Daily Archives: February 17, 2020

2020-02-17: News Headlines

Stephen Cooper (2020-02-17). "Just Mercy" and Justice Don't Exist in Alabama. counterpunch.org The chance of there being "just mercy" for Nathaniel Woods—facing lethal injection on March 5 for the killing of three Birmingham police officers—is as good as the chance Alabama will ever reform its dismal, no-justice-to-be-found-anywhere legal system; it ain't gonna happen. A Hollywood movie and best-selling book about a legendary lawyer getting an innocent man

John Horning (2020-02-17). NEPA is Our National Defense System‚Ä®. counterpunch.org Our nation is under attack. If the attack were coming from the sky, NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) would detect the threat. That is NORAD's mission, to anticipate threats to our homeland. The current attack on our land didn't originate in Russia or China; it began in Washington D.C., in January, when President Trump proposed dismantling NEPA — the law that protects our communities, land and water every bit as much as NORAD protects our skies.

Evelyn Leopold (2020-02-17). How the UN's Middle East Peace Plan Was Trounced by Its Own Members. counterpunch.org Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a dramatic condemnation of the U.S.-drafted Middle East peace plan. No country, except Israel, has approved of the proposals at any public forum. Still, several nations around the world want the Palestinians to use the plan as a means of reopening negotiations with Israel by presenting its own vision.

RT (2020-02-17). Top judge says Russia shouldn't be considered successor of 'repressive, terrorist, illegal' Soviet Union, Kremlin disagrees. rt.com If you want to find a way to split Russian public opinion, there's no better instrument than a debate on the country's Soviet legacy. On Monday, sparks flew after a leading judge opened Moscow's most divisive Pandora's Box. | Konstantin Aranovsky believes the USSR was an "illegally created state" and says today's Russia shouldn't be considered its successor, rather its replacement. The Constitutional Court judge also lashed the "repressive-terrorist acts" of the Soviet era, and suggested Russia should have the status of a country "innocent of totalitarian crimes," since "it was recreated in spite of the regime…

RT (2020-02-17). US openly paves way for INF-banned missiles to be placed in Europe & Asia — Lavrov. rt.com Just out of a milestone nuclear missile accord, the US is about to deploy short- and intermediate-range missiles in Europe and Asia, prompting Moscow to engage France and other partners to preserve security on the continent. | "In order to agree on specific solutions, we need multilateral talks and multilateral consultations involving, of course, the United States, who destroyed the treaty," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday, referring to the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. | This pact saw Washington and Moscow eliminate entire classes of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and m…

RT (2020-02-17). 'Chechenophobic:' Clueless Czech PM Babis upsets Grozny with snobbish reaction to name confusion. rt.com What do you call a prime minister who doesn't know the name of his country? Well, it appears the answer is Andrej Babis, the billionaire premier of Czechia. | He believed he was governing 'the Czech Republic,' until he discovered differently during a Wall Street Journal interview. | In 2016, the previous Prague government agreed to make Czechia the official short name of the country, and since then, the United Nations and the European Union have officially used the new designation. Google Maps and other cartography services have also fallen into line. | Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Babis said: "I didn'

RT (2020-02-17). Russia to export beef to Brazil for first time. rt.com Major Russian meat producer Miratorg has announced that the first delivery of 13 tons of beef will soon be supplied to Brazil. The company says the product will be distributed among the country's hotel chains and restaurants. | "The company's strategy is aimed at increasing exports of high value-added products that are competitive in price and in demand on global markets," said Miratorg's President Victor Linnik, as quoted by the company's press service. He noted that Miratorg takes into account the peculiarities of food culture in importing countries when planning future supplies. | Miratorg supplies meat to…

RT (2020-02-17). Turkey trying to 'CONQUER' Libya, not to bring peace, says top Tripoli govt diplomat visiting Moscow. rt.com While Ankara claims to be supporting Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), its foreign minister on Monday outright rejected the Turkish presence in Libya, blasting it as an "aggression." | Commenting on the role of external players, such as Russia and Turkey, in bringing to an end the protracted Libyan civil war, minister Abdul Hadi Al-Hweij was particularly candid. | "When we talk about peace, we don't have [Turkey's President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan in mind," Al-Hweij said. "Among all the involved political figures, he's the farthest from a peaceful settlement." | Al-Hweij was speaking at the…

RT (2020-02-17). Woman on board cruise ship in Japan is first Russian citizen diagnosed with new coronavirus. rt.com The Russian Embassy in Tokyo says a Russian national has been diagnosed with the COVID-19 coronavirus on the 'Diamond Princess' cruise ship docked and quarantined in Japan. She did not sent an evacuation request. | "There were no evacuation requests, either from the infected Russian national, or from the rest of the Russian nationals aboard the ship. The infected woman is expected to be hospitalized in Japan," the embassy said. There has been no information yet on where the woman would be hospitalized. | This is the first confirmed coronavirus case involving a Russian citizen. Earlier on Monday, Japanese medic…

RT (2020-02-17). Movement of Cosmos satellite didn't violate intl law, posed no threat — Moscow. rt.com The movement of the Cosmos-2542 satellite, a matter over which the US has expressed concern, posed no threat and did not violate international law, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday. It added that the continuing propaganda campaign against Russia is aimed "at masking Washington's destructive actions, which are provoking an arms race in outer space and transforming space into a new field of military confrontation." | US Space Force Commander Gen. John Raymond said on February 11 that the United States had notified Russia through diplomatic channels that it was concerned by an incident in which Russian sa…

