Daily Archives: January 8, 2020

2020-01-08: News Headlines

Zoltan Grossman (2020-01-08). A War on Iran Would be Different From Iraq, and Far, Far Worse. counterpunch.org Since President Trump's assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, widespread alarm has centered on whether he is again dragging us into another war like Iraq, to detract from his impeachment. The bad news is that the situation is even more potentially disastrous. As a political-cultural geographer who has long studied the history of U.S. military More

Kenn Orphan (2020-01-08). As the World Burns, the Powerful Go on Holiday. counterpunch.org Like so many these past few days, I have been stunned by the devastation across Australia. The photographs and videos of the fires sweeping through the countryside and surrounding towns and even the city of Sydney show a nation literally on fire. Terrified people clung to the bottoms of boat docks, neck deep in water More

Kenneth Surin (2020-01-08). Australia's Big Burn and Scotty From Marketing. counterpunch.org Under the terms of the Tokyo Agreement, Australia (the world's largest exporter of coal) pledged to cut carbon emissions by 26% from 2005 levels by 2030, but Morrison's government has already started to work-round this commitment– earlier this month at a United Nations summit in Madrid, Australia resorted to sharp practice by using its old carbon credits to count toward future emissions targets. More

Vijay Prashad (2020-01-08). Is This the End of U.S. Interference in West Asia? counterpunch.org Major General Hossein Salami, the chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, said on January 4 that his country would take "strategic revenge" against the United States for the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. The assassination of Soleimani, Salami said, will be later seen as a "turning point" in U.S. interference More

Patrick Cockburn (2020-01-08). Trump's Actions in Iraq Could Plunge the Country Into Crisis Once Again, Leaving Iran as Strong as Ever. counterpunch.org The assassination of Qassem Soleimani has capsized Iraqi politics in the most dangerous of ways, making it possible that the country will be plunged once again into a state of permanent crisis and war from which it has escaped in the last two years. President Trump is threatening sanctions against Iraq if it expels the More

Paul Buhle (2020-01-08). The Return of the Antiwar Movement: Memories and Intimations. counterpunch.org The turnout in Madison, Wisconsin, for an antiwar rally on Jan.4, was not bad, considering the students are out of town, many local Bernie devotees are busy canvassing in Iowa, and the weather was about as forbidding as usual in the Winter (it could always be worse). Somehow, the icy wind always sweeps off Lake More

Anthony DiMaggio (2020-01-08). Opposing War With Iran: Three Reasons. counterpunch.org The U.S. stands at the precipice of war. President Trump's rhetorical efforts to sell himself as the "anti-war" president have been exposed as a fraud via his assault on Iran. Most Orwellian of all is Trump's claim that the assassination of Iranian General Qassam Soleimani was necessary to avert war, following the New Year's Eve More

RT (2020-01-08). Putin & Erdogan call on warring Libyan sides to fully cease fire on Sunday. rt.com Russia and Turkey have called for all parties in the ongoing Libyan conflict to declare a ceasefire, even as both countries seem to support opposite sides in the affray. Earlier, Turkey began moving troops toward Libya. | Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul on Wednesday, Moscow and Ankara released a joint statement calling on all sides in the Libyan conflict to "declare a sustainable ceasefire, supported by the necessary measures to be taken for stabilizing the situation on the ground and normalizing daily life in Tripoli and other…

RT (2020-01-08). Full stream ahead: Russia & Turkey launch TurkStream gas pipeline (WATCH LIVE). rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have launched the long-anticipated offshore pipeline TurkStream, that will deliver Russian gas to Turkey and further to southern European states. | The 930 km pipeline running across the bottom of the Black Sea became operational on Wednesday, with the two leaders attending a special opening ceremony. | "We will be indispensable in international markets with natural gas pipelines coming from both the east and north," Turkish energy and natural resources minister Fatih Donmez said in December, when the project was in the final…

RT (2020-01-08). 'Example of cooperation for the world': Putin & Erdogan hail new gas pipeline as Middle East tensions boil. rt.com With regional tensions flaring, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed the launch of the near-1,000km TurkStream gas pipeline as an example of international cooperation. | "We live in a difficult world, and unfortunately, in the region we're in now, there are tendencies for the worsening of the situation," Putin said at the pipeline's inauguration ceremony in Istanbul on Wednesday, referring to ongoing tensions in Iran, Iraq and Syria. | But Turkey and Russia are showing a very different feat: an example of reciprocity and cooperation of our people, of Europe's…

RT (2020-01-08). Full stream ahead: Russia & Turkey launch TurkStream gas pipeline. rt.com Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan have launched the long-anticipated offshore pipeline TurkStream, that will deliver Russian gas to Turkey and further to southern European states. | The 930 km pipeline across the bottom of the Black Sea became operational on Wednesday, with the two leaders attending a special opening ceremony. Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic and Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissovalso participated in the event, as the leaders symbolically launched the project from the stage. | | Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladim…

RT (2020-01-08). Russian and Chinese chess queens battle for women's world title — but should chess even have a male-female divide? rt.com As Russia's Aleksandra Goryachkina and China's Ju Wenjun compete for the Women's World Chess Championship this week, some might question whether chess really needs a male-female divide at all. | Goryachkina, 21, is the young pretender to the crown held by defending women's world champion Ju, 28, as they battle it out over 12 games in Shanghai and Vladivostok. | The prize fund is a cool €500,000 (US$556,000), with the winner taking home €300,000 of that amount. | The money on offer is still only around half of that offered at the World Chess Championship — which is open to men and women — bu…

C.J. Atkins (2020-01-08). Trump makes it clear he will continue endless war. peoplesworld.org The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. So said George Orwell of the endless conflict that Oceania maintained with its supposed adversaries in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. With Iran's quick and casualty-free face-saving retaliatory strikes concluded and President Trump signaling no further U.S. attacks, it looks as though …

The Canary (2020-01-08). Nurses warn of burn-out in new strike over pay and recruitment. thecanary.co Thousands of "burned out" nurses have taken to picket lines in the north of Ireland as one-day strike action brings some health services to a standstill.An escalating row over pay and conditions in the under-pressure hospital system emptied treatment waiting rooms across the country.Politicians are trying to reach an agreement which would produce a funding boost for an NHS beset by long waiting lists for treatment and rancour over employee pay levels while struggling to fill some vacant posts.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) protest follows a similar walkout last month over salary rates that lag behind colleagu…

RT (2020-01-08). Iran warns 'Great Satan' America that any new attack will result in 'painful and crushing' response, including against Israel. rt.com If the US and its allies launch any more attacks on Iran, they will incur "more painful and crushing responses," the Islamic Revolutionary Guards of Iran warned, noting that the 'Zionist regime' of Israel would not be spared. | The IRGC issued a statement in the early hours of Wednesday local time, after launching a volley of missiles against two bases used by US forces inside Iraq, in retaliation for last week's drone assassination of IRGC Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani outside Baghdad. | We warn the Great Satan, the bloodthirsty and arrogant regime of the US, that any new wicked act or more moves and agg…

Betsey Piette (2020-01-08). Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!" workers.org Just days into the new year and a new decade, on Jan. 4, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in 80 cities across 38 states to demand U.S. out of Iraq and no war or sanctions on Iran. Many activists described the massive turnout as the largest . . . | Continue reading Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!" at Workers.org

RT (2020-01-08). 'No lives lost': Trump holds fire on 'big missiles,' talks peace after Iran's strikes on US bases in Iraq. rt.com US President Donald Trump is delivering an eagerly-awaited address to America, as the country stands on the brink of war with Iran. Trump's speech comes hours after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq. | Speaking from the White House, Trump backed away from threatening further strikes against Iran, describing Tehran's stand-down as "a good thing for all parties concerned." | Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast…The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean that we have to use it. | Trump did, however, vow to impose new economic sanctions on the…

RT (2020-01-08). Shell-shocked pundits come crawling back to Hillary over Trump's Iran belligerence… forgetting she'd have started war sooner. rt.com Social media sang praises of would-be US President Hillary Clinton as actual President Donald Trump seemed headed for all-out war with Iran — even though Clinton had been a much more enthusiastic participant in US wars. | After Iranian missiles struck several US bases Tuesday night, #Resistance twitter wasted no time disavowing the administration they blamed for the hostilities, running into the arms of his arch-rival with the #IVotedforHillaryClinton hashtag. | #IvotedforHillaryClinton— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) RT (2020-01-08). 1 dead, 3 injured in 'targeted shooting' in downtown Ottawa (WATCH LIVE). rt.com Police responded to reports of "many injuries" in a shooting in the Centretown part of the city before 7: 30am local time, prompting the Canadian parliament's security team to issue an "active shooter" warning to its employees. | The incident unfolded on Gilmour Street, and officers tweeted that a "coordinated response" was underway. | One person was confirmed dead at the scene and three others were taken to hospital "in serious condition suffering from gunshot wounds." Police also said one of the injured was a minor who was taken to the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. | Shooting this morning on our…

Liberation Staff (2020-01-08). Protesters across New England demand: No War on Iran! liberationnews.org Reports from Boston, New Haven, Conn, and Manchester, NH.

Staff (2020-01-08). The Trump Administration Is Repeating Iraq War Talking Points. therealnews.com Administration officials are repeating ideas that sound eerily similar to the justification used for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Ed Sykes (2020-01-08). Iran responds to US assassination by attacking Iraqi bases housing US troops. thecanary.co Iran has responded to the US assassination of its most powerful military commander by firing ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases that house US troops. US and Iraqi officials said there were no casualties among their forces, and it appeared that Iran had given advance warning of the strikes.The Iranian strikes marked the first time in recent years that Iran has directly attacked US positions. The country's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made clear that the missile strikes wer…

Brian W. Major (2020-01-08). A Marxist response to the animal liberation and vegan movements. peoplesworld.org

Staff (2020-01-08). A View from Tehran: Iranian Professor Condemns U.S. Aggression & Warns U.S.-Backed Gulf States. democracynow.org Iranian forces fired 22 ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq early Wednesday in what Iran described as "fierce revenge" for the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike last week at the Baghdad airport. The Iranian missiles targeted the Al Asad Airbase in Anbar province and a base in Erbil. There were no initial reports of U.S. or Iraqi casualties. Shortly after the attacks, Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted, "We do not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression." Earlier today, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali…

Staff (2020-01-08). Iranian-American Lawmaker Warns of Rising Xenophobia as U.S.-Iran Tension Escalates. democracynow.org In the midst of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, Border Patrol has been detaining Iranian Americans at the U.S.-Canada border. At least 100 people were delayed at ports of entry along the border over the weekend, following the U.S. assassination of Qassem Soleimani on January 3. For response, we speak with Anna Eskamani, Florida Democratic state representative of Orlando. She is the first Iranian American to be elected to any public office in Florida. "The reality is that when we see the potential war rise in countries like Iran … we'll see xenophobia rise right here locally" in the U.S., Eskamani says.

RT (2020-01-08). Spain pulls some of its troops from Iraq over security concerns. rt.com Spain has announced that some of its forces stationed in Iraq have left the country, describing the decision as a security precaution. | Around 500 Spanish troops were deployed to Iraq as part of a US-led coalition formed to combat Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS). The soldiers, who helped train Iraqi security forces, were stationed in Besmayah, Taji, and Baghdad. It's not yet clear how many Spanish military personnel were ferried out of the country. | Iraq's parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling for the withdrawal of all foreign following the US assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleiman…

Nathan Raia (2020-01-08). Democracy: when the opposition is the Media. mronline.org One more court case has been opened against the former Ecuadorian president, Rafael Correa. The elite with the help of the corporate media are trying to get him behind bars. Also, a council has been created, by the executive, to control the judiciary, proving that there is no impartial process for the victims of lawfare. | Source

RT (2020-01-08). 'So far, so good!' Trump tweets of US military might, set to address Americans on Wednesday over Iranian strike. rt.com US President Donald Trump has weighed in after a series of Iranian missile strikes on American bases in Iraq, noting that a damage and casualty assessment looks "good" so far. | "All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now," Trump said, adding that he would make a statement to the nation on Wednesday morning. | All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in t…

RT (2020-01-08). Ukrainian president Zelensky expresses condolences to victims' families after Ukrainian airliner crashes in Iran. rt.com Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended his condolences to the relatives of those killed in a plane crash in Iran. He said that the Ukrainian embassy is clarifying the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. | Zelensky cut short his trip to Oman and returned to Kiev after learning about the crash. | A Ukrainian International Airlines plane carrying 167 passengers and nine crew crashed shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran. The Boeing 737 reportedly experienced technical problems after becoming airborne.There were no survivors in the crash, Zelensky said, citing…

RT (2020-01-08). Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashes on takeoff from Tehran, all passengers and crew killed. rt.com A Ukrainian Boeing 737 bound for Kiev from Tehran has crashed after takeoff due to technical problems, Iranian media reported. Much of the regional airspace had been cleared due to Iranian missile strikes on US targets in Iraq. | Flight radar information showed Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 abruptly disappearing after takeoff from the Imam Khomeini airport just after 6 am local time. | Also on rt.com | | WATCH ball of flame falling from the sky alleged to be Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran | There were 176 passengers and nine crew memb…

RT (2020-01-08). Iran's overnight strikes on American bases 'a slap in the face' for US — Khamenei. rt.com An Iranian missile attack against US military targets inside Iraq has humiliated Washington, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said, urging remaining forces to leave the region. | Khamenei said that the strikes served as a "slap in the face" for the United States, but were not "sufficient" to remove "the corrupting presence of America in the region." | He stated unequivocally that Tehran views Washington as its enemy. | In a separate statement, President Hassan Rouhani said that the US may have "cut off the arm" of assassinated Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani, but Iran would respond by se…

