Thursday, August 29, 2013

Another Western War Crime In The Making by PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

Obama's Syria Moment

Another Western War Crime In The Making

by PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS

http://www.counterpunch.org/2013/08/27/another-western-war-crime-in-the-making/

Operation Samson: Israel's Deployment of Nuclear Missiles on Subs from Germany

Many have wondered for years about the exact capabilities of the submarines Germany exports to Israel. Now, experts in Germany and Israel have confirmed that nuclear-tipped missiles have been deployed on the vessels. And the German government has long known about it. By SPIEGEL

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/israel-deploys-nuclear-weapons-on-german-built-submarines-a-836784.html

CFR Daily News Brief 8/29 Focus on Chemical Evidence in Syria

Daily News Brief
August 29, 2013

Top of the Agenda: Focus on Chemical Evidence in Syria

U.S. intelligence officials said that evidence tying Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to recent chemical weapons use is not a "slam dunk" (AP)—a reference to faulty intelligence prior to the Iraq war—but concluded that Syrian forces were most likely responsible for the attack that killed hundreds near Damascus last week. In London, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee said that the Syrian government is responsible for chemical weapons attacks (FT), but did not divulge any evidence. Prime Minister David Cameron's government agreed to hold a vote on military action in Syria (WSJ), which is expected early next week. United Nations inspectors in Syria are expected to complete their work on Saturday (NYT), but their mandate precludes them from identifying who is responsible for the alleged use of chemical weapons.

Analysis

"I tend to be wary of the military toolbox, and I strongly opposed the Iraq war and the Afghan 'surge.' But in conjunction with diplomacy, military force can save lives. We saw that in Bosnia and Kosovo under Bill Clinton (who appears to favor a more forceful American approach in Syria), and we saw that just this year in Mali," writes Nicholas D. Kristof in the New York Times.

"Instead of worrying about U.S. credibility or the president's reputation, the administration should focus on what can be done to reinforce the longstanding norm against the use of weapons of mass destruction," writes Jonathan Mercer in Foreign Affairs.

"The President now has a very broad view of his unilateral war powers; this military action is being rushed, and formal congressional approval is not a priority in light of the President's self-induced credibility crisis and the overwhelming military and diplomatic demands of planning the intervention; the White House doesn't want to expend (or doesn't have) the resources that seeking and winning congressional approval would require; it doesn't want to suffer through the formal national debate; and it fears it might lose the debate," writes Jack Goldsmith on Lawfare.

Pope Calls For End of Violence in Syria Appeals to International Community to Be More Responsive

Pope Calls For End of Violence in Syria

Israeli-Palestinian Talks Are Quietly Foundering

Published on August 28th, 2013 | http://www.lobelog.com/israeli-palestinian-talks-are-quietly-foundering/#more-20631

Israeli-Palestinian Talks Are Quietly Foundering

by Mitchell Plitnick
If John Kerry wants to find a silver lining in the heavy criticism US foreign policy has faced due to the events in both Egypt and Syria, he might find it in, of all places, the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

Why is Microsoft keeping the final release of Windows 8.1 secret?

For the first time in modern history, Microsoft is releasing a new Windows version that its traditional partners, developers and IT pros, won't get early access to. Why the change in policy? And will this decision backfire?http://www.zdnet.com/why-is-microsoft-keeping-the-final-release-of-windows-8-1-secret-7000019965/?s_cid=e539&ttag=e539

The Latest from FP 8/29

The Latest from FP

Even if Assad used chemical weapons, the west has no mandate to act as a global policeman

Hans Blix

The Guardian, Thursday 29 August 2013

It is true that the UN security council is not a reliable global policeman. It may be slow to take action, or paralysed because of disagreement between members. But do we want the US or Nato or "alliances of willing states" as global policemen either? Unlike George Bush in 2003, the Obama administration is not trigger-happy and contemptuous of the United Nations and the rules of its charter, which allow the use of armed force only in self-defence or with an authorisation from the security council. Yet Obama, like Bush and Blair, seems ready to ignore the council and order armed strikes on Syria with political support from only the UK, France and some others.

Pity the Germans!

http://www.theglobalist.com/pity-germans/

Pity the Germans!

Why can the U.S. military detain anyone worldwide for exercising press freedom?

By Todd Pierce, August 28, 2013

UK backs limited action against Bashar al-Assad in Syria

By John Aglionby and Hannah Kuchlerhttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9b999b34-107e-11e3-b291-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2dMe4qWmF

CONFIRMED: US Claims Against Syria - There is no Evidence By Tony Cartalucci

If nothing else, this piece confirms the low esteem in which our intelligence agencies are held and the propensity of senior USG officials for politically convenient, foregone conclusions.

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36015.htm

CONFIRMED: US Claims Against Syria - There is no Evidence

By Tony Cartalucci

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Thursday, August 29, 2013