2022-02-13: News Headlines

ecns.cn (2022-02-13). Diplomatic efforts underway to defuse Russia-Ukraine tensions. ecns.cn As uncertainty on the Russia-Ukraine border keeps growing, intensive diplomatic efforts are underway, aiming to resolve the tensions through peaceful settlement.

Clean Energy Wire (2022-02-13). German State Plans Hundreds of Artificial Energy Islands to Deploy North Sea Wind. juancole.com By Jessica Bateman | — The northernmost German state of Schleswig-Holstein has announced it wants to help push forward the energy transition by building artificial power islands in the North Sea, newspaper Die Zeit reported. Tobias Goldschmidt, the state's energy secretary, said the energy produced on "hundreds" of offshore plants could be bundled and then …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-13). Three NATO aircraft carrier strike groups, 13 U.S. anti-missile ships in Mediterranean. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com On February 10 the U.S. Naval Institute website published a report that four more Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers had been sent to the Mediterranean Sea. The deployment, in addition to four (and soon to be six) of the warships permanently rotated out of the Naval Station Rota in Spain, was described by a Navy …

William Briggs (2022-02-13). The United States, war on two fronts and loss of empire. greenleft.org.au The propaganda war against China and Russia got a whole lot worse in the past week. The very real danger of war either in our region, or in Europe, was made abundantly clear, argues William Briggs.

TASS (2022-02-13). US submarine detected by anti-sub aircraft, Pacific fleet submarine – source. tass.com According to the source, the submarine's coordinates were transmitted to the group of warships led by the Pacific Fleet's frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, with the Russian multi-purpose ship undertaking all the necessary actions on the protection of Russia's state border…

TASS (2022-02-13). Core US embassy staff to remain in Ukraine, US State Secretary says. tass.com Earlier, the US Department of State ordered most embassy staff to leave Ukraine immediately due to the threat of an invasion by Russia, saying it appeared increasingly likely that the situation headed towards "some kind of active conflict"

_____ (2022-02-13). Gas-Backed Front Group Spreads Misinformation About Electrification. popularresistance.org A group of natural gas companies and utilities in Colorado formed a front group to oppose the state's push towards electrifying homes and businesses, spreading misinformation about the cost of electric heating while also promoting false solutions to lock in the ongoing use of natural gas. | The group, "Coloradans for Energy Access," is made up of a coalition of gas companies, real estate interests, utilities, and other energy trade associations, including Atmos Energy, American Public Gas Association, and the Consumer Energy Alliance. | Announcing its formation in an op-ed in the Colorado Sun, Coloradans for Ener…

_____ (2022-02-13). 'Politics As Usual' Will Never Be A Solution To The Current Climate Threat. popularresistance.org There is an ever-growing consensus that the climate crisis represents humanity's greatest problem. Indeed, global warming is more than an environmental crisis — there are social, political, ethical and economic dimensions to it. Even the role of science should be exposed to critical inquiry when discussing the dimensions of the climate crisis, considering that technology bears such responsibility for bringing us to the brink of global disaster. This is the theme of my interview with renowned scholar Richard Falk. | For decades, Richard Falk has made immense contributions in the areas of international affair…

F. William Engdahl (2022-02-13). "We are Human Guinea Pigs": Alarming Casualty Rates for mRNA Vaccines Warrant Urgent Action. globalresearch.ca Official US and EU data confirm alarming numbers of deaths and permanent paralysis as well as other severe side effects from the experimental mRNA vaccines. It is now clear that we are being asked to be human guinea pigs in an experiment that could alter the human gene structure and far worse.

The Green Arcade (2022-02-13). Wednesday 2/23: Devour the Land: War and American Landscape Photography since 1970. indybay.org Virtual Event…

David Swanson (2022-02-13). But How Do You Stop Putin and the Taliban? warisacrime.org When I suggest not stealing billions of dollars from Afghanistan, and thereby not causing mass starvation and death, otherwise intelligent and informed people tell me that human rights demands that theft. Starving people to death is a means of protecting their "human rights," in fact. How else can you (or the U.S. government) stop Taliban …

