It is a society imbued with racism that celebrates Winston Churchill as a great man in history while it vilifies, condemns and, presumably, executes Saddam Hussein…   It was not Saddam Hussein but Sir Winston Churchill who introduced the use of chemical weapons to Iraq

I wrote this piece in 2005, after the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq and before he was “tried” and lynched. Even in comparison with Saddam, Winston Churchill comes off looking bad. While a debate rages over monuments to Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and other “heroes” of the Confederacy, there is a bust to the violently white supremacist Winston Churchill in the Oval Office and a National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri.  This article was published in the read more

Useless! Useless!
Heavy rain driving
Into the sea.
–Jack Kerouac

Talking with people who are fed up, and especially with people who are trying to do something about it, one increasingly runs into the statement that the (U.S.) government is useless, the government won’t help us, we must help ourselves. And not only that, but the government is rotten to the core, irredeemable, systematically and hopelessly and essentially evil.

And of course this is basically true. The question is what to do about read more

By David Swanson
Remarks at People’s Convergence Conference, Sept. 8, 2017

Here’s my five-minute case for why you can’t have an effective progressive movement in the United States that doesn’t include working for peace. War and militarism and bases and ships and missiles and sanctions and nuclear threats and hostility make up the filter through which much of the other 96% of humanity experiences this 4%. The U.S. Congress chooses how to spend a great deal of money each year, and chooses read more

British government facing battle to pass key Brexit bill in the House of Commons – The Washington Post

Brexit Secretary David Davis condemns Labour over ‘cynical’ bid to block ‘only viable plan’ for Brexit – BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

David Davis rules out EEA or EFTA membership for UK after Brexit – Business Insider

Brexit: David Davis mocked after attacking EU charter of fundamental rights he previously praised – The Independent

TRANSCRIPT: David Davis’ opening statement at the second reading of the Repeal Bill – GOV.UK

Labour Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer tears apart David Davis’s Brexit bill, calls it ‘extraordinary power grab’ – HuffPost UK

Labour’s Keir Starmer to Tories: Help us stop Brexit power grab – POLITICO

Keir Starmer eyes indefinite stay in EU customs union – ft.com

VIDEO: EU Withdrawal Bill debate: David Davis vs Keir Starmer (Starmer starts at 47 min) – YouTube

VIDEO: MPs continue to debate Brexit Bill’s second reading – YouTube

Full Text of the European Union Withdrawal Bill – publications.parliament.uk

May’s EU Withdrawal bill is a ‘breathtaking’ power grab, warn Lords – Business Insider

Brexit repeal bill ‘in breach of constitution’, says former Tory minister – Holyrood Magazine

read more

This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

In some closet, I still have toy soldiers from my 1950s childhood.  They played a crucial role in an all-American world of good guys and bad guys I learned about, in part, from the westerns and war movies my father took me to at local movie theaters. I can still remember playing out those long-lost stories out with a motley assortment of bluecoats, redcoats, GIs (of the green read more

September 9: Washington, D.C.

That’s this Saturday in DC on a 1 p.m. panel on ending permanent war, with Medea Benjamin and Lee Camp.

September 13: George Mason University

That’s next Wednesday in Fairfax, Va., on ending racism and war!

September 17: (boating not speaking) Flotilla to the Pentagon

Grab your kayak! Or don’t — we’ve got plenty. Just sign up to use one!

September 21: University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn.

My favorite kind of event: a debate on war — but in a spirit read more

Syrian army, allies break Islamic State siege in eastern city Deir Ezzor – reuters.com

VIDEO: The Syrian state-run media outlet SANA releases a video showing a moment when the SAA units met with the besieged Republican Guard in the 137th Brigade Base in Deir Ezzor – SANA

The regime forces prepare to break the siege of the second area in Deir Ezzor city through carrying out a second attack – SOHR

ISIS siege of Deir ez-Zor lifted thanks to Russian Navy cruise missile strike: Defense Ministry – RT News

Russian frigate fires Kalibr cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Deir ez-Zor – RT News

Russian warplanes perform over 80 sorties to back Syrian army’s Deir Ezzor offensive – almasdarnews.com

Russian strikes destroy Daesh strongholds, underground tunnels near Deir ez-Zor: MOD – Sputnik International

Russian Special Operations Forces actively support Syrian Army advance in Deir Ezzor (PHOTOS) – southfront.org

2 Russian Military Servicemen Killed In Syria’s Deir Ezzor Province – southfront.org

VIDEO: Russian frigate fires Kalibr cruise missiles at ISIS targets in Deir ez-Zor: MOD – YouTube

VIDEO: The moment Russian Navy cruise missile strikes geolocated in Ash Shula, ~30km southwest of Deir Ezzor – Map of Syrian Civil war

VIDEO: read more

This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.

Victory at Last!
In America’s Wars, Failure Is the New Success
By Tom Engelhardt

It was bloody and brutal, a true generational struggle, but give them credit. In the end, they won when so many lost.

James Comey was axed. Sean Spicer went down in a heap of ashes. Anthony Scaramucci crashed and burned instantaneously. Reince Priebus hung on for dear life but was finally canned. read more