Michael Scheuer: For Egypt’s Islamists war is a legitimate option

"What should concern Americans most about the near certainty of war in Egypt, and thus the broadening of the mujahedin’s overall war against the West, is whether Obama’s administration — in league with pro-Israel Republican and Democratic senators, Britain, and Israel — used its intelligence services to help the leaders of Egypt’s anti-democratic opposition to organize, fund, and train the democracy-killing forces that filled Cairo’s streets with demonstrations and prompted the Egyptian army to use that most democratic of all tools — a military coup." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: For Egypt’s Islamists war is a legitimate option

US Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

"Let’s review US policy toward Egypt to see the foolish hypocrisy of the government’s interventionism: First the US props up the unelected Hosni Mubarak for decades, spending tens of billions of dollars to keep him in power. Then the US provides assistance to those who in 2011 successfully overthrew Mubarak. Then the US demands an election. The Egyptians held an election that was deemed free and fair and shortly afterward the US-funded military overthrows the elected president. Then the US government warns the military that it needs to restore democracy – the very democracy that was destroyed by military coup! All this they do with a straight face.." Continue reading

Continue ReadingUS Egypt Policies Don’t Pass the Laugh Test

Catholic Priest Allegedly Beheaded in Syria by Al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels Who Take Pictures and Cheer

"The Catholic news service quotes local sources who report that the radical Al-Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, or Al-Nusra Front, was behind the savage killing. Dozens of men and boys are seen cheering on as three men are seated on the ground awaiting their grisly fate. The men are methodically beheaded one at a time by men holding what appears to be a simple kitchen knife after which the heads are placed on top of the bodies. A frenzy ensues, with dozens drawing out their smartphones to capture the bloody scene. Catholic Online is raising alarm that western nations are providing support to the rebels who have shown a proclivity toward persecuting Christians." Continue reading

Continue ReadingCatholic Priest Allegedly Beheaded in Syria by Al-Qaeda-Linked Rebels Who Take Pictures and Cheer

Obama and Israel Stoke a Sectarian Shia-Sunni War

"Obama is acting as an appendage of Israel. He does this by increasing arms shipments to rebels in Syria who are Sunnis. Islamist fighters are flooding into Syria, we read. Obama thereby rewards and encourages extreme religious sentiments, leading to religious conflicts. Moderate Muslims find that their nations are increasingly subject to the drives of the armed extremist contingents who become battle-hardened. Obama and Israel are lighting a keg of dynamite. It will explode in their faces. If enough extremist Muslims become armed and ready to fight, they will eventually turn on Israel." Continue reading

Continue ReadingObama and Israel Stoke a Sectarian Shia-Sunni War

US’s Man ElBaradei May Head Egypt

"So perhaps it will be ElBaradei after all ... He's been waiting in the wings and the failure of the Muslim Brotherhood's regime may now bring him to the fore. It also became clear to us over time that the West's surreptitious efforts in the Middle East were emplacing Islamic regimes. This became evident and obvious in Tunisia, The Ivory Coast, Libya, etc. But for whatever reason, Mohammed Mursi didn't work out. Now perhaps a technocrat will enter. ElBaradei is in favor of installing a US$5 billion IMF package, with its attendant austerity, according to this Reuters article. Was this the reason for Mursi's ouster? His lack of cooperation with the IMF?" Continue reading

Continue ReadingUS’s Man ElBaradei May Head Egypt

What’s Happening in Egypt?

"Former US Ambassador and neocon John Bolton has endorsed the Egyptian coup and the insightful libertarian Lew Rockwell believes nothing good can come of it for Egyptians. Below, we ask whether this is one of the greatest diplomatic reversals for the US in modern times ... then add in our conclusion that 'we don't know.' What seems fairly certain is that the Muslim Brotherhood would not have obtained power without US backing and now they are out of power. What takes place over the next few days and weeks should clarify this tale. We hope whatever happens will benefit Egyptians, who have seen nothing but bloody turmoil and despotism for decades." Continue reading

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When is a coup not a coup?

"Republicans also voiced strong support for Egypt’s military, whose close ties to Washington stretch back to the 1979 Israeli-Egypt peace accords. 'The Egyptian military has long been a key partner of the United States and a stabilizing force in the region, and is perhaps the only trusted national institution in Egypt today,' said U.S. Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House. 'Democracy is about more than elections,' he said." Continue reading

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Who is this that “Makes Nations Tremble”?

"Mr. Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush, had gone to the Tanzanian capital to commemorate the 15th anniversary of a terrorist bombing at the U.S. embassy. Just hours later, his administration quietly ordered two European countries – France and Portugal – to deny access to their airspace to a plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales home from Russia. This was a hijacking – an act of official terrorism committed against an elected head of state of a country with which the US is not at war. The President who authorized it commands a nuclear arsenal and routinely kills innocent people through remote-controlled drones." Continue reading

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Susan Rice for National Security Advisor?

"She and her husband have a net worth estimated at between $23.5 and $43.5 million. From October 1997 to January 2001, she was Bill Clinton's Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs. She supported Washington's imperial Afghan and Iraq wars. She urged longterm occupation. She endorsed imperial war on Libya. She falsified claims about Gaddafi forces committing mass rapes. She ignored Western-enlisted death squad atrocities. She's been silent about them throughout Obama's war on Syria. She blames Assad for Western imperial crimes. She asked for UN authorization to wage war. She favors partnering with Israel against Iran." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSusan Rice for National Security Advisor?

Missouri threatens return of gas chambers for death row inmates

"The state of Missouri is threatening to resurrect the use of the gas chamber for executions, as an alternative to its dwindling supply of lethal-injection drugs. Drugs companies in America, Europe and Asia have refused on ethical grounds to sell their products to corrections departments, and the European Commission has imposed tough restrictions on the export of anaesthetics to the US. As supplies became harder to procure, Missouri last year became the only state in the nation to turn to an execution protocol that used just one lethal injection, of the anaesthetic propofol in doses 15 times stronger than in usual surgical procedures." Continue reading

Continue ReadingMissouri threatens return of gas chambers for death row inmates