Stephen Lendman's blog

Washington Supports Venezuelan Opposition

by Stephen Lendman

It's an open secret. Throughout Chavez's tenure, America supported opposition candidates. Quasi-government agencies did so. They're at it again now.

New York Times Hypocrisy

by Stephen Lendman

NYT's attempts to set the record straight are duplicitous. They come too late to matter.

On May 26, 2004, Times editors headlined "The Times and Iraq," saying:

Obama in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

His visit bodes ill, not good. He left late Tuesday night. On March 20, he arrived around noon Israeli time.

Secretary of State John Kerry came earlier. Scores of officials, aides and security personnel accompanied him and Obama.

America's Genocidal Iraq War

by Stephen Lendman

March 19 marks its 10th anniversary. Permanent occupation is policy. Killing, destruction, toxic pollution, and human misery remain unabated. Pre-2003 Iraq no longer exists.

America's Iraq war is one of history's greatest crimes. It followed Gulf War devastation and punishing sanctions. 

Grand Theft Cyprus

by Stephen Lendman

Cyprus is tiny. Its population numbers about a million. Its GDP is miniscule by Western standards. It's 0.2% of Europe's economy. It's entrapped under Eurozone straightjacket rules. 

They impose financial tyranny. Dissimilar countries surrender monetary and fiscal control. Doing so abandons effective ways to combat recessions.

Escalating Syria's War

by Stephen Lendman

Syria is Washington's war. It was planned years ago. At issue is regime change. America tolerates no independent governments. It wants pro-Western puppet ones replacing them.

Death squad terror is policy. Washington upped the stakes. Headlines suggest chemical weapons use. Both sides trade accusations. Nothing's verified.

Remembering Rachel Corrie

by Stephen Lendman

Rachel represented the best of courageous activism. She put her body on the line for justice. She did so because it matters. She's gone but not forgotten.

Ten years ago on March 16, an Israeli bulldozer driver murdered her in cold blood. She tried stopping a Rafah refugee camp home demolition.

Israel's Fascist Government: Part II

by Stephen Lendman

On March 18, Israel's new government was sworn in. Doing so hardened fascist rule. A previous article explained.

Israelis elected their most extremist government ever. It's hugely over-the-top. It's militantly hardline, racist and unscrupulous. It menaces the region. 

Holding Harvard's Crimson Accountable

by Stephen Lendman

Harvard's motto is "VERITAS." It's shield and class rings display it. At issue is anti-Palestinian bias. 

Washington Post Anti-Bolivarian Propaganda

by Stephen Lendman

Western media scoundrels waged war on Chavez. They did so throughout his tenure. Managed news misinformation substituted for truth and full disclosure. 

Chavez is gone. Misreporting continues. Post editors march in lockstep with other media scoundrels. Doing so betrays their readers.

UN Human Rights Council: America's Imperial Tool

by Stephen Lendman

In 1945, the UN was established: 

• "to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war;

Chavez Laid to Rest

by Stephen Lendman

He died on March 5. Smart money says Obama killed him. His death was very suspicious. A previous article discussed it. 

Hopefully forensic evidence will prove what many people believe. 

Obama Heads to Israel

by Stephen Lendman

As now scheduled, he'll arrive March 20. He'll remain until March 23. It's his first presidential visit. He made several trips before. He's only the fifth US president to go. Others included Nixon, Carter, Clinton, and GW Bush.

He waited until Israel's new government was formed. It took weeks to do so. On March 15, coalition partners agreed.

Detroit Symbolizes America's Decline

by Stephen Lendman

America's economy is sick. It's getting sicker. Coverup and denial conceal reality. Census data say record numbers of US counties are dying. It's over one in three. 

It reflects population shifts and Depression conditions. America's decline gets little attention.

America's Dirty War in Iraq

by Stephen Lendman

America wages wars dirty. They're all unprincipled and lawless. It's official policy. Exceptions don't exist. No-holds-barred barbarism is longstanding. 

Rule of law principles don't matter. They never did. Modern technologies make today's wars worse than ever. All forms of brutality are commonplace.

Paul Ryan's At It Again

by Stephen Lendman

He represents Wisconsin's first congressional district. He was Romney's vice presidential running mate. He's House Budget Committee chairman. Wall Street Journal editors love him.

