Russia and Victory

Published on Voltairenet.org, by Thierry Meyssan, March 17, 2016.

The announcement of the partial withdrawal of the Russian Army from Syria has spawned a great number of commentaries which illustrate the preconceived bias of their authors rather than reality. Thierry Meyssan points out that the facts demonstrate not only that the differences between Moscow and Damascus have been resolved, but that Russia – which managed to topple the Western powers into the anti-terrorist camp – intends to allow Syrians to liberate their territory by themselves.   Continuer la lecture de « Russia and Victory »

Kurds want lands they control in Syria to become federation under Damascus

… reports – Published on RT, March 16, 2016.

Kurdish-controlled autonomous areas in northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system, local media and RT’s sources on the ground have said. The conference to declare the federation of three Western Kurdistan enclaves will be in Rmelan. Continuer la lecture de « Kurds want lands they control in Syria to become federation under Damascus »

Syrian civil war: West failed to factor in Bashar al-Assad's Iranian backers as the conflict developed

Published on The Independent.co.uk, by Robert Fisk, March 13, 2016 [ with a VIDEO – and in 72 pictures: the rise of Isis].

Five years ago, we were high on Arab revolutions, and journalists were growing used to ‘liberating’ Arab capitals.

Just before I left Syria last month, a tall and eloquent Franco-Lebanese man walked up to me in a Damascus coffee shop and introduced himself as President Bashar al-Assad’s architect. It was his task, he led me to understand, to design the reconstructed cities of Syria. Continuer la lecture de « Syrian civil war: West failed to factor in Bashar al-Assad's Iranian backers as the conflict developed »

The Story Behind the Immigrant Workers in Bernie Sanders’ Stirring New Ad

… Lauding Worker Organizing – Published on In These Times, by Michelle Chen, March 9, 2016.

Bernie Sanders’ newest campaign video, which will air tomorrow night on the Spanish-language channel Univision, features the candidate ceding the spotlight to a representative group that doesn’t get a lot of play in most political ads: a migrant mother, speaking entirely in Spanish, who works in Florida’s farm fields. The story behind the workers featured in the ad is one of quiet and passionate organizing far outside the Beltway … // Continuer la lecture de « The Story Behind the Immigrant Workers in Bernie Sanders’ Stirring New Ad »

Kurds should have a say on Syria’s future at Geneva talks – UN envoy

Published on RT, March 13, 2016.

… “The Syrian Kurds are an important component of the country, so we need to find a formula in which they are able to express an opinion on the constitution and the governance of the country,” de Mistura told Swiss Le Temps newspaper on Saturday.

He added that he has “a mandate to find the formulas … that are as inclusive as possible.”   Continuer la lecture de « Kurds should have a say on Syria’s future at Geneva talks – UN envoy »

Criticism of capitalism

The Unraveling of Turkey’s Democracy

Published on ZNet, by Alon Ben-Meir, March 11, 2016.

Only a few months after Turkey’s President Erdogan raided the offices of the Koza Ipek Media Group, the Turkish police assaulted early this month the offices of Feza Publications, which owns two newspapers (including Zaman) and two TV stations, without any warning. There is little else more injurious to any democracy than closing down news outlets and choking off freedom of speech Continuer la lecture de « The Unraveling of Turkey’s Democracy »

Refugees Caught in Tide of European History

Published on Greek Reporter, by A. Makris, March 9, 2016.

Syrian and Iraqi war refugees are sleeping by railroad tracks in northern Greece hoping to be allowed to travel onward to Germany and other northern EU countries. Seventy-three years ago, these tracks were traversed by another group heading to Germany for a completely different future: the Nazi death camps … // Continuer la lecture de « Refugees Caught in Tide of European History »

George Lakoff's texts and videos

the Secret of Donald Trump’s Success, published on Social Europe (first on George Lakoff’s blog), March 7, 2016.

Donald Trump is winning Republican presidential primaries at such a great rate that he seems likely to become the next Republican presidential nominee and perhaps the next president. Democrats have little understanding of why he is winning — and winning handily, and even many Republicans don’t see him as a Republican and are trying to stop him, but don’t know how. There are various theories: People are angry and he speaks to their anger. People don’t think much of Congress and want a non-politician. Both may be true. But why? What are the details? And Why Trump?   Continuer la lecture de « George Lakoff's texts and videos »

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Critical Analysis: Europe’s Slow Motion Debacle

Published on Axis of Logic (first on Strategic Culture Foundation ), by Pepe Escobar, March 5, 2016.

From a failed attempt to clear the Calais jungle to the appalling situation at the Greek-Macedonian border, the EU crumbles under the strain of a massive refugee crisis. Even the Kafkaesque Brussels Eurocrat construct admits it – off the record, because official EU must always project a mythical image of unity: “We are on the edge of an abyss” … // Continuer la lecture de « Critical Analysis: Europe’s Slow Motion Debacle »

It Begins: Palace Revolt against ECB’s NIRP

Published on Wolf Street, by Wolf Richter, March 4, 2016: if punishment interest exceeds the pain threshold.

The Association of Bavarian Savings Banks, which represents 71 savings banks in the German State of Bavaria, has had it with the ECB’s negative deposit-rate absurdity, and it’s now instigating a palace revolt. Continuer la lecture de « It Begins: Palace Revolt against ECB’s NIRP »

Is South America’s ‘Progressive Cycle’ at an End?

Published on The Bullet, Socialist Project’s E-Bulletin No. 1229, by Claudio Katz, March 4, 2016: Neo-Developmentalist Attempts and Socialist Projects.

… The year 2015 ended with significant advances of the Right in South America. Mauricio Macri was elected President in Argentina, the opposition gained a majority in the Venezuelan parliament, and Dilma Rousseff is being hounded relentlessly in Brazil. Then there are the conservatives’ campaigns in Ecuador, and it remains to be seen whether Evo Morales will obtain a new mandate in Bolivia.[1] Continuer la lecture de « Is South America’s ‘Progressive Cycle’ at an End? »