Robin Rey R. Shaw: March 2018

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Trump Finds Fellow Bully in Bolton

President Donald Trump’s appointment of John Bolton as his national security adviser is his most dangerous move yet, argues Marjorie Cohn. By Marjorie Cohn Nothing Donald Trump has done since his inauguration 14 months ago is more dangerous – to…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/trump-finds-fellow-bully-in-bolton.html

Russia ‘Novichok’ Hysteria Proves Politicians and Media Haven’t Learned the Lessons of Iraq

The current state of anti-Russia hysteria is reminiscent of earlier dark chapters of American history, including the rush to war in Iraq of the early 2000s and McCarthyism of the 1950s, Patrick Henningsen observes. By Patrick Henningsen If there’s one…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/russia-novichok-hysteria-proves.html

U.S. Establishment: Nixing Arms Control

Trump’s new National Security Adviser John Bolton has been instrumental in launching wars and scrapping arms control treaties – just the man for the job as the U.S. embarks on a new arms race with Russia, Ray McGovern sardonically observes.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/us-establishment-nixing-arms-control.html

Friday, March 30, 2018

America’s Complicated Relationship with International Human Rights Norms

The U.S. has long had a love-hate relationship with international norms, having taken the lead in forging landmark human rights agreements while brushing its own abuses under the rug, Nat Parry explains. By Nat Parry American exceptionalism – the notion…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/americas-complicated-relationship-with.html

Questioning the Conventional Wisdom of Russian Spy’s Poisoning

The recent poisoning of a Russian spy has started a tit-for-tat of expelling diplomats between the US and Russia, an escalation of tensions that deserves serious questioning, explained former ambassador Craig Murray in an interview with Dennis J Bernstein and…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/questioning-conventional-wisdom-of.html

The Bolton Appointment: How Scared Should We Be?

Donald Trump’s appointment of war hawk John Bolton is a cause for concern, Daniel Lazare writes, but what is perhaps an even bigger concern is that both major U.S. political parties are dominated by war hawks. By Daniel Lazare John…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-bolton-appointment-how-scared.html

Thursday, March 29, 2018

The King Assassination Case and the Mueller Probe

Fifty years after Martin Luther King’s assassination, Americans still have a hazy view of the House Select Committee on Assassinations’ findings related to the case, an ambiguous understanding that may end up characterizing American views on Robert Mueller’s probe as…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-king-assassination-case-and-mueller.html

None of This Month’s Craziest Nuclear Stories Involved North Korea

With the North Korea nuclear standoff still making headlines, other nuclear-related stories – including those involving Saudi Arabia, Israel and Syria – have largely gone unnoticed, Ted Snider explains. By Ted Snider The past week featured two crazy nuclear stories.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/none-of-this-months-craziest-nuclear.html

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Nicolas Sarkozy: Crime and Punishment?

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is under investigation for allegedly receiving millions of euros in illegal election campaign funding from Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi. This must be placed in the broader context of war crimes by Western heads of state, Gilbert Doctorow explains. By Gilbert…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/nicolas-sarkozy-crime-and-punishment.html

Monday, March 26, 2018

Same Old Media Parade: Why Are Liberals Cheering?

Not all foes of Trump are allies of progressives – especially the hawks, spooks and perjurers who parade across CNN and MSNBC every day, Jeff Cohen reminds us. By Jeff Cohen When the “War on Terror” was launched in 2001,…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/same-old-media-parade-why-are-liberals.html

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Trump Should Withdraw Haspel Nomination, Intel Vets Say

Two dozen former U.S. intelligence officers urge President Trump to rescind Gina Haspel’s nomination to lead the CIA, citing cruel and bizarre forms of torture that she oversaw while supervising a black site prison in Thailand, as well as her…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/trump-should-withdraw-haspel-nomination.html

