(2020-07-02). "Russia is Paying the Taliban": Afghan Bounty Scandal Comes at Suspiciously Important Time for US Military Industrial Complex. globalresearch.ca The latest scandal, like others before it, is based on scant testimony by anonymous officials and has had the effect of pushing liberal opinion on US foreign policy into a far more hawkish direction. | *** | Based on anonymous intelligence …
(2020-07-02). Lee Camp: How the Media Used the Bounty Scandal to Stop the 'Threat' of Peace in Afghanistan. mintpressnews.com This is not a column defending Donald Trump. | Across my career, I have said more positive words about the scolex family of intestinal tapeworms than I have said about Donald Trump. (Scolex have been shown to read more.) | No, this is a column about context. When The New York Times reports anonymous sources from the intelligence community say Russia paid Taliban fighters to kill American soldiers, context is very important. | Some of that context is that
(2020-07-02). Anti-Russia War Fever Spreads On Capitol Hill. popularresistance.org Groups of congressional Republicans and Democrats have visited the White House over the past two days for briefings on allegations that the Russian military intelligence agency GRU offered bounties to Taliban fighters who killed American soldiers in Afghanistan. | They have emerged bristling with demands for retaliation, with one Republican senator declaring, "I want to hear their plan for Taliban and GRU agents in body bags"—in other words, for military action by the United States against Russia, possessor of the world's second largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. | The "Russian bounties" campaign is a fa…
(2020-07-02). US Media Used To Stop The 'Threat' Of Peace. popularresistance.org This is not a column defending Donald Trump. | Across my career I have said more positive words about the scolex family of intestinal tapeworms than I have said about Donald Trump. (Scolex have been shown to read more.) | No, this is a column about context. When The New York Times reports anonymous sources from the intelligence community say Russia paid Taliban fighters to kill American soldiers, context is very important. | Some of that context is that Mike Pompeo said, "I was the CIA director — We lied, we cheated, we stole. We had entire training courses." So we know for certain that U.S. intelligence ag…
(2020-07-02). The Kafkaesque Imperium: Julian Assange and the Second Superseding Indictment. counterpunch.org 
The Kafkaesque Imperium has taken yet another absurd step towards mean absurdity with another superseding indictment against Julian Assange. This move by the US Department of Justice seems to have surprised those involved in his extradition proceedings. Mark Summers QC, one of the members of the Assange legal team, did not conceal his astonishment at
(2020-07-02). Wednesday 7/1: The Fight for Reproductive Rights: A Supreme Court Briefing. indybay.org Online via Zoom & livestream…
(2020-07-01). Afghan Bounty Scandal Comes at Suspiciously Important Time for US Military Industrial Complex. mintpressnews.com 
The latest scandal, like others before it, is based on scant testimony by anonymous officials and has had the effect of pushing liberal opinion on US foreign policy into a far more hawkish direction.
(2020-07-01). Three Glaring Problems With the Russian Taliban 'Bounty' Story. strategic-culture.org There seems to be a lack of sourcing and a big whiff of politics, say former intelligence officers. | Barbara BOLAND | Abombshell The article alleges that GRU, a top-secret unit of Russian military intelligence, offered the bounty in payment for every…
(2020-07-01). Teachers: High Court opens way for taxpayer dollars for religious schools. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision allowing Montanans tax credits to pay for tuition at private — read "religious" — schools will cut dollars available to public schools and kids, the nation's two big teachers unions say. And the June 30 ruling, authored by Chief Justice John Roberts, just re-emphasizes the importance of courts — …
(2020-07-01). Career CIA officer made 'the right call' not to brief Trump on 'Russian bounties' — NSA O'Brien. rt.com 
A career CIA officer decided not to brief President Donald Trump about intelligence speculation that Russia was paying bounties for deaths of US troops in Afghanistan, his national security adviser Robert O'Brien has revealed. | "She made that decision because she didn't have the confidence in the intelligence that came up," O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday. "She made that call and you know what? She made the right call. And knowing the facts I know now, I stand behind that call," he added. | The New York Times published a story last week, sourced to anonymous intelligence officials, claiming that the "asse…
