RT reports: In a symbolic rejection of US capitalism, Bolivia announced it will expel the Coca-Cola Company from the country at the end of the Mayan calendar. This will mark the end of capitalism and usher in a new era of equality, the Bolivian govt says. “December 21 of 2012 will be the end of…
Just two examples of what privatised “security” means
The Washington Post: The security contractor at a Tennessee plant that stores the nation’s supply of weapons-grade uranium has replaced its general manager almost two weeks after three protesters, including an 82-year-old nun, got into a high-security area. Security firm WSI Oak Ridge confirmed to the Knoxville News Sentinel Wednesday that Steven C. Hafner is…
Some good old vulture capitalism in Iraq
One of countless examples: The former chief of party in Baghdad for the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Robert Nathan Boorda, pleaded guilty to an information unsealed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for conspiring to enrich himself by having USIP award a security contract at a fraudulently inflated…
Talking “After Zionism” in Hebrew, Arabic and English in Tel Aviv
×חרי… ×”×¦×™×•× ×•×ª? … ما بعد الصهيونية؟ After Zionism דיון על ×¦×™×•× ×•×ª, מ×בק משותף וש×לת ×”×ž×“×™× ×” ×”×חת نقاش Øول الصهيونية، نضال مشترك ومسألة الدولة الواØدة Discussion about joint struggle and the question of the one state solution http://www.facebook.com/events/245277945593421 קו×ליציית × ×©×™× ×œ×©×œ×•× ×ž×–×ž×™× ×” למפגש שייערך ×‘×™×•× ×©× ×™ 13.8 בשעה 19:00 ×™×’×™×¢ ×›×¤×™×™× 3, ת”× Ø§Ø¦ØªÙ„Ø§Ù Ø§Ù„Ù†Ø³Ø§Ø¡ للسلام يدعوكن…
“After Zionism” events hit London
I’ll soon be speaking at two major events in London for my just released book, After Zionism. 21 August at the Frontline Club: With a new coalition formed in Israel, a prospective reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah and a new leader in Egypt it could be said the century-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict is entering a new…
One sorry Australian tale that reveals how the country has become dangerously secretive
This story appeared recently in the Fairfax place then disappeared just as quickly. It’s an important investigation by Philip Dorling about the Australian government’s mostly secret war on supposed trouble-makers. Don’t believe a word of it. It’s largely a fishing expedition with little oversight: The curious case of Timothy Byrnes, a complaint to ASIO and…
Journalism in the age of a Syrian civil war
What’s the role of a reporter in such a conflict? To provide context, as much hard news as possible and not be taken in totally by any side. Scepticism rules. Interesting piece in the New York Times: Even when his country was not convulsed by war, President… Bashar al-Assad… of… Syria… rarely gave televised interviews to foreigners. His session…
Playing politics with Palestine? Perish the thought
Israel’s trusted friend in the Australian media, Rupert Murdoch’s The Australian, today publishes a piece that is so banal as to be comical. Guess what people, BDS supporters and Palestinian backers are daring to “play politics” with human rights in the Middle East. And what exactly does the Zionist lobby and Zionist propagandists in our…
Checking the Wikileaks record; Syria was friend and ally until very recently
As Syria continues to descend into deeper civil war, and a proxy war between Iran and various powers is clear, it’s worth remembering the reality of how the US and West viewed Assad until very recently. Thanks to Wikileaks cable, we can. A good piece by Elias Muhanna in Al Alkbar: The… cache… of US government cables…