Daily Archives: January 15, 2020

2020-01-15: News Headlines

sputniknews (2020-01-15). Telling Stories Important to Promoting Peace Globally – Colleen Bell of California Film Commission. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): Colleen Bell, the executive director of California Film Commission (CFC), is on her maiden India visit as part of Visit California's India Sales Mission. She will meet the Film Producers Guild of India on Wednesday night and discuss increasing entertainment industry production in both the countries through various offers.

Staff (2020-01-14). Corporate Media's Venezuela Coverage Goes From Bad to Worse. truthdig.com Mainstream outlets like the New York Times enter crisis mode after Juan Guaidó is replaced as head of the country's National Assembly.

Peoples Dispatch (2020-01-14). US issues unilateral coercive measures against Venezuelan legislators. peoplesdispatch.org The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, announced on January 13, that it would impose unilateral coercive measures against seven opposition legislators of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela. | According to the official statement issued by the US agency, the punitive measure was taken due to the "failed attempt" of these seven parliamentarians "to illegitimately seize control of the National Assembly" and because they allegedly prevented the far-right opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president "Juan Guaidó and other deputies from participating in a consti…

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-14). For Western Press, the only Coup in Venezuela is against Guaidó. mronline.org The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | Source

Stephen Lendman (2020-01-14). 164 "Peace-Keeping" Military Bases Worldwide: US Bases in Iraq Advance Its Regional Imperium. globalresearch.ca According to the Pentagon, US forces are in 164 (of the world's 193) countries. | They're on over 1,000 US bases of varying sizes and on others of host countries. Much information about their numbers, troop strength, and location is secret….

Scott Ritter (2020-01-14). Putin's Orthodox Christmas Visit to Damascus Plays Up Assad's Syria as Enclave of Peace — While Rest of Middle East Burns. globalresearch.ca Russian leader Vladimir Putin made a surprise Christmas visit to Syria, where he met with the country's president, Bashar Assad. The tranquility of their meeting was in sharp contrast to the hell breaking out in neighboring Iraq. | The unannounced …

Lucas Koerner (2020-01-14). US Sanctions Venezuela's New Parliament Leader, Senior Opposition Lawmakers. venezuelanalysis.com The legislature's new opposition leadership "categorically" rejected the sanctions.

teleSUR (2020-01-14). Venezuela Asks Electoral Body to Invite UN, EU to Observe Polls. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro asked the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tuesday to invite the European Union (EU) and the United Nations as observers in the process of legislative elections scheduled for this year. | RELATED: | Venezuela and Red Cross Monitor Protection for Blockade Victims | During the presentation of his 2019 balance, the Venezuelan president was also firm in expressing that "what is definitive is that neither the Organization of American States (OAS…

teleSUR (2020-01-14). Venezuela Condemns US Sanctions Against Assembly's New Leadership. telesurenglish.net Venezuela's government denounced Monday a new attack by the United States of unilateral and coercive sanctions against Venezuelan officials, including lawmakers from the opposition who were elected on Jan. 5 as the National Assembly's new leadership. | RELATED: | Desperate Juan Guaido Vows Again to Plunder teleSUR's Signal | In the statement released by Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza on his Twitter account, the authorities said that U.S.'s President Donald Trump's adminis…

teleSUR (2020-01-14). Venezuela and Red Cross Monitor Protection for Blockade Victims. telesurenglish.net The Venezuelan Government and the International Red Cross today reviewed the cooperation agreements for the protection of the victims of the U.S. blockade. | RELATED: | 'US Did Not Consider the Venezuelan People's Strength' Maduro | Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and the head of the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Arnaud de Baecque, analyzed the progress of the projects here, accor…

Andrew Korybko (2020-01-14). Russia's Unsuccessful Libyan Peace Summit Was a Good Start. globalresearch.ca Russia's Libyan peace summit in Moscow didn't succeed with its stated objective of getting the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire agreement after they failed to find any common ground with one another, but it was nevertheless a good …

teleSUR (2020-01-14). Daniel Ortega Defends teleSUR After Juan Guaido's Threats. telesurenglish.net Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega addressed a letter on Tuesday to the President of teleSUR, Patricia Villegas, in which he expressed his complete solidarity with the news network in the face of growing threats from the self-proclaimed 'president' of Venezuela Juan Guaido. | "The voice of the people cannot be silenced. They have not been able to. Nor can they. Today more than ever, our voices multiply and move forward. | In the face of all imperial threats, we rise with life and hope. Let's win! | TELESUR, Word and Work of the Eternal Commander Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, amplifies our powerful fight, our mir…