Austin Bombings, Russophobia and the Law of Immutable Vulnerability

The Austin bomber offered a frightening reminder how vulnerable the U.S. is to asymmetrical attacks – something that should be kept in mind as U.S. leaders exacerbate tensions with Russia and other targeted regimes, writes David Hamilton. Austin’s bomber revealed many…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/austin-bombings-russophobia-and-law-of.html

Palm Sunday: History and Tradition

The time for the followers of Jesus to publicly protest injustices such as wealth inequality is at hand, argues retired Baptist minister Rev. Howard Bess. By Howard Bess In about 30 CE, Jesus traveled about 70 miles south of his…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/palm-sunday-history-and-tradition.html

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Dems Kept Cheerleading Bush-Era Neocons – Now There’s One In The White House

Democrats are criticizing Donald Trump’s pick for his new National Security Advisor, not because he is a warmongering neocon who was one of the original members of the Project for a New American Century, but because he is allegedly too…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/dems-kept-cheerleading-bush-era-neocons.html

6,700 More U.S. Missiles for Saudi Arabia to Shoot at Yemeni Kids

Following a failed attempt by three senators to end U.S. support for the Saudi-led war against Yemen, the State Department announced a sale of 6,700 missiles to Saudi Arabia, Ann Wright reports. By Ann Wright How much more slaughter in…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/6700-more-us-missiles-for-saudi-arabia.html

In Case You Missed…

Some of our special stories in February focused on the release of the so-called “Nunes Memo”, the US system of perpetual warfare, and the growing risk of confrontations in Syria, North Korea and Iran. “Outpouring of Support Honors Robert Parry”…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/in-case-you-missed.html

Thursday, March 22, 2018

How Many Millions of People Have Been Killed in America’s Post-9/11 Wars? – Part One: Iraq

The numbers of casualties of U.S. wars since Sept. 11, 2001 have largely gone uncounted, but coming to terms with the true scale of the crimes committed remains an urgent moral, political and legal imperative, argues Nicolas J.S. Davies. By…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-many-millions-of-people-have-been.html

The Iraq War and the Crisis of a Disintegrating Global Order

The following is a statement given by Inder Comar at a side event of the 37th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 15, 2018. Democracy is dying. As we convene to remember the…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-iraq-war-and-crisis-of.html

Senate Votes to Continue Yemen Devastation

On Tuesday, the Senate voted down a resolution that would have withdrawn US support for the Saudi-led war on Yemen, choosing instead to continue to illegally assist what the UN has called “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis,” reports Dennis J.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/senate-votes-to-continue-yemen.html

Calling for Arms Talks with Russia, is the U.S. Raising a White Flag?

Raising a white flag is an internationally recognized sign of truce and request for negotiation, which may be what the U.S. is doing in its official response to Putin’s announcements on nuclear parity with the United States, Gilbert Doctorow explains.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/calling-for-arms-talks-with-russia-is.html

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

American Public Troubled by ‘Deep State’

Although most Americans are unfamiliar with the term ‘Deep State,’ according to recent polling they are nevertheless skeptical of unelected government and military officials who secretly manipulate or direct national policy, John V. Walsh reports. By John V. Walsh “Public…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/american-public-troubled-by-deep-state.html

The New CIA Director Nominee and the Massacre at My Lai

Protecting those who commit heinous crimes in the name of the U.S. government provides a dangerous precedent and could lead to the conclusion by many in the military and CIA that they can “get away with murder,” Ann Wright observes.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-new-cia-director-nominee-and.html

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Trump Supports ‘Space Force’ For War-Making And Dominance in Space

Calls by Trump for a new ‘Space Force’ could further the potential for an armed showdown between US and foreign powers, such as China and Russia, reports Dennis J Bernstein in this interview with peace activist Bruce Gagnon. By Dennis…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/trump-supports-space-force-for-war.html

Capitalism’s Process of Universal Commodification

The Marvel/Disney movie “Black Panther” is the latest example of an idea with anti-capitalist origins being co-opted for corporate commodification and profit, explains Lawrence Davidson in this analysis. By Lawrence Davidson Paradoxical Profit Unless regulated, capitalism operates as a wide-open…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/capitalisms-process-of-universal.html

