Thursday, December 19, 2019

India’s sliding into a dictatorship 12-19-2019


19, December 2019            India’s sliding into a dictatorship

Following in the footsteps of the US, the cancer of intolerance has engulfed much of India. The new “howdy” Modi is rapidly becoming “adios” Modi as India’s prime minister attempts to stifle growing outrage over the anti-Muslim Citizenship bill.


Protests have erupted across India in response to the Indian Parliament’s decision to give favored treatment to Hindu and other non-Muslim migrants in India.  Like most autocrats, Modi has suspended access to the Internet for 60 million people fearful that social media may amplify the outrage.  Last year the internet was shutdown 134 times, and this year 93 times removing a bastion of democracy, free speech. Much like “President Nixon’s enemy list” Modi has crafted an enemy list of dissidents including prominent reporters. A climate of fear has gripped India and the iron boots of India’s police and paramilitary has been unleashed on protestors.




The shutdown of the Internet has severely impacted small entrepreneurs who sell their products online.

This new law follows on the heels of the highly controversial decision revoking Kashmir’s autonomy, and rounding up thousands of Muslims, many simply disappearing during the complete lockdown .  Many Kashmiris have been jailed without charge, journalists intimidated and negative economic news censored.


Repeated demands by prominent members of the opposition Congress Party, including Shashi Tharoor,   a prominent member of parliament and a former diplomat, to visit Kashmir on a fact finding mission have been denied. Sadly, India’s long traditions of democracy and secularism are under assault and the country is rapidly sliding into an authoritarian state.





Friday, December 13, 2019

Vietnam Redux, Afghanistan the Graveyard of Empires 12-13-2019


13, December 2019     Vietnam Redux, Afghanistan the Graveyard of Empires




According to a trove of documents obtained by the Washington Post, senior U.S. officials deliberately misled the American people throughout the 18-year campaign, making sunny pronouncements they knew to be untrue and hiding unmistakable evidence the war was doomed to fail.



Remember Vice President Dick Cheney boasting “we have the Taliban on the run” mimicking President Nixon’s oft repeated pronouncement “we see light at the end of the tunnel,” misleading progress in the failed Vietnam War.



“We didn’t know what we were doing, confessed General Lute, The White House’s Afghan war czar during Bush and Obama’s administrations.



2,400 American lives lost, 20,589 wounded and thousands of innocent Afghan civilians killed and maimed. Unable to cope with the horrors of war many US soldiers took their own lives.



The core failings of the war that persist to this day span three presidencies, Bush jnr, Obama and Trump.



Obscene amounts of money were squandered in the mistaken belief that Afghanistan would be crushed with America’s superior firepower ignoring the mistakes of Vietnam, Iraq and so many other failed conflicts.



Sadly, no government official will be held accountable for the appalling mistakes in conducting the war or fueling runaway corruption and failing to put a dent into Afghanistan thriving opium trade. This is also a damning indictment of Congress which completely failed in its oversight duties. The CIA and military budgets need to be drastically cut to halt these costly military adventures.  Afghanistan really is the graveyard of empires.


Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Saudi’s military in the US 12-11-2019


11, December 2019                      Saudi’s military in the US


The recent Pensacola naval base shooting focuses much needed attention on our continued relationship with the Saudi kingdom.


The leaders of Saudi Arabia claim they are devastated by the deadly attack and intend to “help out” the families of those murdered.


It comes as a complete surprise to learn that we are we training their military after the Saudi prince, MBS, planned the assassination of Khashoggi and the dismemberment of his body.


Saudi Arabia has never been a true friend of the United States because of its extremist Islamic ideology.


Riyadh is a destabilizing force in the region; its repressive regime has bred terrorists and supported radical Islamic groups World-wide. It has funded $billions to religious schools which often serve as incubators for suicide bombers. Its treatment of women is appalling. If found guilty of adultery they can be stoned to death, Thieves can have their hands cut off following the dictates of Sharia Law. According to Amnesty International, security forces continue to torture and ill- treat detainees to extract confessions to be used as evidence against them at trial. Recently, 32 defendants accused of spying for Iran were subjected to torture and forced confessions.


Saudi Arabia’s royal family helped finance al Qaeda in the years just prior to the 2001 terrorist attacks.


In its report on the still-censored “28 pages” implicating the Saudi government in 9/11, “60 Minutes” reported the Saudi role in the attacks has been “soft-pedaled” to protect America’s “delicate alliance” with the oil-rich kingdom. Its enormous oil wealth has insulated it from public censure for its rampant acts of international terrorism. 


In complete violation of the Emoluments clause Trump and his family continue to do business in Saudi Araba. The Saudis helped salvage Kushner’s investment for his property, the Tower, at 666 5th Avenue with a massive infusion of cash.


Americans should be very wary of our continued relationship with Saudi Arabia still seeped in “stone age” traditions and customs. Saudi military personnel are a clear and present danger and should leave the US immediately.



Saturday, December 7, 2019

Donald Trump receives a dose of his own medicine 12-7-2019


7, December 2019              Donald Trump receives a dose of his own medicine


Unprotected by the Republican sycophants in Congress and his darling Fox and Friends. NATO leaders ridiculed Donald Trump for his insulting behavior and to his customary barrage of insults. Crushed and thoroughly humiliated Trump made a hasty retreat and returned home sniveling and snarling exposing his razor thin-skinned vulnerability.


