War & Peace

5 Myths Used to Justify Death By Drone and America’s Assassination Policy

"America’s never-ending war on terrorism is almost always depicted in the mainstream media as a military and intelligence agency fight on a global battlefield. But it is also a propaganda war where the public is fed inaccuracies from Washington, especially when it comes to overseas killings by U.S. military drones. Here are five myths perpetuated by the military and its weapons makers that seek to make Americans feel good about drones and the White House’s policy of targeted assassinations." Continue reading →

Continue Reading5 Myths Used to Justify Death By Drone and America’s Assassination Policy

5 Myths Used to Justify Death By Drone and America’s Assassination Policy

"America’s never-ending war on terrorism is almost always depicted in the mainstream media as a military and intelligence agency fight on a global battlefield. But it is also a propaganda war where the public is fed inaccuracies from Washington, especially when it comes to overseas killings by U.S. military drones. Here are five myths perpetuated by the military and its weapons makers that seek to make Americans feel good about drones and the White House’s policy of targeted assassinations." Continue reading →

Continue Reading5 Myths Used to Justify Death By Drone and America’s Assassination Policy

Paul Craig Roberts: Humanity Is Drowning In Washington’s Criminality

"Americans will soon be locked into an unaccountable police state unless US Representatives and Senators find the courage to ask questions and to sanction the executive branch officials who break the law, violate the Constitution, withhold information from Congress, and give false information about their crimes against law, the Constitution, the American people and those in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Guantanamo, and elsewhere. The US faces no threat that justifies the lawlessness and abuse of police powers that characterize the executive branch in the 21st century." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Craig Roberts: Humanity Is Drowning In Washington’s Criminality

Muslim Brotherhood supporters to intensify protests against ‘military tyranny’

"Egypt’s government says 525 people were killed and thousands wounded in the worst day of civil violence in the modern history of the most populous Arab state. International condemnation rained down on Cairo’s military-backed rulers for ordering the storming of protest camps, six weeks after the army overthrew the country’s first freely elected leader. U.S. President Barack Obama canceled plans for upcoming military exercises with the Egyptian army, which Washington funds with $1.3 billion in annual aid. Senior U.S. and European officials were in contact with Egypt’s rulers until the final hour, pleading with them not to order a military crackdown." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMuslim Brotherhood supporters to intensify protests against ‘military tyranny’

U.S. Pulls Out of Egypt’s Bright Star War Game Over Massacres

"President Obama on Thursday cancelled the U.S. military’s participation in next month’s Operation Bright Star in Egypt – a biennial training exercise with the Egyptian military – following Cairo’s brutal crackdown on opponents that left more than 500 dead the day before. Continuing the charade – that the U.S. needs to continue to cooperate with Egypt to improve things there – would have been bizarre. The notion that such military cooperation can give the U.S. influence over a foreign military is dubious, despite the $1.3 billion in military aid the U.S. gives to Egypt annually, a bounty for signing the Camp David accords with Israel in 1978." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Pulls Out of Egypt’s Bright Star War Game Over Massacres

John Grisham: After Guantánamo, Another Injustice

"Nabil has not been the only 'mistake' in our war on terror. Hundreds of other Arabs have been sent to Gitmo, chewed up by the system there, never charged and eventually transferred back to their home countries. There have been no apologies, no official statements of regret, no compensation, nothing of the sort. The United States was dead wrong, but no one can admit it. In Nabil’s case, the United States military and intelligence agents relied on corrupt informants who were raking in American cash, or even worse, jailhouse snitches who swapped false stories for candy bars, porn and sometimes just a break from their own beatings." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJohn Grisham: After Guantánamo, Another Injustice

Egypt closes Gaza border crossing indefinitely

"Egyptian authorities have closed the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip 'indefinitely' for security reasons after a day of deadly violence nationwide, a security official told AFP on Thursday. Hundreds of Palestinian travellers were left stranded on both sides of the crossing, the only gateway into the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory that bypasses Israel, witnesses said. The measure follows widespread unrest in Egypt on Wednesday after a bloody crackdown by security forces on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt closes Gaza border crossing indefinitely

Sky News cameraman Mick Deane killed in Cairo violence

"Mick Deane, 61, had worked for Sky for 15 years, based in Washington and then Jerusalem, the channel said. He previously worked for CNN, based in London and Rome. A Sky News team member told CNN that Deane was shot inside the Rabaa al-Adawiya camp, where security forces have been trying Wednesday to clear supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsy. 'Michael was about to lift the camera on his shoulder (when) a sniper from the other side opened fired and killed him instantly,' he said. 'The moment he lifted the camera he was shot dead by a sniper.' A Reuters photojournalist, Asmaa Waguih, was shot and wounded." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSky News cameraman Mick Deane killed in Cairo violence

Egypt’s ElBaradei: liberal with ‘troubled conscience’

"The ex-diplomat, UN executive and Nobel laureate turned liberal political leader stepped down after scores were killed in a crackdown by security forces on loyalists of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. 'It has become too difficult to continue bearing responsibility for decisions I do not agree with and whose consequences I fear,' ElBaradei said. Ahead of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, he won admiration around the world and infuriated Washington by challenging claims that Saddam Hussein was hiding a secret nuclear programme." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt’s ElBaradei: liberal with ‘troubled conscience’

White House says Egypt’s new regime is on the ‘wrong path’

"The White House once again avoided using the word 'coup' to describe the recent overthrow of president Morsi – a move which would trigger an automatic congressional ban on US aid to the Egyptian military. Washington has suspended a recent shipment of F16 jets and said it was re-assessing whether to restart its $1.3bn of military aid, but its fears that a permanent severing of aid risks removing the only leverage it has in restraining the generals. For the moment, the White House insists it is simply continuing to evaluate its support, while stepping up its threat to sever ties if the military does not change tack." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhite House says Egypt’s new regime is on the ‘wrong path’