2019-05-23: News Headlines

Adam Johnson (2019-05-23). Warren and Sanders Understand the Power of 'The Bad Guy'. commondreams.org Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren make a joint appearance on Capitol Hill during a 2017 news conference about health care reform. (Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/warrensanders2.jpeg

Mike Rhodes (2019-05-23). Reuniting for Peace and Justice – 50 Years of Resistance. indybay.org Unitarian Universalist Church at 2672 E Alluvial Ave in Fresno.

Khalil Bendib (2019-05-23). Dropping bombs for peace. nationofchange.org It became necessary to destroy world peace in order to save it.

Firas Samuri (2019-05-23). Turkish Army Pullout Will Bring Peace to Northern Syria? globalresearch.ca In mid-January 2018, the Turkish General Staff announced the beginning of Olive Branch Operation. The goal was to oust the Kurds from the outskirts of Afrin, as well as to create a buffer zone along the Syrian-Turkish border. | These steps …

Staff (2019-05-23). Deadly Protests Erupt in Indonesia as US-Trained Generals Wage War on Democracy. truthout.org In Indonesia, at least six people have died and hundreds have been injured after supporters of former military commander Prabowo Subianto took to the streets to protest his election defeat. The protests began after authorities announced President Joko Widodo — who is known as Jokowi — had won re-election after receiving 55% of the vote. Prabowo has refused to concede and is preparing to challenge the results. We speak to journalist Allan Nairn, who recently returned from Indonesia. | TRANSCRIPT: | NERMEEN SHAIKH: We begin today's show in Indonesia, where at least six people have died and hu…

Democracy Now! (2019-05-23). Leaked OPCW Report Raises New Questions About 2018 Chemical Attack in Douma, Syria. democracynow.org The State Department said Tuesday that the Syrian government may have used chemical weapons during recent fighting in Idlib. The State Department warned that the United States and its allies would respond quickly and appropriately if it is determined that chemical weapons have been used. This all comes as new questions are being raised about an alleged chemical weapons attack in the city of Douma last year. The Syrian government was accused of dropping two gas cylinders on the city, killing dozens of people. The U.S. and allies responded by carrying out airstrikes. But a newly leaked internal document from the Or…

Telesur (2019-05-23). Risk of Nuclear War Now Highest Since World War 2: UN. globalresearch.ca The Director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Renata Dwan, warned that all states with nuclear weapons are pushing for weapon modernization programs, while arms control regulations are changing or fading. | The Director of the U.N. Institute …

WSWS (2019-05-23). New Haven teachers strike enters fourth day. wsws.org To carry their struggle forward, New Haven teachers must break free from the pro-Democratic Party teachers' unions, which are preparing to sell them out in the same manner as in Los Angeles, Oakland and Sacramento.

WSWS (2019-05-23). Workers and young people warn about the mounting social crisis. wsws.org "The most important thing for me is jobs, security and the economy—we need real action on jobs."

Andrew J. Bacevich (2019-05-23). The Only Place in America Remembering the War on Terror. thenation.com The Only Place in America Remembering the War on Terror…

Staff (2019-05-23). The Town Where Presidents Should Be Forced to Confront "Forever Wars" truthout.org Earlier this month, I spent a day visiting Marseilles to videotape a documentary about recent American military history, specifically the ongoing wars that most of us prefer not to think about. | Lest there be any confusion, let me be more specific. I am not referring to Marseilles (mar-SAY), France, that nation's largest port and second largest city with a population approaching 900,000. No, my destination was Marseilles (mar-SAYLZ), Illinois, a small prairie town with a population hovering around 5,000. | Our own lesse…

William Manson (2019-05-23). Greedy Old Plutocrats (and Their Secret War on the Young!). dissidentvoice.org In his book Totem and Taboo, Sigmund Freud indulged in a speculative scenario for the origins of society. Everyone, young and old alike, once lived together in a "primal horde"— ruled by an aging, domineering father-figure, who selfishly monopolized the women for his own satisfaction. But one day (so to speak), the deprived "sons" defiantly …

Jason Ditz (2019-05-23). US Might Send 10,000 More Troops to Middle East. theantimedia.com (ANTIWAR.COM) — Citing ongoing US-Iran tensions and the secret intelligence on Iranian "threats" officials keep mentioning, CENTCOM is requesting that the Pentagon approve substantial numbers of additional US ground troops to be deployed somewhere in the Middle East. Though initial reports claimed that CENTCOM was only requesting "about 5,000" ground troops, subsequent reports said that the Pentagon are preparing …