RT (2020-02-17). Russia will support Syria's fight against terrorism in Idlib despite Trump's calls to stop it — Kremlin. rt.com Moscow has vowed to continue its fight against terrorism in Syria's Idlib province alongside Damascus, even though this doesn't fit with Washington's vision for resolving the crisis. | Both the Russian Armed Forces and the country's advisers will "support the Syrian Arab Republic armed forces in their fight against terrorism," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in a briefing on February 17. | Referring to escalating terrorist attacks in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, he said that the Russian government "still regrets that these terrorists have revitalized in Idlib." | The statement follows US…

RT (2020-02-17). 'A little bit of excitement at no extra cost': Sanders quips after TOPLESS anti-dairy protesters steal show at Nevada rally. rt.com A group of anti-dairy activists, including topless women, upstaged Democratic race frontrunner Bernie Sanders at his own campaign rally ahead of the Nevada primaries. The senator kept his cool, laughing off the stunt, however. | Keen on capitalizing on his success in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders was holding a rally in Carson, Nevada on Sunday. He was barely a couple of minutes into his speech when a young woman, who could be seen lurking behind the podium during the live broadcast, rushed the stage and attempted to wrestle the microphone from the Vermont independent. | Sanders did not give in, taking a few…

RT (2020-02-17). Wrong kind of 'energy'? Bloomberg takes on the 'Bernie Bros'… using Hillary Clinton-style tactics. rt.com Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg has deployed a new tactic against Bernie Sanders: accuse his supporters of harassment and mean tweets. Hillary Clinton used the same strategy in 2016, and suffered a devastating loss. | In little over two weeks, the race for the Democratic nomination has shifted to Bernie Sanders versus everyone else. Destroying former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, the progressive senator from Vermont is now the frontrunner in nearly every national poll, with centrists like Biden, Pete Buttigieg, and now former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, ni…

RT (2020-02-17). Israeli aircraft flies over Sudan for 1st time amid 'warming ties' — Netanyahu. rt.com An Israeli aircraft has flown through Sudanese airspace for the first time, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He described the development as another example of warming ties between the formally hostile states. | Israel remains technically at war with Sudan, which supported hardline Islamists — including, for a period, Al Qaeda — during the rule of President Omar al-Bashir, AFP said. Bashir was ousted by the army last April following months of mass anti-government demonstrations. | "The first Israeli airplane passed yesterday over the skies of Sudan. This is quite a change," Netanyahu t…

RT (2020-02-17). Danish troops to return to Iraq air base for anti-ISIS campaign in March. rt.com Denmark said it will send military personnel back to the Iraqi Al-Asad base on March 1 to restart training of Iraqi security forces in the fight against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL). | The NATO member-state last month removed most of the 130 military personnel it had stationed at the Al-Asad base, due to security concerns in the wake of an Iranian missile attack on the facility on January 8. Denmark's forces at the base are part of the international coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria. | The Danish defense ministry said on Monday the security situation was now no different than before the attack,…

RT (2020-02-17). India summons Turkish ambassador, claims Erdogan's remarks on Kashmir are attempt at meddling. rt.com New Delhi has issued a forceful response to the Turkish ambassador in the country, following incendiary remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about India's policies in the disputed Kashmir region. | India reportedly presented a "strong demarche" to Turkish Ambassador Sakir Ozkan Torunlar on Monday, and warned that Erdogan's comments during his recent visit to Pakistan will have "strong implications" for bilateral ties. | Announcing the move, a spokesman for the India's Ministry of External Affairs said that Erdogan's allegation about "unilateral steps" being taken in Kashmir reflect "neither an understandi…

Staff (2020-02-17). Assad Predicts Victory After Gains in Northern Syria. truthdig.com DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad congratulated his forces Monday for recent gains in northwestern Syria that led to his troops consolidating control over Aleppo province, pledging to press ahead with a military campaign to achieve complete victory "sooner or later." | Assad, who rarely appears in public, said in a televised address that the onetime economic hub of Aleppo, the provincial capital, will "return stronger than it was before." | "This liberation does not mean the end of the war, and does not mean the end of the schemes nor the end of terrorism or the surrender of enemies," Assad sa…

Staff (2020-02-17). Chinese Health Report Says 80% of Virus Cases Have Been Mild. truthdig.com The coronavirus report also says that new cases seem to be falling, although it's too soon to tell whether the outbreak has peaked.

Staff (2020-02-17). 300 Cruise Passengers Are Quarantined at U.S. Military Bases. truthdig.com TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — More than 300 American cruise ship passengers, including 14 who tested positive for coronavirus, were being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas on Monday after arriving from Japan on charter flights overnight. | One plane carrying cruise passengers touched down at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California just before midnight Sunday, while another arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas early Monday. The passengers will remain at the bases for two weeks. | Japan's Defense Minister Taro Kono tweeted earlier that Japanese troops helped transport 340 U.S…

RT (2020-02-17). Macau allows casinos to resume work from February 20 after suspension over virus fear. rt.com Macau, the world's biggest gambling hub, will allow casinos to resume operations from February 20, after authorities imposed a two-week suspension to curb the coronavirus' spread, authorities said on Monday, according to public broadcaster TDM. | The government has told casino operators they have 30 days to return to full business, health officials say. | The unprecedented halt of gaming operations started on February 5 and was due to end on February 19. Macau has not reported any new cases of the virus since February 4, officials said. There have been 10 confirmed cases of the virus in total there. | Governme…

RT (2020-02-17). Trudeau scraps overseas trip after pipeline protesters BLOCK US-Canada bridge amid ongoing rail shutdowns (VIDEO). rt.com Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has cancelled his trip to Barbados after protests against a gas pipeline that crosses indigenous land escalated, leading to major rail disruptions and a brief stop of traffic at the US-Canada border. | The threat of transport paralyses, which has become increasingly real after protesters against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline briefly shut down a key border crossing between the US and Canada on Sunday afternoon, forced Trudeau to call off his visit to Barbados, where he was supposed to drum up support for Canada's UNSC bid on Monday. | The simmering conflict between th…

