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Today's Stories November 9, 2009 Linn Washington November 6-8, 2009 Alexander Cockburn Mark Grueter Paul Craig Roberts Patrick Cockburn Gareth Porter Mike Whitney James Bovard Dean Baker Robert Lawless Saul Landau Jayne Lyn Stahl Stephanie Westbrook M. Shahid Alam Marc Levy Franklin Lamb Ron Jacobs David Ker Thomson John V. Whitbeck Julien Mercille Rannie Amiri John Ross David Michael Green Carl Finamore Farzana Versey Missy Comley Beattie Charles R. Larson David Yearsley Kim Nicolini Poets' Basement November 5, 2009 Pam Martens Vijay Prashad Brian Gallagher Norman Solomon Nadia Hijab Joseph Shansky Andy Thayer Tracy Rosenberg Website of the Day November 4, 2009 Stan Cox Andy Worthington From Gitmo to Palau: Who are the Uighurs? Robert Weissman Susan Galleymore Ralph Nader Michael Leonardi Bitta Mistofi Robert Bryce Martha Rosenberg Dave Lindorff Website of the Day November 3, 2009 Patrick Cockburn Mike Whitney Franklin C. Spinney Laura Carlsen Serge Halimi John Stanton Sophia Weeks Dave Lindorff November 2, 2009 Steven Higgs Ishmael Reed David Macaray Bouthaina Shaaban David Michael Green David Swanson Ellen Brown Adam Federman James McEnteer Stephen Fleischman Website of the Day October 30 - Nov. 1, 2009 Alexander Cockburn Jeffrey St. Clair / Carl Ginsburg Mike Whitney Joe Bageant Gareth Porter Saul Landau Anthony DiMaggio Dave Lindorff Rannie Amiri Niranjan Ramakrishnan Jayne Lyn Stahl Rev. William E. Alberts Alvaro Huerta Martha Rosenberg Binoy Kampmark Norm Kent Charles R. Larson Roth's "The Humbling:" Nothing Like a Novel From an Old Pro Ron Jacobs David Yearsley Lorenzo Wolff Kim Nicolini Poets' Basement Website of the Weekend October 29, 2009 Michael Neumann Mike Whitney Gary Leupp Conn Hallinan Marshall Auerback Laura Flanders Eamonn McCann David Macaray Mark Weisbrot Stephen Soldz Christopher Brauchli Website of the Day October 28, 2009 Moshe Adler Dave Lindorff Frank Joseph Smecker Alexandra Early M. Shahid Alam Vijay Prashad John Ross Franklin Lamb Gregory Travis Susan Galleymore Website of the Day October 27, 2009 Mike Whitney Patrick Cockburn Stewart J. Lawrence Alan Farago Ralph Nader Dave Lindorff Bouthaina Shaaban Brian M. Downing Elections in Afghanistan, the Second Time Around Iain Boal Carl Finamore Jayne Lyn Stahl Website of the Day October 26, 2009 Bill Quigley / Paul Craig Roberts Uri Avnery Mike Whitney Michael Snedeker Shamus Cooke David Michael Green Martha Rosenberg Patrick Bond Binoy Kampmark Website of the Day October 23-25, 2009 Alexander Cockburn Christopher Ketcham Jeff Gore Gareth Porter Jayne Lyn Stahl Saul Landau Mike Whitney Nikolas Kozloff Ron Jacobs Russell Mokhiber Missy Beattie Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada Stephen Lendman David Ker Thomson Rannie Amiri Ronnie Cummins Norm Kent Charles R. Larson David Yearsley Lorenzo Wolff Ben Sonnenberg Kim Nicolini Poets' Basement Website of the Weekend October 22, 2009 Dan Pearson / Jonathan Cook Paul Craig Roberts The US as Failed State Mark Engler Johann Hari Brian M. Downing Eric Toussaint Tom Mountain Israel Shamir Charles Thomson Website of the Day October 21, 2009 Pam Martens Linn Washington, Jr. Liaquat Ali Khan D. K. Wilson Franklin Lamb Norman Solomon Stephen Fleischman Patrice Higonnet Binoy Kampmark Kevin Coval / Website of the Day October 20, 2009 Sharon Smith Tariq Ali Mark Brenner Bouthaina Shaaban Michael D. Yates Dean Baker Dave Lindorff John Ross Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada Kevin Zeese Gilad Atzmon Website of the Day October 19, 2009 Mike Whitney Greg Moses John Ross Michael Donnelly Jayne Lyn Stahl Eric Walberg Russell Mokhiber Barbara Rose Johnston John V. Whitbeck Christopher Ketcham Website of the Day October 16-18, 2009 Alexander Cockburn Saul Landau Paul Craig Roberts Carl Ginsburg Ralph Nader Nikolas Kozloff Carlo Galli Dave Lindorff Catherine Rottenberg
/ Neve Gordon Marshall Auerback Nicola Nasser Windy Cooler James L. Secor Ron Jacobs Wes Jackson Jesse Lerner-Kinglake David Ker Thomson Against Leaders Missy Beattie Emily Ratner Stephen Martin Michael Snedeker Charles R. Larson David Yearsley Peter Stone Brown Poets' Basement Website of the Weekend October 15, 2009 Andrew Cockburn Brian M. Downing Ramzy Baroud Danny Weil M. Idrees Ahmad Margaret Kimberley Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada Harvey Wasserman Nirmal Ghosh Charles R. Larson Website of the Day October 14, 2009 Michael Neumann M. Reza Pirbhai Gareth Porter Paul Craig Roberts John Strausbaugh Fortress Moon Ralph Nader Dean Baker Charles Modiano Nadia Hijab Walter Brasch Website of the Day October 13, 2009 Peter Linebaugh Shamus Cooke John Ross Brendan Cooney Frida Berrigan Yves Engler David Macaray Dave Lindorff Mark Weisbrot Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada Binoy Kampmark Website of the Day October 12, 2009 Pam Martens Mike Whitney Martha Rosenberg Jessica Arents Eamonn McCann Bill Hatch Sen. Russell Feingold Niranjan Ramakrishnan Gideon Levy Iyad Burnat Alan Cabal Dan Bacher Website of the Day October 9-11, 2009 Alexander Cockburn James Bovard Kathleen and Bill Christison Andy Worthington Marc Levy Tariq Ali Mike Whitney Paul Craig Roberts Alan Nasser Jack Z. Bratich Steve Breyman David Michael Green Dave Lindorff Paul Buchheit Jim Goodman Missy Beattie Michael Leonardi Nadia Hijab Mel Packer David Macaray James T. Phillips