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Tuesday, May 31, 2016

IMF Report on Neoliberalism's Failures Is Revolutionary - Opinion - Haaretz - Israel News Haaretz.com

IMF Report on Neoliberalism's Failures Is Revolutionary - Opinion - Haaretz - Israel News Haaretz.com

IMF Report on Neoliberalism's Failures Is Revolutionary

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722368

IMF Report on Neoliberalism's Failures Is Revolutionary

It takes courage to openly state what the International Monetary Fund's researchers are saying. Such a statement would have been inconceivable five years ago.

Nitzan Horowitz May 31, 2016

Only a few minutes’ stroll along Pennsylvania Avenue separates the massive complex of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund from the much smaller White House. Perhaps the size difference symbolizes the relative degree of importance and the center of gravity: the economic headquarters are the real fulcrum of power; the White House is for tourists.

Ever since these two economic institutions were founded at the end of World War II, they’ve affected people’s lives far more than any U.S. president or the prime minister of any country. The IMF and World Bank are not only powerful executive instruments; they’re also ideological bodies. For more than 70 years, they’ve served as the most effective disseminator of a clear political ideology: the rule of capital. This is why what’s just happened can be likened to an earthquake.

Senior economists at the IMF, not usually people suspected of having a shred of sympathy for social ideals, have dropped a bombshell. “Neoliberalism: Oversold?” – a report published in the IMF’s flagship magazine – determines that the neoliberal approach, which has shaped the world for the last two generations, has failed. http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.722368

A New Problem Emerges for Hillary::Obamacare

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-31/new-problem-emerges-hillary

Hillary Clinton's Memoir Deletions, in Detail


Hillary Clinton's Memoir Deletions, in Detail

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/36237-hillary-clinton-s-memoir-deletions-in-detail

Homeland Security warns thousands of industrial energy systems can be remotely hacked | ZDNet

Homeland Security warns thousands of industrial energy systems can be remotely hacked | ZDNet

Which Jerusalem? Israel’s Little-Known Master Plans

Which Jerusalem? Israel’s Little-Known Master Plans


https://al-shabaka.org/briefs/jerusalem-israels-little-known-master-plans/?utm_source=Media&utm_campaign=3354e3d0b8-PolicyBrief_Arafeh_5_31_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_95709baeed-3354e3d0b8-285454914

Crunch Time in the EU-Turkey Relationship

In the past four weeks, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has moved closer to an executive presidency and Turkey’s rule-of-law architecture has moved farther away from EU standards. Simultaneously, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has voiced criticisms of Turkey’s policies, and Turkish leaders have responded with more threats to cancel the refugee deal Ankara sealed with the EU in March 2016. Because the Turkish president is going down the authoritarian road with new powers for himself and more restrictions on the rule of law, Turkey can no longer entertain the EU’s criteria, be they on visa liberalization or on accession.
The pretense behind the refugee deal may soon be over. How will the EU and Turkey do business with each other? http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/?fa=63690&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTWpRMU5UUXlZMkpsWlRobSIsInQiOiJ3aFlNOFZ0XC83TEpFT3VOTjBKS1ZSMldwXC9GM0hmazUxYWlwWnpMUEI3NlR3OFwvaFIyNkRobEpaNUJQTWpYeDM0TTBcLzdxeWVGcDd5RXN6V3U4N01Ba3FRUFM0ZWFXWmJock15Q0RPOEhzZ2M9In0%3D

How Conservatives and Progressives Will Work Together Next Year

How Conservatives and Progressives Will Work Together Next Year 

By Chayenne Polimédio
http://www.newamerica.org/weekly/edition-124/how-conservatives-and-progressives-will-work-together-next-year

After the election, we are likely to continue to have a divided government. That most likely means more gridlock. So the question is: What will policymaking look like beyond 2017?

Some are quick to point out that given the heightened partisanship and the rise of issue polarization, the new administration will have a tremendously hard time advancing any legislation, and that Americans are likely to see very little getting done as animosity trumps either side’s agenda.

But things may be better than they look. http://www.newamerica.org/weekly/edition-124/how-conservatives-and-progressives-will-work-together-next-year/

America’s Sinkhole Wars

http://lobelog.com/americas-sinkhole-wars/#more-34376

America’s Sinkhole Wars

by Andrew J. Bacevich
We have it on highest authority: the recent killing of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour by a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan marks “an important milestone.” So the president of the United States has declared, with that claim duly echoed and implicitly endorsed by media commentary — theNew York Times reporting, for example, that Mansour’s death leaves the Taliban leadership “shocked” and “shaken.”
But a question remains: A milestone toward what exactly? http://lobelog.com/americas-sinkhole-wars/#more-34376

Israeli Firm Claims It Can Tell If You’re a Terrorist By Looking At Your Face

https://www.mintpressnews.com/israeli-firm-claims-can-tell-youre-terrorist-looking-face/216788/


Argument for this being right? “Our personality is determined by our DNA and reflected in our face."