Staff (2020-02-17). Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion to Fight Climate Change. truthdig.com NEW YORK — Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said Monday that he plans to spend $10 billion of his own fortune to help fight climate change. | Bezos, the world's richest man, said in an "I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devastating impact of climate change," Bezos said in…

RT (2020-02-17). Repeat of Iowa caucus looms in Nevada as problems are illuminated (& ignored). rt.com The same issues that led to the Democratic debacle in Iowa earlier this month are poised to make next week's vote in Nevada equally hellish — yet party leaders seem unwilling to connect the dots or recognize the problem. | Early voters in Nevada have already faced long lines, technical difficulties, and monumental uncertainty about the voting process with voting underway since Saturday due to close Tuesday before the general caucus this coming Saturday. | We've seen this movie before | The slow-motion car-crash caucus volunteers have sketched out in their heads bears a strong resemblance to the events of…

RT (2020-02-17). Gangster-climate ally? Greta gets flamed for posing with crime-glamorizing rapper (PHOTO). rt.com Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has exposed herself to intense internet mockery after posing with a controversial Swedish rapper who purportedly spent several years in prison. | The musical artist, 1.Cuz, performed at Thunberg's recent "Fridays for Future" rally in central Stockholm. Known for always wearing a mask and keeping his real identity a secret, 1.Cuz raps about crime, drugs and his hatred of the cops. | In a recent interview with Swedish media, the rapper reportedly revealed that he had served two years in prison for a "serious" crime — but did not go into specifics. According to local m…

Eds. (2020-02-17). No excuses—we have to shut down the fossil fuel industry. mronline.org In the face of an ecological catastrophe as enormous and terrifying as this season's bushfires, you might think that policy might begin to shift, as those in power face up to the reality of human-induced climate change. But you'd be wrong. |

Ilana Novick (2020-02-17). Michael Bloomberg's Racism Goes Well Beyond Stop-and-Frisk. truthdig.com Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is using his billions to pay for his presidential campaign ads, blanketing television, radio and social media feeds across the country. As pundits, including

Staff (2020-02-17). How Bloomberg-Funded Center for American Progress Censored a Report on NYPD Surveillance of Muslims. democracynow.org Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg's self-funded campaign has flooded the airwaves with political advertisements, with the billionaire former New York City mayor having already spent more than $400 million on TV, radio and other ads — far outpacing other campaigns. But it's not just Bloomberg's unprecedented campaign spending that has raised eyebrows. As The New York Times reports, Bloomberg has also kept potential critics quiet by making major donations to progressive causes and advocacy groups around the country over the years. This may have played a part in obscuring Bloomberg's checkere…

RT (2020-02-17). No, YOU are Trump's buddy! Bernie and Bloomberg go at each other. rt.com Billionaire Mike Bloomberg is going after socialist senator Bernie Sanders, accusing him of being in league with President Donald Trump after a video emerged of the former New York mayor talking disparagingly about farmers. | "Bernie's New Bro… Donald Trump," the Bloomberg campaign blared on Monday, accusing the Sanders campaign of using "the very same attacks and tactics" in the Democrat primaries as the Republican president. | "Mike is in this race to defeat Donald Trump, and he's the Democratic candidate who can get that done. This campaign will not sit idly by and allow these false attacks to stand witho…

Staff (2020-02-17). How Billionaire Michael Bloomberg's Deep Pockets Have Let Him Win Friends and Buy Influence. democracynow.org With the Nevada caucuses less than a week away, many Democratic candidates are courting voters in state and increasingly targeting their attacks on a new challenger — billionaire Michael Bloomberg — whom they are accusing of buying his way into the election. In the lead-up to Super Tuesday on March 3, when voters in 14 states go to the polls, Bloomberg has spent an unprecedented $417 million of his own $60 billion fortune on advertising. He's also paid meme influencers to share sponsored content on Instagram, and hired thousands of on-the-ground political operatives to work in more than 125 offices ar…

RT (2020-02-17). EU leaders agree to enforce Libya arms embargo with warships, despite fears of spike in migration. rt.com European Union foreign ministers have agreed to launch a naval operation to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, despite warnings from within the bloc that doing so would encourage new flows of migrants to Europe. | The EU ministers agreed to the naval operation at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. Aimed at simmering down the country's ongoing civil war, the operation will also have an air component and the possibility of ground forces, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio was quoted by AFP as saying. | The move was not universally welcome in Europe, and EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell had even predicted…

Staff (2020-02-17). "They Have Not Relented": U.S. Maintains Support for Yemen War as Saudi Airstrike Kills 31 Civilians. democracynow.org In Yemen, 31 people were killed in U.S.-backed Saudi airstrikes over the weekend, including women and children. The strikes in the northern al-Jawf province came just hours after the Houthis said they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet in the same area. The United Nations called the drone strike "shocking." The deadly strike follows a recent uptick in violence in northern Yemen and comes as the war there hits a five-year mark. More than 100,000 have died, and far more have been displaced, since the conflict began in 2015. On Sunday, the United Nations said the Houthis and U.S.-backed Saudi and United Arab Emirates…

RT (2020-02-17). WikiLeaks demands answers as Twitter account LOCKED ahead of Assange extradition hearing. rt.com WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson is seeking answers after the publisher's official account was mysteriously locked, ahead of an extradition hearing for founder Julian Assange, who faces life in a US jail (or worse). | Hrafnsson claimed the @wikileaks Twitter account had been locked "shortly before Assange extradition hearing" and for no apparent reason, in a post from his personal account on Monday. Lamenting he had been unable to "reach a human at Twitter" for answers, Hrafnsson tagged both the platform's tech support and CEO Jack Dorsey. | WikiLeaks twitter account has been locked, shortly before…

