© Flickr / sofi01
I think this story exemplifies the self-cannibalization of the deep state over the past several years quite nicely.
Puppet Masters
I think this story exemplifies the self-cannibalization of the deep state over the past several years quite nicely.
Comment: Just as the 'Corona Lockdown' commences too. Sneaky pathocrats!
Also included in the ban are click dual cigarettes that change from normal to menthol.
It's all part of the four year phasing-out period of the EU Tobacco Product Directive which entered into force in May 2014 and became applicable in all EU countries on May 20th 2016.
Branding outlawed too
Comment: People have been benefiting from smoking tobacco for thousands of years, and those who can see through the lies of the fascist anti-smoking brigade are unlikely to stop any time soon. Now, more than ever, do those people need Nicotine - The Zombie Antidote.
- A comprehensive review of the many health benefits of smoking Tobacco
- New Light on the Black Death: The Cosmic Connection
- Pestilence, the Great Plague and the Tobacco Cure
- A comprehensive review of the many health benefits of smoking Tobacco
- Let's All Light Up!
- Can Smoking be GOOD for SOME People?
- Tobacco - Smokin' the propaganda peddlers
© Reuters/Leah Mills
Former CIA Director, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
Former CIA Director, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
- William Shakespeare (The Tempest Act 1 Scene 2)
War has always depended on a reliable system to spread its propaganda. The Arthashastra written by Chankya (350-283 BCE) who was chief advisor to the Emperor Chandragupta (the first ruler of the Mauryan Empire) discusses propaganda and how to disperse and apply it in warfare. It is one of the oldest accounts of the essentialism of propaganda in warfare.
Propaganda is vital in times of war because it is absolutely imperative that the people, who often need to make the greatest sacrifices and suffer the most, believe that such a war is justified and that such a war will provide them security. To the degree that they believe this to be true, the greater the degree of sacrifice and suffering they are willing to submit themselves for said "promised security".
It is crucial that when the people look at the "enemy" they see something sub-human, for if they recognise that said "enemy" has in fact humanity, the jig is up so to speak. And thus we are bombarded day after day, hour after hour of reminders as to why the "enemy" is not human like us, not compassionate like us, not patient, just and wise like us. No doubt, war has been a necessary response when tyranny has formed an army to fight for its cause, but I would put forth that most wars have been rather unnecessary and downright manipulated for the design of a small group of people.
© USTAF
But what, exactly, was signed in Doha, Qatar, and is it really an important document worth blabbing about at every corner? Officially, the key points of this deal are as follows:
- The US will reduce its forces in Afghanistan from about 12,000 to 8,600 and will close five military bases by mid-July. The remaining troops will be withdrawn by May 2021.
- The Taliban will not allow militant groups to use Afghan land to threaten the United States and its allies.
- The Afghan government will release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for 1,000 Afghan security forces held by the Taliban.
- The US will work to lift sanctions from Taliban members.
- The Taliban and the Afghan government will begin negotiations for a comprehensive ceasefire in March.
© Reuters/Ralph Orlowski
The European Central Bank (ECB) logo.
The European Central Bank (ECB) logo.
The recordings and their transcripts were released by Varoufakis on the website of his 'pan-European' DiEM25 party on Saturday. The files -dubbed 'Euroleaks'- were recorded between February and July 2015, when cash-strapped Athens was entangled in painful talks with its creditors.
Comment: Varoufakis was told "the Eurogroup does not exist in law", therefore he could have no objections to whatever its dominant members decreed. Of course they do not want their dealings on record. 'We rule, you comply. We pillage, you submit.'
