Daily Archives: August 28, 2020

2020-08-28: News Headlines

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2020-08-28). Waiting for the Old Bailey: Julian Assange and Britain's Judicial Establishment. globalresearch.ca 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. …

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…

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…

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 …

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.

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

commondreams (2020-08-26). ACLU Comment on Trump Administration Petition To Supreme Court for Permission To Force Unnecessary Travel for Abortion Care During Pandemic. commondreams.org ______________________________…

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 …

WSWS (2020-08-26). Pompeo in Middle East to cement Israel-Gulf alliance against Iran. wsws.org Pompeo made it very clear who was the master in this relationship and that China's increasing trade and investment ties with Israel were unacceptable.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-08-26). UNSC rejects US demand for snapback sanctions against Iran. peoplesdispatch.org The admissibility of the notice submitted by Pompeo last week was questioned by 13 out of 15 members of the UNSC. Even US allies have pointed out that having left the deal in 2018, it cannot ask for sanctions…

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 …

sputniknews (2020-08-26). Key Takeaways from Day 2 of Republican National Convention. sputniknews.com A slew of issues pertaining to the economy, foreign policy and social matters were addressed by a broad lineup of speakers on the second night of the Republican National Convention, that included appearances by First Lady Melania Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

_____ (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…

Staff (2020-08-26). Pompeo's RNC Speech Violated His Own Ethics Guidelines for the State Department. truthout.org Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is facing the possibility of an investigation into his use of department resources for a political speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) on Tuesday night. | Pompeo,

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…

RT (2020-08-25). Iranian FM accuses Pompeo of 'lawless bullying' as UNSC president dismisses US push for sanctions 'snapback'. rt.com US efforts to trigger the return of UN sanctions on Iran have been dismissed by the president of the Security Council amid a lack of consensus among the body's 15 members. Iran's foreign minister said it shows the US is isolated.

yenisafak (2020-08-25). Pompeo flies to Sudan on 1st direct flight from Israel. yenisafak.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo flew from Israel to Sudan on Tuesday, in the first direct flight between Tel Aviv and Khartoum. | "Happy to announce that we are on the FIRST official NONSTOP flight from Israel to Sudan!" Pompeo said on Twitter. | According to The New York Times, the direct flight between Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport and Khartoum came as "Pompeo's plane obtained special permission". | In a statement, US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo will discuss with Sudanese Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok and Chairman of the Transitional Military Council Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan "continu…