Category: Informed Comment

Telum Media talks to Independent Australia political editor Dr Martin Hirst

What makes hard-working IA political editor Dr Martin Hirst tick? This Telum Media interview paints the picture.

Source: Telum Media talks to Independent Australia political editor Dr Martin Hirst

Top 8 Signs someone is a White Terrorist, e.g. plotting to Blow up Mosque | Informed Comment

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – 1. If you appoint yourself to carry out surveillance of a …

Source: Top 8 Signs someone is a White Terrorist, e.g. plotting to Blow up Mosque | Informed Comment

Chris Hedges: The Elites Won’t Save Us – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

The danger we face does not come, in the end, from Trump and his malignant cabal. It comes from severely weakened and corrupted democratic institutions.

Source: Chris Hedges: The Elites Won’t Save Us – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

‘On Contact’: Matt Taibbi on How an ‘Insane Clown President’ Played America’s Political System – Truthdig

Chris Hedges and Matt Taibbi have a pretty good idea—and in this clip, a compelling dialogue—about how Donald Trump made U.S. politics work for him.

Source: ‘On Contact’: Matt Taibbi on How an ‘Insane Clown President’ Played America’s Political System – Truthdig

Arrested development: James Packer has been down, but he’s not out | The Monthly

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have made many, many mistakes in my life, but investing in China is not one of them.” – James Packer, speech to the Asia Society, 14 March 2013.

Source: Arrested development: James Packer has been down, but he’s not out | The Monthly

Spicer: Trump can Criticize Iraq War but no one can Slam Trump’s Yemen Raid

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – – One-man fake news channel Sean Spicer, Trump’s spokesman, said Wednesday that anyone …

Source: Spicer: Trump can Criticize Iraq War but no one can Slam Trump’s Yemen Raid

Marx’s Revenge | The Nation

The many biographies of Karl Marx bring out a basic paradox in Marxism. Biographies are typically narratives of the lives of important figures who loom large against the backdrop of history.

Source: Marx’s Revenge | The Nation

Chris Hedges: Make America Ungovernable – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

The window to overthrow the Trump regime is rapidly closing. We must move swiftly to make governance impossible through nationwide strikes and other nonviolent resistance. If we do not, the last vestiges of democracy will die.

Source: Chris Hedges: Make America Ungovernable – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

Dumb politicians are doing the terrorists’ work for them – » The Australian Independent Media Network

When formulating our defence against terrorism, it is important to understand the motives of those who encourage such violence. The immediate aim is to cause fear. Despite you being much more likely to die at the hands of your partner, we have people like Pauline Hanson, Cory Bernardi, George Christensen and Sonia Kruger telling us…

Source: Dumb politicians are doing the terrorists’ work for them – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Child sex abuse royal commission: Data reveals extent of Catholic allegations – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Australian Catholic Church releases grim data revealing 7 per cent of priests, working between 1950 and 2009, have been accused of child sex crimes.

Source: Child sex abuse royal commission: Data reveals extent of Catholic allegations – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Trump is only finishing what Hollywood and the media started

Trump can only do this – after taking it to a never-ending election campaign – because the cultural environment exists to receive it as some version of common sense.

Source: Trump is only finishing what Hollywood and the media started

Chris Hedges: American Psychosis – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

Image result for Images of Chris hedges

The barrage of lies from demagogues such as Donald Trump creates profound cognitive dissonance among the population that ends in a nationwide collective mental illness.

Source: Chris Hedges: American Psychosis – Chris Hedges – Truthdig

Steve Bannon: The man behind Donald Trump’s immigration ban – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

All of us should be aware Donald Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is emerging as the second most important man in the United States, writes Philip Williams.

Source: Steve Bannon: The man behind Donald Trump’s immigration ban – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The naivety of the man-child they call Mr President – » The Australian Independent Media Network

If anyone thought Trump’s campaign rhetoric was overblown bluff, the last week should have disabused them of that notion. The man-child that they now call Mr President has been issuing executive orders at a blistering pace. The only trouble is, there is no plan behind any of them. Many of them appear to be unconstitutional,…

Source: The naivety of the man-child they call Mr President – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Americans threaten themselves and need resettlement- Video

‘The Economist’ Just Downgraded the US From a ‘Full Democracy’ to a ‘Flawed Democracy’ | The Nation

The United States is no longer a full democracy, according to the highly regarded Economist Intelligence Unit, which each year compiles a Democracy Index that “provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide for 165 independent states and two territories.

Source: ‘The Economist’ Just Downgraded the US From a ‘Full Democracy’ to a ‘Flawed Democracy’ | The Nation

Do we live in a fascist regime? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

In an article yesterday in response to the news that Trump had gagged government scientists and agencies, I included a list of the 14 defining characteristics of fascism. As I read through the expanded explanation, I got a very uneasy feeling that I was reading about our own government.  The similarities are chilling. Recognise any…

Source: Do we live in a fascist regime? – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Top 5 Fascist Moves in Trump’s News Conference

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In his first news conference in months, president-elect Donald J. Trump …

Source: Top 5 Fascist Moves in Trump’s News Conference

Those Times the NSA Hacked America’s Allies

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The hysteria about Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and …

Source: Those Times the NSA Hacked America’s Allies

A crackdown on welfare while the richest pay no tax? It’s one promise the Liberals kept | Van Badham | Opinion | The Guardian

There are three reasons the government will not suspend the system issuing faulty debt claims to welfare recipients

Source: A crackdown on welfare while the richest pay no tax? It’s one promise the Liberals kept | Van Badham | Opinion | The Guardian

Circus of Liars: How Trump & GOP are Twisted into Pretzels over Putin Hack

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Donald J. Trump has picked another fight with the elders of …

Source: Circus of Liars: How Trump & GOP are Twisted into Pretzels over Putin Hack

Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House | Informed Comment

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – It is 2017, and shortly the White House will be inhabited …

Source: Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House | Informed Comment

Top Eight Mideast Stories of 2016 that Shaped our World | Informed Comment

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – In 2016, the Middle East continued to be a major focus …

Source: Top Eight Mideast Stories of 2016 that Shaped our World | Informed Comment

Top Ten differences between White Terrorists and Others | Informed Comment

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Reprint edn. 1. White terrorists are called “gunmen.” What does that …

Source: Top Ten differences between White Terrorists and Others | Informed Comment

Here Are the Psychological Reasons Why an American Might Join ISIS | Mother Jones

Psychologist Arie Kruglanski explains how closed-mindedness and existential angst create the modern American jihadist.

Source: Here Are the Psychological Reasons Why an American Might Join ISIS | Mother Jones