RT (2020-02-17). 'Conscience-free journalism is great career choice': Guardian mocked over failure to mention Assange in 'press freedom' article. rt.com The Guardian newspaper has been mercilessly ridiculed on social media after it failed to highlight the plight of journalist Julian Assange in a piece on Amal Clooney's plans to "combat media repression globally." | The outlet's diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour published an Clooney, who represented the WikiLeaks co-fou…

RT (2020-02-17). China says US is an 'EMPIRE OF HACKERS,' mocks cyber-accusations in wake of Crypto AG scandal. rt.com Washington accusing other states of leading cyberwarfare against the US is like "a thief crying 'stop, thief!'" Beijing said, reacting to revelations the CIA used Swiss cryptography firm Crypto AG to spy on hundreds of countries. | The US government has "conducted large-scale, organized and indiscriminate cyber theft, tapping and surveillance on foreign governments, businesses and individuals, a fact already well-known to all," China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Geng Shuang said at a daily briefing in Beijing. | These spying activities, which violate international law and undermine trust between…

The Canary (2020-02-17). Coastal landfill sites set to spill over into sea, expert warns. thecanary.co More than 1,200 coastal landfill sites are in danger of spilling their contents into the sea — leading to a pollution time bomb around the UK coastline.Powerful storms and rising sea levels mean once-hidden waste could be exposed to pollute oceans and beaches, according to coastal policy expert Mark Stratton."One of the biggest risks of doing nothing at these sites is that the defences will fail and you'll potentially have former landfill either eroding out onto the foreshore or leaching into the water. Alongside that there's a potential impact on human health depending on what's in the sites," he said.Landf…

RT (2020-02-17). Barcelona on the brink of civil war? Social media scandal will fuel speculation surrounding Messi's future at Catalan giants. rt.com Sensational claims that Barcelona hired a social media company to bolster the image of senior officials at the club while tarnishing that of players including Lionel Messi has added to the sense of a club approaching turmoil. | Barcelona were forced to deny in the strongest terms on Monday

Staff (2020-02-17). Centrist Democrats Have Already Lost the Most Important Battle. truthdig.com With dozens of Democratic candidates, scores of televised debates, and swarms of reporters and pundits descending on the tiniest blip in polls, this campaign already feels never-ending. But at long last, we're beginning what matters: Voting! | This year, in addition to decisions about candidates, voters will be making a decision about the future of our society. The question we face is whether we will continue the same-old politics of enriching and empowering the few at the expense of the rest of us, or will we pivot to implement transformative structural changes. | As you would expect, Trump and his sycophantic c…

Norman Solomon (2020-02-17). Class War Comes to the Democratic Party. truthdig.com More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats — eagerly amplified by corporate media. | In American politics, hell hath no fury like corporate power scorned. | Flagrant media biases against Sanders are routine in a wide range of mainstream outlets. (The media watch group FAIR has long docume…

RT (2020-02-17). American taekwondo superstars Steven and Jean Lopez accused of sexual assault by 'dozens' of women. rt.com Olympic taekwondo brothers Steven and Jean Lopez are facing renewed allegations of sexual assault, including from a woman who came forward to claim that she was raped by Steven and two of his friends several years ago. | Audrey-Ann LeBlanc told

RT (2020-02-17). Head of India's IT industry accuses US of labor rights discrimination. rt.com The president of India's National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), Debjani Ghosh, has accused Donald Trump's government of discriminating against Indian workers seeking H-1B visas to work in the US. | "We're at a loss trying to figure out why we're seeing the kind of discrimination when this is actually benefiting the US," Ghosh said, as quoted by the Financial Times. He argued that Indian workers help to fill a vital skills gap. | Ghosh's accusations come ahead of the US president's visit to India this month. He has asked for a meeting with the Trump delegation. | Also on rt.com

RT (2020-02-17). 'Blame it on Hamas': IDF posts bathroom selfie of young woman, Twitter laughs at claims it's part of cyber warfare. rt.com The IDF posted what appeared to be a bathroom selfie of a young woman on its social media accounts and, while it claimed…

Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers (2020-02-17). Mistrial Is Another Blow To US Coup In Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org Last week we, along with Adrienne Pine and David Paul, were unsuccessfully prosecuted by the Trump administration for our protection of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC from April 10 to May 16, 2019. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and so we remain innocent of the charge of interfering with the …

RT (2020-02-17). China accuses Australia of political bias against Huawei. rt.com The Australian government's decision to ban tech giant Huawei from its 5G rollout is "politically motivated," according to the Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye. | "It has become a sore point or thorny issue in the bilateral relations as it damages mutual trust between the two sides," he told Sky News on Monday, calling it "a discrimination against the Chinese company." | The ambassador's criticism comes amid Australia's dispute with the UK over London's decision to allow Huawei to set up its 5G network. | According to Cheng, the UK government made a "sensible" decision to not kowtow to "external pressure" from…

Alvaro Huerta (2020-02-17). Another Five Lessons for Democrats to Defeat Trump in 2020. counterpunch.org As part of my last two essays on how Democrats can beat President Donald J. Trump, click here and here, I've added another five lessons. As an independent, as noted in my last essay, I've consistently been critical (to the present) of Democrats and Republicans in the areas of race, class, place, immigration, etc., as

Staff (2020-02-17). Extradition of Assange Would Set a Dangerous Precedent. truthout.org The Trump administration is seeking extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States for trial on charges carrying 175 years in prison. On February 24, a court in the U.K. will hold a hearing to determine whether to grant Trump's request. The treaty between the U.S. and the U.K. prohibits extradition for a "political offense." Assange was indicted for exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is a classic political offense. Moreover, Assange's extradition would violate the legal pr…

WSWS (2020-02-17). Australian media maintains an unconscionable blackout on the case of Julian Assange. wsws.org Meetings should be convened by the staff of every media organisation and resolutions adopted opposing Assange's extradition and insisting that his case is accurately and honestly reported.