(2020-07-01). Career CIA officer made 'the right call' by not briefing Trump on 'Russian bounties' — NSA O'Brien. rt.com A career CIA officer decided not to brief President Donald Trump about intelligence speculation that Russia was paying bounties for the deaths of US troops in Afghanistan, National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien has revealed. | "She made that decision because she didn't have the confidence in the intelligence that came up," O'Brien told reporters on Wednesday. "She made that call and you know what? She made the right call. And knowing the facts I know now, I stand behind that call," he added. | The New York Times published a story last week, citing anonymous intelligence sources, claiming that Trump was brief…
(2020-07-01). US Supreme Court Ruling that Children of Asylum-Seekers Must be Released from Detention Lacks Necessary Provisions for Parents; Risks Further Family Separation. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-07-01). Four Giant Reasons To Remove The Statues. popularresistance.org I'm a descendant of General Robert E. Lee. | My family also descends from George Washington and John Marshall, the fourth chief justice of the Supreme Court. (The oligarchy was a rather small club back in the day.) And I, along with many other Lee descendants, say: Remove the statues. | Yet, this week President Donald Trump has made it his mission to catch and prosecute those who have taken down statues. I'm positive he's not doing it out of any racist ideology, although it doesn't help that he also retweeted a white power message soon afterwards. | With that said, here are four exceedingly stupid reasons to keep…
(2020-06-30). "Moment of Elation": In 1st Big Abortion Case of Trump Era, SCOTUS Strikes Down Strict Louisiana Law. democracynow.org 
In the first big ruling on abortion in the Trump era, the Supreme Court has struck down a restrictive abortion law in Louisiana that would have left the state with just one abortion clinic. The 2014 law required doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of their clinic, an onerous requirement that often made it impossible for abortion providers to continue to operate. "It was a moment of elation," says Lakeesha Harris, director of reproductive health and justice at Women with a Vision, a women's rights organization based in New Orleans. "Many of us have been working…
(2020-06-30). Afghanistan Bounties: Pot, Meet Kettle (and Turn Off the Stove!). counterpunch.org "American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan," claims the New York Times. More controversially, the authors write that US president Donald Trump was briefed on the assessment (he denies it) and the piece's tag line says that his administration
(2020-06-30). The Russia-Afghanistan Story Is Western Propaganda At Its Most Vile. popularresistance.org All western mass media outlets are now shrieking about the story The New York Times first reported, citing zero evidence and naming zero sources, claiming intelligence says Russia paid out bounties to Taliban-linked fighters in Afghanistan for attacking the occupying forces of the US and its allies in Afghanistan. As of this writing, and probably forevermore, there have still been zero intelligence sources named and zero evidence provided for this claim. | As we discussed yesterday, the only correct response to unsubstantiated claims by anonymous spooks in a post-Iraq invasion world is to assume that they are lyi…
(2020-06-30). Pompeo: US told Taliban not to attack Americans. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had a video conference with Taliban Deputy and chief negotiator Mullah Baradar, the State Department said Tuesday.The two men discussed Monday the implementation of the US-Taliban peace agreement, according to a statement by spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus."The Secretary made clear the expectation for the Taliban to live up to their commitments, which include not attacking Americans," said Ortagus, who did not provide information about reports of Russian payments to Taliban militants for targeting American troops in Afghanistan.The New York Times reported late last week that a Russ…
(2020-06-30). DoD Doesn't Know, But 'Unnamed Sources' Do? Officials Say Trump Knew About Bounty Claims for a Year. sputniknews.com Last Friday's New York Times piece citing anonymous intelligence officials on an alleged Russian plot to offer rewards to Taliban-linked militants to kill US and coalition troops in Afghanistan has been criticized and condemned from all sides, with Moscow, the White House and even the Taliban itself dismissing the newspaper's claims.
