The Oil Coup
US-Saudi Subterfuge Send Stocks and Credit Reeling
By Mike Whitney
Washington has persuaded the Saudis to flood the market with oil to push down prices, decimate Russia's economy, and reduce Moscow's resistance to further NATO encirclement and the spreading of US military bases across Central Asia.
U.S. Gov't. Seeks Excuse to Attack Russia
By Eric Zuesse
For America's elite, the Cold War never ended, because it was never really about communism versus capitalism.
Manufacturing War: A Primer
By Martin Hellman
The Göring Doctrine has proved as tempting to democratic leaders as to fascist dictators. Witness these examples drawn from recent American history.
The US: Australia's Dangerous Ally
By Malcolm Fraser
Australia should not embrace America, writes its former prime minister, but preserve itself from Washington's reckless overreach.
The US Feels the Heat on Palestine Vote at UN
By Jonathan Cook
The floodgates have begun to open across Europe on recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Whitehall Shockwaves Over Chilcot Draft Report
By Francis Elliott
Extracts from the much delayed report by Sir John Chilcot, which in some cases run to hundreds of pages, have been sent in recent weeks to those criticised for their conduct, to give them a chance to respond before the report is finally published.
Obama Admits US Wasted 50 Years
President Obama Speech on Cuba
Video
The announcement comes amid a series of new confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American Alan Gross and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S.
CIA Torture
Health Professionals 'May Have Committed War Crimes', Report Says
By Dominic Rushe
Physicians for Human Rights calls rectal feeding technique 'form of sexual assault.
Jeb Bush v. Hillary Clinton:
The Perfectly Illustrative Election
By Glenn Greenwald
One of those two families exploited its vast wealth to obtain political power, while the other exploited its political power to obtain vast wealth.
Why is Near Term Human Extinction Inevitable?
By Robert J. Burrowes
Extinction might be howling outside our door but, if you have the courage, you can still fight.
Ignorance Is No Excuse for Wrongdoing, Unless You're a Cop
By John W. Whitehead
The Supreme Court gave police in America one more ready excuse to routinely violate the laws of the land, this time under the guise of ignorance.
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Hard News
Mass grave of 230 killed by ISIS jihadists found in Syria:
The bodies of 230 people killed by the Islamic State group have been found in a mass grave uncovered by their relatives in Syria's Deir Ezzor province, a monitoring group said on Wednesday.
U.S. slaps sanctions on Swiss, Dutch companies over Syria:
The United States on Wednesday slapped sanctions on Dutch and Swiss oil trading firms for their dealings with the Syrian government, which has been engaged in bloody civil war with opposition forces.
Syria air strikes by US "allies" plunge:
As U.S. fighter jets pound Islamic State targets in Syria, Washington's coalition allies appear increasingly absent from the air war.
Fact or fiction?
Iraq: 150 women killed after refusing to marry Islamic State fighters:
Iraq's Ministry of Human Rights reported the killings in the western province of Anbar, many parts of which are under IS control
First ground clash between ISIS and US forces in Iraq:
An American force has fought its actual first battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria "ISIS" organization during a counter-attack that was carried out by tribal forces and other force of the Iraqi army near Ein al-Asad base, west of Anbar
16 girls among 26 killed in Yemen:
Some 26 civilians including 16 schoolgirls were among the dead Tuesday in a double bomb attack in the central Yemeni city of Radaa, authorities said.
Bomb Kills Five Policemen In South-east Yemen:
Five policemen were killed and four others injured after a bomb hit a vehicle in Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
Palestinians: US to veto UN resolution 'to end occupation':
US Secretary of State John Kerry reportedly told the Palestinians the United States will veto a proposed Palestinian resolution "to end the occupation" at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, Palestinian sources said.
European Parliament passes motion in favor of Palestine recognition:
The European Parliament accepted, with a large majority, a decision expressing support "in principle" of the recognition of a Palestinian state, along with furthering negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Geneva Conventions invoke rights of Palestinians:
The international community delivered a stinging rebuke to Israel's settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, saying Wednesday the practice violates its responsibilities as an occupying power.
EU court orders Hamas removed from terror list:
Court delays implementing the ruling to allow appeals, drawing ire from Israeli PM Netanyahu and praise from Hamas as a 'human rights' victory.
Israel cries foul after EU strikes Hamas from terror list:
The Palestinian Islamic group Hamas must be removed from the EU's terrorism blacklist, but its assets will stay frozen, a European court ruled on Wednesday.
Philip Weiss: Israel will lose all American Jews but the crazies: Op-Ed :
Israel didn't look like this when I was growing up. Not to American Jews anyway.