Paul Dobson (2020-01-13). Venezuela Blames Sanctions After UN Voting Right Suspended. venezuelanalysis.com Venezuela, which has one of the highest UN contribution rates in the region, has not paid its dues since 2018.

Ben Norton (2020-01-13). Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts. thegrayzone.com As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…

news.un (2020-01-13). Colombia: 'Significant strides' towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council. news.un.org Colombia has continued to make "significant strides in its peace process", the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.

Susan Price (2020-01-10). US peace activists, leftists oppose Iran war. greenleft.org.au anti-war Susan PriceIssue 1248 United States US wars US aggression against Iran peace movementJanuary 10, 2020Former vetera…

pip.hinman (2020-01-10). Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions. greenleft.org.au Venezuela Ricardo VazIssue 1248 Venezuela Juan Guaido US Vice President Mike PenceJanuary 10, 2020Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on January 7. | The…

Leonardo Flores (2020-01-09). This might be the final episode of Juan Guaidó's surreal Venezuela regime-change reality show. thegrayzone.com The farcical scene of Juan Guaido attempting to break into Venezuela's National Assembly as its members voted him out was…

Staff (2020-01-09). Andrew Bacevich: The U.S. Needs to Abandon "Militarized Approach" to Middle East and Build Peace. democracynow.org We continue our conversation with Andrew Bacevich, president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He is a retired colonel, Vietnam War veteran and author of, most recently, of "The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory." Bacevich says the crisis with Iran, sparked by President Trump's assassination of top general Qassem Soleimani, is just the latest in a long series of ill-advised American actions in the Middle East. "The only conceivable way for us to begin to extricate ourselves from this terrible mess in the region … is to abandon this militarized approac…

Liberation Staff (2020-01-09). Peace activists in South say 'No war on Iran'. liberationnews.org Reports from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky.

Fight Back (2020-01-09). Stand with the people of Iran and Iraq against the U.S. wars of aggression! fightbacknews.org Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 8 statement from the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) US Chapter. | The cowardly assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on Iraqi soil, the deployment of more US troops to the Southwest Asia and North Africa region (SWANA), and the belligerent threats of the Trump administration, reveal to the world what billions of people already know: The United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, the single largest threat to the peace and security of Southwest Asia and North Africa, and a rogue state with no regard for int…

Ricardo Vaz (2020-01-08). Venezuela: Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After Washington Threatens More Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com The Trump administration is reportedly mulling sanctions against opposition deputies who voted against Guaido.

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 …

Staff (2020-01-08). Headlines for January 8, 2020. democracynow.org Iran Strikes 2 Iraqi Bases in Retaliation for Soleimani's Assassination, McConnell Says He Has Enough Votes to Open Impeachment Trial Without Witnesses, Trump Declares Emergency for Puerto Rico Following Earthquake, Spain Poised to Form First Progressive Coalition Government Since 1930s, Argentina Deals Blow to Legitimacy of Venezuela's U.S.-Backed Opposition, Indian Workers & Students Launch Strike to Protest Privatization, Wet'suwet'en Nation Issues Eviction Notice to Workers of Pipeline Company in Canada, Planned Parenthood Attacked with Incendiary Device in Delaware, NYT: More Than 20 Shootings at After Schoo…

Staff (2020-01-07). Will Soleimani's Assassination Set Back Iraq's October Revolution? therealnews.com Soleimani's killing could open a path for peace if cooler heads prevail, argues professor of Middle East politics Sabah Alnasseri.

Liberation Staff (2020-01-06). Hundreds of protesters for peace come out in Pacific Northwest Jan. 4. liberationnews.org Reports from Seattle, Spokane, Kennewick and Boise…

Max Blumenthal (2020-01-06). Iraqi PM reveals Soleimani was on peace mission when assassinated, exploding Trump's lie of 'imminent attacks'. thegrayzone.com The Trump administration claimed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was planning "imminent attacks" on US interests when it assassinated him. That…

Paul Dobson (2020-01-06). Venezuelan Government and Opposition Fraction Announce Release of 14 'Political Prisoners'. venezuelanalysis.com The National Roundtable for Peaceful Dialogue also offered its backing to the new National Assembly president, Luis Parra.

Staff (2020-01-06). How Soleimani's Assassination Violates International Law and Puts Peace Further Out of Reach. therealnews.com Phyllis Bennis says Congress must stop Trump from taking the U.S. to war without any justification or provocation.

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2020-01-05). Venezuela: Guaido Replaced as Parliament Head in Disputed Vote. venezuelanalysis.com Pro-Guaido opposition lawmakers have rejected the vote, forming a parallel parliament with US and international right-wing support.

ANSWER (2020-01-01). Sat. Jan. 4 National Day of Action U.S. Troops Out of Iraq! liberationnews.org Initiators for this call include the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK, Popular Resistance, World Beyond War and many other anti-war and peace organizations.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-23). Venezuela Repels 'Terrorist' Attack on Military Bases, 1 Soldier Dead. venezuelanalysis.com The assailants stormed several military installations before being engaged by the Venezuelan army.

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 Read more…

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-18). Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection. venezuelanalysis.com The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.

Joe Emersberger (2019-12-16). Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela. zcomm.org Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe Read more…

Paul Dobson (2019-12-16). ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020. venezuelanalysis.com Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-11). Venezuela Oil Production Continues Slow Recovery. venezuelanalysis.com According to state oil company PDVSA, production is again approaching one million barrels per day.

Paul Dobson (2019-12-09). Venezuela's Civilian Militia Surpasses Target, Reaches 3.3 Million Members. venezuelanalysis.com The body is due to be legally incorporated into the Armed Forces as a "combat unit."

Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-05). Venezuela: Guaido Embattled as Opposition Splits over New Corruption Scandal. venezuelanalysis.com The latest scandal has further called into doubt Guaido's credibility as leader of the opposition.

Lucas Koerner (2019-12-04). TIAR Countries Blacklist Top Venezuelan Officials as US Slaps New Sanctions. venezuelanalysis.com US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Venezuela of "hijacking" mass anti-neoliberal protests in "our own backyard."

Ricardo Vaz (2019-12-04). Red Cross Chief: Venezuela Aid Being Politicized to 'Destabilize the Country'. venezuelanalysis.com Francesco Rocca slammed the underfunding of aid programs as a problem of "political will."

Paul Dobson (2019-12-02). Venezuela's PDVSA Secures Temporary Lease Extension for Curacao Refinery. venezuelanalysis.com Despite the extension, refinery owners are looking to end the 34-year cooperation under pressure from US sanctions.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-28). US Vows to 'Reinforce' Sanctions, Accuses Venezuela and Cuba of Stirring Regional 'Strife'. venezuelanalysis.com Elliott Abrams reiterated support for Guaido and denied that sanctions are damaging the Venezuelan economy.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-25). Venezuela Unveils First Gold Processing Complex in Mining Arc. venezuelanalysis.com While already operational, the complex will reportedly be the 5th largest in the continent upon completion.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-21). Colombia's US Ambassador Advocates 'Covert Actions' Against Venezuela in Leaked Audio. venezuelanalysis.com Top Colombian officials acknowledged failure of regime change in Venezuela and total disarray in Washington.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-18). Venezuelans Protest Bolivia Coup After Diplomatic Break. venezuelanalysis.com The de facto government in La Paz has broken relations with Caracas and recognised Guaido.

Lucas Koerner (2019-11-14). Venezuelan Embassy Attacked in Brazil. venezuelanalysis.com Bolsonaro denied any prior knowledge of the attack.

Ricardo Vaz (2019-11-14). Venezuelan Oil Output Sees Modest Rise in October: OPEC. venezuelanalysis.com Reviving production has led Chevron convert a blending plant back to a crude upgrader for export of heavier grades.

Paul Dobson (2019-11-11). Venezuela Condemns Bolivia Coup d'État. venezuelanalysis.com Government forces and grassroots movements are holding vigils across the country in support of Evo Morales.

