Daily Archives: September 30, 2019

2019-09-30: News Headlines

Vanessa Beeley (2019-09-30). The White Helmets, Hala Systems and the Grotesque Militarization of "Humanitarianism" in Syria. mintpressnews.com Syria, August 2019 — reports came in that Russian warplanes had destroyed two terrorist-manned early warning radar posts in the Northern Hama countryside, known as the 20th post and the Eagle post. | According to an article published by South Front, these early warning posts are "tasked with monitoring flights of Russian and Syrian warplanes" and warn armed groups throughout Hama and Idlib of incoming airstrikes on their positions. | South Front informed us that "four militants, inc…

RT (2019-09-30). Homeless subway soprano: Incredible LA Metro singer in VIRAL VIDEO turns out to be Russian musician. rt.com The stunning singing star of an LAPD video tweet that went viral has been identified as a Russian woman who moved to the US decades ago, but says she fell on hard times and became homeless after her prized violin was stolen.

The Canary (2019-09-30). Japan's prosecutors appeal against 'negligence' acquittals in Fukushima case. thecanary.co Prosecutors in the only criminal trial involving the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown have appealed against the acquittal of three former Tokyo Electric Power Co executives.On 19 September, the Tokyo District Court found ex-Tepco chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata and two others not guilty of professional negligence in the disaster and the death of 44 elderly patients who were forcibly evacuated from local hospitals.(From left) Tsunehisa Katsumata and vice presidents Sakae Muto and Ichiro Takekuro were all acquitted (Satoru Yonemaru/AP)The court said a tsunami of the size that hit the plant after an earthquake was…

Serge Halimi (2019-09-30). The New Evil Empire. counterpunch.org The US seems to have decided that it can't take on China and Russia at the same time, so its principal geopolitical rival in the coming decades will be China. Trump's Republican administration and the Democrats agree on this, though they are campaigning vigorously against each other ahead of next year's presidential election. China has More

Joan Walsh (2019-09-30). Democrats Must Reject False Choices as They Pursue Impeachment. thenation.com Democrats Must Reject False Choices as They Pursue Impeachment…

Staff (2019-09-30). Private Contractors Play Key Role in US Intelligence's Creeping Authoritarianism. truthout.org | | As a whistleblower complaint against President Trump rocks Washington, Democrats begin an impeachment inquiry and Trump threatens "big consequences" for the person who came forward, we continue our conversation with one of the world's most famous whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, now in exile in Russia. Six years ago, he shocked the world when he leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to collect phone calls, text messages…

Eric Zuesse (2019-09-30). The Sickness of American Foreign Policy. globalresearch.ca The Military-Industrial Complex runs US foreign policies. What passes for international 'news' reporting in the United States media was supremely represented by the instance of those 'news' media stenographically reporting the Government's lies about 'Saddam's WMD', even after it …

Elizabeth Keyes (2019-09-30). My Russia Hot-Air Balloon. counterpunch.org Wouldn't you like to ride in my Russia hot-air balloon? Wouldn't you like to malign in my Russia hot-air balloon? We'll rig the vote with media folk together, you and I, For we can LIE!!! Up, up and unaware in my propaganda tool, my Russia hot-air balloon! The world's a surreal place in my propaganda More

Staff (2019-09-30). Edward Snowden: Private Contractors Play Key Role in U.S. Intelligence's "Creeping Authoritarianism" democracynow.org As a whistleblower complaint against President Trump rocks Washington, Democrats begin an impeachment inquiry and Trump threatens "big consequences" for the person who came forward, we continue our conversation with one of the world's most famous whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, now in exile in Russia. Six years ago, he shocked the world when he leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to collect every single phone call, text message and email, and pry into the private lives of every person on Earth. He has just published a memoir titled "Permanent R…

Staff (2019-09-30). Whistleblower Edward Snowden on Trump, Obama & How He Ended Up in Russia to Avoid U.S. Extradition. democracynow.org We conclude our interview with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who has just published his memoir titled "Permanent Record." In 2013, after quitting his job at the NSA, Snowden attempted to fly from Hong Kong to Latin America in order to avoid being extradited to the United States. But the U.S. revoked his passport when he stopped through Russia, effectively stranding him there. Snowden has lived as an exile in Moscow ever since. He tells us his story.

