US punishes the good, rewards the wicked, and evangelicals can’t tell the difference
US punishes the good, rewards the wicked, and evangelicals can’t tell the difference
https://us11.campaign-archive.com/?e=ebbe9c8233&u=70b9fc567465118fa0b7b6e67&id=1785648d17
In the US there is a movement to treat pro-Palestine demos as criminal conduct. If this is so, then what is reporting such as mine and that of hundreds of other people who consider Israel the criminal enterprise that it is?
Independent journalism is being increasingly criminalized and journalists punished like criminals even as Israel openly kills children and officials like Smotrich openly call for starving 2 million Palestinians to death.
Case in point:
https://theintercept.com/2024/08/08/journalist-hate-crime-gaza-protest/
The Outrageous Case of a Journalist Charged With a Hate Crime for Recording a Gaza Protest Action
“This appears to be a clear attempt to stifle both journalistic activities and pro-Palestine speech.”
In an egregious violation of press freedoms and First Amendment-protected activity, a New York City video journalist was arrested on felony hate crime charges Tuesday for allegedly being present during and documenting a pro-Palestine protest action.
According to the charges, Sam Seligson, a credentialed independent videographer, filmed a small group of people last June graffitiing the homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s director, president, and two other museum officials with pro-Palestine, anti-Zionist slogans.
We also know about the detention and search of Scott Ritter whose only crime was telling the truth about things that the US regime lies about.
But the most vulnerable are the individuals who protest the inhuman treatment of Palestinians by the IDF and Israeli police. The following link is to a video titled
NYPD BEAT Pro-Palestinian Protesters in HORRIFIC Attack:
Dozens of Pro-Palestine Protesters Arrested at the University of Texas at Austin
Police beat and arrest pro-Palestinian protesters in New York
And we know about Julian Assange’s years-long ordeal at the hands of a veritable dictatorship of powerful people who have lost sight of what America at least supposedly stands for.
A bill of rights. That they have torn to shreds.
And we know that they – along with our “elected” lawmakers – are daily stealing our rights to a democratic system of government. Which they have transferred to Israel by a tacit agreement with AIPAC, a foreign agent that bribes candidates with generous “campaign contributions” to buy their allegiance to Israel. And of course allegiance to Israel negates allegiance to America.
So let’s take stock of their extreme criminal activity.
They have not only permitted a genocide and other grievous atrocity crimes in Palestine, they have actively enabled and empowered the perpetrators, sending them gifts of billions of dollars of the hard-earned income of US citizens without asking our permission (because they know we would not approve) and they have unlawfully and wrongly given these perpetrators a panoply of arms with which to kill explicitly men, women and children, all civilians, all innocent, against the moral code that we as US citizens hold dear and uphold or wish to, and try to uphold, and are fully entitled to uphold.
Thus, they punish We the People in two ways:
Unlawfully usurping the right to the democracy to which we are entitled by transferring our right to self-rule to Israel, a foreign government.
Unlawfully applying an immoral and illegal code of their own to enable and empower a criminal regime to commit immoral and illegal deeds that violate our cultural mores and beliefs, thereby depriving We the People of our rights to self-rule under our own standards to which we are fully entitled.
Thus they kill and commit and enable genocide against our will, itself an unlawful and immoral act that does immeasurable harm to innocent people abroad.
Further, they deprive an entire nation of its rights to self-rule as spelled out in our Constitution.
Further, they punish demonstrators and protesters on our streets and in our universities for availing ourselves of our rights to self-expression and free press, as they have done flagrantly with many protesters who have been unlawfully arrested and beaten simply for protesting genocide and atrocities against innocent Palestinians and, flagrantly with Scott Ritter and Julian Assange, to name but a few of the more prominent targets.
Our own so-called government has thus been stolen. Hence, they are guilty of unlawful and illegal killing, maiming, deprivation of freedom, murder of journalists, systematic starvation of whole populations and terror by proxy in Palestine and, here on the homeland, illegal usurping of our rights to self-government and systematic dismantling of a government that is by law to be democratic and free.
But equally vile and wicked are the lies they have spread through official government proclamations, statements, unconstitutional statutes and unlawful police actions and particularly via the press. One sneaky and vile example is the insinuation or allegation that pro-Palestine protesters are being paid by Iran to protest. This goes against logic and reason because it suggests that normal people would have to be bribed to protest genocide.
However, normal people generally abhor injustice and atrocities, so there would never be any reason to bribe them to oppose genocide. Our American civil rights movement was not motivated by money from wealthy individuals or groups because it was backed by people of conscience, including many Christians who simply were incensed and outraged at the injustices and inequality faced by blacks. To suggest that Americans need to be bribed to act on conscience is an insult to Americans and a denial of human kindness.
The people who have hijacked our government are heinous and wicked thieves, murderers and usurpers and deserve no less than arrest and imprisonment for their deeds.
