Great piece. Has been clear for quite some time Bush Sr is the reasonable one.
To think Cheney, Feith, Wolfowitz did not give one thought to the death and destruction their fanatical actions would have. If there is a hell they are going.
Hope you write more about the actual numbers of dead in Iraq, injured, displaced.
Was reading the other day about Mevrav Wurmser's "Middle East Media Research Institute" Had read about it in the past although did not know that retired Israeli military and intelligence officers are employees. Interpret and translate news from middle east.
If you tracked the mis-translation that the neocons were tossing out all of the time about what the former Iranian President had allegedly said about Israel would it lead back to this group?
Watch "Iraq for Sale" and "No End in Sight" Look I don't pretend to understand why they might want the invasion to fail. Although so many odd indicators. Sending in too few troops, disbanding the Iraq army, not protecting particular historic and military sites etc in Iraq.
Many of the cast of characters who were in Iraq soon after the invasion in the documentary "No End in Sight" Sure infer that they may believe the same thing...
Gary Former head weapons inspector in Iraq during the 90's, Head of the IAEA El Baradei, many former middle east CIA analyst Ray McGovern, Kathleen and Bill Christison, the Leveretts, Prof Cole, Jonathan Landay (journalist), General Zinni, Dr. Zbig and others cast doubt on the Bush administrations so called intelligence before the invasion of Iraq.
You had to go searching before the invasion since rags like the NYBloody Times promoted the invasion lock stock and barrel.
From what I have read the CIA gave plenty of warnings to the Bush administration about Curveball...not to be trusted. Probably a good friend of Michael Ledeens
Would have been great to have seen Chalabi (of course Bush and the rest of the war team too) forced to testify or receive the death sentence. Better than a heart attack. Wonder if the murderer left anything in writing?
In 2002 a soccer mom from Ohio could look up on the internet historical facts about the Sunni/Shiite divide and violent tensions that exist.
"Ignorance abounded among the neocons" Highly unlikely. They knew what they were doing and did not give a rat's ass about how many hundreds of thousands of lives were lost. The invasion of Iraq was a tactical pivot point for the PNAC, AIE, Jinsa, Csp very deadly agenda. I truly believe this
Thanks for the support for my points. However I do not believe for a minute the PNAC, Pentagon Office of Special Plans crowd were "ignorant" at all.
In the run up to the invasion I was still a soccer mom with my youngest daughter at home. I was obsessed with listening to the news, reading the news, listening to NPR's Diane Rehm, Talk of the Nation, going on line because of the repetition of the main stream parroting what the Bush administration about the Iraq WMD's. I could not believe the Vietnam generation (me) was going to let this type of horrific pre-meditated death and destruction happen again. That is when I started following everything, Prof Cole, weapons inspector Scott Ritter, IAEA head El Bardei,former CIA foreign policy analyst like Ray McGovern, Kathleen and Bill Christison, reporters like Jason Vest at the Nation etc were reporting. All questioning the validity of the intelligence.
Somehow many of us naively thought after El Baradei came out in early March of 2003 and confirmed the Niger Documents the push to invaded would stop.
A dear friend from Athens Ohio Christian Peace Maker Team member Peggy Gish had gone to Iraq the fall of 2002...to be a witness. We were getting news from her that we would not read about until months later in msm outlets
After the invasion kept thinking now these neocons sent in too few troops (Shenskiki had recommended 200,000), did not protect many treasured sites for the Irrouaqi people, disbanded the Iraq army. One almost had to conclude that they wanted big trouble/chaos. Sort of a Sabra Shatilla strategy. Surround the area, destroy the area, send in too few troops to keep the peace and watch the Shiite/Sunni massacre begin.
Then when Peggy and the CPT in Iraq took their reports of abuse in Abu Ghariib to Bremmer his front people turned them away. CPT had been one of the first groups to document the torture taking place under the U.S. I believe Seymour Hersh used some of CPT's reports in his Abu Gharib pied in the New Yorker.
Peggy over the years spent a cumulative time of almost six years in Iraq. She said many Iraqi people she spoke with had begun to believe that the Bush administration and killing team had never wanted peace in Iraq...that they had wanted the former Iraq destroyed and the ensuing chaos to take hold.
I don't think the Bush administration neocon team were ever ignoratant.. It would appear death and destruction was their agenda. Easier for the oil to eventually be controlled.
The only thing that just does not compute in this piece is Prof Cole's claim that Bremer was Powell's man in Iraq. First time I have ever read this anywhere.
Unfortunate that Chalabi, Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz etc will never be put on a stand under oath with the threat of prison or death
If that were truly the case why would Bremmer have fallen under the influence (according to Cole) of Chalabi who influenced him to disband the Iraqi army. Powell would have stepped in. Bremmer is deeply involved with the neocons agenda. Not so much for Powell. Just does not compute.
Does certainly seem that the neocons agenda was chaos in the middle east
They are sworn to secrecy on those committees. However damn strong signal to others that he voted against.
Clinton had plenty of opportunities to turn on the lights. She chose to make a political calculation...and as I have pointed out her warmongering does not end there
Went looking for Chalabi recently on line. Could not find much recently written about him and his whereabouts and his position in Iraq. Last I had read he had been appointed Iraq's energy commission. Tried to get into some of Iraq's oil websites....not so easy
Questions:
1. While it is clear Judith "I was fucking right" Miller also had an agenda. Do you think she was able to get around professional standards of sources etc because Keller and team also really wanted Iraq invaded? They all belong on trial at the Hague for complicity in the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people
2. In 2006 the Lancet reported that 650.000 Iraqi people had all ready died as a direct result of the U.S. invasion. Of course that report was ripped apart and swept under the rug.
Why is it at a time when Americans drones, satellites etc can see a fly on the ass of a camel...why is it that U.S. Iraq cannot come up with close to exact figures on the deaths and injuries of the Iraq people? Was there a deal made with whomever never to reveal close to the exact numbers? And if you truly "mourn" these deaths why not do a piece just totally focused on this issue? You have the capabilities and language skills to get to the bottom of these numbers.
3, I had read from several sources years ago that Jay Gardner had not wanted to disband the Iraq army that it was Paul "neocon" Bremer who pushed for this. Have you ever listened to Bremer? I have on the Diane Rehm show. He repeats one lie after the next about Iraq. Was he really Colin Powell's man or the neocons man? My vote...neocons man. I think he belongs on trial at the Hague too.
4. If you are willing to use the term "genocide" for those people who Saddam slaughtered. Why not use "genocide" for the 500,000 (on your count, over a million based on others calculations) Iraq people that have died as a direct result of the invasion? It was a genocide in Iraq. Are you unable to use that strong of term because it was the Bush administration U.S. who are responsible for those deaths.
In a just world Bush, Cheney, Feith, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Addington, Micheal Ledeen, would all be on trial at the Hague for war crimes, crimes against humanity. If only the world were fair and they would all meet the same fate as Chalabi.
Was very aware of your efforts to inform the American public about the serious questions as to the validity of the Bush administrations intelligence. Along with El Baradei and former weapons inspector Scott Ritter's efforts to put a halt to the push for the invasion. Those who listened, read, tried to be informed from more reliable sources than the New York Bloody Times lobbied our Reps, marched in D,C, New York and across the nation against that horrific invasion.
And now we have Former Senator and Secretary of State and Clinton running for the Dem Presidential candidate. She voted for that 2002 Iraq war resolution. She was complicit. Her colleague Senator Dick Durbin who I believe was Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time voted against that resolution. Hello Hillary a clear indicator. Scott Ritter wrote that the Clinton's were fully aware t
hat
This is not even addressing the millions of Iraqi people became refugees and were injured. War crimes. Those responsible should he held accountable!
Now we have former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton running for the Dem Presidential candidate. We all know that Clinton was complicit in that invasion. At the time her colleague Senator Dick Durbin was on the Senate Intelligence Committeed, I believe he was the chair at the time. He voted against that resolution. A clear clue for Hillary, Former IAEA head weapons inspector in Iraq during the 90s Scott Ritter wrote before the invasion that both of the Clintons knew there were no WMD's.
Before during and after the 2008 Dem campaign Hillary Clinton continually repeated the neocons unsubstantiated claims about Iran. Not until the deal with Iran was looking like it was going to move forward did Clinton come out and support it
Clinton supported military aggression in both Libya and Syria.
We can only wish that Chalabi's death meant that this is really a time for the "passing" of these murderous lies. However with Clinton looking as if she is likely to sit in the White House with her husband (who lets never forget signed repealing Glass Steagall). Those Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Cheney etc deadly lies still rage through the middle east...a policy of death that Clinton looks all to likely to continue/
While the Republicans obsession with using Benghazi to try to take Hillary down, they do have points in targeting her judgment calls. Take her 2002 yes vote for the Iraq war resolution. In 2002 Dem Senator Durbin was on the Senate Intelligence committee (think he was chair at the time) voted no on the Iraq war resolution. That committee heard more detailed reports about the Bush administration's false pre war intelligence. Durbin voted no. Should have been a strong indicator to Hillary. Along with what IAEA head El Baradei was consistently saying about the false Niger document. Add on what former IAEA head of weapons inspections in Iraq during the 90's (when Bill was in office) Scott Ritter was claiming that the validity of the intelligence was highly suspect. Add all of the other experts, historians etc who were also questioning the validity of the intelligence. One has to really question Hillary's ability to make wise and well informed decisions on deadly and costly decisions.
In the 60 minutes special about Benghazi that Lara Login was canned for due to unsubstantiated sources. In that special there were two I thought military officials who were claiming that they had contacted the state dept that Hillary lead and recommended more serious security at the compound. Not sure if these are the two individuals that are now being referred to as Ambassadors who recommended more security at the compound. Clearly Hillary allowed Stevens to make the call and did not take these other experts opinions.
Her ability to make wise and well informed decisions about very serious issues should be questioned. Over and over again.
And what was it that General Wesley Clark said he discovered at the Pentagon some memo that he had access to where Bush administration officials were talking about taking out 7 countries leaders in five years?
Thank you for this "Tunisians are getting it right" So great to read about.
Grew up in a very large union family in Dayton Ohio. After not living there for 44 years back taking care of aging parents. Amazing to be exposed to nurses aides (in nursing homes) in mass working their hind ends off, making pathetic wages while the private for profit nursing home industry rakes it in. Mostly women doing these jobs...starting to talk unions but get canned if that becomes known.
Have met many former GM workers in the area who have gone from making 25 an hour at GM, Delphi etc to making 10 an hour driving Vets to the VA or working at Wal Mart.
Grew up hearing my WWII Teamster father saying "both parties sold unions down the pike"
Great that Tunisians working for equity.
Now if only the U.S. could get back on track
As I read the piece and then all of the comments so terribly sad that through all of this strategic rearranging in the middle east the millions killed, injured, made refugees are barely (well actually not at all) a concern.
Wondering whether President Obama will pivot after the Iran Deal is sealed and publicly push/encourage Israel, India, Pakistan to sign the Non Proliferation Treaty. The Chemical Weapons agreement.
Prof Cole think you will be very interested in a segment on Hardball tonight. Chris Matthews goes a few rounds with non -experts Feehery, Capehart and Molly Ball about the Iran deal. Feehery has his lip prints all over Israel and the I lobbies hind end. The discussion about Schumer's vote for the Iran deal and how it is "for Israel" should get some attention.
Former President Jimmy Carter has strongly indicated that Israel might use their nukes in the region as well as human rights activist Norman Finkelstein.
Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski has come right out and said if Israel sends in fighter jets to attack Iran the U.S. should go up and meet and stop them from doing so. Now that is quite the scenario
Dagan sounds so realistic...sane...better for Israel based on internationally recognized boundaries. Could Dagan run for Prime Minister? Would he stand a chance?
Have heard Congressman Nadler speak at Netroots conferences. He is a pro Israel no matter what they do on almost all of the time. He is clearly looking at this issue from a much wider and clear perspective. Knowing that this deal is constructive for the U.S. ultimately for Israel and for the world. Wise decision....refreshing
$40 million being spent on Israeli propaganda on U.S. media waves. Way over due for Aipac to be required to sign up under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. UANI group doing those endless ads too.
This is what Aipac is putting out about the AP Iran inspecting Parchin misrepresented details
“Yesterday, the Associated Press published a critical report that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will permit Iran to use its own inspectors to investigate the Parchin military facility. This major new development uncovers troubling insights into secret side agreements between Iran and the IAEA. While some have questioned the accuracy of this report, AP confirmed its story yesterday and released the text of the draft agreement. AIPAC sent the memo below to all congressional offices this afternoon. Please call your members of Congress today and urge them to oppose any deal that allows Iranian self-inspection.
Ok Stewart is brilliant and hysterical. However all of the hoopla in the news about Jon Stewart's alleged bravery on all issues. Lots in the piece aired on Friday evening "Jon Stewart has left the building" with Rachel Maddow, his writers, Al Sharpton, Richard Engel etc saying things like "no one was off limits" ..."relentless". ..."cleverly going after any topic"..."goes after high targets." Really? Stewart has his sacred cow. He seldom criticized Israel or Israeli leaders. I know he did a piece on Aipac espionage case/Harman etc. However I remember that being a first. Did he have Mearsheimer and Walt on when their book came out? Saw an interview with Musharif where Stewart publicly skewers him. Have we ever witnessed Stewart doing this with an Israeli official? Did Stewart hammer Israeli leaders when they were killing innocent Palestinians last summer? Not that I know of. On Iran I have heard Stewart sing some of the neocons false claims about Iran having a nuclear weapons program. All of this canonizing of Stewart of being willing to go after any leader, any country is just bullshit. He talks about having a bullshit meter...Being vigilant. Yet Stewart failed in really covering Israel's crimes against humanity that he applied to other leaders and countries. I love his humor he was not brave on all issues. Not at all. He was selective in who and when he would dig into an issue or leaders. Was not a level playing field when it came to all things Israel
Thanks for following the money. Would be great to see a graph (you have probably all ready done this) on how the gulf states divide up oil and gas profits with the people down line in those countries. Who allows trickle down to improve the majority of lives. Who pisses on the majority of people down line..not redistributing profits from these resources. Read the new King of SA was throwing the people of SA few economic bones to temper protest which the US MSM barely whispered about.
Which of these countries redistributes profits from these resources amongst the majority more fairly?
Ignatius, Ignatius on MSNBC. Bill Kristol on Morning Joe. Before the deal lots of General Hayden. Morning Joe had Israeli Ambassador Dermer on who of course slammed the deal. They did have the U.K's ambassador to the U.S. on later. Forget his name..Westocott? Who said he would be lobbying congressional members to vote yes on the deal.
Chris Matthews seldom stretches his guest list. He kowtows to Ignatius. Just this week Ignatius was going on and on about how Iran "destabilizes" the middle east. Not one challenge out of Chris Matthews like mentioning how the middle east has been totally destabilized by the U.S. invasion and support for proxy wars. Generally Matthews will mention this but not to who he considers big media shots like Ignatius.
Going to be very interesting to watch to see if the MSM actually provides the American public a wider scope of opinions on this issue. We sure know they did not do their job before the immoral and illegal invasion of Iraq. A real tragedy.
Several weeks ago was trying to get through NPR's On Point screener. Which of course have done many times. When I mentioned the Leverett's being guest he said Leverett's have a "credibility problem" Yes we know what that is the I lobby hates them
Today Senator Cruz was on MSNBC Joe Scarborough ranting about Iran based on fueled myths. Not one challenge out of BBC’s Katy Kay (in for Mika), Mike Barnacle, Joe Scarborough. No one on MSNBC's Morning Joe challenged Cruz's fear filled myths about Iran during Cruz’s rant. In fact after the fact free rant Joe Scarborough reminded me of Meet the Press’s deceased host Tim Russert when he had Cheney on in the run up to the invasion of Iraq and after. When Cheney was asked about Iran he went on in a fearful rant about Iran. Russert did not challenge him AT ALL. Instead Russert asked Cheney “what can we do” (as if everything Cheney said was accurate). This is exactly what Scarborough did after Cruz’s fearful, inflammatory rant about Iran this morning. Scarborough sat back and asked “what can we do?.” As if everything Cruz had said about Iran was accurate. Last week Morning Joe had General Hayden on who ranted about Iran based on unsubstantiated claims. No challenges from anyone around the table on Morning Joe. Not one challenge. We have witnessed this dangerous scene before -
These commercials are being aired on MSNBC a couple of times every hour. Hammering the American public with fear of Iran. Undermining the p5+1 negotiations. Dennis Ross and team
Have you looked at the Aipac website lately. Several pages focused on undermining P5+1. New commercials on undermining deal. Forgot to look at who the commercials are being paid by. General Hayden on MSNBC Morning Joe last week undermining the deal. Pressure continues to take the deal down. The Aipac pages on this are worth looking at.
Jeffrey Goldberg has a piece out that basically says that President Obama is part of the "tribe". Again as if Obama does not have the ability to think on his own..to know on his own..to study the facts on his own.
Sanders is mainstream on many domestic issues. Like the way you described "others" as the "lunatic fringe." Which is the case. Sheldon Adelson , Koch brothers greedy "lunatic fringe" Although sad to say that Sanders falls into the PEP category when it comes to the I/P conflict. Votes with Israel every time. Basically supporting an apartheid state.
Thank goodness he supports the P5+1 at this point, which does go up against Israel and the I lobbies agenda to take down the P5+1. So a bit of a stand against the warmongering crowd
Does anyone think the agenda of the neocons by disbanding the Iraq army, not sending in enough troops to really maintain any kind of peace...wanted to create an environment where the Sunni's and Shiites were knocking each other off? Sort a Sabra Shatilla strategy?
As Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett said five years ago the U.S. the world should negotiate with Assad on the power sharing deal he was willing to make. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians might be alive today. Millions would not be refugees. But no the U.S. (Israel) had to do it their way. The neocons way. Syria was on the PNAC hit list years ago.
Israel never wants to give back to Syria the land they stole.... the Golan Heights
Sanders also voted for the Anti Palestinian legislation put forward by Ros Lehtinen in 2006 after the Palestinian election. When it comes to Israel Senator Sanders looks like the majority. Pro Israel to a fault. "A little heavy handed" Please...that is just sickening.
So sad...however thanks since no one is talking about this. Still to this day we hear little to nothing about the numbers of dead, injured, displaced in Iraq directly due to the U.S. invasion. Americans seem to like it that way
Most Americans were convinced to want an invasion by the Bush administration's endless lies about Iraq having a connection to 9/11 and that they had WMD's. Americans were lied to endlessly by Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Mushroom Cloud Rice via a complicit mainstream media.
And how can we forget her yes vote on the 2002 Iraq war resolution. Senator Dick Durbin who was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted against the resolution. That should have been a clear sign to Clinton. Former IAEA Weapons inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter wrote extensively before the invasion that the Clinton's knew there were no WMD's in Iraq. Ritter had been the inspector in Iraq during the Cllinton administration. Hillary knew. She made a calculation based on politics that was deadly wrong.
She has repeated the unsubstantiated claims about Irans alleged nuclear program for a decade. She has recently shifted in her language and now her support for the P5+1 negotiations. Hillary is a hawk on foreign policy.
The U.S. mainstream media has another opportunity to educate the American public about the facts having to do with the P5+1 negotiations, U.S. history with Iran, Israel's and special interest groups interfering with U.S. Iranian negotiations (behind the scenes) for years and presently. They failed miserably in the run up to the unnecessary, immoral and deadly invasion of Iraq to have guest on their programs who were questioning the validity of the Bush administrations WMD intelligence etc. Sad to say that the Mainstream media has another opportunity to have middle east experts on their programs. Professor Juan Cole, former weapons expert Scott Ritter, Hillary Mann Leverett (Melissa Harris Perry has had her on six times since last summer) etc.
Only time will tell. Let's hope they do not fail the American public and their professions once again.
Since the unnecessary and immoral US invasion of Iraq this part of the world does appear to be in total chaos and "on fire." Death, destruction, refugees. Was this the PNAC's intention?
This morning on BBC's World Service a long report about Saudi Arabia's decision to bomb Yemen. Linked that this may partially be an attempt to add to Israel and the 47 Republicans Senators efforts to undermine P5+1 negotiations? What can you say about this Prof Cole?
Sure appears that Obama, Kerry, Biden tired of Israel's persistent expansion of illegal settlements while saying the words that they support a two state solution. Acts speak louder than words.
Amazing to hear Richard Engel and so many others spin that this Obama/Netanyahu "rift" is a "personality issue" and never even make the effort to address the serious substantive foreign policy differences.
Mika Brzezinski has been really playing hardball on Morning Joe (Scarborough away) all week on this issue. She has even asked guest who will not deal with facts "what are you afraid of" Mika "who will cut through the bs" She has stepped out more than any other MSNBC host this week on this issue.
Chris Matthews had Bob (Iraq warmonger) Woodward on to discuss Iran. Woodward also said the Plame outing "was much ado about nothing" Why do these host allow those who were so knowingly deadly wrong about Iraq and other very serious issues to share their opinions about middle east issues....enough!
Have always referred to Obama as the real Spock. Amazing to hear Richard Engel and Haas trying to spin this serious disagreement as a "personality" issue between BB and Obama on MSNBC's Morning Joe Not as serious foreign policy disputes.
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski has really been playing hardball on Morning Joe the last couple of mornings on this issue. Scarborough is gone for now. She asked guest who will help her "cut through the bs" being repeated about BB 'walking back" his pre election rejection of the two state solution. Of course many have been saying his actions speak louder than his words for years. All guest tried to flip the script and blame Obama for the breakdown. Mika asked "what are you afraid of?" No one took the bait. Well not even Mika. One guest on Morning Joe referred to the huge rift as a "dysfunctional horror show."
Chris Matthews had it going on his program last night. However he continues to repeat that if you go to Israel anyone can say anything about the conflict. Well except Palestinians. Chris Matthews clearly unwilling to even face that it is illegal to mention the Nakba.
And for the first time the mainstream media covered Israel's massacre in Gaza last summer. Generally if not always the MSM barely touches the crimes that Israel has committed against the Palestinians
Yes they have betrayed the Obama administration, peace and U.S. National Security. No one wants to talk about Iran being a signatory to the NPT and that they have the legal right to enrich uranium up to 20% for peaceful purposes. The very nation who sits on massive stockpiles of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that go un inspected by the international community. Israel continues to refuse to sign the NPT. Can it get any more absurd? Hypocritical?
we petition the obama administration to:
File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.
On March 9th, 2015, forty-seven United States Senators committed a treasonous offense when they decided to violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.
At a time when the United States government is attempting to reach a potential nuclear agreement with the Iranian government, 47 Senators saw fit to instead issue a condescending letter to the Iranian government stating that any agreement brokered by our President would not be upheld once the president leaves office.
Prof Cole what are your estimates on how many Iraqi people have died as a direct consequence of U.S. invasion, sanctions etc over the last 2o some years?
Prof Cole will your biography be completed? Just read. So impressive. Can't remember exactly when I started reading although do know it was months before the invasion. Reading what you, former IAEA weapons inspector Scott Ritter, several former middle east CIA analyst and head of the IAEA El Baradei, DR. Zbig etc had to say before the invasion had me convinced that the Office of Special Plans WMD intelligence was to be seriously in question. Had many of us lobbying our Reps, protesting and being arrested trying to stop the invasion from happening. To think that 30 million marched against around the world with no successful outcome at all, Disastrous results...that invasion...extremely destructive and sad. To say the least.
Was a trekkie for about three years in late 60's Loved the character Spock. Nimoy always seemed like a decent person. What a great thing he had to say late in the game but he said it. Although from what you posted that he wrote he was not willing to go another mile and state that Israel needs to stop building illegal settlements in West Bank and illegal housing in E Jerusalem. Not willing to call the Israel's out on their crimes against Palestinians. Great that he said something but part of the better late than never crowd. May he rest in peace and become part of universal star dust.
When are the alleged liberals like Rachel Maddow, Ed, Al Sharpton, Chris Hayes etc going to have you on their programs? Did the fact that the Bush administration came after you for your stance against the invasion (before the invasion) intimidate these talking heads? Why not have you on? At least Melissa Harris Perry has made a breakthrough by having Hillary Mann Leverett on I think at least four times since this summer to discuss the situation with Iran and other middle east issues.
Yes actors speaking out in support for women's issues, LGBT, immigrants, civil rights etc. To think how Vanessa Redgrave was practically run out of Hollywood for speaking up ever so politely at the 1976 Oscars for Palestinian rights. Still Meryl Streep and the rest of the alleged Hollywood human rights types will not stand up on this critical issue. Still to sheepish.
Great to see Greenwald and Poitrus accepting an award for best documentary "Citizenfour"
Guardian, Huff Po Daily Beast all have pieces up about Bibi Bombing on Iran issue with Mossad.
Huffington Post has had the Denmark killings front and center all day. Now a picture of emergency people wheeling injured and dead away. I am not in any way shape or form saying that this tragedy does not need to be covered. However the Kayla death stayed up front and center over there for almost two days. The 3 Muslim students murdered have never made front and center at Huff Po. Discrimination even in death. So terribly wrong
Yes we have watched and lobbied against so called "liberal" Dems fall in line when it comes to Israel...no matter what they do. for decades this has been the case. Truly a shift taking place. Monumental in so many ways
Iran will not change their mind about their legal right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. There is no hard proof they have a nuclear weapons program...although one could not blame them with a fully nuclear weapons armed Israel after them. You know Israel the very nation that refuses to sign the IAEA's Non Proliferation Treaty as well as the Chemical Weapons convention agreement. Israel the very nation pushing for a U.s. military confrontation with Iran. Enough!
Folks should be contacting their Reps and repeating no new sanctions against Iran. Document what they say. Make it public. This has gotten very ugly and so dangerous.
An important piece. Pointing out that the majority of Americans have their heads up where the sun does not shine and the uber wealthy and generally the mass media are determined to keep it so. Especially when it comes to Americans lack of understanding in regard to how our foreign policy pisses so many people off around the world. How our invasions and support for rebels (say in Syria) have been brutal and often futile. Shameful really.
Was talking with a woman my age (early 60's) about what I have been through with my aging parents the last six years. WWII father who died this year (really ready to go) and my mother have worked extremely hard all of their lives to make a middle class income. Did very little business on credit and always figured how to give to those less fortunate than them. Never asked anything from the government that they fueled with their hard work and paid taxes. Then in their older years went through their savings damn fast when my father fell and ended up in the nursing home industry. We tried to bring him home but became very complicated quickly. So for the next five years he was in nursing homes (he was not abandoned as many of our elders are in these facilities, I have now visited around 20 of them in the Dayton Ohio region) What you find in these places are many people who are similar to my WWII, Teamster father. People who worked hard all of their lives (have talked with exceptions to that standard) and now find themselves on partial medicaid payments. If my father had ever heard the term medicaid he would have shriveled up and died faster than he did. For him that meant that somehow he had failed to not take care of himself and my mother. That he had not paid his dues. But indeed he had paying into the system for 45 working years as well as after retirement.
When you live in a country where you have paid into the system all of your life and you spend your last years somehow believing you have failed which is what a great deal of our seniors in nursing home facilities feel then clearly we have all failed. As I shared this experience with this woman my age and how screwed up our health care system has been and how Norway, Sweden etc had humanitarian systems she responded "Norway is broke. They have a failing economic system" Because I know little about the economics in Norway I responded not sure about that but do know their health care system is highly regarded and they are truly "pro family." an issue that really gets under my skin watching so many 30 somethings now having kids and not being able to choose to have a parent stay home because of rising cost etc. Anyway the fake "pro family",,,"pro life" folks drive me nuts and that is another response. Thanks for this piece.
About time a US President took reasonable steps towards Cuba. From everything I have read about Castro and the overthrow of Batista. He and his comrades had their ideas wrapped around taking Cuba in a socialist direction. That the US almost immediate embargo pushed them towards Russia and Communism.
Did you see Colberts segment on Obama's announcement about Cuba? Classic
.
Have spent hundreds of hours reading much of the mission statement, principles, war plans, letters to Presidents over at the Project for A New American Centuries website since before the invasion of Iraq. However heard something the other night on MSNBC's Ed Show that I had not heard before. Attorney Mike Papatonio stated that Jeb Bush had been part of writing the mission statement of the PNAC. Harder to access the site these days. Jeb did sign the signatory list for the principles of PNAC.
Geez what about demanding that Israel sign the same Non Proliferation Treaty and Chemical weapons convention Treaty that Iran signed? What a concept...fairness
With all of the Palestinians history, homes, lives buried by Israeli terrorist before Israel became a state and all of the Palestinian history, lives etc buried since not hard to imagine that the Israeli Knesset would vote to destroy the Al Aqsa mosque and build a temple on top. The list of human rights violations and war crimes that Israel has gotten away with not beyond imagination
So has the plan of the PNAC crowd always been to destabilize the region? How has Israel played a role in Kurdistan's power growing as a sub state? Oil pipelines?
The best debates on Harris, Maher bigotry being examined are at Cenk Uygars Young Turks. Available on you tube What is the Root of Violence - Religion or Other Factors ...
