Business befor Politics as far as National Security is concerned for Trump
U.S. intelligence agencies received reports indicating that one of the U.S.’s closest Middle Eastern partners had signed a collaborative agreement with a sanctioned Russian mercenary group operating in Libya, according to a current U.S. intelligence official and two former officials with knowledge of the matter. U.S. intelligence agencies have been looking into whether the United Arab Emirates is helping to finance the Libya operations of the Russian Wagner Group. Both the UAE and Wagner have intervened to support Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who has tried to overrun the United Nations-backed government in Tripoli.
Arms Sale to UAE Proceeds Despite U.S. Probe Into Wagner Ties
Author: peterimrich
More than 250 scientists and scholars from 30 countries have issued an open letter calling on policymakers to “engage more with the growing risk of societal disruption and collapse due to damage to the climate and environment,” arguing that only then “might communities and nations begin to prepare and so reduce its likelihood, speed, severity, harm to the most vulnerable, and to nature.”
As World Teeters on Brink, Over 250 Scientists and Scholars Warn of Full-Fledged ‘Societal Collapse’ | Common Dreams News
At least one person has died and more than 450 others have been hospitalised due to a mystery illness that has broken out in southeastern India. Indian health authorities are baffled by the reason behind why large numbers of residents in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh are collapsing and experiencing seizures and nausea. Widespread water contamination and COVID-19 have been ruled out as the cause.
Hundreds sick, one dead after unexplained illness breaks out in India
If education is nothing but a provider of the “human capital” that will help students get a job, the argument to privatize public education will be far too convincing. Instead, we should look at our schools as institutions to educate kids to be citizens in a democracy with expectations for better lives.
The End of Public Schools Would Mean the End of the Common Good
In January 2020, Morrison only committed $2 billion to bushfire recovery across the nation. It cost $1.2 billion to buy their way out of the robodebt fiasco they created, and we don’t know the cost of the legal and administration fees on top of that. Shows where the Coalition’s priorities lie, doesn’t it?
The cost of ideology – » The Australian Independent Media Network
My thought for the day In terms of the environment, I wonder what price the people of tomorrow will pay for the stupidity of today. ( John Lord)
Patting yourself on the back for what? It’s pitiful. – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Guardian
Too many people who use drugs are made to live in the shadows and don’t seek help because of our current drug laws
We will save lives in regional Australia by treating drug use as a health issue, not a criminal one | Simon Hansford | Opinion | The Guardian
Trumpism is at this point nothing more than a blend of cultism and fascism, a violent, nihilistic howl against the pillars of American democracy unparalleled in presidential history. Donald Trump and his acolytes know their gig is up; they can file lawsuits till they are blue in the face, but they’re not going to overturn the election results in multiple states simultaneously. They have reached a fork in the road: Accept the results and move on, or attempt to flex the presidential muscle in a way that launches America into an experiment with dictatorship. They have decided, at least rhetorically, to opt for the latter. And while they almost certainly don’t have the bite to match their bark, the very fact that people surrounding Trump are calling for dictatorship ought to send a chill up all Americans’ spines.
Why the Trumpists’ Calls for Dictatorship Should Worry Us | The Nation
World Mental Health Coalition Board member who has helped guide members in applying our mental health knowledge to the political domain as well as within the currents of history, to achieve our mission of bettering societal mental health.
Fascism Expert: Donald Trump Has Turned Destructive and Vindictive — Like All Dictators | The Smirking Chimp
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Not Cujo but Kruschev. Latin American Politics got through the WALL and is locked in the USA
“And you Mr. Barr are so deep in the swamp, you can’t see beyond your fellow reptiles, and you are not the exceptional leader needed at this exceptional time,” Pirro said, as she pounded the table in front of her, foaming at the mouth like Stephen King’s Cujo after he was infected with rabies.
Jeanine Pirro Calls AG Bill Barr A ‘Reptile’ For Not Helping Trump Overthrow The Election | Crooks and Liars
The president confirmed in a Sunday afternoon tweet, US time, that the former New York mayor had tested positive. Giuliani has travelled extensively to battleground states in recent weeks in an effort to help Trump subvert his election loss.
Rudy Giuliani contracts coronavirus
He spent over an hour claiming (falsely) he’d won the state and trashing the state’s Republican officials. He barely mentioned the candidates he’d come to support.