Traumatized by the looming impeachment, Trump he had sought comfort from British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, telling him that his letter to Ukraine’s president was flawless. A thoroughly exasperated Johnson told him he didn’t care a “Brexit” about his problems.  


Mr. Trump, if you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen, stay home don’t shatter America’s declining image any further. You have done enough damage.


Mr. Trump has burnt all his bridges with his uncouth behavior and threats. Alas, he has only two friends, Vladimir Putin and the Saudi prince, MBS, who seems to enjoy decapitating his opponents. Perhaps one day with the release of his tax returns we will all learn the true nature of his friendship with Putin.  Is there a quid pro quo with the wily Putin? Why are Mr. Trump and his super hero, Giuliani, trying to promote a bogus theory of Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election? Is it to deflect attention away from Russia? Are the chickens finally coming home to roost?



Thursday, December 5, 2019

Mike Pompeo 12-5-2019


5, December 2019                          Mike Pompeo


It is a pity that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who had so much potential hitched his wagon to the thoroughly disgraced President Trump putting his professional career ahead of the welfare of his staff.


He seemddefend paralyzed with fear as he witnessed, an outstanding Foreign Service officer, Marie Yovanovitchwas being railroaded and trashed by his boss.


The ever petulant and insecure Trump lashed out after Yovanovitch who felt bullied calling her “bad news”.


The dark shadow of special agent, Rudy Guliani orchestrated the smear campaign that ended her carrer. In a just world, Gulliani should be on the FBI most wanted list. In a rare moment of truth, Pompeo’s deputy secretary of state, John Sullivan admitted that Yovanovitch had discharged her duties  “admirably and capably” and postured that Guliani was befind her removal. 


It is time Guliani is summoned before the House to expain his nefarious activities. He is a clear ? and present danger to the survial of our crumbling democracy.


A warning to all U.S. dimplomats, watch your bback”if you fall afoul of the twitter-in-chief, your boss Pomeo will be MIA.



Pompeo will remain hopelessly mute if the Twitter knife ends your careers.

 


 



Monday, December 2, 2019

Bogus charges of anti-Semitism in the UK 12-2-2019


2, December 2019           Bogus charges of anti-Semitism in the UK



British Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn has again condemned anti-Semitism,

to dispel charges levelled at him by Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, who accused Corbyn and his Labor Party of anti-Semitism ahead of national elections on December 12.



What has incensed Mirvis is Corbyn’s criticism of Israel’s military occupation and siege of Gaza. Accusations of anti-Semitism is a familiar playbook to silence critics of Israel’s apartheid policies. Mirivis’s criticism is a blatant effort to tilt the December 12 election in favor of Boris Johnson.



Contrary to Maris’s criticism, Corbyn has spent his entire political career as a fierce critic of racism, and has an unblemished record of activism as a backbencher. The Labor Party has traditionally taken the political lead in combating racism and colonialism.

By speaking out as the voice of British Jews, Mirvis has drawn unwanted attention on Britain’s Jews and made them much less safe.


Much like the strong position taken by Senator Bernie Sanders, a Jew, Corbyn’s Labor party has promised in its latest manifesto to stop selling weapons to Israel (and Saudi Arabia) which have been used to slaughter innocent men, women and children in Yemen and Gaza.

Mirvis falsely believes that by wounding Corbyn he can help propel a benevolent Tory party ignoring Tories long history of promoting trade over concerns for human rights abuses by Saudi Arabia and Israel.


Mirvis’s flagrant intervention in the election campaign actually bolsters the cancer of antisemitism that is rapidly making inroads into the Conservative party. Mirvis seems to have forgotten the actions of   arch-anti-Semite Arthur Balfour who signed off the Balfour Declaration of 1917 that sought to end Britain’s “Jewish problem” by encouraging European Jews to migrate to the Middle East displacing e Palestinians who had lived in Palestine for centuries.


The pro-business weekly, the Economist, declared that those identifying as “very right-wing”, were three and half times more likely to support Johnson and support hostile attitudes towards Jews and non-whites especially blacks and Muslims.


The Labor Party has long history of opposing colonialism, a dark stain on Britain’s history.

Nations who were finally granted independence from Britain found themselves fragmented and impoverished. India and Cyprus were prime examples of states, often with borders imposed out of naked imperial interest that left them divided and feuding. 


The west helped engineer both the ethnic cleansing of Palestine and Israel’s creation. Israel acquired nuclear technology with the help of Britain and the US ensuring the Palestinians were made Israel’s serfs in perpetuity.


 Efforts to shame Israel for its gross human rights violations with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction campaign which is modeled on South Africa’s apartheid policies have been vigorously opposed by powerful British and American Jewish organizations.

Billions of dollars have been diverted from impoverished and homeless Americans to prop up Israel.

Many critics accuse Israel and Mirvis of “spiting g on the grave of their ancestors” by using the anti-Semitic crimes of the Holocaust to justify the ethnic cleansing of Palestine.

Friday, November 29, 2019

ICE entraps & bilks foreign students 11-29-2019


29, November 2019                      ICE entraps & bilks foreign students


ICE, “International Criminal Enterprise”, is living up to its name. Investigative reporters revealed that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lured international students, principally from India, to a fake US university bilking them out of millions of dollars and then deported them. It was a classic entrapment scheme condoned by the thoroughly disgraced Trump administration.  Predictably the morally challenged Republicans remained silent but drew sharp criticism from the left, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, who called the practice “cruel and appalling.” Matt Duss, foreign policy adviser for Bernie Sanders, called for ICE to be abolished. 


 Investigations by the Detroit Free-Press, uncovered a wicked scheme entrapping about 250 students, mostly from India, who have been arrested on immigration violations since the beginning of the year.


DHS had established the fake “University of Farmington” in 2015 and charged around $12,000 per year in tuition and fees. No physical classrooms existed and there was no teaching staff. 


The students enrolled in the fake university which allows foreigners to work and study in the US. What remains unknown is what happened to the millions of dollars received by ICE.

This harks back to Trump University which offered worthless diplomas to unsuspecting students - another bizarre scheme where the architect, President Trump, has never been held to account.


Thursday, November 28, 2019

King Trump pardons war criminals 11-28-2019


28, November 2019                King Trump pardons war criminals


American democracy is rapidly sinking into tyrannical rule. A man who has never experienced the horrors of war, successfully evading the draft through his father’s intervention, now sees fit to usurp the US military code of justice and pardon convicted war criminals,1st Lt. Clint Lorance and Mathew Goldteyn and the promotion of Edward Gallagher, the Navy SEAL who was convicted of stabbing a prisoner to death in a grotesque orgy and then  celebrating his death, laughing gleefully over his dead body. President Trump described the Seals as “good men” sending an unmistakable message that indiscriminate killing by US soldiers could continue with complete impunity.


What then is stopping the President ordering war crimes and then pardoning the perpetrators? What’s next, standing on 5th avenue and shooting his perceived enemies and then pardoning himself? Wake up Republicans your leader has lost his sanity.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Nikki Haley 11/15/2019


15, November 2019                                 Nikki Haley


By vigorously defending President Trump as a “truthful person”, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has  lost all credibility. She has abandoned her rich Sikh heritage in pursuit of financial and political goals.  The core beliefs in Sikhism is speaking truth to power and of even of greater importance, - “truthful living”. She has failed on both accounts.


President Trump is the antithesis of the basic tenets of Sikhism and Christianity. Mr. Trump’s transgressions are truly staggering.


The current count of his lies is in excess of 12,000. 


It’s puzzling why Ms. Haley, married with 2 children ignores the terrifying experience endured by 25 women, including several credible accusations of rape by Mr. Trump.


Perhaps, Ms. Haley is comfortable with her former boss depicting immigrants as “rapists and criminals’ or his racist comments referring to Haiti and African nations as 's-hole' countries.




Then again, it appears Ms. Haley has conveniently ignored or forgotten Mr. Trump’s lewd comments denigrating women and boasting about his sexual exploits targeting young girls on the “Access Hollywood” tape.



Determined to remain on Mr. Trump’s good graces, she refused to criticize Mr. Trump when he told four Democratic congresswomen, three of them born in the United States, to “go back” to their home countries!

In a further effort to pledge her fealty and devotion to Trump, Ms. Haley has betrayed her former colleagues in a crass effort to increase sales of her new memoir, “With All Due Respect”. She literally destroyed the reputation of real patriots, former secretary of state, Rex Tillerson and John Kelly  who had voiced concern  regarding Mr. Trump’s  “harebrained policies” which they deemed to be a major threat to the country.


Ms. Haley’s nonchalant response to the impeachment enquiry  -“do I think the president did something that warrants impeachment? No, because the aid flowed”.  This is akin to an assassin firing a loaded gun at his target but being declared innocent because the gun misfired.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

US descending into a third world country 11-12-2019


 12, November 2019            US descending into a third world country


The staggering increase in concentrated wealth in the United States has had a massive corrosive effect on our democracy by concentrating political power in the hands of the wealthy.


 According to the Congressional Budget office, between 1975 and 2005 the inflation adjusted after tax income of middle income Americans rose only 2 percent compared to a whopping 400 percent for the wealthy 0.1 percenters!


The appalling “Citizens United” ruling by the Supreme Court equating money with free speech has allowed huge amounts of money to flow into Congressional coffers corrupting the democratic process. Political power is an aaphrodisiac that few can resist. Kudos to Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren for educating Americans on this stark reality of income inequality.


This dark money supports candidates who reflect the aspirations and ambitions of the donors.  This cycle will continue until the “have nots” “downstairs” Middle America rebel causing massive social unrest and possible violence. The trappings of wealth will allow plutocrats to ensure their offspring reap the same or enhanced benefits living in super-zip communities. Wealthy parents have been gaming the system donating large sums of money to prestigious colleges to ensure their children, lacking in academic skills, gain admission. “Shovel ready” infrastructure projects have been ignored in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy and funding perpetual wars creating enormous misery, nourishing our superpower obsession.