Video for Cenk Uygur on Maher and Harris bigotry exposed► 19:42► 19:42
How can there be a two state solution based on internationally recognized borders while Israel continues to confiscate more Palestinian land in the West Bank, E Jerusalem. And thousands are dead and injured in Gaza infrastructure again destroyed, tens of thousands of homes lay in waste. How can a two state solution even be possible at this point. An effort in futility?
So Pheadrus when will Bill and Sam apply that same type of analysis to Judaism and their so called holy books? Lots of violence, racism cultivated in those holy books too. They avoid applying that same type of critique to Judaism even though they like to call themselves "atheist" They guard Judaism with their hypocritical protectionism.
Thanks for this. "Maher is a consistent liberal" and has been so willing to point out the hypocritical contradictions embedded in so many issues. However on Israel and their crimes against humanity over the decades he goes blind as so many so called liberals in our congress, MSM host, New York Bloody Times etc have also done for decades. If someone actually the time to examine closely the time that Maher spent bashing the violence exhibited by Christian faiths, Islam you can easily see he did not spend the same amount of time on violence in Judaism or Zionism (which has in many ways become a faith)
Sam Harris "Islam the mother lode of bad ideas" Yikes
Yesterday on one of the MSNBC programs Andrea Mitchell said that Netanyahu knows that the US congress has his "back" This morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe Scarborough even demonstrated a bit of spine and said Israel's latest announcement was a "cheap shot" he asked Israel "why provoke"
Daniel Levy on Al Jazeera America said that Israel will not be "held accountable" once again. He threw out an interesting stat that "1 in 10 Israeli's now live beyond the green line". Al Jazeera America is almost as great as Democracy Now. Still no attention on 310 (as of Monday) US led air strikes in Syria and Iraq and the more than likely killing of innocent people. No accounting anywhere that I can find
Once again Israel punched Abbas and Obama in the elevator of abuse yesterday. The cameras are rolling and the whole world is watching. Netanyahu kicked Obama in the cajones once again. So has anything changed with how this will turn out? US will veto justice once again next fall.
Of course Mahmoud Abbas is right about Israel committing war crimes. Have read most of the International Criminal Courts definition of War Crimes (Crimes against humanity) and UN Human Rights documents...Israel's systematic and disproportionate reliance on violent force has been used by Israel for decades not just recently. The Goldstone Report and the UN's Mavi Marmara report are terrifying. Israel kills with shameless resolve...anyone who gets in the way of their expansionist agenda..including Rachel Corrie, journalist etc.
Iraq in shambles, Libya in shambles, Syria in shambles...was that the plan? Sure seem to be implementing the PNAC (Project for a New American Century) "Securing the Realm" blueprint. So sad to witness Obama become part and parcel to such destructive strategies
And Israel and the I lobby continue to repeat unsubstantiated and inflammatory claims about Iran. Still no one in the mainstream media brings up that Iran signed the NPT has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. That Israel continues to refuse to sign the NPT and the Chemical Weapons Treaty. Lopsided coverage still in this day and age.
Prof Cole do you know what percentage of IS members are former members of the Iraq army that Paul Bremmer disbanded? Jay Garner wanted to leave the Iraq army intact after the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq...is that right? So would it be right to say that the Bush administration's invasion and tactics or lack of in Iraq created IS?
Amy Goodman just on MSNBC's Melissa Harris Perry talking about the hypocrisy of the Obama administrations sending in "humanitarian aid" to the Yazidis. Yet that same Obama administration has stood by supporting the massacre on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
SMARK "educated americans" oh you mean like the editors and publishers at the New York Bloody Times who promoted the invasion by allowing false and dangerous pieces to be on the front pages of that rag by Judy "I was fucking right" Miller selling the invasion based on known false pretenses. Still MSM host and papers allow the American people to stay in the dark about the consequences of that invasion hundreds of thousands into the millions if you add up every U.S. strike on Iraq over the last 20 years. The hundreds of thousands injured, the displaced. Many of the Americans that do know do not seem to give a rats ass. Educated Americans aye yi yi
Knock out piece. Why such large discrepencies in the 2006 Lancet report that stated that at that time 650,ooo Iraqi people had been killed as a direct result of the U.s. invasion. Iraq Body Count report, a Pentagon report somewhere around 100,ooo. Hope you write a stinging piece about the choice of Obama etc, news pundit using the very powerful term genocide for the potential killing of Yezidis but this same term did not apply to what has happenned to the Palestinians.
You might be interested in a piece that NPR's Jackie Northram did on the Israeli border kibbutz town of Netive Ha'asara and how it has been effected by tunnels. She does not talk about why tunnels were built, where they lead and if that is disputed or land that possibly belongs to Palestinians. She even does the sound of Israeli kibbutz kids swimming in pools next to Gaza while Palestinans kids are being pummeled into destroyed buildings etc. How Israel controls the water.
U.S. MSM has made absolutely sure that Americans (most who do not care) do not know how many Iraqi people have been killed based on the Bush administraton's pack of lies. Deeply disturbing. No need to wonder why people in that part of the world fear and hate us
Always learn so much here. Just wish the U.S. would have been this concerned about 400,000 Palestinian refugees. ISIS are some especially vicious fundamentalist.
the facts are getting out in the U.S. MSM. Although still showing inaccurate maps of the West Bank, little to no discussion of expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, persistent and extreme demonization of Hamas, constant repetition of "Israel has the right to defend itself" no mention of internationally recognized borders or of the right of Palestinians to defend themselves or internationally recognized borders. Not any mention of why tunnels were built or where they went. No mention of water rights etc. Wondering when Rachel Maddow etc or anyone else will have you on Prof Cole?
While most of us are aware that more accurate information is getting out in the U.S. mainstream media about this most recent conflict...more than ever before is a good thing. We are still hearing as Jonathon has pointed out we are hearing endless demonization about Hamas as wanting to "destroy Israel" in assorted language. Repetition that "Israel has a right to defend itself" but no mention of internationally recognized borders no mention that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves and their land and homes. Still inaccurate maps up everywhere of the West Bank and E Jerusalem. Demands that Hamas recognize "Israel's right to exist" never a demand that Israel recognize that Palestine has a "right to exist." Let's just get to that Israel "exist" based on internationally recognized borders...that Palestine also has borders recognized by the international community. That Israel has been actively destroying that right to Palestine existing. Pushing the whole situation towards a one state solution being the only solution. Which most of us know means that Israel's apartheid state will be fully exposed.
The day after Rula called out Andrea Mitchell's complicity by only having guest on who support Israel Andrea had Yousef Munayer on. I thought Rula would lose her job for pushing and calling Mitchell out.
Go watch Blitzer's debate with Norm Finkelstein. Blitzer has been protecting Israel and the I lobby for years. Has only made a small shift over the last five years. The spotlights are on him and the media. Trying to hop on the better late than never bus to cover his covering for Israel over the years.
Blitzer has also repeated Israel's propaganda about Iran.
Rula was spot on. Although could have drawn a distinction between NBC's and other outlets very recent shift reporting about the I/P conflict in a much more accurate way than ever before. Juan not sure where you came up with that NBC has been better than other outlets. I am a news junkie and watch many outlets as well as reading from the right left and center. NBC has not touched the issue accurately...but times are a changing. Eli Lake chose to ignore decades of evidence which backs up Rula's point. Ronan Farrow, Joy Reid , Melissia harris Perry, Chris Hayes have been willing to shine the spotlight on the latest and serious flare up far more than Ed, Sharpton, Chris Matthews, Lawrence O' Donnell not sure if this is a generational thing to the older host have seen others go down if they touched this issue in the past. Times are a changing in the news. But on the ground seems to be only getting worse for the Palestinians
Ronan Farrow and Joy Reid have been doing a damn good job at trying to accurately report what is going on in the conflict. Melissa Harris Perry that last three weeks has had Hillary Mann Leverett on with other guest to discuss the issue. Real efforts of sharing the facts on the ground. Today Rula Jebreal went off on MSNBC's Ronan Farrow talking about the media's decades long roll in inaccurately covering the conflict. Quite the truth teller. Daily Beast Eli Lake could not bring himself to tell the truth about this fact. That the MSM has been complicit with Israel's views for decades. The situation is clearly changing. What is with Senator (voted for the Iraq war) Feinstein (she should be investigated for her families profiting from the Iraq war) lecturing Putin about "taking responsibility" and "manning up" for heavens sake. This woman is partially responsible for going along with the invasion of Iraq and she has the arrogance to bring up deaths of innocents. Aye yi yi. No one in the MSM actually showing accurate maps of the West Bank always showing it as one contiguous piece of land. Never talk about Palestinians right to protect themselves or their land.
Have you taken note that when people get up there in the years they generally don't mince words.
Yes
Great piece. Has been clear for quite some time Bush Sr is the reasonable one.
To think Cheney, Feith, Wolfowitz did not give one thought to the death and destruction their fanatical actions would have. If there is a hell they are going.
Hope you write more about the actual numbers of dead in Iraq, injured, displaced.
Was reading the other day about Mevrav Wurmser's "Middle East Media Research Institute" Had read about it in the past although did not know that retired Israeli military and intelligence officers are employees. Interpret and translate news from middle east.
If you tracked the mis-translation that the neocons were tossing out all of the time about what the former Iranian President had allegedly said about Israel would it lead back to this group?
Watch "Iraq for Sale" and "No End in Sight" Look I don't pretend to understand why they might want the invasion to fail. Although so many odd indicators. Sending in too few troops, disbanding the Iraq army, not protecting particular historic and military sites etc in Iraq.
Many of the cast of characters who were in Iraq soon after the invasion in the documentary "No End in Sight" Sure infer that they may believe the same thing...
Gary Former head weapons inspector in Iraq during the 90's, Head of the IAEA El Baradei, many former middle east CIA analyst Ray McGovern, Kathleen and Bill Christison, the Leveretts, Prof Cole, Jonathan Landay (journalist), General Zinni, Dr. Zbig and others cast doubt on the Bush administrations so called intelligence before the invasion of Iraq.
