Daily Archives: October 12, 2020

2020-10-12: News Headlines

Michael T. Klare (2020-10-12). The Nuclearization of American Diplomacy. counterpunch.org On August 21st, six nuclear-capable B-52H Stratofortress bombers, representing approximately one-seventh of the war-ready U.S. B-52H bomber fleet, flew from their home base in North Dakota to Fairford Air Base in England for several weeks of intensive operations over Europe. Although the actual weapons load of those giant bombers was kept secret, each of them is capable of carrying eight AGM-86B nuclear-armed, air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) in its bomb bay.

sputniknews (2020-10-11). Video: Hooded Youths Launch Fireworks at Cars and Residents in Sheffield. sputniknews.com Bonfire Night in the United Kingdom is known for its extravagant fireworks displays and burning effigies. However, in the days running up to the event, when personal fireworks are sold prolifically, they are often used by gangs as weapons, leading to chaos in the streets in recent years.

Thomas Meisenhelder (2020-10-11). Declining American Hegemony Could Be A Good Thing. commondreams.org We spend more on weapons of war than any other country in the world. Researchers at Brown University have found that since the horror of 9/11, the so-called "war on terrorism" has killed 800,000, displaced 37,000,000, and cost taxpayers $6.4 trillion. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/us-empire-2_0_0.jpeg

WSWS (2020-10-10). Thirty years of German unity: Berlin increases military spending, incites nationalism and war. wsws.org The defence minister made no secret of the fact that Germany is arming itself with the deadliest weapons in order to wage war around the world in defence of its economic and geostrategic interest—increasingly against its erstwhile allies.

sputniknews (2020-10-10). Saudi Coalition Destroys Explosive Drone Launched by Houthis Towards Saudi Arabia – SPA. sputniknews.com Attacks involving drones or missiles are frequently reported by the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebel group, as Yemen continues to be engulfed in an armed conflict between government forces led by the president, Hadi, and Houthi militants.

John Feffer (2020-10-09). Nukes and North Korea: a New Direction. counterpunch.org North Korea's acquisition of nuclear weapons has changed the nuclear balance in Northeast Asia. But it hasn't altered the way politicians and diplomats approach the question of arms control and disarmament in the region. The debate among influencers continues to revolve around two versions of "more of the same." Containment advocates argue that North Korea

Stephen Lendman (2020-10-09). US Sanctions: Weapons of War by Other Means on Targeted Nations. globalresearch.ca When unilaterally imposed by one nation on others, sanctions have no legal validity. | Along with color revolutions, old-fashioned coups, and assassinations, US sanctions are a favored tactic. | When imposed, they're all about seeking to weaken nations economically. | They also aim …

WSWS (2020-10-09). Fed officials warn of "recessionary dynamic" setting in. wsws.org The overriding concern of the Fed is that unless more stimulus is provided the measures it has taken to bailout Wall Street, amounting to trillions of dollars, will not be sufficient.

MEE correspondent (2020-10-08). Iranian press review: Revolutionary Guard equips speed boats with suicide drones. middleeasteye.net Iranian press review: Revolutionary Guard equips speed boats with suicide drones | Meanwhile, the Shahrvand daily interviews a former death row inmate and Iran sets new record for daily coronavirus deaths | Thu, 10/08/2020 – 13: 01 | This handout photo provided by Iran's IRGC official website via SEPAH News on 23 September 2020 shows speed boats carrying drones during a ceremony in Iran…

Gordon Duff (2020-10-08). NEO: Will it be Biden and Putin, Making the New World? thealtworld.com The current situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan has shown the world the dangers of secret pacts and ancient grudges, as a new "August 1914" moves toward reality. | As early as 2012, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and the Gulf States began arming al Qaeda and ISIS, deploying them against both Syria and Iraq. | Other nations aided as well, not just the US, France and Britain. There was also Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania and, above all, Ukraine. | We will cover the backstory on this but what is clear is this, the Trump era replacement for NATO, where supposed enemies work in concert seamlessly, presents challenges…

_____ (2020-10-08). Dangerous Use Of Crowd-Control Weapons Against Protestors And Medics. popularresistance.org Portland, OR – Regardless of where we are, we are living in a reign of violence in which "we can't breathe." We are witnessing a global downward trend in terms of respect for fundamental human rights, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. In most parts of the world, the human rights environment is radically transforming in a way that brings into question the basic concept of human rights: holding, possessing, claiming, and asserting rights legally as a human being. This deterioration in the human rights environment has accelerated over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aaron Maté (2020-10-07). OPCW Syria whistleblower and ex-OPCW chief attacked by US, UK, France at UN. thegrayzone.com At the UN Security Council, the US, UK and France were confronted with testimony from OPCW whistleblower Ian Henderson and ex-OPCW chief Jose Bustani that challenged the rationale for their bombing of Syria in April 2018. They responded by attacking and silencing the witnesses. Aaron Maté recaps the extraordinary events. Ian Henderson, a veteran OPCW inspector who challenged a cover-up of his organization's investigation of an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria, recently testified before the United Nations Security Council. …