This is deeply deeply disturbing on so many levels. Not just for the obvious reasons (a Pandora’s Box legally, academically — particularly in the social sciences, morally, etc.)  , but also because Homeland Security has been convinced enough to buy the equipment. With an 80% success rate, i.e., 20% are identified as terrorists or pedophiles incorrectly, but consequently their lives and careers ruined.



Eugenics. It’s back in a digital form. By the Israelis no less.

Israeli Firm Claims It Can Tell If You’re a Terrorist By Looking At Your Face

The bold claims are made by Israeli start-up Faception.

Milestones (Or What Passes for Them in Washington) A Multi-Trillion-Dollar Bridge to Nowhere in the Greater Middle East

Milestones (Or What Passes for Them in Washington)
A Multi-Trillion-Dollar Bridge to Nowhere in the Greater Middle East
By Andrew J. Bacevich
We have it on highest authority: the recent killing of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour by a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan marks “an important milestone.” So the president of the United States has declared, with that claim duly echoed and implicitly endorsed by media commentary -- the New York Times reporting, for example, that Mansour’s death leaves the Taliban leadership “shocked” and “shaken.”
But a question remains: A milestone toward what exactly?
Click here to read more of this dispatch.
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176147/tomgram%3A_andrew_bacevich%2C_america's_sinkhole_wars/#more

Trade's Perfect Storm By William Reinsch

http://www.stimson.org/content/trades-perfect-storm-0
Trade's Perfect Storm
By William Reinsch


May 31, 2016
One thing that has become obvious in the presidential campaign is that trade is front and center as an issue. For those of us who have spent our professional careers working on the subject, this ought to be good news. Finally "our" issue is getting the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, this is a classic case of "be careful what you wish for." We are not having a high-minded debate about trade policy. Rather, we are down there in the gutter debating whether U.S. negotiators are stupid or just incompetent and whether trade agreements are really nothing more than a race to the bottom.

How did it come to this? It turns out we are experiencing the perfect storm of trade debates. First, on the Democratic side, this is nothing new. Trade has been a divisive issue among Democrats for some years. In 2008, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton spent weeks in the industrial heartland beating each other over the head on who was the bigger trade skeptic, egged on by organized labor. Once the nomination fight was over, the issue faded. The Republican nominee John McCain did not make a big issue of it, and Obama — having established his position — did not have to. This year has featured a replay between Clinton and Sanders, but unlike 2008, it is not likely to disappear after the conventions. http://www.stimson.org/content/trades-perfect-storm-0

American exceptionalism seems to be fading | Leon Hadar | LinkedIn

American exceptionalism seems to be fading | Leon Hadar | LinkedIn

‘Laudato Si’’ Changed Minds, Encouraged Hearts | CRS

‘Laudato Si’’ Changed Minds, Encouraged Hearts | CRS

‘Papa’ Francis Inspires and Challenges

‘Papa’ Francis Inspires and Challenges


http://www.crs.org/stories/papa-francis-inspires-and-challenges?utm_source=crs-briefing-email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=crs-briefing-2016-06

How to Explain the Sanders Campaign to an Idiot, Paul Krugman or a Clintonite in 8 Sentences

How to Explain the Sanders Campaign to an Idiot, Paul Krugman or a Clintonite in 8 Sentences

US Intelligence Veterans Urge Fast Report on Hillary Clinton’s Emails: “NSA, FBI Have Enough Evidence” | Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization

US Intelligence Veterans Urge Fast Report on Hillary Clinton’s Emails: “NSA, FBI Have Enough Evidence” | Global Research - Centre for Research on Globalization

The US is dropping calls for Assad to go because the Syrian regime is a better bet than Isis | Voices | The Independent

The US is dropping calls for Assad to go because the Syrian regime is a better bet than Isis | Voices | The Independent

The disgrace of Obama’s Hiroshima visit is the $1 trillion the U.S. is wasting on new nukes, not just the refusal to apologize - Salon.com

The disgrace of Obama’s Hiroshima visit is the $1 trillion the U.S. is wasting on new nukes, not just the refusal to apologize - Salon.com

Is America Committing Slow-Motion Suicide? A Look at the Decline of CUNY | naked capitalism

Is America Committing Slow-Motion Suicide? A Look at the Decline of CUNY | naked capitalism

Is America Committing Slow-Motion Suicide? A Look at the Decline of CUNY | naked capitalism

Is America Committing Slow-Motion Suicide? A Look at the Decline of CUNY | naked capitalism

