Wednesday, February 28, 2018
The War Against Alternative Information
From the Archive: The State Department is reportedly spending $40 million to bolster the Global Engagement Center’s efforts to crack down on “foreign propaganda.” On this occasion we republish an article by Rick Sterling examining the motives behind this initiative…
California Dems Withhold Endorsement of Sen. Feinstein
California Democrats did not endorse longstanding Senator Dianne Feinstein for the upcoming primary election, setting the stage for a tough campaign against challengers such as California Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León, reports Dennis J Bernstein. By Dennis J…
Resisting Calls to ‘Do Something’ About Syria
A common refrain is that the West must “do something” to help Syria, but this is like arguing that the gasoline that was used to start a fire can also be used to extinguish it, explains Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin…
Monday, February 26, 2018
Who Benefits from Russia’s ‘Peculiar’ Doping Violations?
The Winter Olympics concluded with two Russian athletes testing positive for banned substances. But the doping would have made little sense in terms of gaining a competitive edge, leading Rick Sterling to wonder who benefits? By Rick Sterling Viewers of…
Growing Risk of U.S.-Iran Hostilities Based on False Pretexts, Intel Vets Warn
As President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, a group of U.S. intelligence veterans offers corrections to a number of false accusations that have been levelled against Iran. February 26, 2018 MEMORANDUM FOR: The President FROM: Veteran…
Saturday, February 24, 2018
First Impressions of Russia’s Upcoming Presidential Election
Despite the near certainty of Vladimir Putin’s reelection in the Russian presidential election next month, the campaign is nevertheless competitive with an array of choices, notes Gilbert Doctorow in this first of three articles on the election. By Gilbert Doctorow On…
The Mueller Indictments: The Day the Music Died
Exclusive: The FBI’s Russia indictments last week have whipped Democrats and the mainstream media into a frenzy but the “scandal” may be collapsing under its own weight, writes Daniel Lazare. By Daniel Lazare Fads and scandals often follow a set…
In Case You Missed…
Some of our special stories in January highlighted misrepresented historic events, analyzed shortcomings of the Democratic Party, and remembered Robert Parry’s legacy. “Giving War Too Many Chances” by Nicolas J.S. Davies, Jan. 3, 2018 “Missing the Trump Team’s Misconduct” by…
Thursday, February 22, 2018
My First Day as CIA Director
Former CIA analyst and founder of Veterans Intelligence Professionals for Sanity Ray McGovern, in this tongue-in-cheek article, outlines steps he would take on Day One as CIA Director to get to the bottom of Russiagate. By Ray McGovern Now that I…
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Billy Graham: An Old Soldier Fades Away
Evangelist Billy Graham, who counseled presidents and stirred controversy with inflammatory statements on gay rights, opposition to Martin Luther King’s tactics of civil disobedience, and support for U.S. wars, died Wednesday. Cecil Bothwell reflects here on his life and legacy.…
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
U.S. Empire Still Incoherent After All These Years
Exclusive: Without solid economic, political and ideological bases, the U.S. lacks the legitimacy and authority it needs to operate beyond its borders, argues Nicolas J.S. Davies in this essay. By Nicolas J.S. Davies I recently reread Michael Mann’s book, Incoherent…
How the Washington Post Missed the Biggest Watergate Story of All
The Watergate scandal may have been rooted in Richard Nixon’s alleged efforts to sabotage the 1968 Paris peace talks, but this story has never fully been told – partly because the Washington Post remained silent on it, explains Garrick Alder. By Garrick…
America’s Election Meddling Would Indeed Justify Other Countries Retaliating In Kind
Highlighting the U.S.’s long history in meddling in other countries’ elections is not “whataboutism,” but rather a highly germane point to understanding the context for the allegations of Russian meddling in Election 2016, Caitlin Johnstone observes. By Caitlin Johnstone There…
Monday, February 19, 2018
Mutually Assured Contempt at 2018 Munich Security Conference
The 2018 Munich Security Conference continued the trend of promoting a New Cold War while diplomats openly disparaged Russia and fretted over the Trump presidency, Gilbert Doctorow reports. By Gilbert Doctorow The annual Munich Security Conference is to geopolitics what…
Ignorance and Prejudice in Laura Ingraham’s Tiff With LeBron James
Laura Ingraham’s complaints over LeBron James’ political commentary – focusing on the grammar of his statements rather than their substance – reflects a general elitism in the pundit class, Andrew Spannaus observes. By Andrew Spannaus Is LeBron James ignorant? Laura…
Nunes: FBI and DOJ Perps Could Be Put on Trial
House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes has stated that “DOJ and FBI are not above the law,” and could face legal consequences for alleged abuses of the FISA court, reports Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern Throwing down the gauntlet on…
Sunday, February 18, 2018
A Crisis in Intelligence: Unthinkable Consequences of Outsourcing U.S. Intel (Part 3)
Privatized intelligence operations have become a favored practice of the U.S. and other Western governments, but the tactics of so-called spies for hire are often unethical and possibly illegal, explains George Eliason. By George Eliason Decades ago, philosopher Marshall McLuhan…
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Anti-Trumpists Use Mueller Indictments to Escalate Tensions With Nuclear-Armed Russia
Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s indictment of 13 alleged members of a Russian troll farm is leading to calls for escalation with Russia, exacerbating tensions that are already at historic – and dangerous – lows, observes Caitlin Johnstone. U.S. empire loyalists are so close…
Friday, February 16, 2018
Avoid The Pointless Heartache. If You Don’t Want To Get Married, Don’t Date.
Anxiety comes from the unknown, the ambiguous, and modern life — especially modern dating — is all about ambiguity. It's defined by its lack of definition. Nobody knows where they’re going, what they’re doing, or why they’re doing it. Continue reading →
The post Avoid The Pointless Heartache. If You Don’t Want To Get Married, Don’t Date. appeared first on The Matt Walsh Blog.
The One Single Person To Blame For The Florida School Shooting
We ask a million questions in the aftermath of the crime. But the one question we seem to avoid is the one that matters most: Why would a person choose to do something like this? Continue reading →
The post The One Single Person To Blame For The Florida School Shooting appeared first on The Matt Walsh Blog.
It’s Time To Put Armed Security In Every Public School In America
Why is this even a discussion? Why would any sane person oppose it? What exactly is the downside to having armed security in every public school in the country? Continue reading →
The post It’s Time To Put Armed Security In Every Public School In America appeared first on The Matt Walsh Blog.
This Is Not About Politics Or Policy. This Is Evil. And Evil Is Everywhere.
C.S. Lewis warned 70 years ago that we were heading toward a society of “men without chests” who lack a human conscience. I think we may have arrived. Continue reading →
The post This Is Not About Politics Or Policy. This Is Evil. And Evil Is Everywhere. appeared first on The Matt Walsh Blog.
Russians Spooked by Nukes-Against-Cyber-Attack Policy
New U.S. policy on nuclear retaliatory strikes for cyber-attacks is raising concerns in Moscow, with officials concerned that Russia has already been blamed for a cyber-attack for which it claims it’s not responsible – namely the election hacking allegations of 2016,…
NYT’s ‘Really Weird’ Russiagate Story
The Russiagate narrative has taken a turn toward the surreal with a report in the New York Times alleging that U.S. spies paid a “shadowy Russian” $100,000 for dirt on the president, explains Daniel Lazare By Daniel Lazare A Russian national with…
The Right’s Second Amendment Lies
In the wake of the latest gun massacre in the United States, we re-publish an article by Robert Parry debunking some of the right-wing myths about the Second Amendment that have prevented common sense gun laws. By Robert Parry (first published December…
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Vietnam’s Lessons and the U.S. Culture of Violence
In the wake of another deadly school shooting in Florida, the lessons of past massacres in Vietnam can teach us about U.S. violence and the need to reform unchecked gun culture, discusses Lawrence Davidson. By Lawrence Davidson Back in October,…
Korean Olympic Diplomacy Moves Forward Despite U.S. Intransigence
An interview by Dennis J. Bernstein with writer, activist and regional expert, Kay Jay Noh, about the big-power politics swirling around the Olympic Games now being held in South Korea. By Dennis J. Bernstein By many accounts, the Koreans –…
Iraq’s ‘Liberation Day’
Today is the 15-year anniversary of what was described as “the largest protest event in human history” – the Feb. 15, 2003 coordinated day of demonstrations against the imminent U.S. invasion of Iraq. On this occasion we republish an article…
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Honduras Nearing Ten Years of Stolen Elections, Neo-Colonial Rule
Despite an organized and active grassroots movement, Honduran politics have been repeatedly steamrolled by the self-interests of international ruling elites, as journalist and filmmaker Jesse Freeston explained to Dennis J. Bernstein. By Dennis J Bernstein For weeks following its stolen…
Regime Change Fails: Is A Military Coup or Invasion of Venezuela Next?
