Stephen Lendman's blog

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.

Syrian Death Squad Invaders Seize UN Peacekeepers

by Stephen Lendman

At this writing, efforts to secure their release continue. Reports suggest freeing them on Saturday likely. 

UN officials hoped to do so Friday. Unsafe conditions and darkness delayed things. So does dealing with rogue killers.

Chavez: Visionary Leader Extraordinaire 

by Stephen Lendman

He and Castro matter most. They don't come any better. They transformed their countries responsibly. Doing so made the impossible possible. They did it against long odds. They won over hearts and minds.

Serial Killer Heads CIA

by Stephen Lendman

Chalmers Johnson called the CIA the president's private army. Imperial Rome had its praetorian guard. It served and protected emperors. 

Oprah at Harvard

by Stephen Lendman

Harvard's Crimson announced it. Oprah will deliver Harvard's 362nd Commencement address.

Chavez: A Personal Tribute

by Stephen Lendman

He's gone. His two-year cancer struggle ended. It claimed him. He's sorely missed. 

He was one of Latin America's most notable leaders. His charisma was special. It was real. His spirit lives.

Obama Authorizes Killing Americans Domestically

by Stephen Lendman

Rogue leaders overstep. They never quit. Tyranny in America is hardwired. Bush authorized it for eight years. Obama exceeds his worst policies. He masquerades as people friendly.

He does so fraudulently. American freedom is vanishing. It's doing so in plain sight. Obama usurped diktat power. His word alone is policy. It replaced rule of law principles. Tyrants operate that way.

Media Scoundrels Pillory Chavez Before He's Buried

by Stephen Lendman

His passing made no difference. Media scoundrels don't quit. They spent 14 years vilifying him. They did it unfairly. They haven't stopped.

They're called scoundrels for good reason. They violate fundamental journalistic ethics. They lie for power. They turn truth on its head. 

Persecuting Hanin Zoabi

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's Supreme Court ruled twice on her. Most recently it did so in mid-February. It went both ways. More on that below.

In July 2010, Knesset members stripped her of key parliamentary rights and privileges. They did so lawlessly and maliciously. They targeted her for doing the right thing.

Chavismo Lives!

by Stephen Lendman

Venezuelans mourn. Chavismo lives! Bolivarianism is institutionalized. 

Venezuelans expect no less. They want no part of their ugly past. They'll put their bodies on the line to prevent it. They did before. They'll do it again. 

More Controversial Obama Appointments

by Stephen Lendman

Throughout his tenure, he ignored the best, brightest, most honorable and well qualified. He chose cabinet and other top picks he should have spurned.

AIPAC Conference Day Two

by Stephen Lendman

AIPAC operates lawlessly. It's an unregistered foreign agent. It prioritizes militancy, war, occupation harshness, apartheid, racist hate, and Israel uber alles. 

It's a dagger in the heart of rule of law principles and democratic value. It menaces world peace. Its annual conferences display the worst of its agenda.