Yemen 12-14-2017

14, December 2017                               Yemen

               The news from war-torn Yemen gets grimmer by the day. 

The US- UK-France coalition supporting the Saudi-led bombing campaign has devastated Yemen’s health, water and sanitation systems and has sparked a massive cholera epidemic. The Saudi-imposed naval blockade assisted by the US Navy has prevented critical food, water, medicine and aid from reaching civilians. The United Nations has warned that over 8 million people are “a step away from famine.” It is tragic that not a single US lawmaker has expressed concern for the war crimes being committed.

Aid agencies still don’t have full access to port Hudaydah, which is the main access port for the most densely populated part of Yemen.

The food is coming by land or from distant ports which is driving up food prices out of reach for most Yeminis.

The situation is extremely dire. The number of people on the brink of famine has reached more than 8 million. Children are starving to death across the country even in the coalition-controlled territory. 27 million people are being strangulated by the coalition enforced blockade.

The disease is rampant. Almost one million have succumbed to cholera and diphtheria.

It is outrageous that our tax dollars are being used to conduct this immoral war. The US is fully complicit in serious war crimes being committed. I urge concerned readers to contact their representatives and President Trump to call for an immediate halt to military aid to Saudi Arabia and demand lifting the naval blockade.

Jerusalem 12-11-2017

11, December 2017                                Jerusalem

Mr. Trump’s impetuous declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is a monumental mistake. He falsely claimed that this would advance the peace process ignoring universal opposition to such a move and the ongoing violence.

This has little to do with the peace process but has everything to do with fulfilling a campaign promise to his ardent supporters. Furthermore, he has exposed all Americans to extreme danger especially those on overseas assignments. 

Using the same twisted logic, perhaps Trump should cede Crimea and Ukraine to the Russian Federation recognizing the “realties of conquest.”

The declaration comes at a time when Palestinians in East Jerusalem remain under brutal Israeli occupation against rampant home demolitions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and revocation of residency rights. Meanwhile illegal settlements continue to gobble up more and more Palestinian land. The announcement also comes after more than two decades of failed so-called peace talks and 22 years of unconditional US congressional support for the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Glaringly omitted from Trump’s proclamation were the legitimate Palestinians’ claims to Jerusalem.

Shrinking State Dept. 11-27-2017

27 November 2017                      Shrinking State Dept.

Secretary of State Tillerson has launched a “fast and furious” war on his own State Department. Tillerson’s disdain and arrogance was in full display when he fired his chief of security, Bill Miller in response to Miller’s insistence that he has unrestricted access to his boss mandated by a Congressional edict.

There are growing concerns over Tillerson’s aloofness and lack of communication with his staff which is causing seething resentment. More and more diplomats are heading for the exits which seem to suit Tillerson who is determined to impose an autocrat stamp on his department.

Finally, alarm bells are ringing in the halls of Congress prompting Democratic members of the House Foreign Relations Committee, to express concerns over “the exodus of more than 100 senior Foreign Service officers from the State Department since January,” which appeared to be a concerted effort “to hollow-out senior diplomatic ranks.”

A hiring freeze has intensified the low morale. A $25,000 buyout has been offered to “encourage” more than 2,000 career diplomats and civil servants to leave by October 2018.

Our wealthiest allies in Europe and Asia are turning away. Smaller powers are turning to regional hegemons for security and safety, realizing that Americans have only one tool in their toolbox, military might not soft power.

The Chinese are quietly building, through diplomacy and economic power, a power structure designed to supplant American power within the next 10 years.

Israel declares war with AIUSA 11-25-2017

25, November 2017                     Israel declares war with AIUSA

Last Thursday the New York Times published a moving, tragic story of a Palestinian,  Raed Jarrarov,  who was denied entry into Israel to bury his father.

His late father’s only crime was to be born a Palestinian - a man of a sterling reputation,  a refugee, a civil engineer, a farmer and an entrepreneur. Jarrarov senior fled his home with his family in 1967 when Israel invaded the West Bank

Raed visited his relatives in the West Bank in 2015 while working for a Quaker nongovernmental organization. He was anxious to visit his extended family in the city of Jenin but was prevented from doing so by the Israeli government.

What apparently terrified Israel was Raed position as advocacy director for the human rights organization, Amnesty International U.S.A.  (AIUSA) which called on governments to ban goods from illegal Israeli settlements. This apparently was a red flag.

Amnesty International is unequivocal in its condemnation of Israel’s settlement policy. Under International law, AIUSA considers Israel’s business activities in its illegal settlements a war crime. 

In a classic case of the tail wagging the dog, the American Consulate General in Jerusalem refused to intervene on Raed’s behalf and was told the officials could not help.

60 Minutes 11-22-2017

22, November 2017                        60 Minutes

60 Minutes is to be congratulated for focusing much needed attention on the plight of civilians in war torn Yemen. But was glaringly omitted in its segment was the role of the US/UK in creating the humanitarian crisis.