Monday, March 19, 2018

Former CIA Chief Brennan Running Scared

With former CIA Director John Brennan accuse President Donald Trump of “moral turpitude” for his “scapegoating” of Andy McCabe, it remains to be seen whether a political — or constitutional — crisis will be averted, writes Ray McGovern. By Ray McGovern What prompted former CIA…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/former-cia-chief-brennan-running-scared.html

Iraq +15: Accumulated Evil of the Whole

Brushing aside warnings that he was about to unleash Armageddon in the Middle East, George W. Bush launched an unprovoked attack on Iraq on March 19-20, 2003, the ramifications of which we are still grappling with today, Nat Parry writes. By…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/iraq-15-accumulated-evil-of-whole.html

Sunday, March 18, 2018

McCabe: A War on (or in) the FBI?

Exclusive: Andrew McCabe’s claim that his firing amounts to a “war on the FBI” doesn’t make sense considering it was the FBI’s own internal affairs office that recommended he be fired, as FBI whistleblower Coleen Rowley explains. By Coleen Rowley The…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/mccabe-war-on-or-in-fbi.html

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Behind Colin Powell’s Legend – My Lai

From the Archive: With media focus on the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War’s My Lai massacre, Colin Powell’s role as a military adviser has continued to elude scrutiny, so we’re republishing a 1996 article by Robert Parry and Norman Solomon.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/behind-colin-powells-legend-my-lai.html

Friday, March 16, 2018

‘Hostiles’ and Hollywood’s Untold Story

Hollywood’s recent attempt to depict Frontier life captures the reality of “hostiles” shooting various weapons at one another, but the real history is more interesting, Jada Thacker explains in this essay. A theatrical poster for the recent American Western movie…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/hostiles-and-hollywoods-untold-story.html

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Acceptable Bigotry and Scapegoating of Russia

The scapegoating of Russia has taken on an air of bigotry and ugliness, based largely on Cold War-era stereotypes. In this article, Natylie Baldwin counters this intolerance with some of her positive impressions having traveled the country extensively. By Natylie Baldwin…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/acceptable-bigotry-and-scapegoating-of.html

How the Russian Presidential Election Race Looks in its Final Days

Following up on his Feb. 24 article, “First Impressions of Russia’s Upcoming Presidential Election,” independent political analyst Gilbert Doctorow takes a close look at how the election is shaping up in the days before the vote. By Gilbert Doctorow The candidates…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-russian-presidential-election-race.html

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Torture-Tainted CIA and State Nominees Recall Failures to Prosecute Bush-Era Abuses

The declining human rights standards on display with the Haspel and Pompeo nominations are the latest in a long line of policy failures that include the Obama administration’s lack of prosecutions of Bush-era torture, Nat Parry notes. By Nat Parry…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/torture-tainted-cia-and-state-nominees.html

Intel Committee Rejects Basic Underpinning of Russiagate

The assumption underpinning Russiagate – that Vladimir Putin preferred Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton – is not supported by the facts, according to “Initial Findings” of the House Intelligence Committee, as Ray McGovern reports. By Ray McGovern Let’s try to…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/intel-committee-rejects-basic.html

Trump Promotes Longtime Russia Hawk Just As Russiagate Loses Momentum

The fact-free and logic-challenged allegations of Trump-Russia collusion have further lost credibility with the appointment of a virulently anti-Russia hawk to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Caitlin Johnstone points out. By Caitlin Johnstone Rex Tillerson, whose hotly scrutinized ties to…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/trump-promotes-longtime-russia-hawk.html

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

The Strange Case of the Russian Spy Poisoning

Applying the principle of cui bono – who benefits? – to the case of Sergei Kripal might lead investigators away from the Kremlin as the prime suspect and towards Western intelligence agencies, argues James O’Neill. By James O’Neill The suspected…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-strange-case-of-russian-spy.html