Tuition-Free or Debt-Free College: Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders Put Band-Aids on the Cancer | naked capitalism

Tuition-Free or Debt-Free College: Elizabeth Warren, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders Put Band-Aids on the Cancer | naked capitalism

Refinancing is Dead: A Generation of Hard Times Will Continue Until Secular Real Wages Improve

 

Refinancing is Dead: A Generation of Hard Times Will Continue Until Secular Real Wages Improve

http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/05/refinancing-is-dead-a-generation-of-hard-times-will-continue-until-secular-real-wages-improve.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NakedCapitalism+%28naked+capitalism%29

Monday, May 30, 2016

Chairman Chaffetz Opener - Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security

Chairman Chaffetz Opener - Criminal Aliens Released by the Department of Homeland Security


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QOwAJ2ez6U&app=desktop

A prayer for Memorial Day

A prayer for Memorial Day On Memorial Day, we remember those who died in service to our country and pray for peace in our world.
As members of the Unbound community, we serve as harbingers of peace — reaching out across deep divides to people from different places, races, religions and economic backgrounds. We reach out seeking equality, justice, opportunity and harmony in our human family.
We long for the day when, as Isaiah prophesied, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares" and "One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again." (Isaiah 2:4)

June 7: FEMA Will Conduct a Drill to Prepare for a 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami | Economy

June 7: FEMA Will Conduct a Drill to Prepare for a 9.0 Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake and Tsunami | Economy

The American College of Pediatrics Calls Transgender Programming of Children, Child Abuse! | Conspiracy Theories

The American College of Pediatrics Calls Transgender Programming of Children, Child Abuse! | Conspiracy Theories

War News Updates: U.S. Bans Cluster Bomb Sales To Saudi Arabia

War News Updates: U.S. Bans Cluster Bomb Sales To Saudi Arabia

Barack Obama’s Legacy: What happened?

Barack Obama’s Legacy: What happened?

Memorial Day: Remembering the Sacrifices that Ensured American Freedom | National Review

Memorial Day: Remembering the Sacrifices that Ensured American Freedom | National Review

Ex-CEO Of Largest Swiss Insurer Commits Suicide, Three Years After CFO Hanged Himself | Zero Hedge

Ex-CEO Of Largest Swiss Insurer Commits Suicide, Three Years After CFO Hanged Himself | Zero Hedge

Feinstein on Clinton Secret Server: "Enough Is Enough," All She Wanted Was A "Private Life" | Video | RealClearPolitics

Feinstein on Clinton Secret Server: "Enough Is Enough," All She Wanted Was A "Private Life" | Video | RealClearPolitics

Poor polls, scandal, a cussed rival … how it’s all going wrong for Hillary Clinton | US news | The Guardian

Poor polls, scandal, a cussed rival … how it’s all going wrong for Hillary Clinton | US news | The Guardian

Hillary Clinton’s Emails Now Might Finally Take Her Down | LawNewz

Hillary Clinton’s Emails Now Might Finally Take Her Down | LawNewz

Financial analyst alleges major holes in Clinton Foundation records | Washington Examiner

Financial analyst alleges major holes in Clinton Foundation records | Washington Examiner

A Worrisome Pileup of $100 Million Homes - NYTimes.com

A Worrisome Pileup of $100 Million Homes - NYTimes.com

What happens when the military chaplain is shaken by war

What happens when the military chaplain is shaken by war


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/what-happens-when-the-military-chaplain-is-shaken-by-war/2016/05/29/4dd27dc8-237f-11e6-8690-f14ca9de2972_story.html?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_heads-draw6

Managing Risks in the Russia-United States Conflict

http://carnegie.ru/commentary/?fa=63685&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVRJNFlXVmtaamxrWmpVMSIsInQiOiJKNlIzK3dTTzRIb1hyY2xlcmx5VDJhdlFGUFJPeG5MME5JRWFVUGNkVzl2M2h0WDc1SldXZjJZWGJLTkpnb2pXSjJZd0hHZjJKWjFVdEhGcnZrZ3ZqaW0zSmJqUWpLcXpwb3RzdTRlbEVVVT0ifQ%3D%3D

Managing Risks in the Russia-United States Conflict

Unlike in the Cold War, the current Russia-United States confrontation is asymmetrical, which carries different dangers. Cooperation will remain limited and Barack Obama’s successor will most likely take a harsher stance on Russia. The good news about the two-year-old confrontation between Russia and the United States is that over the past year it has stabilized and become the “new normal.” The bad news is that this clash looks set to last, and is developing into a military-political conflict in Eastern Europe and a new arms race.
The new standoff is, unlike the Cold War, distinctly asymmetrical. This time around, the scales are clearly tipped in favor of the United States. That has caused Russia to overcompensate by raising the stakes, taking bigger risks, and making sudden moves that wrong-foot its adversary.
Yet this asymmetry, coupled with a sense of moral superiority, also leads the United States to underestimate Russia and view it as a state in progressive decline, interpret the Kremlin’s actions as a bluff, and keep ratcheting up the pressure. An encounter between a Russian and a U.S. airplane or between an airplane and a military ship in the Baltic or Black Sea region could result in the confrontation escalating to a new and much more dangerous level.http://carnegie.ru/commentary/?fa=63685&mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiWVRJNFlXVmtaamxrWmpVMSIsInQiOiJKNlIzK3dTTzRIb1hyY2xlcmx5VDJhdlFGUFJPeG5MME5JRWFVUGNkVzl2M2h0WDc1SldXZjJZWGJLTkpnb2pXSjJZd0hHZjJKWjFVdEhGcnZrZ3ZqaW0zSmJqUWpLcXpwb3RzdTRlbEVVVT0ifQ%3D%3D

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Two Men, Two Legs, and Too Much Suffering America's Forgotten Vietnamese Victims

Two Men, Two Legs, and Too Much Suffering America's Forgotten Vietnamese Victims By Nick Turse
Nguyen Van Tu asks if I'm serious. Am I really willing to tell his story -- to tell the story of the Vietnamese who live in this rural corner of the Mekong Delta? Almost 40 years after guerrilla fighters in his country threw the limits of U.S. military power into stark relief -- during the 1968 Tet Offensive -- we sit in his rustic home, built of wood and thatch with an earthen floor, and speak of two hallmarks of that power: ignorance and lack of accountability. As awkward chicks scurry past my feet, I have the sickening feeling that, in decades to come, far too many Iraqis and Afghans will have similar stories to tell. Similar memories of American troops. Similar accounts of air strikes and artillery bombardments. Nightmare knowledge of what "America" means to far too many outside the United States.
Click here to read more of this dispatch.http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176146/best_of_tomdispatch%3A_nick_turse%2C_from_the_missing_archives_of_a_lost_war/#more

Burn Pits: US Government Ignores 60,000 Suffering US War Vets

Burn Pits: US Government Ignores 60,000 Suffering US War Vets

Articles: Islamic Discrimination Against Women

Articles: Islamic Discrimination Against Women

Articles: Why is only Bill Clinton’s ‘Dirty Laundry’ Off Limits?

Articles: Why is only Bill Clinton’s ‘Dirty Laundry’ Off Limits?

Voting for Hillary Because of Her Gender Doesn't Make You a Good Feminist—Bernie's Record Is Better | Alternet

Voting for Hillary Because of Her Gender Doesn't Make You a Good Feminist—Bernie's Record Is Better | Alternet

The Defense Department Is Ruining America: Big Budgets, Militarization and the Real Story Behind Our Asia Pivot


The Defense Department Is Ruining America: Big Budgets, Militarization and the Real Story Behind Our Asia Pivot

"Our defense contractors await your business." That was the message behind Obama and Carter's visits to Asia.

http://www.alternet.org/economy/defense-department-ruining-america-big-budgets-militarization-and-real-story-behind-our-asia

Silencing America as it prepares for war by John Pilger


Silencing America as it prepares for war

by John Pilgerhttp://dissidentvoice.org/2016/05/silencing-america-as-it-prepares-for-war/

This iPhone Factory in China Is Replacing 60,000 Workers With Robots

 

This iPhone Factory in China Is Replacing 60,000 Workers With Robots

http://www.nextgov.com/mobile/2016/05/iphone-factory-china-replacing-60000-workers-robots/128631/

Bernie Sanders Is 'Scared to Death' Hillary Clinton Will Lose to Donald Trump


Bernie Sanders Is 'Scared to Death' Hillary Clinton Will Lose to Donald Trump

Sanders isn't helping Trump by staying in the race—he's giving the Democratic Party twice as much representation.

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-sanders-scared-death-hillary-clinton-will-lose-donald-trump

Time to care about damn emails: Hillary Clinton has a serious legal problem - Salon.com

Time to care about damn emails: Hillary Clinton has a serious legal problem - Salon.com

Are You Ready for Some (Political) Football? The NFL, Concussion Research, the NIH, and the Revolving Door | naked capitalism

Are You Ready for Some (Political) Football? The NFL, Concussion Research, the NIH, and the Revolving Door | naked capitalism

All the Presumptive Nominee’s Men


All the Presumptive Nominee’s Men

For a guy who yells about Washington and Wall Street money in politics, Donald Trump sure has a lot on insiders on his team.