DLI (2022-02-13). Biden's promise, "America's Back!" is delivered–on Steroids! indybay.org On at least one big item, President Biden's campaign promise, "America's Back!" has been resoundingly delivered! 2 decades ago, the United States went to war based on an outrageous lie, that Saddam Hussein had WMDs(Weapons of Mass Destruction) that were ready to launch in 90 minutes on allies of the U.S. That gigantic lie had no credible evidence(and over 10 million citizens across the Globe protested in the streets agianst the impending but illegal invasion.) But the lie was delivered in such melodramatic tones that the "Corporate-bin-Laden" media bought it, line, rod and sinker). The MSM not only parroted the U…

War Protester (2022-02-13). The F-35 Jets Gotta Go! Just Say No to War! indybay.org

Staff (2022-02-13). Youth Day in Venezuela: Chavista Call to Venezuelan Youth, Two Demonstrations in Caracas. orinocotribune.com During the celebration of Youth Day in Venezuela, on Saturday, February 12, President Nicolás Maduro made an emotional call to the revolutionary youth of the nation, and assured that he and the Bolivarian government are committed to the fight against corruption, bureaucratism and criminality. The president made these remarks in a meeting with young people in Caracas, who marched from Petare (east Caracas) to Miraflores (center) to celebrate Youth Day. | "I have come to ask you, the youth, for help in the fight against corruption, crime, and bureaucratism. A sour, bitter fight," said the president in his speech.

teleSUR (2022-02-13). Report: Argentine Army Planned an Invasion of Venezuela in 2019. telesurenglish.net In the investigation by Argentine journalist Horacio Verbitsky, it was revealed that in command of the operation was General Juan Martin Paleo, who at the time was commander of the rapid deployment force. | The new Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Argentine Armed Forces, Brigadier General Juan Martín Paleo, takes office in February 2020.

Danny Haiphong (2022-02-12). Eileen Gu Controversy Exposes the Importance of Racial Loyalty to the American Empire. orinocotribune.com By Danny Haiphong — Feb 9, 2022 | The young skier has become the target of a racist backlash that oozes from every orifice of the US's New Cold War. | Eileen Gu is a world class skier who has already won her first gold medal in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics at the age of 18. Gu was raised in San Francisco by a mixed-race family. Her mom, who she posts about often

_____ (2022-02-12). Propagandist For Syria Terror Proxies Compromised Amnesty International. popularresistance.org This December, The Grayzone exposed how a shadowy communications firm, Valent Projects, enlisted a prominent YouTube influencer to front a covert state-sponsored influence operation designed to undermine critics of London's pandemic policies. That company was founded by Amil Khan, a veteran of long-running and lavishly funded UK Foreign Office information warfare operations in Syria.

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-12). But do you understand that word called war? antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ==== Anti-war essays, poems, short stories and literary excerpts Ukrainian writers on war Women writers on peace and war ==== Lesya UkrainkaFrom an untitled poem (1890)Translated by Gladys Evans "You're lucky children, to be bornIn such a peaceful time, to live so carefree.You listen to my talk of past wild timesAs if it were some …

Staff (2022-02-12). Venezuelan Authorities: Colombian Paramilitaries Fled Apure due to FANB Operation. orinocotribune.com On Friday, February 11, Venezuela's Sectorial Vice President of Political Sovereignty, Security and Peace, Major General Vladimir Padrino López reported that "the Bolivarian National Armed Force [FANB] has dealt heavy blows to the mafias and gangs that deal in drug and human trafficking, and which belong to the Colombian Armed Terrorist and Drug Trafficking Groups [TANCOL]." | He explained that it is due to the terrorist acts of TANCOL in Apure state that most of the FANB operations have focused there. TANCOL "is trying to secure that route [as their territory]," he stated. He praised the Strategic Operational Co…

Anonymous015 (2022-02-12). Russia Has No Intention Of Invading Ukraine. southfront.org by Dr. Leon Tressell | Let's be clear about this: Russia is NOT going to invade Ukraine. A cursory study of the history of Ukraine since 2014 reveals how restrained Russia has been in the face of repeated provocations by the Kiev Junta and its American sponsor. | Since 2014 Presidents Poroshenko and Zelenko, both of whom represent the billionaire oligarchs who control Ukraine, have steadfastly refused to implement the Minsk 1 and Minsk 2 Peace Accords. Instead both Presidents have launched "anti terrorist" operations against the Russian speakers of the Donbass region leading to over 10,000 deaths. | The Kiev j…

Richard Horton (2022-02-12). [Comment] Offline: Complacency threatens progress against COVID-19. thelancet.com Hans Kluge, WHO's Regional Director for Europe, has been reported as saying that European nations could soon be entering a "long period of tranquillity" as the pandemic abates. Pointing out that mortality from COVID-19 seemed to be plateauing, he suggested the continent was approaching a "plausible endgame" and an "enduring peace". As WHO's chief spokesperson for the 53 countries that make up his regional responsibility, Kluge was no doubt seeking to strike an optimistic and encouraging note. But it is disappointing that he took such a narrow geographical perspective about a global pandemic.

Staff (2022-02-12). Minsk remains only path to Ukraine peace. rt.com Increasingly alarmist warnings of a Russian invasion overlook the fact there is a roadmap for de-escalation | Some war scares are short; others don't stop giving. And if they last long enough, they may even lead to a real war. The intense stand-off between Russia and the West over Ukraine that began last October has just escalated again, with US President Joe Biden and his administration issuing new, and once again urgent, alarms about, in effect, an imminent large-scale Russian invasion, complete with instructions for American citizens to leave Ukraine immediately. | Several other governments have followed su…

_____ (2022-02-12). Front Line In New Cold War On China. popularresistance.org With a diplomatic boycott by Western governments, corporate media propaganda has demonized China over the 2022 Winter Olympics. | Britain's major newspaper the Financial Times openly declared, "Beijing Winter Olympics: the new front line in the US-China cold war." | China expert Carl Zha joins Multipolarista to pick apart the propaganda and explain what's really happening.

_____ (2022-02-12). Left-Right White Solidarity Basis of Support for U.S./EU/NATO Wars on Global Humanity. popularresistance.org The current crisis in Ukraine had its beginnings in 2014, when the U.S. allied itself with right wing, white supremacist forces to overthrow an elected government. Supposed leftists in this country were largely silent about the danger and were themselves supportive of white supremacist politics carried out by the U.S. and its NATO partners.

Editor2 (2022-02-12). US Attacks Against Cuba: Offensive or 'Counteroffensive'? orinocotribune.com By José Ramón Cabañas — Feb 8, 2022 | In conversations with neighbors, experts, young people, and following the thread of our national press, it is common to hear the assessment (true by the way) that there has been a brutal onslaught of the United States against Cuba in recent years. A number of arguments have been put forward that make this assertion undeniable, the evidence is everywhere. | However, it would be useful to dwell on a small question when assessing recent events: is it an offensive against our country, or a "counter-offensive?" Many readers will say, "who cares, it causes the same harm!" That…

Jenny Pierson (2022-02-12). Fossil Fuel Companies and Their Mouthpieces Offer Net-Zero Logic on Climate Change. independentmediainstitute.org Everywhere around us there is evidence of climate change, from the increase in winter storms such as New England's late January blizzard, to California's recent record-breaking winter heat wave. Meanwhile, the world's biggest oil and gas companies such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP, whose products directly fuel global warming, have done little …

Jesús Rodríguez-Espinoza (2022-02-12). President Maduro Questions 'Cowardly Regional Left' that Favors US Aggression Against Venezuela. orinocotribune.com Caracas, February 11, 2022 ( "I demand respect for the Bolivarian project, for the people of Venezuela, under attack by imperialism," said President Maduro. "Now there is an intent to validate the imperialist aggression against Venezuela…

WSWS (2022-02-12). US accelerates troop deployments as Biden threatens "world war" with Russia. wsws.org Washington and its NATO allies are concocting a strategy to provoke a war with Russia over Ukraine under conditions where they can also try to blame Russia for it.

Staff (2022-02-12). How Chechen terrorists overran a hospital, murdered dozens and made Russia tremble. rt.com Chechen separatists captured a hospital in southern Russia. They managed to get what they wanted and get away. | Terrorism — plane hijacking and hostage crises — was not a concept entirely unfamiliar to the USSR, but it was post-Soviet Russia where terrorism became an oppressively grim backdrop to everyday life. While in the USSR, terrorist attacks had been perpetuated by ordinary criminals, the wars that took place in former Soviet countries gave rise to separatists and Islamist zealots. The 1995 Budyonnovsk tragedy, in which Chechen terrorists took an entire hospital hostage, left many wounded and…