Monday, March 12, 2018

NBC’s Clueless Boost for Putin

With the Russian president in the heat of a re-election campaign, he sat down to talk with NBC’s Megyn Kelly for an interview that enabled him to burnish his credentials to the Russian electorate, Ray McGovern explains. By Ray McGovern…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/nbcs-clueless-boost-for-putin.html

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Gang of Four: Senators Call for Tillerson to Enter into Arms Control Talks with the Kremlin

Four United States senators are urging a new approach to U.S.-Russian relations based on renewed arms control efforts, but you probably have heard about it from the mainstream media, Gilbert Doctorow and Ray McGovern report. By Gilbert Doctorow and Ray…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/gang-of-four-senators-call-for.html

Who’s Afraid of Talking With Kim Jong Un?

Americans should welcome President Trump’s apparent willingness to speak with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, but instead naysayers are warning of dire consequences, Jonathan Marshall explains. By Jonathan Marshall Three months ago, I quoted approvingly Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/whos-afraid-of-talking-with-kim-jong-un.html

Friday, March 9, 2018

The Illusion of War Without Casualties

America’s wars in the post-9/11 era have been characterized by relatively low U.S. casualties, but that does not mean that they are any less violent than previous wars, Nicolas J.S. Davies observes. By Nicolas J.S. Davies Last Sunday’s Oscar Awards…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-illusion-of-war-without-casualties.html

The Rise of the New McCarthyism

From the Archive: On March 9, 1954, Senate Republicans criticized Joe McCarthy’s overreaches and took action to limit his power, marking the end of McCarthyism. On the anniversary of that event, we republish an article on the New McCarthyism by Robert…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-rise-of-new-mccarthyism.html

Thursday, March 8, 2018

To Stop War, Do What Katharine Gun Did

Legendary whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg’s advice to stop current and future wars is simple: do what Katharine Gun did, writes Norman Solomon. By Norman Solomon Daniel Ellsberg has a message that managers of the warfare state don’t want people to hear.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/to-stop-war-do-what-katharine-gun-did.html

Raining on Trump’s Parade

Donald Trump has called for a military parade in Washington DC but a coalition of peace and justice groups hope to stop the parade before it happens, explains Margaret Flowers in this interview with Ann Garrison. By Ann Garrison President…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/raining-on-trumps-parade.html

The National Endowment for (Meddling in) Democracy

The unwritten rule governing the NED’s activities is that the U.S. has an unqualified right to do unto others what others may not do unto the U.S., explains Daniel Lazare. By Daniel Lazare “They’re meddling in our politics!” That’s the…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/the-national-endowment-for-meddling-in.html

How Many Terms ’til You’re a Tyrant Ripe for Regime Change?

In some cases, the hint that a country might be removing presidential term limits provides Washington sufficient cause to support a coup, but in other cases Washington celebrates presidents-for-life, observes Ted Snider. By Ted Snider Donald Trump caused some concern…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-many-terms-til-youre-tyrant-ripe.html

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Record Afghan Opium Crop Signals Violent Year for U.S. Forces

As poppy cultivation in Afghanistan increases, more funds are likely supporting the Taliban’s insurgency, portending a tough year ahead for U.S. occupiers, write Will Porter and Kyle Anzalone. By Will Porter and Kyle Anzalone In Afghanistan, the world’s most powerful…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/record-afghan-opium-crop-signals.html

‘Progressive’ Journalists Jump the Shark on Russiagate

A lack of skepticism has characterized much of the reporting on Russiagate, with undue credibility being given to questionable sources like the Steele dossier – with progressives like Jane Mayer and Cenk Uygur now joining the bandwagon, Ray McGovern observes.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/progressive-journalists-jump-shark-on.html

Christians, If We Hate Hollywood So Much Maybe We Should Actually Stop Watching Its Filth

Last night, the industry gave its top award to a love story about a woman and a fish monster. It also handed an award to "Call Me By Your Name," a romance about a grown man and a teenage boy. The majority of the nominated films were some combination of idiotic, depraved, and pointless ...

