sanctions

For some this subject may be considered old news, but in truth it just slithered back into the dark before you could take a good look at its face.

The European Union’s statement this week condemning Iran over the recent airstrikes on Saudi Arabia’s key oil industry sites was a tawdry piece of political cowardice. Not only tawdry, but dangerous as well.
For the EU is giving credence to Washington’s intensified attempts to demonize Iran, imposing ever-harsher economic sanctions and escalating tensions that could explode into an all-out war. Ironically, this is in spite of the EU claiming to be facilitating diplomacy to promote peace and security in the Middle East.

Patrick Henningsen
21st Century Wire
As US foreign policy goals continue to drift away from the mutual interests of its allies, some of Washington’s fundamental alliances may come under stress as a result. Will its financial largess hasten the demise of its most important military alliances?

The sanctions are not only targeting Iran but every country which does business with Iran. The US announced it would send additional troops along with enhanced air and missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in response to the attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the US has blamed on Iran.

The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal discusses his reporting trip to Damascus in the aftermath of Syria’s proxy war. Blumenthal interviewed residents…
The post The Syria you won’t see: Max Blumenthal on visiting Damascus after the proxy war appeared first on The Grayzone.

On Saturday morning, September 14, 2019, a few drones – were they drones or long-range missiles? – hit the Saudis most important two oil fields, set them ablaze, apparently knocking out half of the Saudi crude production but measured in terms of world production it is a mere 5%. Could be made up in no time by other Gulf oil producers – or indeed, as the Saudis said, by the end of September 2019 their production is back to ‘normal’ – to pre-attack levels.

Days after the Democratic presidential candidates missed yet another opportunity to challenge President Donald Trump’s failed Venezuela policy on the debate stage on September 12, President Nicolás Maduro signed an important agreement with four opposition parties. These events offer insight into the differing perspectives on the economic, social and political crises in Venezuela – one perspective from the Washington political establishment, the other from Venezuelans.

The Military-Industrial Complex runs US foreign policies.

Steve CHAPMAN
From Donald Trump’s comments on the attack on a Saudi oil facility, allegedly by Iran, it’s not clear whether he’s itching for a fight, leery of a fight or willing to take part in a fight if his friends in Riyadh want him to. He alternates between talking tough, waxing conciliatory and sounding as though he has no idea what to do.