Alfred McCoy: The Future of the American Empire

"Alfred McCoy was a young rebel academic who waded into the war zone in Southeast Asia to investigate the relationship between the CIA, crime syndicates, and local drug lords. The result, which the Agency tried unsuccessfully to suppress, was his classic The Politics of Heroin: CIA Complicity in the Global Drug Trade. In the 45 years since, McCoy has consistently probed the underside of American global power, analyzing how the United States uses covert interventions, local proxies, torture, and worldwide surveillance to maintain its global empire."

Continue ReadingAlfred McCoy: The Future of the American Empire

US, S. Korea to stage massive air exercise in show of force against N. Korea

"The massive five-day annual exercise comes as Washington pushes what President Donald Trump has called a 'maximum pressure campaign' against Pyongyang over its nuclear programme. The exercise, named Vigilant Ace, starts on December 4 with 12,000 US personnel and an unspecified number of South Korean airmen flying more than 230 aircraft at eight US and South Korean military bases."

Continue ReadingUS, S. Korea to stage massive air exercise in show of force against N. Korea

Ron Paul: Why Designate North Korea a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?

"As bad as the North Korean government is, it is does not go abroad looking for countries to invade. The designation is a political one, allowing Washington to ramp up more aggression against North Korea. What is terrorism? Maybe we should ask a Yemeni child constantly wondering when the next Saudi bomb overhead might kill his family. Or perhaps we might even ask a Pakistani, Somali, Iraqi, Syrian, or other child who is terrified that the next US bomb will do the same to his family. Perhaps we need to look at whether US foreign policy actually reflects the American values we claim to be exporting before we point out the flaws in others."

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Why Designate North Korea a ‘State Sponsor of Terrorism’?

Pentagon to Admit to 2,000 Ground Troops in Syria

"US officials said on Friday that the Pentagon is expected to confirm concern that there are 'about 2,000' US ground troops in Syria, a major increase from the roughly 500 that they officially claim is the case. The US has overtly lied about troop levels in Syria consistently throughout their deployment. President Trump has made a point of troop levels needing to be kept secret from 'the enemy,' but consistent lies from the Pentagon about their deployments have made the figures less a closely guarded secret than a mockery of transparency."

Continue ReadingPentagon to Admit to 2,000 Ground Troops in Syria

Iran supreme leader is ‘new Hitler’ says Saudi crown prince

"Saudi Arabia’s crown prince this week called Iran’s supreme leader the 'new Hitler of the Middle East.' Salman also told The New York Times the war in Yemen was 'going in its favor.' The war, which has raged since 2015, has pitted a Saudi-led coalition backed by the U.S. against the Houthi rebels and forces loyal to Yemen’s ousted president. The war has left over 10,000 people dead, driven 3 million from their homes and destroyed the country’s already fragile infrastructure."

Continue ReadingIran supreme leader is ‘new Hitler’ says Saudi crown prince

Ron Paul: Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?

"We are told that US foreign policy should reflect American values. So how can Washington support Saudi Arabia – a tyrannical state with one of the worst human rights record on earth – as it commits by what any measure is a genocide against the Yemeni people? US involvement in Saudi Arabia’s crimes against Yemen is a national disgrace. That the mainstream media fails to accurately cover this genocide is shameful. Let us join our voices now to demand that our US Representatives end US involvement in Yemen immediately!"

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Why Are We Helping Saudi Arabia Destroy Yemen?

Saudi Arabia agrees to ease Yemen blockade, facing mass starvation warnings

"Around seven million people are living on the brink of famine and four million have no access to clean water. Save the Children estimates that even before the blockade began around 130 children were dying each day and that more than 50,000 will have died by the end of 2017. The Saudi-led military coalition has also been bombing the Houthis for more than two years in support of the internationally-recognised Yemeni government, but there is no end in sight to the fighting. Both the US and UK have supported the Saudi-led coalition with logistics and intelligence, despite accusations that the coalition was guilty of war crimes for bombing civilian targets."

Continue ReadingSaudi Arabia agrees to ease Yemen blockade, facing mass starvation warnings

James Corbett: The Saudi Purge is a Global Crisis

"The House of Saud is in crisis as MBS consolidates his hold on the kingdom and prepares to transform Saudi Arabia in his image. But what is behind the purge, and how does it relate to the future of the world monetary system. Join James for a classic Corbett Report debriefing on the Saudi purge and the rise of the petroyuan."

Continue ReadingJames Corbett: The Saudi Purge is a Global Crisis