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John Kerry Admits Syrian Rebels Could Have Chemical Weapons

"Kerry said UN inspectors must be on the ground no later than November, while the destruction of chemical weapons must be completed by the middle of 2014. 'Providing this framework is fully implemented it can end the threat these weapons pose not only to the Syrian people but also their neighbors,' Kerry said adding that Russian and US teams of experts had reached 'a shared assessment' of the existing stockpile and that Syria must destroy all of its weapons. It was possible that the Syrian rebels have some chemical weapons, he acknowledged." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJohn Kerry Admits Syrian Rebels Could Have Chemical Weapons

Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri calls for U.S. attacks and economic boycott

"'We should bleed America economically by provoking it to continue in its massive expenditure on its security, for the weak point of America is its economy, which has already begun to stagger due to the military and security expenditure,' Zawahiri said according to the SITE translation. 'And keeping America in tension and anticipation only costs a few disparate attacks here and there, meaning as we defeated it in the gang warfare in Somalia, Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan, so we should follow it with that war on its own land,' he added." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAl-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri calls for U.S. attacks and economic boycott

U.S. Drones Double Tap, Targeting Rescuers

"The U.S. use of drones in the 'war on terror' includes what is called a 'double tap,' meaning sending a second drone to the same area, in what amounts to targeting rescuers who are responding to the first attack. This isn’t new, not the action nor the reporting. What does it tell us, that 'double tapping' continues, about the decisions of the Obama administration, and the reactions, or lack thereof, from the U.S. public? Michael Kelly’s conclusion that the fact that double tapping 'is now normalized as a common tactic of the U.S. drone war is stunning' seems accurate to me. But I’m also not stunned that more people aren’t stunned by this 'normalcy.'" Continue reading →

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Nobel laureates urge end to Syria hospital attacks

"'Systematic assaults on medical professionals, facilities and patients are breaking Syria’s health-care system and making it nearly impossible for civilians to receive essential medical services,' they said in an open letter. The letter described the attacks as 'deliberate and systematic…. (and) an unconscionable betrayal of the principle of medical neutrality.' 'We call on the Syrian government and all armed parties to refrain from attacking hospitals, ambulances, medical facilities and supplies, health professionals and patients; allow access to treatment for any patient; and hold perpetrators of such violations accountable according to internationally recognised legal standards,' it said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNobel laureates urge end to Syria hospital attacks

A Rogue State and Failed Social Visions

"We are always getting New Freedoms, New Frontiers, Fair Deals, New Deals, Square Deals, Wars on Drugs, Wars to End All Wars, Wars to Make the World Safe for Democracy, Global Wars on Terror, and Wars on Poverty. We are always getting social visions enacted with names like Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Defense of Marriage Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and the Iraq Liberation Act. There’s no getting around it. The U.S. is a rogue state domestically as well as in its international affairs. These are two sides of the same belief system." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA Rogue State and Failed Social Visions

Russian lawmaker charged with racism over ‘Obama banana’ image

"A pro-Kremlin lawmaker and former Olympic gold medallist faced a racism row Saturday after she posted a photo-collage of President Barack Obama juxtaposed with a banana on Twitter. Irina Rodnina posted on Twitter a photomontage that purports to show Obama and his wife gazing at a hand in the foreground holding up a banana. After the post sparked a storm of disgust on Saturday, Rodnina deleted the message, but insisted she believed she had done nothing wrong. 'Freedom of speech is freedom of speech! Deal with your hangups yourself,' she wrote defiantly on Twitter, saying the post had boosted her rating." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRussian lawmaker charged with racism over ‘Obama banana’ image

Arming Terrorists and Disarming Americans

"The Obama administration’s plan to provide small arms to the Syrian Rebels was approved by Congress. Good luck finding the transcripts of these committee meetings though… they were classified. When asked about the Senate Intelligence Committee’s vote to arm the rebels, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the committee chair, responded 'It’s classified.' (Which is a polite way of saying ‘it’s none of your business’) That’s right. Dianne Feinstein — the author of the 'Assault Weapons' Ban – doesn’t believe that the American people have a right to know who the government is giving small arms to. That oversight requirement apparently only should apply to American citizens." Continue reading →

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Report: Half of Syrian rebels are hardline jihadists or Al-Qaeda operatives

"Of the rebel forces, IHS Jane’s estimates that around 10,000 are jihadists fighting for groups linked to Al-Qaeda and another 30,000 to 35,000 are hardline Islamists, who differ from jihadists in that they are concentrated only on the Syrian conflict, and not on the global Islamist fight. 'The insurgency is now dominated by groups which have at least an Islamist viewpoint on the conflict,' Charles Lister, author of the analysis, told the British newspaper. 'The idea that it is mostly secular groups leading the opposition is just not borne out. [..] If the West looks as though it is not interested in removing Assad, moderate Islamists are also likely to be pushed further towards extremists,' he warned." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingReport: Half of Syrian rebels are hardline jihadists or Al-Qaeda operatives

Syria rebel chief rejects U.S.-Russia chemical weapons deal

"Syria’s rebel Free Syrian Army chief rejected Saturday a US-Russian deal to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons by mid-2014. 'We cannot accept any part of this initiative,' General Selim Idriss told reporters in Istanbul. He preceded that by saying: 'We in the Free Syrian Army are unconcerned by the implementation of any part of the initiative… I and my brothers in arms will continue to fight until the regime falls.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSyria rebel chief rejects U.S.-Russia chemical weapons deal