RT (2019-09-28). The cringe is strong with this one! NYT tries its hand at Trump memes, falls flat on face & gets MEMED in return. rt.com The New York Times tried its hand at a Star Wars meme to celebrate the launch of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump — and proved what conservatives have been saying for years: the Left can't meme. | "A long time coming for a White House far from reality," the clip reads, before launching into scrolling text designed to mimic the opening to the Star Wars films. Titled "Episode 45," the meme features two and a half minutes of every misdeed — real and imagined — committed by Trump during his presidency, heavy on the Russiagate conspiracy theorizing. | "The president has launche…

RT (2019-09-28). NRA was a 'foreign asset' of Russia in 2016 election, claims report by Senate Democrats. rt.com Injecting new life into the 'Russiagate' conspiracy theory, Senate Democrats produced a report claiming that the largest US gun rights organization acted like a 'foreign asset' for the Kremlin and should lose tax-exempt status. | The 77-page document, published Friday by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), insinuates that the National Rifle Association (NRA) abused its tax-exempt status by working with the gun rights activist Maria Butina — branded a "Russian agent" &#150…

RT (2019-09-28). Trump told Russians their 'bad' meddling is the same as 'good' US meddling — WaPo's fresh Russiagate resurrection attempt. rt.com With the US president facing a Ukraine-linked impeachment probe, the Washington Post has delivered a fresh 'bombshell.' Not only does Trump think nothing of Russian interference in 2016, he even said as much to the Russians! | The newspaper of record found a new way to flog the dead horse of collusion, treating its readers to outrageous details about a "now-infamous" m…

Jonathan Power (2019-09-27). A Dangerous Confrontation With Russia Over Kalingrad. counterpunch.org "What idiocy", exclaims Jack Matlock on Facebook. Matlock is one of my "Facebook Friends" because I judge his knowledge of Russia as second to none, having been under President Ronald Reagan the White House's senior advisor on the Soviet Union and, later, his ambassador to Moscow. The object of his ire is based on a Newsday More

United Nations (2019-09-27). Unable to accept its decline, West subverts international law to suit its needs, Russia's Lavrov tells UN. un.org While crediting the United Nations for preventing 'World War III', the Foreign Minister of Russia lamented to the General Assembly on Friday that the number of conflicts on the planet has not declined, nor has enmity weakened.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-26). Venezuela: Trump Imposes Travel Ban, Putin Backs Dialogue. venezuelanalysis.com US officials and the Venezuelan opposition have also lobbied the EU to impose harsher sanctions against Caracas.

Olivia Alperstein (2019-09-26). Get Rid of Nuclear Weapons. progressive.org September 26 is International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Let's make this the year when we finally resolve to abolish nuclear weapons for good.

Staff (2019-09-26). Permanent Record: Why NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Risked His Life to Expose Surveillance State. democracynow.org Six years ago, Edward Snowden leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to spy on Americans and people across the globe. Snowden was then charged in the U.S. for violating the Espionage Act and other laws. As he attempted to flee to Latin America, Snowden became stranded in Russia after the U.S. revoked his passport. He has lived in Moscow ever since. Snowden just published his memoir, "Permanent Record," in which he writes about what led him to risk his life to expose the U.S. government's system of mass surveillance. From Moscow, he speaks to Democ…

Staff (2019-09-26). "Financial Censorship Is Still Censorship": Edward Snowden Slams Justice Dept. Lawsuit Against Him. democracynow.org As a whistleblower complaint filed against President Trump rocks Washington and threatens Trump's presidency, one of the world's most famous whistleblowers, Edward Snowden, joins us from Moscow, Russia. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Snowden alleging that his newly released memoir, "Permanent Record," violates the nondisclosure agreements he signed with the federal government when he was a National Security Agency employee. The Justice Department also argued that they are entitled to all of Snowden's book profits. Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman and Juan González speak with Sno…

Aaron Maté (2019-09-24). Cracks emerge in NATO confrontation of Russia. thegrayzone.com Stephen F. Cohen argues that cracks are emerging within the NATO-led consensus that has pushed Moscow from the West. Guest: …

Ricardo Vaz (2019-09-12). Venezuela Oil Production Continues Decline as China Cancels More Shipments. venezuelanalysis.com Russian oil giant Rosneft blasted threats of US sanctions as "unfair competition."