Anonymous349 (2022-02-12). Russia Assembles Unprecedented Grouping Of Warships In Black Sea. southfront.org Click to see the full-size image | As part of the fleet exercises in the Black Sea, an unprecedented grouping of Russian warships is being assembled for the first time in many years. | Excluding small landing craft, small missile, small anti-submarine ships, submarines and auxiliary ships of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, the naval strike group of Russia consists of: | Varyag Cruiser | Cruiser Moscow | Cruiser Marshal Ustinov | Frigate Admiral Grigorovich | Frigate Admiral Makarov | Frigate Admiral Essen…

WSWS (2022-02-12). Department of Homeland Security leaks security bulletin warning of far-right "trucker" protest culminating in occupation of Washington D.C. wsws.org Promoted by Fox and far-right politicians, the goal of the nascent trucker convoy is to rally fascists and militia members to abolish the few remaining COVID mitigation measures and occupy Washington D.C. sometime in March.

Staff (2022-02-12). Russia issues warning to US. rt.com Another round of negotiations between Moscow and Washington on Ukraine has been held ahead of crucial talks | Another round of Russia-US negotiations on the Ukraine crisis, on Saturday, saw Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warn his American counterpart, Antony Blinken against a "propaganda campaign" over an alleged plan by Moscow to attack Ukraine. | Both foreign and defense ministers of the two countries held phone conversations over "security issues of mutual interest," ahead of crucial talks between the presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden, in the evening. | According to a statement f…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-12). Carlson, Gabbard discuss Biden's drive to war. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com

WSWS (2022-02-12). New Zealand joins diplomatic offensive against Russia amid escalating war build-up. wsws.org The Labour-led government, the foreign policy establishment and a layer of pseudo-lefts have lined up with the escalating imperialist operation against Russia.

WSWS (2022-02-12). Australian defence minister accuses Labor Party of "appeasing" China. wsws.org The attempt to whip up a wartime atmosphere flows from the government's deep crisis and Australia's frontline role in the US-led preparations for conflict with China.

M.K. Bhadrakumar (2022-02-12). US war hysteria over Ukraine won't gel. peoplesdispatch.org A new level of criticality has appeared lately in Donbass with large scale mobilization by Ukrainian forces and reports of western mercenaries in the guise of military advisors. The US intentions remain unclear…

Staff (2022-02-12). 12 major US cities broke murder records in 2021 — senator. rt.com Republican senator blames 'soft on crime' Democratic leaders | Twelve major American cities experienced record-breaking homicide numbers in 2021, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) revealed during a Republican press conference earlier this week. The senator blamed "soft on crime" Democratic leaders, noting all 12 cities were run by party members. | "Crime is surging across this country," Cruz warned, pointing out that not only were murder rates on the rise but assaults and carjackings are also through the roof. The crime spike, he said, is a "direct result of Democrats' soft-on-crime policies." | The 12 cities the Rep…

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2022-02-12). Covid-19 and Democracy — Nicaragua v Canada. libya360.wordpress.com Stephen Sefton Nicaragua 2018 — police officer Gabriel de Jesús Vado Ruiz, tortured, murdered and set on fire by opposition thugs in Masaya in 2018 (Photo from opposition social media video) From 2018 onwards, Canada's government has denounced Nicaragua in international forums as a repressive dictatorship and followed the US authorities in imposing illegal unilateral…

Fight Back (2022-02-12). Celebrate International Women's Day, Resist Attacks on Reproductive Freedom. fightbacknews.org Across the world, March 8th honors the contributions of women to the people's struggle. This year, Freedom Road Socialist Organization will hold events to celebrate International Women's Day (IWD). | | IWD was founded to honor the sacrifices of heroes named and unnamed. Some capitalists have tried to sanitize and co-opt International Women's Day. The origins of this day are clearly anti-capitalist. Our celebrations will carry forward that spirit. | | Long History, Global Reach | | International Women's Day originates in the struggle of working women in New York City. In 1908 there was a determined battle…

Staff (2022-02-12). Thousands of protesters swarm Australian parliament (VIDEOS). rt.com The demonstrators, who have been in Canberra over a week, want an immediate end to Covid restrictions | Protesters gathered at Parliament House in the Australian capital, Canberra on Saturday, demanding an end to coronavirus measures. The demonstrators, who arrived by truck, car, and bus over the last week, had Video footage of the demonstration showed crowds of people streaming into the city and assembl…