You had to go searching before the invasion since rags like the NYBloody Times promoted the invasion lock stock and barrel.
From what I have read the CIA gave plenty of warnings to the Bush administration about Curveball...not to be trusted. Probably a good friend of Michael Ledeens
Would have been great to have seen Chalabi (of course Bush and the rest of the war team too) forced to testify or receive the death sentence. Better than a heart attack. Wonder if the murderer left anything in writing?
The people of Iraq were not particularly fond of Chalabi
In 2002 a soccer mom from Ohio could look up on the internet historical facts about the Sunni/Shiite divide and violent tensions that exist.
"Ignorance abounded among the neocons" Highly unlikely. They knew what they were doing and did not give a rat's ass about how many hundreds of thousands of lives were lost. The invasion of Iraq was a tactical pivot point for the PNAC, AIE, Jinsa, Csp very deadly agenda. I truly believe this
Thanks for the support for my points. However I do not believe for a minute the PNAC, Pentagon Office of Special Plans crowd were "ignorant" at all.
In the run up to the invasion I was still a soccer mom with my youngest daughter at home. I was obsessed with listening to the news, reading the news, listening to NPR's Diane Rehm, Talk of the Nation, going on line because of the repetition of the main stream parroting what the Bush administration about the Iraq WMD's. I could not believe the Vietnam generation (me) was going to let this type of horrific pre-meditated death and destruction happen again. That is when I started following everything, Prof Cole, weapons inspector Scott Ritter, IAEA head El Bardei,former CIA foreign policy analyst like Ray McGovern, Kathleen and Bill Christison, reporters like Jason Vest at the Nation etc were reporting. All questioning the validity of the intelligence.
Somehow many of us naively thought after El Baradei came out in early March of 2003 and confirmed the Niger Documents the push to invaded would stop.
A dear friend from Athens Ohio Christian Peace Maker Team member Peggy Gish had gone to Iraq the fall of 2002...to be a witness. We were getting news from her that we would not read about until months later in msm outlets
After the invasion kept thinking now these neocons sent in too few troops (Shenskiki had recommended 200,000), did not protect many treasured sites for the Irrouaqi people, disbanded the Iraq army. One almost had to conclude that they wanted big trouble/chaos. Sort of a Sabra Shatilla strategy. Surround the area, destroy the area, send in too few troops to keep the peace and watch the Shiite/Sunni massacre begin.
Then when Peggy and the CPT in Iraq took their reports of abuse in Abu Ghariib to Bremmer his front people turned them away. CPT had been one of the first groups to document the torture taking place under the U.S. I believe Seymour Hersh used some of CPT's reports in his Abu Gharib pied in the New Yorker.
Peggy over the years spent a cumulative time of almost six years in Iraq. She said many Iraqi people she spoke with had begun to believe that the Bush administration and killing team had never wanted peace in Iraq...that they had wanted the former Iraq destroyed and the ensuing chaos to take hold.
I don't think the Bush administration neocon team were ever ignoratant.. It would appear death and destruction was their agenda. Easier for the oil to eventually be controlled.
If there is a hell they are surely going. They made it hell on earth for so many
Oops that "Unfortunate" sentence above belonged at the end of my comment
The only thing that just does not compute in this piece is Prof Cole's claim that Bremer was Powell's man in Iraq. First time I have ever read this anywhere.
Unfortunate that Chalabi, Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz etc will never be put on a stand under oath with the threat of prison or death
If that were truly the case why would Bremmer have fallen under the influence (according to Cole) of Chalabi who influenced him to disband the Iraqi army. Powell would have stepped in. Bremmer is deeply involved with the neocons agenda. Not so much for Powell. Just does not compute.
Does certainly seem that the neocons agenda was chaos in the middle east
They are sworn to secrecy on those committees. However damn strong signal to others that he voted against.
Clinton had plenty of opportunities to turn on the lights. She chose to make a political calculation...and as I have pointed out her warmongering does not end there
Indeed
Went looking for Chalabi recently on line. Could not find much recently written about him and his whereabouts and his position in Iraq. Last I had read he had been appointed Iraq's energy commission. Tried to get into some of Iraq's oil websites....not so easy
Questions:
1. While it is clear Judith "I was fucking right" Miller also had an agenda. Do you think she was able to get around professional standards of sources etc because Keller and team also really wanted Iraq invaded? They all belong on trial at the Hague for complicity in the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people
2. In 2006 the Lancet reported that 650.000 Iraqi people had all ready died as a direct result of the U.S. invasion. Of course that report was ripped apart and swept under the rug.
Why is it at a time when Americans drones, satellites etc can see a fly on the ass of a camel...why is it that U.S. Iraq cannot come up with close to exact figures on the deaths and injuries of the Iraq people? Was there a deal made with whomever never to reveal close to the exact numbers? And if you truly "mourn" these deaths why not do a piece just totally focused on this issue? You have the capabilities and language skills to get to the bottom of these numbers.
3, I had read from several sources years ago that Jay Gardner had not wanted to disband the Iraq army that it was Paul "neocon" Bremer who pushed for this. Have you ever listened to Bremer? I have on the Diane Rehm show. He repeats one lie after the next about Iraq. Was he really Colin Powell's man or the neocons man? My vote...neocons man. I think he belongs on trial at the Hague too.
4. If you are willing to use the term "genocide" for those people who Saddam slaughtered. Why not use "genocide" for the 500,000 (on your count, over a million based on others calculations) Iraq people that have died as a direct result of the invasion? It was a genocide in Iraq. Are you unable to use that strong of term because it was the Bush administration U.S. who are responsible for those deaths.
In a just world Bush, Cheney, Feith, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Addington, Micheal Ledeen, would all be on trial at the Hague for war crimes, crimes against humanity. If only the world were fair and they would all meet the same fate as Chalabi.
Was very aware of your efforts to inform the American public about the serious questions as to the validity of the Bush administrations intelligence. Along with El Baradei and former weapons inspector Scott Ritter's efforts to put a halt to the push for the invasion. Those who listened, read, tried to be informed from more reliable sources than the New York Bloody Times lobbied our Reps, marched in D,C, New York and across the nation against that horrific invasion.
And now we have Former Senator and Secretary of State and Clinton running for the Dem Presidential candidate. She voted for that 2002 Iraq war resolution. She was complicit. Her colleague Senator Dick Durbin who I believe was Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time voted against that resolution. Hello Hillary a clear indicator. Scott Ritter wrote that the Clinton's were fully aware t
hat
This is not even addressing the millions of Iraqi people became refugees and were injured. War crimes. Those responsible should he held accountable!
Now we have former Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton running for the Dem Presidential candidate. We all know that Clinton was complicit in that invasion. At the time her colleague Senator Dick Durbin was on the Senate Intelligence Committeed, I believe he was the chair at the time. He voted against that resolution. A clear clue for Hillary, Former IAEA head weapons inspector in Iraq during the 90s Scott Ritter wrote before the invasion that both of the Clintons knew there were no WMD's.
Before during and after the 2008 Dem campaign Hillary Clinton continually repeated the neocons unsubstantiated claims about Iran. Not until the deal with Iran was looking like it was going to move forward did Clinton come out and support it
Clinton supported military aggression in both Libya and Syria.
We can only wish that Chalabi's death meant that this is really a time for the "passing" of these murderous lies. However with Clinton looking as if she is likely to sit in the White House with her husband (who lets never forget signed repealing Glass Steagall). Those Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Cheney etc deadly lies still rage through the middle east...a policy of death that Clinton looks all to likely to continue/
Thanks for this breakdown.
While the Republicans obsession with using Benghazi to try to take Hillary down, they do have points in targeting her judgment calls. Take her 2002 yes vote for the Iraq war resolution. In 2002 Dem Senator Durbin was on the Senate Intelligence committee (think he was chair at the time) voted no on the Iraq war resolution. That committee heard more detailed reports about the Bush administration's false pre war intelligence. Durbin voted no. Should have been a strong indicator to Hillary. Along with what IAEA head El Baradei was consistently saying about the false Niger document. Add on what former IAEA head of weapons inspections in Iraq during the 90's (when Bill was in office) Scott Ritter was claiming that the validity of the intelligence was highly suspect. Add all of the other experts, historians etc who were also questioning the validity of the intelligence. One has to really question Hillary's ability to make wise and well informed decisions on deadly and costly decisions.
In the 60 minutes special about Benghazi that Lara Login was canned for due to unsubstantiated sources. In that special there were two I thought military officials who were claiming that they had contacted the state dept that Hillary lead and recommended more serious security at the compound. Not sure if these are the two individuals that are now being referred to as Ambassadors who recommended more security at the compound. Clearly Hillary allowed Stevens to make the call and did not take these other experts opinions.
Her ability to make wise and well informed decisions about very serious issues should be questioned. Over and over again.
Were the Syrian people better off before the U.S. and other forces assisted opening the Syrian doors to IS?
And what was it that General Wesley Clark said he discovered at the Pentagon some memo that he had access to where Bush administration officials were talking about taking out 7 countries leaders in five years?
Thank you for this "Tunisians are getting it right" So great to read about.
Grew up in a very large union family in Dayton Ohio. After not living there for 44 years back taking care of aging parents. Amazing to be exposed to nurses aides (in nursing homes) in mass working their hind ends off, making pathetic wages while the private for profit nursing home industry rakes it in. Mostly women doing these jobs...starting to talk unions but get canned if that becomes known.
Have met many former GM workers in the area who have gone from making 25 an hour at GM, Delphi etc to making 10 an hour driving Vets to the VA or working at Wal Mart.
Grew up hearing my WWII Teamster father saying "both parties sold unions down the pike"
Great that Tunisians working for equity.
Now if only the U.S. could get back on track
Trump said those countries would be "more" stable, not "stable." He is right.
Cole
As I read the piece and then all of the comments so terribly sad that through all of this strategic rearranging in the middle east the millions killed, injured, made refugees are barely (well actually not at all) a concern.
