Exploration by Aramco under Saudi sands made the region “our” asset worth defending. Saudi Kingdom the protector of two Sunni shrines, holy places of Medina and Mecca. Remember the first Gulf War and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan … sided with Saddam Hoessein, as did Yasser Arafat the Palestinian “leader.”
A big mistake was made earlier by Jimmy Carter and war hawk Zbigniew Brzezinski to deal with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s ISI to fight a proxy war against the Soviet Army in Afghanistan. It destroyed both Afghanistan and Pakistan till today.
More below the fold …
Now with the hypocrite King Salman visiting the UK and US, willing to shake hands by signing big military contracts, war is guaranteed for decades to come.
How many Democrats have joined hand with the worst brain dead Republican of them all? Too many, even today.
An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election. https://t.co/lcQTBi7CA1
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) 20 March 2018
The world is quite fortunate no one is expecting and waiting for America to lead anywhere … stop your interventions please!
The 18 March presidential election took place in an overly controlled legal and political environment marked by continued pressure on critical voices, while the Central Election Commission (CEC) administered the election efficiently and openly. After intense efforts to promote turnout, citizens voted in significant numbers, yet restrictions on the fundamental freedoms of assembly, association and expression, as well as on candidate registration, have limited the space for political engagement and resulted in a lack of genuine competition. While candidates could generally campaign freely, the extensive and uncritical coverage of the incumbent as president in most media resulted in an uneven playing field. Overall, election day was conducted in an orderly manner despite shortcomings related to vote secrecy and transparency of counting.
Eight candidates, one woman and seven men, stood in this election, including the incumbent president, as self-nominated, and others fielded by political parties. Positively, recent amendments significantly reduced the number of supporting signatures required for candidate registration. Seventeen prospective candidates were rejected by the CEC, and six of them challenged the CEC decisions unsuccessfully in the Supreme Court. Remaining legal restrictions on candidates rights are contrary to OSCE commitments and other international standards, and limit the inclusiveness of the candidate registration process.
Most candidates publicly expressed their certainty that the incumbent president would prevail in the election. With many of the candidates themselves stating that they did not expect to win, the election lacked genuine competition. Thus, efforts to increase the turnout predominated over the campaign of the contestants. A number of activists who questioned the legitimacy of the election were detained. Instances of pressure on voters to take part in the election were reported to the ODIHR EOM. All these violations contravene a number of OSCE commitments and other international obligations regarding freedom and equality in the campaign.
Legal and technical aspects of the election were administered efficiently and within the deadlines. The CEC held regular public sessions and undertook measures to address persistent allegations of voter coercion. Overall, lower-level commissions prepared the election efficiently, although some ODIHR EOM interlocutors questioned whether their composition impacted their impartiality and independence.
○ Vladimir Putin’s landslide re-election: Leaders react and look forward
○ Vladimir Putin wins Russian presidential election with more than 75 percent
○ Angela Merkel rejects sanctions on predecessor Schröder for Russia support
○ Macron congratulates Putin on re-election
Remember Texas Elections and the International Observers Mission? BLOCKED!
I voted today, more LEFT than ever … logical as all parties are moving further to express right-wing populist views.
US and UK in arms race to supply lethal weapons to a tinderbox region … and it goes on and on!
Yemen War Powers Resolution | H.CON.RES 81 Resources |
Kate Kizer Director of Policy and Advocacy, Yemen Peace Project – November 1. 2017 (morning)
“H.Con.Res.81 is Congress’ opportunity to end the US role in the suffering of millions of Yemenis, and to end US complicity in ongoing war crimes committed by the Saudi-led coalition in its intervention in Yemen’s civil war. It’s absolutely absurd that House Leadership would bend the rules and potentially break the law so the US can continue helping Saudi Arabia and the UAE kill and starve civilians in Yemen. Demanding a debate and vote on H.Con.Res.81 is the first step in re-asserting Congress’ role as the sole body that can declare war, and in ending the contradictory US policy of quite literally fueling the conflict while calling for a political settlement in Yemen’s civil war.”
Stephen Miles Director, Win Without War – November 1, 2017 (morning)
“U.S. support for Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s war in Yemen is the poster child of what’s wrong with American foreign policy. Thanks in part to American military assistance, the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen has brought about the largest humanitarian crisis on the planet under the absurd belief that more bombs would somehow bring peace. It’s time for Congress to do its job and stop this insanity.”
William Hartung Director, Arms and Security Project, Center for International Policy – November 1, 2017 (morning)
“This week’s vote in the House to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia’s brutal war in Yemen is valuable in its own right, as a step towards ending the Saudi regime’s indiscriminate bombing campaign and the resulting civilian casualties. It is also a chance for Congress to take a stand against the seemingly endless wars the United States has engaged in during this century, most of which have not been appropriately authorized by the Congress. It’s long past time for the United States to stop supporting a war that independent human rights organizations believe may involve war crimes on all sides. Continuing down this path will not only risk implicating the United States in these violations of the laws of war, but it will foster resentment that will make it easier for groups like Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) to garner support. Continuing to support the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen is a disaster for security in the region. It also runs contrary to the long-term interests of the United States.”
Tip of the hat to JDW – Israel Prepares the Ground Work for Iran War .
○ Senate blocks war powers resolution for Yemen | NBC News – 22 hrs ago |
GUNS and VIOLENCE GALORE. DOMESTIC TERROR!
Hopeless, hapless … loss of all humanity. The seat of power, not representing We the People