Charles R. Larson Michael Donnelly David Yearsley Lorenzo Wolff Poets' Basement Website of the Weekend October 8, 2009 Saul Landau Paul Fitzgerald / Linn Washington, Jr. Marshall Auerback Dave Lindorff David Rosen Chris Darimont / Misty MacDuffee John V. Walsh Stewart Lawrence Charles R. Larson Website of the Day October 7, 2009 Brendan Cooney Paul Craig Roberts Dean Baker Jonathan Cook John Stanton Joanne Mariner Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada Stephen Lendman Sen. Russell Feingold Mary Lynn Cramer Website of the Day October 6, 2009 Mike Whitney Gareth Porter Jonathan Cook Boris Kagarlitsky Iain Boal Ron Jacobs John Ross Michael Dickinson Stephen Fleischman Ira Glunts Missy Beattie Website of the Day October 5, 2009 Pam Martens Mike Whitney Paul Craig Roberts Harry Browne Sara Mann Omar Barghouti Shamus Cooke Brenda Norrell Fred Gardner Binoy Kampmark Copenhagen Blues: McChrystal and the Afghan Trap Website of the Day October 2-4, 2009 Alexander Cockburn Saul Landau Diana Johnstone Greg Moses William Blum Brian Cloughley Russell Mokhiber John Ross Ellen Brown David Ker Thomson David Macaray Gary Engler Robert Fantina Lisa Stolarski / Naomi Archer Anthony Papa Joe Allen Harry Browne Ron Jacobs Charles R. Larson David Yearsley Poets' Basement Website of the Weekend
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Who Leads?Clinton Dances With NetanyahuBy BOUTHAINA SHAABAN Most Arab and world media expressed astonishment when the US secretary of state Hilary Clinton described the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s willingness to “restraint the policy of settlements” as “unprecedented”. Perhaps, many of the reporters did not have sufficient time to read the script of the press conference she held with Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem, which deserves to be called “unprecedented”. So, before I address the subject and language of the press conference, let me quote precisely what Mrs. Clinton said, by way of explaining and interpreting what Netanyahu said on the settlement issue: “What the prime minister has offered in specifics of a restraint on the policy of settlements, which he has just described – no new starts, for example – is unprecedented in the context of the prior two negotiations”. Thus Mrs. Clinton volunteered to explain, praise and promote Netanyahu’s statement, forgetting that dismantling and freezing settlements were two main conditions in the Madrid frame of reference. The United Nations and the whole world, including her country, the United States, affirm that Israeli settlement in occupied Palestinian and Syrian land is illegal. Thus, what is striking is this serious u turn in her position as secretary of state. She has stressed many times, before TV cameras, that putting an end to settlement by Israel is an essential prerequisite for the resumption of negotiations. What is also remarkable is that the US secretary of state should take upon herself to interpret and promote the pronouncements of the prime minister of an entity which carries out genocide and siege against an unarmed population. This was not the only example in this press conference when the secretary volunteered to interpret, confirm and promote Netanyahu’s pronouncements. It would seem strange, even if she were Netanyahu’s foreign secretary. Netanyahu started by ignoring the main demand put forth by president Obama, stopping the settlements, and jumped to negotiations. Nevertheless, the secretary responded by saying: “I appreciate the very positive words about the need to get back into a negotiation that would be in the best interests of Israel and Israel’s security,” adding for appearances sake, “as well as create a state for the Palestinian people”. She did not mention the best interests and the security of the Palestinian people, because, for her, interests and security are associated only with Israel. In her second answer she moved from this point which established Israel’s security and interests as the ultimate goal of the negotiations without mentioning the rights or security of the Palestinian people, to say: “I want to see both sides begin negotiations as soon as possible”. This means that she wants the Palestinians to start the negotiations which will be in “the best interests of Israel and Israel’s security,” adding: “The important thing, as the prime minister just said, is to get into the negotiations. I gave the same message today when I met with President Abbas”. So, the US secretary of state stands in a press conference with the prime minister of an aggressive entity which committed war crimes against the unarmed Palestinian people only to explain what he says to reporters, confirm it, and call on the Palestinians to commit themselves to it. That was not enough. Concluding her answer, she said: “I think the best way to determine the way forward is, as the prime minister said, get on the path”. I thought for a moment: what if the prime minister had nothing to say. What would Mrs Clinton say or confirm? As soon as I turned the page to read the next question put by Mark Landler of The New York Times, my fears were confirmed. He asked her: “When you were here in March on the first visit, you issued a strong statement condemning the demolition of housing units in East Jerusalem. Yet, that demolition has continued unabated, and indeed, a few days ago, the mayor of the city of