Stephen Lendman's blog

Supreme Court Guts Voting Rights Act

by Stephen Lendman

America's High Court lacks legitimacy. It's supremely pro-business, anti-populist, anti-labor, and anti-rule of law fairness. It mocks democratic principles. It does so shamelessly.

Snowden on the Move

by Stephen Lendman

Where is Edward Snowden? Unanswered questions remain. Supposedly he traveled from Hong Kong to Moscow en route to Havana and Quito, Ecuador. Or did he? More on that below.

State Department Debunks Iranian Latin American Terrorism Links

by Stephen Lendman

False anti-Iranian accusations persist. They're longstanding. Claims about alleged nuclear bomb development don't wash. Nor do well publicized terror attack charges.

The Islamic Republic's maliciously vilified. False accusations follow earlier ones. A disturbing pattern repeats. Iran's sovereignty is challenged. Its independence is threatened. 

Richard Falk: Speaking Truth to Power

by Stephen Lendman

Falk is Princeton University Professor Emeritus. For 40 years, he taught international law and relations. In 2008, he was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights.

He's outspoken about longstanding Israeli human rights abuses. They're too horrendous to ignore. On June 6, he addressed them. More on that below.

America: Police State Ruthlessness Writ Large

by Stephen Lendman

Cold-blooded barbarity reflects US policy. Democracy's more illusion than reality. Rule of law principles don't matter. They're systematically spurned. 

Dissent's increasingly targeted. Freedom's imperiled. Obama's ruthless. He exceeds the worst of George Bush. He's waging war on truth-tellers. He targeted more whistleblowers than all his predecessors combined. 

Brazilians Demand Social Justice

by Stephen Lendman

Justifiable public anger holds back only so long. On June 11, protests began. On June 17, they erupted across Brazil. Hundreds of thousands turned out. Estimates ranged up to 1.5 million. 

At issue is scandalous misspending on sports. It's at a time of stalling economic growth, layoffs, rising inflation, and few opportunities for youths. 

Trafficking in Lies about Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Media scoundrels substitute lies for truth and full disclosure. They violate core journalistic ethics doing so. They threaten world peace. 

They're waging war on freedom. They do it shameless, recklessly and unapologetically. They continue ad nauseam.

Washington v. Edward Snowden Update

by Stephen Lendman

Events are fast-moving. On June 23, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) press release said:

"Mr Edward Snowden left Hong Kong today (June 23) on his own accord for a third country through a lawful and normal channel."

Enemies of Syria Plan Escalated Aggression

by Stephen Lendman

So-called "Friends of Syria" are their worst enemies. They're a rogue's gallery of scoundrels. They're complicit with Washington's imperium. They violate core international law principles. 

They're no friends of peace, stability and freedom. Umbrella group members America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, and Qatar met in Doha. 

Edward Snowden Charged Under the Espionage Act

by Stephen Lendman

On June 21, Obama's Justice Department charged Snowden with espionage. It did so ruthlessly, irresponsibly and unconstitutionally. It wrongfully accused him of violating 1917 Espionage Act provisions.

It was enacted during WW I. It's long ago outdated. It has no current relevance. It belongs in history's dustbin.

Obama: The Worst of Nixon/Bush II Writ Large

by Stephen Lendman

Obama's a war criminal multiple times over. He bears full responsibility for genocidal crimes.

In a May London Guardian interview, Cornel West said:

General Wesley Clark: Whistleblower, Warrior

by Stephen Lendman

One a warrior, always one. Clark hasn't forgotten. His credentials are notorious. He's a war criminal. He's also a whistleblower. More on that below. 

He formerly commanded NATO. From March 24 - June 19, 1999, he led naked aggression against Yugoslavia. For 78 days, hundreds of warplanes attacked mercilessly. About 3,000 sorties were flown. 

Another Israeli War Criminal of the Year Award

by Stephen Lendman

America represents the worst of rogue governance. So does Israel. They menace humanity. They persecute their best. They honor their worst. 

Peacemakers are scorned. Waging war on humanity's rewarded. On March 21, Obama received Israel's Medal of Distinction. It's also called the President's Medal. 

Washington Funds Secret Israeli Ballistic Missile Base

by Stephen Lendman

On June 3, McClatchy's foreign staff headlined "US publishes details of missile base Israel wanted kept secret." More on that below.

Obama's Nuclear Arms Reduction Hoax

by Stephen Lendman

Jack Kennedy was America's last peace president. He underwent a spiritual transformation. He changed from cold warrior to peacemaker. 

He wanted nuclear weapons abolished. He urged "general and complete disarmament." He wanted force-fed Pax Americana ended.