Wondering whether President Obama will pivot after the Iran Deal is sealed and publicly push/encourage Israel, India, Pakistan to sign the Non Proliferation Treaty. The Chemical Weapons agreement.
Have you seen the segment of Lewis Black promoting Trump back in 2011. On the Daily Show. Classic
Prof Cole think you will be very interested in a segment on Hardball tonight. Chris Matthews goes a few rounds with non -experts Feehery, Capehart and Molly Ball about the Iran deal. Feehery has his lip prints all over Israel and the I lobbies hind end. The discussion about Schumer's vote for the Iran deal and how it is "for Israel" should get some attention.
Former President Jimmy Carter has strongly indicated that Israel might use their nukes in the region as well as human rights activist Norman Finkelstein.
Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski has come right out and said if Israel sends in fighter jets to attack Iran the U.S. should go up and meet and stop them from doing so. Now that is quite the scenario
Dagan sounds so realistic...sane...better for Israel based on internationally recognized boundaries. Could Dagan run for Prime Minister? Would he stand a chance?
Have heard Congressman Nadler speak at Netroots conferences. He is a pro Israel no matter what they do on almost all of the time. He is clearly looking at this issue from a much wider and clear perspective. Knowing that this deal is constructive for the U.S. ultimately for Israel and for the world. Wise decision....refreshing
$40 million being spent on Israeli propaganda on U.S. media waves. Way over due for Aipac to be required to sign up under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. UANI group doing those endless ads too.
This is what Aipac is putting out about the AP Iran inspecting Parchin misrepresented details
“Yesterday, the Associated Press published a critical report that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will permit Iran to use its own inspectors to investigate the Parchin military facility. This major new development uncovers troubling insights into secret side agreements between Iran and the IAEA. While some have questioned the accuracy of this report, AP confirmed its story yesterday and released the text of the draft agreement. AIPAC sent the memo below to all congressional offices this afternoon. Please call your members of Congress today and urge them to oppose any deal that allows Iranian self-inspection.
Sincerely,
Brian Shankman
Director of Regional Affairs and Development”
- See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/08/targeted-detention-terrorists/comment-page-1#comment-792078
I thought there were officials in the U.S. government trying to push Aipac in its former life to be required to register under FARA. Way over due.
Ok Stewart is brilliant and hysterical. However all of the hoopla in the news about Jon Stewart's alleged bravery on all issues. Lots in the piece aired on Friday evening "Jon Stewart has left the building" with Rachel Maddow, his writers, Al Sharpton, Richard Engel etc saying things like "no one was off limits" ..."relentless". ..."cleverly going after any topic"..."goes after high targets." Really? Stewart has his sacred cow. He seldom criticized Israel or Israeli leaders. I know he did a piece on Aipac espionage case/Harman etc. However I remember that being a first. Did he have Mearsheimer and Walt on when their book came out? Saw an interview with Musharif where Stewart publicly skewers him. Have we ever witnessed Stewart doing this with an Israeli official? Did Stewart hammer Israeli leaders when they were killing innocent Palestinians last summer? Not that I know of. On Iran I have heard Stewart sing some of the neocons false claims about Iran having a nuclear weapons program. All of this canonizing of Stewart of being willing to go after any leader, any country is just bullshit. He talks about having a bullshit meter...Being vigilant. Yet Stewart failed in really covering Israel's crimes against humanity that he applied to other leaders and countries. I love his humor he was not brave on all issues. Not at all. He was selective in who and when he would dig into an issue or leaders. Was not a level playing field when it came to all things Israel
Thanks for following the money. Would be great to see a graph (you have probably all ready done this) on how the gulf states divide up oil and gas profits with the people down line in those countries. Who allows trickle down to improve the majority of lives. Who pisses on the majority of people down line..not redistributing profits from these resources. Read the new King of SA was throwing the people of SA few economic bones to temper protest which the US MSM barely whispered about.
Which of these countries redistributes profits from these resources amongst the majority more fairly?
Ignatius, Ignatius on MSNBC. Bill Kristol on Morning Joe. Before the deal lots of General Hayden. Morning Joe had Israeli Ambassador Dermer on who of course slammed the deal. They did have the U.K's ambassador to the U.S. on later. Forget his name..Westocott? Who said he would be lobbying congressional members to vote yes on the deal.
Chris Matthews seldom stretches his guest list. He kowtows to Ignatius. Just this week Ignatius was going on and on about how Iran "destabilizes" the middle east. Not one challenge out of Chris Matthews like mentioning how the middle east has been totally destabilized by the U.S. invasion and support for proxy wars. Generally Matthews will mention this but not to who he considers big media shots like Ignatius.
Going to be very interesting to watch to see if the MSM actually provides the American public a wider scope of opinions on this issue. We sure know they did not do their job before the immoral and illegal invasion of Iraq. A real tragedy.
Several weeks ago was trying to get through NPR's On Point screener. Which of course have done many times. When I mentioned the Leverett's being guest he said Leverett's have a "credibility problem" Yes we know what that is the I lobby hates them
Today Senator Cruz was on MSNBC Joe Scarborough ranting about Iran based on fueled myths. Not one challenge out of BBC’s Katy Kay (in for Mika), Mike Barnacle, Joe Scarborough. No one on MSNBC's Morning Joe challenged Cruz's fear filled myths about Iran during Cruz’s rant. In fact after the fact free rant Joe Scarborough reminded me of Meet the Press’s deceased host Tim Russert when he had Cheney on in the run up to the invasion of Iraq and after. When Cheney was asked about Iran he went on in a fearful rant about Iran. Russert did not challenge him AT ALL. Instead Russert asked Cheney “what can we do” (as if everything Cheney said was accurate). This is exactly what Scarborough did after Cruz’s fearful, inflammatory rant about Iran this morning. Scarborough sat back and asked “what can we do?.” As if everything Cruz had said about Iran was accurate. Last week Morning Joe had General Hayden on who ranted about Iran based on unsubstantiated claims. No challenges from anyone around the table on Morning Joe. Not one challenge. We have witnessed this dangerous scene before -
These commercials are being aired on MSNBC a couple of times every hour. Hammering the American public with fear of Iran. Undermining the p5+1 negotiations. Dennis Ross and team
United Against Nuclear Iran
http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran
Have you looked at the Aipac website lately. Several pages focused on undermining P5+1. New commercials on undermining deal. Forgot to look at who the commercials are being paid by. General Hayden on MSNBC Morning Joe last week undermining the deal. Pressure continues to take the deal down. The Aipac pages on this are worth looking at.
Jeffrey Goldberg has a piece out that basically says that President Obama is part of the "tribe". Again as if Obama does not have the ability to think on his own..to know on his own..to study the facts on his own.
Sanders is mainstream on many domestic issues. Like the way you described "others" as the "lunatic fringe." Which is the case. Sheldon Adelson , Koch brothers greedy "lunatic fringe" Although sad to say that Sanders falls into the PEP category when it comes to the I/P conflict. Votes with Israel every time. Basically supporting an apartheid state.
Thank goodness he supports the P5+1 at this point, which does go up against Israel and the I lobbies agenda to take down the P5+1. So a bit of a stand against the warmongering crowd
Does anyone think the agenda of the neocons by disbanding the Iraq army, not sending in enough troops to really maintain any kind of peace...wanted to create an environment where the Sunni's and Shiites were knocking each other off? Sort a Sabra Shatilla strategy?
As Flynt and Hillary Mann Leverett said five years ago the U.S. the world should negotiate with Assad on the power sharing deal he was willing to make. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians might be alive today. Millions would not be refugees. But no the U.S. (Israel) had to do it their way. The neocons way. Syria was on the PNAC hit list years ago.
Israel never wants to give back to Syria the land they stole.... the Golan Heights
Sanders also voted for the Anti Palestinian legislation put forward by Ros Lehtinen in 2006 after the Palestinian election. When it comes to Israel Senator Sanders looks like the majority. Pro Israel to a fault. "A little heavy handed" Please...that is just sickening.
So sad...however thanks since no one is talking about this. Still to this day we hear little to nothing about the numbers of dead, injured, displaced in Iraq directly due to the U.S. invasion. Americans seem to like it that way
Read once. Will read again Confusing.
Thanks
Most Americans were convinced to want an invasion by the Bush administration's endless lies about Iraq having a connection to 9/11 and that they had WMD's. Americans were lied to endlessly by Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Mushroom Cloud Rice via a complicit mainstream media.
She repeated inflammatory rhetoric about Iran on a regular basis. Only recently has she changer her tune
And how can we forget her yes vote on the 2002 Iraq war resolution. Senator Dick Durbin who was on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted against the resolution. That should have been a clear sign to Clinton. Former IAEA Weapons inspector in Iraq Scott Ritter wrote extensively before the invasion that the Clinton's knew there were no WMD's in Iraq. Ritter had been the inspector in Iraq during the Cllinton administration. Hillary knew. She made a calculation based on politics that was deadly wrong.
She has repeated the unsubstantiated claims about Irans alleged nuclear program for a decade. She has recently shifted in her language and now her support for the P5+1 negotiations. Hillary is a hawk on foreign policy.
The U.S. mainstream media has another opportunity to educate the American public about the facts having to do with the P5+1 negotiations, U.S. history with Iran, Israel's and special interest groups interfering with U.S. Iranian negotiations (behind the scenes) for years and presently. They failed miserably in the run up to the unnecessary, immoral and deadly invasion of Iraq to have guest on their programs who were questioning the validity of the Bush administrations WMD intelligence etc. Sad to say that the Mainstream media has another opportunity to have middle east experts on their programs. Professor Juan Cole, former weapons expert Scott Ritter, Hillary Mann Leverett (Melissa Harris Perry has had her on six times since last summer) etc.
Only time will tell. Let's hope they do not fail the American public and their professions once again.
