2020-03-06: News Headlines

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2020-03-07). A "win-win" over Afghanistan and Syria. iranian.com Two peace agreements within a week are a bit too much. Hot on the heels of the US-Taliban peace agreement signed in Doha on February 9, Russia and Turkey have signed a peace agreement over the Syrian conflict in Moscow on March 6. On the face of it, the two are unconnected events but they …

Marjorie Cohn (2020-03-06). Trump's Afghanistan Deal Prioritizes Bragging Rights Over Lasting Peace. zcomm.org It's true that the Trump administration signed a "peace deal" with the Taliban — something that eluded both George W. Bush and Barack Obama — but a closer look at the agreement reveals it to be riddled with conditions that are fraught with obstacles…

Eric Walberg (2020-03-06). Circle in the Darkness: Memoir of a World Watcher (2020). globalresearch.ca First, Diana Johnstone's memoir is a classic, and will be read and quoted as long as we keep struggling for peace and justice. It is one of the great personal accounts of the anguished decline of our uncivilization, …

Thomas Knapp (2020-03-06). Yes, Trump Should Talk with the Taliban. counterpunch.org On March 3, US president Donald Trump spoke (via telephone) with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, chief of the Taliban's Doha diplomatic office and signer, on behalf of his organization, of the recently concluded Afghanistan "peace deal." "The direct contact between an American president and a top Taliban leader would once have been unthinkable," writes Michael

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-06). Another Farcical Ceasefire in Syria. globalresearch.ca Time and again, ceasefires agreed to on Syria were breached straightaway by US/NATO/Turkish supported terrorists. | Is this time different? Will belligerent Trump and Erdogan regimes turn a page for restoration of peace and stability in Syria? | Will they renounce years …

Adam Wunische (2020-03-06). The US-Taliban Deal Changes Little on the Ground. thenation.com The US-Taliban Deal Changes Little on the Ground…

Telesur (2020-03-06). Former Nobel Peace Prize Nominates Morales for 2020 Distinction. globalresearch.ca "It is an honor for me to inform you that I have nominated comrade Evo Morales Ayma for the Nobel Peace Prize for the year 2020," the Argentinian Adolfo Perez Esquivel announced on his Twitter account. | *** | The Argentinian activist …

teleSUR (2020-03-06). Brazil's Diplomats Left Venezuela Prior Bolsonaro-Trump Meeting. telesurenglish.net Brazil withdrew four diplomats and eleven officials from its embassy in Caracas on Friday, although it keeps its diplomatic headquarters and consulates open in Venezuela.‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã‚Äã | RELATED: | These events occur on the eve of the announced visit of President Jair Bolsonaro to the U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S…

RT (2020-03-06). War averted as Russia & Turkey reach deal on Idlib… but is peace on horizon? rt.com After a new agreement with Russia dispelled the specter of a major conflict arising from the recent escalation of tensions in Syria's Idlib, RT finds out whether it will be a lasting solution for Ankara and Damascus. | Damascus had launched an offensive in the northwestern province of Idlib against armed groups, which Ankara had supported as well as launching a military operation of its own. However, a heated standoff between the Syrian Army and Turkey seems to have been avoided. This was all thanks to the diplomatic efforts of Moscow and Ankara, which led to a new agreement on the troubled province following…

yenisafak (2020-03-06). Turkey condemns 'heinous attack' in Afghanistan. yenisafak.com "We are deeply saddened to receive the news that many people have lost their lives and have been injured as a result of an armed attack that took place in Kabul today [March 6] at a commemoration ceremony, which was attended by many leading Afghan politicians," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement."We strongly condemn this heinous attack, which came about at a critical time when peace and reconciliation efforts gained momentum in Afghanistan," the ministry added.The attack came just days after the U.S. and Taliban reached a landmark peace deal aimed at ending violence in the war-torn country."We reite…

pip.hinman (2020-03-06). Oil firm dumps plans to drill the Bight, but fight not over. greenleft.org.au

Eds. (2020-03-05). Canadian media lies about Venezuela. mronline.org Canada's public media the CBC long-ago entered the ranks of yellow journalism when it comes to its reporting on Venezuela. However, two recent reports, in particular, one on CBC radio's "The Current" and the other a CBC News article by reporter Evan Dyer, weigh heavy on the sensationalism and light on facts. Filled with unsubstantiated […] |

Ali Salam (2020-03-05). PCHR: Weekly Report On Israeli Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (27 February — 04 March 2020). imemc.org SUMMARY This week, PCHR documented 228 violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) by Israeli occupation forces (IOF) and settlers in the occupied Palestinian territory. IOF continued to use excessive force against the peaceful protests organized against Trump's Peace Plan for the Middle East known as …

news.un (2020-03-05). Nuclear non-proliferation treaty an essential pillar for peace and security. news.un.org Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.

teleSUR (2020-03-05). Donald Trump "Has Plans" for Venezuela. telesurenglish.net U.S President Donald Trump claimed he "has plans" for Venezuela, as he said in a speech during the Latino Legislative Coalition Summit in Washington. The current U.S. leader did not offer details of his purposes. | RELATED: | The U.S. President affirmed he is "with Venezuela", as well as blamed the legitimate leader of the Bolivarian Republic, Nicolas Maduro, of causing "misery" for the Venezuelan people. According…

teleSUR (2020-03-05). Venezuela's Rejects US Decree Making It a 'Threat'. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza rejected Thursday the renewal of the U.S. Executive Decree labeling the South American as an "unusual and extraordinaire threat." | RELATED: | The accusation is "infamous, shameful and irrational," said the government official, adding that "it was just a way to justify all the assaults and human rights crimes that Washington has been implementing since 2015," when…

teleSUR (2020-03-05). Legacy of Hugo Chavez a Force in Venezuela and Latin America. telesurenglish.net This March 5 marks seven years of the physical disappearance of the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution, Hugo Chávez, who left behind a legacy of struggle and resistance that is still in force in Venezuela and Latin America. | RELATED: | The resistance of the Venezuelan people to the constant aggressions of the United States and its regional allies are a sign of the validity of the humanist and social ideals of Commander Chávez. | Through debates, speeches, and politica…

Stephen Lendman (2020-03-05). Trump's Other "Phony Deal of the Century" Unravelling. "Peace with the Taliban" globalresearch.ca The Trump regime's so-called deal with the Taliban is intended to facilitate future talks with the US and its puppet regime in Kabul. | It has nothing to do with assuring peace and stability to the war-torn country, nothing to do …

South Front (2020-03-05). Video: Turkish Forces Are on 'Tactical Retreat'. Syrian Army Recaptures More Territory in Eastern and Southern Idlib. globalresearch.ca Erdogan's forces continue their bloody battle for peace and prosperity for al-Qaeda groups in the Syrian region of Greater Idlib. | On March 3, Turkey shot down an L-39 warplane of the Syrian Air Force in eastern Idlib. The warplane, which …

news.un (2020-03-04). Deadlock broken, South Sudan on road to 'sustainable peace', but international support still key. news.un.org Positive developments in South Sudan have "moved the country further along the road to sustainable peace", the top UN official there told Security Council members on Wednesday.

Fight Back (2020-03-04). Denver students celebrate Black History Month. fightbacknews.org Denver, CO – Denver Students for a Democratic Society hosted local Denver activist Shareef Aleem for an event about radical Black history in the U.S., Feb. 25, as a part of Black History Month. At the event, Aleem discussed the history of radical Black activism, as well as how Black art and culture has been seized and stolen for generations. Aleem, an activist for over 20 years, has been involved in numerous groups, particularly in the peace movement and in the movement for police accountability. | "Anything Black people have in this country, somebody spilled their blood over," Aleem noted in his speech. Aleem th…

Fight Back (2020-03-04). Eyewitness Venezuela: Sanctions kill but Venezuelans stand strong. fightbacknews.org Minneapolis, MN – Over 40 people gathered March 1 to hear Brad Sigal and Sarah Martin talk about their experience at the third World Anti-Imperialist Congress in Venezuela. This Congress was attended by over 1500 delegates from 73 countries in January, included a delegation from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO). The delegates were able to bring their organizational and individual experience to Caracas to work with each other on resisting imperialism. | Since Nicolás Maduro was elected president, the U.S. has ratcheted up sanctions, currency manipulation, and backed coup attempts to destabilize Venezuela…

Staff (2020-03-02). Breakthrough U.S.-Taliban Deal Signed, But Airstrikes Likely to Continue & Mercenaries to Remain. democracynow.org The U.S. has signed a deal with the Taliban aimed at drawing down its military presence and ending its 18-year war in Afghanistan. The long-anticipated deal comes after a year and a half of negotiations and following a week-long partial truce. Officials hope the accord will set the stage for a more detailed peace plan that creates a power-sharing arrangement and lasting ceasefire, but the deal did not include a key player: the U.S.-backed Afghanistan government. The Taliban has long refused to speak to the government, calling it a "puppet regime." Under the deal, nearly 5,000 of the 12,000 U.S. troops still in Af…

Medea Benjamin (2020-03-02). Can the World's Second Superpower Rise From the Ashes of Twenty Years of War? zcomm.org If there is a lesson for peace-loving Americans in the Obama and Trump presidencies, it is that we cannot just walk out of the voting booth and leave it to a champion in the White House to end our wars and bring us peace. In the final analysis, it really is up to us…

news.un (2020-03-02). Declaring commitment to 'peace and stability' for Libya, top UN envoy steps down as stress takes its toll. news.un.org After serving more than two years as the UN's Special Representative in charge of finding a way to a lasting peace in war-torn Libya, Ghassan Salamé – who also heads up the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) – handed in his resignation on Monday, citing failing health caused by the immense stress of the job.

Reza Marashi (2020-02-28). Pandemics, Politics, and Peace — Episode 11. iranian.com Episode Description: This week, Reza breaks down Trump's dangerous response to the Corona Virus, why it's bananas for the DC establishment to criticize Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's call to drawdown US troops in the Middle East, and how Iran nuclear deal opponents have boxed themselves in. Sune Engel Rasmussen, Correspondent for The Wall Street …

Staff (2020-02-27). "Dead Bodies Everywhere": Hindu Nationalist Violence Rocks Delhi as Trump Visits Modi in India. democracynow.org In India, the death toll from anti-Muslim violence in Delhi has risen to at least 34, with police accused of turning a blind eye to assaults on Muslims committed by Hindu nationalist mobs. The violence began Sunday, when groups of Hindus attacked peaceful sit-ins of Muslims protesting against Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new citizenship law, which widely restricts Muslim immigration to India. Modi said nothing as the violence continued for days, instead hosting President Donald Trump on a two-day state visit in which Trump heaped praise on the Indian prime minister. We speak with Neha Dixit, i…

Paul Kawika Martin (2020-02-13). Peace Action: Senate Reclaims War Powers to Thwart Iran War. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2020 — In response to the Senate passing the bipartisan bill — S.J.Res.68 — that would thwart President Trump from going to war with Iran and end any current hostilities, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "It's about time …

Strategic Culture (2020-02-08). US Deploys 'Mini-Nukes' in Deplorable Threat to World Peace. theantimedia.com These so-called "mini-nukes" represent—despite the diminutive-sounding name—an increased risk of nuclear war.

Venezuela Analysis (2020-02-06). Embassy Protection Collective: "We Are Not the Ones Who Violated the Law" theantimedia.com In this exclusive interview, VA talks to the activists who defended the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC ahead of their trial.

CounterSpin (2020-01-31). Omar Baddar on Israel/Palestine 'Peace' Plan, Rainey Reitman on Greenwald Persecution. fair.org MP3 Link This week on CounterSpin: It is strange to think that you could create a plan to shape the relationship between two entities, in consultation with one but not the other, and then not just declare it, yourself, a "win-win," but also say to the unconsulted party, "You better take it, or else." Yet …

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-31). House Votes to Rein in Trump's Iran War Powers While Ending Endless Wars. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2020 — In response to two high-profile war powers votes on the House floor today, Peace Action released the following statement: "Our nation's endless wars are on autopilot, with Trump fitfully grabbing the steering wheel until his attention wanders somewhere else. Today's votes are a step toward Congress reclaiming its …

Jon Rainwater (2020-01-08). In the ongoing crisis, Congress must rein in Trump's war powers. peaceaction.org As we feared, President Trump's reckless assassination of Iran's Gen. Soleimani resulted in escalation — direct Iranian missile attacks on two military bases in Iraq. It's painful to watch more violence in a country that has already suffered far too much from endless war. All parties in the US/Iran conflict must cease military action and …

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-20). Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day. zcomm.org In August, I took detailed notes a news broadcast on one of Venezuela's largest TV networks. I summarized these notes in an interview I did with the Real News Network making the point that Venezuela's private media (which reaches 60-90% of households) is remarkably free — most especially when you consider the US is openly

Jon Rainwater (2019-11-07). Take Action — Some actual, SANE legislation. peaceaction.org Trump has plans to spend nearly $2 TRILLION over the next 30 years on unneeded and unnecessary nuclear weapons and delivery systems. This makes no sense. This is insane. That's nearly $100 million wasted every day for thirty years on weapons we are supposed to be getting rid of. To put that amount in perspective, …

Jon Rainwater (2019-09-25). Take Action to Avoid War with Iran. peaceaction.org photo credit Dear Groundswell Readers, We have to keep pushing Congress this week if we want to avoid war with Iran. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recently that the U.K. might join a U.S.-led military effort in the Gulf. When other nations step up to join the "coalition of the willing" it's often a bad sign. …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-07-18). Diplomacy Instead of a Disaster in Iran. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 18, 2019 — In response to reports of the U.S. shooting down an Iranian drone, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because of the Trump administration's policy of maximum provocation towards Iran, America stands on the precipice of another blunderous …

Peace Action (2019-07-11). Peace Action Endorses 'the Squad' — Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pressley and Tlaib for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — July 11, 2019 — Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace organization, has endorsed four progressive champions for the House of Representatives in the 2020 election, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for New York's 14th district, Rep. Ilhan Omar for Minnesota's 5th district, Rep. Ayanna Pressley for Massachusetts' 7th district, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib …

Paul Kawika Martin (2019-06-28). Most Senators Oppose War with Iran Without Congressional Approval. peaceaction.org Washington, D.C. — June 28, 2019 — In response to the Senate voting 50-40 in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block funding for military action against Iran without congressional approval, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: "Because …

Peace Action (2019-06-25). Peace Action Endorses Ilhan Omar for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 25, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Ilhan Omar for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …

Peace Action (2019-06-24). Peace Action Endorses Kara Eastman for Congress. peaceaction.org Washington, DC — June 24, 2019 — Peace Action has announced its endorsement of Kara Eastman for Congress in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. Peace Action is a national grassroots organization working to advance nuclear disarmament, promote government spending priorities that support human needs, encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights, and support nonmilitary …