Monthly Archives: August 2020

2020-08-31: News Headlines

Philip Giraldi (2020-08-31). TG 45: The rise of China and "American exceptionalism" thealtworld.com Media coverage of China can be very hypocritical. To put the China story into context Peter and George are joined by Philip Giraldi — former CIA counter-terrorism specialist.

Binoy Kampmark (2020-08-31). Waiting for the Old Bailey: Julian Assange and Britain's Judicial Establishment. counterpunch.org On September 7, Julian Assange will be facing another round of gruelling extradition proceedings, in the Old Bailey, part of a process that has become a form of gradual state-sanctioned torture. The US Department of Justice hungers for their man. The UK prison authorities are doing little to protect his health. The end result, should

Colin Todhunter (2020-08-31). From Cotton to Brinjal: Fraudulent GMO Project in India Sustained by Deception. globalresearch.ca Insecticidal Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton is the first and only GM (genetically modified) crop that has been approved in India. It has been cultivated in the country for more than 20 years. In a formal statement to the Supreme Court …

John Hawkins (2020-08-31). O, Homo Contractus, Where Art Thou? dissidentvoice.org "Deep State" derives from a John le Carré spy novel. It is an expression bandied about rather frequently these days. It's in danger of losing its meaning the more it becomes just another little buzzword from Hiveworld, busy bobbing among the festive fields of corn-cockle until exhaustion sets in. There is a real, non-fictional Deep …

Robert Fantina (2020-08-31). Will Trump Pardon Edward Snowden? counterpunch.org The name 'Edward Snowden' represents different things to different people. For those interested in government transparency and the rule of law, he is a hero, a man who initially tried to go through the 'proper' channels to publicize the blatant injustices he saw. To others, he is a traitor, a government employee who had the

Mehr News Agency (2020-08-31). Iraqi forces capture 12 ISIL terrorists in Al Anbar Province. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep.01 (MNA) — Intelligence forces of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior have arrested 12 ISIL terrorist elements in Al Anbar Province.

Staff (2020-08-31). Intelligence Officials Scale Back Election Security Briefings Ahead of Election. truthout.org House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) "This intelligence paid for by taxpayers doesn't belong…

South Front (2020-08-30). Video: UAE and Israel Plan to Create Intelligence Bases on Yemen's Socotra Island. globalresearch.ca Israel and the United Arab Emirates are going to create a military intelligence-gathering infrastructure on Yemen's Socotra Island, according to Arab and French sources. | The 3,650km2 island, located south of the Yemeni mainland in the Indian Ocean, overlooks the Bab …

Donald Monaco (2020-08-30). The Twilight of Democracy in the United States. Architecture of a Totalitarian Police State. globalresearch.ca The United States has erected the legal and institutional architecture of a totalitarian police state. | Institutionally, the national security autocracy has merged with the military, law enforcement and a vast private intelligence network to create a massive physical apparatus of …

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-08-30). Democrats Condemn 'Shocking Abdication' of Responsibility as Intelligence Officials Scale Back Election Security Briefings. commondreams.org House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) indicated on Sunday that his committee may subpoena intelligence officials, following Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe's announcement that regular election security briefings will be scaled back ahead of the general election. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/john_ratcliffe_ron_wyden_0.jpg

_____ (2020-08-29). Assange 'In A Lot Of Pain' Says Partner After Prison Visit. popularresistance.org Julian Assange's partner has visited him in prison for the first time in almost six months, and said he looked much thinner than last time she saw him. | Stella Moris took the couple's two young children to meet their father, who is being held in Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, awaiting an extradition hearing on behalf of the United States government. | Ms Moris and the WikiLeaks founder had to wear face masks and visors for the 20-minute meeting and were not allowed to touch each other. "We had to keep social distancing and Julian was told he would have to self-isolate for two weeks if he touched the child…

WSWS (2020-08-29). Labor MP denounces Australian government's refusal to defend Julian Assange. wsws.org Labor parliamentarian Julian Hill could just as well have condemned his own party's refusal to oppose the unprecedented persecution of the WikiLeaks publisher.

