Sunday, March 31, 2019

Pelosi and McConnell Crank Up NATO Madness

Norman Solomon calls for all forms of pushback against a militarized political culture welcoming a NATO chief to Congress next week.   By Norman Solomon NormanSolomon.com When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell teamed up to invite…

Friday, March 29, 2019

LIVE: Watch 22nd Assange Vigil Today at 4 pm EST

The 22nd Unity4J online vigil for Julian Assange will take place at 4 pm EST on Friday with special guests.  Watch it live here. In addition to journalist Cassandra Fairbanks, who will discuss her bombshell report from inside the Ecuadorian…

British Foreign Policy in the Middle East: A Secret History of Self Interest

The idea that Westminster is the “mother of all parliaments,” representing a democratic model for the world, is a cultivated myth, writes Mark Curtis.  By Mark Curtis British Foreign Policy Declassified On Tuesday in the British parliament, Labour’s shadow foreign secretary Emily…

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Consortium News’ Record on Russia-gate—How CN Covered the ‘Scandal’: No. 3—“The Tangled Threads of Russia-gate”

Once a Washington groupthink takes hold, as it has in the fervent belief about Russia-gate, respect for facts and logic fly out the window since all these important people can’t be wrong, wrote Robert Parry on Dec. 5, 2017. The…

A Year of Silencing Julian Assange

On this date in 2018, the Wikileaks publisher was cut off from the work of journalism, reports Elizabeth Vos.  By Elizabeth Vos Special to Consortium News One year ago Thursday, Ecuador’s government under President Lenin Moreno silenced Julian Assange. WikiLeaks…

The System, Youth and Democracy

When masses of students from all over the world mobilize around a utopia, adults become uncomfortable, writes Roberto Savio. By Roberto Savio in Rome Inter Press Service If we ever needed proof of how the political system has become self-referential…

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Consortium News’ Record on Russia-gate—How CN Covered the ‘Scandal’: No. 2—“The Lost Journalistic Standards of Russia-gate”

The Russia-gate hysteria has witnessed a widespread collapse of journalistic standards as major U.S. news outlets ignore rules about how to treat evidence in dispute, wrote Robert Parry on Nov. 20, 2017. By Robert Parry Special to Consortium News A…

ANGRY ARAB: Memories and Omissions of the Iraq Wars

The Iraq wars and their consequences have been callous, bipartisan campaigns that have profoundly altered Arabs’ views of the United States, says As’ad AbuKhalil. By As`ad AbuKhalil Special to Consortium News It has been sixteen years since the U.S. invasion of…

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Anti-Semitism and Double Standards

Criticizing Israel is considered bad form, writes Daniel Lazare, but keeping mum about Saudi crimes is fine as long as the donations continue to flow. By Daniel Lazare Special to Consortium News In a week when the GOP flaunted its…

How the Israel Lobby Got its Start

As the annual AIPAC conference wraps up in Washington on Tuesday, historian Walter Hixon looked back on the Israel Lobby’s origins in this speech last Friday to the “Israel Lobby & American Policy Conference” at the National Press Club. By Walter Hixon…

Three Lessons From ‘Failed’ Mueller Inquiry

Jonathan Cook analyzes what progressives can glean from a major squabble between different wings of the same neoliberal establishment. By JonathanCook Jonathan-Cook.net Here are three important lessons for the progressive left to consider now that it is clear the inquiry…

Monday, March 25, 2019

Trump Is Going to Thank MSNBC Until November 2020

Peddlers of Russia-gate have boosted the U.S. president’s re-election campaign,  writes Caitlin Johnstone.   By Caitlin Johnstone CaitlinJohnstone.com After news broke that Robert Mueller had turned in his final report without recommending any further indictments, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow began frantically retweeting blue-checkmarked Twitter pundits who…

A Prediction 3 Days Before the 2016 Election on How the Democrats Would Use Russia-gate to Try to Depose Trump

Consortium News Editor Joe Lauria predicted on Nov. 5, 2016 that should Clinton lose, the Democrats would blame Russia to try to remove Trump from office, even without evidence. The article is republished here. Joe Lauria wrote that if Hillary…

Sunday, March 24, 2019

Consortium News’ Record on Russia-gate—The First in a Series of Articles on How CN Covered the ‘Scandal’: ‘The Sleazy Origins of Russia-gate’

From the outset of the “scandal” without evidence, Consortium News was skeptical, journalism’s default position, led by founding editor, the late Robert Parry, with Ray McGovern, Daniel Lazare, Patrick Lawrence, Joe Lauria and VIPS debunking much of the irresponsible mania that…

Empire of Chaos in Hybrid War Overdrive

The Trump administration’s foreign policy may be easily deconstructed as a crossover between The Sopranos and late-night comedy, writes Pepe Escobar. By Pepe Escobar in Bangkok Special to Consortium News Is this the Age of Anxiety? The Age of Stupidity?…

Rendition Plane, Increased Police Presence Raise Fears for Assange

A mysterious flight of a U.S. rendition plane to London and increase of plainclothes British police outside the Ecuador embassy has heightened concern for the WikiLeaks founder, as Elizabeth Vos reports. By Elizabeth Vos In four days, it will be…

Watch the 21st Vigil for Assange

With concern growing about the latest possible moves to illegally extract Julian Assange from Ecuador’s London embassy, Elizabeth Vos discusses the latest WikiLeaks news and interviews Ecuadorian journalist Jose Rivera in the 21st Assange vigil held on Friday. Watch the…

Friday, March 22, 2019

Intl Trade Unions Condemn Recognition of Guaidó

Even a labor group currently at odds with Caracas opposes foreign interference in the matter of the presidency, reports Ivar Andersen. By Ivar Andersen In Stockholm Inter Press Service More than 60 countries have recognized Juan Guaidó as legitimate interim president.…

Impatient for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

Ann Wright reports on the launch earlier this month, in D.C. and New York, of the worldwide “Korea Peace Now” Campaign. By Ann Wright Special to Consortium News While U.S.-North Korean contact is stalled, relations between North Korea and South…

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Whose Blood, Whose Treasure?

America’s senior generals find no exits from endless war, writes William J. Astore for TomDispatch. By William J. Astore TomDispatch.com “Veni, Vidi, Vici,” boasted Julius Caesar, one of history’s great military captains. “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Then-Secretary of State…

After Pressure on Twitter, Christine Assange’s Account is Restored

The Twitter account of Julian Assange’s mother was restored on Wednesday night after her supporters sent a flood of messages to Twitter. Christine Assange, the mother of WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange, had her Twitter account restored more than…

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Yellow Vest Movement Not Yet Changing Its Color to Green

From Paris, Léa Bouchoucha reports for Consortium News on two sets of demonstrators, some of whom are mingling while others keep a distance.  By Léa Bouchoucha in Paris Special to Consortium News Some had hoped the two marches in Paris…

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Twitter Restricts Account of Julian Assange’s Mother

The social media giant has given no reason to Christine Assange who had turned to Twitter to campaign for the liberty of her son. By Joe Lauria Special to Consortium News The Twitter account of Christine Assange, the mother of…

60 Years Ago, Racists in Congress Lost the Battle on Hawaiian Statehood

Sarah Miller Davenport reviews U.S. involvement with what finally became its 50th state.    By Sarah Miller Davenport  University of Sheffield The Conversation  Sixty years ago, Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation making Hawaii America’s 50th state. The Hawaii admission act followed…

PATRICK LAWRENCE: Why the Dust Won’t Settle After Mueller’s Report

It won’t be “full and thorough” and Democrats will continue to look for political payoff from Russia-gate, writes Patrick Lawrence. By Patrick Lawrence Special to Consortium News Last week gave us mounting indications that Robert Mueller has finished his two-year…

Monday, March 18, 2019

Sucking Liberals into a New Cold War

Out of fury against President Trump, many liberals have enlisted in the ranks of the New Cold War against Russia, seeming to have forgotten the costs to rationality and lives from the first Cold War, warned the late William Blum.…

JOHN KIRIAKOU: Another Whistleblower in Solitary Confinement

Marty Gottesfeld is reminder of the Justice Department’s determination to silence truthtellers, writes John Kiriakou. By John Kiriakou Special to Consortium News Last year I wrote about a whistleblower from New England who took direct action to save a child’s life…