It falsely portrayed the US as heroes for funding the UN food aid program. It went on to accuse the Saudis of bringing 7 million people to the brink of starvation by imposing a crippling blockade to prevent ships delivering food to the beleaguered people but conveniently forgot to mention that the US navy colluded with the Saudis imposing the blockade.

Scott Pelley of 60 Minutes went on to say “This will be hard to watch, but 27 million people in Yemen pray you will not turn away”.

I pray every American will be outraged by our government’s complicit role in Saudi Arabia’s war crimes. In order to enrich U.S. defense contractor’s the U.S. has sold billions of weapons to the morally bankrupt Kingdom. In addition, the U.S. continues to supply logistical support and refuels Saudi planes to ensure a non-stop bombardment of Yemen. In addition Yemen is suffering a huge cholera epidemic. To compound US egregious actions, Mr. Trump has given hisenthusiastic  endorsement of Mohammed Bin Salman’s attempt to ascend to the throne by accusing his rivals of corruption, a charge which is ludicrous given his own profligate spending, including the purchase of a yacht costing £452 million.

Christ Hijacked 11-18-2017

18, November 2017                                  Christ Hijacked

It is encouraging that Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader and Paul Ryan, the House Speaker, have finally spoken up and stated the accusations by victims of Roy Moore’s sexual predatory actions are credible.

But what is puzzling is why the more than 16 women who have accused Donald Trump of similar offenses have been dismissed by the White House as liars. While McConnell and Ryan have declared Moore unfit to be elected to the Senate, they and so many other Republican elites remained silent and allowed Trump to slither into the White House.

It is also puzzling why so many Evangelicals leapt to Moore’s defense.

The new liturgy has rendered Christ irrelevant and replaced his teachings with the nightly pontifications of Gurus’ Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, the high priests of a false religion.

The Evangelicals tune in nightly to receive their daily dose of right wing propaganda which shapes their whole belief system to the exclusion of all other news sources. Tearful testimony from Moore’s victims seems to be impervious to Evangelicals who regard Moore as a Christian martyr. Herr Goebbels, Hitler’s propaganda minister, had it exactly right – spew fake news repeatedly and people will eventually accept them as fact. 

War Crimes & Famine 11-13-2017

13, November 2017                       War Crimes & Famine

The US and our European allies are flooding the Middle East with billions of the most sophisticated weapons which are being used a wage a relentless war on neighboring Yemen. In addition to selling billions in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. provides intelligence and logistic support.

To intensify the suffering of the Yeminis, the Saudis have imposed a total blockade on all land, air and seaports.  This would not be possible without the tacit approval of the U.S. Navy which controls 80% of the ports to Yemen.

U. N. medical experts warn that the clampdown will worsen Yemen’s cholera epidemic, which has sickened more than 900,000 people. U.N. aid Chief Mark Lowcock warned that if the blockade is not lifted, the resulting famine will claim millions of lives.

Afrah Nasser, a Yemeni journalist, recipient of the International Free Press Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, confirmed the U.N. assessment stating the situation in Yemen is dire. The World Food Program estimates that out of Yemen’s population of 28 million people, about 20 million, “do not know where they’re going to get their next meal.” Death is the new norm in Yemen.

By selling billions of weapons to Saudi Arabia the United States is participating in creating, the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

It is now up to the American people to raise their collective voices and halt this human catastrophe failing which we will be complicit in these grotesque war crimes.

War Crimes & Famine 11-13-2017

 

13, November 2017                      War Crimes & Famine

The US and our European allies are flooding the Middle East with billions of the most sophisticated weapons which are being used a wage a relentless war on neighboring Yemen. In addition to selling billions of weapons to Saudi Arabia, the U.S. provides intelligence and logistical support.

To intensify the suffering of the Yeminis, the Saudis have imposed a total blockade on all land, air and seaports.  This would not be possible without the support of the U.S. Navy which controls 80% of the ports to Yemen.

U. N. medical experts warn that the clampdown will worsen Yemen’s cholera epidemic, which has sickened more than 900,000 people. U.N. aid Chief Mark Lowcock warned that if the blockade is not lifted, the resulting famine will claim millions of lives.

Afrah Nasser, a Yemeni journalist, recipient of the International Free Press Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists, confirmed the U.N. assessment stating the situation in Yemen is dire. The World Food Program estimates that out of Yemen’s population of 28 million people, about 20 million, “do not know where they’re going to get their next meal.” Death is the new norm in Yemen.

The Independent newspaper in the U.K. recently reported that the country’s sales of bombs and missiles to Saudi Arabia have increased by a staggering 500 percent since the Saudi bombing campaign of Yemen commenced. The U.S. and the U.K. remain the largest suppliers of arms to Saudi Arabia.  Shockingly, the British foreign secretary, Boris Johnson criticism of arms sales to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record responded, that it would definitely “harm our arms sales to them.”

Teresa May, the British prime minister also brushed aside concerns over human rights violations and conclusions of a leaked parliamentary report calling for an immediate end to arms sales.

