US General Told Israel That US Won't Join War on Iran

Thursday 2 February 2012

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dempsey Told Israel That US Won't Join Their War on Iran
Gareth Porter, Inter Press Service: "Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey told Israeli leaders Jan. 20 that the United States would not participate in a war against Iran begun by Israel without prior agreement from Washington, according to accounts from well-placed senior military officers."
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William Rivers Pitt | This Is What I Know
William Rivers Pitt, Truthout: "I said this a long time ago, many times over, but it is worth repeating: I do not expect to see the things I fight for happen in my lifetime. Matters have gone far beyond that. I expect to fail, to die in defeat. That does not matter to me. The fight is worth waging because these things matter, and I intend to give the years I have left to that fight, no matter the outcome."
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Just the Facts: Churches and the Contraceptive Coverage Mandate
Mike Ludwig, Truthout: "The Obama administration's recent decision to require all employers, with the exception of churches and places of worship, to cover contraceptives in health care plans continues to cause a firestorm of controversy.... Misinformation on how the rules works has leaked into the media."
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Billionaire Buddies: Adelsons Join Forces With Koch Brothers to Take Down Obama
Josh Israel, ThinkProgress: "Between the Kochs and the Adelsons, voters around the country should expect to see what voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida have seen in recent weeks: a seemingly unending stream of dishonest attack ads, paid for by billionaire-funded super PACs and tax-exempt organizations."
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Secrecy Shrouds "Super PAC" Funds in Latest Filings
Nicholas Confessore and Michael Luo, The New York Times News Service: "Newly disclosed details of the millions of dollars flowing into political groups are highlighting not just the scale of donations from corporation and unions but also the secrecy surrounding 'super PACs' seeking to influence the presidential race."
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How "Occupy Our Homes" Can Win
Amy Dean, Truthout: "Since most of the original Occupy encampments were evicted by wintertime, the question now is, what's next for activists? One of the most popular suggestions is 'Occupy Our Homes,' a campaign in which occupiers around the country would do actions at foreclosed houses or at bailed-out banks that are throwing people out of their homes."
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On the News With Thom Hartmann: Indiana Becomes First Right-to-Work State in Ten Years, and More
In today's On the News segment: Indiana became the first state in ten years to become right to work, Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to extend the pay freeze for federal workers, 2012 might be the year for marijuana legalization, the size of the so-called terrorist no-fly list more than doubled last year, and more.
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Taliban Captives Dispute US View on Afghanistan War
Rod Nordland and Alissa J. Rubin, The New York Times News Service: "More Taliban insurgents are being killed or captured than ever before, yet when the captives are interrogated by the American military, they remain convinced that they are winning the war."
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Bill Moyers | Six Films on the Financial Crisis (Video)
Bill Moyers, Moyers & Co.: "Given a theme as dramatic and consequential as America's financial collapse, many filmmakers have risen to the challenge of going behind the headlines to tell important stories and make critical points that need to be shared if we're to learn anything from the crisis. Below are some of those important movies and documentaries. Please share your own favorite financial-themed films in the comments below."
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John Pilger | The Assange Case Means That We Are All Suspects Now
John Pilger, Truthout: "This week's Supreme Court hearing in the Julian Assange case has profound meaning for the preservation of basic freedoms in Western democracies. This is Assange's final appeal against his extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual misconduct that were originally dismissed by the chief prosecutor in Stockholm and constitute no crime in Britain."
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Pentagon Solutions: Slices of Change Could Save Billions
Dina Rasor, Truthout: "Fueled by yearly budgets of over half a trillion dollars, it would be expected that there would be some people taking advantage of the situation to enrich themselves. However, the Pentagon bureaucracy, the Congress and the executive branch have tolerated or promoted so much collusion between the DoD and their contractors that it is now just part of doing business, with few willing to attempt to reform it."
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Four Reasons to Watch the Super Bowl: Joe Hill, Joe Pa, Tebow, Wee Brains
Robert Lipsyte, TomDispatch: "Most Americans won't need a justification to watch Sunday's game, but if you're a TomDispatch.com reader you might think, even in passing, that celebrating the holiest day of violence, consumerism, and class warfare on your couch is a betrayal of your values or a waste of your time. You might even imagine that it would be better to take a hike, read a book, or meditate. Not this Sunday, buster. It's an election season. You need to watch this game to fully understand how jobs, religion, leadership, and healthcare dominate every American contest."
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Programming Note: How Do Conservatives and Liberals See the World?
Bill Moyers, Moyers & Co.: "This weekend's Moyers & Company asks the question: How do conservatives and liberals see the world? There's more to the answer than meets the eye. Our country is more politically polarized than ever. Is it possible to agree to disagree and still move on to solve our massive problems?"
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Given the daily lacerating commentaries on BuzzFlash at Truthout, you might not suspect that we have a sentimental side. Although, admittedly, there is a political/"social values" angle to our soft spot for the Obama marriage.

If you knew the gossip around the Illinois State Legislature when Obama served there, his name was never heard in the daily whispers about sexual dalliances - in a town (Springfield, Illinois) where a very large number of elected officials abide by the rule that "what happens in Springfield stays in Springfield." That's pretty much the case for most state capitals - and Washington, DC. For awhile, I spent many days there during Obama's time in the State Senate, so I know of what I speak.

Barack Obama, who also participated in several media events I was involved in, was not known to be "on the make." Most of the times I encountered him, he was reading a background paper, a book or a newspaper - and often smoking a cigarette if the event were outdoors.

I've been with politicians who send aides to get phone numbers of attractive women, or hand out their cards to their amorous "targets" with a wink. But Obama was not one of them, not by a stretch.

I bring this up because a reader sent BuzzFlash a YouTube clip composed of photographs of the Obamas showing sparks of love between them, accompanied by Aretha Franklin singing, "I'll Say a Little Prayer for You." Some might view it as a bit mawkish, but it brings home a point.

The first "First Couple" in memory that appears to have a committed, monogamous love that glows at times - and are attentive, loving parents - are vilified by a large segment of the American population who extol alleged "family values."

Recently, I came across a pre-Florida primary article, in which the reporter quoted a couple of supporters of Newt Gingrich. One woman who was going to vote for Gingrich said that he shared her "family values." Too bad the reporter didn't follow up by asking, "In what possible way?"

When you have a large segment of the American electorate wrapped in a bubble of delusion about what constitutes "family values;" when that delusion is largely based on self-appointing oneself a fundamentalist Christian and assuming white entitlement, then the result is a paradox. You have a couple - and family - who are not white being assumed not to have "family values," while a serial adulterer and philanderer is identified as extolling "family values."

This is dangerous to society because it represents how reality becomes perverted by those who see society and government through racial and so-called "social values" blinders. The other day, BuzzFlash touched upon how this emerges in symbolic flash points, such as the Jan Brewer "finger in President Obama's face" moment on a Phoenix airport tarmac.

BuzzFlash at Truthout has not been uncritical of many decisions made by the Obama administration - to say the least. But the Obamas, as a couple and a family, are the real thing.

It is unfortunate for democracy that so many white Americans believe that "family values" are limited by skin color.

Mark Karlin,
Editor of BuzzFlash at Truthout

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Read the Article at The Washington Post

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Read the Article at Reuters

The Tangled Web of Newt Gingrich's Alliances
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John Boehner: Time for Government to Stop Helping Homeowners
Read the Article at The Huffington Post

Health Care Reform Was Tea Party's First Defeat
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Why Florida Was a Dangerous Test Case for Romney's General Election Prospects
Read the Article at Talking Points Memo

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