2021-02-09: News Headlines

Alan Macleod (2021-02-09). Facebook Hires NATO Press Officer Ben Nimmo as Intelligence Chief. mintpressnews.com It is now difficult to distinguish where the deep state ends and the fourth estate begins and Ben Nimmo's move from NATO to NATO-aligned think tank to Facebook is just another example of this phenomenon.

John Whitehead (2021-02-09). Don't Impeach Trump. Impeach the Deep State for Its Conspiracy to Kill the Constitution. mintpressnews.com Impeaching Trump will accomplish very little, and it will not in any way improve the plight of the average American. It will only reinforce the spectacle and farce that have come to be synonymous with politics today.

MEE staff (2021-02-09). UN experts call on Israel to stop torture, inhuman treatment of Palestinians. middleeasteye.net UN experts call on Israel to stop torture, inhuman treatment of Palestinians | Panel of rights experts said Israel was using a 'grave loophole within the Israeli judicial system' to defend its use of torture | Tue, 02/09/2021 – 18: 13 | Arbeed was detained in 2019, and after being subjected to interrogation by Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence service, he suffered from kidney failure and broken ribs (AFP…

_____ (2021-02-09). Press Freedom Groups Call On DOJ To Drop Assange Charges. popularresistance.org The letter comes just days before the United States' deadline to appeal the ruling in Julian Assange's extradition hearing. On January 4, British Judge Vanessa Baraitser blocked Assange's extradition last month on medical grounds, and the U.S. announced its intent to appeal that decision. It has until February 12 to file its appeal. | The New York Times' Charlie Savage writes, "The litigation deadline may force the new administration to confront a decision: whether to press on with the Trump-era approach to Mr. Assange, or to instead drop the matter."

yenisafak (2021-02-09). Third round of Libya constitutional talks starts in Egypt. yenisafak.com A third round of Libya's dialogue on the constitutional track kicked off in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Hurghada on Tuesday, days after the election of a new interim authority in the war-torn country. | Egypt's intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and the recently-appointed UN Special Envoy on Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission (UNSMIL), Jan Kubis, addressed the opening session. | "The Libyan Constitutional Committee will discuss arrangements for holding a popular referendum on a new constitution," committee member Naema Elhammi told Anadolu Agency. | She said the committee meetings will continue for th…

RT (2021-02-09). Fox News moves to dismiss Smartmatic $2.7 billion defamation suit, blasts as 'meritless'. rt.com Fox News is pushing back against a lawsuit from voting firm Smartmatic, which goes after the network and specific hosts, including the recently canceled Lou Dobbs, for pushing election-fraud conspiracy theories. | Others cited in the lawsuit for tying Smartmatic to alleged election fraud are Jeanine Pirro and Maria Bartiromo. The company takes umbrage with everything from being tied to foreign nations to reports it was used across the country when it was only used in Los Angeles County. | Fox News has now filed a motion in New York Supreme Court, defending themselves under the First Amendment and using former…

Ralph Nader (2021-02-09). Democrats Disarm Themselves Before Trump's Senate Impeachment Trial. zcomm.org If the Democrats do not go full throttle in this trial — this last clear chance to exercise the Constitution against Tyrant Trump — they will be remembered as profiles of infamy…

Katz JN, Arant KR, Loeser RF. (2021-02-09). Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis. jamanetwork.com This narrative review summarizes the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee, including use of structured exercise, acetaminophen and NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and surgery to manage symptoms.

Mueller S, Winzer EB, Duvinage A, et al. (2021-02-09). Intensity of Physical Activity and Peak Oxygen Consumption in Patients With Heart Failure. jamanetwork.com This randomized trial compares the effects of high-intensity interval training, moderate continuous training, and guideline-based physical activity on change in peak oxygen consumption (VÃáo2) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Andrew Emett (2021-02-08). Democratic legislators introduce COVID Whistleblower Protection Act. nationofchange.org The bill seeks to institute stronger legal whistleblower protections for employees who work for entities that receive COVID-19 relief funds…

_____ (2021-02-08). Haiti: Protesters Demand President Moise Steps Down. popularresistance.org Amid ongoing protests, the diaspora watched as journalists reported the arrest of a Supreme Court justice and a police inspector in Haiti on Feb. 7, the day opposition leaders, civil society and human rights groups say President Jovenel Moise should step down. | During the week leading up to Feb. 7, politicians and civil society groups from throughout the diaspora called for U.S. intervention, some citing the need to convene dialogue, while others called for a transitional government. The U.S. State Department has stated that Moise's term ends in February 2022 and has called for elections this year, despite wides…

_____ (2021-02-08). The Foreign Roots Of Haiti's 'Constitutional Crisis'. popularresistance.org As per usual, news on Haiti in the United States remains limited, except for during periods of "crisis." As if on cue, U.S. media began reporting on Haiti's "constitutional crisis" this week. | Sunday, February 7 is the end of Haitian President Jovenel MoàØse's term, according to the constitution. He refuses to step down. This week, the opposition called for a two-day general strike, uniting around a transition with the head of Haiti's Supreme Court stepping in. | Most reporting failed to note the international role, and particularly that of the United States, in creating this "crisis." And nearly all focu…

Jameel Jaffer (2021-02-08). Why the Biden DOJ Should Drop All Charges Against Julian Assange. commondreams.org A successful prosecution of the Wikileaks' founder and publisher would have far-reaching implications both for national security journalists and for the news organizations that publish their work. This isn't an accident. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/assange_attack_on_journalism_greenwald_0_0.jpg

RT (2021-02-08). Biden is 'absolutely right' that Trump cannot be trusted with classified briefings, says Obama's spymaster Clapper. rt.com Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is throwing his weight behind an argument President Joe Biden made last week, saying Donald Trump cannot be trusted with classified information now that he's out of office. | Asked what his "fear" is if Trump continues to receive intelligence briefings, which are typically given to former leaders, Clapper told CNN's New Day Trump has "demonstrated a disdain for both the substance of intelligence as well as its protection." | The former intelligence official then accused the former president of "weaponizing" classified material in the past, as well as shar…

Brett Wilkins, staff writer (2021-02-08). Press Freedom Groups Urge Biden DOJ to Drop 'Disastrous' Charges Against Assange. commondreams.org "Now more than ever, it is crucial that we protect a robust and adversarial press," the letter states. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/assange_2.jpeg

Gordon Duff (2021-02-07). Intel Drop: The Truth Behind Red Don and his Duck Dynasty Warlords. thealtworld.com VT, the Senior Editor in consultation with intelligence operatives | Let me tell you a story: | What if Russia was helping Israel fight that war against Iran, but fight it inside Syria? | What if Russia were feeding attack information, tactical intelligence on Iran and Syria and even Hezbollah to Israel and even the US? | What if Russia, now that Biden is in, stands to make billions arming Iran with planes and other military technology, to stand against an Israel fully supported by Russia…against Iran? | With up to 200,000 Duck Dynasty warriors armed to the teeth in America, many active duty military and servin…

_____ (2021-02-07). Why Israel Is Joining The Pentagon's 'Arab NATO'. popularresistance.org With none of the usual fanfare associated with such a momentous decision, the Pentagon announced last month a major reorganisation to bring Israel – for the first time – inside its military command in the Middle East alongside the Arab states. | Until now, Israel has belonged to the US military's European command, or Eucom, rather than the Middle Eastern one, known as Central Command, or Centcom. The decision effectively jettisoned the traditional wisdom that Israel's inclusion in Centcom would increase friction between the US and Arab states, and would make the latter more reluctant to share intelligence or coop…

yenisafak (2021-02-07). Bomb blast kills at least 12 in central Somalia. yenisafak.com The attack, which wounded several others, targeted the vehicle of Abdirashid Abdi Qooje as it passed through the village of Eldhere 30 kilometers (18 miles) west of Dhusamareb, the administrative capital of Galmudug State. Qooje was the head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency in Dhusamareb.Speaking to Anadolu Agency, security officials in the region confirmed the attack and number of casualties on condition of anonymity."A military vehicle carrying Dhusamareb intelligence chief Abdirashid Abdi Qooje, was attacked while traveling between Eldhere and Guriel town, killing him and 11 of his bodyguards,"

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-07). Iraqi forces arrest 13 ISIL terrorists in Baghdad. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 07 (MNA) — The Iraqi intelligence agency announced on Sunday that 13 ISIL terrorist elements have been arrested in Baghdad.

RT (2021-02-06). Splintered SCOTUS gives California churches partial win, rules state can't ban indoor services, but can limit capacity over Covid. rt.com In a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court denied California's ban on indoor church services, but did say the state has the right to limit capacity to 25 percent amid the Covid-19 pandemic. | Religious organizations have been battling with California for months now, as the state's lockdown restrictions have meant that indoor services have been banned across most of the state — a move that has drawn criticism, in particular, because Hollywood productions have been allowed to move forward. | The Supreme Court ruled late Friday night in two cases where churches were suing the state over indoor-services bans, but it…

Mehr News Agency (2021-02-06). Iraqi forces could seize ISIL ammunition, explosives. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Feb. 06 (MNA) — Iraqi intelligence service said in a statement that Iraqi forces were able to identify and confiscate the main warehouse of ammunition and explosives belonging to ISIL terrorist groups in west part of Iraq.

RT (2021-02-06). 'He might slip and say something': Biden thinks Trump should be denied traditional intel briefings for former presidents. rt.com US President Joe Biden has said that his predecessor Donald Trump is too "erratic" to be entrusted with classified information that is being traditionally provided to former presidents. | Biden was asked by Norah O'Donnell on CBS News whether Trump should get classified intelligence briefings. The president replied: "I think not." | Providing Trump with classified intelligence would be a bad idea "because of his erratic behavior, unrelated to the insurrection," Biden added, referring to the storming of the US Capitol building in Washington by a group of Trump supporters on January 6. | I just think that there…

Steve Poikonen (2021-02-06). [83.2] Free Assange Vigil w/ Lucas Waggoner. slownewsdayshow.com [83.2] Free Assange Vigil w/ Lucas Waggoner |

sputniknews (2021-02-06). Officials to Determine Trump's Access to Intel Briefings, White House Says. sputniknews.com President Joe Biden said that the former commander-in-chief should not be provided access to US intelligence briefings because of his "erratic behavior". Former American leaders have been granted access to classified information on major policy issues.