Jessica Corbett, staff writer (2019-05-23). Ocasio-Cortez and Warren Have Some Tough Questions for Mnuchin About the Collapse of Sears. commondreams.org Two high-profile Democrats have questions for Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about his role in the downfall of Sears as a former member of the retailer's board of directors, and his possible role in government decisions about the company. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/aoc-warren.jpg

Staff (2019-05-23). Chris Hedges Honored by American Academy of Arts and Letters. truthdig.com On Wednesday, the American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges one of eight prizes for his contributions to American literature. Other winners include University of California, Berkeley professor Robert Alter, poet and activist Marilyn Chin, novelist Siri Hustvedt, playwright Matthew Lopez, fiction writer John McManus, poet and author Eileen Myles and playwright Lauren Yee. | "Chris Hedges's big, brash, impassioned voice is a reviving tonic, an accelerant to our weary spirit's fresh resolve to confront the powerful institutional atta…

Staff (2019-05-23). Trump Administration Wants to Fund More "Clean Coal" Failures. truthout.org In April, the Department of Justice informed Southern Company that it was under investigation "related to the Kemper County energy facility" in Mississippi, where Southern had spent $7.5 billion, including hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds from the Department of Energy, trying to build a coal-fired power plant that would capture carbon emissions. | Former engineers and officials from the Kemper plant have described evidence of possible intentional fraud at the construction project, alleging that the company knew of design flaws early on but pressed forward with the project in the hopes that costs could be…

WSWS (2019-05-23). The rise of the Brexit Party and how to fight it. wsws.org Nigel Farage is intent on portraying the European elections, which will see a massive abstention, as a plebiscite on Brexit and a weapon against any move towards a second referendum.

Venezuela Analysis (2019-05-23). Maduro Proposes Early Elections for Venezuela's National Assembly. theantimedia.com (VA) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro proposed holding early parliamentary elections as a way to defuse the country's political crisis. "Let's see who gets the most votes! Let's find a political, constitutional and democratic path forward," Maduro said at the end of a march on Monday commemorating the anniversary of his reelection on May 20, 2018 to …

Ruth Milka (2019-05-23). 'Extraordinarily concerned' Elizabeth Warren demands answers from the Trump administration on the deaths of migrant children. nationofchange.org Elizabeth Warren is taking action after two more children died in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody this past week. | "I have been and continue to be extraordinarily concerned about this administration's treatment of immigrant children, " writes Warren in her letter, addressed John P. Sanders, acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. | "The deaths of five children who had been in CBP care in six months are appalling,"

Staff (2019-05-23). AOC and Warren Have Some Tough Questions for Mnuchin About Sears's Collapse. truthout.org Two high-profile Democrats have questions for Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about his role in the downfall of Sears as a former member of the retailer's board of directors, and his possible role in government decisions about the company. | Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), who is also a 2020 presidential candidate, released a video Thursday in which they outline the details of a letter (p…

RT (2019-05-23). SpaceX sues US Air Force for awarding lucrative contracts to 'paper rocket' builders like Bezos. rt.com Elon Musk's SpaceX is taking the US government to court over what it claims was an "arbitrary and capricious" move to favor its rivals, including Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, with multimillion contracts and turn down SpaceX's bid.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2019-05-23). Monsanto, Scientific Deception and Cancer. globalresearch.ca Money may not be able to buy the purest love, but it can buy the best, life-ending cancer. For Monsanto, giant of rule and misrule in matters of genetically modified crops, known for bullying practices towards farmers, things have not …

kathy_f (2019-05-23). Scientists call for action from new government. greenleft.org.au More than 60 scientists and experts have signed an open letter to the next Parliament of Australia, calling for the government to make urgent action on climate change a top priority for the 46th Parliament of Australia. | Prominent signatories of the open letter include: Nobel Prize winners Professor Peter Doherty AC and Dr Sue Wareham OAM, former Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley AC, former Chief Scientist for Australia Professor Penny Sackett and many of Australia's leading scientist…

Robert J. Burrowes (2019-05-23). Understanding NATO, Ending War. counterpunch.org On 4 April 2019, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, better known as NATO, marked the 70th anniversary of its existence with a conference attended by the foreign ministers of member nations in Washington DC. This will be complemented by a meeting of the heads of state of member nations in London next December. Coinciding with More

Democracy Now! (2019-05-23). Allan Nairn: Deadly Protests Erupt in Indonesia as U.S.-Trained Generals Wage a War on Democracy. democracynow.org In Indonesia, at least six people have died and hundreds have been injured after supporters of former military commander Prabowo Subianto took to the streets to protest his election defeat. The protests began after authorities announced President Joko Widodo—who is known as Jokowi—had won re-election after receiving 55% of the vote. Prabowo has refused to concede and is preparing to challenge the results. We speak to journalist Allan Nairn, who recently returned from Indonesia.