Almost none of the government functionaries deserve to be in the high positions of government and should be removed forthwith.
I am not pretending that the legal recourse to arrest and jail and disempower these criminals is available at this time or, to be brutally honest, that it will ever be available in our fascist government.
However, the first step in dismantling the evil must be taken, analogously to the construction of a building or civil work.
I have no power to intervene physically in the workings and machinations of government. However, I have the right to state the truth. And the stating of the truth about the perverting of law and government is the first step that must be taken, like the digging of a foundation for a building or civil work, or the pouring of the cement foundation or the laying of the first row of blocks.
In this groundbreaking stage, all I propose – and nothing more – is to proclaim our rights and identify the culprits responsible for violating said rights.
However, I believe that once the public is made aware of the crimes being committed against We the People and once they are known and well understood, the rest will happen of its own accord. All humans have reason and logic. There is no power on earth that can neutralize this God-given aspect of human nature.
The above is how the good are punished.
Examples of how the wicked are rewarded are all around us.
The dozens of standing ovations lavished on officially ICJ-recognized war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu on a disgraceful visit to the US Congress is the quintessence of this insanity.
The replacement for pro-Palestine Cori Bush is Wesley Bell, a staunchly pro-genocide Democrat who was supported by an $8+ million war chest from AIPAC, the enthusiastic backer of the criminal regime in Tel Aviv. AIPAC itself is no less guilty than the public officials who support the genocide and it deserves punishment and disbanding.
Donald Trump is viciously anti-Palestine. He famously backed Israel’s crime spree in Gaza with the words “finish them, Netanyahu.” It is impossible not to take that as a full-throated endorsement for the extermination of every last Palestinian. It boggles the mind to think that a future US president would endorse the genocide of an entire ethnicity and do so proudly and openly. We have sunk to a racist low point that stains us as a people forever.
As for the Evangelicals, the older ones are mostly “Christian” Zionists, and these folks are the lowest of the low because they hide behind the name of the meek and kindly Jesus to support Israel’s atrocities.
They belong in the same category as mass murderer Jim Jones.
Supporting genocide and other atrocities under any guise, including a religious cloak, is wrong and unlawful.
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Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]
https://www.gazeta.ru/army/news/2024/08/10/23655289.shtml?ysclid=lzonu668vt292016687
August 10, 2024
Russia used a new weapon in the Sumy oblast
Ukraine announced strikes on the Sumy oblast with a hybrid bomb and missile
Sakina Nurieva
Russia is using a new weapon to destroy a group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in the border oblast of the Kursk oblast. The head of the military administration of the Sumy oblast of Ukraine, Vladimir Artyukh, announced this on the air of the Ukrainian telethon.
The Sumy oblast of Ukraine borders the Kursk oblast of Russia. [The Ukrainian Sumy oblast is just across the border from the Russian Kursk oblast, which was invaded on Aug 6, 2024. The invaders occupied parts of Kursk oblast for several days and the Russian forces are still mopping up. In our last translated report, there was a forecast that the Russians would now be conducting a military operation to establish control of the Sumy oblast to prevent a repeat of this Ukrainian incursion. It was further stated that, in addition to operations in the Kharkov oblast, which have been ongoing for weeks, the Russians would be operating in the Sumy and Chernigov (Chernihiv in Ukrainian) oblasts, to establish control along the northern border of Ukraine up to the Kiev oblast, a major advance. This will be done to prevent further incursions into southern Russia]
According to Artyukh, on August 9, throughout the day, the Russian Armed Forces carried out strikes in the Sumy oblast with universal interspecific glide munitions, a hybrid between a bomb and a missile. The official noted that this was the first time something like this had happened.
The head of the Air Force added that these bombs are similar to the well-known adjustable aircraft bombs (KABs), but have an engine and therefore fly twice as far and hit the target more accurately. In total, 11 such bombs were launched towards the Sumy oblast.
On the night of August 10, explosions were reported in the Sumy oblast.
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on the morning of August 6, Ukrainian soldiers tried to cross the border and go deep into the territory of the Kursk oblast. On August 7, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (AF) of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, said that the advance of Ukrainian troops deep into Russian territory had been stopped.
On August 8, the Ministry of Defense reported that fighting was taking place in the Sudzhansky and Korenevsky districts of the Kursk oblast.
It also became known that fighters from the Wagner PMC and the Akhmat [pro-Russian Chechens] special forces arrived in the oblast to participate in the battles against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The situation in the region is tense: a state of emergency has been declared, and residents of border areas are being evacuated. Read more in the Gazeta.Ru article.
Earlier, a Russian Su-34 bomber hit UAF targets in the Kursk oblast.
