War & Peace

‘Campaign to Stop Killer Robots’ calling for ban on ‘fully autonomous weapons’

"The idea of autonomous killer robots may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but human rights groups are already preparing for what appears to be the future of weaponry. The Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, a coalition of international groups, is preparing for a global summit in Geneva Switzerland on Wednesday, May 29 that will review a U.N. report on these types of weapons that was released earlier this week. The Campaign hopes to convince nations to sign on to an international ban on autonomous weapons." Continue reading →

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Federal appeals court rules bin Laden death photos can remain classified

"A US appeals court ruled Tuesday that the federal government is not required to release photos that were taken of Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden after he was killed by special forces. The Al-Qaeda leader was slain at his Pakistani compound in May 2011 by US Navy SEAL commandos, who took pictures of their target’s corpse in order to confirm the success of their mission. In a 14 page opinion, the judges wrote that The Central Intelligence Agency had refused to release the photos 'on the ground that the images were classified Top Secret. We affirm because the images were properly classified and hence are exempt from disclosure,' they ruled." Continue reading →

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Japan rejecting Osaka mayor’s view that ‘Comfort Women’ were ‘necessary’

"A large majority of Japanese people disagree with a high-profile politician who said women forced to provide sex during World War II were a military necessity, polls issued on Monday said. Up to 200,000 'comfort women' from Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere were forcibly drafted into brothels catering to the Japanese military during WWII, according to mainstream historians. Outspoken Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto said last week these women served a 'necessary' role keeping soldiers in line, sparking outrage in China and South Korea and inviting US criticism." Continue reading →

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Michael Scheuer: As scandals deepen, Obama and Republicans will intervene in Syria

"Obama’s diversionary campaign — obscure impeachable offenses by launching an unnecessary war — will be abetted by Senators McCain, Graham, Lieberman, and dozens of other U.S. Senators and Congressman intent on war with Syria. Obama will use these useful idiots to convince the American people of three bipartisan lies: that (a) genuine U.S. interests are at risk in Syria; (b) Americans 'owe' the Syrian people U.S. dollars and blood to stop their suffering in a war they started; and that (c) Americans 'must' expend their dollars and kids to staunch the anarchy spreading in the Levant in order to protect our 'loyal and indispensable ally Israel.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: As scandals deepen, Obama and Republicans will intervene in Syria

Pilotless Planes, Pacific Tensions

"This week the Navy will launch an entirely autonomous combat drone — without a pilot on a joystick anywhere — off the deck of an aircraft carrier, the George H. W. Bush. The drone will then try to land aboard the same ship, a feat only a relatively few human pilots in the world can accomplish. This exercise is the beginning of a new chapter in military history: autonomous drone warfare. But it is also an ominous turn in a potentially dangerous military rivalry now building between the United States and China. To offset China’s numerical advantage and technological advances, the United States Navy is betting heavily on drones." Continue reading →

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From Petrodollar To Petrogold: The US Is Now Trying To Cut Off Iran’s Access To Gold

"The US is moving to broaden its 'blockade' efforts of Iran to the movement of pure gold into the Islamic Republic. The US-led embargo of Iranian crude succeeded in slowing the flow of petrodollars into the nation but as Foreign Affairs committee chairman Edward Cohen remarked, there is 'no question that there is gold going from Turkey to Iran.' While the official line from US elite such as Bernanke remains that 'gold is not money' it appears that increasingly other nations would disagree, as Cohen admitted, 'in large measure what we're seeing is private Iranian citizens buying gold as a protection against the falling value of Iran's currency.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrom Petrodollar To Petrogold: The US Is Now Trying To Cut Off Iran’s Access To Gold

Benghazi: Who Cares?

"In Libya, the media has gotten side tracked on a potentially sensational Obama administration cover up—no matter how minor—instead of asking the more important questions: 'Would U.S. diplomats have been killed if the United States had not overthrown Muammar Gaddafi and destabilized Libya?' or 'Did the U.S. military intervention destabilize the entire region by unleashing Gaddafi’s huge weapon stocks and fighters into places like Mali?' Bloodthirsty Republicans, such as John McCain and Lindsay Graham, don’t want to ask these questions, because it would undermine the rationale for their zealous advocacy of an ill-advised American intervention in Libya." Continue reading →

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Ron Paul: What No One Wants to Hear About Benghazi

"Neither side wants to talk about the real lesson of Benghazi: interventionism always carries with it unintended consequences. The US attack on Libya led to the unleashing of Islamist radicals in Libya. These radicals have destroyed the country, murdered thousands, and killed the US ambassador. Some of these then turned their attention to Mali which required another intervention by the US and France. Previously secure weapons in Libya flooded the region after the US attack, with many of them going to Islamist radicals who make up the majority of those fighting to overthrow the government in Syria." Continue reading →

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U.S. pilot found living in Vietnam village 44 years after being declared MIA

"A Canadian documentarian says in a new film that an elderly man he found living in a remote Vietnamese village is former U.S. Army Green Beret Sgt. John Hartley Robertson, who was presumed dead 44 years ago. According to The Independent, filmmaker Michael Jorgensen claims that the man found in a village in South Vietnam can’t remember the English language or the names of his wife and children, but that he is the U.S. veteran whose helicopter was shot down in 1968." Continue reading →

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‘Flaky’ Syrian Chemical Weapons Evidence Does Not Deter Neo-Cons

"Case in point is today's NY Times op-ed by Bill Keller -- the same Bill Keller who cheered for the 2003 US war on Iraq, defended the lies of media-Goebbels Judith Miller, and wrote a love note to neo-con prince Paul Wolfowitz, calling him the 'Sunshine Warrior'. In today's piece, Keller tells us to ignore the fact that he helped lie us into war with Iraq, blithely calling it 'our ill-fated adventure,' as if it were some sort of Sunday drive gone wrong. Best to forget the millions whose lives have been destroyed in the war he pushed -- because he is back without shame to promote the next one." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Flaky’ Syrian Chemical Weapons Evidence Does Not Deter Neo-Cons