“We’ve detected activity, and we have captured some U.S. citizens in undercover activities, in hidden activities, espionage, trying to win over people in towns along the Venezuelan coast, trying to win over people in some neighborhoods. In Táchira, we captured a pilot of a U.S. plane of Latin origin with all sorts of documentation.” — Nicolás Maduro, Democracy Now! March 3, 2015
All Posts News Politics and-or Videos
Matteo Salvini, Italy’s New Strongman by Gaither Stewart + Italian Government Closes Port to Migrants
by Gaither Stewart
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rome, Italy
June 14, 2018
As shown in the permissive attitude of Italians toward Fascism last century, also contemporary Italians perceive of a strong and charismatic leader as a shield against disorder and their inherent inclination toward anarchy. Someone to protect them against their own nature. Promises of more police and more security are reassuring to those Italians who see today’s enemy in immigrants and in the European Union with all its rules … including its Euro currency. When a legitimate government to control their inclination toward anarchy goes missing, some form of servility to a powerful individual returns. Strongmen emerge from that conundrum deep in the Italian psyche: anarchy or a strongman at the helm. Italy today seems to be following the same familiar old script.
Inequality, Social Dysfunction and Misery by Graham Peebles
by Graham Peebles
Writer, Dandelion Salad
London, England
June 10, 2018
Year on year the economic divisions and sub-divisions in the world deepen, the associated social ills increase: The rich, comfortable, and the very extremely rich keep getting richer, and the rest, well, whilst some may be raised up out of crippling poverty into relative poverty, the majority of people continue to live under a blanket of economic insecurity and largely remain where they are.
“Google Should Not Be In The Business of War”: Understanding the Weaponization of Artificial Intelligence by Marc Eliot Stein
Republished with permission from David Swanson at World Beyond War
by Marc Eliot Stein
World Beyond War
June 9, 2018
In early April, more than 3100 Google employees signed a letter that begins with the words “Google should not be in the business of war”. The letter is a response to the company’s participation in a new US Department of Defense artificial intelligence program called Project Maven, which it describes as a “customized AI surveillance engine” designed to interpret visual images from drones, and concludes with a powerful request from Google employees to their management:
Continue reading
Paul Street, Glen Ford, Chris Hedges, Bruce Dixon: Imagining an Authentic 21st Century U.S. Left (Left Forum 2018)
with Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
June 5, 2018
and with Glen Ford, Chris Hedges, Bruce Dixon
Other Voices, Other Choices on June 4, 2018
Event Organizer: Paul L. Street
Socialism: Our Alternative To The Madness Of The Market by Eric Ruder
Dandelion Salad
Originally published Sept. 2, 2012
by Eric Ruder
SocialistWorker.org, August 30, 2012
June 3, 2018
THE WORLD economy is still suffering from the worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Around the world, the consequences have been devastating–jobs wiped out, exploitation intensified for those who remain employed, social services eliminated or privatized.
Coups R US: American Regime Changes and Their Aftermaths
RT Documentary on May 16, 2018
In March of 1951, Jacobo Arbenz came to power in Guatemala after having been resoundingly elected by the people. A little more than three years later, he was forced to resign in the midst of armed intervention. His reforms to redistribute unused land to poor peasants had fallen afoul of the United Fruit Company, which owned and warehoused vast tracts of Guatemalan land. The American corporation solicited the US government to overthrow the populist president and the Eisenhower administration delivered with the help of the Department of State and CIA, which happened to be led by the Dulles brothers, who had strong ties to the company. Arbenz’ ousting put an end to democracy in Guatemala for decades and replaced it by military rule. A civil war followed several years later, resulting in the deaths of over 200,000 people. The country remains one of Latin America’s most impoverished to this day.
Creating Right Relationship by Graham Peebles
by Graham Peebles
Writer, Dandelion Salad
London, England
May 29, 2018
Within many areas of contemporary life there is a growing momentum for fundamental change. Inequality and injustice are being resolutely challenged and environments in which Right Relationships can evolve are being consistently and powerfully demanded. The establishing of right relationships is a principle hallmark of the unique times we are living in, it sits alongside those other perennial values of goodness: justice freedom and sharing; qualities that have been held deep within the hearts of humanity for eons though consistently denied and not expressed.
Of Fake News and History Suborned (In War and Peace) by Greg Maybury
by Greg Maybury
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Perth, Western Australia
Pox Amerikana, May 25, 2018
May 28, 2018
We have blind men, one-eyed men, squint-eyed men, men with long sight, short sight, clear sight, dim sight, [and] weak sight. All that is a faithful enough image of our understanding; but we are barely acquainted with [men of] false sight. — Voltaire, The Philosophical Dictionary, Knopf, NY, 1924
Abby Martin VS Edward Rodriguez on Peace and Paramilitaries in Colombia
with Abby Martin
teleSUR English on May 27, 2018
Colombia’s presidential election could determine the fate of the historic peace deal ending their 53-year civil war. While most in the country want to honor the agreement, Colombia’s right wing has been a fervent opponent.
Chris Hedges and John Kiriakou: The CIA Torture Program Was One of the Best Recruiting Tools for Al Qaeda
with Chris Hedges
Originally on RT America on May 26, 2018
The Chris Hedges YouTube Channel on Jul 6, 2022
John Kiriakou, CIA Whistleblower, discusses the atrocities of the CIA and its torture program.
Audit the Outlaw Military Budget by Ralph Nader
by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page, May 23, 2018
May 26, 2018
Top military, diplomatic, and political leaders have exposed, warned of, and condemned our runaway, unaudited military budgets for decades, to no avail. (For many examples, see America’s War Machine: Vested Interests, Endless Conflicts by James McCartney, with Molly Sinclair McCartney.) They usually come to the same desperate conclusion: that only organized citizens back in their Congressional Districts can make Congress stop this spending spree. Only us, Americans!
Corbyn or Bust? by William Bowles
by William Bowles
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Investigating Imperialism
London, England
May 25, 2018
I need to continue my previous essay, it remains woefully incomplete. I kinda hinted at it in the last para but never completed the thought.
The Corbyn Effect by William Bowles
by William Bowles
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Investigating Imperialism
London, England
May 23, 2018
Why should it be that in a climate that’s shifted so far to the right, that out of the morass that is contemporary Britain, there should emerge a politician who was shaped by and effectively still lives, in a world that no longer exists? It’s bizarre to say the least but how to explain it?
Women’s Draft? Sign Me Up To Abolish War by Rivera Sun + Feds Extend Deadline for Public Comments on Future Draft
by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Originally published June 21, 2016
May 22, 2018
For too long, the women of this nation have been complacent while our brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers are sent to kill, maim, brutalize, destroy and even die in defense of our alleged liberty.