Anonymous349 (2022-02-12). Military Situation In Iraq On February 12, 2022 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see the full-size image | On February 11, the Iraqi Army killed four ISIS terrorists in the Adhim area | On February 10, Faleh al-Fayadh, head of the Iraqi Hashad al-Shaabi organization, announced the signing of new arms contracts and the purchase of modern, high-quality weapons for the organisation | MORE ON THE TOPIC: : |

Paul Haeder (2022-02-12). Blasphemy: How Many Circles of Hell are there for the Elite? dissidentvoice.org War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. ‚Äï Smedley Butler, War is a Racket: The …

Staff (2022-02-12). WATCH Canadian truckers defy court injunction, maintain border blockade. rt.com Anti-vaccine mandate truckers refused to back down despite the threat of impending arrests and fines | Canadian protesters opposing Covid-19 curbs and vaccine mandates have defied a court injunction and government warnings to maintain their days-long blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, which has paralyzed trade and traffic at the busiest land border crossing into the US. | According to videos circulating on social media, demonstrators overwhelmingly voted to continue occupying access roads to the bridge minutes before Friday's order by the Ontario Superior Court took effect at 7pm local time. The protesters can…

Staff (2022-02-12). Biden is rooting for Russia to invade Ukraine, Tulsi Gabbard says. rt.com The former US congresswoman suggests US and NATO want Moscow to attack so they can impose "draconian" sanctions and enrich the military-industrial complex | President Joe Biden and his NATO allies could easily prevent war in Ukraine but would rather see Russia invade their ally to justify harsh sanctions against Moscow and spur a money-making cold war, former US congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said on Friday in a Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson. | Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran who ran unsuccessfully for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, made her comments as Biden's administration and US media outl…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-12). Pentagon sends 3,000 more paratroopers to reinforce 40,000-troop NATO Response Force. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Air Force TimesFebruary 11, 2022 3,000 more paratroopers head to Europe amid White House warnings of Ukraine invasion Thousands more soldiers are preparing to deploy to Eastern Europe as Russia-Ukraine tensions continue, the Pentagon announced Friday. Three thousand members of the 82nd Airborne Division would join 3,000 troops already mobilized to Poland, Germany and Romania. …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-12). Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sounds warning over threat of nuclear war. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Bulletin of the Atomic ScientistsFebruary 11, 2022 Putin reminds everyone that Ukraine joining NATO could lead to nuclear war Excerpts "[T]here will be no winners," [Russian President Vladimir Putin] said, describing a hypothetical future in which Ukraine had joined NATO and then attempted to invade Russian-occupied Crimea, "and you will find yourself drawn into this …

Jeremy Kuzmarov, Jacques Pauwels (2022-02-12). Seventy-Seven Years Ago, U.S. and Russia Signed Historic Agreement at Yalta. covertactionmagazine.com With tensions between the U.S. and Russia at historic levels and threat of a hot war breaking out in Ukraine, …

Staff (2022-02-12). US withdraws military personnel. rt.com Washington has withdrawn its military advisers from Ukraine, as US officials warn of war | US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Saturday ordered 160 members of the Florida National Guard to leave Ukraine, as the UK made a similar move. Officials in Washington, based on evidence they refuse to make public, claim that Russia is preparing to invade the country. | "Secretary Austin has ordered the temporary repositioning of the 160 members of the Florida National Guard who have been deployed to Ukraine since late November," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told reporters. Kirby said that the move was being made ou…

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2022-02-12). War Chief of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Bear Clan Denounces Trudeau for Threatening to Use Militarized Police on Unceded Indigenous Territory. libya360.wordpress.com Kanenhariyo (Seth Lefort) is War Chief of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Bear Clan. In this video, he responds to Premier Doug Ford's state of emergency declared in response to the truckers rebellion. Transcript by Real Peoples Media: Kanenhariyo denounces the Federal and Provincial governments for threatening to use militarized police on unceded Indigenous territory to disperse…

Betsey Stone (2022-02-12). Socialist Workers Party campaign offers working-class road forward. themilitant.com OAKLAND, Calif. — More than 300 people, way over the 65 required, have signed the petition to put Eleanor García, Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. Senate, on the California ballot. In addition, over $5,000 has been raised to pay the filing fee. | Over the weekend of Feb. 5-6, campaigners fanned out to cities in the Bay Area and southern California, knocking on doors and setting up tables at supermarkets, introducing the party's program and the Militant. Supporters of the campaign from Seattle, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, traveled here to participate. | "I like what you are doing," Jo…

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