_____ (2020-08-29). Venezuela: Aggression In October? popularresistance.org A US-sponsored military aggression against Venezuela could take place before the November 3 elections in that country. On August 22, Admiral Remigio Ceballos, chief of the strategic operational command of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB), said that "The international intelligence agencies allied to Venezuela inform us that Colombia is preparing an aggression, and the FANB will respond with force and forcefulness to any aggression against the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela, under the command of our Commander in Chief Nicolas Maduro Moros". Coinciding with this, they met in Bogotá with Presiden…

_____ (2020-08-29). Dem Convention Made No Mention of Russiagate or Impeachment, Because Those Were Fake Things. strategic-culture.org Caitlin JOHNSTONE | Despite their dominating mainstream news cycles for years on end, at no time during the four-day Democratic National Convention was the word "impeachment" ever uttered, nor was any mention made of the Mueller investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and the Russian government. | Politico Eight months after Democrats mounted a historic effort to remove Donald Trump from office, not a single speaker uttered the word "impeachment" du…

WSWS (2020-08-29). Bipartisan Australian move to ban agreements with China. wsws.org The bill was announced amid bellicose anti-China speeches by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an accompanying media witch hunt.

WSWS (2020-08-28). Julian Assange receives first visitors in six months: "He is in a lot of pain" wsws.org The visit has underscored the brutal conditions in which Assange is imprisoned and has sparked renewed fears that his health is continuing to deteriorate.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-28). Reporters Without Borders petition against Assange's extradition, raise concern over his health. peoplesdispatch.org Reporters Without Borders has called on the British government to respect press freedom and human rights in Assange's trial and not comply with the US extradition request…

CounterSpin (2020-08-28). Phyllis Bennis on Foreign Policy Visions. fair.org Media…

_____ (2020-08-28). Scheer Intelligence: The Revolt Of The Black Athlete. popularresistance.org Howard Bryant is a senior writer for ESPN.com and appears regularly on the sports network and NPR. His most recent book "The Heritage: Black Athletes, A Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism" is about the responsibility often placed upon professional black athletes from Jackie Robinson to LeBron James to be role models for social justice. In their conversation, Bryant tells host Robert Scheer that black athletes often come up against the conflict between their corporate sponsors and their desire for social justice and action.

WSWS (2020-08-28). New Zealand: Christchurch terrorist jailed for life. wsws.org There are many unanswered questions about how fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant was able to carry out his attack without being stopped by the police or intelligence agencies.

Tony Cartalucci (2020-08-27). Spies or Journalists? Western Media Deliberately Covers Up US Meddling in Thailand. globalresearch.ca The Western media functions more as lobbyists or even foreign intelligence agencies rather than real journalists by deliberately omitting facts, fabricating others, and all to ensure maximum momentum of what is verified US political interference in a foreign country. | ***…

Scott Ritter (2020-08-27). US Is Willing to Dismantle the UN Security Council to Put Pressure on Iran. globalresearch.ca In a world where American exceptionalism and unilateralism has become common currency, the brazenness of Secretary of State Pompeo's bid to impose "snap back" inspections of Iran takes the cake. Moreover, it's doomed to fail. | When it comes to …

yenisafak (2020-08-27). Putin says alleged mercenaries were lured to Belarus by foreign spy operation. yenisafak.com President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a group of Russians who were detained in Belarus prior to its Aug. 9 election and accused of being mercenaries had been lured to Belarus by a Ukrainan-U.S. intelligence operation.Belarus had accused the men of seeking to destabilise the country ahead of its election, marking an unusual diplomatic row with close ally Russia. At the time, Russia had said the men were private security workers on their way to a third country."These people, I repeat, were travelling for work to a third country. They were lured there, dragged across the border… It was an operation of Ukr…

yenisafak (2020-08-27). US' Pompeo pays surprise visit to Oman. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Oman Thursday for an unannounced stopover."Arrived in Oman and will meet with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said," Pompeo wrote on his Twitter account.Before Oman, Pompeo paid a visit Israel, Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his Mideast tour."I look forward to discussing efforts to build unity among the Gulf Cooperation Council and build on the momentum to advance regional peace and prosperity," Pompeo added.Although his visit was not announced by the State Department, some media reports revealed that Pompeo is visiting two countries within…