Trump has a taste for revenge and is hungry for more. It’s happened before
If one were to get into the head of Australian government MP Andrew Hastie, a security tangle of woe would no doubt await. Having been a captain with the Special Air Services and having also served in Afghanistan, he has been none too thrilled by the publicity soldiers he served with have received. The report by New South Wales Court of Appeal Justice Paul Brereton has now been mandatory reading (or skimming) for political and military watchers. Known rather dully as the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report, it makes the claim that 39 alleged murders were inflicted on non-combatants by Australian special service units when operating in Afghanistan.
Hastie’s speech has a throbbing subtext: containment. Despite professing a belief in the rule of law and transparency, the overwhelming sense from the politician who chairs the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security is that the Inquiry should have been kept indoors. Such bloodied laundry should never have been aired. That, at the very least, would have avoided public discussions about the egregious methods of Australia’s elite warriors, and the decisions behind deploying them in the first place.
Imperfect Releases: Andrew Hastie, War Crimes Reports and Australia in Afghanistan – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Undue Influence: oil and gas giants infiltrate Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology – Michael West
Oil giants Shell, Santos, Woodside and Chevron finance the Bureau of Meteorology. Sandi Keane investigates the influence of the influence of the fossil fuel sector over the Bureau’s public documentation.
Undue Influence: oil and gas giants infiltrate Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology – Michael West
The Liberals Are Ramping Up the Marketization of Australia’s Public Schools
Public school teachers have been working harder than ever during the pandemic. But that’s not enough for the New South Wales Productivity Commission, which wants to cut pay and conditions, while increasing productivity by pitting “value-added” teachers against their colleagues.
The Liberals Are Ramping Up the Marketization of Australia’s Public Schools
Come April/May of 2020 the coronavirus had taken control of our economy and our health. The government, to its credit, believed in the science and took the advice of experts. Which is something they refused to do with climate change.
My view of the year that was (part 2) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
When ratings agencies judgements are patently WRONG as they were pre GFC and the junk packages offered by Wall St for sale were overvalued did or were these agencies ratings downgraded? Not at all nobody was ever charged for the over ratings given to Financial Institution products. Institution on which the agencies depended for thei incomes. The down rating of Victoria is totally and blindly accepted by by all politically opposed to Dan Andrews. Nobody is asking S&P to justify it’s decision with either facts or evidence. (ODT)
A downgrade in the credit rating of a government would once be greeted with fiscal self-flagellation of near religious intensity.
The ratings’ agency religion may be dead. But there are still lessons
Giuliani and Trump’s Star Witness
It looks like the crazy pants IT specialist witness just got off probation for something pretty gross.
Reports are that between November 2018 and September 2019, the victim received three videos from unknown email addresses showing Carone and her boyfriend having sex. Police traced the IP address to Carone, who ironically claimed during the Michigan hearing to be some sort of IT specialist — who apparently doesn’t know how to use a VPN. Oh, and this genius thought that getting a new router and switching service providers would definitely solve all the problems. Not.
Trump’s Star Witness From Michigan Hearing Has A Rap Sheet, And We Don’t Mean Music | Crooks and Liars
The violence following the November 14 “Million MAGA March” in Washington, D.C., helped establish a pattern for Proud Boys violence that’s now expanded to other American cities. By David Neiwert
Not Just ‘Standing By,’ Proud Boys Bring Politics Of Intimidation To Streets In Defense Of Trump | Crooks and Liars
Trump pressed Kemp to call a special session of the state legislature to get lawmakers to override the results and appoint electors that would back him, according to a person familiar with the conversation. He also asked the governor to demand an audit of signatures on mail ballots, something Kemp has previously noted he has no power to do… Kemp has also said that he will not call for a special session of the legislature.
Trump Once Again Bullies Georgia Governor to Overturn Election Results—This Time By Phone – Mother Jones
I think Washington can show good faith by lifting sanctions prior to opening negotiations. Then both sides could work out such details as destroying the excess enriched uranium and arranging frequent international inspections. Iranians are waiting for Biden to make the first move after his Inauguration on January 20, 2021. Lifting unilateral US sanctions is the key to foiling Trump’s attempt to handcuff the new administration. We’ll see if Biden finds a good locksmith.
Iran assassination is way for Netanyahu and Trump to hurt Biden
ABF FAILURE
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley is asking Australian Border Force and authorities in New South Wales to explain how two international travellers managed to bypass quarantine in Sydney. The pair few into the Harbour city before boarding a domestic flight to Melbourne yesterday. The breach was detected, and they are now in mandatory quarantine in Victoria.
Coronavirus Australia live news: Border Force and NSW authorities under fire to explain how two international travellers evaded quarantine – ABC News
Quite a wish list, I agree. But this is merely the bare bones of what needs to be done if we are to get serious as a nation about transparency, accountability and integrity in our politics and government. It is genuinely in our national interest, and we should expect and accept nothing less of those we elect to represent and govern us.
