Thank you to those of you who have contacted me asking about the podcast and my other work.  I am happy to announce that the Stop Imperialism podcast will be returning the week of July 15th, 2013.  I will be producing new episodes, as well more interviews which will be available in their entirety to the Stop Imperialism audience.

International Solidarity Movement | July 8, 2013

By Michael HoffmanIf the Koren translation of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz's Babylonian Talmud is as faithful to his text as was the Random House edition, and if all Steinsaltz volumes are printed, this will represent a milestone in the history of the publication of the Babylonian Talmud - the first complete edition in English which has not been redacted.A little more than half way through the project, Random House stopped publication of the uncensored Steinsaltz Talmud after printing 21 volumes and a "reference guide," for reasons never fully explained.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Struggle for Influence in SyriaBy Eric DraitserStopImperialism.comThis week’s resignationof Ghassan Hitto, the so-called “Prime Minister in waiting” of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, coupled with the July 6th election of Ahmed Assi al-Jarba to head the umbrella coalition o

*Product:  Something produced by human effort,  mechanical effort or by a natural process. A direct result; a consequence*Branding- A process involved in creating a unique name, image, term, symbol, designation for any product in a consumers' mind, mainly through media campaigns.*Rebranding- A process in which a new name, term, symbol, design, or combination thereof is created for an established brand with the intention of developing a new, differentiated identity in the minds of consumers.

A few nights ago, Ken explained-- via economist Dean Baker-- how "politicians are using old superstitions and deliberate lies to scare people away from the sort of fiscal stimulus that would get the economy back on track." And that, more than anything, is the bottom line of the slow recovery in the real economy.Roland just got back from Maine-- a trip that included a lot of driving and a lot of talk radio.

Palestine Information center – 08/07/2013

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — The Jerusalem Planning and Building Committee has approved the establishment of a new settlement park at the expense of Walaja village’s land in southern Jerusalem, Hebrew media sources said.

Mos Def participated in a demonstration of the force-feeding procedures that more than 40 Gitmo detainees on hunger strike are being subjected to everyday. It’s less pleasant than you probably imagined.

Robert Merry at The National Interest laments President Obama’s wishy-washy stance on the events in Egypt. Following the second overthrow of the government in as many years, “one might ask where Obama has stood on the momentous questions facing the Egyptian polity in recent days,” Merry writes. “The answer is that he has stood at various locations at various times—and hence nowhere at any time.”

Al-Manar | July 8, 2013

The new head of the opposition Syrian National Coalition said he expected advanced weapons supplied by Saudi Arabia to reach militant mercenaries soon, strengthening their currently weak military position.

Press TV – July 7, 2013

Brazil has expressed serious concerns over a report which says the United States has been spying on Brazilian companies and individuals for a decade.
Brazil’s O Globo newspaper reported on Sunday that the US National Security Agency (NSA) has collected data on billions of telephone and email conversations in the South American country.

RT | July 08, 2013

The recent NSA spying scandal showed the German government behaves towards US like a puppet regime, involving all major political parties just before the September elections, German journalist Manuel Ochsenreiter told RT.
RT: Let’s just discuss it now with the journalist  Manuel Ochsenreiter who is joining us from Berlin. Mr. Ochsenreiter, to what extent do you think Germany may have cooperated with the NSA?

[Reprinted with the author's permission.]
The few reporters and writers who remained at their posts over this sweltering July 4th weekend have been focused primarily on the events in Egypt, and there is relatively little new news about Iran, its nuclear program, and/or the prospects for war or peace. The events in Egypt, of course, have some bearing on events in Syria and thus with Iran, and I will address them below.

 The Real Egyptian Spring

                                                                      
   By Dr. Elias Akleh  -  Intifada Palestine
 

Press TV – July 8, 2013

An Israeli F-16 warplane has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea following an engine malfunction, the military says.
“An F-16 combat aircraft crashed earlier today in the sea after the engine malfunctioned,” an Israeli military spokesman said on Sunday.
The US-made F-16, which is Israel’s latest and most advanced warplane, crashed approximately 50 kilometers west of the Gaza Strip during a training flight.