RT (2020-01-08). Will US-Iran conflict spiral out of control with tit-for-tat 'retaliations'? rt.com Iran fired a slew of missiles at US bases in Iraq, fulfilling its promise to avenge the death of its top general. Will both sides stop where they are, or are we witnessing the calm before an all-out storm? | Two waves of Iranian missiles rained down overnight on two military installations housing US and coalition troops, one in Al-Asad and one in Erbil. The strikes were heavy on symbolism, with Iranian leadership making sure that the US gets the message right. | Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attack — codenamed 'Martyr Soleimani' after the slain commander of Iran's clandestine Quds Force…

RT (2020-01-08). Not our problem: BoJo says legality of US assassination of Soleimani is 'not for UK to determine'. rt.com British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that questions surrounding the legality of the US killing of Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani is "not for the UK to determine." | Responding to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during the first PMQs of the year in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Johnson said that "most reasonable people" would accept that the US is well within its rights to "protect its bases and its personnel." | The strict issue of legality is not for the UK to determine since it was not our operation. | Corbyn, who described the escalation of US-Iran tensions in the middle east as…

RT (2020-01-08). Engine fire led to Ukrainian Boeing 737 crash in Iran – airport official. rt.com A Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 had suffered an engine malfunction before it went down a few minutes after taking off from Tehran's Imam Khomeini airport, an airport official has said. | The engine caught fire when the plane was airborne, Ali Khashani, a senior public relations official at Iran's major airport, was quoted by local media. The fatal engine failure is thought to have caused the jet to come down, between the cities of Sharhiar and Parand in the early hours of Wednesday. | The airliner, operated by Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), carried 176 passengers and nine crew, most of whom were Iranians, ac…

RT (2020-01-08). Zelensky calls on public not to speculate about plane crash in Iran, says Ukraine ready to repatriate victims' bodies. rt.com President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the public to abstain from speculating about what may have caused a Ukrainian airliner to crash in Iran. He also said Kiev was ready to retrieve victims' bodies. | A Ukrainian International Airlines plane carrying 167 passengers and nine crew crashed shortly after taking off from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, killing everyone on board. Preliminary reports say the aircraft's engine caught fire. However, according to Iranian media, the pilot did not issue a distress call, fueling speculation about the cause of the accident. | Urging against speculation…

RT (2020-01-08). Iran won't hand over black box to the US, as Boeing offers help after Ukrainian airliner crashes near Tehran. rt.com Iran will not provide Boeing with the black box of a Ukrainian 737 that crashed near Tehran, the country's civil aviation authority has said. An investigation into the accident is ongoing. | Ali Abedzadeh, head of the Iran Civil Aviation Organization, said that Tehran would carry out its own probe into the crash, adding that Ukrainian authorities will be allowed to be "present during investigations." | He also said that it hadn't yet been decided where the black box would be sent for analysis.Responding to the crash, Boeing said in a statement that it was ready to "assist in any way needed." | A Boeing 737 ope…

RT (2020-01-08). Ukrainians, Iranians, Canadians, Germans & Brits among 176 killed in Boeing 737 crash near Tehran. rt.com Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko has confirmed the number and country of origin of all passengers and crew on board the Ukrainian International Airlines Boeing 737-800 which crashed shortly after takeoff from Tehran. | All 176 people on board were killed after the plane's engine reportedly caught fire. | "Terrible news about the plane crash in Tehran. My sincere condolences to the families of the dead," Prystaiko said in statements posted to Twitter, adding that "Ukrainian authorities continue to investi…

RT (2020-01-08). WATCH ball of flame falling from the sky alleged to be Ukrainian plane that crashed in Iran. rt.com An unauthenticated video has emerged online purporting to show a Ukrainian Boeing 737 crashing soon after takeoff from the Iranian capital en route back to Kiev. | Posted online late on Tuesday night, the brief video clip shows what is said to be a Ukraine International Airlines flight as it hit the ground, giving off a bright flash. There were 176 passengers and nine crew on board; all of them were confirmed dead. | The accident comes on the heels of Iranian ballistic missile strikes on US bases in Iraq, which prompted America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close the airspace over the region to…

Staff (2020-01-08). Juan Cole: U.S.-Iran Conflict Enters Unprecedented Territory with Assassinations & Military Attacks. democracynow.org Iran's retaliatory missile strikes on bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, following the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, have dramatically raised tensions in the Middle East. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei called the missile strike a "slap in the face" of the Americans and called for U.S. troops to leave the Middle East. The Iranian missile strikes come just days after the Iraqi Parliament voted to expel all foreign military forces from Iraq. We speak with Juan Cole, professor of history at the University of Michigan.

RT (2020-01-08). Netanyahu threatens Iran with 'crushing blow' if Israel comes under attack. rt.com Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a deadly retaliation if Iran attacks Israel as part of its response to the US assassination of commander Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad last week. | "We're standing steadfast against those who seek to kill us. We're standing with determination and with force. Whoever tries to attack us will suffer a most crushing blow," the Israeli leader declared at a conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday. | Netanyahu alleged that Soleimani was personally responsible for the deaths of "countless innocent people," destabilizing "many" countries and spreading "fear and misery and anguish.