The U.S. has employed all of its regime change tools in Venezuela and although so far they have failed, there is still a chance that a military attack is in store, warn Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers. By Kevin Zeese and…
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Budget Woes Sign of a Dysfunctional Empire
The bloated military budget is justified on the assumption that the United States can and should police the entire world, but this approach is fundamentally unsustainable, warns Jonathan Marshall. By Jonathan Marshall President Donald Trump’s latest $4.4 trillion budget proposal…
Intel-for-Hire Undermines U.S. Intelligence (Part 2)
Intel-for-Hire is a multilayered phenomenon that’s undermining the integrity of U.S. intelligence, argues George Eliason. In this second installment, he looks at the second tier of this system. (Click here for part one.) By George Eliason In part one of this…
Monday, February 12, 2018
How Establishment Propaganda Gaslights Us Into Submission
“Gaslighting” can be an effective tactic to instill confusion and anxiety in people, causing them to doubt their own logical abilities, but it can be countered by remaining confident in our own judgments, argues Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone The…
Sunday, February 11, 2018
U.S. Intelligence Crisis Poses a Threat to the World
Privatized and politicized intelligence is undermining the mission of providing unbiased information to both high-level decision makers and the American public, explains George Eliason in this first of a three-part series. By George Eliason Back in 1991, during the dissolution of…
Donald Trump v. the Spooks
From the Archive: Just before Trump took office last year, ex-British intelligence officer Annie Machon wrote about the battle he was facing with U.S. intelligence agencies. As Russia-gate morphs into Intel-gate, we re-publish her prescient article today. By Annie Machon The clash…
Saturday, February 10, 2018
A Note to Our Readers
As Consortiumnews.com forges ahead with publishing incisive articles offering fresh takes on current events, we also continue to develop a long-term strategy to ensure that Robert Parry’s vision for independent journalism lives on. By Nat Parry For the past few…
Friday, February 9, 2018
U.S. Misses Opportunity for Korean Peace at Olympics
Despite President Moon’s efforts to encourage diplomacy, the childish anti-diplomatic behavior of Vice President Pence undermined an opportunity for peace diplomacy at the opening of the Olympic Games, writes Kevin Zeese. By Kevin Zeese President Moon Jae-in said at a…
‘This is Nuts’: Liberals Launch ‘Largest Mobilization in History’ in Defense of Russiagate Probe
Exclusive: Hundreds of thousands have pledged to take to the streets if Special Counsel Robert Mueller is removed, reflecting misplaced priorities and some fundamental misunderstandings, report Coleen Rowley and Nat Parry. By Coleen Rowley and Nat Parry With Democrats and…
Russiagate Narrative Undercut by Nunes Memo
The key allegations of election meddling at the heart of Russiagate continue to lack supporting evidence, while on the other hand, evidence of overreach by investigators undermines the narrative of Trump-Russia collusion, reports Philip Giraldi. By Philip Giraldi The so-called Nunes Memo prepared for…
Thursday, February 8, 2018
Syria’s White Helmets Go Global
I sat down with my coffee this beautiful Australian morning to watch two of my favorite independent media figures jam together in a Corbett Report interview of renowned independent investigative journalist Vanessa Beeley. About two-thirds of the way through, I nearly fell…
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Who is Containing Whom?
“Containment” has long been a cornerstone of U.S. policy in dealing with countries that are seen as threats to U.S. interests, but today some countries are applying the same principle to the United States, observes Graham E. Fuller. By Graham…
A Treacherous Crossing
Paul Ryan’s recent trip to the Gulf reiterated the U.S. government’s support of the Saudi-led assault on Yemen and a bellicose stance towards Iran, which has created a watershed of human suffering, writes Kathy Kelly. By Kathy Kelly On January…
No Time for Complacency over Korea War Threat
Although the North Korea crisis has largely faded from the headlines, the chances of war breaking out are still unacceptably high – requiring greater attention from both the peace movement and Congress, notes Jonathan Marshall. By Jonathan Marshall Like the…
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Did Al Qaeda Dupe Trump on Syrian Attack?