Since the unnecessary and immoral US invasion of Iraq this part of the world does appear to be in total chaos and "on fire." Death, destruction, refugees. Was this the PNAC's intention?
This morning on BBC's World Service a long report about Saudi Arabia's decision to bomb Yemen. Linked that this may partially be an attempt to add to Israel and the 47 Republicans Senators efforts to undermine P5+1 negotiations? What can you say about this Prof Cole?
Sure appears that Obama, Kerry, Biden tired of Israel's persistent expansion of illegal settlements while saying the words that they support a two state solution. Acts speak louder than words.
Amazing to hear Richard Engel and so many others spin that this Obama/Netanyahu "rift" is a "personality issue" and never even make the effort to address the serious substantive foreign policy differences.
Mika Brzezinski has been really playing hardball on Morning Joe (Scarborough away) all week on this issue. She has even asked guest who will not deal with facts "what are you afraid of" Mika "who will cut through the bs" She has stepped out more than any other MSNBC host this week on this issue.
Chris Matthews had Bob (Iraq warmonger) Woodward on to discuss Iran. Woodward also said the Plame outing "was much ado about nothing" Why do these host allow those who were so knowingly deadly wrong about Iraq and other very serious issues to share their opinions about middle east issues....enough!
Have always referred to Obama as the real Spock. Amazing to hear Richard Engel and Haas trying to spin this serious disagreement as a "personality" issue between BB and Obama on MSNBC's Morning Joe Not as serious foreign policy disputes.
MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski has really been playing hardball on Morning Joe the last couple of mornings on this issue. Scarborough is gone for now. She asked guest who will help her "cut through the bs" being repeated about BB 'walking back" his pre election rejection of the two state solution. Of course many have been saying his actions speak louder than his words for years. All guest tried to flip the script and blame Obama for the breakdown. Mika asked "what are you afraid of?" No one took the bait. Well not even Mika. One guest on Morning Joe referred to the huge rift as a "dysfunctional horror show."
Chris Matthews had it going on his program last night. However he continues to repeat that if you go to Israel anyone can say anything about the conflict. Well except Palestinians. Chris Matthews clearly unwilling to even face that it is illegal to mention the Nakba.
Likud wins. One state solution becomes only solution exposing once and for all Israel is an apartheid state
And for the first time the mainstream media covered Israel's massacre in Gaza last summer. Generally if not always the MSM barely touches the crimes that Israel has committed against the Palestinians
Yes they have betrayed the Obama administration, peace and U.S. National Security. No one wants to talk about Iran being a signatory to the NPT and that they have the legal right to enrich uranium up to 20% for peaceful purposes. The very nation who sits on massive stockpiles of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons that go un inspected by the international community. Israel continues to refuse to sign the NPT. Can it get any more absurd? Hypocritical?
Prof Cole. That petition that I linked to grew by 7000 signatures in one hour. Goal was to hit 100.000 by April 8th. All ready at 118,201
Important petition to sign and share
we petition the obama administration to:
File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.
On March 9th, 2015, forty-seven United States Senators committed a treasonous offense when they decided to violate the Logan Act, a 1799 law which forbids unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments. Violation of the Logan Act is a felony, punishable under federal law with imprisonment of up to three years.
At a time when the United States government is attempting to reach a potential nuclear agreement with the Iranian government, 47 Senators saw fit to instead issue a condescending letter to the Iranian government stating that any agreement brokered by our President would not be upheld once the president leaves office.
This is a clear violation of federal law. In attempting to undermine our own nation, these 47 senators have committed treason.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9
Prof Cole what are your estimates on how many Iraqi people have died as a direct consequence of U.S. invasion, sanctions etc over the last 2o some years?
Prof Cole will your biography be completed? Just read. So impressive. Can't remember exactly when I started reading although do know it was months before the invasion. Reading what you, former IAEA weapons inspector Scott Ritter, several former middle east CIA analyst and head of the IAEA El Baradei, DR. Zbig etc had to say before the invasion had me convinced that the Office of Special Plans WMD intelligence was to be seriously in question. Had many of us lobbying our Reps, protesting and being arrested trying to stop the invasion from happening. To think that 30 million marched against around the world with no successful outcome at all, Disastrous results...that invasion...extremely destructive and sad. To say the least.
Was a trekkie for about three years in late 60's Loved the character Spock. Nimoy always seemed like a decent person. What a great thing he had to say late in the game but he said it. Although from what you posted that he wrote he was not willing to go another mile and state that Israel needs to stop building illegal settlements in West Bank and illegal housing in E Jerusalem. Not willing to call the Israel's out on their crimes against Palestinians. Great that he said something but part of the better late than never crowd. May he rest in peace and become part of universal star dust.
I think President Obama is the real life Spock.
Iran signed and ratified Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty...the OPCW. Israel has signed but not ratified.
When are the alleged liberals like Rachel Maddow, Ed, Al Sharpton, Chris Hayes etc going to have you on their programs? Did the fact that the Bush administration came after you for your stance against the invasion (before the invasion) intimidate these talking heads? Why not have you on? At least Melissa Harris Perry has made a breakthrough by having Hillary Mann Leverett on I think at least four times since this summer to discuss the situation with Iran and other middle east issues.
Yes actors speaking out in support for women's issues, LGBT, immigrants, civil rights etc. To think how Vanessa Redgrave was practically run out of Hollywood for speaking up ever so politely at the 1976 Oscars for Palestinian rights. Still Meryl Streep and the rest of the alleged Hollywood human rights types will not stand up on this critical issue. Still to sheepish.
Great to see Greenwald and Poitrus accepting an award for best documentary "Citizenfour"
Guardian, Huff Po Daily Beast all have pieces up about Bibi Bombing on Iran issue with Mossad.
Thank you
Huffington Post has had the Denmark killings front and center all day. Now a picture of emergency people wheeling injured and dead away. I am not in any way shape or form saying that this tragedy does not need to be covered. However the Kayla death stayed up front and center over there for almost two days. The 3 Muslim students murdered have never made front and center at Huff Po. Discrimination even in death. So terribly wrong
Yes we have watched and lobbied against so called "liberal" Dems fall in line when it comes to Israel...no matter what they do. for decades this has been the case. Truly a shift taking place. Monumental in so many ways
Iran will not change their mind about their legal right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. There is no hard proof they have a nuclear weapons program...although one could not blame them with a fully nuclear weapons armed Israel after them. You know Israel the very nation that refuses to sign the IAEA's Non Proliferation Treaty as well as the Chemical Weapons convention agreement. Israel the very nation pushing for a U.s. military confrontation with Iran. Enough!
Folks should be contacting their Reps and repeating no new sanctions against Iran. Document what they say. Make it public. This has gotten very ugly and so dangerous.
Investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill has some great pieces up over at INTERCEPT about all of this
An important piece. Pointing out that the majority of Americans have their heads up where the sun does not shine and the uber wealthy and generally the mass media are determined to keep it so. Especially when it comes to Americans lack of understanding in regard to how our foreign policy pisses so many people off around the world. How our invasions and support for rebels (say in Syria) have been brutal and often futile. Shameful really.
Was talking with a woman my age (early 60's) about what I have been through with my aging parents the last six years. WWII father who died this year (really ready to go) and my mother have worked extremely hard all of their lives to make a middle class income. Did very little business on credit and always figured how to give to those less fortunate than them. Never asked anything from the government that they fueled with their hard work and paid taxes. Then in their older years went through their savings damn fast when my father fell and ended up in the nursing home industry. We tried to bring him home but became very complicated quickly. So for the next five years he was in nursing homes (he was not abandoned as many of our elders are in these facilities, I have now visited around 20 of them in the Dayton Ohio region) What you find in these places are many people who are similar to my WWII, Teamster father. People who worked hard all of their lives (have talked with exceptions to that standard) and now find themselves on partial medicaid payments. If my father had ever heard the term medicaid he would have shriveled up and died faster than he did. For him that meant that somehow he had failed to not take care of himself and my mother. That he had not paid his dues. But indeed he had paying into the system for 45 working years as well as after retirement.
When you live in a country where you have paid into the system all of your life and you spend your last years somehow believing you have failed which is what a great deal of our seniors in nursing home facilities feel then clearly we have all failed. As I shared this experience with this woman my age and how screwed up our health care system has been and how Norway, Sweden etc had humanitarian systems she responded "Norway is broke. They have a failing economic system" Because I know little about the economics in Norway I responded not sure about that but do know their health care system is highly regarded and they are truly "pro family." an issue that really gets under my skin watching so many 30 somethings now having kids and not being able to choose to have a parent stay home because of rising cost etc. Anyway the fake "pro family",,,"pro life" folks drive me nuts and that is another response. Thanks for this piece.
About time a US President took reasonable steps towards Cuba. From everything I have read about Castro and the overthrow of Batista. He and his comrades had their ideas wrapped around taking Cuba in a socialist direction. That the US almost immediate embargo pushed them towards Russia and Communism.
Did you see Colberts segment on Obama's announcement about Cuba? Classic
.
Have spent hundreds of hours reading much of the mission statement, principles, war plans, letters to Presidents over at the Project for A New American Centuries website since before the invasion of Iraq. However heard something the other night on MSNBC's Ed Show that I had not heard before. Attorney Mike Papatonio stated that Jeb Bush had been part of writing the mission statement of the PNAC. Harder to access the site these days. Jeb did sign the signatory list for the principles of PNAC.
Geez what about demanding that Israel sign the same Non Proliferation Treaty and Chemical weapons convention Treaty that Iran signed? What a concept...fairness
Sure have not heard any reports about middle east conflicts from MSNBC Ayman Moyheldin lately. Anyone know what is up with that
Pushes Americans out of comfort zones. The majority of Americans do not want to know about the diabolical agenda of the warmongers. So twisted.