See also:
- United States of Europe: New German Reich crushes Greece
- Here we go again: EU won't unlock further funding to Greece
- The money game continues: Eurogroup reaches 'breakthrough deal' on $11bn Greek bailout payment
- Greece & Eurogroup creditors agree key economic reforms
- Eurogroup treachery and Varoufakis's revolutionary plan for Europe
- Greece closes banks, imposes capital controls
© Reuters/Charles Platiau/Reuters/Andrew Kelly
Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma • MAGA wear
Alibaba billionaire Jack Ma • MAGA wear
The Alibaba billionaire announced a donation of 1 million face masks and 500,000 coronavirus test kits on Friday, releasing a statement calling for "all humankind" to work together to fight the recently-declared pandemic. Signing off with "united we stand, divided we fall," Ma managed to make the US government, which all but congratulated itself on the increased business opportunities presented by thousands of Chinese drowning in their own phlegm, look like bumbling (and cruel) idiots.
© Screenshot/Twitter feed
Benjamin Netanyahu shows the number of votes cast for Jewish Zionist parties, in saying that Palestinians are not part of the equation in Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu shows the number of votes cast for Jewish Zionist parties, in saying that Palestinians are not part of the equation in Israel.
There are some positive signs. There's a valuable quotation from Yuval Diskin, a former head of Israel's security agency, who criticizes Benjamin Netanyahu's use of anti-Arab racism against the Joint List, the political grouping that represents Arab citizens and just won 15 parliamentary seats in the latest election. Netanyahu has been trying to torpedo efforts by the centrist Blue and White alliance to form a coalition government against him with outside votes of the Joint List, the 3rd-largest political force in the country. Diskin says:
"Dismissing more than half a million citizens by rendering the 15 members of the Joint List illegitimate, coupled with incitement against anyone who engages with them, crosses a red line."Diskin's former position gives his words greater impact; if the 15 Palestinians were truly a security threat, he would know. Times reporter David Halbfinger also quotes Dan Meridor, an old political warhorse from Netanyahu's own party, who says flatly that the prime minister is "appealing to racists." Unfortunately, on balance the Times article is still biased.
Comment: The New York Times rarely calls out its own and Israeli injustices are nuanced for impression management. Not surprising the NYT article has a certain amount of white-washing, opaque reporting and fancified BS. The real story remains in what was not said.
© Social Media
Jawed Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National-Security Adviser's office
Jawed Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National-Security Adviser's office
Jawed Faisal, a spokesman for the Afghan National-Security Adviser's office, said on March 14 that the government needed more time to review the list of the prisoners. "We have received the lists of the prisoners to be released. We are checking and verifying the lists, this will take time," Faisal said. He also said the authorities "want guarantees that they will not return to fighting."
There was no immediate response from the militant group to the delayed prisoner release.
The announcement came despite President Ashraf Ghani's decree on March 11 promising the start of the releases on March 14 as a "goodwill gesture" to get intra-Afghan talks started.
© REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo
Donald Trump and Michael Flynn walk through Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC
Donald Trump and Michael Flynn walk through Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC
The Mueller investigation may be in the past for many, but Trump put the two-plus year probe back into the spotlight on Sunday by directly answering reports he would pardon Flynn, one of a handful of advisers to face criminal charges from Robert Mueller.
After saying the FBI and Justice Department were "destroying" the lives of Flynn and his "wonderful" family, the president claimed the departments "lost" the former general's records.
"How convenient," he tweeted, adding, "I am strongly considering a full pardon!"
© Associated Press / Oded Balilty
Leader of the Israeli opposition Blue and White alliance, Benny Gantz has expressed readiness to negotiate a unity government with Likud even if its head, Benjamin Netanyahu, will lead the first rotation of the government as prime minister. Gantz explained that his new position on coalition talks was due to the necessity to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
"The scenario whereby we join a unity government where Netanyahu starts [as prime minister], is on the table. We will see what happens with the negotiations", he said.
Comment: Sputnik also reports Bibi is getting a virus screen:
Benjamin Netanyahu has been tested for coronavirus, but showed no symptoms before the check, which was precautionary, according to an official statement. There is no mention of the results.
The statement comes after the prime minister stated that Israel would use counter-terrorism technology to detect coronavirus patients and those who skip mandatory quarantine.
All foreigners entering the country have been required to self-isolate for 14 days, while all schools, restaurants, cafes, gyms, and most of businesses have been shut.
Comment: See also: