Corporatism and Fascism

Islamofascist Rule in Egypt

by Stephen Lendman

Washington engineered Mubarak's ouster. He fell from grace. He became more liability than asset. 

For years, State Department and Pentagon officials wanted him out. He opposed Bush's 2003 Iraq war and other US policies. He had to go.

Obama Prioritizes Targeted Killings

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article said Obama decided who lives or dies. His kill list chooses targets. He designated himself judge, jury and executioner.

He chose John Brennan as new CIA director. He's currently Deputy National Security Advisor for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. He's Obama's chief counterterrorism advisor. 

Tim Geithner's Legacy of Shame

by Stephen Lendman

From January 26, 2009 - January 25, 2013, he was Obama's Treasury Secretary. He and Fed chairman Bernanke engineered crisis conditions.

Bankers profited hugely. They still do. Ordinary people were scammed. Geithner's gone. His legacy speaks for itself. His background showed what to expect. He spent three years at Kissinger Associates.

Obama's War on Whistleblowers

by Stephen Lendman

At perhaps the most perilous time in world history, exposing vital truths takes on greater urgency than ever.

Freedom in America is endangered. Truth telling and dissent increasingly aren't tolerate. Whistleblowers are called threats to national security.

Wall Street's in Good Hands with Mary Jo White

by Stephen Lendman

On January 24, Obama nominated Mary Jo White as SEC head. "You don't want to mess with Mary Jo," he said. Others have different views. More about her below.

Washington is Wall Street occupied territory. Regulatory oversight is absent. Earlier New Deal reforms are gone.

Targeting Younas Abdullah Muhammad

by Stephen Lendman

American disparagement of Muslims is longstanding. In his book "Reel Bad Arabs: How Hollywood Vilifies a People," Jack Shaheen said they've been denigrated throughout decades of cinematic history.

Targeting Chavismo

by Stephen Lendman

Dark Washington forces never quit. Nor do media scoundrels. Chavez is fair game. Since 1999, he's been maliciously targeted and maligned. Ill or well makes no difference.

Lynne Stewart's Struggle for Justice Continues

by Stephen Lendman

Numerous previous articles discussed her case, character, and dedication to rule of law principles. She's an internationally recognized human rights lawyer. 

Inaugural Hypocrisy

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article discussed America's quadrennial exercise in hypocrisy. It's institutionalized. It conceals the nation's dark side.

Pomp and circumstance hide neoliberal harshness. War is portrayed as peace. Lawless government is called legitimate. Democracy never existed and doesn't now.

Four More Years

by Stephen Lendman

Inaugurating US presidents quadrennially reflects institutionalized hypocrisy.

On January 20, Obama began term two. After all the harm he caused so many, imagine how much more he plans.

Targeting Mali

by Stephen Lendman

At issue is scrambling for Africa's resources. They're vast. They're some of the world's largest and richest.

They include oil, gas, gold, silver, diamonds, uranium, iron, copper, tin, lead, nickel, coal, cobalt, bauxite, wood, coltan, manganese, chromium, vanadium-bearing titanium, agricultural lands, and offshore fishing.

By Linn Washington, Jr.

America’s corporate news media love highlighting David-besting-Goliath stories…except apparently, when the fallen Goliath is major media mogul Rupert Murdoch – the billionaire owner of America’s caustic FOX News and other entities.

Aaron Swartz: Suicide or Murder?

by Stephen Lendman

Advocates of online openness and freedom lost a committed champion. The Economist said to call him "gifted would be to miss the point. As far as the internet was concerned, he was the gift."

By Dave Lindorff

What is wrong with America?

Big question.

Simple answer.

Obama: Money Power's Point Man

by Stephen Lendman

Throughout his tenure, Obama's done what supporters thought impossible. He's governed to the right of George Bush.

He mocks rule of law principles and other democratic values. He prioritizes wars on humanity. He's waging multiple direct and proxy ones. War on terror subterfuge disguises them.

Aaron Swartz's Suspicious Death

by Stephen Lendman

Media scoundrels stopped short of truth and full disclosure. The Wall Street Journal headlined "An Internet Activist Commits Suicide." 

New York's medical examiner announced death by "hang(ing) himself in his Brooklyn apartment." 

FAIR v. Scoundrel Media Misreporting on Venezuela

by Stephen Lendman

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) is a "national media watch group." It's an "anti-censorship organization."

It features "neglected news stories." It "defend(s) working journalists when they are muzzled."

By John Grant

Since gun control is such a hot topic, the elite think tank the Project For a New American Decade (PNAD) has come up with a modest proposal to add to the national conversation. We think it’s worth a try.

First, we do the obvious, most sensible things: we establish universal background checks and dignified mental health services for those who exhibit a need for it. The third leg of the current gun control imbroglio -- banning AR-15s -- is a bit trickier.

US Law Prohibits Transferring Guantanamo Prisoners to America

by Stephen Lendman

FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) legislation proscribes it. 

January 11, 2013 marks Guantanamo's 11th anniversary. More on that below.

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.

By Kourosh Zaibari

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.

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.

By Dave Lindorff

The all-out assault on Social Security has begun.

The set-up for the big battle was the Fiscal Cliff charade. That hyped drama in the last days of December was a moment of truth for the Democratic Party and for President Barack Obama to make it clear whether they were still defenders of the New Deal legacy, or whether they were ready to toss Social Security overboard on behalf of the party’s new constituency: the Wall Street gang.

By John Grant

Those that respect the law and love sausage should watch neither being made.

             -- Mark Twain

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: