Russian troops are in Ukraine, and Putin is the man. What is the first order of business for an installed puppet dictator? Comply with the IMF of course. Obama is weak, and Greenwald loves him …

Heads-up, veterans of the nuclear freeze movement in the US, the anti-Euromissile campaigns in Western Europe, and the various anti-nuclear weapons efforts in New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Incoming. We spent much of the eighties resisting Ronald Reagan’s new Cold War, and his new nuclear weapons of all shapes and sizes. We pushed back against […]

Originally posted at TomDispatch. Washington and Kabul have, for endless months, been performing a strange pas de deux over the issue of American withdrawal. Initially, the Obama administration insisted that if, by December 31, 2013, Afghan President Hamid Karzai didn’t sign a bilateral security agreement the two sides had negotiated, the U.S. would have to […]

In assessing the motives and actions of Vladimir Putin, Hillary Clinton compared them to Adolf Hitler’s. Almost always a mistake. After 12 years in power, Hitler was dead, having slaughtered millions and conquered Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals. And Putin? After 13 years in power, and facing a crisis in Ukraine, he directed […]

It doesn't surprise me that all Republicans-- including fake "moderates" like Susan Collins, Dean Heller, Kelly Ayotte and Mark Kirk-- voted against confirming Debo Adegbile as head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

At least 82 people were killed and 176 were wounded across Iraq today. Most of the casualties were civilians. A series of bombings once again took place in Baghdad province, but there were significant blasts in nearby cities as well.

321 – Emperor Constantine I decrees that the dies Solis Invicti (sun-day) is the day of rest in the Empire.
1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte captures Jaffa in Palestine and his troops proceed to kill more than 2,000 Albanian captives.
1814 – Emperor Napoleon I of France wins the Battle of Craonne.
1876 – Alexander Graham Bell is granted a patent for an invention he calls the telephone.
1900 – The German liner SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse becomes the first ship to send wireless signals to shore.

Ukraine, Analysis of the Situation in Crimea:Accompanying the rolling of eyes and disbelief that was felt when I heard John Kerry utter what must have destroyed at least a little bit of his soul (or what’s left of it), namely the castigation of Russia for ‘invading a country under phony pretext’ which so obviously harkens back to the barbarism of the 19thcentury (was this not also the time when the fruits of the still fresh ideologies of the Enlightenment began to be realized, not to mention the abolition of slavery throughout Europe and America?), was the disbelieving and disapproving shak

By Finian Cunningham  |  Strategic Culture Foundation | March 6, 2014

Okay, this isn't exactly the "punch line" of a "joke," but it's sort-of. And we're going to work our way backwards, starting with the sort-of punch line and working back to what the hell the whole thing is about. Just trust me here, please.

John Nichols interviews Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who’s considering running for president in 2016; it’s great news for progressives…Click here for free audiobook download from Audible, and they’ll kick in 15 bucks to the PBC Podcast!
–read the Nichols-Sanders interview here.
–Obama denounces Crimean separation, spins Kiev govt as legit, democratic; hear an excerpt from Robert Parry interview on the Neocon role in Ukraine

March 7, 2014 (Tony Cartlucci - New Eastern Outlook) - Like the West’s support of sectarian terrorists across the Middle East, including Al Qaeda, it has found the most despicable elements in Ukrainian society to lead “revolution” for the sociopolitical reordering of Eastern Europe. As the dust settles and the West’s proxy regime finds itself safely entrenched in Kiev, Ukraine – the Western media can now finally recuperate some of its lost legitimacy after months of denying the obvious – that armed Neo-Nazis led

#Narconoia Update | Since the arrest of El Chapo on February 22, the facts of the operation and the lead-up to the bust have come into better focus. Update includes: Chapo Continues to Make Headlines, News from the Constitution-Free Zone, and Madness in Michoacan

By Judith Curry | Climate Etc. | March 5, 2014

Nic Lewis and Marcel Crok have published a new report on climate sensitivity.

Ryan Dawson of The ANC Report joins us once again to discuss the Ukraine crisis and the failures of coverage of the event in both the mainstream and alternative media. We talk about the history of Ukraine and how it provides important context to the current events. We also discuss the tendency of some alternative media to paint Putin as the "good guy" in a simplistic good guy / bad guy narrative and reflect on how we can avoid the either / or trap.

By Mike Masnick | Techdirt | March 6, 2014

The US Supreme Court has opened the door to expanded police abuses and violations of the constitutional rights of ordinary Americans.
It ruled that police can enter a person’s home or other dwelling without his/her consent, representing the worrying trend of the ever-growing police state apparatus in the United States.

Progressives understand this; conservatives don'tAn old friend of mine, Bertis Downs, who has shared some insights into education policy with us before, just wrote a letter to President Obama about the impact of his administration’s standardized test-based policies. Bertis said it was OK to share it here.

Welcome to http://NewWorldNextWeek.com — the video series from Corbett Report and Media Monarchy that covers some of the most important developments in open source intelligence news. This week:

The entire story that the presstitutes have told about the Ukraine is a propaganda production. The presstitutes told us that the deposed president, Viktor Yanukovych, ordered snipers to shoot protesters. On the basis of these false reports, Washington’s stooges, who comprise the existing non-government in Kiev, have issued arrest orders for Yanukovych and intend for him to be tried in an international court.

Always one of the craziest media circuses on the calendar, CPAC opens today at National Harbor, Maryland. Chris Christie waddled up to the podium about an hour late-- after lead-off candidates Ted Cruz, who talked about term, limits, "petrotyrants" (though not the Koch brothers) and abolishing the IRS, and Paul Ryan, who talked about being Irish. Although he conspicuously not invited last year-- too kissy-kissy with the demonized Obama-- the martyrdom of being caught breaking the law has made him a much sought after celebrity in Crazy Conservative World this year.

Fight Back - Ask your Senator and Representative to support the "Postal Service Protection Act" that has been introduced by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D., Ore.) in the House, and by Sen. Bernie Sanders (Independent, VT) in the Senate. The House bill has 174 co-sponsors. The Senate bill has 27 co-sponsors.__________________________Save the Postal ServiceBy  Sen.

Interfax
March 6, 2014
Putin hosts Russian Security Council session addressing Ukraine situation
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has hosted a Russian Security Council conference addressing the situation in Ukraine, taking into account the Crimean Supreme Council’s Thursday decision on preparing Crimea’s accession to Russia, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told Interfax.

Russian Information Agency Novosti
March 6, 2014
Russia Starts Massive Air Defense Drills Amid Crimea Standoff
MOSCOW: Russia’s Western Military District has begun large-scale air defense drills at its southern testing range of Kapustin Yar on the backdrop of further escalation of tensions with the West over Ukraine.

by Judith Curry http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/02/19/a-perspective-on-the-california-d… look for Tom McClellan email http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/021414-690216-failure-to-use-w… http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/02/california-drought-is-not-rel…

by Judith Curry The Lewis and Crok paper is stimulating much discussion; unfortunately little of it is technical.  Lets devote a thread to technical discussion on the issues the raise. Ed Hawkins’ blog At Ed Hawkins’ Climate Lab Bok,  there … Continue reading →

By Federico Fuentes | Green Left Weekly | March 5, 2014

Below, Australia Venezuela Solidarity Network activist Federico Fuentes, provides answers to common questions about recent events in Venezuela. Key facts are referenced, largely from media outlets that could not be identified as pro-government.
***

BREAKING: Leaked recording—Ukrainian Opposition Shoots Its Own

RT | March 6, 2014

The self-proclaimed government in Kiev is reportedly planning to cut pensions by 50 percent as part of unprecedented austerity measures to save Ukraine from default. With an “empty treasury”, reduction of payments might take place in March.
According to the draft document obtained by Kommersant-Ukraine, social payments will be the first to be reduced.

American news anchor Liz Wahl criticized Russia’s Putin just before quitting her job at the state-owned TV network Russia Today (RT) Wednesday, saying she is “proud to be an American” and could no longer “be a part of a network that whitewashes the actions of Putin.”
RT responded calling Wahl’s move “nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.”

Read more:  Ben Swann

Stars and Stripes
March 6, 2014
Destroyer USS Truxtun heads for Black Sea amid heightened tensions over Crimea
By Steven Beardsley
NAPLES, Italy: A U.S. guided-missile destroyer is bound for the Black Sea in what the Navy calls a routine visit unrelated to events in Ukraine.