How rorts, mates and marketing took over politics | The Saturday Paper
Industrial relations law currently prevents one part of a registered organisation leaving five years after merging
Coalition targets CFMEU and says it will introduce laws to allow break-up of unions | Christian Porter | The Guardian
Morrison will also have to work overtime with other US allies (including the Europeans) to lend support to Australia beyond simple declarations of solidarity. Despite Morrison routinely shunning Europe in areas of central concern to them, such as climate change, Australia now needs France, Germany, Britain, Brussels and others to ensure that any World Trade Organisation action against China’s politically driven tariffs receives maximum multilateral support. And finally, Morrison will also need to take a leaf out of Japan’s recent playbook on dealing with China. He’ll need to grow up and, importantly, learn to shut up – other than when it’s essential for our core values and interests and, where possible, articulated in unison with our friends and allies. The irony is that Morrison’s current course is making Australia less secure, not more secure, despite his government seeking to wrap itself in the rhetorical mantle of “national security”. Managing China’s rise, and its interplay with American and allied military and economic power, is not a juvenile game for domestic political advantage. The national interests at stake are too high for that.
The PM ignored one of the enduring truths in politics in his over-the-top response to China
Why is Trump offering no leadership to help stop the spread of COVID19?
Trump Has Abdicated His Duty As President And Thousands Are Dying Because Of Him | Crooks and Liars
there is a lack of outrage over a far more significant matter: the death of more than a quarter-million Americans. On Wednesday, the United States set a new record for COVID-19 deaths: 2,804. This is just 173 shy of the death toll of 9/11—that cataclysmic event that reordered elements of American society. The United States is looking at that level of loss on a daily basis. Yet there is little uproar.
274,000 Dead, and Trump Obsesses Over Election Conspiracy Theories. Where’s the Outrage? – Mother Jones
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Caitlin Dickson at Yahoo News reports that Trump supporters and Tea Partiers have begun calling for a suspension of the US constitution to prevent Joe Biden from taking office. The only way to parse “suspension” of the constitution is its temporary overthrow. Moreover, they are calling for the use of force (“martial law”) toward that aim. They are also using diction such as the threat of civil war. Since nobody but them is talking about civil war, I take it they are envisioning firing off the AR-15s they have stockpiled.
Communists were jailed for Less: Trumpies call for overthrow of US Constitution
Despite rapidly widening inequality and what could be described as a humanitarian disaster unfolding, the American political elite is instead having a “let them eat cake” moment.
America’s ‘let them eat cake’ moment
For Giuliani, the enduring image that will be recalled by political commentators though is that of rivulets of hair dye streaming down his face in the heat of the political turmoil into which he has so foolishly wandered. What a sad legacy!
Giuliani – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The nation’s domestic intelligence agency will be able to spy on Australians who have been working for a foreign power when they return from overseas under the biggest overhaul of Australia’s national security laws in four decades.
Intelligence review recommends biggest overhaul of national security laws since 1980s
President Trump has a golden opportunity to pardon Assange, which would go a long way toward transforming the outgoing president into a defender of American values. President-elect Biden, for his part, will have to decide whether he follows the footsteps of Obama, or, to this point, Trump. Leaders across political divides should be pressured by the public to free Assange and defend press freedom. Recognizing the crucial role of journalists, Hanks’ Bradlee in The Post perhaps said it best: “We have to be the check on their power. If we don’t hold them accountable, I mean my God, who will?”
US, UK Governments Should Free Julian Assange | The Smirking Chimp
Australia is not alone in having a concentrated media market. We can see similar patterns emerging both in the US and in some parts of Europe[i]. But Australia stands out as one of the most concentrated media markets in the world and this increasing concentration has been happening for some time[ii]. There is also the question of why it also appears to be speeding up.
The distortion of the Australian public sphere: Media ownership concentration in Australia – » The Australian Independent Media Network
I finished the year 2019 with a piece titled George Christensen and other secrets about the rather rotund figure of George. Well, not about his wholesome physique but about why he needed to spend so much time in Manilla. “Many fellow parliamentarians now call him the ‘Member for Manila’ because of his frequent travel to the region, including an astonishing 28 trips in a four-year period.”
My view of the year that was (part 1) – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Mass household indebtedness is a key feature of financialized capitalism, driving insecurity and sustaining poverty around the world. Could a union of debtors join forces to agitate for the abolition of all consumer debt?
Are Debtors the New Workers of the World?
As President Donald Trump’s legal efforts to overturn the presidential election continue to implode, some of his supporters are now endorsing a military coup.
Right-wing media figures call on Trump to use the military to overturn the election | Media Matters for America
Bill Barr’s only hope is to reverse his comments about election fraud. Then maybe he can stay, says Trump.
Trump Threatens To Fire Bill Barr Over Election Fraud Comments | Crooks and Liars
The justification for Voter ID is ALWAYS racist, just not always this blatantly racist.
Trump ‘Voter Fraud’ Witness Says Voter ID Needed Because ‘All Chinese Look Alike’ | Crooks and Liars
Today loyalist William Barr, Trump’s Attorney General, admitted that the Department of Justice has not found any evidence of widespread voter fraud that would mean Trump won the election. Trump’s lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis promptly issued a statement saying “With the greatest respect to the Attorney General, his opinion appears to be without any knowledge or investigation of the substantial irregularities and evidence of systemic fraud.” Trump allies told PBS NewsHour correspondent Yamiche Alcindor that Barr’s statement was a “complete betrayal.”
In Line For Immunity? | The Smirking Chimp
Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg billed taxpayers almost $5,000 to take the prime minister’s private jet on a whirlwind trip to Sydney on the night of Lachlan Murdoch’s Christmas party, leaving Canberra after 6pm, attending the Bellevue Hill soiree and then returning to the capital before 9am the next morning.
PM and treasurer bill taxpayers for private jet to Lachlan Murdoch’s Christmas party | Australian politicians’ expenses | The Guardian
The Australian government’s treatment of Julian Assange has revealed more than a library of leaked documents ever could about how power is exercised in the relationship with the United States, writes Andrew Fowler.
Sovereignty eroded: Wiki cables show both Labor and Coalition culpable in Assange persecution – Michael West
There are voluntary redundancies going on left right and centre. For people who rely on research funding, I think this is the final straw.” University of Western Australia genetic disease researcher Dr Gina Ravenscroft found herself shaking as she read the grant results, on which the employment of her colleagues depended. “It is not a way to live, where you are so worked up and stressed about whether or not you’re going to be able to keep employing people,” she said. “There is just no way that is a sustainable way to fund research.”
Coronavirus Australia: Scientists face bleak Christmas as COVID-19 funding crunch hits research
The ABC’s charter is to be a critical and questioning voice of government no matter the persuasion. In that capacity it’s never really just a supporting voice of government which Murdoch media tends to be. So to say you won’t find a conservative voice at the ABC is in fact acknowledging the service it is intended to do on behalf of the Australian public. Governments of all persuasions don’t court Murdoch Media because it’s clearly known that it’s far from stable ground. On some occasions Murdoch media courts the left and is made use of in politics but this century those occasions have been rare indeed. (ODT)
“We run news programming during the day and at night we run opinion-based news programming that often shines a light on areas that our competitors either refuse to discuss or worse pretend don’t exist,” Mr Whittaker said. “I would argue that Sky has a much greater diversity of voices than the public broadcaster, for example, where you would struggle to find a conservative news point. “This is our brand value proposition that separates us from the dominance of voices on the left of Australian media.”
News Corp executives explain Kevin Rudd, Malcolm Turnbull criticisms to staff
The federal Health Department has learnt a thing or two from Scotty from Marketing. It has just announced version seven of the aged care pandemic plan. Never mind that the previous six versions never existed. Expecting accountability from the Coalition government is mere tilting at windmills, writes Dr Sarah Russell.
Coalition Spin Kings: real reform in aged care trumped by re-announcements and a deluge of cash – Michael West
The history of the Spanish flu has never been clearly explained. It’s NOT SPANISH but is AMERICAN and was first discovered to have originated in army barracks of Kansas from where it was taken by troops to Europe during WW1. The American flu killed 50 million people yet is never acknowledged as American with the appropriate name change. The question has certainly never been brought up by the Trump administration which so easily accuses China of dirty deeds done dirt cheap.
The Chinese have as much right to question the origins of COVID-19 as The Americans don’t question the Spanish flu being incorrectly named. The jury is still out on Trump’s naming it the Chinese flu it’s not out about the Spanish flu being falsely named. (ODT)
“Although China was the first to report cases, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the virus originated in China,” Zhao Lijian told a briefing. “Origin tracing is an ongoing process that may involve multiple countries and regions.”
A year after Wuhan alarm, China seeks to change Covid origin story | China | The Guardian
Trump Appears to Have Outsourced His Iran Policy to Israel
Trump’s Support for Israel’s Killing of Iranian Scientist Could Lead to War | The Smirking Chimp
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