http://billmoyers.com/story/presumptive-nominees-men/#.V0mKr1jxDms.facebook

The Seven Reasons Bernie Sanders Will Stay in the Race Until Election Day

http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/seven-reasons-bernie-sanders-will-stay-race-election-day/2016/05/27

Baltimore Post-Examiner

The Seven Reasons Bernie Sanders Will Stay in the Race Until Election Day

By · May 27, 2016 ·http://baltimorepostexaminer.com/seven-reasons-bernie-sanders-will-stay-race-election-day/2016/05/27

Obama’s racial legacy

Obama’s racial legacy


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/obamas-racial-legacy/2016/05/27/18a91b98-244c-11e6-8690-f14ca9de2972_story.html?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_rainbow

Zika precautions: What you need to know as you plan your summer travel

Zika precautions: What you need to know as you plan your summer travel



https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/05/27/zika-precautions-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-start-your-summer-travels/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_rainbow

Chinese schoolkids climb a 2,625-foot cliffside ladder to get home. Soon, they’ll have stairs.


Chinese schoolkids climb a 2,625-foot cliffside ladder to get home. Soon, they’ll have stairs.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/05/27/chinese-schoolkids-climb-a-2625-foot-cliffside-ladder-to-get-home-now-theyll-have-stairs/?wpmm=1&wpisrc=nl_rainbow

Retaking Raqqa From the Islamic State

Retaking Raqqa From the Islamic State


https://www.stratfor.com/analysis/retaking-raqqa-islamic-state?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_content=B2C_Weekend_Content&utm_campaign=LL-160529-sunday-Digest&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_jaGBH3naCvZsRtMcZ7TKu5VSvOxOhlS7Bc2XE0VC9JQevrXaNvBgNAFXTQFSeXiP9Glygc7Con8shUW_ZvM37n1bUMQ&_hsmi=30045476

Conversation: The Geopolitics of Holy Sites in the Middle East


Conversation: The Geopolitics of Holy Sites in the Middle East


https://www.stratfor.com/video/conversation-geopolitics-holy-sites-middle-east?utm_source=freelist-f&utm_medium=email&utm_content=B2C_Weekend_Content&utm_campaign=LL-160529-sunday-Digest&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_1ngLYTjBk6Sp7fbciCFUc9gO-cUfqKXciMFIox9H65RW_6hvgxSzJjLbEsZykMUjUW7zmL9MHQlRvuBXVrncQiOTHEA&_hsmi=30045476

Saturday, May 28, 2016

The “Poison” of Gossip According to Pope Francis

The “Poison” of Gossip According to Pope Francis


http://catholic-link.org/2016/05/25/the-poison-of-gossip-according-to-pope-francis/

Rolling Thunder rides into D.C. for the 29th time - Washington Times

Rolling Thunder rides into D.C. for the 29th time - Washington Times

The Dangerous Absence of State Authority in Iraq | Middle East Briefing

The Dangerous Absence of State Authority in Iraq | Middle East Briefing

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood: A Final Move towards Internal Split | Middle East Briefing

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood: A Final Move towards Internal Split | Middle East Briefing

The Next US President and the Middle East: Agenda for Gulf Security, Syria and Iraq | Middle East Briefing

The Next US President and the Middle East: Agenda for Gulf Security, Syria and Iraq | Middle East Briefing

A former senior U.S. general again calls for abolishing the nuclear forces he once commanded

A former senior U.S. general again calls for abolishing the nuclear forces he once commanded



https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/05/27/19731/former-senior-us-general-again-calls-abolishing-nuclear-forces-he-once-commanded

Debunking Popular Clichés About Modern Warfare

Debunking Popular Clichés About Modern Warfare
http://www.unz.com/tsaker/debunking-popular-cliches-about-modern-warfare/

Drones and Blowback

http://lobelog.com/drones-and-blowback/#more-34358

Drones and Blowback

by John Feffer
The targeted assassination of Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour last weekend wasn’t just another drone strike.
First of all, it was conducted by the U.S. military, not the CIA, which has orchestrated nearly all drone strikes in Pakistan.
Second, it didn’t take place in Afghanistan or in the so-called lawless tribal region of Pakistan known as the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, or FATA. The guided missile turned a white Toyota and its two passengers into a fireball on a well-traveled highway in Balochistan, in southwest Pakistan.
Prior to this particular drone strike, Pakistan allowed the United States to patrol the skies over the northwest region of FATA, a Taliban stronghold. But President Obama decided to cross this “red line” to take out Mansour (and a taxi driver, Muhammad Azam, who had the misfortune to be with the wrong passenger at the wrong time).
Pakistani leaders have registered their disapproval. According to former ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman, “The drone strike is different from all others because it has not only resumed a genre of kinetic action that is unilateral, but also illegal and expansionary in its geographical theater of targeted operation.”http://lobelog.com/drones-and-blowback/#more-34358