Brexit’s Imperial Nostalgia

Anis Chowdhuryand Jomo Kwame Sundaram confront the notion that British rule helped “develop” the empire. By Jomo Kwame Sundaram in Kuala Lumpur and Anis Chowdhury in Sydney Inter Press Service As the possible implications of Britain’s self-imposed “no-deal” exit from the European Union…

Saturday, March 16, 2019

VIDEO: Pro and Anti-Venezuela Coup Protestors Face Off in Front of White House

Demonstrators for and against regime change in Venezuela converged on the White House on Saturday and there were some angry scenes as D.C. mounted police took their positions in Lafayette Park. Rising tensions in Venezuela boiled over in front of…

Friday, March 15, 2019

Misguided Spying and the New Zealand Massacre

While intelligence agencies were looking in all the wrong places, a conspicuous target slipped through the cracks, writes Suzie Dawson.  By Suzie Dawson Special to Consortium News Now that the bodies of 49 innocent human beings are lying in a…

Watch the 20th Vigil for Assange Here Live at 4 pm EST

With Chelsea Manning still in jail for refusing to testify about Julian Assange, who remains arbitrarily detained in London, the 20th webcast vigil for Assange begins Friday at 4 pm EST. Watch it live here.  Among the guests will be…

School Shooters and Drones

Allegra Harpootlian links gun violence at home to U.S. wars abroad. By Allegra Harpootlian TomDispatch.com In the wake of the Feb. 14, 2018, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 students and staff members,…

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Trump’s Backward Move on Drone Civilian Casualties

This executive order disregards some valuable historical lessons, writes Daniel R. Brunstetter. An unmanned U.S. Predator drone flies over southern Afghanistan. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth) By Daniel R. Brunstetter, University of California, Irvine The Conversation When it comes to drones and warfare, the…

US and Iranian Hardliners Continue the Suffering

Ann Wright reports on a citizen peace delegation’s recent trip to Iran, which included a meeting with the country’s foreign minister. By Ann Wright Special to Consortium News We knew that a CODEPINK: Women for Peace delegation to Iran would wind…

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Billions of Swedish Krona Supported Anti-Apartheid Struggle

Birgitta Karlström Dorph was on a secret mission in South Africa between 1982 and 1988, writes Ida Karlsson. By Ida Karlsson in Stockholm Inter Press Service Between 1982 and 1988 Birgitta Karlström Dorph was on a secret mission in South Africa.…

VIPS: Mueller’s Forensics-Free Findings

The final Mueller report should be graded “incomplete,” says VIPS, whose forensic work proves the speciousness of the story that DNC emails published by WikiLeaks came from Russian hacking. March 13, 2019 MEMORANDUM FOR:    The Attorney General FROM:   Veteran…

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

US Regime Change Blueprint Proposed Venezuelan Electricity Blackouts as ‘Watershed Event’

The group that trained Juan Guaidó and his allies laid out plans for galvanizing public unrest in a 2010 memo, Max Blumenthal reports. By Max Blumenthal Grayzone A September 2010 memo by a U.S.-funded soft power organization that helped train Venezuelan coup…

THE ANGRY ARAB: Why Ilhan Omar is a Dangerous Woman for the US

Washington doesn’t like its Muslim Arabs to take pride in their heritage or oppose the Israeli occupation, writes As’ad AbuKhalil. By As`ad AbuKhalil Special to Consortium News Washington was not expecting the arrival of Reps. Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib. …

Monday, March 11, 2019

A Tale of Two Incarcerated Women

Chelsea has done a great service in finally stripping away the last vestige of excuse from the figures who refuse to support Julian Assange, says Craig Murray. By Craig Murray CraigMurray.org.uk On International Women’s Day on March 8 Chelsea Manning…

Joe Biden on the Relaunch Pad

Whether Biden can win the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination will largely depend on how little voters know about his actual record, writes Norman Solomon. Biden is No Friend of the Working Class; Solidly Backed Invasion of Iraq in 2003  By…

Sunday, March 10, 2019

Is War With Iran on the Horizon?