United States European Command
March 5, 2014
Official Provides Details on U.S. Augmentation in Baltics
WASHINGTON: Following Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s announcement today during Senate testimony that the United States is augmenting its participation in NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltics and will increase joint training through its aviation detachment in Poland, a defense official provided additional information.

United States European Command
March 5, 2014
Hagel, Dempsey Outline U.S., Partner Approach to Ukraine
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON: In advance of their budget testimony this morning before a Senate panel, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey outlined Defense Department activities pertaining to the crisis in Ukraine.

 

(RT) – Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday implored Palestinian leader, Mahmud Abbas, to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and to “abandon the fantasy” of refugees returning to Israel, fueling anger from the Palestinians.

Housing demolitions carried out under the pretext of unlicensed construction are a common occurrence in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinians are rarely granted permits by the Israeli authorities to build houses in the city. Apartments prices have risen drastically in Jerusalem — 120 m apartment would cost approximately $350,000. As a result, they are forced to build without a permit, which often results in the Israeli authorities issuing demolition orders on unlicensed buildings.

United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
March 4, 2014
NATO air commander visits US, Greek training operations
By Staff Sgt. Thomas Trower
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SOUDA AIR BASE, Greece: The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe, Air Forces Africa and Allied Air Command visited Souda Air Base, Greece, to witness multinational training between the U.S. and Hellenic air forces Feb. 28.

Kyodo News Agency
March 6, 2014
Ishiba: Asia needs body like NATO
Japan should aim to create a multilateral security alliance in Asia similar to NATO to help counterbalance China’s ongoing military buildup, a senior ruling party lawmaker said Thursday.

Earlier this month we introduced our newest House candidate, Illinois particle physicist George Gollin. Above is the TV ad he's trying to get up on stations across the sprawling district that goes from Bloomington and Champaign, straight through the Illinois farm belt to the northern suburbs of St. Louis.

Voice of Russia
March 6, 2014
One of Ukraine coup goals was accession to NATO – Russian MP
The chairman of the Russian State Duma Foreign Affairs Committee, Alexei Pushkov, believes that a key goal of the “pseudo-revolution” that was staged in Ukraine was to promote the country’s accession to NATO.

By Rodrigue Tremblay | The People’s Voice | March 5, 2014

[NATO's goal is] to keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.
— Hastings Ismay, first NATO Secretary-General

Interfax
March 6, 2014
Recent meeting on Ukraine exposes NATO’s double-standards policy – Russian envoy
BRUSSELS: The Russian Permanent Representative to NATO, Alexander Grushko, has said that Moscow’s delegation found the outcome of a Russia-NATO Council meeting on Ukraine, held in Brussels on Wednesday, frustrating.

====
Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts
Wilfred Owen: Arms and the Boy and Disabled
====
Wilfred Owen

As Bronze May Be Much Beautified
As bronze may be much beautified
By lying in the dark damp soil,

Center for Constitutional Rights  | March 4, 2014

 Updated once and maybe more to come....

Hosts: Guillermo Jimenez, James Corbett, and Tom Secker
Welcome to The Beard World Order: Tom Secker, James Corbett, and Guillermo Jimenez are back, better, and more bearded than ever. On today’s episode we “uncork the bottle of conspiracy” and discuss what Tom refers to as “nihilism within the truth movement.”

From the official story of 9/11 to the drug war narrative to Omidyar’s hope and change, people allow themselves to believe the most transparent lies and propaganda. But why? On this edition of the BFP roundtable, James Corbett, Guillermo Jimenez and Sibel Edmonds ask (and attempt to answer) the question of why people believe stupid things.

(Reuters) – Seven of President Barack Obama’s Democrats in the U.S. Senate broke ranks on Wednesday and joined Republicans to block Obama’s nominee to a top Justice Department job after complaints that the lawyer, Debo Adegbile, had helped represent a “cop killer.”
The seven voted with 44 Republicans to sustain a procedural roadblock against the nomination of Adegbile, a former director at the Legal Defense Fund of the civil rights group NAACP, to head the Justice Department’s civil rights division.

12 BC – The Roman Emperor Augustus is named Pontifex Maximus, incorporating the position into that of the Emperor
1475 – Michelangelo, Italian painter and sculptor (d. 1564) was born.
1724 – Henry Laurens, American merchant and politician, 5th President of the Continental Congress (d. 1792) was born.