Khubaka, Michael Harris (2019-05-23). A New Way Forward: 2019 California Juneteenth Celebration. indybay.org Today, let us consider an authentic California Juneteenth narrative for the next 170 years that no longer values a manifest destiny "white man only" enslavement and genocide conversation mandated by the original 1849 California State Constitution.

WSWS (2019-05-23). Washington revives Syria chemical weapons propaganda as pretext for war. wsws.org The threat of a new US attack on Syria follows a report exposing the last chemical weapons incident attributed to the Syrian government as a staged provocation.

Stephen Lendman (2019-05-23). Hardball Trump Regime Tactics Against China Doomed to Fail. globalresearch.ca Washington's geopolitical agenda is based on the notion that it can prevail against other nations by pressuring, bullying, warning, and intimidating them to bow to its interests. | It works against some countries, by no means not all, notably not in …

WSWS (2019-05-23). The Indian elections and the fight to free the Maruti Suzuki class war prisoners. wsws.org Completely blacked out from the election campaign has been any discussion of the plight of the 13 Maruti Suzuki workers who have been jailed for life on frame-up murder charges.

pip.hinman (2019-05-23). Brazil: More than 1 million take to the streets. greenleft.org.au A nationwide education strike on May 15 became the platform for the biggest anti-government protests since President Jair Bolsonaro took power. | More than 1 million people demonstrated, some estimating up to 2 million. Protests brought together unions, academics, teachers, students, campaign groups, political parties and other diverse factions — the birth of a movement, and the strongest display of left unity in Brazil in decades, on a scale that took many by surprise. | This is a battle for the country's future: it is the beginning of the fightback against Bolsonaro's war on education — a needless w…

Scott Ritter (2019-05-23). The U.S. Stands to Lose Much More Than a War With Iran. truthdig.com An invasion of the Strait of Hormuz would devastate the U.S. military, but it's America's position in the world that may never recover.

South Front (2019-05-23). Preparations for War: NATO Intelligence Activity Around Russia's Borders. globalresearch.ca In addition to the militarization of Eastern Europe, NATO partakes in active intelligence operations — be it by land, sea and air. | There are numerous reports of various intelligence (spy) aircraft going and even entering Russian airspace, and the …

Middle East Eye (2019-05-23). US Calls for Syrian Ceasefire as Chemical Attack Claim Quickly Countered. theantimedia.com (MEE) — A war monitor has countered US suspicions of a Syrian government chemical attack, as a senior American official called for a ceasefire amid heavy fighting in northwestern Syria. Washington late on Tuesday said it had seen signs that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack, …

Cathy Breen (2019-05-23). So Many Wars: Remembering Friends in Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Kurdistan and Turkey. counterpunch.org It's been so long since I have written, that I don't know where to begin. I pick up a binder and begin scanning through past "Dear Friends" letters. As I read, memories of trips to Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Kurdistan and Turkey begin to flood my consciousness. So many beautiful faces and stories. So many years More

RT (2019-05-23). How well do you know the War on Terror? (QUIZ). rt.com Thursday marks six years since then US President Barack Obama declared that the 'War on Terror' was over. Alas the rise of ISIS quickly had Obama backtracking on that pronouncement and the war has now raged for nearly 18 years.

Jake Johnson (2019-05-23). As 2020 Democrats cozy up to Wall Street donors, Warren and Sanders refuse to play big-money game. nationofchange.org Many 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls have reportedly been spending a significant chunk of their time on the trail cozying up to Wall Street executives and raking in checks at big-dollar events across the nation.

pip.hinman (2019-05-23). Italian dock strike blocks deadly cargo headed for Saudi Arabia. greenleft.org.au Italian dock workers halted the loading of a deadly cargo of weapons bound for Saudi Arabia in Genoa on March 20 as they demanded Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Salvini "open the ports to people and close them to arms". | Trade unionists and activists hailed "working-class internationalism" as they stopped the Saudi ship Bahri Yanbu loading drones and other equipment that would be used in its devastating war on Yemen. | They called their action a "historic act of solidarity". | Members of the CGiL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) union united with activists from Potero al Popolo (PaP, Power to the Peop…

Consortiumnews (2019-05-23). The Pathology of John Bolton. consortiumnews.com John Bolton has been saying for years he wants the Iranian government overthrown, and now he's made his move. But this time he may have gone too far, writes Joe Lauria. By Joe Lauria Special to Consortium News I knew… Read more →

UUSF Forum (2019-05-23). Gloria La Riva and Silvio Rodrigues: "Eyewitness Venezuela" indybay.org First Unitarian Universalist Church | 1187 Franklin St. @ Geary | San Francisco, Calif.