RT (2020-01-08). 'One of our best planes': Ukrainian Boeing 737 that crashed in Iran was 'in excellent condition' & manned by experienced crew. rt.com Nothing was wrong with the Ukraine International Airlines jet that came down in Iran with 176 on board, the company has said. It was one of the best planes in UIA's fleet and had undergone maintenance just days before the crash.

Staff (2020-01-08). Iran Strikes Back at U.S. With Missile Attack on Bases in Iraq. truthdig.com Iranian state TV said the attack was launched in revenge for the killing of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

RT (2020-01-08). Several rockets hit '100 meters away' from US embassy, cause fire in Baghdad's Green zone. rt.com Two blasts have reportedly been heard in Baghdad, followed by the sirens of emergency services. The apparent explosions come hours after US President Donald Trump walked back from military action against Iran. | Air raid sirens can be heard in video footage presumably captured in the Iraqi capital on Wednesday night. Multiple journalists in the city reported that two explosions rang out, apparently coming from the direction of the heavily-fortified 'Green Zone,' home to the US embassy. | BREAKING: Rocket fire into Baghdad's Green Zone pic.twitter.com/HaPcDaF22Z— Trey…

Staff (2020-01-08). Blowback? U.S. Assassination of Soleimani May Weaken Growing Protest Movement in Iran. democracynow.org Protests broke out in Iran in November in response to high fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in dozens of cities around the country. The protesters have demanded economic relief and denounced corruption. More than 1,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the protests and a violent crackdown by security forces. The rise in tensions between Iran and the United States, triggered by the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, could weaken that protest movement, says Ali Kadivar, assistant professor of sociology and international studies at Boston College who was active in Iran's st…

RT (2020-01-08). Pentagon says more than a dozen missiles 'launched from Iran' against 2 US bases, vows 'necessary' counter-measures. rt.com The Pentagon said it would take "necessary measures" to defend US troops and regional allies following reports of Iranian missile strikes on US facilities in Iraq, confirming that over a dozen missiles were used in the attack. | "Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against US military and coalition forces in Iraq. It is clear that these missiles were launched from Iran and targeted at least two Iraqi military bases," the Pentagon said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that it was now working on "initial battle damage assessments." | As we evaluate the situation and our response, we will take…

The Canary (2020-01-08). Plane crash which killed 176, including three Britons, caused by fire, Iran says. thecanary.co Three Britons have died after a Ukrainian passenger plane crashed moments after take off from Iran, officials have said.All 167 passengers and nine crew on the Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 flight from Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran to the Ukrainian capital Kiev were killed minutes after take-off at 6.10am local time (2.40am GMT) on 8 January.The crash comes amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf following the killing last week of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the US.Debris is seen from an Ukrainian plane, containing three Britons, which crashed moments after take-off from Te…

Ramzy Baroud (2020-01-08). Justice at Last? Panic in Israel as the ICC Takes Momentous Step in the Right Direction. mintpressnews.com The high level of these ICC investigations places the legal push against Israel at a whole new level. This is uncharted territory for Israel, the United States, Palestine, the ICC and the international community as a whole.

Andrew Moss (2020-01-08). Immigration and the Prison Industrial Complex. counterpunch.org In the past year, the struggle over immigration rights continued along a broad array of fronts. There were significant setbacks, such as the implementation of the "Remain in Mexico" policy that made asylum nearly impossible to attain. But there were also victories, such as a federal judge's ruling in November that required the government to More

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-01-08). Video: Trump Calls Upon Iran: "We Should Work Together" globalresearch.ca On January 8, President Trump spoke from the White House following the Iran missile attack against two US military bases in Iraq in the night of January 8. | While US and Iraqi sources said "there were no known casualties" (CNN) …

Norman Solomon (2020-01-08). Biden and Buttigieg Are Showing How Corporatism and 'the Madness of Militarism' Go Together. indybay.org Marketing nonstop war…

2020-01-08: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Immigration and the Prison Industrial Complex
Andrew Moss | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
In the past year, the struggle over immigration rights continued along a broad array of fronts. There were significant setbacks, such as the implementation of the "Remain in Mexico" policy that made asylum nearly impossible to attain. But there were also victories, such as a federal judge's ruling in November that required the government to…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/immigration-and-the-prison-industrial-complex/

Video: Trump Calls Upon Iran: "We Should Work Together"
Prof Michel Chossudovsky | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-08
On January 8, President Trump spoke from the White House following the Iran missile attack against two US military bases in Iraq in the night of January 8. | While US and Iraqi sources said "there were no known casualties" (CNN) …
globalresearch.ca/video-trump-calls-upon-iran-we-should-work-together/5700023