(2020-06-30). Trump Is Either Lying or Out of the Loop on Afghanistan. Both Are Bad. truthout.org The corporate media has been straining at its collective leash since the weekend, firing a volley of barks our way about Russian intelligence agents paying the Taliban to kill U.S. soldiers, and my God, did Donald Trump know? The high dudgeon in these reports is unmistakable; one CNN It's a story that has everything, if you l…
(2020-06-30). Stir Crazy! Episode #61: COVID & Cops: We Are Under Attack. therealnews.com 
On today's show: Activist and recording artist Eze Jackson and TRNN Executive Producer Lisa Snowden-McCray. Hosted by Kim Brown. If you have questions/comments/suggestions for the show email us at stircrazy@therealnews.com…
(2020-06-30). Supreme Court tosses Louisiana anti-abortion law, drawing cheers. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON—By a 5-4 margin, with GOP-named Chief Justice John Roberts casting the deciding vote, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 29 threw out a restrictive Louisiana anti-abortion law. That drew cheers from pro-choice and women's rights groups, who warned, however, that the fight over the right to choose continues, both in the courts and at …
(2020-06-30). A win for women's rights win at the Supreme Court. liberationnews.org 
On June 29, the Supreme Court overturned an abortion restriction law in its decision in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo. The case posed a direct threat to abortion rights in the United States, and the decision is a win for women's rights. Although the court has a conservative, anti-abortion majority, this decision was no …
(2020-06-30). A win for women's rights at the Supreme Court. liberationnews.org On June 29, the Supreme Court overturned an abortion restriction law in its decision in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo. The case posed a direct threat to abortion rights in the United States, and the decision is a win for women's rights. Although the court has a conservative, anti-abortion majority, this decision was no …
(2020-06-30). Taxpayers Shouldn't Have to Fund Religious Education: How Today's Supreme Court Decision Further Erodes the Separation of Church and State. aclu.org Today, in an unprecedented decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the state of Montana must provide funding for religious education as part of its school voucher tax credit program — despite the fact that the Montana Constitution forbids government aid for religious education and activities. The court's
(2020-06-30). IADL Calls on UK Court to Grant Bail to Julian Assange, Ill and Vulnerable to COVID-19. globalresearch.ca The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) is a non-governmental organization with consultative status in ECOSOC and UNESCO. Founded in 1946 to promote the goals of the United Nations Charter, IADL and its affiliated organizations throughout the world have consistently …
(2020-06-30). Iran issues arrest warrant for Trump and his accomplices. fightbacknews.org According to Iran's authoritative FARS News Agency, arrest warrants have been issued, June 29, for U.S. President Trump and 35 others implicated in the assassination of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani. | Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Baharvand said, "Our intelligence and security forces have identified nearly 40 Americans who have ordered, assisted and collaborated in the assassination, and a number of others – including the U.S. drone operators, that have conducted the attack – are yet to be identified, which will be done soon," | Lieutenant General Soleimani was killed by a U.S. drone strike on Bag…
(2020-06-30). US urges UN to extend Iran arms embargo. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to extend Tuesday an arms embargo against Iran and warned that ending it would risk stability in the Middle East."Iran will hold a sword of Damocles over the economic stability of the Middle East, endangering nations like Russia and China that rely on stable energy prices," Pompeo told a virtual UNSC session.The ban on arms transactions with Iran is set to expire Oct. 18, under terms of a 2015 nuclear deal.Pompeo said Iran could directly move to buy Russian fighter jets and upgrade its submarine fleet if the embargo expires and Tehran would be…
(2020-06-30). This Russia-Afghanistan Story Is Western Propaganda at Its Most Vile. strategic-culture.org It really is funny how the most influential news outlets in the western world will uncritically parrot whatever they're told to say by the most powerful and depraved intelligence agencies on the planet, and then turn around and tell you without a hint of self-awareness that Russia and China are bad because they have state media.