**
Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]
https://ria.ru/20240810/rogov-1965328933.html?in=t
10.08.2024
Aviation carried out strikes on the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the interests of the Center group
Aerospace Forces aviation carried out about 40 strikes on the Ukrainian Armed on behalf of the Center group
MOSCOW, August 10 - RIA Novosti. Bomber aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces carried out about 40 strikes on targets of the Armed Forces of Ukraine within 24 hours in the interests of the Center group of forces, Alexander Savchuk, head of the press center of the Center group of troops, told RIA Novosti.
"
“Bomber aircraft carried out about 40 strikes in the areas of Grodovka, Nikolaevka, Selidovo,” Savchuk said.
He added that the group’s units defeated the formations of the first tank, 31st, 32nd, 100th, 117th mechanized, 95th air assault brigades in the areas of Toretsk, Novgorodsky, Nikolaevka and Grodovka, and also repelled three counterattacks by Ukrainian Armed Forces assault groups.
In total, fire damage was inflicted on 385 identified enemy targets during the day. In particular, fire from heavy flamethrower systems damaged four strongholds of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the area of Novgorod and Kirov.
“The enemy lost up to 370 military personnel. Four vehicles, a Bogdan self-propelled artillery mount, an M777 howitzer, an Msta-B howitzer, two D-30 howitzers and four mortars were destroyed. Two unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by air defense systems,” Savchuk added.
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Newly released footage proves that Gershkovich and Whelan were indeed American spies
Excerpt:
Gershkovich’s includes audio which proves that he knew that he was soliciting classified defense secrets on behalf of the Wall Street Journal and then planned to mislead their readers by claiming that they only spoke to an “anonymous source” without mentioning that they also obtained documents about this. He also tried hiding the flash drive that he obtained during his meeting with his source in a Yekaterinburg restaurant when he was arrested, which the video specifically highlights to draw attention to.
As for Whelan, there’s no audio in his video but it shows him receiving a flash drive in a hotel bathroom from a friend who he claimed during his interrogation was allegedly giving him pictures of churches. RT’s brief analytical video amusingly mocks his story as absurd. After all, Gazdiev reminded everyone that friends share pictures over email or text, not via flash drives in hotel bathrooms. Just like Gershkovich, he also obviously knew that he was illegally soliciting classified secrets, in this case about FSB officers.
More here
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Our thanks to CA:
Donald Trump's supporters believe he'll "clean house", he'll "drain the swamp", he'll totally obliterate the "deep state". There's not a chance in hell that will happen. The well-established power elite (the "inner agency") in Washington possesses far more power than Donald Trump can ever have. They own the US government. That's an opinion, sure it is, but it certainly isn't contradicted by any facts I've seen.
Here's the real reason the Trump Presidency will inevitably fail. In order to govern, Trump will have to appoint establishment insiders to key government positions (including his own cabinet). That's exactly what happened at the end of his first Administration; that's what will happen in his second. The real power resides with the Washington insiders (the "deep state"). No Washington outsider can ever amass enough power to counter that.
And, on the morning of Wednesday, November 6, the day after the US presidential election, for most of us, nothing substantial will have changed. But at least this insanely long election cycle will be over. And that's really something to be grateful for!
Me
Not only will Trump not oppose the Deep State, Trump was installed by AIPAC, the deepest layer of the Deep State and that makes him part of the Deep State. It is absurd to think that he could oppose the Deep State in any way.
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Our thanks to JS for this:
Obama Maneuver: When a candidate tells every group of people he/she meets with just exactly what they want to hear, even if it is not true.
Here is an example of how Harris is deploying the "Obama Maneuver" regarding her position on an arms embargo on Israel:
"Uncommitted" Co-Chair Layla Elabed on Meeting Kamala Harris, Pressing VP for Arms Embargo on Israel
We speak with the co-chair of the Uncommitted National Movement, who briefly met with Vice President Kamala Harris this week as the Democratic presidential candidate is under pressure to define her platform on Palestine. Layla Elabed spoke with Harris before her rally in Michigan to press her on a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo on Israel.
Excerpt from this interview:
Layla Elabed: “My community members are losing tens to hundreds of their family members, will you talk to me about an arms embargo? Will you talk to Uncommitted about an arms embargo? Will you meet with us? And she said yes she would meet with us.”
Democracy Now! Aug 9, 2024 VIDEO: 8m 30s
Harris meeting with anti-Israel 'Uncommitted' movement opens speculation about arms embargo
Harris spoke with co-founders of the National Uncommitted movement before a rally in Detroit on Wednesday, hearing stories about people in Michigan who have had family members killed in Gaza, before expressing an openness to meet with the leaders over their calls for an arms embargo, according to a report from The New York Times. The reported exchange with the leaders of the movement drew immediate backlash from supporters of Israel, who blasted the Democratic nominee for even entertaining the demand and needed her to say whether she would ever consider an embargo.