Biden and Buttigieg Are Showing How Corporatism and 'the Madness of Militarism' Go Together
Norman Solomon | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Marketing nonstop war…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829492.php

Is This the End of U.S. Interference in West Asia?
Vijay Prashad | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
Major General Hossein Salami, the chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, said on January 4 that his country would take "strategic revenge" against the United States for the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. The assassination of Soleimani, Salami said, will be later seen as a "turning point" in U.S. interference…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/is-this-the-end-of-u-s-interference-in-west-asia/

Is This the End of U.S. Interference in West Asia?
Vijay Prashad | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
Major General Hossein Salami, the chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, said on January 4 that his country would take "strategic revenge" against the United States for the assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. The assassination of Soleimani, Salami said, will be later seen as a "turning point" in U.S. interference…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/is-this-the-end-of-u-s-interference-in-west-asia/

Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!"
Betsey Piette | workers.org | 2020-01-08
Just days into the new year and a new decade, on Jan. 4, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in 80 cities across 38 states to demand U.S. out of Iraq and no war or sanctions on Iran. Many activists described the massive turnout as the largest . . . | Continue reading Coast to coast U.S. protests demand: "U.S. out of Iraq! No war or sanctions on Iran!" at Workers.org
workers.org/2020/01/45365/

'Cancer to Humanity': Ex-White House Adviser on Twitter Trial for Mocking Greta 'Thunder Thighs'
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-08
The teen eco-activist from Sweden turned 17 just several days ago yet has already managed to inspire student climate protests around the globe. She earlier scolded world leaders for "stealing" children's future and drew angry and condescending remarks from celebrities and top politicians, including Donald Trump.
sputniknews.com/viral/202001081077977871-cancer-to-humanity-ex-white-house-adviser-on-twitter-trial-for-mocking-greta-thunder-thighs/

WW editorial: No war on Iran! U.S. out of Iraq!
John Catalinotto | workers.org | 2020-01-08
The gangsters in the White House and the Pentagon are responsible for the targeted assassination of a top representative of a sovereign government. The target, Qassem Soleimani of Iran, was on a peace mission that the U.S. president was aware of and had encouraged. Trump has now followed up . . . | Continue reading WW editorial: No war on Iran! U.S. out of Iraq! at Workers.org
workers.org/2020/01/45362/

'No lives lost': Trump holds fire on 'big missiles,' talks peace after Iran's strikes on US bases in Iraq
rt.com | 2020-01-08
US President Donald Trump is delivering an eagerly-awaited address to America, as the country stands on the brink of war with Iran. Trump's speech comes hours after Iranian missiles struck two US bases in Iraq. | Speaking from the White House, Trump backed away from threatening further strikes against Iran, describing Tehran's stand-down as "a good thing for all parties concerned." | Our missiles are big, powerful, accurate, lethal and fast…The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean that we have to use it. | Trump did, however, vow to impose new economic sanctions on the…
rt.com/usa/477742-trump-responds-iran-strike-us-bases/

In What May be the Largest Strike in World History, Millions in India Protest PM Modi's Policies
Alan Macleod | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-08
An estimated quarter of a billion workers in India went on strike today, protesting the government of Narendra Modi's racist and "anti-people," "anti-worker" policies.
mintpressnews.com/largest-strike-world-history-millions-india-protest/263999/

No War With Iran! Nationwide Protest (Sacramento)
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Memorial Auditorium (out in front), 1515 J St, Sacramento, CA 95814…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829521.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Oakland
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
The Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829518.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Walnut Creek
Contra Costa MoveOn and Indivisible ReSisters | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Corner of Civic Dr. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/08/18829540.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Pacifica
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Intersection of Hwy 1 & Reina Del Mar, Pacifica, CA 94044…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829525.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Fairfield, Solono Co
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Sidewalk outside of Solano County Government Center, 675 Texas Street,Fairfield, CA 94533…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829522.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Livermore
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Livermore Flagpole Plaza, First Street and South Livermore Ave, Livermore, CA 94550…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/08/18829539.php

In San José, Protesters Say We've Got a Moron with a War On
Text: R.R. Photos: Bernie Bob Jung | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Many interesting signs and flags from national day of action against war on Iran in San José, California. | January 4, 2020.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829493.php

No War With Iran! Nationwide Protest (San Francisco)
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
One Post Street above Montgomery BART, San Francisco, CA 94104…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829516.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Fremont
Indivisible Alameda County and others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Veterans Memorial Park (outside Fremont Courthouse), intersection of Walnut Ave. and Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829538.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Monterey
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Window On The Bay / Monterey Waterfront Park, intersection of Del Monte Ave and Camino El Estero, Monterey, CA…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829519.php

