Pompeo Claims the US Destroyed 99% of the ISIS Caliphate — These Maps Show Otherwise
SouthFront | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-10
While there are little doubts that ISIS was largely defeated in both Syria and Iraq, Pompeo's "99%" is probably based on some false data or he just forgot to take a look at some maps which could be easily found online. | The post Pompeo Claims the US Destroyed 99% of the ISIS Caliphate — These Maps Show Otherwise appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/pompeo-claims-us-destroyed-99-isis-caliphate-syria-maps-show-otherwise/253733/

Farewell to bblum6
Dave Markland | zcomm.org | 2019-01-10
Bill Blum passed away early last month in Virginia. Many Z Net readers will know his canonical book, Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since WWII, or remember his regular newsletter Anti-Empire Report. My first contact with Bill came in 1995 when I wrote him about something he had written on the Cold War. Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/farewell-to-bblum6/

An Agenda Unveiled: How Reuters Joined the US Government's Offensive Against Iran
Ivan Kesic | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-10
A 2013 Reuters report on Iran's Setad has been cited in four books and was recently used to justify more sanctions on Iran by Mike Pompeo, but a look into the report's sources and accuracy reveal questionable journalism and a clear agenda. | The post An Agenda Unveiled: How Reuters Joined the US Government's Offensive Against Iran appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/reuters-joined-us-governments-offensive-against-iran/253681/

US to pull forces from Syria, continue fight against ISIL: Pompeo
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-01-10
US Secretary of State assures allies Washington will remain a steadfast partner, despite pulling troops out of Syria.
aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/pull-forces-syria-continue-fight-isil-pompeo-190110115122004.html

What Are Federal Employees' Rights to Protest the Government Shutdown?
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-10
People don't lose their First Amendment rights if they work for the government. | Standing up for your First Amendment right to protest can be challenging — especially if you're a government employee. | Since Dec. 22, nearly 800,000 government employees nationwide have been affected by the partial federal government shutdown, putting a stop to work and paychecks. Despite President Trump's claim that federal workers " agree 100 percent with what I'm doing," many have wond…
aclu.org/blog/free-speech/employee-speech-and-whistleblowers/what-are-federal-employees-rights-protest

Expert Reacts to Sec. Pompeo's Speech in Cairo on America's Middle East Policies
commondreams | commondreams.org | 2019-01-10
______________________________…
commondreams.org/newswire/2019/01/10/expert-reacts-sec-pompeos-speech-cairo-americas-middle-east-policies?cd-origin=rss

Turkey Says Military Operations in Syria Not Dependent on US
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-10
A Turkish military operation against the Kurdish People ¥s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which Ankara has pledged to carry out in northern Syria, is not dependent on a United States withdrawal of troops from the region, Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Thursday. | RELATED: | Pompeo's Middle East Visit Contradicts Trump Admin Policy | In an i…
telesurenglish.net/news/Turkey-Says-Military-Operations-in-Syria-Not-Dependent-on-US-20190110-0015.html

In Cairo, Pompeo delivers Trump's vision: Confrontation with Iran
aljazeera | aljazeera.com | 2019-01-10
Describing the US as a 'force for good' in the Middle East, top US diplomat rallies allies against Iran, ISIL threats.
aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2019/01/cairo-pompeo-delivers-trump-vision-confrontation-iran-190110140303307.html

Venezuela: Armed Forces Pledge Allegiance to President Maduro
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-10
After his swearing-in ceremony at Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ), the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) pledged allegiance to Nicolas Maduro as president and commander-in-chief for the 2019-2025 term. | RELATED: | Venezuela: Nicolas Maduro Takes Office Amid Popular Support | "With the heart I accept the sacred oath you've ma…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Armed-Forces-Pledge-Allegiance-to-President-Maduro-20190110-0020.html

Venezuela: Maduro Sworn In for Second Presidential Term
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-10
Venezuela President Maduro began his second term in office Thursday after he was sworn in at the country's supreme court as leaders and delegations from 94 nations from around the globe attended the event along with representatives from OPEC, the African Union. UNASUR, Caricom and CELAC attended the swearing-in ceremony. | RELATED: | The Case for the Legitimacy of Maduro's Second Term | Maduro assumes a new term for which he has committed to "promote the changes that are needed in Venezuela,…
telesurenglish.net/news/Despite-US-Interventionism-Venezuelas-Maduro-Sworn-In-for-2nd-Presidential-Term-20190110-0008.html