2020-08-30: News Headlines

South Front (2020-08-30). Video: UAE and Israel Plan to Create Intelligence Bases on Yemen's Socotra Island. globalresearch.ca Israel and the United Arab Emirates are going to create a military intelligence-gathering infrastructure on Yemen's Socotra Island, according to Arab and French sources. | The 3,650km2 island, located south of the Yemeni mainland in the Indian Ocean, overlooks the Bab …

Donald Monaco (2020-08-30). The Twilight of Democracy in the United States. Architecture of a Totalitarian Police State. globalresearch.ca The United States has erected the legal and institutional architecture of a totalitarian police state. | Institutionally, the national security autocracy has merged with the military, law enforcement and a vast private intelligence network to create a massive physical apparatus of …

Binoy Kampmark (2020-08-29). Waiting for the Old Bailey: Julian Assange and Britain's Judicial Establishment. dissidentvoice.org On September 7, Julian Assange will be facing another round of gruelling extradition proceedings, in the Old Bailey, part of a process that has become a form of gradual state-sanctioned torture. The US Department of Justice hungers for their man. The UK prison authorities are doing little to protect his health. The end result, should …

_____ (2020-08-29). Assange 'In A Lot Of Pain' Says Partner After Prison Visit. popularresistance.org Julian Assange's partner has visited him in prison for the first time in almost six months, and said he looked much thinner than last time she saw him. | Stella Moris took the couple's two young children to meet their father, who is being held in Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, awaiting an extradition hearing on behalf of the United States government. | Ms Moris and the WikiLeaks founder had to wear face masks and visors for the 20-minute meeting and were not allowed to touch each other. "We had to keep social distancing and Julian was told he would have to self-isolate for two weeks if he touched the child…

WSWS (2020-08-29). Labor MP denounces Australian government's refusal to defend Julian Assange. wsws.org Labor parliamentarian Julian Hill could just as well have condemned his own party's refusal to oppose the unprecedented persecution of the WikiLeaks publisher.

_____ (2020-08-29). Venezuela: Aggression In October? popularresistance.org A US-sponsored military aggression against Venezuela could take place before the November 3 elections in that country. On August 22, Admiral Remigio Ceballos, chief of the strategic operational command of the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB), said that "The international intelligence agencies allied to Venezuela inform us that Colombia is preparing an aggression, and the FANB will respond with force and forcefulness to any aggression against the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela, under the command of our Commander in Chief Nicolas Maduro Moros". Coinciding with this, they met in Bogotá with Presiden…

WSWS (2020-08-29). Bipartisan Australian move to ban agreements with China. wsws.org The bill was announced amid bellicose anti-China speeches by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and an accompanying media witch hunt.

WSWS (2020-08-28). Julian Assange receives first visitors in six months: "He is in a lot of pain" wsws.org The visit has underscored the brutal conditions in which Assange is imprisoned and has sparked renewed fears that his health is continuing to deteriorate.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-28). Reporters Without Borders petition against Assange's extradition, raise concern over his health. peoplesdispatch.org Reporters Without Borders has called on the British government to respect press freedom and human rights in Assange's trial and not comply with the US extradition request…

CounterSpin (2020-08-28). Phyllis Bennis on Foreign Policy Visions. fair.org Media…

_____ (2020-08-28). Scheer Intelligence: The Revolt Of The Black Athlete. popularresistance.org Howard Bryant is a senior writer for ESPN.com and appears regularly on the sports network and NPR. His most recent book "The Heritage: Black Athletes, A Divided America, and the Politics of Patriotism" is about the responsibility often placed upon professional black athletes from Jackie Robinson to LeBron James to be role models for social justice. In their conversation, Bryant tells host Robert Scheer that black athletes often come up against the conflict between their corporate sponsors and their desire for social justice and action.

