Monday, April 30, 2018

Laughing While Pulling the Trigger

Donald Trump has shown “sadism” against Palestinians who’ve turned to Ghandian protests but are still being slaughtered by Israel, says Max Blumenthal in this interview with Dennis J. Bernstein. By Dennis J Bernstein Max Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and…

Turning on Russia, Part Two

In the second part of this two-part series, Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould explore how neo-conservatives, behind the scenes, took control of U.S. foreign policy. By Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould In the months and years following the Arab-Israeli war…

Sunday, April 29, 2018

The US (Unrecognized) Contribution to Bloodshed in Syria

According to the dominant narrative of US media only the Syrian government has killed anyone during the seven-year conflict while the US role in Syria’s nightmare is blacked out, says As’ad AbuKhalil in the first part of this commentary. By…

Turning on Russia

In this first of a two-part series, Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould trace the origins of the neoconservative targeting of Russia. By Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould The German newsmagazine Der Spiegel last September reported that, “Stanley Fischer, the 73–year-old…

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Protests Force Starbucks to Ditch ADL From Anti-Racism Training

After an outcry over the inclusion of the Anti-Defamation League as a lead member of Starbuck’s anti-racism training, the ubiquitous coffee shop backed down, as Marjorie Cohn reports. By Marjorie Cohn  Special to Consortium News After a video of the…

Friday, April 27, 2018

Amid Missiles and Bombs in Damascus 

In this special report to Consortium News from the Syrian capital, Jeff Klein describes a people getting back on their feet after the defeat of jihadists in Ghouta, while explosives remain a part of daily life. By Jeff Klein  Special…

In Case You Missed…

Some of our special stories in March discussed recent changes in the Trump administration and examined the lasting impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq as that event reached its 15th anniversary. “Italy’s Choice: Shock or Stagnation” by Andrew Spannaus,…

Thursday, April 26, 2018

The Democratic Party’s War History and the AUMF of 2018

If there is any surprise that Senate Democrats, most of whom are virtually indistinguishable from pro-war Republicans, are about to coalesce in support of the newest version of the Authority for the Use of Military Force of 2018 (AUMF), then you…

Accusing Russia and Listening to History

Even recent history is conveniently forgotten when it comes to blaming Russia for just about everything, as Ted Snider comments. By Ted Snider The prophet Cassandra’s curse was that when she told the future, no one listened. Many are cursed…

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Why the DNC Is Fighting WikiLeaks and Not Wall Street

Rather than take stock of why they lost in 2016 and address demands of ordinary Americans, the Democratic Party continues to scapegoat Russia and WikiLeaks in a misguided lawsuit, says Norman Solomon in this commentary. By Norman Solomon Exactly 200…

How Many Millions Have Been Killed in America’s Post-9/11 Wars? Part 3: Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen

In the third and final part of his series, Nicolas JS Davies investigates the death toll of U.S. covert and proxy wars in Libya, Syria, Somalia and Yemen and underscores the importance of comprehensive war mortality studies. By Nicolas J…

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Retrospective: On this day three years ago Robert Parry, late founder and editor of this site examined transparency in government and found that the Obama administration was among the most secretive and manipulative in modern times, tailoring what the public heard about…

Scarier than Bolton? Think Nikki for President

Nikki Haley is America’s face to the international community. She is the Ugly American personified, thinking that American Exceptionalism gives her license to say and do whatever she wants at the United Nations, argues Phil Giraldi in this commentary. By…

Monday, April 23, 2018

Tribute to Robert Parry in Berkeley on May 19

25 minutes ago   A tribute to Robert Parry, the late founder and editor of Consortium News, will take place in Berkeley, California on Saturday, May 19 at 2 pm. Details are on the poster below. We hope for a big…

Israelis Continue to Open Fire on Gaza Protestors: An Eyewitness Account

An Interview with Gaza-based Palestinian Journalist, Wafa Al-Udaini By Dennis J Bernstein According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the Palestinian death toll since March 30, 2018 “has risen to 33, including 4 children and 1 photojournalist, and…

Sunday, April 22, 2018

On Earth Day: Environmenal Activism is Spreading

Across America environmental activism is growing, and government and the fossil fuel industry are taking notice, say Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers By Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers Tree-sits are growing in West Virginia where people are putting their bodies on the…

Trump’s Blank Check for War

Tomorrow a Senate committee will consider a new bill that would solidify the unconstitutional shift in power to declare war from Congress to the White House, as Marjorie Cohn explains. By Margaret Cohn On Monday the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is set…

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Beware of White Helmets Bearing News

The celebrated White Helmets of Oscar fame appeared to have made their own feature film in Duma on the night of the alleged chemical attack, as Ann Wright explains. By Ann Wright Special to Consortium News At the center of…

Another Dodgy British Dossier: the Skripal Case

In this second part of a series, Gareth Porter compares the same faulty logic employed in two purposely misleading, so-called British intelligence dossiers. By Gareth Porter Special to Consortium News The British government shared what was supposedly a dossier containing…

Wanted: The ‘Butcher of Damascus’ to Return Normalcy to Syria

Bashar al-Assad is just the latest in a long line of Middle East leaders demonized by colonial Britain and the U.S. for their independence, says Eric Margolis in this commentary. By Eric S. Margolis  Special to Consortium News Butcher of Damascus.  Gasser…

Friday, April 20, 2018

Embattled Palestinian Knesset Member Fights for Her People’s Rights

  In this interview with Haneen Zoabi, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, Dennis J. Bernstein discusses Zoabi’s feminism, the struggle in Gaza and life in the Israeli parliament. By Dennis J Bernstein Haneen Zoabi is a member of…

‘Worthy’ and ‘Unworthy’ Victims

As the Friday demonstrations inside the border fence in Gaza picked up again today for the fourth week, Israeli security forces have already killed four more Palestinians, who in the eyes of the U.S. are “unworthy” victims, argues David William…

Thursday, April 19, 2018

War Fever

There is a fever that seizes this land from to time and it is the fever of war, a condition that this time seems immune to all known cures, starting with reason, as Daniel Lazare explores.  By Daniel Lazare  Special…

On the Criminal Referral of Comey, Clinton et al: Will the Constitution Hold?

Ray McGovern reports on a major development in the Russia-gate story that has been ignored by corporate media: a criminal referral to the DOJ against Hillary Clinton, James Comey and others, exposing yet again how established media suppresses news it…

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Ukraine’s NATO Bid Risks Even Worse U.S.-Russia Relations

Ukraine has made new moves towards joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which would cross a Russian “red line” and further deteriorate U.S.-Russia relations, argues Will Porter. By Will Porter Special to Consortium News It’s been four years since the…

What is the U.S. Fighting for in Syria?

The U.S. and Russia share strategic goals in Syria and the wider region, but Washington ideologues persist in unwelcome intervention that has led to disaster, argues Graham E.Fuller By Graham E. Fuller The Trump administration delivered several dozen military strikes…

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Blowing up Lack of ‘Evidence’ in Syria Chemical Attack

It is wise to remember the U.S.S. Maine, the Gulf of Tonkin and Iraqi WMD in assessing the rationale for the U.S. attack last weekend on Syria, says Ann Wright. By Ann Wright Just a few hours before the arrival…

Monday, April 16, 2018

It Started Over Lunch and Ended with the Exposure of One of the Greatest Scandals in U.S. History

The following are remarks at the memorial for Bob Parry delivered on Saturday by Brian Barger, who shared many bylines with Bob (and a drink or two) at the Associated Press uncovering the Iran-Contra scandal, and provoking the ire of…

Missile Attack on Syria: a Salute to the “Russia-gate” Faithful

Proponents of the Russia-gate conspiracy got what they wished for when Donald Trump risked war with Russia with his Syria strike, comments Norman Solomon. By Norman Solomon Politicians, pundits and activists who’ve routinely denounced President Donald Trump as a tool…

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Bob Parry: Holding Government Accountable

A memorial was held on Saturday for Robert Parry, the late founder and editor of this web site.  Among the speakers paying tribute to Bob was Joe Lauria, the new editor of Consortium News. By Joe Lauria If you watch…

John Pilger’s Tribute to Bob Parry

A memorial for the late founder and editor of Consortium News, Bob Parry, was held on Saturday in Arlington, Virginia. A video of the event will be posted. Among the many tributes made to Bob was this sent by the…

On the Reaction to the U.S. Strike in Syria

There are stirrings of an imperative anti-war movement in the wake of the U.S. strike on Syria, but mostly the Pentagon controlled the message, says Gilbert Doctorow. By Gilbert Doctorow Special to Consortium News The arguments between Secretary of Defense…

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Attacking Syria: Thumbing Noses at Constitution and Law

It was a sad spectacle to see U.S. brass rubbishing the Constitution and trying to silence critics of the U.S. strike on Syria, says Ray McGovern in this commentary. By Ray McGovern The U.S. Constitution and international law suffered a…

Friday, April 13, 2018

Trump Urged to Seek Evidence Before Attacking Syria

In this memo to the White House, the Veteran Intelligence Professions for Sanity urge President Trump to get the evidence first before deciding to strike Syria. Special to Consortium News MEMORANDUM FOR: The President FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity SUBJECT:  Evidence…

Do U.S. Oligarchs Exist? Not in Mainstream Media

 We hear incessantly about Russian oligarchs. But do they also exist in the United States? You wouldn’t know by watching cable news, says Jeff Cohen. By Jeff Cohen TV news shows are good at getting viewers riled up. Day and…

Thursday, April 12, 2018

America’s Long History of Trying to Determine Who Rules Syria

The CIA organized its very first coup in Syria in 1949 to overthrow a democratically elected president and install a military dictator. The U.S. has never given up trying to determine who rules Syria, comments Caitlin Johnstone By Caitlin Johnstone…

