Stephen Lendman's blog

Obama Picks Jack Lew for Treasury

by Stephen Lendman

Staff changes usually occur in second presidential terms. John Kerry was picked to replace Hillary Clinton at State. Chuck Hagel is Obama's Defense choice. John Brennan was tapped for CIA director.

Anti-Chavez Media War Rages

by Stephen Lendman

It shouldn't surprise. It raged throughout his tenure. It continues while he's ill. It vilifies progressive Bolivarianism. It wants neoliberal harshness replacing it.

It ignores responsible social reform. It's dismissive of Chavez's overwhelming popularity. He rescued Venezuela from its ugly past. Millions won't tolerate returning to what they deplore.

Chavez Inauguration Postponed

by Stephen Lendman

On January 8, Vice President Nicolas Maduro addressed National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello. He said Chavez:

Washington Post Supports Israeli Settlements

by Stephen Lendman

Post editors are contemptuous of fundamental human rights. They spurn democratic values. They consider rule of law principles quaint and out-of-date. Wealth, power, privilege, and dominance alone matter. 

When America goes to war or plans one, they march supportively in lockstep. They ignore the worst of imperial crimes. They endorse Israeli occupation harshness. 

Hagel and Brennan Nominations

by Stephen Lendman

Senate confirmation on both is required. Expect little opposition to Brennan. More on him below. 

Republicans will challenge Hagel. At issue is political opportunism more than who serves. Questions about Obama's nominee are exaggerated. More on that below.

New York Times Wages War on Medicare and Social Security

by Stephen Lendman

The record of America's newspaper of record is deplorable. It supports wealth, power, privilege and dominance. It backs corporate interests. It spurns popular ones. It endorses imperial wars.

Western Media War on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

On January 6, Assad called for "comprehensive national dialogue in the near future." He rules out negotiating "with a puppet made by the West."

He advocates responsibly engaging opposition elements and other political parties.

New York Times Supports Austerity Harshness

by Stephen Lendman

Austerity reflects predatory capitalist harshness. Bankers, other corporate favorites, and super-rich elites are enriched at the expense of most others. 

Force-fed policies are destructive. Disadvantaged households are harmed most. Capital's divine right is prioritized. It profits by cutting wages and eroding social spending en route to eliminating it altogether.

Foreign Terrorists Wage War on Syria 

by Stephen Lendman

Syrian authorities said so in 2011. Other reports acknowledged it then and now. 

Syria is Washington's war. It was planned years ago. America wants pro-Western puppet leadership replacing Assad. 

America's Lackluster December Jobs Report

by Stephen Lendman

Headlines belied its weakness. Economist John Williams reengineers economic data based on reliable decades earlier modeling.

U-3 unemployment rose 0.1% to 7.8%. U-6 is broader. It's 14.4%. It includes:

Bolivarianism in Venezuela

by Stephen Lendman

With or without Chavez, it's institutionalized. It greatly improved the lives of most Venezuelans. It's become part of the national culture. It won't wane and die.

It reflects Simon Bolivar's vision. He defeated the Spanish, liberated half of South America, and advocated using national wealth responsibly, fairly and equitably.

PA Recognizes Palestinian Statehood

by Stephen Lendman

Mahmoud Abbas is a longtime Israeli collaborator. It took him 24 years to acknowledge it. More on that below.

Palestinian statehood existed since November 15, 1988. It was proclaimed in Algiers. The PLO adopted the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. 

Venezuela's Future

by Stephen Lendman

The New York Times debated it. Nine views were presented. Mark Weisbrot co-directs the Center for Economic and Policy Research. He's fair-minded and forthright.

He was outnumbered eight to one. Times style debates avoid evenhanded exchanges.

Netanyahu: Unfit to Serve

by Stephen Lendman

It shouldn't surprise. He's a world class thug. He deplores democratic principles. He spurns peace. He menaces the region. He prioritizes racist persecution. He stresses neoliberal harshness.

He's an embarrassment to legitimate governance. Polls suggest he'll remain prime minister after January 22 elections. Israelis have themselves to blame. 

Another NNC Lendman Interview

NNC's Iman Soleimani conducted this and earlier interviews. Each raised major world issues.

NCC is one of Iran's largest media operations. It works collaboratively with major TV and News services.

Questions and answers are below. Editing was done as needed. Final comments follow.