From the Archive: As the U.S. blames Damascus and Moscow for recent chlorine gas attacks in Syria, we re-publish a report by Robert Parry providing useful context regarding a chemical attack last April. By Robert Parry (first published Nov. 9,…
Understanding Russia, Un-Demonizing Putin
Since Vladimir Putin became president of Russia in 2000, there has been a steady barrage of negative press and hostility from the West. With Putin up for reelection this year, Sharon Tennison reflects on her personal experiences with him and tries…
Monday, February 5, 2018
Ten Commonsense Suggestions for Making Peace, Not War
President Trump’s first year in office brought an escalation of military aggression abroad as he built on the interventions of previous administrations, but there are steps America can take to move towards a more peaceful future, writes retired U.S. Air…
New U.S. Focus on Great Power Conflict and Nuclear Supremacy
Recent policy directives raise concerns over new U.S. postures towards great power conflicts and developing “tactical” nuclear weapons, underlining the need for a revival of the U.S. antiwar movement, write Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers. By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers…
Connecticut Court Decision Highlights U.S. Educational Failures
A recent court decision in Connecticut overturned a mandate that would have addressed inadequate education funding for poorer communities, a historic problem of the U.S. educational system, which relies on local resources instead of federal wealth, as Jonathan Kozol and…
‘Deep State’ Veterans find New Homes in Mainstream Media Outlets
NBC News’ hiring of former CIA Director John Brennan is the latest in a wave of intelligence community stalwarts being given jobs in the media, raising concerns over conflicts of interests, reports Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone “Former CIA director John…
Pawns in the Game: A Brief History of America and the Kurds
The Kurds find themselves caught in the middle of a power struggle between the U.S., Russia, Turkey, Iran and Syria — a familiar situation that follows decades of geopolitical strife in their region, explains Ted Snider. By Ted Snider The only thing…
Sunday, February 4, 2018
WMD Claims in Syria Raise Concerns over U.S. Escalation
Following a well-established script, anonymous U.S. officials are making unsubstantiated claims about weapons of mass destruction – this time in Syria – while the media fails to ask tough questions, reports Rick Sterling. By Rick Sterling It’s the WMD story…
Recipe Concocted for Perpetual War Is a Bitter One
Perpetual war is leading to a host of societal ills, yet debates on war and peace are almost entirely absent from public discourse, Robert Wing and Coleen Rowley observe. By Robert Wing and Coleen Rowley Last October marked the 16th…
Saturday, February 3, 2018
Do We Really Want Nuclear War with Russia?
From the Archive: With Moscow saying that U.S. proposals in its new Nuclear Posture Review to develop “tactical” nukes are “confrontational” and “anti-Russian,” we republish a 2016 article by Robert Parry. By Robert Parry (first published on Oct. 3, 2016)…
Biggest Nunes Memo Revelations Have Little To Do With Its Content
The most important revelations of the Nunes Memo relate not to its content, but the political establishment’s response to its release, argues Caitlin Johnstone. By Caitlin Johnstone It’s fitting that the ever-tightening repetitive loops of America’s increasingly schizophrenic partisan warfare…
‘Duck and Cover’ Drills Exacerbate Fears of N. Korea War
A recent false alarm in Hawaii had citizens in a state of panic over an impending nuclear attack, which, as Ann Wright speculates, may have been the point. By Ann Wright Are you ready for nuclear attack warning sirens in…
Friday, February 2, 2018
Nunes Memo Reports Crimes at Top of FBI & DOJ
Exclusive: The newly released “Nunes memorandum” reveals felony wrongdoing by top members of the FBI and DOJ for misrepresenting evidence to obtain a FISA warrant and may implicate other intelligence officials, writes Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern The long-awaited House…
Forced Migration vs. ‘Chain Migration’
Neoliberal economic policies have created a system of forced migration for many people but the Trump team is planning to ramp-up its assault on immigrants and those who advocate for migrants rights, activist Nativo Lopez explained to Dennis J Bernstein.…
Vietnam and the U.S. ‘Forever Wars’
Military planners have learned the wrong lessons from the Vietnam War, focusing on war’s “winnability” rather than questioning whether to engage in it all, notes Alastair Crooke. By Alastair Crooke Setting aside for the moment President Donald Trump’s animus to Barack…
U.S. Media’s Objectivity Questioned Abroad
The mainstream media’s nonstop Russiagate coverage and its embrace of #TheResistance has undermined its reputation for objectivity in Europe, reports Andrew Spannaus. By Andrew Spannaus Pick up a major newspaper or watch the television news in a European country, and it’s more…
The Enduring Shame of Guantanamo
From the Archive: In his State of the Union address Tuesday, President Trump announced that he had signed an executive order to keep the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay open. On this occasion, we republish an article from 2012 by…
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Responding to Bernie’s Promotion of the New Cold War
In this op-ed, Caitlin Johnstone responds to Bernie Sanders’ promotion of unproven allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. By Caitlin Johnstone In an otherwise fine video response to Tuesday night’s vapid, flag-waving State of the Union address, Bernie…
Turkey’s Erdogan in the Shadows of the Ottoman Empire
Through his efforts to implement a police state and restore the Ottoman Empire, President Erdogan of Turkey has squandered his once-strong position as a regional leader, argues Alon Ben-Meir. By Alon Ben-Meir It is difficult to fathom why Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip…
Outpouring of Support Honors Robert Parry
In appreciation for the flood of condolences and tributes to Consortiumnews.com founder Robert Parry, we publish a sampling here. By Nat Parry Robert Parry’s family has been deeply touched by the flood of messages mourning his loss. As a father,…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)