No War With Iran! Nationwide Protest (Alameda)
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Intersection of Park St & Central Ave, Alameda, CA 94501 | Intersection near Starbucks, Peet's, the Star Pizza, and the Alameda Theater…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829520.php

No War With Iran! Nationwide Protest (Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz Indivisible | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Clock Tower, Water Street and N. Pacific Ave, Downtown Santa Cruz, CA 95060…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829517.php

No War With Iran! Protest Santa Rosa
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Old Court House Square, 3rd St. & Mendocino Ave and 4th St. & Santa Rosa Ave, Downtown Santa Rosa, CA 95405…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/08/18829544.php

SF: No New War on Iran! Emergency Protest
ANSWER Coalition | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Powell + Market, San Francisco…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829529.php

No War With Iran! Protest Vigil in Mountain View
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Gateway Park, intersection of W. El Camino Real and Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94040…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829524.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Davis
Indivisible Yolo Co., Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Central Park, 5th St & B St, Davis, CA 95616…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829523.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Fairfield, Solono Co
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Sidewalk outside of Solano County Government Center, 675 Texas Street,Fairfield, CA 94533…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829522.php

No War With Iran! Nationwide Protest (Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz Indivisible | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Clock Tower, Water Street and N. Pacific Ave, Downtown Santa Cruz, CA 95060…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829517.php

No War With Iran! Protest in San Jose
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Intersection of of Stevens Creek and South Winchester Blvd., at the border of San Jose 95128 and Santa Clara 95050…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829526.php

In San José, Protesters Say We've Got a Moron with a War On
Text: R.R. Photos: Bernie Bob Jung | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Many interesting signs and flags from national day of action against war on Iran in San José, California. | January 4, 2020.
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829493.php

No War With Iran! Protest in San Jose
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Intersection of of Stevens Creek and South Winchester Blvd., at the border of San Jose 95128 and Santa Clara 95050…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829526.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Oakland
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
The Grand Lake Theater, 3200 Grand Ave, Oakland, CA 94610…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829518.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Walnut Creek
Contra Costa MoveOn and Indivisible ReSisters | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Corner of Civic Dr. and Ygnacio Valley Rd., Walnut Creek, CA 94596…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/08/18829540.php

No War With Iran! Protest Vigil in Mountain View
MoveOn, Indivisible, Others | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Gateway Park, intersection of W. El Camino Real and Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94040…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/07/18829524.php

No War With Iran! Protest in Sonoma
Sonoma Valley Resistance | indybay.org | 2020-01-08
Sonoma Plaza, 453 1st Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/01/08/18829543.php

Nurses warn of burn-out in new strike over pay and recruitment
The Canary | thecanary.co | 2020-01-08
Thousands of "burned out" nurses have taken to picket lines in the north of Ireland as one-day strike action brings some health services to a standstill.An escalating row over pay and conditions in the under-pressure hospital system emptied treatment waiting rooms across the country.Politicians are trying to reach an agreement which would produce a funding boost for an NHS beset by long waiting lists for treatment and rancour over employee pay levels while struggling to fill some vacant posts.The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) protest follows a similar walkout last month over salary rates that lag behind colleagu…
thecanary.co/discovery/news-discovery/2020/01/08/nurses-warn-of-burn-out-in-new-strike-over-pay-and-recruitment/

Protesters across New England demand: No War on Iran!
Liberation Staff | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-08
Reports from Boston, New Haven, Conn, and Manchester, NH.
liberationnews.org/protesters-across-new-england-demand-no-war-on-iran/

More Than 180 Events Planned Across US to Protest Trump's March to War With Iran
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-01-08
After Iran's retaliation for the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani intensified fears of another catastrophic Middle East war, a coalition of progressive advocacy groups Tuesday reiterated their call for massive demonstrations across the U.S. to protest President Donald Trump's " military brinksmanship" and…
truthout.org/articles/more-than-180-events-planned-across-us-to-protest-trumps-march-to-war-with-iran/

Blowback? U.S. Assassination of Soleimani May Weaken Growing Protest Movement in Iran
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-08
Protests broke out in Iran in November in response to high fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in dozens of cities around the country. The protesters have demanded economic relief and denounced corruption. More than 1,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the protests and a violent crackdown by security forces. The rise in tensions between Iran and the United States, triggered by the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, could weaken that protest movement, says Ali Kadivar, assistant professor of sociology and international studies at Boston College who was active in Iran's st…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/8/us_iran_tensions_protest_movement

Blowback? U.S. Assassination of Soleimani May Weaken Growing Protest Movement in Iran
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-08
Protests broke out in Iran in November in response to high fuel prices, leading to demonstrations in dozens of cities around the country. The protesters have demanded economic relief and denounced corruption. More than 1,000 people have been killed since the outbreak of the protests and a violent crackdown by security forces. The rise in tensions between Iran and the United States, triggered by the U.S. assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, could weaken that protest movement, says Ali Kadivar, assistant professor of sociology and international studies at Boston College who was active in Iran's st…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/8/us_iran_tensions_protest_movement