Institutionalized Inequality in America

by Stephen Lendman

Millions of Americans face lump of coal harshness this holiday season. It's no different throughout the year. Annually, things get worse. 

Hard times reflect what growing numbers endure. Bipartisan complicity bears full responsibility.

Hardening Israeli Fascism

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's war on Palestine and Israeli Arab citizens reflects it. So does extreme hardline governance. Pre-election polls show Netanyahu's Likud/Yisrael Beiteinu coalition favored to win.

They'll partner with likeminded extremists. Most Israelis remain shockingly indifferent. Many are ideologically supportive. Haaretz sounded the alarm.

Fiscal Cliff Postmortems

by Stephen Lendman

Congressional profiles in courage are sorely lacking. Pretenders usually vote party line when asked or pressured. 

No House or Senate member explained what constituents most need to know. Fiscal cliff hype reflects doublespeak duplicity. Previous articles explained.

Netanyahu's Warning

by Stephen Lendman

Netanyahu represents lawless rogue leadership. He belongs in prison, not high office. Pre-election polls suggest he'll retain power. 

Israelis aren't smart enough to spurn him. Palestinian suffering will continue. The new year began like 2012 ended. More on that below.

New UN Report on Syria

by Stephen Lendman

On January 2, the UN News Center headlined "Data suggests death toll could be more than 60,000, says UN human rights office."

Flim Flam Fiscal Cliff Legislation

by Stephen Lendman

Senate members met, debated, negotiated, passed stopgap legislation, and largely delayed deficit cutting for later.

On Tuesday, the House followed suit. Obama will sign it into law or may already have done so.

No Relief for Palestine in New Year

by Stephen Lendman

Gaza remains isolated under siege. No relief in sight looms. Occupation harshness is policy. Peace is a four-letter word. 

Dominant Israeli hardliners scorn it. So does Washington. Violence and instability advance their agenda. Conflict will continue in 2013. So will Palestinian suffering.

Venezuelan Leadership Up for Grabs?

by Stephen Lendman

New reports about Chavez's health raise concerns. He's struggling to recover from complicated cancer surgery. Previous articles explained. More on his current status below.

On October 7, Venezuelans overwhelmingly reelected him. They want no one else leading them. He transformed national politics responsibly. He established participatory democracy and social justice.

Beating Up on Iran and Syria

by Stephen Lendman

A new Press TV poll shows 72% of respondents believe ravaging Syria continues "to destroy the (regional) axis of anti-Israeli resistance…."

The Gatekeepers: Exposing Israel's Dark Side

by Stephen Lendman

Dror Moreh is one of Israel's leading cinematographers. Last October, his documentary featuring candid dialogues with former Shin Bet heads debuted in New York. 

In early 2013, other Western venues will show it. Over the weekend, it premiered at Tel Aviv's Cinematheque.

Responsible Fiscal Cliff Resolution

by Stephen Lendman

Responsible governance isn't rocket science. Nor is effective economic policy. Fiscal cliff resolution is as simple as doing the right thing. Both parties spurn doing so.

December 31 is a nominal deadline. Effectively it's meaningless. New year legislation can be retroactive to January 1. Absent any, here's what's at stake.

Rare Israeli Justice

by Stephen Lendman

Instances indeed are rare. An important one deserves mention. In mid-July 2010, Knesset members stripped MK Hanin Zuabi of key parliamentary rights and privileges. 

They did so for participating in the May 2010 Freedom Flotilla. She joined others trying to bring vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. Lunatic fringe MK's targeted her. They oppose doing the right thing.  

Congress Extends Warrantless Spying

by Stephen Lendman

America's political process is lawless, corrupt and dysfunctional. Fiscal cliff hype, noise and theater continue. Destroying fundamental civil society social protections aren't mentioned.

Rushed through legislation targeted Iran's growing Latin American influence. On December 28, Obama signed the Countering Iran in Western Hemisphere Act.

Cliff Notes

by Stephen Lendman

Congressional/administration hype, theater, gamesmanship, brinksmanship, and duplicity define yearend fiscal cliff discussions.

Previous articles explained what's at stake. Years ago, Republicans and Democrats conspired to destroy America's social contract. 

Cold War Politics Heats Up

by Stephen Lendman

Previous articles discussed how Washington reinvented the "evil empire." On March 8, 1983, Ronald Reagan coined the term. He addressed the National Association of Evangelicals.