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, …

2020-01-15: Social Media Postees

Please be social by posting these 'POSTEES' on social media!

Telling Stories Important to Promoting Peace Globally – Colleen Bell of California Film Commission
sputniknews.com | 2020-01-15
New Delhi (Sputnik): Colleen Bell, the executive director of California Film Commission (CFC), is on her maiden India visit as part of Visit California's India Sales Mission. She will meet the Film Producers Guild of India on Wednesday night and discuss increasing entertainment industry production in both the countries through various offers.
sputniknews.com/india/202001151078045160-telling-stories-important-to-promoting-peace-globally—colleen-bell-of-california-film-commission/

164 "Peace-Keeping" Military Bases Worldwide: US Bases in Iraq Advance Its Regional Imperium
Stephen Lendman | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-14
According to the Pentagon, US forces are in 164 (of the world's 193) countries. | They're on over 1,000 US bases of varying sizes and on others of host countries. Much information about their numbers, troop strength, and location is secret….
globalresearch.ca/us-bases-iraq-advance-regional-imperium/5700584

US Sanctions Venezuela's New Parliament Leader, Senior Opposition Lawmakers
Lucas Koerner | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-14
The legislature's new opposition leadership "categorically" rejected the sanctions.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14764

For Western Press, the only Coup in Venezuela is against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | mronline.org | 2020-01-14
The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | Source…
mronline.org/2020/01/14/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

Venezuela Condemns US Sanctions Against Assembly's New Leadership
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-14
Venezuela's government denounced Monday a new attack by the United States of unilateral and coercive sanctions against Venezuelan officials, including lawmakers from the opposition who were elected on Jan. 5 as the National Assembly's new leadership. | RELATED: | Desperate Juan Guaido Vows Again to Plunder teleSUR's Signal | In the statement released by Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza on his Twitter account, the authorities said that U.S.'s President Donald Trump's adminis…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Condemns-US-Sanctions-Against-Assemblys-New-Leadership-20200113-0023.html

Venezuela and Red Cross Monitor Protection for Blockade Victims
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-14
The Venezuelan Government and the International Red Cross today reviewed the cooperation agreements for the protection of the victims of the U.S. blockade. | RELATED: | 'US Did Not Consider the Venezuelan People's Strength' Maduro | Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and the head of the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Arnaud de Baecque, analyzed the progress of the projects here, accor…
telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-and-Red-Cross-Monitor-Protection-for-Blockade-Victims-20200114-0012.html

Venezuela Asks Electoral Body to Invite UN, EU to Observe Polls
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-14
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro asked the National Electoral Council (CNE) Tuesday to invite the European Union (EU) and the United Nations as observers in the process of legislative elections scheduled for this year. | RELATED: | Venezuela and Red Cross Monitor Protection for Blockade Victims | During the presentation of his 2019 balance, the Venezuelan president was also firm in expressing that "what is definitive is that neither the Organization of American States (OAS…
telesurenglish.net/news/maduro-asks-nec-to-invite-un-to-observe-legislative-elections-20200114-0019.html

Corporate Media's Venezuela Coverage Goes From Bad to Worse
Staff | truthdig.com | 2020-01-14
Mainstream outlets like the New York Times enter crisis mode after Juan Guaidó is replaced as head of the country's National Assembly.
truthdig.com/articles/corporate-medias-venezuela-coverage-goes-from-bad-to-worse/

Daniel Ortega Defends teleSUR After Juan Guaido's Threats
telesurenglish.net | 2020-01-14
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega addressed a letter on Tuesday to the President of teleSUR, Patricia Villegas, in which he expressed his complete solidarity with the news network in the face of growing threats from the self-proclaimed 'president' of Venezuela Juan Guaido. | …
telesurenglish.net/news/Daniel-Ortega-Defends-teleSUR-After-Juan-Guaidos-Threats-20200114-0008.html

US issues unilateral coercive measures against Venezuelan legislators
Peoples Dispatch | peoplesdispatch.org | 2020-01-14
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Department of the Treasury, announced on January 13, that it would impose unilateral coercive measures against seven opposition legislators of the National Assembly (AN) of Venezuela. | According to the official statement issued by the US agency, the punitive measure was taken due to the "failed attempt" of these seven parliamentarians "to illegitimately seize control of the National Assembly" and because they allegedly prevented the far-right opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president "Juan Guaidó and other deputies from participating in a consti…
peoplesdispatch.org/2020/01/14/us-issues-unilateral-coercive-measures-against-venezuelan-legislators/

Russia's Unsuccessful Libyan Peace Summit Was a Good Start
Andrew Korybko | globalresearch.ca | 2020-01-14
Russia's Libyan peace summit in Moscow didn't succeed with its stated objective of getting the warring parties to agree to a ceasefire agreement after they failed to find any common ground with one another, but it was nevertheless a good …
globalresearch.ca/russia-unsuccessful-libyan-peace-summit-good-start/5700561

Venezuela Blames Sanctions After UN Voting Right Suspended
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-13
Venezuela, which has one of the highest UN contribution rates in the region, has not paid its dues since 2018.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14762

Under US pressure, social media companies censor critical content and suspend Venezuelan, Iranian, and Syrian accounts
Ben Norton | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-13
As the US escalates its hybrid wars, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are suspending accounts and censoring content that conflicts with…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/12/us-pressure-social-media-censoring-suspending-venezuela-iran-syria/

Colombia: 'Significant strides' towards integrated peace, UN envoy tells Security Council
news.un.org | 2020-01-13
Colombia has continued to make "significant strides in its peace process", the top UN envoy in the country told the Security Council on Monday.
news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2020/01/1055202

For Western Press, the Only Coup in Venezuela Is Against Guaidó
Lucas Koerner | fair.org | 2020-01-10
The Washington Post ( 1/5/20) described Venezuelan lawmakers voting against someone other than Washington's chosen candidate to head the assembly as "sedition within the opposition." | The international corporate media have entered crisis mode following the replacement of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó as head of the country's National Assembly. | In headline after headline, Venezue…
fair.org/home/for-western-press-the-only-coup-in-venezuela-is-against-guaido/

US peace activists, leftists oppose Iran war
Susan Price | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-10
anti-war Susan PriceIssue 1248 United States US wars US aggression against Iran peace movementJanuary 10, 2020Former vetera…
greenleft.org.au/content/us-peace-activists-leftists-oppose-iran-war

Venezuela: Guaido installs parallel parliament, US threatens more sanctions
pip.hinman | greenleft.org.au | 2020-01-10
Venezuela Ricardo VazIssue 1248 Venezuela Juan Guaido US Vice President Mike PenceJanuary 10, 2020Opposition leader Juan Guaido installed a "parallel" parliament in Caracas on January 7. | The…
greenleft.org.au/content/venezuela-guaido-installs-parallel-parliament-us-threatens-more-sanctions

This might be the final episode of Juan Guaidó's surreal Venezuela regime-change reality show
Leonardo Flores | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-09
The farcical scene of Juan Guaido attempting to break into Venezuela's National Assembly as its members voted him out was…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/08/final-episode-juan-guaido-surreal-regime-change-reality-show/

Andrew Bacevich: The U.S. Needs to Abandon "Militarized Approach" to Middle East and Build Peace
Staff | democracynow.org | 2020-01-09
We continue our conversation with Andrew Bacevich, president and co-founder of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. He is a retired colonel, Vietnam War veteran and author of, most recently, of "The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory." Bacevich says the crisis with Iran, sparked by President Trump's assassination of top general Qassem Soleimani, is just the latest in a long series of ill-advised American actions in the Middle East. "The only conceivable way for us to begin to extricate ourselves from this terrible mess in the region … is to abandon this militarized approac…
www.democracynow.org/2020/1/9/andrew_bacevich_trump_iran

Peace activists in South say 'No war on Iran'
Liberation Staff | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-09
Reports from North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky.
liberationnews.org/peace-activists-in-south-say-no-war-on-iran/

