2020-02-28: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Punishing the Free Speech of Julian Assange
Judge Andrew P. Napolitano | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-28
"Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech."

Julian Assange, the Glass Cage and Heaven in a Rage: Day Four of Extradition Hearings
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-28
Thursday, February 27, Woolwich Crown Court. The first round of extradition hearings regarding Julian Assange's case concluded a day early, to recommence on May 18th. It ended on an insensible note very much in keeping with the woolly-headed reasoning of Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is of the view that a WikiLeaks publisher in a cage …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/julian-assange-the-glass-cage-and-heaven-in-a-rage-day-four-of-extradition-hearings/

Cruel and unusual: Julian Assange's extradition hearing begins
Derek Royden | nationofchange.org | 2020-02-28
It's a slippery slope and in a world of so-called 'fake news' could have negative consequences for journalists and whistle-blowers trying to speak truth to power far into the future.
nationofchange.org/2020/02/28/cruel-and-unusual-julian-assanges-extradition-hearing-begins/

Julian Assange, the Glass Cage and Heaven in a Rage: Day Four of Extradition Hearings
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-28
Thursday, February 27, Woolwich Crown Court. The first round of extradition hearings regarding Julian Assange's case concluded a day early, to recommence on May 18th. It ended on an insensible note very much in keeping with the …
globalresearch.ca/julian-assange-day-four-extradition-hearings/5704984

Julian Assange, the Glass Cage and Heaven in a Rage: Day Four of Extradition Hearings
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-28
Thursday, February 27, Woolwich Crown Court. The first round of extradition hearings regarding Julian Assange's case concluded a day early, to recommence on May 18th. It ended on an insensible note very much in keeping with the woolly-headed reasoning of Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who is of the view that a WikiLeaks publisher in a cage …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/julian-assange-the-glass-cage-and-heaven-in-a-rage-day-four-of-extradition-hearings/

Australia: Workers and youth call for intensification of Assange and Manning defence campaign
wsws.org | 2020-02-28
Queensland students and workers in Parramatta denounce the escalating government attacks on democratic rights.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/28/sepi-f28.html

Judge Orders Assange Held in Glass Box During Extradition Trial
Kevin Gosztola | mintpressnews.com | 2020-02-28
In the United Kingdom, where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces extradition to the U.S., a magistrate court judge decided he must remain isolated in a glass box at the back of the courtroom.
mintpressnews.com/judge-orders-julian-assange-glass-box-extradition-trial/265315/

"The working class needs to demand that Assange is released, not that the ruling class do it on their behalf"
wsws.org | 2020-02-28
World Socialist Web Site reporters spoke to some of those attending the public rally held by the Socialist Equality Party (UK) in defence of Julian Assange on Sunday in London.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/28/ints-f28.html

Judge rules Assange cannot sit with lawyers during extradition hearing
wsws.org | 2020-02-28
The first week of the extradition hearing in USA v Julian Assange ended yesterday at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court with Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejecting a submission from Assange's lawyers that he be allowed to sit with them in court.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/28/assa-f28.html

Assange Extradition: Can a French Touch Pierce a Neo-Orwellian Farce?
Pepe Escobar | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-28
It's quite fitting that the

Julian Assange's father demands immediate bail for imprisoned son
wsws.org | 2020-02-28
John Shipton outlined his son's decade-long history of arbitrary detention in the UK.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/28/ship-f28.html

Cruel and unusual: Julian Assange's extradition hearing begins
Derek Royden | nationofchange.org | 2020-02-28
It's a slippery slope and in a world of so-called 'fake news' could have negative consequences for journalists and whistle-blowers trying to speak truth to power far into the future.
nationofchange.org/2020/02/28/cruel-and-unusual-julian-assanges-extradition-hearing-begins/

Cult-Like Ignorance is Death: Trump and the Coronavirus
Henry Giroux | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-28
Trump's lies, his disparagement of science and scientists, his claim that non-political civil servants are part of the deep state, his lack of credibility, his penchant for political opportunism over the needs of the nation, his pathological embrace of hyperbole, his delight in creating confusion, and his mistaking loyalty for public service puts the nation…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/28/cult-like-ignorance-is-death-trump-and-the-coronavirus/

Trump announces US-Taliban peace deal, 'path forward to end war' in Afghanistan
rt.com | 2020-02-28
President Donald Trump says the US is about to sign agreements with the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan that could provide a way for withdrawal of troops from that country after almost 20 years of war. | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is headed to Qatar, where he will witness the signing of an agreement with the Taliban in Doha, while Defense Secretary Mark Esper will "issue a joint declaration" with the government in Kabul, Trump announced on Friday. | If the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan live up to these commitments, we will have a powerful path forward to end the war in Afghanistan and…
rt.com/news/481967-us-taliban-peace-signing-trump/

