Stephen Lendman's blog

  Social Justice Protests Head Everywhere - by Stephen Lendman

Ordinary people across the Middle East, Europe and America are fed up and want long denied social justice.

Londoners are enraged about growing social pain, government in the pockets of monied interests, and endless imperial wars they want ended - NOW!

  Dominant Finance Capital Institutions - by Stephen Lendman

Most people know about the Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of England, and Bank of Japan. 

Few ever heard of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the central bank for central bankers. Based in Basle, Switzerland, it's a banking boss of bosses accountable to no government.

  Making Sense of Syria - by Stephen Lendman

Last March, Syria's externally generated uprisings began. Despite legitimate grievances, Washington orchestrated change there like elsewhere in the region. 

It's part of its imperial "New Middle East" project to control North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia to Russia's borders.

  NATO Brussels Summit Claims Successful Afghan and Libyan Campaigns - by Stephen Lendman

Despite NATO claims, Libyans heroically keep resisting overwhelming genocidal slaughter. NATO perhaps measures success by body count.

It far exceeds 100,000 and multiples more injured, some life threatening, others debilitating. In a country of six million people, the catastrophic numbers are horrific.

  Stop The Machine Occupies Washington - by Stephen Lendman

On October 6, thousands massed in Washington on the 10th anniversary of America's illegal Afghan war against a nonbelligerent country. 

Years ago it was lost. Nonetheless, it continues without end. The business of America is war, permanent wars, multiple ones. One nation after another is plundered for wealth and power while homeland needs go begging.

  Anti-Defamation League Assails Palestinian UN Membership - by Stephen Lendman

For nearly a century, ADL falsely called itself "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency (fighting) anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry...." 

  New York Times Bashes Outspoken World Leaders - by Stephen Lendman

Few world leaders challenge US and Israeli crimes. Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan often assails Israel, including at a Pretoria, South Africa Turkish foreign policy conference.

  Wall Street Runs America - by Stephen Lendman

Major Wall Street banks occupy and control Washington. They recycle their officials in and out, make policy, and enforce it with money power supremacy for virtually everything they want.

Political Washington salutes and obeys. Money power in private hands and democracy can't co-exist. It buys what it wants at the expense of government of, by and for the people. It never was and isn't now.

  Palestinians Protest Israeli Prison Hell - by Stephen Lendman

Israel treats Palestinian prisoners horrifically. In detention, interrogations include torture, intimidation and other abuses. 

"Security prisoners" are punitively isolated for extended periods. Others for any reason or none at all face similar short or longer-term treatment.

  Libyans Resist NATO's Killing Machine - by Stephen Lendman

For over six and a half months, Libyans tied down the world's mightiest military force despite overwhelming odds against them and enormous loss of life and human suffering.

Established in 1949, NATO was never a "military alliance for peace and security." It was for offense, not defense. Cold War hysteria was contrived to incite fear and assure an arms race for corporate dominance and enrichment.

  Israeli Occupation, Colonialism and Apartheid: Crimes Against Humanity - by Stephen Lendman

Colonialism and apartheid are especially serious international law breaches because they fundamentally violate core legal principles and values. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirmed self-determination as an essential principle of international law. All states must respect and promote it. Colonial occupation is in clear violation.

  The New York Times: Distorting and Suppressing Truth for Power - by Stephen Lendman

Imagine winning 106 Pulizer Prizes awarded for excellence in journalism, more than any other broadsheet, for delivering managed, not real news, information and opinion.

Imagine doing it since 1851. Imagine being called the "newspaper of record," producing "All the News That's Fit to Print."

  Israeli State Terror Belies Wanting Peace - by Stephen Lendman

In his book "Overcoming Zionism," Joel Kovel called Israel "a machine for the manufacture of human rights abuses" led by terrorists posing as democrats.

Throughout its history, Israeli policy toward Arabs has been corrosive, destructive, racist, extremist, undemocratic and hateful. 

  Bailout Roulette - by Stephen Lendman

Daily the charade continues as world economies crater. Longtime financial analyst and Progressive Radio News Hour regular Bob Chapman says systematic global risk "lurks around every corner."

The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) wants governments to increase bailing out banks close to failure. Taxpayers become lenders of last resort. 

  Palestinian Freedom Later, Not Now - by Stephen Lendman

On October 2, Haaretz said "Israel accepts Quartet peace plan," making Palestinian UN membership conditional on negotiating peace with an unwilling partner.

No matter that decades of on-and-off talks never achieved resolution and won't now. 