Live Updates: Maduro Sworn In for 2nd Presidential Term
teleSUR | telesurenglish.net | 2019-01-10
This Thursday the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, will be sworn in before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) for a second six-year term. | RELATED: | The Case for the Legitimacy of Maduro's Second Term | Maduro will assume a new term for which he has committed to "promote the changes that are needed in Venezuela, to defend the right to peace and respect for the Constitution." | On May 20 last year, Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president of Venezuela with 67.7 percent of the vote | T…
telesurenglish.net/news/Live-Updates-Maduro-Sworn-In-for-2nd-Presidential-Term-20190110-0011.html

Pennsylvanians Should Know How the State Police Is Monitoring Social Media
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-10
The Pennsylvania State Police is blocking access to its social-media-monitoring policy by claiming it could harm "public safety." | "Sunshine is the best disinfectant.", , That's a line that is used so much that it's become almost trite. But it's oft-repeated because it is so true. And here in the Keystone State, the Pennsylvania State Police is doing everything in its power to block access to its policy on monitoring social media. So we're headed to the state Supreme Court to get it. | The ACLU of Pennsylvania's attempt to obtain the st…
aclu.org/blog/privacy-technology/surveillance-technologies/pennsylvanians-should-know-how-state-police

In Mueller Probe, the Bodies Are Washing Up on the Beach
Shared by Cherise | truthout.org | 2019-01-10
While most of the national media spent Tuesday wondering which portion of his ass the president would be showing during his Oval Office address, a pair of very shiny Robert Mueller pennies happened to drop. The first happens to be the strangest and the funniest, but isn't that just the way these days: It can't just be bad, can it? It has to be bad and also utterly humiliating for someone. | That someone, in this case, is whichever attorney on Paul Manafort's legal team filed a redacted document with the cour…
truthout.org/articles/in-mueller-probe-the-bodies-are-washing-up-on-the-beach/

Plagued by Misconduct Claims, Will Columbus's Vice Unit Be Held Accountable?
Shared by candice | truthout.org | 2019-01-10
Adult film star Stormy Daniels's July 2018 arrest in Ohio by the vice unit of the Columbus Police Department (CPD) turned out to be, according to emails a CPD whistleblower provided to the Fayette Advocate, a pre-planned political stunt by vice detectives — one of whom later bragged about it to colleagues. Daniels and two others later sued for false arrest. | Then, in…
truthout.org/articles/plagued-by-misconduct-claims-will-columbuss-vice-unit-be-held-accountable/

Mike Pompeo's Cairo Speech Denounced as Ahistorical 'Imperial Hogwash'
Jon Queally, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2019-01-10
"An arrogant tirade extolling the U.S. as a liberator not an occupier, a defender not an aggressor—a depiction that runs totally counter to the sordid U.S. history of invasions and occupations all over the world." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/screen_shot_2019-01-10_at_4.06.06_pm.png…
commondreams.org/news/2019/01/10/mike-pompeos-cairo-speech-denounced-ahistorical-imperial-hogwash?cd-origin=rss

Trump is willing to take military action in Syria again if needed — Pompeo
RT | rt.com | 2019-01-10
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said President Donald Trump is willing to take action in Syria again but hopes he won't have to. It comes as the US prepares to withdraw troops, which Pompeo says will go ahead, despite criticism. | …
rt.com/usa/448481-trump-military-action-syria/

Iranian FM Slams Bolton, Pompeo's "Psychotic," "Pure Obsession" With Iran
Alexander Rubinstein | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-09
"While ordinarily it might be flattering, [Secretary Pompeo] and [John Bolton's] pure obsession with Iran is more and more like the behavior of persistently failing psychotic stalkers." – Javad Zarif | The post Iranian FM Slams Bolton, Pompeo's "Psychotic," "Pure Obsession" With Iran appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/iran-fm-slams-bolton-pompeos-psychotic-pure-obsession-iran/253715/