US sees 'significant reduction' in Afghan violence, prepares to sign historic deal with Taliban
rt.com | 2020-02-28
The US has seen a significant reduction in violence in Afghanistan during the past six days, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. The statement comes the day before Washington hopes to sign an American troops withdrawal deal with the Taliban. | "We have seen just these last six days a significant reduction in violence in Afghanistan," Pompeo told lawmakers in Washington. | "We are watching closely to see if the Islamic Republic of Iran begins to take even more active measures… that undermine our efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan," he said. | Pompeo's remark suggested that if the dr…
rt.com/newsline/481943-taliban-us-deal-afghanistan/

Election 2020: Those Meddling Kids
Thomas Knapp | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-28
According to selected members of the "US intelligence community" ("selected" for their loyalty to, and willingness to promote the line of, the Democratic Party establishment) Vladimir Putin and the Russian government just love them some Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Can't get enough of 'em. If November is a Trump/Sanders shoot-out, the Kremlin wins either…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/28/election-2020-those-meddling-kids/

Election 2020: Those Meddling Kids
Thomas Knapp | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-28
According to selected members of the "US intelligence community" ("selected" for their loyalty to, and willingness to promote the line of, the Democratic Party establishment) Vladimir Putin and the Russian government just love them some Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Can't get enough of 'em. If November is a Trump/Sanders shoot-out, the Kremlin wins either…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/28/election-2020-those-meddling-kids/

Further Erosion of American Civil Liberties. Why Renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Renee Parsons | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-28
As a mid March deadline approaches, the mad scramble is on for Congress to rubber stamp a 'clean' renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ( FISC) without amendment. | At every opportunity since 2001, Congress has used the re-authorization …
globalresearch.ca/why-renew-fisa-court-2/5705005

Second time's a charm? Trump nominates Texas congressman Ratcliffe as DNI chief AGAIN
rt.com | 2020-02-28
US President Donald Trump has tapped Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to be the new Director of National Intelligence, pending Senate confirmation. Ratcliffe had bowed out of the nomination last summer. | The surprise announcement, praising Ratcliffe as "an outstanding man of great talent," came on Friday afternoon as Trump departed Washington for a campaign rally in South Carolina. | I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Would have completed process ea…
rt.com/usa/481978-ratcliffe-intelligence-chief-nomination/

'Not noble to cheer human suffering': Tehran shreds US offer of 'help' with coronavirus as Pompeo vows to 'sustain' sanctions
rt.com | 2020-02-28
Washington's offer to assist Tehran with its COVID-19 outbreak is pure hypocrisy, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said, condemning the top US diplomat after he promised to keep up crippling sanctions on Iran while vowing to send aid. | While US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told lawmakers on Friday that the administration had extended an offer to help Tehran beat back the lethal virus, he couldn't help but take jabs at "the regime," insisting Washington would "sustain [its] pressure" through a devastating sanctions campaign

Immunity for Killings by Immigration Police
Jacob Hornberger | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-28
The American immigration police state continues to grow more tyrannical with each passing day. The latest example involves the U.S. Supreme Court, which has just issued a ruling in a case that effectively gives the Border Patrol a license to kill Mexican citizens. And guess which two magic words the Court used to justify its…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/28/immunity-for-killings-by-immigration-police/

Pentagon Papers Case Vindicates Julian Assange
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-28
On June 30, 1971, the US Supreme Court ruled that the NYT and Washington Post were legally permitted to publish what's known as the Pentagon Papers

If We Don't Reform the Supreme Court, Nothing Else Will Matter
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2020-02-28
If We Don't Reform the Supreme Court, Nothing Else Will Matter…
thenation.com/article/politics/reform-supreme-court/

If We Don't Reform the Supreme Court, Nothing Else Will Matter
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2020-02-28
If We Don't Reform the Supreme Court, Nothing Else Will Matter…
thenation.com/article/politics/reform-supreme-court/

Sonia Sotomayor Just Issued a Serious Warning About the Supreme Court
Elie Mystal | thenation.com | 2020-02-28
Sonia Sotomayor Just Issued a Serious Warning About the Supreme Court…
thenation.com/article/politics/sotomayor-court-bias/

"I Don't Think That You are Telling Us the Truth": House Democrats Grill Pompeo on Iran and Coronavirus
Eoin Higgins, staff writer | commondreams.org | 2020-02-28
"You can't hide behind classification on this one because you can't classify something that doesn't exist." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/gettyimages-1203951459.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/28/i-dont-think-you-are-telling-us-truth-house-democrats-grill-pompeo-iran-and?cd-origin=rss

