Puppet MastersS


No Entry

Left and right fume over Dems' bill to ban 'twice-impeached presidents' from burial at Arlington or honoring of their names


RT
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 02:15 UTC
Arlington National Cemetery
© Reuters/Jonathan ErnstArlington National Cemetery
House Democrats have apparently found time to plot more ways to punish Donald Trump - even as a pandemic and other troubles devastate their constituents - angering Americans of virtually all political persuasions.

The 'No Glory for Hate Act', sponsored by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-California) and co-sponsored by 13 other Democrats, calls for banning any "twice-impeached president" from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The ashes of such a president couldn't be inurned at Arlington, either.

The bill's heading refers to prohibiting the use of federal funds for the "commemoration of certain presidents," but only Trump fits the criteria of being impeached twice by the House. To the chagrin of Democrats, he's also the only president to have been acquitted twice by the Senate. But ironically, like predecessor Barack Obama, Trump never served on active duty in the military and therefore doesn't qualify for burial at Arlington anyway.

Not to be tripped up by that technicality, the Trump punishers went further in their bill, prohibiting the use of federal funds to create or display any symbol, monument or statue commemorating a twice-impeached president. Not only would the legislation also ban the naming of any federal building or land after such a president, but it would also block federal funds from being used to help pay for a government at any other level to put his name on a building or other property.

In short, the bill would essentially ban use of federal funds to honor Trump's name in virtually any way. And it would strip Trump, er, any twice-impeached president of retirement benefits, clerical services and mailing privileges. The only retirement benefits customarily afforded to former presidents that would be allowed is Secret Service protection.

Comment: Legislators are elected to be in charge of public policy and legal endeavors for the betterment of the nation, and to apply a modicum of rationality in service to 'the people'. Is it too much to expect them to set aside their petty differences and vindictive agenda to take responsibility?


Read More...
Briefcase

British human rights lawyer Karim Khan elected new ICC chief


AfricaNews
Sun, 14 Feb 2021 14:09 UTC
Khan
© AFPICC new chief prosecutor as of June, 2021, Karim Khan
British Human Rights lawyer Karim Kahn has been elected as the new International Criminal Court chief prosecutor.

He will take over the daunting job in June from the incumbent chief Gambian-born Fatou Bensouda, who was sanctioned by the US over her investigations into the Afghanistan war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Khan, 50, previously led a special UN probe into crimes by the Islamic State extremist group in which he pressed for a trial on the lines of Nuremberg for Nazi war criminals. More controversially, he also represented late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam.


Comment: Who is Khan and what are the expectations:

See also:

Read More...
People 2

Biden administration urges passage of Equality Act to rewrite Civil Rights Act to conflate gender identity with sexual orientation

Noah David Alter
The Post Millennial
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:20 UTC
joe biden
The Biden administration is urging the United States Congress to pass the Equality Act in a move designed to bolster civil rights protection on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, Axios reports.

The bill, if passed, would code the social constructionist view of gender into law according to some critics, which would have a myriad of effects.

One concern is over the role of transgender women in women's sports. Many people have expressed concern over the participation of transgender women in women's sports, arguing that they have an inherent physical advantage based on bone density, height, and various other factors.

Opponents of the bill are concerned that it would federally mandate that women's sports allow transgender athletes to compete, diminishing the athletic achievements of cisgender women.

Other concerns regarding the bill's treatment of gender identity are that it would require families and doctors to take on an unquestionably affirmative stance towards transgender children. Opponents of the bill have argued that this could ultimately hurt children who are confused about their gender identity, as they may be pushed down an affirmative path when it may not be appropriate due to ideological demands.
Read More...
Binoculars

Leaked papers allege massive UK govt effort to co-opt Russian-language anti-Kremlin media & influencers to 'weaken Russian state'

Kit Klarenberg
RT
Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:11 UTC
fcdo
© Andrew Aitchison / Getty Images
For all its alarmism about Russian 'propaganda' and 'misinformation', the UK government appears to be behind a multi-million-pound push to boost negative coverage of the Russian state, both in Russia and neighbouring countries.

At a European Union summit in November 2017, then-UK prime minister Theresa May announced plans to designate Russia a "hostile" state, and pledged to spend in excess of £100 million over the next five years on tackling the alleged threat of Kremlin "disinformation" internationally.

Now, hacktivist collective Anonymous has released what appear to be internal UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) files that shed significant light on how vast and ominous these efforts can be.