Prof Michel Chossudovsky (2020-02-17). Trump's Trade War with China: Imagine What Would Happen if China Decided to Impose Economic Sanctions on the USA? globalresearch.ca In formulating these veiled threats, the Trump administration should think twice. These measures would inevitably backlash on the U.S. economy. China is not dependent on US imports. Quite the opposite. America is an import led economy with a weak manufacturing base, heavily dependent on imports from the PRC.

Norman Solomon (2020-02-17). The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders. indybay.org Corporate Democrats and corporate media on the attack…

Miko Peled (2020-02-17). How Trump's "Peace" Plan Will Redraw Israel's Borders to Exclude to Non-Jews. globalresearch.ca Trump's new Middle East "Peace" Plan will redraw Israeli borders to exclude towns with large populations of Arab citizens, an attempt, writes Miko Peled, to force them down the totem pole to a place where their rights will be even …

Staff (2020-02-17). Should We All Be In the Streets? Let's Talk About Protest. truthout.org Kelly Hayes talks with L.A. Kauffman, a longtime grassroots organizer and author of the book Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism, about the history of protest movements and what the current political moment demands of us. | Note: This a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity. | Copy may not be in its final form. | Kelly Hayes: Welcome to Movement Memos, a Truthout podcast about things you should know if you want to change the world. I'm your host, Kelly Hayes. This is e…

2020-02-17: Social Media Postees

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

Another Five Lessons for Democrats to Defeat Trump in 2020
Alvaro Huerta | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
As part of my last two essays on how Democrats can beat President Donald J. Trump, click here and here, I've added another five lessons. As an independent, as noted in my last essay, I've consistently been critical (to the present) of Democrats and Republicans in the areas of race, class, place, immigration, etc., as…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/another-five-lessons-for-democrats-to-defeat-trump-in-2020/

Another Five Lessons for Democrats to Defeat Trump in 2020
Alvaro Huerta | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
As part of my last two essays on how Democrats can beat President Donald J. Trump, click here and here, I've added another five lessons. As an independent, as noted in my last essay, I've consistently been critical (to the present) of Democrats and Republicans in the areas of race, class, place, immigration, etc., as…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/another-five-lessons-for-democrats-to-defeat-trump-in-2020/

EU leaders agree to enforce Libya arms embargo with warships, despite fears of spike in migration
rt.com | 2020-02-17
European Union foreign ministers have agreed to launch a naval operation to enforce an arms embargo on Libya, despite warnings from within the bloc that doing so would encourage new flows of migrants to Europe. | The EU ministers agreed to the naval operation at a meeting in Brussels on Monday. Aimed at simmering down the country's ongoing civil war, the operation will also have an air component and the possibility of ground forces, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio was quoted by AFP as saying. | The move was not universally welcome in Europe, and EU Foreign Affairs chief Josep Borrell had even predicted…
rt.com/news/481046-eu-naval-embargo-libya/

Extradition of Assange Would Set a Dangerous Precedent
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
The Trump administration is seeking extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States for trial on charges carrying 175 years in prison. On February 24, a court in the U.K. will hold a hearing to determine whether to grant Trump's request. The treaty between the U.S. and the U.K. prohibits extradition for a "political offense." Assange was indicted for exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is a classic political offense. Moreover, Assange's extradition would violate the legal pr…
truthout.org/articles/extradition-of-assange-would-set-a-dangerous-precedent/

'Conscience-free journalism is great career choice': Guardian mocked over failure to mention Assange in 'press freedom' article
rt.com | 2020-02-17
The Guardian newspaper has been mercilessly ridiculed on social media after it failed to highlight the plight of journalist Julian Assange in a piece on Amal Clooney's plans to "combat media repression globally." | The outlet's diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour published an article on Monday focused on the 'Report on the Use of Targeted Sanctions to Protect Journalists,' a document drafted by prominent human rights barrister, Amal Clooney. | Clooney, who represented the WikiLeaks co-fou…
rt.com/uk/481019-assange-guardian-press-freedom/

'Conscience-free journalism is great career choice': Guardian mocked over failure to mention Assange in 'press freedom' article
rt.com | 2020-02-17
The Guardian newspaper has been mercilessly ridiculed on social media after it failed to highlight the plight of journalist Julian Assange in a piece on Amal Clooney's plans to "combat media repression globally." | The outlet's diplomatic editor Patrick Wintour published an article on Monday focused on the 'Report on the Use of Targeted Sanctions to Protect Journalists,' a document drafted by prominent human rights barrister, Amal Clooney. | Clooney, who represented the WikiLeaks co-fou…
rt.com/uk/481019-assange-guardian-press-freedom/

WikiLeaks demands answers as Twitter account LOCKED ahead of Assange extradition hearing
rt.com | 2020-02-17
WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson is seeking answers after the publisher's official account was mysteriously locked, ahead of an extradition hearing for founder Julian Assange, who faces life in a US jail (or worse). | Hrafnsson claimed the @wikileaks Twitter account had been locked "shortly before Assange extradition hearing" and for no apparent reason, in a post from his personal account on Monday. Lamenting he had been unable to "reach a human at Twitter" for answers, Hrafnsson tagged both the platform's tech support and CEO Jack Dorsey. | WikiLeaks twitter account has been locked, shortly before…
rt.com/news/481049-wikileaks-locked-twitter-extradition-assange/