Why do we Christians and conservatives, who complain constantly about Hollywood, still give Hollywood so much of our time and money? Without us, the industry couldn't stay in business. We are the ones who keep it afloat. Continue reading →

The post Christians, If We Hate Hollywood So Much Maybe We Should Actually Stop Watching Its Filth appeared first on The Matt Walsh Blog.

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/christians-if-we-hate-hollywood-so-much.html

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Gun Rights and ‘Freedom’s’ Perversities

The concept of personal freedoms is relatively new to human history but has often, ironically, been exploited by people in power to achieve or maintain a sociopolitical goal, posits Lawrence Davidson in this analysis. By Lawrence Davidson For much of…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/gun-rights-and-freedoms-perversities.html

Monday, March 5, 2018

Is MSNBC Now the Most Dangerous Warmonger Network?

A recent study revealed that MSNBC’s coverage of ‘Russiagate’ vastly outweighs its coverage of other issues, such as the US-backed humanitarian crisis in Yemen, and the network’s refusal to correct the disparity could lead to dangerous conclusions, notes Norman Solomon.…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/is-msnbc-now-most-dangerous-warmonger.html

Putin’s Electoral Manifesto

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s national address last week grabbed headlines for its proclamations of new weapons systems, but as significant in his speech was its domestic policy implications ahead of a March 18 election, Gilbert Doctorow explains. By Gilbert Doctorow…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/putins-electoral-manifesto.html

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Putin Claims Strategic Parity, Respect

Vladimir Putin’s announcement of new weapons systems to achieve nuclear parity was the result of the erosion arms control regimes, such as the ill-advised U.S. withdrawal from the ABM treaty in 2002, Ray McGovern explains. By Ray McGovern Russian President…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/putin-claims-strategic-parity-respect.html

How ‘Operation Merlin’ Poisoned U.S. Intelligence on Iran

The CIA’s “Operation Merlin,” which involved providing Iran with a flawed design for a nuclear weapon and resulted in an alleged whistleblower – Jeffrey Sterling – going to prison, was the perfect example of creating intelligence in order to justify operations,…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/how-operation-merlin-poisoned-us.html

Friday, March 2, 2018

Katharine Gun’s Risky Truth-telling

From the Archive: On March 2, 2003, British intelligence official Katharine Gun blew the whistle on a pre-Iraq War ploy. On today’s 15-year anniversary of that event, we republish a 2014 article about Gun’s truth-telling by Sam Husseini. By Sam…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/katharine-guns-risky-truth-telling.html

Missile-gate: U.S. Intel Misses Russia’s Big Advances in Nuclear Parity

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement on Thursday of major technological advances in nuclear weapons delivery systems appears to have caught the U.S. intelligence community unawares, reports Gilbert Doctorow. By Gilbert Doctorow President Vladimir Putin’s two-hour long address yesterday to the…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/missile-gate-us-intel-misses-russias.html

Italy’s Choice: Shock or Stagnation

Italy’s elections this weekend represent a choice between the status quo, with risks of further austerity and structural reforms, or a wild card of populists who may lack competence and hold anti-democratic views, explains Andrew Spannaus. Italy will hold elections…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/italys-choice-shock-or-stagnation.html

Thursday, March 1, 2018

North Korea, Iran and U.S. Intelligence that Neither Hears Nor Sees

A recent Worldwide Threat Assessment issued by the U.S. intelligence community exaggerates threats posed by North Korea and Iran, ignoring well-known realities and downplaying the U.S.’s own previous intelligence assessments, notes Ted Snider. By Ted Snider On February 13, the…

from Propaganda Guard
http://propagandaguard.blogspot.com/2018/03/north-korea-iran-and-us-intelligence.html