European Workers Betrayed

Unlike the U.S., Europe has strong, influential labor unions; yet they have been unable, or unwilling, to stop the austerity-based policies demanded by European institutions, argues Andrew Spannaus. By Andrew Spannaus  Special to Consortium News in Milan, Italy Railway workers…

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

International Lawyers: Strike Against Syria Would Be Illegal

In this statement released Wednesday, a group of international law experts warn that a U.S. military strike on Syria would be illegal if not in self-defense or with U.N. Security Council authorization.  We are practitioners and professors of international law.…

America’s ‘Unlimited Imperialists’

As the U.S. stands poised to strike Syria in yet another display of its unbridled militarism, it is the Unlimited Imperialists along the lines of Alexander, Rome, Napoleon and Hitler who are in charge, argues Francis Boyle in this commentary.…

Restoring the Rule of Law

The rule of law is in grave danger in the U.S. and can be saved by ending perpetual war, prosecuting war crimes, and reforming campaign finance and the judicial system, argues Inder Comar. By Inder Comar   Special to Consortium News…

Liars Lying About Nearly Everything

Donald Trump turns out to be a pretty good liar, even if he frequently has no idea what he’s talking about, says Phil Giraldi in this commentary. But the prize for lying has to go to the British.   By…

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Taking the World to the Brink

As American drums beat again for war, Rick Sterlings steps back to contemplate the possible consequences this time. By Rick Sterling Special to Consortium News Western neoconservatives and hawks are driving the international situation to increasing tension and danger. Not…

Monday, April 9, 2018

On Bolton’s First Day on the Job, a Look Back at Some of His Angry Outbursts

Today is John Bolton’s first day as national security adviser. Here Paul Pillar recalls the infamous temper that White House staff, and perhaps many regions of the world, may have in store. By Paul R. Pillar John Bolton has a…

On the Silencing of Julian Assange

Legendary filmmaker and journalist John Pilger and Christine Assange, mother of Julian Assange, spoke to Dennis J. Bernstein and Randy Credico on April 5, about the latest attempt to silence the Wikileaks founder. By Dennis J Bernstein and Randy Credico…

Sunday, April 8, 2018

Likening Palestinians to Blades of Grass

From the Archive: As Israeli military has killed dozens of unarmed protesters near the border at which they are fenced into Gaza, Israeli leaders may feel they are once again “mowing the grass” as Elizabeth Murray recalls in this updated…

After Gaza Massacre, Israeli Leaders Should Be Prosecuted for War Crimes

After its soldiers conducted a massacre against unarmed protester in Gaza, Israeli leaders should be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, argues Marjorie Cohen. By Marjorie Cohen On March 30, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers shot 773 unarmed Palestinian protesters…

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Welcome to Vietnam, Mr. President

From the Archives:  As President Trump faces opposition from his generals to pull U.S. troops from Syria, here’s a look back to a similar fix another new president had gotten himself into, as Ray McGovern reported on March 28, 2009.…

UK’s Russia Narrative: A Verdict in Search of a Crime

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson is on increasingly shaky ground when it comes to his bombastic accusations against Russia in the Skripal case, comments Caitlin Johnstone By Caitlin Johnstone   caitlinjohnstone.com Two weeks ago, the Right Honourable Boris Johnson was asked by…

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Gaza Protesters Murdered by Israeli Forces

An attack on protesting Palestinians on March 30 by the Israeli military left 18 dead and thousands injured and was mass murder and a blatant war crime, argues Palestinian human rights attorney Diana Buttu in an interview with Dennis J.…

Welcome Consortiumnews.com Editor Joe Lauria!

The Consortium for Independent Journalism’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Joe Lauria has taken the reins this week as Consortiumnews.com’s Editor-in-Chief. As a long-time contributor to the website and as someone whose career path followed closely the…

Memorial Service for Robert Parry

A memorial service in celebration of the life and work of Robert Parry will be held on April 14, 2018 at 2:30pm in the Galaxy Ballroom of the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel in Arlington, VA located at 900 S. Orme…

Coming Attraction: Lunatic Loose in West Wing

As Uber-Hawk John Bolton prepares to take over as national security adviser on Monday, Ray McGovern looks back at when Bolton was one of the “crazies” in the George W. Bush administration. By Ray McGovern John Bolton’s March 22 appointment-by-tweet…

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

What Did Israel Bomb in the Syrian Desert in 2007?

Israel last month admitted that it was responsible for bombing a building in Syria in 2007 that it says was a nuclear reactor under construction but there are strong doubts about what the building was for, argues Ted Snider. By…

From Chaos in Saigon, to Chaos in Washington: 4/4/68

ABC News correspondent Don North left the violence of Vietnam on April 3, 1968 to arrive the next day in Washington, gripped by the violent reaction to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. By Don North Since the Tet…

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

The Role of Youth in a Hoped-for Transformation

The massive turnout for the March for Our Lives demonstration in Washington on March 24 has given rise to hope that a new youth movement can spur a social transformation in the United States, write Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers.…