Despite growing Trump administration tensions with Venezuela and even with North Korea, Iran is the likeliest spot for Washington’s next shooting war, says Bob Dreyfuss for TomDispatch. The Trump Administration is Reckless Enough to Turn the Cold War With Iran…

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Africa’s Sovereignty Over Food

Local food and seed systems must be rebuilt for Africans, write Mariam Mayet, Stephen Greenberg and Linzi Lewis. By Mariam Mayet, Stephen Greenberg and Linzi Lewis  African Centre for Biodiversity in Johnnesburg Inter Press Service Africa is facing dire times.…

Friday, March 8, 2019

LIVE: 19th Vigil for Assange at 4pm Eastern Time

As Chelsea Manning is jailed for refusing to testify against Julian Assange, join us for the 19th online vigil for Assange at 4 pm on Friday. You can watch it here:

Return International Women’s Day to its Radical Roots

This is no time for moderate calls for equality and balance, write Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah and Ana Inés Abelenda. By Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah in Accra and Ana Inés Abelenda in Montevideo Inter Press Service The theme for International Women’s Day 2019 doesn’t resonate with us. #BalanceForBetter…

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Labour’s Fight Over Israel Long Time in Coming

The party is being dragged into the modern world by Corbyn’s anti-racist leadership towards Palestinians, writes Jonathan Cook. By JonathanCook Jonathan-Cook.net An announcement this week by the Jewish Labour Movement that it is considering splitting from the British Labour Party…

Royal Wedding Received Triple the Media Coverage of Yemen in 2018

That ratio is symptomatic of negative trends at the major networks, writes Jim Lobe.  By Jim Lobe Inter Press Service The ongoing war in Yemen, called the world’s “worst humanitarian disaster” by the United Nations and independent aid agencies since early last…

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Russiagate Grand Wizard Deceives Audience About Assange

Obsessed Russia-gaters just can’t accept that  the Assange indictment has nothing to do with the 2016 election, writes Caitlin Johnstone.  By Caitlin Johnstone Caitlinjohnstone.com When it was first revealed in November that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is under secret charges by the Trump administration,…

Anti-Semitism vs. Anti-Zionism in France

Lawrence Davidson dismantles Macron’s equation of apples and oranges. By Lawrence Davidson  TothePointAnalysis.com We are at a new stage of the fight to realize Palestinian rights and free both Palestinians and Jews from the consequences of Zionist racism. There was…

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

This Time the Big Obstacle for Bernie Isn’t DNC Rigging

In the 2020 race it’s the reflexive corporate media spin against the candidate, writes Norman Solomon.  By Norman Solomon NormanSolomon.com Some people are attached to the idea that the Democratic National Committee will “rig” the presidential nomination against Bernie Sanders. The…

Eric Hobsbawm, the Joy of History and All That Jazz

The writer’s global appeal will remain something for the history books, writes Pepe Escobar. By Pepe Escobar Asia Times We all lose by not having Eric Hobsbawm absorb the geopolitical dementia of the early 21st century to later refine it in…

Monday, March 4, 2019

PATRICK LAWRENCE: It Was Kim That Walked Away

There are two sides to the story about why the second North Korea peace summit fell apart last week, writes Patrick Lawrence. By Patrick Lawrence Special to Consortium News The abrupt and unexpected failure of the second Trump–Kim summit last…

The Prisoner Says ‘No’ to Big Brother

The refusal by Australia’s foreign ministry to honor the UNs’ declaration that Julian Assange is the victim of “arbitrary detention” is a shameful breach of the letter and spirit of international law, says John Pilger. By John Pilger in Sydney,…

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Media Serve the Governors, Not the Governed

Since 2006 WikiLeaks has been censuring governments with governments’ own words. It has been doing the job the U.S. constitution intended the press to do, says Joe Lauria. By Joe Lauria in Sydney, Australia In his 1971 opinion in the…

Friday, March 1, 2019

The 18th Vigil for Assange Live Here at 4 pm

Please join us for a live webcast at 4pm EST today of the 18th Unity4J vigil for Julian Assange. In this edition we’ll break down Trump lawyer Michael Cohn’s testimony regarding WikiLeaks, as well as other news. You can watch…