WSWS (2020-08-28). New Zealand: Christchurch terrorist jailed for life. wsws.org There are many unanswered questions about how fascist gunman Brenton Tarrant was able to carry out his attack without being stopped by the police or intelligence agencies.

Robert Fantina (2020-08-28). Will Trump Pardon Edward Snowden? globalresearch.ca The name 'Edward Snowden' represents different things to different people. For those interested in government transparency and the rule of law, he is a hero, a man who initially tried to go through the 'proper' channels to publicize …

WSWS (2020-08-27). Free Julian Assange! Defend Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden! wsws.org The SEP's recent National Congress committed to "intensifying the fight for the unconditional freedom of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange" and the defence of all persecuted journalists and whistleblowers.

Gareth Porter (2020-08-27). After Beirut Blast, Israel Revives Tales of Hezbollah Ammonium Nitrate Terror Plots. globalresearch.ca Israeli intelligence is polishing off a dubious propaganda campaign to suggest Hezbollah was to blame for the recent catastrophe in Beirut. But the factual record either contradicts Israeli claims or reveals a complete dearth of evidence. | *** | Israeli officials have …

Tony Cartalucci (2020-08-27). Spies or Journalists? Western Media Deliberately Covers Up US Meddling in Thailand. globalresearch.ca The Western media functions more as lobbyists or even foreign intelligence agencies rather than real journalists by deliberately omitting facts, fabricating others, and all to ensure maximum momentum of what is verified US political interference in a foreign country. | ***…

Scott Ritter (2020-08-27). US Is Willing to Dismantle the UN Security Council to Put Pressure on Iran. globalresearch.ca In a world where American exceptionalism and unilateralism has become common currency, the brazenness of Secretary of State Pompeo's bid to impose "snap back" inspections of Iran takes the cake. Moreover, it's doomed to fail. | When it comes to …

yenisafak (2020-08-27). Putin says alleged mercenaries were lured to Belarus by foreign spy operation. yenisafak.com President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a group of Russians who were detained in Belarus prior to its Aug. 9 election and accused of being mercenaries had been lured to Belarus by a Ukrainan-U.S. intelligence operation.Belarus had accused the men of seeking to destabilise the country ahead of its election, marking an unusual diplomatic row with close ally Russia. At the time, Russia had said the men were private security workers on their way to a third country."These people, I repeat, were travelling for work to a third country. They were lured there, dragged across the border… It was an operation of Ukr…

yenisafak (2020-08-27). US' Pompeo pays surprise visit to Oman. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Oman Thursday for an unannounced stopover."Arrived in Oman and will meet with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said," Pompeo wrote on his Twitter account.Before Oman, Pompeo paid a visit Israel, Sudan, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during his Mideast tour."I look forward to discussing efforts to build unity among the Gulf Cooperation Council and build on the momentum to advance regional peace and prosperity," Pompeo added.Although his visit was not announced by the State Department, some media reports revealed that Pompeo is visiting two countries within…

Caitlin Johnstone (2020-08-26). Reminder: The US Empire Tortures Journalists And Whistleblowers. thealtworld.com Julian Assange's partner Stella Moris was able to visit him with their children at Belmarsh prison for the first time since March of this year, and reports that his physical condition has deteriorated noticeably since that time. | "He was wearing a yellow armband to indicate his level of prisoner status, and you could see how thin his arms were," Moris "Moris said her partner is still suffering from a frozen shoulder, and had recently sprained h…

Melvin Goodman (2020-08-26). The USA: Global Leader in Election Interference Abroad and Now at Home. counterpunch.org Putin's impact on the election is modest compared to the damage that Trump and Republican legislators throughout the country can inflict. Voter suppression remains a huge problem, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court decision in 2013 to weaken the Voting Rights Act. The campaign against mail-in voting is creating uncertainty and cynicism throughout the country as is Trump's constant ravings about vote by mail causing a fraudulent election.

Stephen Lendman (2020-08-26). Did Pompeo Breach the Hatch Act and State Department Regulations? globalresearch.ca On Tuesday, Pompeo addressed the Republican National Convention from Jerusalem, his remarks prerecorded. See below on what he said. | *** | Was his unprecedented act by a US secretary of state unlawful? | According to the 1939 Hatch Act, US executive branch …

Julia Conley, staff writer (2020-08-26). Amid Pandemic, Trump Petitions Supreme Court to Make Potential Covid-19 Exposure 'the Price of Abortion Care'. commondreams.org Potentially exposing patients to Covid-19 risks in the interest of violating the constitutional right to seek an abortion, President Donald Trump on Wednesday petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a rule requiring patients to see a doctor in person before obtaining a medication used to provide abortion care. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/web20-mifepristone-wordpress-1110×740-1-1000×666.jpg

WSWS (2020-08-26). Who are the Republican spymasters and war criminals who have endorsed Biden? wsws.org Republican former security officials, virtually all of whom were involved in war crimes and domestic spying, have announced that they will be voting for the Democratic presidential nominee.

Binoy Kampmark (2020-08-26). Hymn for a Broken Empire: Republican National Security Officials for Biden. dissidentvoice.org If fodder is needed for the argument that a Deep State is running wild and determined to depose President Donald J. Trump, this will surely help. In a statement by self-titled "former Republican National Security Officials", a hand-on-heart allegiance is made to Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. The authors are intent on moving the incumbent …

Patrick Martin (2020-08-26). The CIA Democrats in the 2020 Elections. More Military-Intelligence and FBI Candidates. globalresearch.ca In the course of the 2018 elections, a large group of former military-intelligence operatives entered capitalist politics as candidates seeking the Democratic Party nomination in 50 congressional seats—nearly half the seats where the Democrats were targeting Republican incumbents or open …

Shane Quinn (2020-08-26). Beijing's Decades-long Policies in Xinjiang, CIA Interference, Funding of Separatist and Terrorist Groups. globalresearch.ca Central to China's rise as a global power are the attempts to increase its influence over Xinjiang, the country's biggest and most mineral rich region. Xinjiang has been part of Chinese territory since the mid-18th century, longer than the existence …

_____ (2020-08-26). Trump and Pompeo Craft No-Win Solutions for the World. strategic-culture.org You have to hand it to the sociopaths running U.S. foreign policy, they are very adept at creating no-win scenarios for their opponents. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was just handed a major defeat at the United Nations Security Council, who voted down a resolution to extend the arms embargo against Iran. | That embargo is set to expire in October as part of the U.S. unilaterally pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known colloquially as the Iran Nuclear Deal. | But Pompeo and President Trump only wanted that vote, in my opinion, to force out into the open their ability to impose the 's…

yenisafak (2020-08-26). Pompeo, Emirati officials discuss ceasefire in Libya and Gulf unity. yenisafak.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Emirati officials discussed on Wednesday regional and bilateral issues, including a lasting ceasefire in Libya, Gulf unity and Iran's "malign influence" in the region, a statement from a spokesperson of U.S. State Department said.Pompeo met the United Arab Emirates' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.

yenisafak (2020-08-26). Pompeo in UAE says hopeful to build on UAE-Israel accord momentum. yenisafak.com U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a short visit to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday as part of a Middle East tour following a U.S.-brokered deal on normalising relations between Israel and the UAE announced on Aug. 13."Excited to arrive in the United Arab Emirates and congratulate the Emirati people on the historic Abraham Accords— the most significant step toward peace in the Middle East in over 25 years. Hopeful we will‚ÄØ build on this momentum towards regional peace," Pompeo said on Twitter, referring to the UAE-Israel agreement aimed at normalising relations.Pompeo visited…