Relentless campaign to smear Assange
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-28
democracy Daniel SafiIssue 1255 Australia Wikileaks Julian AssangeFebruary 28, 2020Where would we be today without the relentless campaign against Julian Assange by mainstream media and unscrupulous journalis…
greenleft.org.au/content/relentless-campaign-smear-assange

Protesters demand Julian Assange be set free
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-28
freedom of speech Jim McIlroyIssue 1255 Australia whistleblower war crimesFebruary 28, 2020A protest organised by People for Assange and the Support Assange and WikiLeaks Coalition caleld for WikiLeaks f…
greenleft.org.au/content/protesters-demand-julian-assange-be-set-free

Protesters demand Julian Assange be set free
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-28
freedom of speech Jim McIlroyIssue 1255 Australia whistleblower war crimesFebruary 28, 2020A protest organised by People for Assange and the Support Assange and WikiLeaks Coalition caleld for WikiLeaks f…
greenleft.org.au/content/protesters-demand-julian-assange-be-set-free

Relentless campaign to smear Assange
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-28
Daniel SafiIssue 1255 AustraliaFebruary 28, 2020Where would we be today without the relentless campaign against Julian Assange by mainstream media and unscrupulous journalists? | The public broadly support Assange, but much of this support is timid, passive and unlikely to strike fear in the authorities and deter them from committing further violence against him. | This is no accident. While typical reporta…
greenleft.org.au/content/relentless-campaign-smear-assange

Don't forget the right-wing extremists in government
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-02-28
Fighting Fund Peter BoyleIssue 1255 Australia anti-protest laws Extinction RebellionFebruary 28, 2020After Australian Security Intelligence Organisation chief Michael Burgess warned that rig…
greenleft.org.au/content/dont-forget-right-wing-extremists-government

Julian Assange, Political Offences and Legal Restraints: Day Three of Extradition Hearings
Binoy Kampmark | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-27
Wednesday, February 26, Woolwich Crown Court. Today, the focus shifted to the protagonist himself and the nature of the US-UK Extradition Treaty of 2003, a contentious document that shines all too favourably for US citizens. Julian Assange, whose deteriorating condition has been noted for months by psychologists, doctors and UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Nils …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/julian-assange-political-offences-and-legal-restraints-day-three-of-extradition-hearings/

Julian Assange condemns court for preventing him from speaking to lawyers
wsws.org | 2020-02-27
WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange issued a defiant protest in court yesterday, opposing the flagrant abuse of his legal rights in extradition proceedings brought against him by the United States government.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/27/assa-f27.html

Should Journalists Be Punished For Exposing War Crimes?
Caitlin Johnstone | zcomm.org | 2020-02-27
Source: Caitlinjohnstone.com This is a speech I gave yesterday at a demonstration for Assange with the Socialist Equality Party Australia. Tomorrow in the UK a judge will start the process of answering a very important question. It's a question that many of us knew was the heart of this debate back in 2010, ten years ago, Read…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/should-journalists-be-punished-for-exposing-war-crimes/

SF Demands Free Julian Assange & Goes Into UK Consulate Building Lobby
BACFJA | indybay.org | 2020-02-27
As part of world day of action to Free Julian Assange activists rallied in San Francisco and then briefly occupied the UK building lobby.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/24/18831024.php

John Pilger: Llegó el momento para que Julian Assange sea liberado, no traicionado
John Pilger | thegrayzone.com | 2020-02-27
La verdad es que Australia podía haber rescatado a Julian Assange, y todavía puede. Los líderes de su tierra natal…
thegrayzone.com/2020/02/26/john-pilger-julian-assange-liberado-traicionado/

Julian Assange Against the Imperium
Binoy Kampmark | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-27
The second day of extradition hearings against Julian Assange and by virtue of that, WikiLeaks, saw Mark Summers QC deliver a formidable serve for the defence at Woolwich Crown Court.
counterpunch.org/2020/02/27/julian-assange-against-the-imperium/

Montreal: Demonstration outside US consulate demands freedom for Julian Assange
wsws.org | 2020-02-27
Speakers denounced the persecution of Assange as a major threat to democratic rights, exposed the complicity of Canada's ruling elite and stressed the importance of a global mobilization of the working class to secure his freedom.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/27/mont-f27.html

Free Assange and Manning! SEP and IYSSE to hold demonstration in Colombo
wsws.org | 2020-02-27
Assange and Manning are being persecuted because they dared to expose US war crimes and government corruption.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/27/sril-f27.html