Jeff Faux (2019-05-23). Why Are Leading Democrats Supporting Trump on Venezuela? thenation.com Why Are Leading Democrats Supporting Trump on Venezuela?

Staff (2019-05-23). Guaidó Out of Gas (1/2 ). therealnews.com After several failed US-backed coup attempts, Juan Guaidó sent an envoy to Oslo to explore talks with the government. Former Chief of Staff to Nicolás Maduro, Temir Porras, joins Sharmini Peries for analysis…

Eds. (2019-05-23). Guaido "hires" an economic hitman (Venezuelan debt). mronline.org Washington's actions in August 2017 drove Venezuela out of the international financial system and disabled the country from issuing debt for purposes of refinancing the debt acquired in previous years, as well as using foreign banks. | Source

Staff (2019-05-23). Guaidó Out of Gas (2/2 ). therealnews.com The US has failed its regime change venture in Venezuela. Former Chief of Staff to Nicolás Maduro, Temir Porras joins Sharmini Peries for analysis…

plenglish (2019-05-23). Venezuelan NCA Will Revoke Immunity of Opposition Lawmakers. plenglish.com Caracas, May 23 (Prensa Latina) The speaker of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, announced on Thursday that this constitutional body will revoke parliamentary immunity to a new group of opposition lawmakers who participated in the failed coup attempt of April 30.

Alexander Rubinstein (2019-05-23). From Golden Boy to Total Failure: The Media Trajectory of Juan Guaido. theantimedia.com (MPN) — At first, Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido was characterized by the mainstream media as the eighth wonder of the world. But now, after his failed military revolt, it seems 'Coupbama' (as Guaido is known) is being treated more harshly by the press. In the immediate aftermath of the attempted military coup, the mainstream media …

teleSUR (2019-05-23). Brazil: Bolsonaro Modified Decree Easing Assault Rifle Sales. telesurenglish.net Due to public and political pushback in Brazil, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was forced to soften his previous executive decree and prohibits the sale of rifles and shotguns to the public. | RELATED: | Brazil Loosens Gun Control, Civilians Can Own Military Rifles | Under the newest proposal, revised from the original May 8 decr…

teleSUR (2019-05-23). EU Parliament Elections: A Far-right Takeover? telesurenglish.net The next election of the European Parliament will be held from May 23 to 26, marking the ninth parliamentary vote since the first direct elections in 1979. A total of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be chosen to represent a population of more than 512 million people from the EU's 28 member states. | RELATED | Far-right Parties Could Double Seats in EU Vote With Steve Bannon's Puppeteering: Poll | These elections will mark a precedent in…

plenglish (2019-05-23). Suicide in Black Youth and Teenagers in Brazil more than in Whites. plenglish.com Brasilia, May 23 (Prensa Latina) Black youth and adolescents in Brazil are more likely to commit suicide nowadays than whites, according to a study by the Ministry of Health, reported by the news portal G1.

Santa Cruz News (2019-05-23). Council Proposal Recognizes Lynching of Francisco Arias and José Chamales as 'Act of Racial Terror'. indybay.org On May 14 the Santa Cruz City Council passed a motion to request a recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission (for return to the August 13th City Council meeting for action) for the placement of a historic plaque on Water Street Bridge recognizing the lynching of Francisco Arias and José Chamales. The men, who were Californios, Spanish speaking Mexican and Native American men, were lynched on the bridge on May 2, 1877, shortly after their arrest on murder charges. "The lynching was, far more than anything else, an act of racial terror," wrote Councilmembers Sandy Brown, Drew Glover and Chris Krohn i…

WSWS (2019-05-23). New Zealand media to censor coverage of Christchurch terrorist's trial. wsws.org Corporate and state media have agreed to self-censorship of Tarrant's trial in order to obscure the connection between his views and the xenophobia promoted by the ruling class internationally.