With all of the Palestinians history, homes, lives buried by Israeli terrorist before Israel became a state and all of the Palestinian history, lives etc buried since not hard to imagine that the Israeli Knesset would vote to destroy the Al Aqsa mosque and build a temple on top. The list of human rights violations and war crimes that Israel has gotten away with not beyond imagination
So has the plan of the PNAC crowd always been to destabilize the region? How has Israel played a role in Kurdistan's power growing as a sub state? Oil pipelines?
The best debates on Harris, Maher bigotry being examined are at Cenk Uygars Young Turks. Available on you tube What is the Root of Violence - Religion or Other Factors ...
Video for Cenk Uygur on Maher and Harris bigotry exposed► 19:42► 19:42
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZyC8ya_GvU Also at Professor Juan Cole's website Informed Comment Islamophobia: Is Sam Harris As Dangerous As Sarah Palin ...
http://www.juancole.com/2014/.../islamophobia-harris-dangerous.ht...
Juan Cole
4 days ago - “”Whether you think him a truth-teller or a bigot, Bill Maher deserves
Is Sam Harris As Dangerous As Sarah Palin?
"Whether you think him a truth-teller or a bigot, Bill Maher deserves credit for launching one of the most robust...
youtube.com
How can there be a two state solution based on internationally recognized borders while Israel continues to confiscate more Palestinian land in the West Bank, E Jerusalem. And thousands are dead and injured in Gaza infrastructure again destroyed, tens of thousands of homes lay in waste. How can a two state solution even be possible at this point. An effort in futility?
So Pheadrus when will Bill and Sam apply that same type of analysis to Judaism and their so called holy books? Lots of violence, racism cultivated in those holy books too. They avoid applying that same type of critique to Judaism even though they like to call themselves "atheist" They guard Judaism with their hypocritical protectionism.
Thanks for this. "Maher is a consistent liberal" and has been so willing to point out the hypocritical contradictions embedded in so many issues. However on Israel and their crimes against humanity over the decades he goes blind as so many so called liberals in our congress, MSM host, New York Bloody Times etc have also done for decades. If someone actually the time to examine closely the time that Maher spent bashing the violence exhibited by Christian faiths, Islam you can easily see he did not spend the same amount of time on violence in Judaism or Zionism (which has in many ways become a faith)
Sam Harris "Islam the mother lode of bad ideas" Yikes
Yesterday on one of the MSNBC programs Andrea Mitchell said that Netanyahu knows that the US congress has his "back" This morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe Scarborough even demonstrated a bit of spine and said Israel's latest announcement was a "cheap shot" he asked Israel "why provoke"
Daniel Levy on Al Jazeera America said that Israel will not be "held accountable" once again. He threw out an interesting stat that "1 in 10 Israeli's now live beyond the green line". Al Jazeera America is almost as great as Democracy Now. Still no attention on 310 (as of Monday) US led air strikes in Syria and Iraq and the more than likely killing of innocent people. No accounting anywhere that I can find
Once again Israel punched Abbas and Obama in the elevator of abuse yesterday. The cameras are rolling and the whole world is watching. Netanyahu kicked Obama in the cajones once again. So has anything changed with how this will turn out? US will veto justice once again next fall.
Of course Mahmoud Abbas is right about Israel committing war crimes. Have read most of the International Criminal Courts definition of War Crimes (Crimes against humanity) and UN Human Rights documents...Israel's systematic and disproportionate reliance on violent force has been used by Israel for decades not just recently. The Goldstone Report and the UN's Mavi Marmara report are terrifying. Israel kills with shameless resolve...anyone who gets in the way of their expansionist agenda..including Rachel Corrie, journalist etc.
Iraq in shambles, Libya in shambles, Syria in shambles...was that the plan? Sure seem to be implementing the PNAC (Project for a New American Century) "Securing the Realm" blueprint. So sad to witness Obama become part and parcel to such destructive strategies
Little to no mention in our mainstream news outlets that the U.S. has been supplying Syrian rebels with arms etc for several years now
And Israel and the I lobby continue to repeat unsubstantiated and inflammatory claims about Iran. Still no one in the mainstream media brings up that Iran signed the NPT has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. That Israel continues to refuse to sign the NPT and the Chemical Weapons Treaty. Lopsided coverage still in this day and age.
Coalition of the reeling.....yikes
Prof Cole do you know what percentage of IS members are former members of the Iraq army that Paul Bremmer disbanded? Jay Garner wanted to leave the Iraq army intact after the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq...is that right? So would it be right to say that the Bush administration's invasion and tactics or lack of in Iraq created IS?
yep
Amy Goodman just on MSNBC's Melissa Harris Perry talking about the hypocrisy of the Obama administrations sending in "humanitarian aid" to the Yazidis. Yet that same Obama administration has stood by supporting the massacre on the Palestinian people in Gaza.
SMARK "educated americans" oh you mean like the editors and publishers at the New York Bloody Times who promoted the invasion by allowing false and dangerous pieces to be on the front pages of that rag by Judy "I was fucking right" Miller selling the invasion based on known false pretenses. Still MSM host and papers allow the American people to stay in the dark about the consequences of that invasion hundreds of thousands into the millions if you add up every U.S. strike on Iraq over the last 20 years. The hundreds of thousands injured, the displaced. Many of the Americans that do know do not seem to give a rats ass. Educated Americans aye yi yi
Knock out piece. Why such large discrepencies in the 2006 Lancet report that stated that at that time 650,ooo Iraqi people had been killed as a direct result of the U.s. invasion. Iraq Body Count report, a Pentagon report somewhere around 100,ooo. Hope you write a stinging piece about the choice of Obama etc, news pundit using the very powerful term genocide for the potential killing of Yezidis but this same term did not apply to what has happenned to the Palestinians.
You might be interested in a piece that NPR's Jackie Northram did on the Israeli border kibbutz town of Netive Ha'asara and how it has been effected by tunnels. She does not talk about why tunnels were built, where they lead and if that is disputed or land that possibly belongs to Palestinians. She even does the sound of Israeli kibbutz kids swimming in pools next to Gaza while Palestinans kids are being pummeled into destroyed buildings etc. How Israel controls the water.
U.S. MSM has made absolutely sure that Americans (most who do not care) do not know how many Iraqi people have been killed based on the Bush administraton's pack of lies. Deeply disturbing. No need to wonder why people in that part of the world fear and hate us
Always learn so much here. Just wish the U.S. would have been this concerned about 400,000 Palestinian refugees. ISIS are some especially vicious fundamentalist.
Thanks...genius
the facts are getting out in the U.S. MSM. Although still showing inaccurate maps of the West Bank, little to no discussion of expanding illegal settlements in the West Bank, persistent and extreme demonization of Hamas, constant repetition of "Israel has the right to defend itself" no mention of internationally recognized borders or of the right of Palestinians to defend themselves or internationally recognized borders. Not any mention of why tunnels were built or where they went. No mention of water rights etc. Wondering when Rachel Maddow etc or anyone else will have you on Prof Cole?
While most of us are aware that more accurate information is getting out in the U.S. mainstream media about this most recent conflict...more than ever before is a good thing. We are still hearing as Jonathon has pointed out we are hearing endless demonization about Hamas as wanting to "destroy Israel" in assorted language. Repetition that "Israel has a right to defend itself" but no mention of internationally recognized borders no mention that Palestinians have a right to defend themselves and their land and homes. Still inaccurate maps up everywhere of the West Bank and E Jerusalem. Demands that Hamas recognize "Israel's right to exist" never a demand that Israel recognize that Palestine has a "right to exist." Let's just get to that Israel "exist" based on internationally recognized borders...that Palestine also has borders recognized by the international community. That Israel has been actively destroying that right to Palestine existing. Pushing the whole situation towards a one state solution being the only solution. Which most of us know means that Israel's apartheid state will be fully exposed.
The day after Rula called out Andrea Mitchell's complicity by only having guest on who support Israel Andrea had Yousef Munayer on. I thought Rula would lose her job for pushing and calling Mitchell out.
Go watch Blitzer's debate with Norm Finkelstein. Blitzer has been protecting Israel and the I lobby for years. Has only made a small shift over the last five years. The spotlights are on him and the media. Trying to hop on the better late than never bus to cover his covering for Israel over the years.
Blitzer has also repeated Israel's propaganda about Iran.
Rula was spot on. Although could have drawn a distinction between NBC's and other outlets very recent shift reporting about the I/P conflict in a much more accurate way than ever before. Juan not sure where you came up with that NBC has been better than other outlets. I am a news junkie and watch many outlets as well as reading from the right left and center. NBC has not touched the issue accurately...but times are a changing. Eli Lake chose to ignore decades of evidence which backs up Rula's point. Ronan Farrow, Joy Reid , Melissia harris Perry, Chris Hayes have been willing to shine the spotlight on the latest and serious flare up far more than Ed, Sharpton, Chris Matthews, Lawrence O' Donnell not sure if this is a generational thing to the older host have seen others go down if they touched this issue in the past. Times are a changing in the news. But on the ground seems to be only getting worse for the Palestinians
Ronan Farrow and Joy Reid have been doing a damn good job at trying to accurately report what is going on in the conflict. Melissa Harris Perry that last three weeks has had Hillary Mann Leverett on with other guest to discuss the issue. Real efforts of sharing the facts on the ground. Today Rula Jebreal went off on MSNBC's Ronan Farrow talking about the media's decades long roll in inaccurately covering the conflict. Quite the truth teller. Daily Beast Eli Lake could not bring himself to tell the truth about this fact. That the MSM has been complicit with Israel's views for decades. The situation is clearly changing. What is with Senator (voted for the Iraq war) Feinstein (she should be investigated for her families profiting from the Iraq war) lecturing Putin about "taking responsibility" and "manning up" for heavens sake. This woman is partially responsible for going along with the invasion of Iraq and she has the arrogance to bring up deaths of innocents. Aye yi yi. No one in the MSM actually showing accurate maps of the West Bank always showing it as one contiguous piece of land. Never talk about Palestinians right to protect themselves or their land.