Mass Shootings 11-7-2017

7, November 2017                 Mass Shootings

Another mass shooting in Texas - prayers, flowers, sober speeches, lowering the flag  . . . heaven forbid this is not the time to discuss gun control. The Texas shooter was convicted by the Air Force on charges of beating his wife and step-son (50% of mass shooters are guilty of domestic violence), but they failed to enter the offense into the national database and voila Kelley was able to purchase a military style weapon. 

After the Las Vegas shooting the consoler in chief, said “we are not going to talk about that today.” 

Curious of the Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock state of mind, Stanford Lab’s plans to examine his brain to determine what could have motived him to commit such a heinous crime. What an incredible waste of time! 

Perhaps, Stanford researchers could better invest their time examining the brains of lawmakers who enable such tragedies to occur on a daily basis. When will these legislators put the welfare of the public ahead of their careers? What will it take to move these people cursed with a stone heart to challenge the insidious power of the NRA? Are the rights of “sporting enthusiasts” who get their jollies chasing and killing God’s creatures (birds and animals) more important than the lives of innocent men, women and children? If Australia could initiate sensible gun control following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that resulted in a dramatic decline in gun crimes why can’t we do the same or better?

General Kelly 11-7-2017

7, November 2017                       General Kelly

The White House chief of staff, General Kelly, the administration’s so called disciplinarian, has been a huge disappointment defending slavery, the dark stain of American history.

The Civil War was an effort to maintain the status quo, to preserve the enslavement of African Americans.

Contrary to Kelly’s false depiction of General Lee as an “honorable man” Lee fought to preserve slavery. During the civil war, captured free blacks were incarcerated in chains. After the war ended Lee campaigned to evict black people from his native Virginia.

General Kelly also made the preposterous claim that the Civil War resulted from a failure “to compromise” implying that there was nothing inherently wrong in enslaving blacks.

Confederate monuments like those honoring General Lee, have no place in contemporary America. They should be demolished and tossed into the dustbin of history. To do anything less, is to honor those who sought to dishonor the US Constitution that “ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL.”

Republican’s Benghazi 11-7-2017

7, November 2017                  Republican’s Benghazi

A leading Africa analyst, HORACE CAMPBELL, shed new light on the role of U.S. Special Forces in Africa. Under the guise of fighting terrorism, the U.S. and France are in fact protecting their commercial interests. The death of four U.S. Special Forces follows six years after the U.S., France and Britain invaded and destroyed Libya.

Last year President Obama said that the attack on Libya was the biggest mistake of his presidency. In the same year the British Parliament released a damning report that admitted the invasion of Libya was based on lies. The morally challenged French developed an alliance with the terrorist group, al-Qaeda, to overthrow Gaddafi. More and more African countries are expressing anger and frustration over the presence of foreign forces. What the people of West Africa desperately need are funds for reconstruction, health clinics and housing to raise employment for their youth. It makes little sense for the United States to be spending $100 million to build a base in Agadez, in Niger, where France already has a military base. France is heavily invested in Niger which provides 75 percent of its electricity needs utilizing Niger’s huge reserves of uranium. Concerned over growing Chinese influence in the region, France orchestrated a coup d’état overthrowing Mamadou Tandja, the president of Niger. It is time for US citizens demand all US forces withdraw from Niger and surrounding African countries.

Texas Shooting 11-6-2017

6, November 2017                        Texas Shooting

Another mass shooting, prayers, flowers, sober speeches,  lowering the flag  . . . heaven forbid this is not the time to discuss gun control. After the Las Vegas shooting the consoler in chief, said “we are not going to talk about that today.”

Curious of the shooters state of mind, Stanford Lab’s plans to examine the brain of the shooter to determine what could have motived him to commit such a heinous crime. What an incredible waste of time! The shooter was convicted by the Air Force on charges of beating his wife and step-son (50% of mass shooters are guilty of domestic violence) , but they failed to enter the offense into the national database and voila Kelly was able to purchase a military style weapon. 

Perhaps, Stanford researchers could better invest their time examining the brains of lawmakers who enable such tragedies to occur on a daily basis. When will these legislators put the welfare of the public ahead of their careers? What will it take to move these people cursed with a stone heart to challenge the insidious power of the NRA? Are the rights of “sporting enthusiasts” who get their jollies chasing and killing God’s creatures (birds and animals) more important than the lives of innocent men, women and children? If Australia could initiate sensible gun control following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that resulted in  a dramatic decline in gun crimes why can’t we do the same or better?

Cruz Silenced 11-2-2017

2, November 2017                           Cruz Silenced

The feisty, no nonsense mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz, was silenced, denied an opportunity to testify before the House. She had been extremely critical of the lackadaisical Trump administration’s response to the devastation caused by hurricane Maria. It seems likely that the White House leaned on compliant lawmakers to prevent Cruz from voicing more criticism of FEMA and the White House.

Borrowing from Trump’s playbook, Cruz took to Twitter to denounce FEMA’s lack of response to the urgent needs of the people of Puerto Rica.

