Stephen Lendman's blog

Syrian Opposition in Disarray

by Stephen Lendman

After 28 months of conflict, Assad defeated Washington's best laid plans. Its Syrian National Coalition (SNC) opposition lacks effective leadership. It lacks legitimacy. 

It's an artificial construct. It operates extrajudicially. It resembles a gang that can't shoot straight. On July 8, another leader resigned. 

Stasi's New Incarnation

by Stephen Lendman

Stasi was East Germany's secret police. It suppressed opposition to Stalinist power. It was one of the most repressive state apparatuses in modern times.

When East Germany collapsed in 1989, Stasi had over 90,000 full-time employees. Another 300,000 were paid informants. They spied on East German citizens. Thousands of West German collaborators did so on theirs. 

Middle East Continues to Boil

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article called it the curse of oil and gas. Independent countries are targeted. Washington's war on Syria rages. 

It's been ongoing for 28 months and counting. It continues because America, key NATO allies, Israel, and rogue Arab states pour arms into Syria. They do so lawlessly. They're responsible for tens of thousands of deaths.

Criticizing Venezuela's Maduro Irresponsibly

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article explained. President Nicolas Maduro granted Snowden asylum. He did so responsibly. He did it courageously. He wants him protected from unjustifiable US persecution.

When Is a Coup not One?

by Stephen Lendman

"What's in a name," asked Shakespeare? A coup by any other name doesn't change things.

It isn't one when it's "our coup, a 'good cause' coup," said Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins. Western diplomats are scrambling to characterize it otherwise. 

Unrest Continues in Egypt

by Stephen Lendman

Washington's dirty hands are involved. Controlling what's ongoing continues. Doing so reflects iron fist imperialism. A White House statement claims otherwise. It's typical US-style disinformation. In full it states:

Jobs Report Shows America in Decline

by Stephen Lendman

Headlines cheered America's June report. Bloomberg said "US Employers Added More Workers in June Than Forecast."

"Employment roared ahead in June." America's "economy is poised for faster growth as it shakes off the impact of tax increases and budget cuts."

ElBaradei Heads Egypt's Interim Government

by Stephen Lendman

It's official. He's Washington's man in Cairo. More on that below.

Ousting Morsi unleashed widespread violence. Pitched battles erupted. Both sides clashed with each other. 

Business As Usual in Egypt

by Stephen Lendman

Days of street protests created illusory change. Everything changed but stayed the same. The pattern's familiar. Ousting Morsi assures same old, same old.

Washington prioritizes Middle East control. It wants it unchallenged. It's the oil, stupid. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and other regional states have nearly two-thirds of proved world oil reserves. They have huge gas deposits.

Targeting Foreign Leaders: Longstanding US Policy

by Stephen Lendman

No one's safe from America's long arm. From inception, CIA operatives developed skills to kill. 

Fidel Castro survived hundreds of assassination attempts. He knows best how Washington operates. 

Controlling the Message: Targeting Press TV

by Stephen Lendman

Washington and Israeli Lobby pressure bear full responsibility. At issue is blatant censorship. It's suppressing truth and full disclosure. 

It's controlling the message. It's preventing viewers from getting vital news, information and analysis. Press TV features it daily. It provides a vital service. 

What's Next in Egypt?

by Stephen Lendman

Morsi's out. Junta power rules. Generals have final say. Democracy's verboten. Popular interests don't matter. They never did. They don't now. What's next?

Headlines said Egyptians celebrated Morsi's ouster. Fireworks lit up Cairo's sky. On February 12, 2011, jubilant crowds reacted the same way. Millions hailed Mubarak's removal. People overthrew entrenched power, they believed.

London's Guardian: Out in Front Exposing Lawless NSA Spying

by Stephen Lendman

Give credit when deserved. It happens all too seldom. The Guardian's an establishment publication. It's been around since 1821. It's credentials are well-known. 

It published other notable scoops. It was out in front on Rupert Murdoch's News International phone hacking scandal. It caused an uproar in parliament. Related police corruption was revealed.

America's Independence Day Hypocrisy

by Stephen Lendman

Ron Kovic's an anti-war activist. He was born on July 4, 1946. Vietnam combat left him paralyzed. He's wheelchair-bound.

His memoir titled "Born on the Fourth of July" became an Academy Award-winning film. Oliver Stone directed it. Tom Cruise played Kovic.

Obama Threatens Humanity

by Stephen Lendman

He represents the worst of rogue governance. He does so lawlessly. He serves monied interests. They own him. Whatever they want they get. 