Why Christians Are Fleeing the Holy Lands

Why Christians Are Fleeing the Holy Lands



http://forward.com/articles/340335/why-christians-are-fleeing-the-holy-lands/?utm_content=daily_Newsletter_MainList_Title_Position-1&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Daily%202016-05-28&utm_term=The%20Forward%20Today%20Monday-Friday

Articles: James Comey: Enforcing the Law Requires Indicting Hillary Clinton

Articles: James Comey: Enforcing the Law Requires Indicting Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton: The Neocon in Democrat's Clothing

Hillary Clinton: The Neocon in Democrat's Clothing

In Stunning Reversal, IMF Blames Globalization For Spreading Inequality, Causing Market Crashes | Zero Hedge

In Stunning Reversal, IMF Blames Globalization For Spreading Inequality, Causing Market Crashes | Zero Hedge

The New State Department Report on Hillary’s Email, and Why it Matters - Antiwar.com Original by -- Antiwar.com

The New State Department Report on Hillary’s Email, and Why it Matters - Antiwar.com Original by -- Antiwar.com

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinksi: It Feels Like Hillary Clinton ‘Is Lying Straight Out’ - Truthdig

MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinksi: It Feels Like Hillary Clinton ‘Is Lying Straight Out’ - Truthdig

First "Shocking" Deposition In Clinton Email Case Reveals She Did Not Use A Password | Zero Hedge

First "Shocking" Deposition In Clinton Email Case Reveals She Did Not Use A Password | Zero Hedge

Clinton Foundation Snafu: Video Footage Catches FBI Probe Suspects Arriving At Hillary's House | Zero Hedge

Clinton Foundation Snafu: Video Footage Catches FBI Probe Suspects Arriving At Hillary's House | Zero Hedge

China Warns The World: America Is The "Greatest Threat To Peace & Stability"


China Warns The World: America Is The "Greatest Threat To Peace & Stability"

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-27/china-warns-world-america-greatest-threat-peace-stability

Hillary's 'classified' smokescreen hides real crime: Column

Hillary's 'classified' smokescreen hides real crime: Column

Clinton's E-Mail Shenanigans Sure Don't Look Like an Honest Mistake - Bloomberg View

Clinton's E-Mail Shenanigans Sure Don't Look Like an Honest Mistake - Bloomberg View

Emails Show TPP 'Collusion' Between Big Banks & Obama Administration | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community

Emails Show TPP 'Collusion' Between Big Banks & Obama Administration | Common Dreams | Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community

A Pox on the House of Nuclear Weapons - FPIF

A Pox on the House of Nuclear Weapons - FPIF

The Coming Drone Blowback - FPIF

The Coming Drone Blowback - FPIF

Naomi Klein · Let Them Drown · LRB 2 June 2016

Naomi Klein · Let Them Drown · LRB 2 June 2016

Gaius Publius: "Networks are Colluding" to Declare Clinton the Overall Winner Before California Polls Close | naked capitalism

Gaius Publius: "Networks are Colluding" to Declare Clinton the Overall Winner Before California Polls Close | naked capitalism

Memorial Day and Veterans Day, explained

Memorial Day and Veterans Day, explained

Friday, May 27, 2016

From the Daughters of St. Paul: A Summer Retreat

Recollection and Finding Time   View this email online if it doesn't display correctly
Retreat Day 1: Recollection and Finding Time
Recollection is paying attention to the presence of God in your soul. To “recollect” is to remember something, and it’s easy to forget God’s presence and promise when life gets busy. Taking time—making time—for silence and solitude is one of the best ways to truly recollect God’s love.

In the Catholic tradition, we recognize two types of recollection:
  1. Active recollection may be acquired by our own efforts aided by the grace of God. It means creating a habit of thinking about God’s presence in your life, and in this moment, right here and right now. It means fixing your attention on God and his presence and perfection.
  2. Passive recollection doesn’t depend on our own efforts, but is an extraordinary grace given by God. In this mode of recollection (which mystical writers see as the first degree of infused contemplation), the Holy Spirit reaches into you and absorbs your mind and heart into God.
Three things are necessary: solitude, silence and the recollection of the presence of God.
Most of us, most of the time, will engage in active recollection. Here’s what St. Alphonsus Liguori had to say about it:

To preserve recollection of spirit or the constant union of the soul with God, three things are necessary: solitude, silence and the recollection of the presence of God. It was these three things which the Angel of God referred to when, addressing St. Arsenius, he said: "Flee, be silent and rest." In other words: seek solitude, practice silence, and rest in God by keeping the thought of His presence ever before you.