Australian media maintains an unconscionable blackout on the case of Julian Assange
wsws.org | 2020-02-17
Meetings should be convened by the staff of every media organisation and resolutions adopted opposing Assange's extradition and insisting that his case is accurately and honestly reported.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/17/auas-f17.html

Mistrial Is Another Blow To US Coup In Venezuela
Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers | dissidentvoice.org | 2020-02-17
Last week we, along with Adrienne Pine and David Paul, were unsuccessfully prosecuted by the Trump administration for our protection of the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, DC from April 10 to May 16, 2019. The jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision and so we remain innocent of the charge of interfering with the …
dissidentvoice.org/2020/02/mistrial-is-another-blow-to-us-coup-in-venezuela/

Trump's Trade War with China: Imagine What Would Happen if China Decided to Impose Economic Sanctions on the USA?
Prof Michel Chossudovsky | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
In formulating these veiled threats, the Trump administration should think twice. These measures would inevitably backlash on the U.S. economy. China is not dependent on US imports. Quite the opposite. America is an import led economy with a weak manufacturing base, heavily dependent on imports from the PRC.
globalresearch.ca/imagine-what-would-happen-if-china-decided-to-impose-economic-sanctions-on-the-usa-2/5598941

Class War Comes to the Democratic Party
Norman Solomon | truthdig.com | 2020-02-17
More than ever, Bernie Sanders is public enemy number one for power elites that thrive on economic injustice. The Bernie 2020 campaign is a direct threat to the undemocratic leverage that extremely wealthy individuals and huge corporations constantly exert on the political process. No wonder we're now seeing so much anti-Bernie rage from leading corporate Democrats

The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders
Norman Solomon | zcomm.org | 2020-02-17
With very few exceptions, the loudest voices to be heard from mass media are coming from individuals with wealth far above the financial vicinity of average Americans…
zcomm.org/znetarticle/the-escalating-class-war-against-bernie-sanders/

The Escalating Class War Against Bernie Sanders
Norman Solomon | indybay.org | 2020-02-17
Corporate Democrats and corporate media on the attack…
indybay.org/newsitems/2020/02/17/18830739.php

'A little bit of excitement at no extra cost': Sanders quips after TOPLESS anti-dairy protesters steal show at Nevada rally
rt.com | 2020-02-17
A group of anti-dairy activists, including topless women, upstaged Democratic race frontrunner Bernie Sanders at his own campaign rally ahead of the Nevada primaries. The senator kept his cool, laughing off the stunt, however. | Keen on capitalizing on his success in Iowa and New Hampshire, Sanders was holding a rally in Carson, Nevada on Sunday. He was barely a couple of minutes into his speech when a young woman, who could be seen lurking behind the podium during the live broadcast, rushed the stage and attempted to wrestle the microphone from the Vermont independent. | Sanders did not give in, taking a few…
rt.com/usa/480984-sanders-naked-protest-rally-dairy/

Jeff Bezos Pledges $10 Billion to Fight Climate Change
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-02-17
NEW YORK

Gangster-climate ally? Greta gets flamed for posing with crime-glamorizing rapper (PHOTO)
rt.com | 2020-02-17
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has exposed herself to intense internet mockery after posing with a controversial Swedish rapper who purportedly spent several years in prison. | The musical artist, 1.Cuz, performed at Thunberg's recent "Fridays for Future" rally in central Stockholm. Known for always wearing a mask and keeping his real identity a secret, 1.Cuz raps about crime, drugs and his hatred of the cops. | In a recent interview with Swedish media, the rapper reportedly revealed that he had served two years in prison for a "serious" crime

How the UN's Middle East Peace Plan Was Trounced by Its Own Members
Evelyn Leopold | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a dramatic condemnation of the U.S.-drafted Middle East peace plan. No country, except Israel, has approved of the proposals at any public forum. Still, several nations around the world want the Palestinians to use the plan as a means of reopening negotiations with Israel by presenting its own vision.
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/how-the-uns-middle-east-peace-plan-was-trounced-by-its-own-members/

How the UN's Middle East Peace Plan Was Trounced by Its Own Members
Evelyn Leopold | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has delivered a dramatic condemnation of the U.S.-drafted Middle East peace plan. No country, except Israel, has approved of the proposals at any public forum. Still, several nations around the world want the Palestinians to use the plan as a means of reopening negotiations with Israel by presenting its own vision.
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/how-the-uns-middle-east-peace-plan-was-trounced-by-its-own-members/

Turkey trying to 'CONQUER' Libya, not to bring peace, says top Tripoli govt diplomat visiting Moscow
rt.com | 2020-02-17
While Ankara claims to be supporting Libya's UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), its foreign minister on Monday outright rejected the Turkish presence in Libya, blasting it as an "aggression." | Commenting on the role of external players, such as Russia and Turkey, in bringing to an end the protracted Libyan civil war, minister Abdul Hadi Al-Hweij was particularly candid. | "When we talk about peace, we don't have [Turkey's President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan in mind," Al-Hweij said. "Among all the involved political figures, he's the farthest from a peaceful settlement." | Al-Hweij was speaking at the…
rt.com/news/481040-turkey-libya-gna-erdogan/

How Trump's "Peace" Plan Will Redraw Israel's Borders to Exclude to Non-Jews
Miko Peled | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
Trump's new Middle East "Peace" Plan will redraw Israeli borders to exclude towns with large populations of Arab citizens, an attempt, writes Miko Peled, to force them down the totem pole to a place where their rights will be even …
globalresearch.ca/how-trump-peace-plan-redraw-israel-borders-exclude-non-jews/5703828