According to the papers, Whitehall has sought contractors to covertly infiltrate media and civil society at multiple levels - all under the aegis of schemes to, among other things, improve literacy, promote cultural activities, ensure "balance and plurality" in media reporting, and counteract propaganda.

Supporting anti-Kremlin media

One of these contractors, Zinc Network (more on them later) explained in its pitch documents that it was in the process of "delivering audience segmentation and targeting support for two of Russia's leading independent media outlets - Meduza and MediaZona".
Read More...
Syringe

Best of the Web: One year after Bill Gates declared pandemic will not end until entire world is vaccinated, Germany's Merkel says same


Reuters
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:09 UTC
merkel
© Andreas Gora; Pool/Getty Images
Germany and other wealthy countries may need to give some of their own stock of vaccines to developing countries in addition to money, since only vaccinating the whole world will end the coronavirus pandemic, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday.

Speaking after a video conference of leaders of the G7 group of large developed economies, Merkel said they had not discussed specific percentages of their vaccine stocks that should be given to poorer countries.

But she told journalists: "I stressed in my intervention that the pandemic is not over until all people in the world have been vaccinated."

Comment: Impossible goals require totalitarian measures.

Read More...
Newspaper

Free speech-loving Western journos cheer as Ukraine charges 'sh*t-stirring' blogger with treason for 'discrediting state policy'

Gabriel Gavin
RT
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 17:50 UTC
Anatoly Shariy
© WikipediaAnatoly Shariy
A sweeping crackdown on opposition media by politicians in Kiev is actually an inspiring effort to liberate the nation from toxic opinions, Western media cheerleaders have claimed, backing charges against a prominent blogger.

On Tuesday, the SBU (Kiev's successor to the KGB) announced that it had opened a file on popular YouTuber Anatoly Shariy, suspecting him of both "high treason" and "violation of the equality of citizens." Investigators claim that he is a "well known Russian propagandist" who has "carried out illegal activities to the detriment of Ukraine's national security in the information sphere." Specifically, the journalist stands accused of "discrediting the state policy of Ukraine."


Comment: State fragility - the default state of authoritarian governments the world over.


Born in Kiev, Shariy has been a staunch critic of the waves of political turmoil that have gripped Ukraine since the 2014 Maidan. He was also a fierce detractor of the previous government under Viktor Yanukovich, considered to be friendlier toward Russia, and in 2012 claimed asylum in the EU over allegations of political persecution.

At one time a candidate in the country's parliamentary election, the commentator has had a series of brushes with the law, not least for reportedly shooting a man with rubber bullets for supposedly insulting his wife in a McDonald's restaurant. He has repeatedly courted controversy, accusing President Volodymyr Zelensky of running death squads and calling pro-EU Ukrainians "half breeds."

However, while Western hacks often support the right of free speech for fringe figures in countries like Russia, it appears they are prepared to make an exception in Ukraine. Dan Peleschuk, a contributor to American state-run media RFERL, praised the decision. According to him, it came as part of an "offensive against toxic propaganda," describing Shariy as a "notorious blogger and sh*t stirrer."
Read More...
Attention

New York Times: Critical thinking is dangerous

Tony Heller
Real Climate Science
Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:55 UTC
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.

― George Orwell, 1984
Article NYT
© The New York TimesOpinion | Don’t Go Down the Rabbit Hole – The New York Times
Read More...
Brick Wall

Police suggest keeping Capitol fence for months

Michael Balsamo
ABC News
Thu, 18 Feb 2021 20:40 UTC
capitol building razor wire fence
U.S. Capitol Police officials told congressional leaders the razor-wire topped fencing around the Capitol should remain in place for several more months as law enforcement continues to track threats against lawmakers, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The police officials suggested that the fence remain in place until September, in part because investigators are tracking continuing threats against lawmakers and the Capitol complex, the person said. The threats range in specificity and credibility, but they include online chatter about extremist groups potentially returning to Washington and to the Capitol in the coming weeks, the person told AP.

The police officials said the fence is needed as a physical barrier to prevent a potential repeat of the Jan. 6 insurrection when thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol as Congress was voting to certify Joe Biden's presidential win, the person said. Five people, including a Capitol police officer, died as a result of the melee.

Comment: What does it say about the current administration that they need to have razor wire fencing and armed guards to protect them against the public they supposedly serve?

More from RT:
After US Capitol Police called for National Guard troops and razor wire to stay in place through March, citing online chatter by 'QAnon,' two Republican members of Congress accused them of drumming up excuses for the 'occupation.'