It may seem that silence and solitude don’t have much of a place in modern life. We have telephones with us constantly; the Internet sucks our time; our families and work and friendships all make demands on us. Who can “flee, be silent, and rest”?

When we think about silence and solitude and recollection, it’s tempting to believe that it would all be easier to do if we lived in simpler times. It’s tempting to blame our distractions and lack of time and energy on our century and our location. Yet the reality is that God called us to be here, in this time and in this place. God called us into the complicated nexus of the modern world, and he did so for a reason.

So what is our response?

Perhaps we can start by making that our offering. God has asked us to dwell in this world, to sanctify it somehow. To make of all the drudgery and distractions and lack of time a holy thing, an offering of love. To see that it is through those very things that God is dwelling inside of us.

We don’t need to go on retreat to feel God’s presence. We can discern it in everything around us… including in our own tired, cluttered, distracted lives. And we can do that with the practice of recollection.

So take this summertime retreat as a way into really thinking about that offering. To claim a space of silence and solitude to recognize God dwelling inside of you (even if it’s only for a precious few minutes a day!), and then to take the experience of that silence and that solitude out into the world that God has called you to live in. To remember it—to recollect it—whenever things feel overwhelming. The more you practice, the more it will be a comfort to you, an energizing touchstone to which you can return again and again. And the more you practice, the more you’ll be aware of God’s presence with you all the time, not just in the precious few moments you can set aside for prayer and reflection.

Before You, Lord, in Prayer
LORD, help me to recollect your presence in my life and my being all the time. 

Open me to the slightest whisper of your voice so that I may go about my tasks and duties with the knowledge and assurance that I am your servant in everything I do.

 Take my offering of my busyness, my distractions, and my responsibilities and help me to see them in the light of your love. Amen.

Book Suggestions
Father Jean LaFrance talks a lot about recollection in his book, Pray to Your Father in Secret. We don’t go to God, he says: it is God who seeks us out, who calls us to him. Recollection is how you can open yourself up to God:

"You will become a truly spiritual person—that is, a person of prayer—when you live completely in the present moment. 

"We have within us a secret desire to live in a state of unceasing prayer. We feel that to live in the presence of God is the source of joy, peace, and true happiness. If we gathered together all the minutes and hours we waste each day, we would have plenty of time to pray. Now and then, take five minutes to stop and rest in inner silence. Focus only on being that you are there, speechless and motionless, in the presence of the living God. Throughout your day, never let an hour go by without going deep into your heart in the presence of the Most High. You have frequent opportunities to call upon God for help—cries of love or recognition, even in taking a breath. 

"You will be a person of continual prayer if you know how to accept the present moment as a gift of God."

Jean Lafrance, Pray to Your Father in Secret, pp.118-119

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Hillary Clinton's Imperious Brush-Off of Email Rules

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WPR Articles May 23 — May 27


WPR Articles May 23 — May 27

Can Duterte Back Up His Tough Talk as President of the Philippines?

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Earlier this month, Rodrigo Duterte, a tough-talking mayor, emerged as the winner of the Philippines’ presidential election, sparking worries about a dramatic reversal from his reform-minded predecessor, Benigno Aquino III. But how much will Duterte’s rhetoric actually translate into reality at home and abroad?

Can the Nordic Countries Capitalize on Their Strategic Position in Europe?

By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines
Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark have found themselves at the center of key security debates in Europe on growing Russian aggression and the migrant crisis. But can the Nordic countries translate their geostrategic importance into lasting influence in NATO and the European Union?

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In late April, on Sierra Leone’s independence day, police raided the headquarters of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party, firing shots and arresting supporters. In an email interview, Jimmy Kandeh, a professor at the University of Richmond, discussed domestic politics in Sierra Leone.

The Mansour Killing Raises as Many Questions as Answers in Afghanistan

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Last weekend, a U.S. military drone killed Akhtar Mohammad Mansour, the leader of the Afghan Taliban, as he drove home from Iran to Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. No one thinks that killing Mansour will defeat the Taliban, but it might alter the trajectory of the conflict at least a bit.

Africa’s Counterterrorism Growth Industry May Backfire

By: Richard Gowan | Column
Counterterrorism is a growth industry across large parts of Africa, overshadowing the continent’s other security challenges. There is a risk that this will initiate an endless cycle of wars, as African militaries and regional organizations might inspire further resistance in crushing Islamist groups.

Failure to Manage Commodities Windfall Forces Congo Budget Cuts

By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In the wake of declining commodities revenues, the prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo proposed a new budget that included cutting government spending by 30 percent. In an email interview, Yvan Yenda Ilunga discussed the effect of falling commodities prices on the DRC’s economy.