Should We All Be in the Streets? Let's Talk About Protest
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
Kelly Hayes talks with L.A. Kauffman, a longtime grassroots organizer and author of the book Direct Action: Protest and the Reinvention of American Radicalism, about the history of protest movements and what the current political moment demands of us. | Note: This a rush transcript and has been lightly edited for clarity. | Copy may not be in its final form. | Kelly Hayes: Welcome to Movement Memos, a Truthout podcast about things you should know if you want to change the world. I'm your host, Kelly Hayes. This is e…
truthout.org/audio/should-we-all-be-in-the-streets-lets-talk-about-protest/

Peruvian students protest threatened shutdown of private universities
wsws.org | 2020-02-17
Thirty-nine private universities and two graduate schools failed to meet basic educational standards, threatening 166,000 students with being thrown in the street.
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/17/peru-f17.html

Trudeau scraps overseas trip after pipeline protesters BLOCK US-Canada bridge amid ongoing rail shutdowns (VIDEO)
rt.com | 2020-02-17
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has cancelled his trip to Barbados after protests against a gas pipeline that crosses indigenous land escalated, leading to major rail disruptions and a brief stop of traffic at the US-Canada border. | The threat of transport paralyses, which has become increasingly real after protesters against British Columbia's Coastal GasLink pipeline briefly shut down a key border crossing between the US and Canada on Sunday afternoon, forced Trudeau to call off his visit to Barbados, where he was supposed to drum up support for Canada's UNSC bid on Monday. | The simmering conflict between th…
rt.com/news/480985-canada-pipeline-protest-border/

Student climate change protests across the UK
wsws.org | 2020-02-17
Manchester protester: "When it comes to politics and elections, you vote for one side and you vote for the other side but there's the same puppet master pulling the strings."
www.wsws.org/en/articles/2020/02/17/clim-f17.html

Is U.S. Sponsored Regime Change War Coming to Georgia?
Paul Antonopoulos | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
Former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili (October 2012

Video: Turkey Supports Al Qaeda Against Syrian Forces in Idlib
South Front | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
In Turkey, it is by now a good tradition to threaten Syria with a war every time when luckless Idlib rebels suffer another military defeat from the Syrian Army. This week was no exception. Recept Tayip Erdogan spearheaded the choir …
globalresearch.ca/video-adventures-idlib-hipsters-american-waterloo-khirbat-amu/5703772

US Undeclared War on China by Other Means
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
Both right wings of the US one-party state seek control over other nations, their resources and populations

The Middle East: Ground Zero for Possible Global War?
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-02-17
The UN Charter's preamble explained that "the scourge of war…twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind"

Trump's Budget Would Slash Support for Low-Income Students
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
As the presidential election campaign picks up, almost every top candidate has released a plan for higher education that addresses college affordability and student debt issues. But there's only one candidate who's already in the White House

Trump's Budget Would Slash Support for Low-Income Students
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
As the presidential election campaign picks up, almost every top candidate has released a plan for higher education that addresses college affordability and student debt issues. But there's only one candidate who's already in the White House

Bloomberg Fought Efforts to Protect Black Homeowners From Predatory Lenders
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
Soon after Michael Bloomberg took office in 2002, 40 of the 51 members of the New York City Council sponsored legislation aimed at curbing the growth of predatory lending practices by banks. According to the Daily News, "thousands of homeowners" had been taking on "subprime mortgages that have hidden charges, fees and conditions that are essentially designed to force homeowners into foreclosure." | In May 2002, New York's two most prominent black elected officials, State Comptroller Carl McCal…
truthout.org/articles/bloomberg-fought-efforts-to-protect-black-homeowners-from-predatory-lenders/

US-Backed Saudi Airstrike Kills 31 Civilians in Yemen
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
In Yemen, 31 people were killed in U.S.-backed Saudi airstrikes over the weekend, including women and children. The strikes in the northern al-Jawf province came just hours after the Houthis said they had shot down a Saudi fighter jet in the same area. The United Nations called the drone strike "shocking." The deadly strike follows a recent uptick in violence in northern Yemen and comes as the war there hits a five-year mark. More than 100,000 have died, and far more have been displaced, since the conflict began in…
truthout.org/video/us-backed-saudi-airstrike-kills-31-civilians-in-yemen/

More Than 1,100 Former Justice Department Officials Want William Barr to Resign
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
More than 1,100 former US Department of Justice officials called on Attorney General William P. Barr on Sunday to step down after he intervened last week to lower the Justice Department's sentencing recommendation for President Trump's longtime friend and political crony Roger J. Stone Jr. | "It is unheard of for the Department's top leaders to overrule line prosecutors, who are following established policies, in order to give preferential treatment to a close associate of the President, as…
truthout.org/articles/more-than-1100-former-justice-department-officials-want-william-barr-to-resign/

Trump Wants to Inflict Severe Pain on Disabled Community Just Because He Can
Staff | truthout.org | 2020-02-17
The "need" to strip benefits from poor and working people to help maintain the lifestyles of the Mar-a-Lago set is one of the fundamental principles of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. The rich always "need" more tax cuts, so when budget deficits get in the way, those at the middle and bottom are just going to have to sacrifice. | This is the reasoning behind the large budget cuts that the president has proposed for Medicare, Medicaid and food stamps in his most recent budget proposal.
truthout.org/articles/trump-wants-to-inflict-severe-pain-on-disabled-community-just-because-he-can/