Several thousand troops and fencing topped with razor wire around the US Capitol - deployed after the January 6 riot - ought to stay in place at least through the end of March, lawmakers were told on Thursday. According to a report in Newsweek, Capitol Police were alarmed by online chatter by followers of the 'QAnon' conspiracy saying that former President Donald Trump will be inaugurated on March 4.

"Trump isn't getting reinstated until after he wins the 2024 election," quipped Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), a close ally of the former president. "Also, does this strike anyone as possible threat construction to justify the ongoing occupation of Washington DC?"

...

His sentiments were quickly seconded by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), a libertarian-leaning Republican.

"De-occupy DC. Send our great soldiers home. There is no threat, but the swamp wants to project that image so they can pass new laws to steal your liberty," Massie tweeted on Thursday evening.

...

The newest pretext for maintaining the military presence is chatter by so-called "sovereign citizens," who allegedly argued that every US president since Ulysses S. Grant has been illegitimate and that Trump will be inaugurated as the 19th - rather than the 45th - chief executive on March 4, the traditional inauguration date before it was moved to January 20 in 1933.
See also:

Read More...
Eagle

Biden's post-Trump NATO stance points to failing US global power in multipolar world


Strategic Culture Foundation
Tue, 19 Jan 2021 00:00 UTC
Stoltenberg Biden
The more the US pushes NATO as its vehicle, the more it is apparent that the battery of American power is running flat.

A month after his inauguration, President Joe Biden's administration formally engaged on the international stage this week to set out key foreign policies.

His Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin addressed a two-day NATO summit via video link in which he relayed the message from Biden that the US would re-engage with transatlantic European allies. Four years of Donald Trump's abrasive America First policy was being jettisoned in place of a more smooth, consensual approach under Biden.

President Biden would himself address videoconferences of the Group of Seven nations held Friday, as well as the annual Munich Security Conference over the weekend. A major development is the Biden administration's announcement that it is ready to rejoin the international nuclear accord with Iran, thereby repudiating Trump's rejection of that deal. It remains to be seen, however, just what the Biden administration will want in exchange for honoring its signature to the treaty which was negotiated in 2015.

Comment: And speaking of the US push to use NATO as a vehicle for power projection:
The Pentagon is reportedly open to the possibility of sending more American troops to Iraq in an expanded NATO training mission for Iraqi security forces.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discussed the training mission with his NATO colleagues Thursday, according to CNN. Although an increase in troop levels is on the table, there are no imminent plans for it at the moment, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby clarified Thursday night.

"The US is participating in the force generation process for NATO Mission Iraq and will contribute its fair share to this important expanded mission," Pentagon spokesperson Jessica L. McNulty said to CNN. The aim of the mission is reportedly to support Iraqi forces in the fight to prevent ISIS from re-emerging as a substantial regional threat.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that NATO's presence for the mission would jump from about 500 personnel to around 4,000, CNN reported. Austin reportedly "welcomed the expanded role" of NATO in Iraq, and Stoltenberg stressed the importance of keeping ISIS in check. "ISIS is still there. ISIS still operates in Iraq, and we need to make sure that they're not able to return," Stoltenberg said.

Stoltenberg also added that the increase in NATO personnel in the country came at the request of the Iraqi government.

An increase in American involvement in Iraq would be a change in direction from policy under former President Donald Trump. Troop levels in the country fell to 2,500 by the end of Trump's term. Before the transition to the Biden administration, Trump's acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said the troop reduction was a sign of success: "The drawdown of US force levels in Iraq is reflective of the increased capabilities of the Iraqi security forces. Our ability to reduce force levels is evidence of real progress."


Read More...
Nuke

'Significant construction' reportedly underway at Israel's Dimona nuclear facility


Sputnik
Fri, 19 Feb 2021 11:16 UTC
Dimona site in Israel
© AFP 2021 / THOMAS COEX
The Jewish state neither admits nor denies widespread speculation about it being in possession of a nuclear arsenal amid reports that Israel has about 90 nuclear warheads.

"Significant new construction" is underway at the Dimona site in Israel, which is officially known as the Negev Nuclear Research Centre, the International Panel on Fissile Material (IPFM) reported referring to commercial satellite imagery of the facility.

IPFM is an independent group of arms-control and non-proliferation experts from both nuclear weapon and non-nuclear weapon states.


Comment: "Move on, nothing to see here."

Read More...