Iran Attacks US in Iraq, Soleimani's Diplomatic Mission & Trump Had Marines "Kill Protesters"
Ryan Cristián | thelastamericanvagabond.com | 2020-01-08
Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, a concise show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/7/19). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth …
thelastamericanvagabond.com/daily-wrap-up/iran-attacks-us-in-iraq-soleimanis-diplomatic-mission-trump-had-marines-kill-protesters/

Worldwide Protests against 5G on January 25, 2020
IASEIS | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-08
Protests will take place in many countries on Saturday, January 25, 2020. This is the first Global Day of Protest against 5G. It is only the first of more to come until our voices are heard and the irradiation of | …
globalresearch.ca/worldwide-protests-against-5g-on-january-25-2020/5699989

US Jingoism Promotes Mindless Support for War with Iran
Dave Lindorff | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
This is not an article intended to praise Qassem Suleimani, the Commander of Iran's military who was whacked by President Trump with several Hellfire Missiles fired from a US drone at his vehicle outside the Baghdad Airport. What I do decry, however, is the almost universal characterization of Suleimani as "the baddest of the bad,"
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/us-jingoism-promotes-mindless-support-for-war-with-iran/

US Jingoism Promotes Mindless Support for War with Iran
Dave Lindorff | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
This is not an article intended to praise Qassem Suleimani, the Commander of Iran's military who was whacked by President Trump with several Hellfire Missiles fired from a US drone at his vehicle outside the Baghdad Airport. What I do decry, however, is the almost universal characterization of Suleimani as "the baddest of the bad,"
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/us-jingoism-promotes-mindless-support-for-war-with-iran/

Trump's Actions in Iraq Could Plunge the Country Into Crisis Once Again, Leaving Iran as Strong as Ever
Patrick Cockburn | counterpunch.org | 2020-01-08
The assassination of Qassem Soleimani has capsized Iraqi politics in the most dangerous of ways, making it possible that the country will be plunged once again into a state of permanent crisis and war from which it has escaped in the last two years. President Trump is threatening sanctions against Iraq if it expels the…
counterpunch.org/2020/01/08/trumps-actions-in-iraq-could-plunge-the-country-into-crisis-once-again-leaving-iran-as-strong-as-ever/

"Panic" in Israel as the ICC Takes "Momentous Step" in the Right Direction
Ramzy Baroud | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-01-08
At long last, Fatou Bensouda, the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has uttered the long-anticipated conclusion that "all the statutory criteria under the Rome statute for the opening of an investigation (into alleged war crimes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories) have been met". Bensouda's verdict has been in the making for a …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/01/panic-in-israel-as-the-icc-takes-momentous-step-in-the-right-direction/

Justice at Last? Panic in Israel as the ICC Takes Momentous Step in the Right Direction
Ramzy Baroud | mintpressnews.com | 2020-01-08
The high level of these ICC investigations places the legal push against Israel at a whole new level. This is uncharted territory for Israel, the United States, Palestine, the ICC and the international community as a whole.
mintpressnews.com/justice-at-last-panic-in-israel-as-the-icc-takes-momentous-step-in-the-right-direction/263973/

Targeting Iraq, Iran/ U.S. threatens wider war
Sara Flounders | workers.org | 2020-01-08
Jan 7–Enormous demonstrations in Iran, Iraq and region-wide are expressing anti-imperialist rage, and signaling a new day, a rebirth of mass movements that will drive the U.S. out of the region. Philadelphia, Jan. 4. A criminal U.S. act has kindled this firestorm. On Jan. 2, U.S. imperialism pushed its aggressive . . . | Continue reading Targeting Iraq, Iran/ U.S. threatens wider war at Workers.org
workers.org/2020/01/45372/

Iran Takes 5th and Final JCPOA Rollback Step
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-08
It took years of negotiations to conclude the landmark JCPOA nuclear deal in 2015 between Iran and P5+1 countries (Russia, China, UK, France and Germany + the EU). | Adopted unanimously by Security Council Resolution 2231, the agreement became binding international …
globalresearch.ca/iran-takes-5th-final-jcpoa-rollback-step/5699824

Escalation? Iranian Missiles Strike Two US Military Bases in Iraq, "Slap in the Face" to the US, according to Tehran
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-08
The Trump regime's assassination of Iranian General Soleimani, Iraqi deputy PMU commander Muhandis, and others with them was a flagrant UN Charter breach — an act of war against both countries. | International law affirms the right of self-defense in response | …
globalresearch.ca/escalation-iranian-missiles-strike-two-us-military-bases-in-iraq-slap-in-the-face-to-the-us-according-to-tehran/5699992