Republicans have moved in lock step with their disgusting, incoherent leader in mortal fear that he will turn his digital twitter howitzer and reduce them to whimpering puppies.

American is rapidly descending into a third world country.




Sunday, November 10, 2019

Outright fraud dooms Trump Foundation 11/10/2019


10, November 2019                    Outright fraud dooms Trump Foundation


Another chapter has unfolded in the sordid Trump presidency saga.  


A New York judge ordered Trump to pay $2 million in damages following his admission that he embezzled money from his now-defunct foundation to ingratiate himself!


In the 2016 campaign he raised $2.8 million at a fund-raiser for veterans in Iowa but like a Houdini magician the “master deal maker“ diverted the funds to his own foundation.  He spent $10, 00 to fund his pet project, portraits of himself that are on full display in his hotels.  


Ignoring stringent IRS rules, the foundation was used as a piggy bank to pay bills and fund political activities. It’s strange that such outright fraud doesn’t carry a stiffer fine or sentence.


To add to his impeachment woes, the House also seems ready to accuse the President of gross misuse of Pentagon funds to fund his pet projects.


Under court mandated order, Trump’s three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo ethical training to distinguish honesty from outright fraud. It seems the “apple never falls far from the tree.”

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Gun violence 11/6/2019




6, November 2019                                   Gun violence

According to filmmaker, Michael Moore, 78 percent of Americans do not own guns yet the NRA and their financial backers continue to subvert the will of the people. What is perplexing is how the NRA, which is mired in financial fraud, continues to have a chokehold on lawmakers and continues to enjoy tax exempt status. After an 18-month investigation, the Senate Finance Committee concluded the NRA served as an asset for Russia in the run-up to the 2016 election. Its Russian assets included former Moscow official Alexander Torshin and Maria Butina who served sentences for conspiring to act as foreign agents to infiltrate the NRA and the National Prayer Breakfast. The Senate investigation also displays a damning level of executive-suite involvement.  It is common knowledge that President Trump has close ties with NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre.  LaPierre offered his support to Trump as he battles impeachment in Ukrainegate. This sounds like another quid-pro-quo – keep the Senate investigation at bay in exchange for NRA financial support. The NRA has also extended its quid-pro-quo activities donating millions of dollars to silence Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Its profits are stained with the blood of tens of thousands of Americans including many children who had the misfortune of being born in the USA where profits triumph human life.


 

Monday, November 4, 2019

California Fires 11/4/2019


4, November 2019                               California Fires


California fires which have raged across much of California have exposed a deep divide between California’s wealthy population and those more vulnerable. Wealthy homeowners pay private firefighters up to $3,000 per day to protect their properties.


Many of these rich homeowners forced their domestic workers and gardeners to work unprotected ignoring fire evacuation orders.


Included in the more than 4,000 firefighters currently working across the state, there are at least 700 California prisoners. While salaried firefighters earn an average of $74,000 a year plus benefits, prisoners earn about a dollar an hour when fighting active fires. They are also forced to work in the most dangerous areas. This is a gross exploitation of the prison population.


After gaining invaluable experience as fire fighters these prisoners are denied the opportunity to work as firefighters after completing their sentences. This is an absolute travesty.



Sunday, October 27, 2019

Facebook 10/27/2019


27, October 2019                             Facebook  


Facebook is the new religion. Its “megachurch” spans a third of the globe with 2.4 billion users tuning in many times a day to receive their daily dose of social tidbits and fake news. Pastor Zuckerberg overseas its vast empire. Facts are rarely checked. Billions of dollars are made intentionally peddling false news which gets people so riled up they inadvertently expose themselves to slick advertising which ensures rivers of money land up in Facebook’s coffers.  Real news sources are often ignored in favor of media blitzes of unadulterated sludge.


Zuckerberg’s charm offensive before Congress turned out to be not so charming. He falsely anointed himself as a custodian of free expression in the global marketplace of ideas. His favorite response to fix Facebook has always been "we have more work to do."


He was unable to respond to a barrage of questions directed at Facebook’s inability or unwillingness to monitor content stating “I think people should be able to hear for themselves what politicians are saying.” This dishonest response ignores the simple fact that large segments of the population, especially older Americans, do not have the technical expertise to sort the wheat from the chaff.


The company’s algorithms amplify the echo chamber of user’s inherent bias. The more outlandish the lie, the more like-minded users are attracted like moths to a flame.


The Trump administration recently inserted a particularly cruel virus into America’s bloodstream vilifying Joe Biden making it nearly impossible to refute such innuendos.



Friday, October 25, 2019

Censored by the British BBC 10/25/2019




25, October 2019                        Censored by the British BBC

Islamophobia has taken hold in the UK. My brother, Lord Indarjit of Wimbledon recent broadcast was censored by the BBC. Here is the background of historical facts that were deemed too sensitive for British Muslims.

It is an historical fact that the ninth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was martyred by Mughal emperor Jahangir for refusing to embrace Islam.

Tyranny and religious persecution of Hindus and Sikhs reached its peak when Aurangzeb ascended to the throne in Delhi. He had long cherished converting India to Islam and vigorously started destroying temples and forcing Hindus to embrace Islam or face death.

Fearing the imminent destruction of their religion, a group of Kashmiri Brahmins visited Amarnath, the abode of Hindu Lord Shiva, to invoke his mercy. At Amarnath Lord Shiva visited the Brahmins in their dream and asked them to go to Guru Tegh Bahadur and plead for his help in saving the Hindu religion.

Tegh Bahadur agreed to visit Aurangzeb in Delhi to ask him to stop the persecution and slaughter of Hindus. He was arrested on the way and brought in chains to Delhi. Aurangzeb demanded Tegh Bahadur embrace Islam. When Tegh Bahadur refused he was executed with three of his companions. Many saints, sages and heroes have died for the sake of their own convictions, but rarely has someone died in defense of another faith.

Lord Singh, has been a broadcaster for the BBC in the UK for more than 35 years. It was therefore most disturbing when a scheduled broadcast, called “Thought for the Day” was censored by the BBC out of fear of offending Muslim sentiments. The following is a copy of the censored broadcast.

Thought for the day 28-11-18



Last weekend was, for Sikhs, a bit like Christmas and Easter rolled into one. Celebration of the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak who taught the need for responsible living centred on the rights and concerns of others, was followed next day by the commemoration of the martyrdom of the 9th Guru, Guru Teg Bahadhur who in 1675 gave his life in the defence of human rights.



The Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, in his determination to extend Islam to the whole of the sub-continent, was forcibly converting large numbers of Hindus in Kashmir. In desperation the Hindu leaders asked Guru Teg Bahadhur to intercede on their behalf. They said, we know that you and earlier Sikh Gurus have always stood up for the rights of all people, will you appeal to the Mughal Emperor to stop this forced conversion? 

 

The Guru knew that such an appeal would almost certainly cost him his life. But true to Sikh teachings on freedom of belief he set off for Delhi. The Emperor refused to change his policy and instead offered rich gifts to the Guru to convert to Islam. When Guru Teg Bahadhur refused, he was publicly beheaded in the centre of Delhi. His crime, defending the right to freedom of belief of those of a different religion to his own.



The universal right to freedom of belief is emphasised in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, written in the aftermath of the Second World War. We all applaud its lofty sentiments, but all too often put these below trade and economic interest. For example, questions have been recently asked about the selling of arms to Saudi Arabia in the light of the killing of the prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the on-going conflict in Yemen.



Guru Teg Bahadur set the bar high when on a cold winter’s day, he gave his life in the defence of human rights and gave stark reality to Voltaire’s, famous words: ‘I may not believe in what you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.  Yet, in the Sikh view, fundamental human rights will continue to be ignored unless those in power and authority are prepared to put these rights well above the false lure of short term economic gain.








Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Mattis fires back, with grace & humor 10-23-2019

 

23, October 2019                   Mattis fires back, with grace & humor

Donald Trump has a long history using the bully pulpit to silence his critics.  At the Golden Globes award he insulted movie super star Meryl Streep as one of “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood after she rebuked him. He mocked “a Hillary flunky who lost big.” He then mocked a disabled New York Times reporter.

More recently, he insulted General Mattis as an overrated general. 

But Mattis fired back, reminding Trump that he “earned his his spurs at the battlefield, while Trump “earned his spurs from a letter from the doctor – a jab at his former boss who escaped the Vietnam draft from “a friendly doctor’s” letter. He further ridiculed the president’s adoration of Colonel Sanders,” the founder of the Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant chain.

General Mattis resigned with dignity and grace after he cited irreconcilable policy differences with the president’s erratic foreign policy blunders.

The former defense secretary’s comments Thursday night come as Trump faces bipartisan criticism over his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria. Last Wednesday, the House overwhelmingly passed a resolution opposing Trump’s troop withdrawal.

Earlier in the day, retired four-star Admiral William McRaven, the architect of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden said Trump was working to “destroy” the country from “within” and “without.”

We are all waiting with bated breath for the next barrage of nasty tweets.

Monday, October 21, 2019

“Get over it Mulvaney” 10/21/2019


21, October 2019                  “Get over it Mulvaney” 


After weeks of prevarication, bobbing, weaving and stonewalling White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney finally nailed it, admitting there was a quid pro quo in its dealings with Ukraine.


Diving into the black hole he just dug Mulvaney stated unequivocally, “We do that all the time with foreign policy, adding: "I have news for everybody: Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.”  Compounding Trump’s cruel policies, Mulvaney admitted that aid was withheld to the Northern Triangle countries in Central America to stem the tide of immigrants.   


“This is the ordinary course of foreign policy.” He added with great pride.

 “Get over it Mulvaney” – you just sank the presidency. If you are looking for another job after you leave the White House in disgrace, I suggest you contact a Rudy Giulianiwho has many shady contacts in faraway places. “Don’t say anything stupid big guy, call ya later.”

