.N. Report: Malnutrition On the Rise Worldwide, Public Outrage After Right-Wing Sinclair Airs Anti-Immigrant Piece, Senate Delays Vote…

aclu (2018-11-29). We're Suing the CIA to Find the Body of a Torture Victim. aclu.org The U.S. government's obsessive secrecy has deprived a man's family of basic dignity and closure. | In November 2002, the CIA tortured Gul Rahman to death in a secret prison in Afghanistan. Sixteen years later, Rahman's family is still desperately trying to find out what the CIA did to his body. | To date, the CIA has told his loved ones nothing, and his daughter cannot even give her father a decent burial. | That same month, Gina Haspel oversaw the torture of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri at a CIA black site in Tha…

John Nichols (2018-11-29). The Mueller Investigation Is Closing in on Trump—and the Next Congress Won't Protect Him. thenation.com The Mueller Investigation Is Closing in on Trump—and the Next Congress Won't Protect Him…

Consortiumnews (2018-11-29). Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski Wins 2018 Sam Adams Award. consortiumnews.com Karen Kwiatkowski has won the 2018 Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence award for trying to stop the "shock and awe" attack on Iraq. Kwiatkowski is featured in the film "Shock and Awe" to be shown at an awards ceremony Saturday…. Read more →

Consortiumnews (2018-11-27). Judge Delays Decision Whether to Unseal Assange Criminal Complaint. consortiumnews.com

Democracy Now! (2018-11-27). Headlines for November 27, 2018. democracynow.org Trump Defends Tear Gassing of Migrants, Blames Parents and "Grabbers", GM To Cut 15,000 Jobs Across North America, Trump Denies Findings of National Climate Report, Turkey Searches Saudi-Owned Villas for Jamal Khashoggi's Body, Saudi Crown Prince May Meet with Erdogan as G20 Host Argentina Mulls Criminal Charges, Report: Kushner Urged Administration to Inflate Saudi Arms Deals, CNN: U.S. "Slams Brakes" on U.N. Yemen Ceasefire Resolution, Afghanistan: IED Kills 3 U.S. Soldiers, Ukraine Declares Martial Law over Russian Naval Attack, Mueller Says Paul Manafort Lied in Russia Inquiry After Plea Deal, Rep. Mia Love B…

Chris Hedges (2018-11-26). Crucifying Julian Assange. zcomm.org Chris Hedges and Joe Lauria, journalist and editor-in-chief, Consortium, discuss efforts to force #WikiLeaks publisher, #JulianAssange, out of the Ecuador Embassy in London and extradite him to the USA to stand trial.

Jessica Feierman (2018-11-26). The Supreme Court Can Put a Stop to Excessive Fines on Children. progressive.org A 13-year-old boy spent three months in a juvenile facility — including time in solitary confinement — because he could not pay a $500 fine for skipping school.