Fast forward to 2048. The world is greatly changed, and in this year China invades France, occupying Paris and a good portion of the nation. The French are massacred, evicted, raped, chased, and terrorized. Towns are destroyed. Every town and village has its name changed to a Chinese name, and its prior existence erased from any history books produced from then forward.

Portions of France not yet under Chinese control shelter refugees by the millions. French citizens captured in their homes are held as "prisoners of war" and freed to become refugees in distant parts of France. China changes the name of its occupied areas from France to Chance. The remaining parts of the country are just referred to by their local (Chinese) names, as if they were part of no nation at all and yet somehow Chinese in the end.

A Persian Gulf ‘Hot Line’ Proposed

With tensions again rising in the Persian Gulf, an accident or provocation around the narrow Strait of Hormuz could precipitate a war. In this memo for President Obama, 11 former U.S. intelligence officials urge a U.S.-Iranian system for communications — a “hot line” — in case of crisis.

MEMORANDUM FOR: The President

FROM: Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity

SUBJECT: Avoiding Spiraling Violence in the Persian Gulf

We write respectfully to call your attention to the clear and present danger of escalation in the Persian Gulf and to suggest ways to lessen that likelihood. There needs to be a reliable way for our Navy to communicate at a sufficiently high level with Iranian naval counterparts. Otherwise, incidents occasioned by accident or provocation can readily escalate in ways neither side intends.

  CIA Calls Israel Main US Regional Spy Threat

by Stephen Lendman

On July 28, AP reported it. Anonymous sources were cited. The CIA's Tel Aviv station chief discovered "sensitive equipment he used (at home) to communicate with" headquarters personnel in Langley, VA was compromised.

By AMY TEIBEL, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that the Obama administration's top security official has briefed Israel on U.S. plans for a possible attack on Iran, seeking to reassure it that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.

A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, said the article in the Haaretz daily was incorrect.

Haaretz said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon laid out the plans before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner at a visit to Israel earlier this month. It cited an unidentified senior American official as the source of its report, which came out as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was telling Israel he would back an Israeli military strike against Iran.

  New York Times on Israel's Democracy

by Stephen Lendman

The Times is a longtime imperial apologist. It's no different on Israel. On July 21, its editorial headlined "Israel's Embattled Democracy." 

  Torturing Children: Official Israeli Policy

by Stephen Lendman

Israel treats children like adults. Only two countries impose life without parole (LWOP) sentences on minors - America and Israel.

Israel is a signatory to the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). It's explicit and binding provisions state:

  Dying for Justice in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Among developed countries, Israel is one of the world's most socially, politically, and economically unjust. It mocks democratic values and social justice. 

  Spoiling for Another Lebanon War

by Stephen Lendman

Lebanon has the misfortune of bordering Israel. The IDF attacked its northern neighbor in 1978, 1982, 1996, and 2006. More on the most recent war below.

Israel still illegally occupies Sheba Farms and Ghajar Lebanese territory.

  Israel Likely Behind Bulgaria False Flag

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's history is odious. State terror is policy. It's a dagger pointed at humanity's heart. False flags and targeted assassinations are specialties.

  Divorce Scuttles Shotgun Likud/Kadima Wedding

by Stephen Lendman

Shotgun weddings often produce quick and/or ugly divorces. This one was no exception. When announced, public outrage greeted it. 

  Protesting Social Injustice by Self-Immolation

by Stephen Lendman

Social justice in Israel is just a figure of speech. It's entirely lacking. Neoliberal harshness is policy.

Israel replicates the worst Western society policies. Little about it gets reported.

  Criminalizing Dissent in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Netanyahu's government is its most extremist ever. Fundamental freedoms are threatened. 

Repressive Knesset bills target speech, assembly, association, and the right to dissent.

  International Law Revisionism

by Stephen Lendman

In January 2012, Netanyahu appointed a three-member committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy. 

Included were former Foreign Ministry legal adviser Alan Baker and former Tel Aviv District Court president Tchia Shapira.

  Whitewashing Criminal Fraud

by Stephen Lendman

Wall Street crooks walk away free every time. So do their London counterparts and other corporate bosses. 

Crime pays so why not commit it. The only penalty is nasty headlines for a few days and minor slap on the wrist fines or admonishments about promising no repeats. At least not until next week.

Total run time: 29:00

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  Maligned for Doing the Right Thing

by Stephen Lendman

Twice Cynthia McKinney lost her congressional seat for supporting Palestinian rights.

Doing the right thing is costly. Going along with what's wrong pays well. Staying in government depends on it. McKinney is too principled to play that game.

  IsraelI Judicial Harshness

by Stephen Lendman

A new Addameer report explains how Israel uses military courts and imprisonment as instruments of repression.

  Israel: Land of Inequality and Injustice

by Stephen Lendman

Conditions go from bad to worse. Jews, Israeli Arabs, and Palestinians suffer.

Last summer, social justice protests erupted. Hoped for change never came. Promises made were broken. Betrayed Israelis demand rights they've been denied.

  Israel Likely Killed Arafat

by Stephen Lendman

Credible information on Arafat's death surfaced years ago. It wasn't natural. Evidence suggests he was assassinated. Israel most likely was responsible. More on that below.

  Yitzhak Shamir's Criminal Legacy

by Stephen Lendman

Shamir reflected the worst of what Joel Kovel calls "imperialist expansion and militarism (with) signs of the fascist malignancy."

  Profile of Institutionalized Racism

by Stephen Lendman

According to Hamoked, the Center for the Defence of the Individual, Israel revoked residency rights for about 240,000 Gaza and West Bank Palestinians from 1967 to 1994. About 15,000 were aged 90 or older.

By Gareth Porter, IPS

WASHINGTON, Jun 30 2012 (IPS) - By staking out a policy line on Iran reflecting the views of the Israeli national security leadership, Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz has undercut the Benjamin Netanyahu government’s carefully planned strategy to get U.S. President Barack Obama to threaten war against Iran if it doesn’t give up its nuclear programme.

It could be the beginning of a process by which Netanyahu begins to climb down from a militarily aggressive policy that has provoked unprecedented dissent from high-ranking active and retired military and intelligence officials.

  Social Justice Protests in Israel

by Stephen Lendman

Last summer, Israelis protested for weeks for social justice. Hundreds of thousands rallied throughout the country.

From Haaretz:

A senior Israeli official recently told Reuters that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to attack Iran before the U.S. elections in November.

  Destroying Susiya Village to Save It

by Stephen Lendman

On February 7, 1968, AP correspondent Peter Arnett contributed one of the Vietnam War's most memorable quotes.

Writing about Ben Tre, he cited an unnamed US major saying: "It became necessary to destroy the village in order to save it."

  Israel Reneges on Hunger Striker Deal

by Stephen Lendman

Israel's agreements aren't worth the paper they're written on. 

Rogue states don't deal. They demand. They lie. They cheat. They betray. They're intolerant of justice and other democratic values.

  Struggling on Empty Stomachs for Justice

by Stephen Lendman

Rare Palestinian battles are won.  Liberating struggles continue. 

Hunger strikers Khader Adnan and Hana Shalabi were released. After 92 days without food, Israel agreed to free footballer Mahmoud Sarsak. 

  Israel Declared an Apartheid State

by Stephen Lendman

Colonialism and apartheid breach international law.

  Palestinian Footballer Wins Release

by Stephen Lendman

On June 18, Maan News headlined "Al-Sarsak ends hunger strike in release deal," saying: