(2021-08-23). After Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, Is It Credible to Trust the Intel Agencies on Wuhan? counterpunch.org "Surely, President Biden, you must be joking"! On May 26, these words should have poured forth from the White House Press Corps and the mainstream Commentariat when Joe Biden declared that he was placing the question of Covid-19's origins securely in the hands of the "National Intel Agencies." They were to report back in 90
(2021-08-23). Biden's Botched Withdrawal From Afghanistan is Consistent With Two Decades of America's Missteps There. counterpunch.org President Joe Biden is under a tremendous amount of pressure from his own Democratic Party and the liberal media establishment for daring to withdraw American troops from Afghanistan and allowing the country to fall back into the hands of the fundamentalist Taliban regime. Biden, in a statement on August 14, said, "One more year, or
(2021-08-23). The Weekly Round-Up: Afghanistan, disability equality, and unregulated accommodation. ukhumanrightsblog.com 
In the news: On 15 August the Taliban took control of Kabul, following the collapse of the Afghan government and its President Ashraf Ghani fleeing the country. In a news conference, a Taliban spokesman said women would be allowed to work and have rights "within the framework of Islam". The Taliban also said it wanted …
(2021-08-23). The Taliban's Resurgence Was Years in Making & Aided by Trump, Who Sidelined Afghan Gov't in Talks. democracynow.org 
Concern is growing over a broader humanitarian crisis across Afghanistan as people continue to crowd the Kabul airport to flee after the Taliban takeover of the country. The World Health Organization says about one-half of Afghanistan's population, including nearly 10 million children, already need humanitarian assistance, and the numbers are expected to soar as Afghanistan's economic crisis intensifies. The Taliban is now under intense pressure, says Emran Feroz, an Austro-Afghan journalist and author. "They know that any kind of Afghan state in future will be dependent on foreign money, which includes American…
(2021-08-23). Boris Johnson Will Plead With Biden To Delay Withdrawal, As Taliban Warn Not To Prolong It. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | UK Prime Minister plans to personally plead with Joe Biden to extend a deadline for US troops leaving Afghanistan to allow more people to flee the "reign of terror" of the Taliban. | The prime minister will use an emergency G7 summit of the world's most powerful leaders to appeal to the president to delay the August 31st deadline. | Biden signalled he could be willing to bow to demands for an extension, revealing discussions were already under way and saying he…
(2021-08-23). Headlines for August 23, 2021. democracynow.org Chaos and Desperation Reign at Kabul Airport as Afghans Try to Evacuate Taliban Takeover, Taliban Leader Arrives for Talks in Kabul as Afghans Demand Security and Jobs, U.S. Tops 1,000 Daily COVID-19 Deaths for First Time Since March, Sri Lanka Locks Down for 10 Days Amid Worst COVID-19 Surge of Pandemic, India and Taiwan Roll Out Domestically Produced COVID Vaccines Despite Lack of Trial Data, Death Toll from Tennessee Flash Floods Rises to 22; Hurricane Grace Kills at Least 8 in Mexico, More Than 50 Feared Dead After Boat Carrying Refugees Capsizes En Route to Canary Islands, UNICEF Says Fighting in Syria Is In…
(2021-08-23). Car Bomb Explosion Rocked Town Of Azaz In Syria's Aleppo (Video). southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | On August 23rd, an explosion took place in the town of Aazaz, in the Syrian province of Aleppo. According to preliminary data, a car bomb explosion injured at least seven civilians. | The town of Azaz is under control of Turkish-backed militant groups, which operate in the northern part of Aleppo province. It regularly suffers from terrorist attacks carried out within "democratic competition" for power between Turkish proxies. |
(2021-08-23). The Infrastructure Plan Is a Return to What We Need from Government. progressive.org Though the Biden Administration has carried forward some of Trump's worst policies, investing in infrastructure breaks with forty years of Reagan-style cuts to public services.
