Why this fear of China and the Belt and Road Initiative?

Why this fear of China and the Belt and Road Initiative?

By Thore Vestby March 27, 2019 To gather national strength, just create an enemy. In Europe, the Americans are doing this daily on many levels, from small businesses to countries and the continent itself. It is apparent from the media coverage last year that China has been designated “the great danger”. The United States is […]

Put sanctions on the merchants of death

Put sanctions on the merchants of death

By Jan Oberg March 11, 2019 SIPRI latest analysis of the global arms trade is just out. When one reads the summary, one may ask: If not now, when is the time to criminalize the international arms trade? Weapons imported into warzones have – without exception – four major effects: a) those who buy or […]

New EU sanctions on Iran: The plank in your own eyes

New EU sanctions on Iran: The plank in your own eyes

Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif and the EU Foreign Policy chief Frederica Mogherini By Jan Oberg January 9, 2019 UPI writes that the European Union issues sanctions on Iran over assassination plots on January 8, 2019. And US Secretary of State, Pompeo, fully supports them. The move puts the Iranian individuals and intelligence unit on […]

Isolationism or Imperialism: You Really Can’t Imagine a Third Possibility?

Isolationism or Imperialism: You Really Can’t Imagine a Third Possibility?

By David SwansonTFF Associate and co-founder of World Beyond War December 27, 2018 Of the United Nations’ 18 major human rights treaties, the United States is party to 5, fewer than any other nation on earth, except Bhutan (4), and tied with Malaysia, Myanmar, and South Sudan, a country torn by warfare since its creation […]

John Pilger special – A look back at 2018, and ahead to 2019

John Pilger special – A look back at 2018, and ahead to 2019

28 minutes with John Pilger on RT December 22, 2018 Where does journalism end and satire – black jokes – begin? Link to the original on RT

Compassion in the Media and Politics: Why the language we use matters?

Compassion in the Media and Politics: Why the language we use matters?

By Brajna Greenhalgh December 11, 2018 I have to admit that the most unforgiving relationship I hold is the one with the media. This may not come as a surprise as one doesn’t need to look further than a front page of any media platform to see that the media has become an increasingly hostile […]

At 70: A few problems with the human rights concept

At 70: A few problems with the human rights concept

By Jan Oberg December 10, 2018 Today the Universal Declaration of Human Rights turns 70. All reason to celebrate. Without the norms embedded in this extremely important document, humankind would be much worse off. Because normativity is important even though it is only words. It enables us to make those who violate human rights accountable. […]

Iran, Saudi Arabia and a history of American aggression

Iran, Saudi Arabia and a history of American aggression

Photo: Demonstrators dressed as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump protest outside the White House in Washington on 19 October 2018, demanding justice for missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (AFP) (Photo credit: middleeasteye.net).   Tehran has repeatedly delivered on its promises, while Washington has fallen short and backed Riyadh’s disastrous regional adventures. […]

Bob Woodward on Trump in the White House: Fear!

Bob Woodward on Trump in the White House: Fear!

  Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward has covered nine White Houses going back to President Richard Nixon and Watergate. His latest book, “Fear: Trump in the White House,” is revelatory in its look at chaos and discord within the current administration as witnessed by those inside the West Wing. In his first TV interview for […]

Trying – trying – to stop a blank cheque for war on Iran…

Trying – trying – to stop a blank cheque for war on Iran…

  US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard discusses her attempt to remove 3 pages from the huge US defense bill that authorizes the United States to go to war with Iran – letting State Department and Pentagon devise and implement a plan for “countering” Iran. Guess what that means! Her amendment – taking that authorization out of […]