The Republican majority, for the second time canceled the hearing, with no date for it to be rescheduled.

To add insult to injury, a $300 million no-bid contract was awarded to Whitefish Energy, a tiny company based in the hometown of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in Montana.

A leaked copy of the contract prohibits the federal government from auditing Whitefish's work and shields it from other details of the company's records.
"In no event," the contract says, will the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, FEMA, the Comptroller General of the United States, "or any of their authorized representatives have the right to audit or review the cost and profit elements" of the deal.
How convenient!

Trumpty Dumpty 11-1-2017

1, November 2017                                Trumpty Dumpty

Sheriff Mueller and his posse of law men are closing in for the kill. Paul Manafort and Trump are cut from the same cloth – followers of the 11^th commandment – look after thyself. Given the choice of spending years in prison or “ratting” on his Republicans, he will undoubtedly choose the later. If Manafort sings, this will likely trigger a cascade of events bringing us closer to the “big fish”. Another of the “basket full of deplorables” is Rick Gates who was indicted and George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign was has pled guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about a Russian contact. Both are likely to cooperate in exchange for a lighter sentence. It’s likely the astute Mueller will charge the duo with state crimes to circumvent a possible presidential pardon.  Neither are known for their political skills but merely for the Russian and Ukrainian contacts which strengthens charges of Russian collusion. Remember, Trump was loath to criticize Russia and even shared Israeli state secrets with the Russians.  A major concern is “the master of the art of distraction” might initiate a war with North Korea to rally Americans around the flag.

But if all goes according to plan Trumpy Dumpty may have . . .

Trumpty Dumpty 11-1-2017

1, November 2017                       Trumpty Dumpty

Sheriff Mueller and his posse of lawmen are closing in for the kill. Paul Manafort and Trump are cut from the same cloth – followers of the 11^th commandment – look after thyself. Given the choice of spending years in prison or “ratting” on his Republicans, he will undoubtedly choose the later. If Manafort sings, this will likely trigger a cascade of events bringing us closer to the “big fish”. Another of the “basket full of deplorables” is Rick Gates who was indicted and George Papadopoulos, a foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign was has pled guilty to lying to the F.B.I. about a Russian contact. Both are likely to cooperate in exchange for a lighter sentence. It’s likely the astute Mueller will charge the duo with state crimes to circumvent a possible presidential pardon.  Neither are known for their political skills but merely for the Russian and Ukrainian contacts which strengthen charges of Russian collusion. Remember, Trump was loath to criticize Russia and even shared Israeli state secrets with the Russians.  A major concern is “the master of the art of distraction” might initiate a war with North Korea to rally Americans around the flag.

But if all goes according to plan Trumpy Dumpty may have . . .

Perpetual War 10-25-2017

25, October 2017                          Perpetual War

The Pentagon budget for fiscal 2017-18 is a whopping $640 billion consuming 55% of discretionary government spending.

Our lawmakers are loath to oppose funding the war machine lest they be accused of being weak on terrorism. We have troops spread across the globe in more than 182 countries.

With an appalling record of overthrowing democratically elected governments around the world (Iran 1953, Guatemala, 1954, Congo, 1960, Dominican Republic . .) the CIA continues to be a destabilizing force around the world with 38,000 currently engaged in secret missions - with no accountability. Trillions of dollars and thousands of lives have been lost. The US continues to sell weapons to many rogue states guilty of appalling human rights abuses such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and many of the Gulf States. Tens of thousands of innocent civilians have perished in these perpetual wars fueling intense resentment against Americans serving a rich recruitment for its enemies. We must reject the false belief that we have a divine right to possess WMD’s. After all we are the only nation guilty of unleashing these terrifying weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We should bring back the draft so ALL Americans have a stake in Pentagon’s perpetual wars. We need to replace our “Shock and Awe” with robust diplomacy.

To compound global instability, Islam is wreaking havoc around the world, its terrorism rooted in its scriptures, to “kill all infidels”. Few Islamic scholars voice their opposition to this jihad rhetoric.

OxyContin 10-19-2017

19, October 2017                                OxyContin

Who Profits from the Opioid Crisis? An in-depth investigation by Esquire Magazine reveals the ultra-secretive Sackler family, owners of the company that invented OxyContin, downplayed the risks to generate huge profits. More than 200,000 people have died from prescription drugs since OxyContin was released in 1996. The ultra-secret Sackler Family is making billions from OxyContin.

Compounding the crisis, Congress undermined efforts to restrict the flow of pain pills that have led to tens of thousands of deaths. The Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis has said, “America is enduring a death toll equal to September 11th every three weeks.

The drug industry lobbied heavily to win passage of a bill that weakens the DEA’s ability to control opioids, contributing $1.5 million to its 23 congressional co-sponsors virtually gutting the Controlled Substances Act.

The Sackler family, like so many other oligarchs, gained social acceptance, becoming huge art collectors. 