Jerusalem issued a new order for demolition. How would you characterize this policy today?” But since the prime minister did not answer this question, the secretary of state did not either. Instead, she said: “Well, let me say I have nothing to add to my statement in March. I continue to stand by what I said then”. Secretary of State Clinton did not condemn the demolition of Palestinian homes by Israeli occupation troops, not even the confiscation of the tent which housed the Hanoun and al-Ghawi families. She did not condemn making thousands of Palestinians homeless and torturing them on roads and checkpoints. Maybe Mrs Clinton does not know what it means to have a racist and brutal occupation authority demolish a human being’s home, but at least she could imagine returning to her comfortable house, not to see it demolished, but to find that a thief has stolen her books, photos, history and favorite clothes, damaged the water and electrical systems so that the place is uninhabitable, and then stands on the pavement homeless, without shelter, memory, warmth or a place to make food. If Mrs. Clinton could not even imagine that, she could have walked only a few steps to see what Netanyahu and the mayor of Jerusalem did to East Jerusalem and the people of Palestine. If she does not know any of that, she should know that demolishing houses is banned internationally under the Geneva conventions and that the human right to live in dignity on one’s land in one’s home is the most sacred after the right to live. After all this performance on the part of the secretary of state, Netanyahu stressed: “that Israel will accept the vision of two states for two peoples, a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state of Israel,” and that he agreed with US administration officials that they are “willing to engage in peace talks immediately without preconditions”. Here, Netanyahu took the initiative and spoke for himself and on behalf of the United Sates after stressing that he discussed this with the United States and agreed with it about what he would say, relieving the Secretary of her responsibility of re-explaining, confirming and promoting what he says. After this, it is no longer important to know what the Secretary of State said to Arab ministers in Morocco, nor her retracting her statements or reinterpreting them. She said, before TV cameras, that the US position towards the Arab-Israeli conflict is the position of the Netanyahu government. For Netanyahu, even the possibility of carrying arms to those trying to defend themselves against aggression is a war crime, while the German chancellor Angela Merkel arms Israel with nuclear submarines without facing such an accusation. Thanks to Western powers, Israel has become an arms exporting country and is armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons. Does this mean that Israeli aggressors can possess all the weapons they want and use them against civilians just because they are Jews? And the Palestinians, who are at the receiving end of this aggression, cannot have arms to defend themselves, only because they are Arabs? It is important to note that the ship story only aimed at diverting attention from Israeli crimes mentioned in the Goldstone report and to gain sympathy. Western officials iinflict great damage on democracy when they justify the crimes of war, killing, torture and siege committed by the rulers of Israel against unarmed civilians. When will Arab rulers and their media understand the depth of Western racism hatred against them as represented by the blacklist of countries which voted against the Goldstone report in order to justify Israel’s crimes against civilian Arabs, only because they are Arabs, and unite their stances and their policies? And when will honorable and conscientious people around the world stand firmly and courageously against the horrible crimes committed against the Palestinian people so that their nations do not get tarnished by the shame of conniving with criminals committing genocide and ethnic cleansing? Bouthaina Shaaban is Political and Media Advisor at the Syrian Presidency, and former Minister of Expatriates. She is also a writer and professor at Damascus University since 1985. She has been the spokesperson for Syria and was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She can be reached through nizar_kabibo@yahoo.com Inside the New Print Edition of Our Subscriber-Only Newsletter! Obama and Black America Ten months into Obama-time, the plight of black Americans is terrible. Yet overwhelmingly they rally behind the president. In a powerful report from the Deep South Kevin Alexander Gray asks the question: what should the black political agenda be? Mark Rudd counterposes “organizing” with “activism” and describes what it will take to build a movement. H. Bruce Franklin gives a chronology of the march into Afghanistan. Get your new edition today by subscribing online or calling 1-800-840-3683 Contributions to CounterPunch are tax-deductible. Click here to make a donation. If you find our site useful please: Subscribe Now! CounterPunch books and t-shirts make great presents.Order CounterPunch By Email For Only $35 a Year !
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Now Available from CounterPunch Books! Yellowstone Drift:
"Powerful and shocking ..
Waiting for
Lightning
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