The first time I spoke with Pennsylvania state Senator Daylin Leach, I was astounded. I asked him if he knows Alan Grayson. At the time they hadn't met. I was asking because I'm always looking for candidates who are something like Alan. No one is more like Alan-- and in so many profound and wonderful ways-- than Daylin. Both are what we would have called in my Brooklyn neighborhood "stand up guys"-- courageous, smart and dedicated to taking on the tough jobs and seeing them through.

Ministry of Defence of Georgia
July 4, 2013
Defence Cooperation launched between NATO Aspirant Nations
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“Upon the initiative of the Georgian side, a very important meeting has been arranged at the level of DCHODs of the Armed Forces of NATO aspirants today. By this meeting we practically laid the foundation for the quadrilateral cooperation which will further promote Armed Forces interoperability with NATO through joint trainings, exercises and different events…”
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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
Georges Duhamel: Selections on war
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Georges Duhamel
From The Heart’s Domain (La Possession du monde) (1919)
Translated by Eleanor Stimson Brooks

What the Media Isn’t Telling You About War in Syria
Rebel Child honors Bin Laden, promises slaughter of Shiites

The French denied it, and then acknowledged it: the Portuguese claimed "technical" reasons, the Spanish outright lied about it, and the Italians weren’t saying much: 48 hours after Bolivian President Evo Morales was "kidnapped by imperialism," as his Foreign Minister put it, and refused overflight rights upon returning from a conference in Moscow, the explanation [...]

The 30-year-old history of U.S. foreign policy: now, there’s a dynamite issue! Explosive, in fact. Far too dangerous, it turns out, for Americans to be informed about or have access to basic documents about – so you might conclude from a recent report at Steven Aftergood’s website Secrecy News. According to him, "A 1991 statute [...]

Looking at the banners in the massive Egyptian protests last week, we saw many anti-American slogans. Likewise, the Muslim Brotherhood-led government that was deposed by the military last week was very critical of what it saw as US support for the coup. Why is it that all sides in this Egyptian civil war seem so [...]

Kaye Beach of AxxiomForLiberty.com joins us to discuss her lawsuit attempting to stop biometric enrollment in government-issued ID. We discuss what biometrics are, how they are being used by government and law enforcement to track and surveil the population, and how her case could carve out a key legal precedent in the fight against the global adoption of biometric ID. You can find out more about her case, including a copy of her motion for summary judgement, at: ConstitutionalAlliance.org.

No one in the House Republican caucus thinks the man who befriended Muammar Qaddafi and lolled away his evenings at the Qaddafi family ranch, is any kind of threat to their political careers.Beltway Republicans expect M

At least 15 Iraqis were killed and seven more were wounded in scattered attacks. Soccer fans were again targeted.

Ministry of Defence of Georgia
July 4, 2013
South-Eastern Europe Defence Ministerial
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The purpose of the Ministerial is consolidation of cooperation between the countries of the region and facilitation of their NATO integration…
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Haaretz caption: Beitar Jerusalem fans holding the flag of the outlawed racist Kach party at Teddy Stadiumby KenProbably there will be a lot of Americans who bristle at the idea that Israelis have broken new ground with the discovery that bigotry is good for business.

Citizens in Moscow chanted “Long live  Russia and Syria” today as Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro attended a ceremony – naming a street after Hugo Chavez.
“Now I feel that Chavez will always stay with us”, said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro at the opening ceremony of the new Moscow street.

A Damascus-based newspaper, citing sources, has reported that Brigadier General and brother of President Bashar al-Assad, is commanding troops in the Homs and Aleppo theater of operations.
Maher al-Assad is reportedly a commander in the army’s Fourth Armoured Division. Much secrecy surrounds the makeup of the Syrian armed forces and the current order of battle – the report was leaked to the Damas Post newspaper.