Prosecution in Assange Extradition Hearing: US-UK Treaty Does Not Apply To Wikileaks' Publisher
Kevin Gosztola, Shadowproof | commondreams.org | 2020-02-27
As his defense team argues U.S. effort to get their hands on Assange is clearly political in nature, the defendant complains to court he is being prevented from meeting privately to consult with his lawyers. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/free_assange_extradition.jpg
commondreams.org/news/2020/02/27/prosecution-assange-extradition-hearing-us-uk-treaty-does-not-apply-wikileaks?cd-origin=rss

"The fight for Assange's freedom requires the political mobilisation of the working class"
wsws.org | 2020-02-27
This speech was delivered by Oscar Grenfell, a leading member of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) to a public rally in defence of Julian Assange, held in London on Sunday.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/27/osca-f27.html

Julian Assange, Political Offences and Legal Restraints: Day Three of Extradition Hearings
Dr. Binoy Kampmark | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-27
Wednesday, February 26, Woolwich Crown Court. Today, the focus shifted to the protagonist himself and the nature of the US-UK Extradition Treaty of 2003, a contentious document that shines all too favourably for US citizens. | Julian Assange, whose …
globalresearch.ca/julian-assange-political-offences-legal-restraints-day-three-extradition-hearings/5704876

Is the World about to witness the end of the war in Afghanistan?
M.K. Bhadrakumar | mronline.org | 2020-02-27
Neither the Indian political leadership nor the "deep state" seems to grasp that the geopolitics of the South Asian region is transforming with far-reaching consequences. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/02/26/is-the-world-about-to-witness-the-end-of-the-war-in-afghanistan/

Bernie Sanders and the Military Industrial Complex. Bernie 2.0
Ann Garrison | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-27
No one on the left was more critical of Bernie Sanders during his 2016 presidential run than late Black Agenda Report Editor Bruce Dixon. However, after Bernie's speech announcing that he planned to run again this year, Bruce asked me, …
globalresearch.ca/bernie-sanders-military-industrial-complex/5704887

Syria: "Moderate Rebels" or "Intelligence Assets"?
Mark Taliano | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-27
"Moderates" never existed except as an "intelligence" agency narrative to protect and arm all the terrorists. "Rebels" never existed except as an "intelligence" agency ploy to falsely portray a Regime Change war as a "revolution" or a "civil war". | Prof. | …
globalresearch.ca/democracy-infidels/5704649

National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood–How the US military and CIA go about their propaganda operations
wsws.org | 2020-02-27
The book, by Matthew Alford and Tom Secker, presents extensive evidence that US government departments and agencies use multiple means to manipulate content and even block production of Hollywood films.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/27/nsec-f27.html

China's Foreign Ministry summons US embassy official over Pompeo's threat to eject Chinese reporters, promises response
rt.com | 2020-02-27
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has called for a meeting with a US embassy official after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threatened to expel Chinese reporters working in the US, as the two sides become embroiled in a "press war." | "In recent years, the US government has adopted various restrictions on Chinese news organizations in the United States," said Hua Chunying, head of the Foreign Ministry's news department. | "If the US takes further harassment and restriction measures against Chinese news organizations in the US, the Chinese side will certainly respond further." | The stern statement comes after the T…
rt.com/news/481771-china-reporters-summons-ambassador/

Whistleblower cops accuse DC police of downgrading crimes to look better on stats
rt.com | 2020-02-27
Crime rates in Washington DC may be much worse than official reports indicate, as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) routinely miss-classifies felonies as misdemeanors, skewing results, two whistle-blowing cops allege. | In at least two cases, internal police documents seem to back the accusations voiced by Sergeant Charlotte Djossou and Officer Tabitha Knight. | The first reportedly happened in August last year. A woman asked a man outside a liquor store to buy her some water, and h…
rt.com/usa/481842-dc-police-downgrading-crime-statistics/

Defending Immigrants' Rights and Reproductive Freedom in the U.S. Supreme Court
Eva Lopez | aclu.org | 2020-02-27
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a number of cases this term that will have a crucial impact on civil rights and civil liberties

Salvadoran Assembly Passes Law of Reconciliation
telesurenglish.net | 2020-02-27
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador approved on Wednesday a law of reconciliation which is strongly opposed by victims of civil war and human rights organizations. | RELATED: | El Salvador: Supreme Court Halts Bukele's Coup Attempt | The Special Law on Transitional Justice, Reparation and National Reconciliation was passed with 44 votes and in the midst of strong rejections by war victims, who have cataloged this regulation as a "new disguised amnesty." | With just 58 deputies presen…
telesurenglish.net/news/Salvadoran-Assembly-Passes-Law-of-Reconciliation-20200227-0004.html