Friday, October 18, 2019

Meltdown 10/18/2019

October 18, 2019             Meltdown

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Incensed at being challenged over his “brilliant Syrian policy”, thin skinned President Trump lashed out at his critics calling Speaker Pelosi a “third-rate politician” and former Defense Secretary James Mattis “the world’s most overrated general.” He then sent a warning to President ErdoÄŸan of Turkey “Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool!” Americans should be most concerned of Trump’s rapidly declining mental state. He is behaving more and more like a purulent child than the leader of a powerful country. 
In a desperate effort at damage control to counter fierce criticism from House Democrats and Republicans, Trump dispatched Vice-President Pence and Secretary of State, Pompeo to Turkey and threatened to 'totally destroy and obliterate' Turkey's economy. Pelosi described Trumps’ temper tantrums as “a serious meltdown”. 
Trump's prior refusal to confront President ErdoÄŸan and Vladimir Putin raises serious concerns of his massive conflicts of interest. If Democrats are able to force him to release his tax returns it would expose his business interests in Turkey and possibly Russia. This might complete the missing pieces of the puzzle of his deference to President ErdoÄŸan and Putin who helped get him elected. For more, go to http://callforsocialjustice.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

American patriots where art thou? 10/15/2019


15, October 2019                  American patriots where art thou? 


American foreign policy continues to sink into a bottomless pit of policy blunders.


In 2003 President GW Bush, his hawkish Vice-President Cheney and British Prime Minister, Tony Blair (Bush’s poodle) crafted a fictitious tale of WMD’s, to justify the invasion of Iraq.


Following the “shock and awe” invasion resulting in the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and scores of Americans, Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority d unilaterally disbanded the Iraqi military and began a process of de-Ba’athification of the Iraqi government and police forces which coalesced into the armed ISIS insurgency.  They went on to loot, rampage and torture non-believing infidels and the Yezidi minority. Whole families were slaughtered and young girls were forced to become sex slaves. Driven from Iraq, ISIS fighters moved to Syria where they encountered fierce opposition from Kurdish fighters supported by US airpower. Thousands of ISIS fighters were captured and the movement all but vanished until one fateful “off-script moment” phone call between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. Putting his political ambitions ahead of the welfare of our Kurdish allies, Trump ordered the immediate withdrawal of US troops effectively giving a green light to Turkey to attack the Kurds. Scores of Kurds perished in the brutal Turkish aerial onslaught.  Left unguarded, hundreds of ISIS fighters escaped. 1,000 Americans troops still remain in Syria. Abandoned by the US, the Kurds switched sides hoping the messianic Assad forces and Russians would protect them. To add to America’s woes, 50 U.S tactical nuclear weapons are stored at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, about 250 miles from the Syrian border.


In another bizarre twist, President Trump ordered 2,000 US troops to Saudi Arabia to protect the heavily armed Saudis.  In an act of “magnanimous Christian gesture” Trump forgave “bone saw (BS) Salman” for the murder and chilling dismemberment of Washington Post Koshoggi.  Trump’s gut is leading us to perdition. Oh, America patriots where art thou? 


Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Afghanistan 10/9/2019


9, October 2019                     Afghanistan


Anger is mounting over the large number of civilians being killed by heavy-handed CIA trained Afghan Forces and misdirected US aerial strikes.


According to the United Nations, more civilians were killed by Afghan and international coalition forces in Afghanistan in the first half of this year than by the Taliban and other militants.


No longer are Americans regarded as saviors but enemies or infidels.


Some Afghans are calling for Americans to be tried in Afghan courts.


After a number of US military strikes resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians, more and more Afghans were heard chanting, “Death to Ashraf Ghani, death to America.”


Following 18 years of U.S. military operations against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, the war is still a meat grinder. The Taliban control much of the terrain. The insurgency continues to operate in much of the country including the capital, Kabul. While President Trump equivocates on his peace initiatives with the Taliban and is desperately trying to defend his role in Ukrainegate, Afghanistan is burning. Perhaps many Americans have forgotten that we supported Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban fighters as a counterbalance to the Soviet invasion.  Americans should understand that religious affiliations will always trump foreign alliances. Long after all American troops leave left Afghanistan the warring tribes will eventually settle their differences. Let us not compound the mistakes we made in our earlier interventions in Iraq and Libya. The time to leave Afghanistan is NOW.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Trump, the mafia don lashes out 10/2/2019


2, October 2019                    Trump, the mafia don lashes out


Sensing the walls collapsing around his presidency, President Trump lashed out at the whistleblower, Adam Schiff and the Democrats calling his critics “savages”. He described the whistleblower as a “spy” and hinted that he should be executed. 


His latest barrage of insults was intended to intimidate those investigating his criminal behavior, silence the whistleblower and a “call to arms” to his supporters fanning the flames of violence. Trump is in serious meltdown. Secretary Pompeo is falling in line behind his boss putting his own ambitions and survival ahead of the welfare of the State. The FBI, the Intelligence Agencies should remove the nuclear access codes lest he start a war as a desperate distraction to the impeachment investigation. 


He claimed impeachment is “unlawful”; and he reposted a message from a supporter warning impeachment could lead to a “Civil War like fracture in this Nation.”Republican Congress member Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted that Trump’s civil war retweet was “beyond repugnant.” Kinzinger wrote, “I have visited nations ravaged by civil war. 

