http://www.opednews.com Opednews.com Progressive, Liberal United States and International News, Opinion, Op-Eds and Politics en-us Copyright 2013 Fri, 24 May 2013 10:13:26 CDT Fri, 24 May 2013 10:13:26 CDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.opednews.com/images/rss_news.gif http://www.opednews.com 144 16 http://www.opednews.com/articles/An-Interview-with-Code-Pin-by-Dennis-Bernstein-130524-930.html Fri, 24 May 2013 10:13:25 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/An-Interview-with-Code-Pin-by-Dennis-Bernstein-130524-930.html Code-Pink founder, Medea Benjamin, took President Barack Obama head-on during a major foreign policy speech the president was giving Thursday on drone policy and related issues. Benjamin demanded that the president close the Guantanamo Bay prison immediately. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pat-Robertson-s-Marital-Ad-by-Don-Ardell-Ph-D-130524-278.html Fri, 24 May 2013 10:01:54 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pat-Robertson-s-Marital-Ad-by-Don-Ardell-Ph-D-130524-278.html What advice would you offer a woman, someone you don't know, who on the phone asks, ""I've been trying to forgive my husband for cheating on me. We have gone to counseling, but I just can't seem to forgive, nor can I trust. How do you let go of the anger? How do you trust again? God says to forgive, but it's been so hard to do. I want to forgive, so we can get on with our lives." Consider what advice Pat Robertson offered. http://www.opednews.com/articles/It-s-Elizabeth-Warren-2016-by-Daily-kos-130524-189.html Fri, 24 May 2013 09:24:34 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/It-s-Elizabeth-Warren-2016-by-Daily-kos-130524-189.html recently fierce consumer advocate and needler of banks Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called out Wall Street regulators for their habit of giving tepid punishments to misbehaving banks, and asked the agencies to justify their policy of settling with the wrongdoers out of court. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Senate-Votes-Down-GMO-Food-by-Bernie-Sanders-130524-792.html Fri, 24 May 2013 09:09:06 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Senate-Votes-Down-GMO-Food-by-Bernie-Sanders-130524-792.html The Senate today rejected an amendment by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) to let states require labels on food or beverages made with genetically modified ingredients. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Good-Grief-Barack-Obama-by-Bob-Burnett-130524-514.html Fri, 24 May 2013 08:27:23 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Good-Grief-Barack-Obama-by-Bob-Burnett-130524-514.html The most famous running joke in the Peanuts comic strip repeats at the beginning of every football season. Charlie Brown asks Lucy to hold the ball for him so he can kick it. At the last moment, just before Charlie gets his foot on the pigskin, Lucy snatches it away. Sound familiar? It's the story of Barack Obama and the Republican Congress. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Help-Pass-the-PUPS-Act-by-Suzana-Megles-130524-721.html Fri, 24 May 2013 07:29:16 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Help-Pass-the-PUPS-Act-by-Suzana-Megles-130524-721.html Why does it take us so long to address puppy mill cruelty? Hopefully, this Congress will pass the PUPS Act which would hopefully stop further dog cruelty in puppy mills. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Baylor-Women-s-Basketball-by-Angela-Hattery-130524-277.html Fri, 24 May 2013 07:17:30 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Baylor-Women-s-Basketball-by-Angela-Hattery-130524-277.html Baylor University's ban on homosexuality and the consequent "don't ask don't tell" approach to lesbians on the basketball team needs to be repealed! http://www.opednews.com/articles/Web-Series-Black-Folk-Don-by-Justin-Samuels-130524-273.html Fri, 24 May 2013 07:13:51 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Web-Series-Black-Folk-Don-by-Justin-Samuels-130524-273.html Black Folk Don't is a web series that explores stereotypes of Black Americans, and debunks them. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Blessed-Be-The-Atheists-T-by-Rev-Dan-Vojir-130524-721.html Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:01 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Blessed-Be-The-Atheists-T-by-Rev-Dan-Vojir-130524-721.html First Francis I, then Wolff Blitzer - is the world bowing to (gasp!) atheism? Glenn Beck thinks it's Obama's fault, of course. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Balance-Sheet-Blues-by-Tom-Driscoll-130524-632.html Fri, 24 May 2013 01:48:22 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Balance-Sheet-Blues-by-Tom-Driscoll-130524-632.html As we move on the notion of immigration reform the question arises, mightn't we be better served with reforming citizenship itself? Even our own? http://www.opednews.com/articles/Verizon-and-Google-Helpe-by-Corp-Watch-130524-508.html Fri, 24 May 2013 01:24:09 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Verizon-and-Google-Helpe-by-Corp-Watch-130524-508.html Technology companies willingly provided information to U.S. government agencies to help the Obama administration snoop on reporters from the Associated Press (AP) and Fox news in order to ostensibly crack down on leaks that pose a "threat" to national security. Verizon, one of the largest mobile phone companies in the U.S., turned over records on 20 reporters from the AP who were working on a story on Yemen... http://www.opednews.com/articles/Was-the-London-killing-of-by-Glenn-Greenwald-130524-349.html Fri, 24 May 2013 00:44:41 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Was-the-London-killing-of-by-Glenn-Greenwald-130524-349.html Can it really be the case that when western nations continuously kill Muslim civilians, that's not "terrorism," but when Muslims kill western soldiers, that is terrorism? The US has even imprisoned people at Guantanamo and elsewhere on accusations of "terrorism" who are accused of nothing more than engaging in violence against US soldiers who invaded their country. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Let-s-Tell-Multinational-C-by-Dave-Johnson-130524-501.html Fri, 24 May 2013 00:07:28 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Let-s-Tell-Multinational-C-by-Dave-Johnson-130524-501.html Companies want a break letting them pay much lower taxes than they already owe to reward then for keeping the money out of the country away from their own shareholders! On top of that they want something called a "Territorial Tax" that lets them do this from now on with no taxes at all! http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Gran-Torino-Problem-by-Mark-Sashine-130523-291.html Thu, 23 May 2013 21:45:57 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Gran-Torino-Problem-by-Mark-Sashine-130523-291.html Review of Gran Torino. http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Exposes-Less-Action-by-Ralph-Nader-130523-641.html Thu, 23 May 2013 20:39:49 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/More-Exposes-Less-Action-by-Ralph-Nader-130523-641.html We are in a golden age of exposes, detailed revelations about out-of-control polluters, corporate tax escapees, corruption of government, cheating of consumers, abandonment of workers, freezing or reduction of wages, and a general hijacking of America for perpetual wars, militarism and profiteering. http://www.opednews.com/articles/SCANDAL-ABC-Defiance-Is-N-by-Sheila-Parks-130523-632.html Thu, 23 May 2013 19:10:20 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/SCANDAL-ABC-Defiance-Is-N-by-Sheila-Parks-130523-632.html Even Olivia finally says, "The things we did to get you [Fitz] here. We went too far." I'll say! The same is true in the real life backstory because it is impossible that those in power do not know what voting rights activists, including myself, and computer scientists have been writing about election rigging since the presidential election of 2000 in Florida. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Israel-s-Hand-in-Guatemala-by-Robert-Parry-130523-271.html Thu, 23 May 2013 15:34:38 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Israel-s-Hand-in-Guatemala-by-Robert-Parry-130523-271.html The Guatemalan genocide of the 1980s does not just implicate President Ronald Reagan and his senior aides but the Israeli government which secretly supplied helicopters, guns and computers that were used to hunt down and exterminate Ixil Indians and other perceived enemies of the state. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Friedan-Turns-Fifty-An-Ep-by-Marta-Steele-130523-335.html Thu, 23 May 2013 15:17:49 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Friedan-Turns-Fifty-An-Ep-by-Marta-Steele-130523-335.html As the women's movement (remember "women's lib"?) turns fifty, two icons gaze into our past, present, and future, as question marks orbited around my head if not the whole, overcrowded room. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Disinformation-Works-by-Paul-Craig-Roberts-130523-161.html Thu, 23 May 2013 14:29:54 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Disinformation-Works-by-Paul-Craig-Roberts-130523-161.html Whenever a stunning episode occurs, such as 9/11 or the Boston Marathon bombing, most everyone whether on the right or left goes along with the government's explanation, because they can hook their agenda to the government's account. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Short-Story--Representati-by-Philip-Zack-130523-105.html Thu, 23 May 2013 13:42:09 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Short-Story--Representati-by-Philip-Zack-130523-105.html Wendell Jones has moved to rezone the building site that had been given to Occupy for as long as they needed it. A week earlier, he'd had it cleared by the police under the guise of new restrictions, but making the People's Mike illegal has drawn fire, and it has also galvanized OWS into taking on city council. Sue Winston had all but lost control of the meeting, when news arrived from the site that even left Jones speechless. http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Lebanon-s-Palestinians-by-Franklin-Lamb-130523-48.html Thu, 23 May 2013 11:45:42 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Lebanon-s-Palestinians-by-Franklin-Lamb-130523-48.html This single act by Lebanon's Parliament, would help repair Shia-Sunni relations globally and would dampen down -- and expose for what they are, the extremist Salafist-jihadist-Wahhabist incitements to religious hatred, both intra-Muslim and Muslim-Christian. It would also, according to several Palestinian NGO's working in Lebanon, keep Palestinians out of the Syrian conflict. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-Christa-and-Me-by-Veena-Trehan-130523-910.html Thu, 23 May 2013 11:42:03 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Monsanto-Christa-and-Me-by-Veena-Trehan-130523-910.html What do stories of GMOs and sexual violence have in common? Too often, the tragic ending. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Real-Legacy-Savio-by-Patrick-Walker-130523-725.html Thu, 23 May 2013 11:39:35 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-s-Real-Legacy-Savio-by-Patrick-Walker-130523-725.html A bold assertion that--in wake of the deep disrepute Bush and Co. brought to corporate fascism--Obama may find his real legacy in proving its savior. Also, a clever (and I hope, insightful)analyis of Obama's timing, speculating that he's starting to show signs of open fascism (and hence normalize it) for an event where it will be needed most--his almost guaranteed, wildly irresponsible approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Abusing-Prisoners-Decrease-by-Angola-3-News-130523-832.html Thu, 23 May 2013 11:26:20 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Abusing-Prisoners-Decrease-by-Angola-3-News-130523-832.html If given the attention it deserves, an important new book entitled "Facing the US Prison Problem 2.3 Million Strong," is certain to make significant contributions to the public discussions of US prison policy. The author, Shawn Griffith, was released last year from Florida's prison system at the age of 41, after spending most of his life, almost 24 years, behind bars, including seven in solitary confinement. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Preparing-Yourself-by-Clinton-Callahan-130523-278.html Thu, 23 May 2013 11:24:57 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Preparing-Yourself-by-Clinton-Callahan-130523-278.html Rob Kall's timely observation included a key to personal action when he said: "I'm coming to believe that the answer to rescuing America is not to take the giant corporate behemoth head on. Mammals did not make war with the dinosaurs. They were ready to adapt when the world changed." Next-culture human mammals are relocalizing and building communities that will survive. Do your thoughtmaps allow you to adapt? http://www.opednews.com/articles/Engelhardt-The-Biggest-Cr-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130523-725.html Thu, 23 May 2013 09:20:09 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Engelhardt-The-Biggest-Cr-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130523-725.html We have a word for the conscious slaughter of a racial or ethnic group: genocide. And one for the conscious destruction of aspects of the environment: ecocide. But we don't have a word for the conscious act of destroying the planet we live on, the world as humanity had known it until, historically speaking, late last night. A possibility might be "terracide" from the Latin word for earth. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-Promises-His-Speech-by-David-Swanson-130522-64.html Wed, 22 May 2013 23:30:29 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-Promises-His-Speech-by-David-Swanson-130522-64.html President Obama is expected to announce that the eternal war on the world will have an end. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Don-t-interact-don-t-tal-by-RT-TV-130522-6.html Wed, 22 May 2013 21:58:44 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Don-t-interact-don-t-tal-by-RT-TV-130522-6.html One of the methods used to extract information from Muslim inmates in Guantanamo was to apply sexual interrogation techniques a former guard at the camp said. Such degradation methods were used on innocent men. He claims that it is the inmates' religious perseverance in the face of pain and humiliation that convinced him the US was not fighting for the right cause. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Syria-as-a-Game-Changer-U-by-Ramzy-Baroud-130522-590.html Wed, 22 May 2013 21:11:00 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Syria-as-a-Game-Changer-U-by-Ramzy-Baroud-130522-590.html It is most telling that over two years after the Syrian uprising-turned bloody civil war, the US continues to curb its involvement by indirectly assisting anti-Bashar al-Assad regime opposition forces, through its Arab allies and Turkey. Even its political discourse is indecisive and often times inconsistent. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Operation-Vigilant-Eagle--by-John-Whitehead-130522-54.html Wed, 22 May 2013 18:48:27 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Operation-Vigilant-Eagle--by-John-Whitehead-130522-54.html Despite the fact that the U.S. boasts more than 23 million veterans who have served in World War II through Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the plight of veterans today, while often overlooked, is common knowledge: impoverished, unemployed, lacking any decent health benefits, homeless, traumatized mentally and physically, struggling with depression, thoughts of suicide, marital stress. http://www.opednews.com/articles/British-Litvinenko-Coroner-by-William-Dunkerley-130522-899.html Wed, 22 May 2013 18:31:42 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/British-Litvinenko-Coroner-by-William-Dunkerley-130522-899.html The inquest into the 2006 death of Alexander Litvinenko has gone beyond farce. The London coroner is now breaking all the rules in pursuit of a personal who-done-it crusade. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Benghazi-Emails-Reveal---by-William-Boardman-130522-110.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:26:37 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Benghazi-Emails-Reveal---by-William-Boardman-130522-110.html The strangest thing about the public release on May 15 of 100 or so emails relating to Benghazi talking points was that the White House had already made these same emails available to Congress roughly two months earlier. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Gun-Carry-Extremists-Cau-by-Martha-Rosenberg-130522-853.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:22:08 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Gun-Carry-Extremists-Cau-by-Martha-Rosenberg-130522-853.html How many gun rights activists does it take to change a light bulb? 301. 100 to blame the burned out bulb on a gun-free zone; 100 to call the replacement a threat to their constitutional rights, 100 to post prepper remarks about Hitler and the ATF and 1 to change a light bulb. http://www.opednews.com/articles/GOP-Mute-on-Apple-and-Othe-by-earl-ofari-hutchin-130522-608.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:20:07 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/GOP-Mute-on-Apple-and-Othe-by-earl-ofari-hutchin-130522-608.html The news that Apple paid zero taxes on tens of billions in income on its overseas operations, investments, and sales grabbed a momentary headline but stirred little more than a yawn among GOP leaders. There's little surprise here for several well-known and deeply troubling reasons. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Our-Liberty-Cannot-Be-Gua-by-John-Nichols-130522-477.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:16:24 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Our-Liberty-Cannot-Be-Gua-by-John-Nichols-130522-477.html Journalists do not need -- and should not seek -- an array of special protections to do their jobs. But journalists and their sources do need to know that information can be shared without the threat of unwarranted -- and self-serving -- government surveillance of necessary conversations. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Republicans-New-Benghazi-by-William-Boardman-130522-885.html Wed, 22 May 2013 17:04:13 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Republicans-New-Benghazi-by-William-Boardman-130522-885.html Washington has a new meme in town, trying to give fresh impetus to the Benghazi Blowback Bandwagon still circling the White House in hopes of finding something worse than Watergate, or at least as bad as Iran-Contra. http://www.opednews.com/articles/And-the-winner-is--Khame-by-Pepe-Escobar-130522-455.html Wed, 22 May 2013 15:39:03 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/And-the-winner-is--Khame-by-Pepe-Escobar-130522-455.html The post-Ahmadinejad incumbent will inherit an ultra-fragmented political landscape; a lot of people blaming the government's appalling management as well as international sanctions for their plight; and the same hardcore hostility displayed by the US, Israel and the Sunni axis. Hangin' on in quiet desperation seems to be the popular Iranian way. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-New-Crime-of-Eating-Wh-by-Jim-Hightower-130522-323.html Wed, 22 May 2013 14:25:30 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-New-Crime-of-Eating-Wh-by-Jim-Hightower-130522-323.html Whenever one of our cities gets a star turn as host of some event such as a national political gathering or the Super Bowl, its first move is to tidy up--by having the police sweep homeless people into jail, out of town, or under some rug. But Houston's tidy-uppers aren't waiting for a world-class event to rationalize going after homeless down-and-outers. They've preemptively outlawed the "crime" of dumpster diving. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Our-Women-in-Uniform-Deser-by-Other-Words-130522-755.html Wed, 22 May 2013 14:08:23 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Our-Women-in-Uniform-Deser-by-Other-Words-130522-755.html While men still comprise the overwhelming majority of our troops and officers, the number of women has risen substantially in the last decade. Unfortunately, so has the numbers of rapes and other sexual assaults. In fact, military women are much more likely to be sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier than killed by an enemy. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Veterans-and-Pennsylvania-by-John-Grant-130522-218.html Wed, 22 May 2013 11:04:14 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Veterans-and-Pennsylvania-by-John-Grant-130522-218.html In Pennsylvania, there is no parole allowed for those sentenced to life in prison. This has become an issue in the discussion of incarcerated veterans and PTSD. This is discussed in a speech given on Armed Forces Day to the Vietnam Veterans of America inmate Chapter 466 inside Graterford Prison outside Philadelphia. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Hypocrisy-from-Oklahoma-Se-by-Dave-Lefcourt-130522-702.html Wed, 22 May 2013 09:57:10 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Hypocrisy-from-Oklahoma-Se-by-Dave-Lefcourt-130522-702.html Both U.S. senators from Oklahoma, Sen. James Inhofe & Sen. Tom Coburn in January voted against the supplemental appropriations bill that was targeted for the victims of Hurricane Sandy that tore into N.Y & N.J. Now comes the monster tornado that ripped thru Moore, Okla. on Monday & now they're both singing a different tune w/ disaster striking their constituents in Okla. http://www.opednews.com/articles/And-Here-We-Are-by-David-Glenn-Cox-130522-794.html Wed, 22 May 2013 09:27:06 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/And-Here-We-Are-by-David-Glenn-Cox-130522-794.html Jack Lew is a former hedge fund manager for Citigroup and manager of its alternative investments unit, with oversight over Citigroup's subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands, Bermuda and Hong Kong and he's the new Treasury Secretary. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Xbox-One-Constantly-Liste-by-Mick-Meaney-130522-390.html Wed, 22 May 2013 09:24:31 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Xbox-One-Constantly-Liste-by-Mick-Meaney-130522-390.html With the announcement of Microsoft's next generation gaming console, the Xbox One, it has emerged that the new system carries a device that will be 'constantly listening' to gamer's conversations. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Connecticut-Advances-Conve-by-David-Swanson-130522-446.html Wed, 22 May 2013 09:07:37 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Connecticut-Advances-Conve-by-David-Swanson-130522-446.html Forty-nine states now have a model. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Advertisers-Encouraging-Ly-by-Rob-Kall-130521-441.html Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:02 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Advertisers-Encouraging-Ly-by-Rob-Kall-130521-441.html TV commercials and TV sitcoms are celebrating lying and deception, glorifying many of the characteristics of sociopaths. This is bad for our culture. http://www.opednews.com/articles/N-Bomb-Dropped-in-Malcol-by-Eddie-Becker-130522-92.html Wed, 22 May 2013 01:54:14 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/N-Bomb-Dropped-in-Malcol-by-Eddie-Becker-130522-92.html It was mother's day, and this was the last thing I wanted to document. But there she was in the middle of the drum circle at Malcolm X Park in Washington DC, putting out waves of negative energy. Maybe she was on something, unstable, likely self-hating - cause she was intensely focused on provoking people, into reacting, in the worst way, perhaps by smashing her in the face. It was ugly and part of me did not want to film http://www.opednews.com/articles/Saving-Two-Birds-with-One-by-Tim-Buchholz-130522-832.html Wed, 22 May 2013 01:44:34 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Saving-Two-Birds-with-One-by-Tim-Buchholz-130522-832.html Whether they believe in Global Warming or not, most scientists will agree that our sea levels are rising. But did you know that we are also starting to run out of fresh water? 33% of the world is already experiencing a fresh water crisis, and by 2050 that number will be over 60%. What if there was a way to fix both problems at the same time, and it could almost power itself? Sound like a good investment? http://www.opednews.com/articles/On-the-Billionaire-s-Agend-by-Richard--RJ-Esko-130522-18.html Wed, 22 May 2013 00:12:15 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/On-the-Billionaire-s-Agend-by-Richard--RJ-Esko-130522-18.html Ms. Stahl and her employer had two honorable choices: They could have defended her role on the Peterson Advisory Board, or they could have acknowledged that it was inappropriate and announced her resignation. They did neither. Apparently they simply removed her name from the list without comment. http://www.opednews.com/articles/UncommonGoods-Fun-Funky-by-Joan-Brunwasser-130521-451.html Tue, 21 May 2013 23:00:49 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/UncommonGoods-Fun-Funky-by-Joan-Brunwasser-130521-451.html We're independently owned and operated, which means we can run the business for the long term and make decisions that are consistent with our values. Half of what we sell is handmade, half is made here in the US and about one-third is made from recycled materials. And we don't sell any products that contain leather or involve killing animals. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Assad-talks-Russia-walks-by-Pepe-Escobar-130521-577.html Tue, 21 May 2013 22:28:34 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Assad-talks-Russia-walks-by-Pepe-Escobar-130521-577.html Syria Comment blogger Joshua Landis drew the necessary conclusions; "Whoever gets their hands on the oil, water and agriculture, holds Sunni Syria by the throat. At the moment, that's al-Nusra. Europe opening up the market for oil forced this issue. So the logical conclusion from this craziness is that Europe will be funding al-Qaeda." http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tumblr-Is-Worth-1-1-Billi-by-Robert-Scheer-130521-404.html Tue, 21 May 2013 21:42:39 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tumblr-Is-Worth-1-1-Billi-by-Robert-Scheer-130521-404.html Shredding privacy is the essence of Tumblr's appeal to Yahoo, and even though it has said it will retain the social networking site's founders in key positions, one way or another that very personal data will be mined and inevitably fall into what users will discover to be the wrong hands. That is truly scary. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Green-Shadow-Cabinet-a-by-Bruce-E-Levine-130521-521.html Tue, 21 May 2013 20:33:35 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Green-Shadow-Cabinet-a-by-Bruce-E-Levine-130521-521.html As the Green Shadow Cabinet's Assistant Secretary of Health for Clinical Mental Health, my first action is to propose a Mental Health Declaration of Independence from Big Pharma. I invite a public reaction to this declaration, which is both abolitionist and restorational: (1) abolishing the corruption by giant drug companies of mental health institutions, research, and pract http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-GOP-response-to-global-by-Brian-Cooney-130521-109.html Tue, 21 May 2013 20:06:52 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-GOP-response-to-global-by-Brian-Cooney-130521-109.html On May 9 Hawaii's Mauna Loa Observatory recorded carbon dioxide levels of 400 parts-per-million (ppm). Earth hasn't had these levels since 3 to 5 million years ago, when temperatures were 5.4 to 7.2 degrees F warmer than now, and sea levels were 16 to 131 feet higher than today. Congressional Republicans respond to scientists' warnings with skepticism or outright denial, and are totally opposed to doing anything about it. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Real-Bank-The-Paper-B-by-Hamad-S-Alomar-130521-168.html Tue, 21 May 2013 19:55:23 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Real-Bank-The-Paper-B-by-Hamad-S-Alomar-130521-168.html There are two banks in every commercial bank. There is the paper bank and there is the real bank. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shakespeare-My-Love-to-Hi-by-Kamala-B-Sarup-130521-158.html Tue, 21 May 2013 19:49:28 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shakespeare-My-Love-to-Hi-by-Kamala-B-Sarup-130521-158.html These days, dream, To exchange dream, To smile and love Romeo and Juliet http://www.opednews.com/articles/Robbery-victims-assisted-b-by-Mahdi-Haile-130521-115.html Tue, 21 May 2013 19:48:13 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Robbery-victims-assisted-b-by-Mahdi-Haile-130521-115.html In the aftermath of Second World War, in a meeting held on 24th October 1945 in San Francisco, the Charter of United Nations Organization was finalized and countries liberated from the AXIS Forces were named "Occupied Enemy Territories" and they were recognized as existing countries. In the line with the UN Charter. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Al-Jazeera-Deletes-Its-Own-by-Glenn-Greenwald-130521-400.html Tue, 21 May 2013 19:22:55 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Al-Jazeera-Deletes-Its-Own-by-Glenn-Greenwald-130521-400.html Offending people is a necessary part of journalism and the fact that something produces offense is not evidence that it is invalid. Having media outlets afraid to publish opinions which offend people is a menacing state of affairs that nobody should want. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Cosmic-Story-Sagittar-by-Cathy-Lynn-Pagano-130521-188.html Tue, 21 May 2013 17:13:28 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Cosmic-Story-Sagittar-by-Cathy-Lynn-Pagano-130521-188.html After the trauma of Monday's 3rd Uranus/Pluto square, this Friday's Sagittarius Full Moon Eclipse can help you let go of your old mindset--old categories are no longer viable. We all need a Mind shakeup, because we are no longer living the world we've been taught to expect. It's time to hone our left-brain logic and open to our right-brain imagination if we want to get through our cultural transformation. http://www.opednews.com/articles/In-The-Days-Before--Part-by-Mary-Pitt-130521-787.html Tue, 21 May 2013 16:52:56 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/In-The-Days-Before--Part-by-Mary-Pitt-130521-787.html Today's people may read of the circumstances of "The Days Before," but they cannot be expected to truly understand them. It is possible to survive without welfare, Social Security, and Medicaid, but to those forced to live without them, there is a whole lot of miserable existence which only the heroic among us can survive. http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-a-Real-Cover-up-Looks-by-Robert-Parry-130521-562.html Tue, 21 May 2013 15:53:59 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/What-a-Real-Cover-up-Looks-by-Robert-Parry-130521-562.html Republicans won't let go of their conspiracy theory about some nefarious "cover-up" in "talking points" for Ambassador Susan Rice's TV interviews on the Benghazi attack. But they should at least have better skills for detecting a real cover-up, since they've had direct experience. http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Impeachment-Backfires-by-Robert-S-Becker-130521-191.html Tue, 21 May 2013 13:51:52 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/How-Impeachment-Backfires-by-Robert-S-Becker-130521-191.html The best GOP method to elevate an illegitimate president they want to crush is formally impeach him without a smoking gun. That would cap a decade of losing, boomeranging political scheming. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tales-in-a-Kabul-Restauran-by-Kathy-Kelly-130521-607.html Tue, 21 May 2013 12:42:25 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Tales-in-a-Kabul-Restauran-by-Kathy-Kelly-130521-607.html It's one thing to chronicle sparse details about these U.S. led NATO attacks. It's quite another to sit across from Afghan men as they try, having broken down in tears, to regain sufficient composure to finish telling us their stories. "What can we do," they asked, "when both sides are targeting us?" http://www.opednews.com/articles/Letter-to-Angelina-Jolie--by-Theresa-Paulfranz-130521-283.html Tue, 21 May 2013 12:29:34 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Letter-to-Angelina-Jolie--by-Theresa-Paulfranz-130521-283.html This entire civilization is in free fall to something entirely new. When we hit the bottom and the system shatters completely we will all be aware of it. Right now places like OPED allow us to see what is happening even now when things still work in many ways and places http://www.opednews.com/articles/This-is-Why-We-Fight-by-the-web-130521-817.html Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:38 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/This-is-Why-We-Fight-by-the-web-130521-817.html Whether in the military or civilian world, more soldiers in that room have been affected by this issue than anyone will know. But now they know they can talk about it if they need to. Now they know their brother or sister in arms to the left or right of them will support them and help them. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Little-Free-Libraries--A-by-Burl-Hall-130521-837.html Tue, 21 May 2013 11:18:15 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Little-Free-Libraries--A-by-Burl-Hall-130521-837.html In today's world, there are several ways people are becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on corporations and government. Some of these community movements are known as Transition Towns, Permaculture and there are others. This article explores this movement in relationship to a rapidly growing community based business, "Little Free Libraries". http://www.opednews.com/articles/It-s-Time-to-Get-Real-on-I-by-John-Bruhns-130521-748.html Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:25 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/It-s-Time-to-Get-Real-on-I-by-John-Bruhns-130521-748.html It is understandable why many in this country want the borders closed. Preventing terrorist attacks is of prime importance to them. After all, as a nation of laws we need to uphold our standards, and terrorism is a legitimate concern. Having said that, I cannot think of any terrorist attack carried out by undocumented Mexicans residing in the United States. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Smokedown-Prohibition-V-A-by-Darren-Wolfe-130521-465.html Tue, 21 May 2013 10:36:58 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Smokedown-Prohibition-V-A-by-Darren-Wolfe-130521-465.html At Smokedown Prohibition V Adam Kokesh is targeted for arrest even though it is obvious he isn't smoking marijuana. This happened on May 18, 2013 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA http://www.opednews.com/articles/Mattea-Kramer-and-Jo-Comer-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130521-868.html Tue, 21 May 2013 10:33:48 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Mattea-Kramer-and-Jo-Comer-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130521-868.html Three days after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Congress passed a joint resolution called an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). You might remember it. In layman's terms, it was a carte blanche for the Bush administration to go to war wherever it wanted, whenever it wanted, however it wanted, under the guise of fighting anyone who "planned, authorized, committed, or aided" the September 11th attackers http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Christians-Were-Denied-by-Bernard-Starr-130521-379.html Tue, 21 May 2013 09:14:40 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Christians-Were-Denied-by-Bernard-Starr-130521-379.html Not only did the Church sequester the Latin Bible from the Christian populace for a thousand years, it forbid translating the New Testament into native languages. Robert Tyndale who defied the Church and translated the Bible into English was burned at the stake for his "heresy." Why would the Church distance the Christian populace from direct contact with their holy scriptures? This article proposes a surprising motive. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Official-Story-has-Odd-Wri-by-Dave-Lindorff-130521-709.html Tue, 21 May 2013 07:35:58 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Official-Story-has-Odd-Wri-by-Dave-Lindorff-130521-709.html Surveillance photos of the Tsarnaev brothers arriving at the Marathon finish line wearing packs suggest they couldn't have been carrying heavily-loaded pressure-cooker bombs in their bags, says TCBH! journalist Dave Lindorff http://www.opednews.com/articles/Beyond-Conditioning-by-Burl-Hall-130521-504.html Tue, 21 May 2013 07:11:49 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Beyond-Conditioning-by-Burl-Hall-130521-504.html Our lives have purpose and they arise from that purpose and the purpose is to serve all of life. From our writings, readings, breathing, elimination of waste, eating and so on, we fulfill our mission on life...to support the whole of creation. Ultimately, the universe is more verb than noun, Creativity more so than Created. It is via tapping into the infinity of Creativity that the new can arise from the depths of our being http://www.opednews.com/articles/Assault-on-Wall-Street--A-by-Michael-Collins-130521-451.html Tue, 21 May 2013 06:13:03 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Assault-on-Wall-Street--A-by-Michael-Collins-130521-451.html Assault on Wall Street is an all-American revenge movie with shoot outs that will unsettle those at the center of financial power. http://www.opednews.com/articles/America-s-Greatest-Challan-by-Timothy-Gatto-130521-339.html Tue, 21 May 2013 00:02:04 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/America-s-Greatest-Challan-by-Timothy-Gatto-130521-339.html Contrary to what the MSM tells us, most people are not idiots. I think that most Americans can look at their lives and pretty much come to this conclusion; they are not living as well as their parents did. There are many Americans who really don't believe that the new American "normal" of working two part-time jobs with no health benefits isn't a "be all, end all" situation. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Attacking-Psychopaths-and-by-Rob-Kall-130520-128.html Mon, 20 May 2013 23:43:36 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Attacking-Psychopaths-and-by-Rob-Kall-130520-128.html There are some positive ways to deal with evil and psychopaths that use bottom up approaches that bring out the best in people. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Paying-Attention-to-Climat-by-Elayne-Clift-130520-362.html Mon, 20 May 2013 20:56:14 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Paying-Attention-to-Climat-by-Elayne-Clift-130520-362.html Oil covered wildlife. Sludge clogging waterways and snaking down suburban streets. The potential for disaster, especially with a transcontinental pipeline, have never been greater. http://www.opednews.com/articles/This-Memorial-Day-Let-s-R-by-Elayne-Clift-130520-121.html Mon, 20 May 2013 20:46:56 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/This-Memorial-Day-Let-s-R-by-Elayne-Clift-130520-121.html Now that women can enter combat officially, it's a good time to remember the many roles women have played during wartime, whether military or civilian. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Sunday-Bloody-Sunday-by-Kathy-Malloy-130520-527.html Mon, 20 May 2013 19:54:24 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Sunday-Bloody-Sunday-by-Kathy-Malloy-130520-527.html There are plenty of legitimate criticisms to level at the current administration, starting with the ongoing illegal terror wars, un-investigated corporate abuses of labor, drone strikes, closing GITMO, etc. But there will never be a serious investigation as long as the "morans" are running the place, Just this endless sea of pointless hearings and time-wasters. http://www.opednews.com/articles/My-Big-Fat-Greek-Minister-by-Greg-Palast-130520-122.html Mon, 20 May 2013 19:00:02 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/My-Big-Fat-Greek-Minister-by-Greg-Palast-130520-122.html Fat Bastard -- or Theodoros Pangalos, leader of the Panhellenic Socialist Party (PASOK), Greece's equivalent to UK's Labour Party -- thinks the little Greek kiddies should stop belly-aching. Pangalos, as you can see from the photo below, is not bent over with hunger pains. In fact, he looks more likely to be bent over with labour pains, but in truth he probably just can't bend over at all. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Ten-Years-After-US-Invades-by-James-Wall-130520-952.html Mon, 20 May 2013 18:58:41 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Ten-Years-After-US-Invades-by-James-Wall-130520-952.html At a cabinet meeting Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel was prepared to attack Syria for the third time this month. Why not? He got away with it before, using the "self defense" righteous rationale that empires employ as they increase their power one step at a time. This is the way empires grow. It is also the way they die, one pyrrhic victory after another. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Enough-Is-Enough-No-More-by-Mahdi-Haile-130520-265.html Mon, 20 May 2013 18:33:45 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Enough-Is-Enough-No-More-by-Mahdi-Haile-130520-265.html In reading Katrina Manson's article "Oil Thrown on the Fire" at the Financial Times website, I saw again that, with every passing year, Somalis are losing more and more control of their own country to international criminals all over Africa and Europe. Kenya and Norway are the latest entrants in the scramble for Somalia's resources. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Global-Capital-and-the-Nat-by-Robert-Reich-130520-384.html Mon, 20 May 2013 17:17:39 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Global-Capital-and-the-Nat-by-Robert-Reich-130520-384.html Google, Amazon, Starbucks, every other major corporation, and every big Wall Street bank, are sheltering as much of their US profits abroad as they can, while telling Washington that lower corporate taxes are necessary in order to keep the US "competitive." Baloney. The fact is, global corporations have no allegiance to any country; their only objective is to make as much money as possible. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Does-Woodward-Know-Waterga-by-Robert-Parry-130520-363.html Mon, 20 May 2013 16:55:12 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Does-Woodward-Know-Waterga-by-Robert-Parry-130520-363.html Republicans are hyping the flap over Benghazi talking points by calling it "worse than Watergate," a false narrative that Bob Woodward has helped along by ignoring new evidence connecting Richard Nixon's sabotage of Vietnam War peace talks in 1968 to his political spying in 1971-72. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Watch-At-the-Sausage-Facto-by-Stephen-Pizzo-130520-469.html Mon, 20 May 2013 16:13:31 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Watch-At-the-Sausage-Facto-by-Stephen-Pizzo-130520-469.html One of the first, and most important, things I learned when I started covering Washington many years ago was that there was not one, but two Washington's. There was the elected Washington, and unelected Washington. One was temporary, the other permanent. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-and-Nixon-A-Histori-by-Robert-F-Kennedy-130520-115.html Mon, 20 May 2013 16:08:05 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Obama-and-Nixon-A-Histori-by-Robert-F-Kennedy-130520-115.html Republican legislators have apparently been ordered by their leadership to hold scandal-mongering hearings but to stall any legislation for genuine reform. The real scandal is the Republican party's devotion to grandstanding over governance and its preference for slime over substance. http://www.opednews.com/articles/On-42--A-Movie-About-Rac-by-Steven-Jonas-130520-785.html Mon, 20 May 2013 15:16:30 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/On-42--A-Movie-About-Rac-by-Steven-Jonas-130520-785.html At one level, the movie 42, about Jackie Robinson, is a "baseball movie." But to my mind much more importantly, it's a movie about racism in the United States. Since our nation is still so heavily burdened with this way of thinking, engineered and promoted by the corporate and political interests which it serves, I regard it as an important statement and lesson for the present, as well as very well done history. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Peculiar-Politics-of-K-by-John-Nichols-130520-330.html Mon, 20 May 2013 13:38:27 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Peculiar-Politics-of-K-by-John-Nichols-130520-330.html The threat to democracy that the president described would be complete -- as sincere activists on the right and the left would be shunted to the sidelines of a new political landscape where corporate cash decides the day and the boss is not a CEO but a cynical political operative named Karl Rove. http://www.opednews.com/articles/H-M-Responds-Slowly-to-Ban-by-Corp-Watch-130520-223.html Mon, 20 May 2013 12:41:54 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/H-M-Responds-Slowly-to-Ban-by-Corp-Watch-130520-223.html H&M (Hennes & Mauritz), a major Swedish "fast fashion" retailer, led 30 international companies this week to commit to a new $3 billion fund to improve the safety of garment factories in Bangladesh. Watchdog organizations say the companies acted only because of external pressure by activists and workers. http://www.opednews.com/articles/No-Bear-Market-In-Gold-by-Paul-Craig-Roberts-130520-772.html Mon, 20 May 2013 11:48:58 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/No-Bear-Market-In-Gold-by-Paul-Craig-Roberts-130520-772.html The misinformation that Soros had sold his gold holdings came from misinterpreting the reason Soros' holdings in the GLD gold trust declined. Soros did not sell the shares; he redeemed the paper claims for physical gold. Watching the gold ETFs, such as GLD, being looted by banksters, Soros cashed in some of his own paper gold for the real stuff. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Rise-Up-or-Die-by-Chris-Hedges-130520-387.html Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:10 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Rise-Up-or-Die-by-Chris-Hedges-130520-387.html We stand helpless before the corporate onslaught. There is no way to vote against corporate power. Citizens have no way to bring about the prosecution of Wall Street bankers and financiers for fraud, military and intelligence officials for torture and war crimes, or security and surveillance officers for human rights abuses. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Historic-Conviction-of-by-Dennis-Bernstein-130520-980.html Mon, 20 May 2013 10:26:58 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Historic-Conviction-of-by-Dennis-Bernstein-130520-980.html An interview with investigative journalist Allan Nairn, on the historic conviction of US supported Guatemalan Strongman, Rios Montt, for Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide, and the continuing legal battle to sustain the verdict, and expand the genocide investigation for indigenous justice in Guatemala. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Problem-with-Partition-by-William-Barth-130520-468.html Mon, 20 May 2013 10:21:38 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Problem-with-Partition-by-William-Barth-130520-468.html The article reviews solutions to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. It concludes that Human Rights can help both sides to resolve their conflict. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pakistan-Energy-Crisis-Im-by-Yasmeen-Ali-130520-733.html Mon, 20 May 2013 10:18:31 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pakistan-Energy-Crisis-Im-by-Yasmeen-Ali-130520-733.html Energy Crisis is the single most important issue the incoming Govt will have to deal with.This paper points out issues & suggests solutions. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Rebecca-Solnit-What-Comes-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130520-431.html Mon, 20 May 2013 09:20:49 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Rebecca-Solnit-What-Comes-by-Tom-Engelhardt-130520-431.html I worked for years as an editor at Pantheon Books. Its publisher, maybe the most adventurous in the business, was Andr-- Schiffrin. Among his many accomplishments, he "discovered" Studs Terkel (already a well-known Chicago radio personality), published his first oral history (Division Street: America), and made him a bestseller. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Nearly-600-000-Wounded-Vet-by-Dave-Lefcourt-130520-370.html Mon, 20 May 2013 08:46:33 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Nearly-600-000-Wounded-Vet-by-Dave-Lefcourt-130520-370.html There's a big controversy concerning the Dep't of Veterans Affairs where nearly 600,000 wounded vets of the Iraq & Afghanistan wars are having their claims for disability compensation "backlogged" for over 125 days. These wounded vets don't want to hear about the antiquated system now overwhelmed by their claims. They expect their claims be acted on swiftly & w/o red tape. They are right. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Second-Thoughts-about-Pope-by-Mike-Rivage-Seul-130520-713.html Mon, 20 May 2013 08:21:20 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Second-Thoughts-about-Pope-by-Mike-Rivage-Seul-130520-713.html Last week the pontiff made some surprisingly critical remarks about capitalism and ethics to a group of new ambassadors to the Vatican. Is he showing his true colors? Or is this just more blah, blah? http://www.opednews.com/articles/African-Safari-Trip-of-a-L-by-Joel-Hirschhorn-130520-116.html Mon, 20 May 2013 08:05:46 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/African-Safari-Trip-of-a-L-by-Joel-Hirschhorn-130520-116.html No matter how much foreign travel you have done, going on an African safari trip will be a uniquely spectacular experience. Learn from my recent trip. http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Week-s-Homophobia-Hits-by-Rev-Dan-Vojir-130520-510.html Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:01 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Week-s-Homophobia-Hits-by-Rev-Dan-Vojir-130520-510.html Homophobia hit new highs last week, with the murder of a New York man named Mark Carson. However, the vigil for Carson was a strike back - in the right direction. http://www.opednews.com/articles/CIA-An-Idea-Whose-Time-Ha-by-David-Swanson-130520-282.html Mon, 20 May 2013 07:44:04 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/CIA-An-Idea-Whose-Time-Ha-by-David-Swanson-130520-282.html There's a contradiction built into every campaign promise about transparent government beyond the failure to keep the promises. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Lincoln-s-buried-bank-note-by-Clifford-Johnson-130520-898.html Mon, 20 May 2013 07:35:30 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Lincoln-s-buried-bank-note-by-Clifford-Johnson-130520-898.html Lincoln's most important veto is buried and forgotten. Yet, it saved the union, and it still applies today. http://www.opednews.com/articles/Terrorism-and-the-Plans-by-Dr-Glen-T-Martin-130519-232.html Sun, 19 May 2013 18:12:36 CDT http://www.opednews.com/articles/Terrorism-and-the-Plans-by-Dr-Glen-T-Martin-130519-232.html This article diagnoses the structural causes of the momentum toward tyranny within the US in terms of the global war-system. It shows why the global war-system necessarily destroys freedom and democracy everywhere. It shows what is required for a global peace-system. It is only such a global peace system, under the Earth Constitution, that can protect freedom, democracy, and the rule of law within the US or anywhere else.