Afghanistan: US kills 11 people: official:
A U.S. drone strike in eastern Afghanistan killed four alledged Pakistani Taliban members and seven other insurgents, a district government official said Wednesday.
12 including militants killed in Helmand attack:
Seven people have been killed, when a group of five militants stormed a branch of New Kabul Bank in southern Helmand province.
Pakistan mourns school massacre dead;
Relatives of 162 victims prepare for funerals as PM Sharif lifts ban on death penalty for terrorism charges.
Pakistan lifts death penalty moratorium:
PM approves abolishing the ban on executions in terror cases in the wake of Peshawar school massacre, which killed 141
In case you missed it;
US Kills 160 Children :
In one of the worst incidents of the entire drones campaign, yet one of the least reported. A CIA strike on a madrassa or religious school in 2006 killed up to 69 children, among 80 civilians. The attack was on a religious seminary in Chenegai, in Bajaur Agency.
Nigeria: 10 killed, 2 abducted in Borno attack:
Gunmen suspected to be members of dreaded Boko Haram terrorists Wednesday waylaid motorists in Madari village of Kukawa local government area of Borno state, killing 10 people, while a young aged woman and her two years old child were abducted.
Five Cameroonian soldiers killed in blast:
Five Cameroonian soldiers were killed when their vehicle hit explosives placed on a road by suspected members of the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram, the newspaper Le Jour reported on Wednesday.
Egypt army kills 17 in Sinai in the past 3 days:
"The armed forces have staged several raids...during which 17 terrorists were killed in exchanges of fire with army and civil forces," Egyptian military spokesman Mohamed Samir said on Facebook.
Russian Official Says Delivery of U.S. Weapons to Ukraine Will Not Solve Crisis:
He said those seeking a solution to the crisis should not supply weapons "that will be used to kill the Russian-speaking inhabitants of Donbass" but put pressure on Kiev to hold talks with the rebels.
Russia plans new measures to stabilise the rouble:
The country's central bank said that if necessary, it would provide additional capital to Russia's banks and financial companies. It also said it would hold more foreign exchange auctions if needed.
Russians flock to stores to pre-empt price rises:
Some signs emerged Wednesday that the ruble's freefall may have come to an end and the currency could recover, at least in the short-term
Ukraine has a high probability of a coup:
The former head of the Ukrainian intelligence Mykola Malomuzh published the data about the imminent release of the presidency in Ukraine. The existing system headed Poroshenko may be overthrown.
Chevron Shale Exit Shreds Ukraine's Hope of Energy Independence:
Shale gas was supposed to be Ukraine's ticket to greater energy independence from Russia. Chevron Corp. (CVX)'s decision to pull the plug has smashed those hopes.
China, Russia Dump US Treasurys In October As Foreigners Sell Most US Stocks Since 2007:
China and Russia dumped US Treasurys in October, some $14 billion and $10 billion, respecitvely, in the process sending China's total Treasury holdings to just $1,253 billion, the lowest since February 2013 and just $30 billion more than the TSYs held by America's second largest (offshore) creditor, Japan.
Mexico vigilantes in deadly shoot-out: 11 killed:
Clash between rival "self-defence" groups in western state of Michoacan claims more at least 11 lives, officials say..
Cuba releases US prisoner Alan Gross, after 5 years:
Jailed Jewish contractor set free on humanitarian grounds, heading home on a US government plane; three Cubans to be released in US
US to start talks with Cuba to normalize full diplomatic relations: AP:
The U.S. is starting talks with Cuba to normalize full diplomatic relations and open an embassy, according to U.S. officials.
The basics of the major new US-Cuba deal:
The US and Cuba have announced a broad agreement between the countries that will be a first and historic step toward normalizing relations after more than 50 years of hostility. Here are the basics of what each country has agreed to, as is known so far:
US Fines German Bank US$1Bn for Doing Business with Cuba:
A particularly high fine of US$900 million was placed on the French bank BNP Paribas SA in July. In response, Arnaud Montebourg, the critical finance minister, told the Financial Times that the U.S. policy is "economic warfare."
Americans Are Basically OK With CIA Torture Methods Like Rectal Feeding:
Despite a scathing report on torture, a majority of survey respondents approve of the CIA's grisly methods.
Kansas Congressman M.I.A. After Tucking Wall Street Bailout Into Government Spending Bill:
For all the anger among progressives about a Wall Street bailout provision that made its way into the just-passed $1.1 trillion government spending bill, there's been little attention on the person who put it in there.
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