@realDonaldTrump I have never imagined such a quote to be repeated by a President.” His actions exhibit those of a mafia boss threatening his opponents with terror and violence or an autocratic ruler who “disappears” his critics. Little wonder he calls General el-Sisi of Egypt his favorite dictator.


This is an extremely serious situation which requires immediate action from a president exhibiting increasing erratic behavior. He should undergo an immediate health evaluation to assess his declining mental health.


Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Our Locked and Loaded gunslinger 9-18-2019


18, September 2019             Our Locked and Loaded gunslinger


Determined to undermine Obama’s legacy, Trump withdrew from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and on the advice of dearly departed National Security advisor, “let’s give war a chance” John Bolton, imposed crippling sanctions which caused a freefall in Iran’s economy and intensified the anger towards the US.


Completely flummoxed on how to respond to the devastating drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities President Trump turned to our 9/11 ally Saudi Arabia to seek their assessment of who was to blame. Back came the brilliant response, - Iran.


So how is our locked and loaded gunslinging President to respond? If he ignores the perceived Iranian threat and does nothing he loses his credibility. If he orders military action he plunges the Middle East into a new bloody war and would likely damage his reelection prospects. Not surprisingly, Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei rejected Trump’s desperate request for “one-one no strings” meeting.

Saudi Arabia has finally lost the war on Yemen. It has no defenses against new Houthis drone attacks. These weapons threaten the Saudis' economic lifelines. It is time the US halt all weapon sales to Saudi Arabia and broker a peace agreement. We should be in the business of promoting human rights not weapon sales.


Thursday, September 12, 2019

Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires 9-12-2019


12, September 2019               Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires


Much like President Nixon’s false Vietnam narrative, both Bush and Cheney continued to mislead the American people falsely stating “we have the Taliban on the run.” 


The invasion was a visceral reaction to 9/11. The war followed a familiar trajectory much like the disastrous Vietnam War. Thousands of Americans and a significantly higher number of Afghans have perished. Much like the bungled invasion of Iraq, Afghanistan is in utter chaos. Many veterans returning home are traumatized by the horrors of war.


Others returned in body bags in the dead of night away from the public eye on route to Arlington Cemetery.


According to “Stars and Strikes” 20 veterans commit suicide every day; others turn to drugs to ease the constant pain. After 18 years, the country has become so violent, American diplomats and other supporting personnel still rely on privately-operated helicopters to safely get around in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.  The invasion was a horrible mistake. The Afghan government is thoroughly corrupt and many Afghans view the Taliban as lesser of the two evils.  


The Taliban own most of the countryside. Conflicted Americans should recall the 1990 interview with Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap of Vietnam, who was asked how long he would have fought the Americans. He responded, “Another 20 years, even a hundred years — as long as it took to win, regardless of cost.” 


The final exit will be similar to Vietnam. There will come a point when the only way out will be by helicopter from the embassy roof.

Thursday, September 5, 2019

Brexit 9-5-2019


5, September 2019                           Brexit


In 1957, after centuries of warfare, European nations Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands entered into a trading partnership. Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom soon followed. The Union has prospered since its birth and has now mushroomed to 28 countries. But the virus of populism has finally reached the shores of Britain. Several members of the House of Commons egged on by Nigel Farage, still retain memories of the “glorious days of the raj when Britain expanded its sphere of influence and dominance to the four corners of the planet boasting “the sun will never set on the British empire” (to which British comedians countered “that’s because the bloody sun never shines in Britain”).  


The unhealthy mindset of “make Britain great again” free from European interference has taken hold resenting a subordinate to Brussels. There is little chance that the Brexiteers will achieve a soft Brexit with major EU concessions such as a soft border between north and South Ireland. Resentment over large scale immigration still looms over much of the country with nostalgia for “the good old days.”   In the recent Commons “high noon showdown,” the mercurial Prime Minister Johnson’s ultimatum caused several Conservative heavyweight members to cross the aisle. Jeremy Corbyn sensing his opponent’s whimpering weakness launched a final blistering attack. Johnson gazed up desperately wishing for a “hail Mary” pass to rescue his pathetic performance.  Perhaps his good friend, President Trump’ will toss him a carrot to ease the pain.




Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Miscarriage of Justice, the Opioid Crisis 9-3-2019


3, September 2019              Miscarriage of Justice, the Opioid Crisis


Gross miscarriage of justice continues to be a depressing fact of life in America.  Trillions of dollars has been squandered from endless wars driven by misguided political leaders intoxicated by US “super military power.” All the guilty (Bush jnr), Cheney, Rumsfeld. . ., escaped punishment. The U.S. attorney general during the 2008 financial crisis failed to punish bankers responsible for rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted corruption.  The unbridled greed of drug companies responsible for the death of thousands of Americans in the Opioid crisis has escaped punishment.  A stunning Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation by Eric Eyre in the Charleston Gazette-Mail revealed drug distributors shipped almost 9 million hydrocodone pills to one pharmacy in the town of Kermit, West Virginia, population 392.  Pharmaceutical companies who profited from the Opioid crisis were 1. Purdue Pharma 2. Abbott Labs 3. Johnson & Johnson 4. Pfizer.


254 million opioid prescriptions were filled in 2010 alone, enough to medicate every adult in the U. S. for a month on a round-the-clock basis. In that same year, pharmaceutical companies generated revenues of $11 billion from opioid sales alone.


