Ilhan Omar, AIPAC, Congress, and the Future of American Democracy

Global Justice in the 21st Century

The Ilhan Omar Incident: A Zionist Witch Hunt?

[Prefatory Note: the post below is somewhat modified text of my responses to a series of questions posed by Daniel Falcone with whom I have done several prior online interview. This interview was published under a different title by CounterPunch on March 14, 2019. It addresses the attack upon the Somali born Ilhan Omar, elected from the 5^thCongressional District to the U.S. House of Representative in the November 2018 midterm electios. Omar was sharply attacked, defamed, and threatened for making comments about Israeli influence on American lawmaking that were alleged to be anti-Semitic, or more precisely, ‘anti-Semitic tropes.’ The issues raised are important both to suggest continuing. Reliance by pro-Israeli militants on these kinds of tactics, and for the fact that there was an encouraging willingness of some mainstream refusal to acquiesce. The attack on Omar has been…

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Trump “Selling” Venezuela Bridge To Nowhere.

by Jerry Alatalo

nited States President Donald Trump, his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the virtual entirety of the Western civilization corporate media establishment are all vigorously at work selling a bridge in South America – to nowhere.

The lies being put forward on the situation in Venezuela are of such immensity that many informed observers perceive their cumulative size as surpassing even the collective lies or disinformation surrounding Syria, or Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam etc. before in the shameful historical record of human catastrophe.

The recent attempt to smear government institutions of Venezuela and its democratically elected President Nicolas Maduro shines bright as the sun on a cloudless day –  as an example of the criminality and deception involved in overthrowing governments freely and fairly chosen by their people. The covert, inept Venezuela “Bridge to Nowhere” disinformation program was (unsuccessfully) coordinated between the highest level of Donald Trump’s administration and the top management and owners of mega-media corporate monopolies.

This sleazy, embarrassing, war propaganda attempt very likely meets definitions for criminal action as examined under current norms, practice and fundamentals of international law. Finally … this enraging and disgusting production displays, once and for all, that Trump’s “promise” to go to the White House and “drain the swamp” was equal on the truth-o-meter to the confidence man telling his victims: “I’ve got a (beautiful) bridge to sell you!”

Intentionally taking the path of grand deception to fool millions of people, – to falsely paint and slander Nicolas Maduro as heartless, cruel, sadistic, dictator, killing his own people, etc., etc., etc. – in Machiavelli-style to spark the overthrow of real democracy in Venezuela is the basic ingredient, the stuff, of war criminals. War criminals … whether covert or overt, economic, media or military, are now commonly perceived and overwhelming rejected as swamp creatures, the worst of the worst among us.

Had Donald Trump, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, Elliot Abrams, et al been wiser, they would have stopped at “We intend to take Venezuelans’ oil.” They got too smart … They overreached to the maximum in attempting to “close the deal”, but instead, their uncontrolled lust for money, power and control blew the whole scheming raw deal up.

Now nobody is buying what they are selling. Corporations can change names in hopes of repairing severely damaged reputations. Nations have only the truth.

Peace.

(Thank you to teleSUR English at YouTube)

“NO War On Venezuela!”: Veterans For Peace.

(Cross-posted from Veterans for Peace (VFP) Website)

A Message from VFP President Gerry Condon

Call for VFP Chapters to Organize February 23 Protests Against the U.S. Coup in Venezuela

Dear VFP Members and Friends,

The U.S.-orchestrated coup in Venezuela presents a great threat to the people of Venezuela and to all of Latin America, which apparently is still considered to be “our backyard” by the dinosaurs of U.S. imperialism. The possibility of direct military intervention leading to a long and bloody war is “on the table.”

Even as President Trump makes halting efforts to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Syria, his administration is doubling down on U.S. intervention in this hemisphere. National Security Adviser John Bolton is also promising to step up U.S. attacks against the progressive governments and people of Cuba and Nicaragua.

The Veterans For Peace statement calling for resistance to U.S. intervention in Venezuela, unanimously agreed upon by the VFP Board of Directors at our recent meeting in Tijuana, Mexico, continues to be welcomed and widely circulated (over 1.5 K “shares” on Facebook).

Veterans For Peace has also endorsed several upcoming mobilizations against the unfolding coup in Venezuela. Most important, because they are coming up soon, are internationally coordinated local actions on February 23.

Check out the website for the No War on Venezuela actions. Veterans For Peace is already an endorser, but VFP Chapters may also sign on, as can individuals.

In less than a week the call for No War on Venezuela actions on Februrary 23 has garnered remarkable support, coming from virtually the entire peace movement in the U.S. and internationally (the Call has been translated into eight languages!).

I encourage all VFP chapters and members to participate in local actions that are already being organized for Saturday, Febuary 23, or to initiate and anchor protests and/or educational events in your communities. Call on your friends and allied organizations to join you. Unity, creativity and flexibility should be our watch words. It could be any type of event, such as a visit to your Congressperson’s office on Friday, February 22, a vigil downtown on Saturday, February 23, or an educational forum on Sunday, February 24.

You can find helpful resources on the website, including a ready made half-page flyer, where you can add your local information. Of course, feel free to produce your own flyer with your own message. The voice of veterans must be heard.

The U.S. regime change operation in Venezuela also presents an opportunity for the U.S. peace movement to step up our game. This includes Veterans For Peace, of course. The VFP Board of Directors is already discussing the possibility of having regular coordinated actions, monthly or quarterly, where all VFP chapters can act together. On February 23 we can begin to exercise our collective muscle while making a real contribution to the peace movement.

How many other organizations have chapters in so many cities? And internationally too. I believe the answer is none. When Veterans For Peace chapters step up together, we will make a real difference.

All out for February 23!

Hands Off Venezuela!
Gerry Condon

___________________________
Gerry Condon
President, Board of Directors
VETERANS FOR PEACE

Sharon Tennison: Ten Myths About Russia.

by Jerry Alatalo

“What kind of truth is this which is true on one side of a mountain and false on the other?”

– MICHEL EYQUEM DE MONTAIGNE (1533-1592) French philosopher

 

United States citizen diplomat Sharon Tennison is considered a trusted voice on U.S.-Russia relations by business, political, academic, religious and cultural leaders around the Earth.

merican Sharon Tennison has been a regular traveler to Russia for 35 years as a citizen diplomat trying to build peace, understanding and goodwill between the people of the United States and Russia – and she is very concerned.

She is concerned that news organizations and politicians in America and the West over recent years have misrepresented events and conditions in Russia, or, in other words, not been conveying the truth. For that and other reasons, particularly the increased threat of war over unopposed rumors, Ms. Tennison felt compelled to create the following video where she addresses what she calls “Ten Myths About Russia”.

Ms. Tennison states: “It’s kind of dangerous for us (Americans) to be getting wrong information on this country”.

Myth #1: Russia is a failing state. Sharon Tennison says this is “completely wrong”. She does believe it true that Russia was indeed a failed state in the 1990’s, but that since then, marked by the rise to leadership of Vladimir Putin in and around the year 2000, Russia has turned around and gotten back on its economic feet again.