Ahmadinejad calls out Obama

RTAmerica · August 2, 2010

Obama won't even acknowledge the military takeover from a legitimately-elected government in Egypt was a coup. And he claims the U.S. had nothing to do with it. U.S.

Sunday again, and time for my weekly rant.... I have started vacation as of today, so I will try to keep this one short and sweet...First, I am very happy to see my friend and colleague, Whitewraithe, back in the battle...

Another Israeli swimming pool caught refusing entry to Arab citizens

 
by Ali Abunimah  -  The Electronic Intifada
 
Israeli country club refuses entry to Arab citizen of Israel

By Noel Brinkerhoff | AllGov |July 07, 2013

When Customs and Border Protection (CPB) first got its drones, the rationale for the acquisition was that the unmanned aircraft would help improve monitoring and surveillance along the U.S.-Mexico border.

by KenIn Friday night's preview we revisited Beethoven's Choral Fantasy (for piano, soloists, chorus, and orchestra) and Liszt's Hungarian Fantasia (for piano and orchestra) in anticipation of turning our attention today to Max Bruch's Scottish Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra.With this installment we have concluded our survey of the three works of Bruch known to most music lovers.

Al-Akhbar | July 7, 2013

Two roadside bombs in Lebanon’s eastern Hermel region injured one woman and two army men Sunday, state news reported.
Lebanon’s National News Agency said Iman Nasreddine, was rushed to a hospital after an explosion hit her Honda CRV on a road that had previously been targeted by suspected militants with ties to Syria’s anti-government rebels.

First Mass Since Liberation of Al-Qusayr
A fifteen year-old girl living in Al-Qusayr was forced to marry fifteen Jabhat al-Nusra members, including their commander. All fifteen men raped her.

Press TV – July 7, 2013

A section of an Egyptian pipeline supplying gas to Israel and Jordan has been blown up in the Lehfin area south of the city of al-Arish in the Sinai Peninsula.
The attack on the gas pipeline occurred early on Sunday on two points on the pipeline and started fires, according to Egyptian officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The fires were extinguished, but the flow of gas was disrupted, they added.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
July 4, 2013
NATO and Japan explore opportunities to cooperate on emerging security challenges

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Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
Roger Martin du Gard: Selections on war
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Roger Martin du Gard
From Summer 1914 (1936)
Translated by Stuart Gilbert

By Gilad Atzmon | July 7, 2013 

Fascists love those military strongmenThere's always been a big audience-- and cheering section-- for fascism in the United States, which explains the popularity of the Wall Street Journal, not to mention Fox News and Hate Talk Radio.

RT | July 6, 2013

AT&T has announced that it will begin selling customers’ smart phone data to the highest bidder, putting the telecommunications giant in line with Verizon, Facebook and other competitors that quietly use a consumer’s history for marketing purposes.

Press TV – July 7, 2013

U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden said the National Security Agency (NSA) has massive spying partnerships with other Western states that are now grumbling about the agency’s surveillance programs.
He made the comments in an interview with U.S. cryptography expert Jacob Appelbaum and documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras before revealing the NSA’s internal and global surveillance programs last month.

♫Makin' a soundtrack for another planet to hear♫" on Episode066 - Things Will Change which features brand new sounds from Treetop Flyers, Mavis Staples, Mikal Cronin,

NewWorldNextWeek.com: Episode160 -
Independent's Day, Hacking Hypocrisy, Vatican Arrests
Welcome to New World Next Week - the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

Two days after a military coup ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Washington appeared deeply divided over how to respond to what most experts believe is a critical moment for future relations between the U.S. and political Islam both in Egypt and throughout the Middle East. On the one hand, some analysts are arguing that the [...]

In a recent interview Paul Craig Roberts, the former Reagan Deputy Treasury Secretary, said he thinks the Federal Reserve is giving Too Big To Jail banks inside information ahead of general press releases and statements in order to help them make money at our expense or as he said to increase their asset value.