By Michael Lee, Fox News, August 8, 2024
Harris didn't agree to discuss Israel arms embargo, aide says
WASHINGTON, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris did not agree to discuss imposing an arms embargo on Israel during an exchange with pro-Palestinian activists who are pushing for changes to U.S. policy toward its ally over the Gaza war, an aide said on Thursday.
By Doina Chiacu and Trevor Hunnicutt, Reuters, August 8, 2024
Me
I have little hope in Harris that she might save the Palestinians. The only positive here is that Harris is not wedded to any ideology. She just wants to get power and stay in power. As the world, and the US, drift farther and farther from the myths of the Palestinians as terrorists and as the atrocities of the Israeli crime syndicate become more and more widely known, and as Israel gets weaker and weaker, losing its original luster, it will be harder and harder for US groups invested in Zionism to hold to their party line. Already the lies are crumbling. In fact, today for the first time we read of John Kirby rebuking Netanyahu – in the wake of prominent Western leaders like EU top diplomat Josep Borrell turning bitterly against the Israeli regime. It’s a domino effect that will not stop and US leaders are in the row of falling dominos.
If the trend keeps up until November, what will Trump do as he finds himself isolated and alone? And Harris keeps beating him in the polls by a wider and wider margin.
Harris offers an important advantage over trump: Trump has never met with any group that sympathizes with Palestine. His Republican shills are dyed-in-the-wool Israel lovers including “Christian” Zionists, who foolishly believe in their heart of hearts that God will strike anyone down who sullies the Israeli regime – which they believe implicitly is divinely inspired. They have swallowed whole the sick narrative that the Palestinians are the inheritors of the Amalekites (who were marked for extermination in the OT), believing that they share the same bloodline (the truth is that the Amalekites were genetically identical to the Hebrews, so the narrative is invalid). He has locked himself into this group’s narrative and will be unable to escape the impact of his own snake oil.
It is not impossible that the last of the diehard Israel lovers in Congress will suffer a political bloodbath once the tide has changed in favor of the beleaguered Palestinians.
**
Translation with my notes in bold and in [brackets]
‘Raped by female soldiers’: Palestinian in leaked Sde Teiman photo speaks out
The man in the famous photo, Ibrahim Salem, spent eight months in Israeli detention, where rape, electrocution and beatings were routine
After spending eight months in Israeli detention, Ibrahim Salem was released last week and is now in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza (MEE/Mohammed al-Hajjar)
By Mohammed al-Hajjar in Deir al-Balah, occupied Palestine and Nader Durgham in Beirut
Published date: 8 August 2024 16:05 BST
Editor's note: This article contains distressing details
Blindfolded, arms behind his head and standing by the barbed wire fence of the Israeli Sde Teiman detention camp.
It was one of the first photos leaked from the notorious army base, where thousands of Palestinian prisoners were held without charge and routinely tortured.
The man in the picture, Ibrahim Salem, was released last week after nearly eight months of detention.
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He told Middle East Eye that the photo, first published by CNN, was just the tip of the iceberg of his horrific experience in detention, which included rape, electrocution and frequent beatings.
“Most of the prisoners will come out with rectum injuries [caused by the sexual assault],” Salem, 36, told Middle East Eye.
More (if you have the stomach for it) here
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BTW, Scott Ritter said it this way:
https://rumble.com/v55a0l3-ask-the-inspector-ep.-174-streams-live-july-5-at-9-pm-et.html?start=1351
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As Gazans starve, Israeli rhetoric grows more and more radically anti-Palestinian – Day 306
In Gaza, airstrikes continue, food rations drop, polio threat grows; in Israel, calls to punish not rapists, but the one who filmed them, to make rape of prisoners official policy, to make Nablus in West Bank "look like Rafah," to legalize Israeli settlement in Gaza, to end US sanctions on violent settlers; Biden admin ok's more war after prisoner swap (risking ceasefire deal), condemns not AIPAC's purchase of congressional candidates, but Cori Bush's warnings against AIPAC; Kamala Harris indicates no tolerance for pro-Palestinian protesters' message; Walz's track record on Palestine is not nearly as moral as Dems painted it...
Read more at link
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Netanyahu shamed as Israeli minister Smotrich slammed by both Arab and Western allies
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Pressure from grassroots Dems and world opinion forces Biden regime to criticize Israel for first time
“Some critics, like Mr. Smotrich, for example, have claimed that the hostage deal is a surrender to Hamas or that hostages should not be exchanged for prisoners. Mr. Smotrich essentially suggests that the war ought to go on indefinitely without pause and with the lives of the hostages of no real concern at all,” Kirby said.
Expand article logo Continue reading
“His arguments are dead wrong; they’re misleading the Israeli public.”
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Our thanks to Regis Tremblay
Image by Regis Tremblay
THE GREAT SCHISM OF 1054
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