Stand with the people of Iran and Iraq against the U.S. wars of aggression!
Fight Back | fightbacknews.org | 2020-01-09
Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Jan. 8 statement from the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) US Chapter. | The cowardly assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on Iraqi soil, the deployment of more US troops to the Southwest Asia and North Africa region (SWANA), and the belligerent threats of the Trump administration, reveal to the world what billions of people already know: The United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world, the single largest threat to the peace and security of Southwest Asia and North Africa, and a rogue state with no regard for int…
www.fightbacknews.org/2020/1/9/stand-people-iran-and-iraq-against-us-wars-aggression

Venezuela: Guaido Installs Parallel Parliament After Washington Threatens More Sanctions
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-08
The Trump administration is reportedly mulling sanctions against opposition deputies who voted against Guaido.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14759

In the ongoing crisis, Congress must rein in Trump's war powers
Jon Rainwater | peaceaction.org | 2020-01-08
As we feared, President Trump's reckless assassination of Iran's Gen. Soleimani resulted in escalation

Will Soleimani's Assassination Set Back Iraq's October Revolution?
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-07
Soleimani's killing could open a path for peace if cooler heads prevail, argues professor of Middle East politics Sabah Alnasseri.
therealnews.com/stories/soleimani-assassination-iraq-october-revolution

Iraqi PM reveals Soleimani was on peace mission when assassinated, exploding Trump's lie of 'imminent attacks'
Max Blumenthal | thegrayzone.com | 2020-01-06
The Trump administration claimed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was planning "imminent attacks" on US interests when it assassinated him. That…
thegrayzone.com/2020/01/06/soleimani-peace-mission-assassinated-trump-lie-imminent-attacks/

Venezuelan Government and Opposition Fraction Announce Release of 14 'Political Prisoners'
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-06
The National Roundtable for Peaceful Dialogue also offered its backing to the new National Assembly president, Luis Parra.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14757

Hundreds of protesters for peace come out in Pacific Northwest Jan. 4
Liberation Staff | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-06
Reports from Seattle, Spokane, Kennewick and Boise…
liberationnews.org/hundreds-of-protesters-for-peace-come-out-in-pacific-northwest-jan-4/

How Soleimani's Assassination Violates International Law and Puts Peace Further Out of Reach
Staff | therealnews.com | 2020-01-06
Phyllis Bennis says Congress must stop Trump from taking the U.S. to war without any justification or provocation.
therealnews.com/stories/soleimani-assassination-violates-international-law

Venezuela: Guaido Replaced as Parliament Head in Disputed Vote
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2020-01-05
Pro-Guaido opposition lawmakers have rejected the vote, forming a parallel parliament with US and international right-wing support.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14755

Sat. Jan. 4 National Day of Action U.S. Troops Out of Iraq!
ANSWER | liberationnews.org | 2020-01-01
Initiators for this call include the ANSWER Coalition, CODEPINK, Popular Resistance, World Beyond War and many other anti-war and peace organizations.
liberationnews.org/sat-jan-4-national-day-of-action-u-s-troops-out-of-iraq/

Venezuela Repels 'Terrorist' Attack on Military Bases, 1 Soldier Dead
Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-23
The assailants stormed several military installations before being engaged by the Venezuelan army.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14752

Notes on a private TV newscast in Bolivia. The contrast with Venezuela is clear as day
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-20
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

Venezuela: Guaido Introduces Remote Voting in Bid to Secure Reelection
Lucas Koerner and Ricardo Vaz | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-18
The opposition leader has been under fire amid recent scandals.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14749

Francisco Rodriguez answers some questions I asked about Venezuela
Joe Emersberger | zcomm.org | 2019-12-16
Venezuelan economist Francisco Rodriguez, formerly of Torino Economics, answered a few questions of mine about his country. He was the economic adviser to Henri Falcon, the second place finisher in the May 2018 presidential election. His updated estimate for 2019 is that Venezuela's real GDP will contract by 25% . That's horrific, but less severe Read…
zcomm.org/zblogs/francisco-rodriguez-answers-some-questions-i-asked-him-about-venezuela/

ALBA Summit: Venezuela Promises to Relaunch PetroCaribe in 2020
Paul Dobson | venezuelanalysis.com | 2019-12-16
Heads of state also pledged to bolster various regional social programs including the Miracle Mission and Latin American Medical Schools.
venezuelanalysis.com/news/14745