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

2019-09-30: Social Media Postees

The White Helmets, Hala Systems and the Grotesque Militarization of "Humanitarianism" in Syria
Vanessa Beeley | mintpressnews.com | 2019-09-30
Syria, August 2019 — reports came in that Russian warplanes had destroyed two terrorist-manned early warning radar posts in the Northern Hama countryside, known as the 20th post and the Eagle post. | According to an article published by South Front, these early warning posts are "tasked with monitoring flights of Russian and Syrian warplanes" and warn armed groups throughout Hama and Idlib of incoming airstrikes on their positions. | South Front informed us that "four militants, inc…
mintpressnews.com/white-helmets-hala-systems-militarization-humanitarianism-syria/262115/

My Russia Hot-Air Balloon
Elizabeth Keyes | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-30
Wouldn't you like to ride in my Russia hot-air balloon? Wouldn't you like to malign in my Russia hot-air balloon? We'll rig the vote with media folk together, you and I, For we can LIE!!! Up, up and unaware in my propaganda tool, my Russia hot-air balloon! The world's a surreal place in my propaganda…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/30/my-russia-hot-air-balloon-2/

Private Contractors Play Key Role in US Intelligence's Creeping Authoritarianism
Staff | truthout.org | 2019-09-30
| As a whistleblower complaint against President Trump rocks Washington, Democrats begin an impeachment inquiry and Trump threatens "big consequences" for the person who came forward, we continue our conversation with one of the world's most famous whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, now in exile in Russia. Six years ago, he shocked the world when he leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to collect phone calls, text messages…
truthout.org/video/private-contractors-play-key-role-in-us-intelligences-creeping-authoritarianism/

The New Evil Empire
Serge Halimi | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-30
The US seems to have decided that it can't take on China and Russia at the same time, so its principal geopolitical rival in the coming decades will be China. Trump's Republican administration and the Democrats agree on this, though they are campaigning vigorously against each other ahead of next year's presidential election. China has…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/30/the-new-evil-empire/

Democrats Must Reject False Choices as They Pursue Impeachment
Joan Walsh | thenation.com | 2019-09-30
Democrats Must Reject False Choices as They Pursue Impeachment…
thenation.com/article/democrats-impeachment-ukraine-russia-trump/

Homeless subway soprano: Incredible LA Metro singer in VIRAL VIDEO turns out to be Russian musician
rt.com | 2019-09-30
The stunning singing star of an LAPD video tweet that went viral has been identified as a Russian woman who moved to the US decades ago, but says she fell on hard times and became homeless after her prized violin was stolen. | …
rt.com/usa/469914-los-angeles-metro-opera-singer/

Japan's prosecutors appeal against 'negligence' acquittals in Fukushima case
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2019-09-30
Prosecutors in the only criminal trial involving the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant meltdown have appealed against the acquittal of three former Tokyo Electric Power Co executives.On 19 September, the Tokyo District Court found ex-Tepco chairman Tsunehisa Katsumata and two others not guilty of professional negligence in the disaster and the death of 44 elderly patients who were forcibly evacuated from local hospitals.(From left) Tsunehisa Katsumata and vice presidents Sakae Muto and Ichiro Takekuro were all acquitted (Satoru Yonemaru/AP)The court said a tsunami of the size that hit the plant after an earthquake was…
thecanary.co/global/world-news/2019/09/30/japans-prosecutors-appeal-against-negligence-acquittals-in-fukushima-case/

Whistleblower Edward Snowden on Trump, Obama & How He Ended Up in Russia to Avoid U.S. Extradition
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-30
We conclude our interview with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, who has just published his memoir titled "Permanent Record." In 2013, after quitting his job at the NSA, Snowden attempted to fly from Hong Kong to Latin America in order to avoid being extradited to the United States. But the U.S. revoked his passport when he stopped through Russia, effectively stranding him there. Snowden has lived as an exile in Moscow ever since. He tells us his story.
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/30/how_edward_snowden_avoided_extradition_to

Edward Snowden: Private Contractors Play Key Role in U.S. Intelligence's "Creeping Authoritarianism"
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-30
As a whistleblower complaint against President Trump rocks Washington, Democrats begin an impeachment inquiry and Trump threatens "big consequences" for the person who came forward, we continue our conversation with one of the world's most famous whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, now in exile in Russia. Six years ago, he shocked the world when he leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to collect every single phone call, text message and email, and pry into the private lives of every person on Earth. He has just published a memoir titled "Permanent R…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/30/edward_snowden_us_surveillance_corporate_america

NRA was a 'foreign asset' of Russia in 2016 election, claims report by Senate Democrats
rt.com | 2019-09-28
Injecting new life into the 'Russiagate' conspiracy theory, Senate Democrats produced a report claiming that the largest US gun rights organization acted like a 'foreign asset' for the Kremlin and should lose tax-exempt status. | The 77-page document, published Friday by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), insinuates that the National Rifle Association (NRA) abused its tax-exempt status by working with the gun rights activist Maria Butina — branded a "Russian agent" &#150…
rt.com/usa/469798-nra-foreign-asset-russia-democrats/

Trump told Russians their 'bad' meddling is the same as 'good' US meddling — WaPo's fresh Russiagate resurrection attempt
rt.com | 2019-09-28
With the US president facing a Ukraine-linked impeachment probe, the Washington Post has delivered a fresh 'bombshell.' Not only does Trump think nothing of Russian interference in 2016, he even said as much to the Russians! | The newspaper of record found a new way to flog the dead horse of collusion, treating its readers to outrageous details about a "now-infamous" m…
rt.com/usa/469831-trump-russia-meddling-shock/

The cringe is strong with this one! NYT tries its hand at Trump memes, falls flat on face & gets MEMED in return
rt.com | 2019-09-28
The New York Times tried its hand at a Star Wars meme to celebrate the launch of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump — and proved what conservatives have been saying for years: the Left can't meme. | "A long time coming for a White House far from reality," the clip reads, before launching into scrolling text designed to mimic the opening to the Star Wars films. Titled "Episode 45," the meme features two and a half minutes of every misdeed — real and imagined — committed by Trump during his presidency, heavy on the Russiagate conspiracy theorizing. | "The president has launche…
rt.com/usa/469799-times-meme-carpe-star-wars/

A Dangerous Confrontation With Russia Over Kalingrad
Jonathan Power | counterpunch.org | 2019-09-27
"What idiocy", exclaims Jack Matlock on Facebook. Matlock is one of my "Facebook Friends" because I judge his knowledge of Russia as second to none, having been under President Ronald Reagan the White House's senior advisor on the Soviet Union and, later, his ambassador to Moscow. The object of his ire is based on a Newsday…
counterpunch.org/2019/09/27/a-dangerous-confrontation-with-russia-over-kalingrad/

Unable to accept its decline, West subverts international law to suit its needs, Russia's Lavrov tells UN
United Nations | un.org | 2019-09-27
While crediting the United Nations for preventing 'World War III', the Foreign Minister of Russia lamented to the General Assembly on Friday that the number of conflicts on the planet has not declined, nor has enmity weakened.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2019/09/1047982

Venezuela: Trump Imposes Travel Ban, Putin Backs Dialogue
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-26
US officials and the Venezuelan opposition have also lobbied the EU to impose harsher sanctions against Caracas.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14671

Get Rid of Nuclear Weapons
Olivia Alperstein | progressive.org | 2019-09-26
September 26 is International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. Let's make this the year when we finally resolve to abolish nuclear weapons for good.
progressive.org/op-eds/get-rid-of-nuclear-weapons-alperstein-190926/

Permanent Record: Why NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden Risked His Life to Expose Surveillance State
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-26
Six years ago, Edward Snowden leaked a trove of secret documents about how the United States had built a massive surveillance apparatus to spy on Americans and people across the globe. Snowden was then charged in the U.S. for violating the Espionage Act and other laws. As he attempted to flee to Latin America, Snowden became stranded in Russia after the U.S. revoked his passport. He has lived in Moscow ever since. Snowden just published his memoir, "Permanent Record," in which he writes about what led him to risk his life to expose the U.S. government's system of mass surveillance. From Moscow, he speaks to Democ…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/26/edward_snowden_trump_whistleblower_impeachment

"Financial Censorship Is Still Censorship": Edward Snowden Slams Justice Dept. Lawsuit Against Him
Staff | democracynow.org | 2019-09-26
As a whistleblower complaint filed against President Trump rocks Washington and threatens Trump's presidency, one of the world's most famous whistleblowers, Edward Snowden, joins us from Moscow, Russia. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Snowden alleging that his newly released memoir, "Permanent Record," violates the nondisclosure agreements he signed with the federal government when he was a National Security Agency employee. The Justice Department also argued that they are entitled to all of Snowden's book profits. Democracy Now!'s Amy Goodman and Juan González speak with Sno…
www.democracynow.org/2019/9/26/edward_snowden_memoir_permanent_record

Cracks emerge in NATO confrontation of Russia
Aaron Maté | thegrayzone.com | 2019-09-24
Stephen F. Cohen argues that cracks are emerging within the NATO-led consensus that has pushed Moscow from the West. Guest: …
thegrayzone.com/2019/09/24/cracks-emerge-in-nato-confrontation-of-russia/

Venezuela Oil Production Continues Decline as China Cancels More Shipments
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-09-12
Russian oil giant Rosneft blasted threats of US sanctions as "unfair competition."
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14654