Obama's Berlin Moment

by Stephen Lendman

Obama's unwelcome in Berlin. He's not wanted. Many Berliners aren't pleased he came. His rhetoric fell short. Doublespeak duplicity is hollow. It doesn't sell well.

On July 29, 2008, 200,000 Germans cheered him. They did so in central Berlin's Tiergarten. They hoped he'd change Bush/Cheney policies. 

Fast-Tracking Toward War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

America's run by sociopaths. They're out-of-control criminals. They're traitors. They menace humanity. They violate their sacred oaths of office. 

Presidents "do solemnly swear (or affirm to) faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of (their) Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Big Brother Writ Large in America

by Stephen Lendman

Spying on its citizenry reflects one of the most defining police state characteristics. Post-9/11, America crossed the line.

Unconstitutional mass surveillance became official US policy. Bush began it. Obama accelerated it. He did so straightaway as president. 

Putin Alone at G8

by Stephen Lendman

On June 17, G8 leaders began two days of talks in Northern Ireland. Seven nations want escalated war on Syria. Putin's alone. He's an outlier for peaceful conflict resolution.

Obama's hands are bloodrenched. He bears full responsibility for ravaging Syria. It's been ongoing since early 2011. It was planned many years earlier. 

High Level Opposition to Escalating Syria's Conflict

by Stephen Lendman

Dozens of responsible world leaders oppose Washington's war on Syria. They do so for good reason. They want peaceful conflict resolution. They're against greater escalation. Few say so publicly.

On May 15, the UN General Assembly adopted an anti-Assad resolution. It's non-binding. It was Arab League-led. Washington co-sponsored it. It followed four others since 2011.

Lawless NSA Global Spying

by Stephen Lendman

NSA is one of 16 known US spy agencies. Perhaps others operate secretly. Black budgets conceal what's spent. Amounts are enormous. They're unconscionable. 

Used responsibly, they'd relieve hunger, shelter the homeless, heal the sick, and educate young people hungry for knowledge.

Syria and Iran: In America's Crosshairs

by Stephen Lendman

Obama's on a fast track toward tyranny. He's heading for greater intervention against Syria. Ravaging the country entirely is planned. At issue is establishing another pro-Western vassal state.

Corporate America Loves Jason Furman

by Stephen Lendman

Key Obama officials comprise a virtual rogues gallery of scoundrels. On June 10, he nominated Jason Furman to replace Alan Krueger. He'll serve as White House Council of Economic Advisors chairman.

He was Clinton's Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the National Economic Council. He began advising Obama in 2008. 

Hassan Rohani: Iran's President-Elect

by Stephen Lendman

It's official. Iran's Interior Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar announced it. Rohani won 50.7% of 36.7 million votes cast.

Six candidates competed. Principlist Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf finished second. He received one-third of Rohani's total. 

Netanyahu Falsely Says Iran Plans Another Holocaust

by Stephen Lendman

He said it before Iran's June 14 election. He hasn't changed his mind. More on that below.

Netanyahu reflects Israeli fascism. He's hardline, unstable, unscrupulous and dangerous. He prioritizes conflict and instability. 

The Chemical Weapons Hoax

by Stephen Lendman

Greater US intervention in Syria looms. Manufactured threats facilitate doing so. Replacing Assad with puppet leadership is planned. Independent governments aren't tolerated. More on that below.

Fact: Washington bears full responsibility for Middle East/North Africa/Central Asian wars. Resource control is prioritized. So is imperial dominance to Russian and Chinese borders.

One-Sided Anti-Syrian Human Rights Council Resolution

by Stephen Lendman

HRC mocks human rights, It systematically spurns them. It's a de facto US imperial tool. It defiles its own mandate. It does so lawlessly. It does it unapologetically.

HRC was established to strengthen "the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and make recommendations on them."

Obama Ups the Stakes in Syria

by Stephen Lendman

Obama lied. He's a serial liar. He claims Syria used chemical weapons. His so-called red line was crossed. No verifiable evidence provides proof. Clear facts prove he lied.

Syria's Foreign Ministry called Obama's accusations "a caravan of lies" and "fabrications."

NSA Chief Lies to Congress

by Stephen Lendman

General Keith Alexander is NSA director. He's US Cyber Command head. He's in charge of lawlessly spying. He directs illegal hacking. 

He does both globally. He's a serial lawbreaker. He violates fundamental constitutional law. He testified before Congress. More on that below.

Iranians Vote

by Stephen Lendman

On June 14, Iranians began voting. They'll choose their 11th president. By law, incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad can't compete. He's limited to two terms. He's been president since August 2005.