Johnson & Johnson retained the services of consultants McKinsey & Company to identify opportunities to sell more Opioids and beat the competition unconcerned their drugs could send more and more Americans to their early graves. The broader push was to wean patients off lower doses and on to Johnson & Johnson’s more powerful lethal drugs. J & J misrepresented the dangers of opioid addiction to doctors, manipulated medical research, and helped drive an epidemic that has claimed 400,000 lives over the past two decades. J &J fine of $572 million will hardly serve as a deterrent. What is sorely needed is the prosecution of executives who profit from these criminal enterprises. A long prison term would be a good start. $572 million can easily be dismissed as the cost of doing business.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Trump tweets, market falls 8-27-2019


27, August 2019                   Trump tweets, market falls


It is becoming increasingly apparent to many Americans that Donald Trump is becoming more and more delusional. His bizarre tweets have little to do with market stability and everything to do with trying to project a “tough guy” persona. The wild gyrations of the market are a direct reflection of his trade wars with China which show no signs of abating. President Xi Jinping is unlikely to back down and appear weak to his domestic audience especially given the increasing turmoil in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Trump has flip/flopped repeatedly unable to cobble together a coherent policy. In a rare of truth he admitted having second thoughts about his trade policy but then abruptly changed his mind promising more punishing tariffs.


Meanwhile Democrats have seized the opportunity and hammered his trade policy which is rooted in pure vindictiveness and anger.


At the G7 meeting world leaders, with the exception of Prime Minister of Britain, Boris Johnson, shunned Trump uncomfortable with his unpredictable behavior.


His relationship to world leaders follows a familiar pattern. Great admiration (Kim Jon Un of North Korea, President Macron of France, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, Teresa May of Britain, . .)   quickly followed by harsh criticism.


Apocalyptic with China’s response to his tariff wars, he ordered all U.S. companies to leave China citing an obscure law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.


The law’s original intent was to isolate companies engaged in criminal activities not break economic ties with a major trading partner over a tariff dispute.  Recently, the thin skinned Trump has ordered his staff to “dig dirt” and shame reporters critical of his policies, hallmark of an autocratic ruler.


Medical professionals are expressing major concerns over Trump’s declining mental state summarized in the New York Times best seller, by Dr. Brady Lee “The dangerous case of Donald Trump.”

Friday, August 23, 2019

Israel’s war crimes 8-23-2019


23, August 2019                        Israel’s war crimes


Jane Ferguson, one of the most courageous and trusted reporters in the world, was on assignment in Gaza for the PBS Newshour and filed a most disturbing report.


For the past several months Palestinians in Gaza have protested their appalling conditions along the border fence with Israel. For the most part the protests have been peaceful but international observers have reported devastating injuries inflicted on Palestinians by Israeli sniper fire. Many have suffered broken legs which appear to be a deliberate effort to inflict maximum pain and injury.


A staggering seven thousand have been shot by the Israeli army while taking part in protests in the last 15 months. Dozens have lost a limb.


On May 14, 2018, Gazans took part in a march of return to demonstrate for the right to return to their family's ancestral homes inside Israel, homes their forbearers were forced to flee when Israel was formed in 1948.


The Gaza Strip has been under blockade by Israel since June 2007. It is one of the most densely populated places in the world, with nearly two million people packed into a sliver of land 25 miles long and five miles wide.


Unemployment is at a staggering 52 percent, leaving young men helpless and desperate.


Palestinians have long declared Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. That hope was dashed by the autocratic Donald Trump who “gifted” the city to Israel. Prior U.S. administrations stated unequivocally that Jerusalem would stay neutral pending final negotiations. During the peaceful protests 73 Palestinians were killed and 2,500 injured almost all in the legs. As lead surgeon in Gaza's main hospital, Dr. Adnan Al Borsh told Jane Ferguson that the hospital was overwhelmed unable to cope with all the injured. Lack of instruments, antibiotics and anesthesia intensified the suffering of the injured and resulted in complete fatigue of the medical staff, some of who were also shot and killed.


It was the nature of the wounds that most disturbed Dr. Al Borsh. The bullets measured 1 centimeter on entry but exploded more than 15 to 20 centimeters on exit inflicting enormous damage shattering everything in their path forcing surgeons to amputate limbs.  Doctors Without Borders surgeons made similar observations.




Many of the simpers were recorded laughing while shooting at unarmed protestors. This massacre seemed to be a carefully orchestrated effort to terrorize the population to a state of impotence. As Israel’s largest supplier of military aid, America is complicit in these war crimes.


Saleh Hijazi who heads Amnesty International in Israel and the Palestinian territories stated, “The willful cause of injury and death is a war crime and therefore Israel has violated international law.”


In another damning report, the United Nations' independent commission of inquiry stated “the Israeli military sniping at protesters was unlawful and unjustified, and should be referred to the International Criminal Court at The Hague”. Unless members of Congress and the American public raise their collective voices and demand an immediate halt to all military and economic aid to Israel, these crimes will continue. Finally, we must demand Israel lift the siege of Gaza and end its suffocating occupation.