On March 12, they headlined "A Ryan Reboot," saying:

Israel's Fascist Government

by Stephen Lendman

On January 22, Israelis voted. Results hardened fascist rule. Dominant right-wing parties control 102 of 120 Knesset seats. 

Israelis have themselves to blame. They elected their most extremist government in history. Belligerence, state-sponsored terrorism, militarized occupation, racist persecution, settlement expansions, and neoliberal harshness reflect official policy.

Challenging Israel's Right to Exist Responsibly

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's a rogue terror state. It's been so from inception. Its leaders' hands are blood-drenched. They're responsible for decades of high crimes.

Obama Killed Chavez

by Stephen Lendman

Most likely he was either poisoned or infected with cancer causing substances. Four cancer surgeries in 18 months raise suspicions.

Chavez knew he was marked for death. He said so numerous times. Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez believes Washington and Israel conspired to kill him. 

Gitmo Atrocities Continue

by Stephen Lendman

America's by far the world's leading human rights abuser. It commits horrific crimes globally. No other nation matches its record. It's longstanding. It's unconscionable. It's lawless.

It violates fundamental international, constitutional, and US statute laws. It does so with impunity. It's official US policy.

Wrongheaded NYT Views When They're Right

by Stephen Lendman

On March 9, a Times editorial headlined "Repeal the Military Force Law." Reasons given omitted what's most important. More on that below.

America's Retirement Crisis

by Stephen Lendman

Decades of class war leaves most Americans nearing retirement woefully unprepared.

Since the mid-1970s, real wages haven't kept pace with inflation. Benefits steadily eroded. High-paying jobs disappeared. Improved technology forces wage earners to work harder for less. 

Penny Pritzker: Obama's Likely Commerce Secretary Choice

by Stephen Lendman

She's one of America's most powerful women. For sure she's one of the richest. Forbes estimates she's worth $1.85 billion. 

She's also heir to the Hyatt Hotels and Pritzker family fortune. It's net worth exceeds $20 billion. Some think it's much more. 

Obama Wants Lynne Stewart Dead

by Stephen Lendman

Lynne's 73. She's gravely ill.

Obama killed Chavez. He wants Lynne dead. Unjustifiable longterm imprisonment assures it. 

She's a breast cancer survivor. It reemerged. It's spreading.

Turkey Targets Press Freedom

by Stephen Lendman

No country imprisons more journalists than Turkey. Ragip Zarakolu understands well. He's a prominent human rights activist/publisher. He's a former Nobel Peace Prize nominee. He's been maliciously targeted for years.

New York Times v. Hugo Chavez

by Stephen Lendman

The Paper of Record's history is longstanding and unprincipled. It supports corporate and imperial interests. It deplores populist ones. It features managed news misinformation. It betrays its readers doing so.

When America goes to war or plans one, it marches in lockstep. It's comfortable with neoliberal harshness. It abhors progressive politics. It supports wrong over right.

Thomas Perez: Obama's Labor Secretary Choice

by Stephen Lendman

Throughout his tenure, Obama waged war on labor. Perez won't change things. He'll replace Hilda Solis. She resigned in January. She accomplished little in four years. 

She's the daughter of immigrant union members. She failed to deliver as promised. She pledged to make a difference and didn't. Expect little change from Perez. More on him below.

Mid-April Venezuelan Presidential Elections Scheduled

by Stephen Lendman

Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena announced Sunday, April 14. Acting President Nicolas Maduro carries Chavez's torch. 

He'll do it responsibly. Millions of Venezuelans depend on him. He won't them down. It won't be easy. He faces enormous obstacles. So did Chavez.

A Nation Mourns

by Stephen Lendman

Venezuelans mourn their great loss. Visceral grief pervades the country. Chavez gave so much to so many. He cared. He showed it. He made a difference. He accomplished so much in 14 years.

The torch passes. On Friday, Nicolas Maduro was sworn in. He's acting president. New elections will follow in about 30 days. Maduro vowed to continue what Chavez began.

Israeli Violence on International Women's Day

by Stephen Lendman

Police state harshness reflects official Israeli policy. Palestinians are ruthlessly targeted. On March 8, Israeli security forces stormed the Al Aqsa mosque. 

It wasn't the first time. It won't be last. They did so on International Women's Day. They commemorated it violently. More on that below.