Despite Loosened Embargo, Bankers’ Fears Block U.S. Commerce With Cuba

By: William M. LeoGrande | Briefing
One of President Barack Obama’s most significant measures to promote commerce with Cuba isn’t working. U.S. banks can now legally process Cuban transactions with non-U.S. parties, but banks are refusing to do it. “It turns out it’s easier to impose sanctions than it is to dismantle them,” admits a U.S. official.

Rhodes Profile: Citizens, Spin and Truth in the Hybrid Information Era

By: Ellen Laipson | Column
The latest mini-drama in Washington is centered on whether the Obama administration manipulated the truth about the Iran nuclear talks to sell the deal to Congress and the public. The larger story is about how citizens can navigate the complicated landscape of information, spin and advocacy.

With Putin’s ASEAN Outreach, Russia Sets Sights on Southeast Asia

By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Feature
Vladimir Putin’s so-called tilt to Asia has taken on new importance recently, as Moscow looks eastward for new economic and diplomatic opportunities. But despite this new push and the Russia-ASEAN Summit in May, numerous hurdles stand in the way of deeper Russian engagement with Southeast Asia.

The Struggle to Reform Odessa Reflects Wider Malaise in Ukraine

By: Dan Peleschuk | Briefing
When controversial former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili was tapped as governor of Ukraine’s strategic Odessa region last year, he hired a young team to build a showcase for reform in post-revolutionary Ukraine. But today the prospects for success seem to be growing dimmer by the day.

Malaysia Moves Forward With TPP as Opposition Fails to Materialize

By: The Editors | Trend Lines
Last week, the Malaysian government announced the creation of a national committee to oversee the implementation of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In an email interview, the Malaysian Institute for Economic Research’s Shankaran Nambiar discussed the potential impact of TPP membership on Malaysia.

Russia and Saudi Arabia Are Only Feigning Restraint in Syria

By: Alexander Decina | Briefing
Although they are on opposite sides of Syria’s war, Russia and Saudi Arabia find themselves in similar positions. Both are presenting themselves as trying in earnest to rein in their respective proxies, Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the opposition. Yet neither is willing to put conditions on their support.

Sri Lanka’s Painful Past and Uncertain Future on Display in Tamil North

By: Frida Ghitis | Column
The scars of Sri Lanka’s 26-year-long civil war remain plainly visible in the country’s north. More than half a decade after the fighting ended, much needs to be done before the conflict is relegated to the pages of history, allowing Sri Lanka to work toward a prosperous and stable future.

Looking Back to Look Ahead: The U.S.-Japan Alliance in Today’s Asia

By: Sheila A. Smith | Briefing
The symbolism of Obama’s landmark visit to Hiroshima aside, for many, the U.S.-Japan alliance appears to be a Cold War artifact. But the strategic bargain struck during the Korean War serves a far different purpose today, as the U.S. and Japan have adjusted to new geopolitical currents in Asia.

Russia’s Push to Gain Influence in Southeast Asia

By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s editor-in-chief, Judah Grunstein, and host Peter Dörrie discuss rolling back Cuba sanctions, counterterrorism in Africa, and the hybrid information era. For the Report, Nikolas Gvosdev joins us to talk about Russia’s outreach to Southeast Asia.

Sadr Weathers Iraq’s Twists and Turns to Re-Emerge as Political Player

By: Frederick Deknatel | Trend Lines
A key character from the Iraqi insurgency is back center stage in Baghdad. The re-emergence of Muqtada al-Sadr, a notorious Shiite cleric, has sparked all manner of coverage. A toned-down Sadr has gone the political route so far, but his calculus could change as violence and tension rise in Baghdad.

Teh Week With IPS

   2016/5/27 Click here for the online version of this IPS newsletter   

New International Accord to Tackle Illegal Fishing
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Malawi's Drought Leaves Millions High and Dry
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Traditional Mexican Recipes Fight the Good Fight
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New and Old Vaccines Still Out of Reach for Many
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While long-awaited new vaccines for malaria and dengue may finally be within reach, many of the world’s existing vaccines have remained unreachable for many of the people who need them most. The recent outbreak of yellow fever in Angola shows how deadly infectious diseases can return when ... MORE > >

Humanitarian Summit, The Big Fiasco
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The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) held in Istanbul on May 23-24, managed to send a strong wake-up call to the world about the unprecedented human suffering now in course, but failed to achieve the objective of attracting the massive funds needed to alleviate the humanitarian drama, as none of the ... MORE > >

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an IPS Correspondent
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Economic Interests Harming Global Health: WHO Chief
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Natural Capital Investment Key to Africa’s Development
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Prickly Pears Drive Local Development in Northern Argentina
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Is it in Europe's Interest to Push Russia into China's Arms?
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Bangladesh's Urban Slums Swell with Climate Migrants
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Species Loss, the Migration Hiding in Plain Sight
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