US adopts Israeli demand on Iran’s missiles

By Gareth Porter  WASHINGTON – The Barack Obama administration’s insistence that Iran discuss its ballistic missile program in the negotiations for a comprehensive nuclear agreement brings its position into line with that of Israel and senators who introduced legislation drafted by the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC aimed at torpedoing the negotiations.  But the history of the issue suggests that the Obama administration knows that Iran will not accept the demand and that it is not necessary to a final agreement guaranteeing that Iran’s nuclear program is not used for a weapon.  White House spokesman Jay Carney highlighted the new US demand … Continue reading US adopts Israeli demand on Iran’s missiles

Militant Corporate Fascism!

The New Fascism: Terms and Conditions Let’s talk about those pesky terms and conditions. Last month, I had a chance to talk with John McAfee, the founder of the popular McAfee computer security programs. We talked about how people usually don’t read the terms and conditions of the smartphone applications that they download onto their phones. But McAfee did read the terms and conditions of the Bank of America smartphone application, and what he saw was pretty shocking. McAfee told me that, by agreeing to the terms and conditions for the Bank of America application, “You give the Bank of America … Continue reading Militant Corporate Fascism!

US sanctions bleed Iran’s health system

By Kaveh L Afrasiabi  Slowly but surely, in a scenario reminiscent of pre-invasion Iraq, unilateral Western sanctions on Iran are having devastating effects on Iran’s healthcare sector, adversely affecting the well-being of millions of ordinary Iranians – cancer patients first and foremost. [1]  According to the latest reports from Iran, despite a recent US easing of sanctions for the export of food and medicine to Iran, the current financial restrictions continue to prove a formidable obstacle for the delivery of medicine and medical equipment to Iran.  Not only that, the US and its allies have blocked an offer by the oil … Continue reading US sanctions bleed Iran’s health system

Ten Things you didn’t know about the Republican Party – Tea Party – Southern Baptist Axis

You Think You Knew Crazy? Think Again. 10 Shockers from the Increasingly Unhinged Right Wing Nothing shuts down America’s far-right lunatic fringe. Photo Credit: AFP October 12, 2013  |     1. Michele Bachmann: ‘Obama is part of Al Qaeda and end times are near.’ To the extent that she is capable of rational decision-making, Minn. Rep. Michele Bachmann decided this week might be a fitting time to remind the public that she is batshit crazy. During a radio interview, she spun out her theory that, A) President Obama is arming terrorists, generally, and Al Qaeda, specifically. And B) This is … Continue reading Ten Things you didn’t know about the Republican Party – Tea Party – Southern Baptist Axis

Kill Muslims to Purify the Earth – Christian Zionist Southern Baptist Crusader

Christian Right’s Emerging Deadly Worldview: Kill Muslims to Purify the Earth Christian extremists are preaching a war against tolerance to target and persecute all Muslims, including the 6 million who live in the U.S. Walid Shoebat, Kamal Saleem and Zachariah Anani are the three stooges of the Christian right. These self-described former Muslim terrorists are regularly trotted out — a few days ago they were at the Air Force Academy — to spew racist filth about Islam on behalf of groups such as Focus on the Family. It is a clever tactic. Curly, Larry and Mo, who all say they are born-again Christians, … Continue reading Kill Muslims to Purify the Earth – Christian Zionist Southern Baptist Crusader

Pastor Santorum – Americans Saviour?

Rick Santorum’s mission from GodBy Spengler  Rick Santorum is on a mission from God. He believes that, with all his heart. I do, too: I think that God has a plan for Rick Santorum, and that God wants him to save the United States of America. That plan, though, doesn’t include being president, not, at least in 2012.  In his most recent fund-raising pitch (which – full disclosure – I receive as a Santorum contributor), the Republican presidential candidate appears in a video, telling a story about his first campaign for congress, when he defeated a seemingly unsinkable incumbent.  Knocking … Continue reading Pastor Santorum – Americans Saviour?

Is Karzai trapped?

Karzai trapped in no-man’s land By M K Bhadrakumar Afghan President Hamid Karzai has made his first political move a week after the assassination of the head of the Afghan High Peace Council and former president, Burhanuddin Rabbani. Following a meeting in Kabul that included tribal elders, legislative chairmen, cabinet ministers, former mujahideen commanders and his two vice presidents, Karzai’s office issued a statement on Wednesday admitting that a question mark should be on the Taliban’s capacity to take independent decisions, implying they were merely a Pakistani proxy. The statement suggested that Karzai no more regards the Taliban as his … Continue reading Is Karzai trapped?

“Divinity of Doubt”: An Agnostic Probes the God Question

“Divinity of Doubt”: An Agnostic Probes the God Question by: Martha Sorren, Truthout | Book Review With books like “Helter Skelter” and “The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder” under his belt, author Vincent Bugliosi is no stranger to writing about controversial topics, and his first career as an attorney has influenced his writing voice and his writing method. “Divinity of Doubt: The God Question” is not a book about atheism. Bugliosi doesn’t have an interest in being an atheist, but rather takes the Clarence Darrow approach to belief in God and classifies himself as an agnostic. He quotes … Continue reading “Divinity of Doubt”: An Agnostic Probes the God Question