Monday, February 19, 2018

Truest statement of the week

Not only did the indictment clearly say that no one in the Trump campaign was wittingly or knowingly involved with the Russians, it explains how the Russians used fake names and groups to hide their real identities. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gave a press conference and drove home that point, stating that there was no evidence of any knowing involvement by the Trump campaign, as well as no evidence that this effort impacted the election. Indeed, Rosenstein stated that there is “no allegation in this indictment that any American had any knowledge” of the Russian effort.
For over a year, some of us have been questioning the weekly “bombshells” announced on cable programs of criminal Russian collusion. Indeed, for months I asked for someone to point to a crime of collusion in the criminal code or the criminal evidence to support a criminal indictment if such a related charge is made. With each week, experts have given breathless accounts of the circle of collusion tightening on the Trump campaign.
Now, the special counsel and the deputy attorney general are saying that there is no evidence of knowing interaction of campaign staff with Russians interfering with the election. The paucity of such evidence follows a year of intensive investigation and the much heralded plea bargains with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and campaign adviser George Papadopoulos and the expected plea with former campaign official Rick Gates. There is still no evidence of anyone “wittingly” or knowingly colluding with these Russians. Moreover, the indictment says that the Russian efforts began in 2014, long before the candidacy of Trump.


-- Jonathan Turley, "Russian Indictments Are Long On Chicanery and Short On Collusion" (THE HILL and JONATHANTURLEY.ORG).









Truest statement of the week II

There can be no discussion about Syria that does not put the United States at the center of the conflict. Absent American backing none of the other war makers would have ever dared to lift a finger. Barack Obama took the lead in the plot but then demurred against further escalation in the face of British faltering and perhaps his own fear of the outcome. Trump is surely the most pro-Israel in a long line of presidents. He goes along with the influential lobby with complete conviction.
Syria is not the only target in this effort. Iran is also in Trump’s crosshairs as he keeps alive the 40-year old campaign to destroy that country. Of course Israel is implicated in any anti-Iranian activity and as the only nuclear power in the region always poses great danger to the entire world.

The potential for conflict is ripe as the United States is determined to throw a wrench into any process that might lead to peace. Worse yet there is silence in the United States Congress and blatant warmonger cheerleading in the corporate media. Leftish Democrats who at one time could be counted on to at least ask questions are long gone. Supposed progressives like Bernie Sanders support war and Zionist members of the House of Representatives and Senate are happy to join Trump in supporting anything that Israel wants.


-- Margaret Kimberley, "Freedom Rider: U.S. Escalates Syrian War" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).













A note to our readers

Hey --

It's early Monday morning except on the West Coast where it's still Sunday.




Let's thank all who participated this edition which includes Dallas and the following:









The Third Estate Sunday Review's Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
Wally of The Daily Jot,
Trina of Trina's Kitchen, Marcia of SICKOFITRDLZ,
Stan of Oh Boy It Never Ends,
Isaiah of The World Today Just Nuts,
and Ann of Ann's Mega Dub.


And what did we come up with?


Jonathan Turley gets a truest.
Margaret Kimberley gets another truest.
Oh, look what happens when a War Machine tool thinks he can play honest broker.  No, it's not that easy.
Ava and C.I. were not going to write about the Winter Olympics.  They had other things to focus on.  They insisted.  Then we were working on a piece -- the rest of us -- about the Olympics and they'd chime in, well don't forget . . .  And then they'd add . . .  And finally I (Jim) convinced them to just write about it.  They did.  This is one of their greatest pieces -- a really high standard, I know.
Oh, Max Boot, if only your opinion was as important to the world as it is to you.
Jupiter.
The piece by the rest of us.  :D
No, the Academy Awards are not the only game around.
We really love this song.
It's coming up.
What you should have caught last week.
What we listened to while writing.
Press release from Senator Johnny Isakson.
From WSWS.

That's it.


Peace,





-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.




Editorial: The War Whores face global rebuke

Oh, look -- a VOTE VETSy though he could preach and preen and no one would say "F**k you!"

He was wrong, wasn't he?

He thought he was a hero but he was just another arm of the War Machine and the globe isn't willing to bow down and worship him.







Poor Little Will Fisher thinking we'd all be impressed with his bulls**t or the fact that he terrorized Iraq.

Poor little titty baby.

He's part of the problem and the world damn well knows it.

We'll care about you little Willie when you give a damn about Drone Control.  Until then you're just another huckster whoring for war.






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