They gained a foothold in the medical advertising business aggressively marketing antibiotics, followed by Valium and later, the blockbuster OxyContin. This gave the Sacklers the largest fortune in pharmaceutical history. Unknown to most doctors and pharmacies, OxyContin is basically morphine without the “terminal illness” stigma.

The three largest distributors are Cardinal Health, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen. They control probably 85 or 90 percent and are literally sending people to their early graves. Pain clinics have become ubiquitous much like neighborhood pharmacies. The new professionals are drug dealers in lab coats.

Opioid Crisis 10-19-2017

19, October 2017                            Opioid Crisis

A 60 Minutes-Washington Post investigation exposed the unholy alliance between Congress and lobbyists to weaken the DEA’s ability to fight opioid abuse. 

Sadly, many former DEA officials succumb to the siren song of easy money by quitting the agency and joining lobbying forms that use their expertise to render the DEA virtually impotent in their efforts to curb opioid use.

A federal whistleblower is demanding why Congress passed a bill by unanimous consent, with no objections, to limit the DEA’s power to fight opioid abuse. 

The new law makes it much easier for drug distributors to ship pain pills from manufacturers to distributors to local stores facilitated by rogue pharmacies and doctors.

Tom Marino of Pennsylvania and Marcha Blackburn of Tennessee sponsored the bill as quid pro quo for donations they received from big pharma unconcerned they were condemning thousands of Americans to an early death.

The Iran Deal 10-18-2017

18, October 2017                  The Iran Deal

Following his failed promises to repeal and replace the ACA, revise the tax plan, build his “beautiful” wall, Trump took aim at scuttling the Iran deal.

Ignoring the statements of his cabinet, who stated that Iran was in full compliance and unable to comprehend the complexities of the deal, Trump punted its fate to Congress.

Perhaps Trump is unaware of our dark history with Iran, beginning with the overthrow of the democratically elected government in 1953 with the covert coup by the CIA and the British agency, MI6, which resulted in the theft of Iraq’s oil and the establishment of British Petroleum. The government was replaced by the US puppet, the Shah of Iran, who unleashed his secret police, the Savak, who rounded up and tortured tens of thousands of Iranians.

During the Iraq- Iran war, the CIA covertly provided massive shipments of arms including chemical weapons, to our former Iraqi ally, Saddam Hussein.

If the nuclear deal falters the US and Israel will be the losers. The US will remain isolated; there will be no appetite for further sanctions because most Western countries have already begun trading with Iran and establishing embassies. US companies will be excluded from such trading privileges. Iran will likely accelerate its nuclear bomb making capabilities and intensify their hostility towards Israel. They still recall Israel’s role in assassinating many of their nuclear scientists.  If you're a supporter of the deal, contact your congressional representative before it’s too late.

YEMEN 10-16-2017

16, October 2017                                YEMEN

The incoherent and unpredictable president continues to advance his business interests with thuggish regimes around the world. His latest infatuation is with King Saud of Saudi Arabia who has launched merciless, genocidal attacks, on its impoverished neighbor, Yemen.

The U.S.-backed, Saudi-led war and naval blockade in Yemen has created a huge cholera epidemic that has become the largest and fastest-spreading outbreak of the disease in modern world history. The World Health Organization estimates there will be a million cases of cholera in Yemen by the end of the year affecting at least 600,000 children. Our tax dollars are creating a famine of biblical proportions.

No longer can we make the false claim that we are a force for good. Weapon sales always  seem to  triumph concerns for human rights -  unless the American people wake up and take action.

Sen. Chris Murphy stated “there is an American imprint on every civilian life lost in Yemen. The Houthi rebel army poses no existential threat to the United States.  The United States Congress has not debated a war authorization giving the president the power to conduct this operation in Yemen.”

I urge readers to call the White House Comment line (202-456-1111) and demand an immediate halt to weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and bombing attacks on Yemen.

Please tweet - #POTUS HALT WEAPONS SALES TO SAUDI ARABIA DEMAND THEY LIFT EMBARGO & BOMBING OF YEMENESE CIVILIANS.

Voter suppression 10-9-2017

9, October 2017                          Voter suppression

While much of the media is focused on Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election, voter suppression has largely gone unnoticed.

Rev Barber is spearheading efforts to heighten people’s awareness of Voter suppression and offers the following statistics.

There were fewer than 868 voting sites in 2016 for black, brown and poor communities.22 states passed voter suppression laws since 2010. These are states which make up 50% of the House of Representatives. Without voter suppression the 2016 results would likely be radically different. 

1,562 days has elapsed since the Supreme Court decision gutting Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act McConnell and Ryan have filibustered efforts to reinstate the Voting Rights Act.

Trump won in Wisconsin by a mere 30,000 votes. 250,000 votes were suppressed in this state and in North Carolina 150 fewer sites offered early voting.

Districts are gerrymandered to render poor, Hispanic and black voters largely irrelevant.

Gerrymandering in North Carolina, voter suppression and denying same-day registration, early voting are prime examples of systemic voter suppression.

Trump nominated Tom Farr, a lawyer in Northern Carolina who responsible for voter suppression, to a coveted federal position.

58 % of black voters reside in 34 states that now have serious voter suppression laws. 

Puerto Rico 10-3-2017

3, October 2017                           Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico was hit with a devastating double whammy. Hurricane Maria and a president asleep at the wheel who reacted with anger and meanness at having his golf game disturbed by the “mayday calls” from the San Juan mayor. Trump tweeted with racially inflected insults accusing the islanders of being lazy and “wanting everything to be done for them rather than helping themselves.”

After visiting the island, retired Army Lieutenant General Honoré, who led the military response to Hurricane Katrina, estimated that about 7 critical days had been squandered by the sluggish Trump administration. It took 8 days to suspend the archaic Jones Act - a relic of World War 1. An exasperated Honore’ said: “We’ve got to get rid of that dumb-ass Jones Act that benefits shipping tycoons in New York and Miami, while driving up costs for Puerto Ricans.” He thought the devastation was so horrendous, that perhaps the best course of action would be to move the children off the island to the mainland. Smarting under the withering criticism of his lackadaisical response, Trump reached down into his rich lexicon heaping praise for his “amazing and wonderful response.”

Buoyed by his self-importance, determined to be a swaggering “John Wayne” or “make my day” Clint Eastwood he instructed Rexx Tillerson to halt his peaceful overtures with North Korea accelerating the demise of our Goldilocks planet. 

Mass Shooting 10-3-2017

3, October 2017                                Mass Shooting

Mr. President, like most Americans I am sure you are traumatized by the mass shooting in Las Vegas. The killer, Stephen Paddock, took advantage of lax gun laws in assembling his arsenal. I am sure you will agree that military-style weapons used by Paddock, that can fire 10 shots every second, have no business in civilian hands. They have no legitimate self-defense or hunting use but have been used exclusively for mass shootings.

You have responded brilliantly to aggrieved white voters and are in a position to use this capital to break the chokehold of the NRA, a unique “China-Nixon” moment.  As the most popular president in US history, I ask you to challenge the validity of the Second Amendment "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Really? Do we really need militias in 2017 to resist the actions of a tyrannical government? The answer is surely a resounding NO! The U.S. Constitution was crafted in 1787 to reflect the prevailing frontier conditions at the birth of our nation when people had a strong need to protect their families and livestock. We have well-established law enforcement agencies so there is no need for militias!  President Trump, please assemble a team of brilliant legal minds, seize the “Australia” moment, and toss the Second Amendment into the dustbin of history.

The Swamp 10-2-2017

2, October 2017                                The Swamp

Congratulations Mr. Trump! You have commenced draining the swamp with HH Secretary, Tom Price.

Perhaps you are not aware that your inner circle, Jared Kushner, Ivanka and chief economic advisor, Gary Cohn, have been using private email servers to conduct official business. Please instruct your sycophant, AG Sessions, to initiate legal proceedings to “lock up the mistreats.”

Another member of your staff, EPA czar Scott Pruitt, used a private plane and military jet for trips over the summer.

Finally, Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke took $12,000 charter flight home in an oil executive’s plane near his home in Montana and took private plane to a

trip to the Virgin Islands.

Mr. Trump, you are eminently qualified to clean the swamp because you have spent years perfecting the art of stiffing contractors in your failed businesses and securing business loans from shady Russian oligarchs.

Saudi Women Drivers 9-30-2017

30, September 2017              Saudi Women Drivers

After decades of defiance by Saudi women activists, the Saudi kingdom has finally lifted the driving ban. There were no religious reasons for the ban as cars did not exist at the time of Mohammed. The kingdom gave some fuzzy reasons for restricting women from driving – arguing they lacked the mental dexterity, damage to the ovaries, distraction to male drivers and increase the likelihood of infidelity.  In the early days of the faith, women were fiercely independent riding donkeys unsupervised, without being encumbered with head coverings.

The Al Saud ruling family must do more to distance itself from the “stone age” Wahhabi clerics who impose their ultra-strict interpretation of Islamic law.

Wahhabism is one of the ideological pillars of global jihadi terrorism.

Women continue to be an underused resource.  More women attend universities than men but only make up 15% of the workforce.  It is time to eliminate the wilayah (guardianship) system and the head to toe body covering which is likely to impact peripheral vision while driving.  The Saudi kingdom must do much more to promote complete gender equality.

Repeal the Jones Act 9-28-2017

28, September 2017                    Repeal the Jones Act 

The Jones Act was enacted to establish a trading monopoly, to maximize profits for US corporations. This has severely hampered recovery from hurricanes, IRMA and Maria. The Act prohibits non-US shipping companies from delivering critical goods to the beleaguered island. Under this Act, vessels entering Puerto Rico must pay punitive tariffs, fees, and taxes which are passed on to Puerto Rico consumers.

The US Virgin Islands has moved off the radar and is suffering similar neglect from the US.

It is interesting that the Jones Act was suspended this year to benefit Texas and Florida during hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Why are Puerto Ricans not afforded the same courtesy?

Trump took his eye off the ball preoccupied for five days firing his racist tweets about the NLF flag kneeing controversy. This was odd coming from a man who has shown utter disdain for the significance of the flag.

Living in his tight bubble, Trump was heaping praise on himself saying he was doing “a "great," "amazing," "tremendous" and "incredible" job. This was reminiscent of President Bush gushing that FEMA boss, “was doing a heck of a job” during the Katrina debacle.

Trump’s declares war on NFL 9-25-2017

25, September 2017            Trump’s declares war on NFL

While many parts of the country, are still recovering from devastating floods, Trump found the time to criticize Colin Kaepernick and declare war on the NFL with his juvenile tweets. It was classic Trump playbook egging on his supporters, blessed with white privilege, to voice their racist rants. It was revealed that while Trump directed his ire at predominantly black athletes with slurs he defended the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Va., as “very fine people.”

Black athletes are the modern gladiators of American sports. Sports are the few opportunities that offer them an escape from poverty. They sacrifice their bodies to punishing pain for the enjoyment of predominantly white fans. 

African-Americans have every right to voice their outrage over police brutality and daily humiliations living in a very oppressive society which has been made infinitely worse by Trump’s racist taunts. The American flag is not a symbol of pride for those living under such oppression.

Colin is an icon on and off the field. This is the man who helped to organize relief supplies to famine-stricken Somalia and invested his time and money to needy communities back home. Trump is the quintessential anti-Christ who seeks to destroy Colin’s reputation. Those who choose to remain silent in the face of injustice, like the majority of Republicans are un-American, whereas Kaepernick and his fellow-travelers are the real American heroes.

Let’s us hope the loud protestations of the NFL league follow through and offer Colin his rightful place on the field. 

Trump’s UN Speech 9-22-2017

22, September 2017                             Trump’s UN Speech

Mimicking the personas of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood (“make my day”) Mr. Trump huffed and puffed and threatened to “totally destroy” North Korea and kill its 25 million people pitting two highly unstable leaders to the utter dismay of UN members and the world at large. It was evident that Mr. Trump was playing to his supporters who seem to relish his “tough guy” approach. It is a pity Trump sought 5 deferments when he was drafted when he could have become a real hero.

The world’s most tyrannical despots, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, The Philippines Turkey, and Syria . . .  were omitted from Trump’s tirade. Instead, he took aim at Shia Iran to placate his latest loves – Sunni King Saud and Prime Minister of Israel Netanyahu who responded to his speech with enthusiastic applause.

Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, smarting under Trump’s bellicose language and insults called Trump the "new Hitler" of international politics.

The speech was a horrifying grotesque spectacle. There is no better way to precipitate armed conflict and possibly the destruction of the entire planet than to publically berate your adversary. The North Korean leader has every right to be wary of America’s intentions. Remember Saddam Hussein didn’t possess WMD’s and died. Kaddafi of Libya gave up his nuclear weapons and suffered a similar fate. There is also a real possible danger that Trump might initiate an armed conflict to “rally Americans around the flag” and distract from Mueller’s investigations.

War Crimes 9-22-2017

22, September 2017                         War Crimes

A major new investigation by Amnesty International reveals a US bomb killed 16 civilians and seriously wounded 17 more in Yemen last month. 

Among the survivors was a 5-year-old girl Buthaina, whose photograph went viral in the Arab media, social media even the mainstream media following the US strike. Buthaina lost her whole family. Bomb fragments matched the US made components used in laser-guided bombs. 

Photographs of the bomb victims also went viral intensifying hostility towards Saudi Arabia and it major military supplier, the US. It’s hard to imagine any incident could intensify more anger more than witnessing a whole family blown to pieces. How can we possibly make the false claim we are a force for good?  We continue to supply billions of weapons to the Gulf States totally unconcerned of the devastating loss of civilian life our weapons can cause.  Many Arab countries are calling Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the US as the new the axis of evil.

Please tweet, POTUS Halt all weapons sales to the Gulf States immediately these are being used to slaughter large number of civilians which is a war crime

Medicare for all 9-20-2017

20, September 2017                      Medicare for all

Kudos to Sen. Sanders for unveiling a Medicare-for-All (MFA) Bill with 15 patriotic co-sponsors.

It is unconscionable that the pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, hospital corporations, medical device manufacturers and, behind them all, Wall Street—are profiting from human suffering.

If we can send people to the moon and create technical wizardly surely we can craft an equitable health care system. Let our lawmakers study the successful systems in countries like Britain, Germany, and Switzerland, Canada and Australia and cherry pick the best features of each system.

The MFA would eliminate 20-25% overhead of the insurance companies and their obscene profits and salaries. Doctors and nursing associations welcome a MFA system which would eliminate the cumbersome billing system and would substantially lower drug prices. The system could easily be funded by eliminating Pentagon waste and Wall Street excesses.

Following Sanders clarion call, millions of Americans tweeted their support. Hundreds of people flooded town halls across the country to voice their support. The people have spoken. It is time for Congress to act and reflect the will of the people.