Trump Shoots Romney at Prayer Breakfast; GOP Shrugs
Steve Klinger | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
President Donald Trump pulled out a handgun at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning and shot Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, fatally wounding him. A day earlier, Romney had become the first senator in history to vote to convict a president of his own party in an impeachment trial. After the shooting law professor Alan Dershowitz…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/trump-shoots-romney-at-prayer-breakfast-gop-shrugs/

The Democrats' New Chapter
Cesar Chelala | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Now that the impeachment of President Donald Trump hasn't reached the Democrats' expected goal, it is time for them to change gears facing the coming presidential elections. Until now, the Democrats have let the Republicans take the initiative, using techniques not always politically correct, or right, and in the process losing elections that they should…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/the-democrats-new-chapter/

Trump Shoots Romney at Prayer Breakfast; GOP Shrugs
Steve Klinger | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
President Donald Trump pulled out a handgun at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning and shot Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, fatally wounding him. A day earlier, Romney had become the first senator in history to vote to convict a president of his own party in an impeachment trial. After the shooting law professor Alan Dershowitz…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/trump-shoots-romney-at-prayer-breakfast-gop-shrugs/

NEPA is Our National Defense System‚Ä®
John Horning | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Our nation is under attack. If the attack were coming from the sky, NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command) would detect the threat. That is NORAD's mission, to anticipate threats to our homeland. The current attack on our land didn't originate in Russia or China; it began in Washington D.C., in January, when President Trump proposed dismantling NEPA

You Tube's Trump Predicament
Christopher Brauchli | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of favor.

The Wall: Separating Democracy From Voters
Robert Koehler | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
The mainstream media imposes some serious certainties on the 2020 presidential election that drive me into a furious despair, e.g.: Even though Bernie Sanders, winner of the first two Democratic primaries, is now leading in the national polls, he "can't and won't" be the party's nominee "because in coming weeks," writes Liz Peek in The Hill,…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/the-wall-separating-democracy-from-voters/

Ode to the City Bus
Elliot Sperber | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Ode to the City Bus Ride the bus The city bus We ride the bus for fun Take it to the park To the museum For a really good time Take the B48 Not to get anyplace But for its own sake Look out the window That isn't snow It's the ice they throw From…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/ode-to-the-city-bus/

Donald Trump's Plan for America: Make it Ignorant
Wim Laven | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
On February 10th, the White House released its budget for the fiscal year 2021. It broadly showcases the values promoted by Donald Trump and the vision he has for the future of the United States of America. Budgets are the practical extension of genuine commitments. Politicians, as a group, are famous for making promises that…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/donald-trumps-plan-for-america-make-it-ignorant/

The Wall: Separating Democracy From Voters
Robert Koehler | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
The mainstream media imposes some serious certainties on the 2020 presidential election that drive me into a furious despair, e.g.: Even though Bernie Sanders, winner of the first two Democratic primaries, is now leading in the national polls, he "can't and won't" be the party's nominee "because in coming weeks," writes Liz Peek in The Hill,…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/the-wall-separating-democracy-from-voters/

"Just Mercy" and Justice Don't Exist in Alabama
Stephen Cooper | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
The chance of there being "just mercy" for Nathaniel Woods–facing lethal injection on March 5 for the killing of three Birmingham police officers–is as good as the chance Alabama will ever reform its dismal, no-justice-to-be-found-anywhere legal system; it ain't gonna happen. A Hollywood movie and best-selling book about a legendary lawyer getting an innocent man…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/just-mercy-and-justice-dont-exist-in-alabama/

Time to Retire the "He Can't Beat Trump" Trope
Peter Cohen | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Now that polls show Bernie Sanders the clear front-runner in this race, leading the pack by 8 points and ready to win New Hampshire, it's time to clear up one of the main Corporate Media myths about him: that "he can't beat Trump." First, pro-Israel fanatics like Alan Dershowitz and propagandists for the Corporate State…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/time-to-retire-the-he-cant-beat-trump-trope/

Lessons From Ministering on the Border
Sr. Kathleen Erickson | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
I recently spent three weeks at the border between El Paso, Texas and Juárez, Mexico. The experience strengthened my resolve, as a person of faith and Sister of Mercy, to share more about how the situation there concerns all of us in the United States. In the shelters where thousands of refugees await their court…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/lessons-from-ministering-on-the-border/

Lessons From Ministering on the Border
Sr. Kathleen Erickson | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
I recently spent three weeks at the border between El Paso, Texas and Juárez, Mexico. The experience strengthened my resolve, as a person of faith and Sister of Mercy, to share more about how the situation there concerns all of us in the United States. In the shelters where thousands of refugees await their court…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/lessons-from-ministering-on-the-border/

Time to Retire the "He Can't Beat Trump" Trope
Peter Cohen | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Now that polls show Bernie Sanders the clear front-runner in this race, leading the pack by 8 points and ready to win New Hampshire, it's time to clear up one of the main Corporate Media myths about him: that "he can't beat Trump." First, pro-Israel fanatics like Alan Dershowitz and propagandists for the Corporate State…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/time-to-retire-the-he-cant-beat-trump-trope/

Anti-BDS Laws Violate Our Freedom
Sheldon Richman | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Americans' free-speech and other rights are being violated by state laws aimed at stifling the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) Movement against Israel's illegal rule of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both conquered over half a century ago. Twenty-eight states have enacted anti-BDS laws or executive orders that prohibit state agencies and state-financed…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/119530/

Ode to the City Bus
Elliot Sperber | counterpunch.org | 2020-02-17
Ode to the City Bus Ride the bus The city bus We ride the bus for fun Take it to the park To the museum For a really good time Take the B48 Not to get anyplace But for its own sake Look out the window That isn't snow It's the ice they throw From…
counterpunch.org/2020/02/17/ode-to-the-city-bus/