New Documents Reveal Covert UK Military-Intelligence Smear Machine Meddling In US Politics
Mark Ames | mintpressnews.com | 2019-01-09
The Integrity Initiative has mobilized an international disinformation campaign across Europe. Now, with government and right-wing foundation money, this massive "political smear unit" is infiltrating the US. | The post New Documents Reveal Covert UK Military-Intelligence Smear Machine Meddling In US Politics appeared first on MintPress News.
mintpressnews.com/new-documents-reveal-covert-uk-military-intelligence-smear-machine-meddling-in-us-politics/253658/

William Arkin on Homeland Security's Creeping Fascism and Why the CIA & FBI Won't Save Us from Trump
Democracy Now! | democracynow.org | 2019-01-09
Longtime NBC reporter and analyst William Arkin announced he was leaving the network last week in a blistering letter that took aim at the mainstream media for encouraging perpetual warfare and bolstering the national security state. In his letter, Arkin writes of Trump,…
www.democracynow.org/2019/1/9/william_arkin_on_homeland_securitys_creeping

William Barr Helped Build America's Surveillance State
ACLU | aclu.org | 2019-01-09
Senators should ask Barr about his support for unconstitutional spying that endangers our rights. | William Barr, President Trump's nominee for attorney general, has a history of getting it wrong. From designing warrantless surveillance programs to justifying the president's power to disregard acts of Congress, Barr has advanced dubious legal theories that have been rejected by the courts, Congress, and the public. | As Barr begins the confirmation process, senators must question Barr on his record regarding the right to privacy and the Fourth Amendment — which raises serious concerns about his suitability…
aclu.org/blog/national-security/privacy-and-surveillance/william-barr-helped-build-americas-surveillance

New Documents Reveal a Covert British Military-Intelligence Smear Machine Meddling In American Politics
Max Blumenthal | grayzoneproject.com | 2019-01-09
The Integrity Initiative has mobilized an international disinformation campaign across Europe. Now, with government and right-wing foundation money, this massive… | The post New Documents Reveal a Covert British Military-Intelligence Smear Machine Meddling In American Politics appeared first on Grayzone Project.
grayzoneproject.com/2019/01/08/new-documents-reveal-a-covert-british-military-intelligence-smear-machine-meddling-in-american-politics/

Venezuela: Suspected Plotters Tortured
Human Rights Watch | hrw.org | 2019-01-09

| January 9, 2019 Video | Video: Venezuelan Military Officers and Families Detained, Tortured: | Venezuelan intelligence and security forces have detained and tortured military personnel suspected of plotting against the government. |

| (Washington, DC) — Venezuelan intelligence and security forces have detained a…
hrw.org/news/2019/01/09/venezuela-suspected-plotters-tortured

Venezuelan Ex-Magistrate Flees to Miami, Pledges to 'Collaborate' with US Authorities
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-07
Venezuela's Supreme Court claims Christian Zerpa fled a sexual harassment investigation.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14208

A Tough Time to Be a Spy, NPR Reports – Current and former CIA officials are only sources for story on espionage getting harder
Belen Fernandez | fair.org | 2019-01-06
NPR ( 1/3/19) reports on the CIA finding it harder to sneak into other countries to commit espionage. | Imagine, for a moment, that a prominent media outlet in Iran decided to produce a story about the trials of being an Iranian spy in this technological day and age–in which the all-pervasiveness of surveillance mechanisms and social media complicates slightly the process of entering other countries under false identities. | It's safe to assume that the United States would find this…
fair.org/home/a-tough-time-to-be-a-spy-npr-reports/

Watch the 11th Online Vigil for Julian Assange
Consortiumnews | consortiumnews.com | 2019-01-04
Consortium News broadcast the 11th Unity4J vigil for WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange on Friday night. You can watch it here. Ecuador tries to find a legal way out of its commitment to Assange's asylum in its London embassy, while Trump lawyer… Read more ?…
consortiumnews.com/2019/01/04/watch-the-11th-online-vigil-for-julian-assange-live-on-friday-night/

US Secretary of State Pompeo Enlists Allies to 'Return Democracy' to Venezuela
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-01-03
US allies Brazil and Colombia have repeatedly voiced support for regime change efforts.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14202

SPLC statement on Supreme Court's denial of Trump administration's request to immediately enforce asylum ban
Melissa Crow, Senior Supervising Attorney of the SPLC's Immigrant Justice Project | splcenter.org | 2018-12-21
splcenter.org/news/2018/12/21/splc-statement-supreme-court-denial-asylum-ban