The U.S. Ruling Class Will Never Allow America’s Wars To End + Neoliberalism Is Going To Keep Us In A Perpetual Health Crisis, by Rainer Shea

Image by Infinite Ache via Flickr

by Rainer Shea
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rainer Shea: Anti-Imperialist Journalist, July 1, 2020
July 6, 2020

This last week, U.S. intelligence officials and their allies in the corporate media spread the evidence-free claim that Russia has put bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. This propaganda campaign was both an attempt to reinforce anti-Russian sentiment, and a subtle way to manufacture consent for the ongoing Afghanistan war. Which prompts one to ask: why is the empire so committed to perpetuating war? Why haven’t any of the wars it’s started since 9/11 been ended, and why does it evidently have every intention of making sure they don’t end?

The Democrats’ Disastrous, Militarist Climate Plan, by David Swanson

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
July 5, 2020

The habitability of the earth and the viability of lesser evilism are on the ropes, and incrementalism is thriving even in the current moment of increased activism for radical change. Just take a look at the new “Climate Crisis Action Plan” from the Democratic Party’s Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

Chris Hedges: The Nature of Patriotism

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Jul 4, 2020

On the show this week, Chris Hedges discusses the nature of patriotism with West Point graduate and US Army combat veteran, Danny Sjursen.

I’m Sick and Tired of This Thing Called “Patriotism” by William Blum

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by William Blum
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Originally published July 5, 2010
July 4, 2020

Some thoughts on “patriotism” written on July 4

Most important thought: I’m sick and tired of this thing called “patriotism”.

The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from “communism”.

Christian Sorensen: Military Contract Literacy

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Christian Sorensen
Writer, Dandelion Salad
July 3, 2020

C.P. Sorensen on Jun 27, 2020

I analyze three military contracts from Friday, 26 June 2020, and explain some features of the U.S. military-industrial-congressional triangle (popularly known as the military-industrial complex).

Put Away The Flags by Howard Zinn

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by Howard Zinn
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Originally published July 3, 2010
July 3, 2020

On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed.

Deep State Bounty Hunters + Russia Bounty-Hunter Story Another Pulp Fiction Release, by Finian Cunningham

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by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Sputnik, June 30, 2020
July 2, 2020

The media firestorm over alleged Russian intelligence collusion with Afghan militants to kill US troops has the hallmarks of a psy-ops orchestrated by America’s Deep State.

BlackRock’s Rise Shows the Dark Direction of Monopoly Capitalism, by Rainer Shea

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

by Rainer Shea
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rainer Shea: Anti-Imperialist Journalist, June 30, 2020
July 1, 2020

Matt Taibbi concluded that the 2008 Wall Street bailout had “built a banking system that discriminates against community banks, makes Too Big to Fail banks even Too Bigger to Failier, increases risk, discourages sound business lending and punishes savings by making it even easier and more profitable to chase high-yield investments than to compete for small depositors.” In this post-crash environment, the largest financial institutions gained more of a hegemonic grip than ever, with the five biggest banks having come to own almost half the industry by 2015.

13th

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

Netflix on Apr 17, 2020

Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay’s examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country’s history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.

The Russian Menace and the Dangers of Believing the New York Times, by David Swanson

Image by Paula Funnell via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy, June 28, 2020
June 29, 2020

The New York Times claims that Russia offered to pay Afghans to kill U.S. (and allied) troops. It does not claim that any payments were made. It does not claim that any troops were killed. It does not claim that any impact was had on anything. It does not name its sources. It does not offer any evidence other than the supposed assertions of nameless government officials. It does not offer any justification for not naming them. It does not provide the context of all the years the U.S. government spent arming and funding Afghans to kill Russians, nor all the more recent years during which the U.S. military has been both the enemy of the Taliban and its top funding source (or at least second to opium). It promotes the ridiculous and debunked Russiagate notion that Trump is too kind to Russia.

Abby Martin: Afghanistan War Exposed—Part 2: An Imperial Conspiracy

Image by Debra Sweet via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Abby Martin

Empire Files on June 26, 2020

Abby Martin covers the whole truth about the Afghanistan War, from the CIA construct of the 80’s through today’s senseless stalemate. Two decades, three administrations, tens of thousands of lives; it’s time to #EndTheForeverWar.

Chris Hedges: Ramifications For Press Freedom In Julian Assange Extradition

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr
Watch the video below

Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Jun 27, 2020

On the show this week, Chris Hedges discusses the extradition hearing of Julian Assange with lawyer, author and professor, Marjorie Cohn.

Imperialism Won’t Be Over After The U.S. Empire Falls + Covid-19 Commercialism Is About Undermining Social Cohesion, by Rainer Shea

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Rainer Shea
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rainer Shea: Anti-Imperialist Journalist, June 20, 2020
June 26, 2020

Underneath the bluster of a Trump administration that still acts like the United States is the world hegemon, the ruling class is working to pragmatically respond to the loss of America’s status as a dominant power. In 2017 the Pentagon put out a report that admitted American global influence is rapidly declining, and now that the U.S. is sure to soon lose its superpower status, the corporatocracy has to address this issue.

Roger Waters: Threat of Nuclear War is Real + Two Suns in the Sunset

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Dandelion Salad

goingundergroundRT on Jun 25, 2020

We speak to legendary former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters. He discusses the threat of nuclear war in 2020, why he believes nuclear weapons need to be abolished across the world, the Black Lives Matter protests which have swept the world since George Floyd’s murder at the hands of US police, the history of the British Empire which is under increased scrutiny, the United States’ regime change attempt in Venezuela against Nicolas Maduro, Israel’s coming illegal annexation of Palestine’s West Bank, the revelations that Julian Assange had fathered two children during his time in the Ecuadorean Embassy and more! He plays us out with ‘Two Suns in the Sunset’.

United States of Distraction: Fighting The Fake News Invasion, Narrated by Abby Martin

Image by Stuart Rankin via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Abby Martin

ProjectCensored on Jun 4, 2020

Student shot and produced, United States of Distraction: Fighting The Fake News Invasion chronicles critical media literacy and faculty experts, students, and media makers whom provide contextual analysis for understanding the current rise of the so-called “fake news” phenomenon. In addition to deconstructing fake news, the film reminds us that this is not a new development, but rather, a form of propaganda. The interviews provided in the film offer solutions for mitigating the pernicious influence of false content on America’s democratic institutions. Edited narrated by Abby Martin.