He violates core rule of law principles. He mocks democratic rule.

He's waging multiple imperial wars. He's doing so on humanity. He plans others. 

Turmoil Rocks Egypt: Morsi's Out

by Stephen Lendman

Events are fast moving. Russia Today's live Cairo video shows huge Tahir Square crowds. They're nonviolent. They're expectant. The mood's electric.

Egyptian troops control key sites nationwide. Large contingents are deployed around Cairo.

Quelle Surprise: NSA Spies on Europe

by Stephen Lendman

NSA spies globally. Enormous amounts of meta-data are collected. It's been ongoing for decades. Post-9/11, it intensified. It's out-of-control today. It's lawless. It's menacing. It persists.

Spying domestically isn't for national security. Nor is monitoring allies. It's about control. It's for economic advantage. It's to be one up on foreign competitors. It's for information used advantageously in trade, political, and military relations.

Kerry's Shuttle Diplomacy Excludes Peace in Our Time

by Stephen Lendman

America and Israel deplore peace. Claims otherwise are pretense. On June 27, Kerry arrived in Jerusalem. It was his fifth regional trip since February. He'll return. He met straightaway with Netanyahu.

They talk peace. They plan war. They abhor diplomatic conflict resolution. They don't negotiate. They demand. They want Israeli/Palestinian peace talks resumed with no preconditions. 

Mass Protests Rock Egypt

by Stephen Lendman

Washington engineered Hosni Mubarak's ouster. He fell from grace. He opposed Obama's regional agenda. It cost him dearly.

He became more liability than asset. Mohammed Morsi replaced him. He's Washington's man in Egypt. Hard line rule continues.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Wrongfully Indicted

by Stephen Lendman

On June 27, federal grand jurors indicted him on 30 counts. They did so disgracefully.

Charges include:

America: Government by Terror, Torture and Tyranny

by Stephen Lendman

America governs lawlessly. Out-of-control rogues run things. Conditions go from bad to worse. Tyranny threatens everyone. So does possible global war.

Texas: America's State-Sponsored Execution Capital

by Stephen Lendman

In 1972, the Supreme Court's Furman v. Georgia ruling banned capital punishment, saying:

"(T)he imposition and carrying out of the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments." 

Texas: America's State-Sponsored Execution Capital

by Stephen Lendman

In 1972, the Supreme Court's Furman v. Georgia ruling banned capital punishment, saying:

"(T)he imposition and carrying out of the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments." 

Senate Passes Racist Immigration Bill

by Stephen Lendman

On June 27, S. 744: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (BSEOIMA) passed. House members address it next.

On June 28, The New York Times headlined "Senate, 68 to 32, Passes Overhaul for Immigration," saying:

More Evidence of Lawless US Spying

by Stephen Lendman

Post-9/11, unprecedented domestic spying began. It did so extrajudicially. It continues under Obama. It's institutionalized. It's warrantless. It's unconstitutional. 

It doesn't matter. It's sweeping and all-embracing. It prioritizes everyone Washington wants monitored. Phone calls, emails, web sites visited, and other personal information is routinely collected.

Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Program

by Stephen Lendman

Iran complies fully with NPT provisions. Nothing suggests otherwise. It's program is legal and non-military. Washington, other Western nations and Israel know it. They maliciously claim otherwise.

Obama in Africa

by Stephen Lendman

Voice of America reflects raw imperial power. It broadcasts US propaganda globally. 

On June 26, it said Obama "arrived in Senegal, the first stop of a three-nation African trip, focused on supporting democratic progress, and increasing US trade and investment." 

Snowden: Shooting the Messenger

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article said challenging US lawlessness more than ever matters. Big Brother spying reflects it. Unprecedented global surveillance is official US policy.

Everyone can be monitored all the time, everywhere, for any reason or none at all. National security threats are fabricated. America's only enemies are ones it creates.

Lynne Stewart Denied Compassionate Release

by Stephen Lendman

Numerous previous articles discussed her. She's one of America's best. She's a role model for others. 

She's wrongfully imprisoned. She got 10 years for acting responsibly. She served others honorably, ethically, and heroically. 

Challenging US Lawlessness

by Stephen Lendman

It's vital today more than ever. America's a rogue terror state. It's ruthlessly out-of-control. It spurns rule of law principles. It mocks democratic rights. It honors its worst. It persecutes its best.

It acts unconscionably. It threatens freedom. It menaces world peace. It endangers humanity. It's guilty of worldwide espionage on a massive, unprecedented scale.