 Police State Justice Under Obama - Stephen Lendman

Lawlessness, injustice, and contempt for democratic values define his administration. He delivered change all right - for the worst, and nothing ahead looks promising.

Obama-style "rules of engagement" include bullets, bombs, slit throats, knives in the back, or drone attacks justice.

  Congressional Anti-Internet Freedom Bills- by Stephen Lendman

Net Neutrality is the last frontier of press freedom. With it, consumers have open access to an array of equipment, content, applications and service, free from corporate control. Public interest groups want it preserved. Giant telecom and cable companies want control to:

• establish toll roads, or premium lanes; 

  Abbas Feeling Heavy-Handed Pressure - by Stephen Lendman

Washington wants Abbas' UN membership Security Council application tabled in limbo for months. On September 28, it was sent to a standing admissions committee.

On September 30, New York Times writer Neil MacFarquhar headlined, "Palestinian Request Sent to Experts," saying:

  Prison Hell in America - by Stephen Lendman

Prison is hell everywhere. America is no different in, by far, the world's largest gulag. Inmates are treated worse than subhumans. 

Torture is commonly used. It not just at Guantanamo and similar offshore hellholes. It happens across America in federal, state and local prisons where inmates are terrorized by dogs, shocked with cattle prods, burned by toxic chemicals, harmed by stun guns, beaten, stripped naked, raped, and abused in other ways.

  Palestinian UN Membership Roulette - by Stephen Lendman

As Palestinian legal advisor in 1987, Law Professor Francis Boyle drafted its Declaration of Independence, creating a Palestinian state. 

Palestinians now want and deserve official recognition and full de jure UN membership. Washington and Israel remain obstructionist. 

  Entrapping Muslims in America - by Stephen Lendman

Post-9/11, American Muslims became fair game, targeting them for their faith, ethnicity, and at times prominence and charity.

As a result, they've been ruthlessly vilified and exploited  as "war on terror" scapegoats for political advantage.

  Rage Against Wall Street Crooks - by Stephen Lendman

Angry New Yorkers organized an initiative called "Occupy Wall Street." Beginning September 17, they called for "tak(ing) the bull by the horns," referring to the familiar New York financial district symbol.

Its web site statement said:

  Imploding Bubble Economies - by Stephen Lendman

Economic meltdown comes in stages. Recognition takes longer. Tout TV pundits stay in denial longest, calling crisis conditions a normal correction.

Reality suggests otherwise with US unemployment approaching 23%, home foreclosures multiplying, and poverty levels double or more official distorted numbers that artificially hold them down.

  Israeli West Bank Annexation Bill - by Stephen Lendman

Palestinians petitioned the UN for sovereign recognition and full UN membership.

Four extremist MKs responded, calling for West Bank settlements annexed. A previous article explained, accessed through the following link:

  Ahmad Qatamesh: Israeli Prisoner of Conscience - by Stephen Lendman

On April 21, 2011 at 2:00AM, Israeli soldiers arrested Qatamesh at his brother's Ramallah home.

An hour earlier, his wife (Suha), daughter (Hanin), and two female relatives were held hostage to force his surrender.

  Calls to Annex West Bank Settlements - by Stephen Lendman

Since 1967, Israel established 121 settlements, recognized by the Interior Ministry as "communities." Another 100 unauthorized outposts were built. 

In addition, 12 annexed Jerusalem neighborhoods are considered settlements under international law. Moreover, settler enclaves exist in Palestinian East Jerusalem areas. They include:

  Obstructing Palestinian Statehood Begins - by Stephen Lendman

On September 23 in New York, a State Department "Special Briefing" was held. An unnamed "Senior Administration Official" commented on the Quartet's Palestinian statehood proposal, saying:

  Putin Bashing - by Stephen Lendman

On September 24, Russia's Vladimir Putin announced he'll run again for president in 2012 after serving eight years as Dmitry Medvedev's Prime Minister.

America's media have better memories than elephants. In November 2007, they recall Putin on National Unity Day telling military cadets and youth groups that while:

  Quartet Anti-Palestinian Statehood Proposal - by Stephen Lendman

Quartet representatives UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Middle East envoy Tony Blair, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Catherine Aston explained its elements.

  Putin in 2012 - by Stephen Lendman

Currently he's United Russia's Prime Minister, serving with President Dmitry Medvedev. 

From May 7, 2000 - May 7, 2008, he was Russia's second President, succeeding Boris Yeltsin, a man known for destructive "shock therapy" that created shocking levels of poverty and social inequality.