Let’s us not squander this pivotal moment in US history. The time for Medicare-for-All is NOW.

Agent Orange – America’s shame 9-17-2017

17, September 2017             Agent Orange – America’s shame

Ken Burns’s documentary, “Vietnam”, compels us to revisit the horrors of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, – countries that never threatened the US.  These three countries suffered a staggering 3.8 million deaths. A large number of civilians continue to suffer horrific birth defects from exposure to US chemicals.

The long tortuous history of Vietnam and Agent Orange should shame all Americans. Fifty years ago, the US sprayed more than 20 million gallons of various herbicides over Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos from 1961 to 1971. Agent Orange, which contained the deadly chemical, dioxin, was the most commonly used herbicide. It was later proven to cause serious health issues—including cancer, birth defects, rashes and severe psychological and neurological problems—among the “Vietnamese” people as well as among returning U.S. servicemen and their families. Oblivious of the dangers, US serviceman used the empty 55-gallon drums for makeshift showers.

The Pentagon denied such health hazards fearful of the huge liabilities that would have to be paid to the victims.

Chemical companies were well aware of the birth-deformity hazards of their products but chose to remain silent. The offspring of the soldiers continue to suffer exceptionally high birth-rate defects. It is time we offered unconditional apologies to the Vietnamese, Cambodians and Laotians, massive reparations and offers to clean up the deadly deposits of Agent Orange.

 

Crime & Punishment 9-13-2017

13, September 2017                       9-11 Crime & Punishment

As the nation marks the 16th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, questions persist about the role Saudi Arabia played in the attacks.  Why has Saudi Arabia been a free pass when 15 of the 19 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia? Families and survivors are continuing their efforts to take Saudi Arabia to trial. Investigative reporter, Andrew Cockburn, has found new evidence alleging that Saudi Arabia funded a “dry run” two years before the attacks. Lawyers of the plaintiff’s families and insurance companies say the new allegations offer "a pattern of both financial and operational support" by the Saudi government.

Senator Bob Graham, the former chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, co-chair of the joint congressional inquiry into the 9/11 terrorist attacks agreed that the GW Bush administration concocted a false story that Iraq was responsible for the 9/11 attacks and felt it better to “bury” Saudi Arabia’s involvement given our oil dependent economy.

Interrogators at Guantánamo were given instructions to torture detainees into falsely linking the 9/11 hijackings with Iraq. It seems the ruling elite placed a higher premium maintaining their special relationship with Saudi Arabia than the victims of 9/11. Mr. Trump’s obsequious behavior bowing and fawning in front of the “mighty” King Saud seems to confirm that that the US is on a downward morality spiral. Weapon sales to the messianic Saudi’s trump all considerations of human rights. Let’s make ‘America Great” by selling billions in weapons sales to these merchants of death.

India’s mafia, Modi’s shame 9-13-2017

13, September 2017                     India’s mafia, Modi’s shame

India’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has become victim to its “deadly embrace” with the RSS wing of the party. Much like the US, the duo has unleashed a growing intolerance that threatens the very foundation of its democracy.

For example, the sanctity of cows seems far more important than the welfare of its poor and low cast castaways.

While cows get a free pass. bullocks are not so lucky. India has now become the largest exporter of beef in the world employing millions of workers and generating $4 billion in profit.

Although the Supreme Court suspended Modi’s government ruling outlawing the killing of cows, low caste Hindus and Muslims have been targeted because they have traditionally engaged in the meat and leather industry.

In most cities cows have the right of passage, their emaciated bodies wondering the streets ingesting anything that comes their way, including plastics, to satisfy their hunger pangs.

To soften Modi’s image, India’s film censor board, headed by a Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart, ruled that references to “cows”, “Hindu India,” “Hindutva view of India” — meaning Hindu nationalism — and “Gujarat, be cut.

Modi’s chief surrogate is Yogi Adityannath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, a Hindu warrior who has declared a fatwa on all Muslims calling them “a crop of two-legged animals that has to be stopped” shouting at one rally, “we are all preparing for religious war!” This mimics the language used by the Hutus calling the Tutsis “cockroaches” in the Rwandan genocide or Trump calling Hispanics crossing our border, “murderers and rapists”.

The implications for India’s democracy are chilling and fraught with the uncertainty.

The recent murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, a fierce critic of rising Hindu-nationalist militancy is further evidence of growing intolerance of an independent media.  “The message to journalists and all dissenters is loud and clear,” tweeted Siddhartha Bhatia, founding editor of the Indian online news site, The Wire. “We are watching you and one day we will get you.” Anti-Muslim hate crimes have risen a staggering 10-fold since Modi came to power in 2014.

Fortunately some concerned Indians are fighting back.

A caravan of peace activists has arrived in the capital, New Delhi to take part in a month-long journey across India to highlight the rise of lynching and violence against Muslims, Dalits and other minority groups. Led by activist Harsh Mander, the activists are visiting victims of hate crimes