(2020-06-29). Is the Deep State Attempting a Hybrid War in Mexico? counterpunch.org An important article by journalist Ben Norton appeared on the online outlet The Grayzone describing the content of a leaked document that consists "of an executive summary of 'Project BOA,' outlining what it calls a 'plan of action' — a blueprint of concrete steps the opposition alliance will take to unseat AMLO." AMLO is Mexican
(2020-06-29). WH spokeswoman says 'no intelligence consensus' on Russia bounty story, tells NYT & WaPo to 'return Pulitzers' for misreporting. rt.com 
The New York Times and the Washington Post should give up their journalistic accolades for selling rumors as scoops, the White House's Kayleigh McEnany said, pointing at holes in their story about Russian bounties for the Taliban. | The secretary has unleashed a scathing rebuke at the media, accusing the Times and the WaPo of peddling scandalous speculations about US President Donald Trump allegedly doing nothing after having been briefed about Russia paying the Taliban to kill US soldiers in Afghanistan. | Speaking at the White House on Monday, McEnany said that her boss had never received a briefing on the i…
(2020-06-29). Chris Hedges On Contact: Julian Assange Extradition Hearing. popularresistance.org Chris Hedges discusses the extradition hearing of Julian Assange with lawyer, author and professor, Marjorie Cohn. | Marjorie Cohn is professor emerita at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where she taught from 1991 to 2016, and a former president of the National Lawyers Guild. | Professor Cohn is the editor of and a contributor to 'The United States and Torture: Interrogation, Incarceration and Abuse', and 'Drones and Targeted Killings: Legal, Moral, and Geopolitical Issues'.
(2020-06-29). US Supreme Court Ruling on HIV/AIDS Funding Undermines Health and Human Rights. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-06-29). NARAL Pro-Choice America Responds to Supreme Court Decision in June Medical Services LLC v. Russo. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-06-29). As Supreme Court Blocks Louisiana's Anti-Choice Law, Reproductive Rights Groups Breathe Sigh of Relief—and Prepare for Continued Fight. commondreams.org Reproductive rights groups on Monday expressed relief after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a restrictive anti-choice law in Louisiana, the latest state regulation blocking access to abortion care to be rejected by the high court. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/stop_war_on_women_1_1.jpg …
(2020-06-29). Only Idiots Believe The CIA, And Other Notes From The Edge Of The Narrative Matrix. thealtworld.com ~ | Mainstream media outlets which publish anonymous intelligence claims with no proof are just publishing CIA press releases disguised as news. | ~ | The most influential news outlets in the western world uncritically parrot whatever they're told to say by the most powerful and depraved intelligence agencies on the planet, then tell you that Russia and China are bad because they have state media. | ~ | Imagine if a compulsive liar who you know for a fact constantly deceives people in order to hurt and exploit them told you your neighbor is going to kill you if you don't kill him first, and you go and kill your n…
(2020-06-29). Video: The Concept of Social Distancing in Schools. globalresearch.ca Many educators and parents are struggling with the concept of social distancing in schools. Here are some lesser known facts about social distancing and isolation: | ‚Ä¢ It was developed 70 years ago by the CIA to break down enemies of …
(2020-06-29). Update On Assange: The Most Important Press Freedom Case Of This Era. popularresistance.org This past week, just as public sentiment and corporate media attention were shifting in favor of Julian Assange, the United States issued another superseding indictment in his extradition case. The indictment doesn't add any charges, it merely uses public information to smear Assange's reputation and attempt to portray him as a hacker instead of the journalist and publisher that he is. This shows that the US government has a weak case against Assange. Joe Lauria, an investigative journalist and senior editor of Consortium News, explains the new indictment and provides an update on Julian Assange. The Assange case…
(2020-06-29). Spying On Americans: Infamous 1970s White House Plan For Protest Surveillance. popularresistance.org Portions of a long-secret government blueprint for expansive surveillance of domestic protest movements during the Nixon presidency have just been released, more than 50 years after it was drafted. The notorious "Huston Plan" prepared by representatives of the White House and the U.S. intelligence community envisioned a smorgasbord of covert operations that made even FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover queasy. The proposed activities ranged from monitoring domestic dissident groups — notably the Black Panthers — to office break-ins. This is the first time the document has been released on its own and with th…
(2020-06-29). Assange surprised by timing of new US indictment. yenisafak.com Julian Assange's lawyer said on Monday he was surprised U.S. authorities issued a new and wider indictment last week against the WikiLeaks founder whom they are seeking to extradite from Britain.Assange is wanted by U.S. authorities to stand trial for 18 offences including conspiring to hack government computers and espionage. Last year, the United States began extradition proceedings after he was dragged from London's Ecuadorean embassy where he had been holed up for almost seven years.The U.S. Department for Justice issued a second, superseding indictment last week which, it said, contained no new charges but b…