(2021-08-23). The Biggest Gamble of Nancy Pelosi's Life. truthout.org 
The final act of a showdown between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine rebellious "moderate" House Democrats is coming to a head this week, as the chamber barrels toward a procedural vote that will either forward or doom President Biden's $4 trillion infrastructure/budget plan. If the plans pass the procedural vote, the infrastructure and budget bills will be drafted over the course of many weeks. If the procedural vote goes down, it may be damn near political Armageddon for the Biden administration and the Democrats in genera…
(2021-08-23). Primary Challenger Hits Henry Cuellar for Trying to Tank Biden Agenda. commondreams.org
(2021-08-23). Georgia Republicans seek control over Atlanta-area elections as Democrats abandon defense of democratic rights. wsws.org The state government is invoking a newly passed law to take the first step in taking over election administration in the heavily Democratic county that includes Atlanta.
(2021-08-23). Peter Edelman: What Democrats Did to Welfare Is Coming Back to Haunt Them. scheerpost.com Lawyer and former member of the Clinton administration, Peter Edelman. [Georgetown University Law] | Click to subscribe on: A recent piece in the Washington Post titled "
(2021-08-23). What is Redistricting and Why Should We Care? aclu.org Redistricting is the process of drawing the lines of districts from which public officials are elected. When it's conducted fairly, it accurately reflects population changes and racial diversity, and is used by legislators to equitably allocate representation in Congress and state legislatures. When politicians use redistricting to manipulate the outcome of elections, however, it's called gerrymandering — a practice that undermines democracy and stifles the voice of voters. Voters should be picking their politicians. Not the other way around. | Sophia Lakin, Deputy Director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Pr…
(2021-08-23). "Threat to world order based on rules and principles": NATO demands Russia leave Crimea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Deputy Secretary General: NATO will never recognize annexation of Crimea "Ukrainians chose the path of freedom, democracy, and Euro-Atlantic integration, and NATO is completely on Ukraine's side. NATO condemns and will never recognize Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea. Crimea is the territory of Ukraine, and we call on Russia to return control over the peninsula …
(2021-08-23). Carbon Dividends Provide a Win-Win Solution for People and the Climate. commondreams.org If Democrats want to govern for a generation instead of winning one-off races by slim margins, we will need to mend the deep tears among the American electorate and reckon with the injustices that were sewn into the fabric of our flag.
(2021-08-23). 'Extreme Weather' Ads Target Democrats Defending Fossil Fuel Subsidies. commondreams.org America's liberal imperialist doctrine has been responsible for appalling carnage in places like Vietnam, Iraq, and Central America. But America has also produced a liberal anti-imperialist doctrine that remains ensconced in a TV series that has been captivating US audiences since 1966.
(2021-08-23). Morrison gov't pushes on religious discrimination bill. greenleft.org.au While the church hierarchy enjoys access to influence the federal govenrment on its Religious Freedom Bill, those wanting to stay democratic and secular, are left out in the cold. Suzanne James reports.
(2021-08-23). Proud Boys & Far-Right Groups Tied to Jan. 6 Attack Reporters & Others at Anti-Mask, Anti-Vax Rally. democracynow.org 
As COVID-19 cases surge in the United States, anti-mask and anti-vaccine protests are continuing nationwide, with some turning violent. In a shocking story out of California, at least one person was stabbed and two journalists were attacked while covering an anti-vaccine, anti-mask demonstration outside Los Angeles City Hall on Saturday, August 14. The protest was attended by members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing groups. A Southern California mortgage broker named Tony Moon, who also participated in the deadly January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was videotaped attacking the independent journalist…
(2021-08-23). Cal Recall Impacts Nation; Repub Elder's Anti-Pregnant Workers. indybay.org The Sept 14 Governor Recall will drag the US government and economy to the reactionary, economic deep hole of Nazi Trump if it succeeds. The Trump Republican Larry Elder wants female employees to be required to notify their employer when they plan to get pregnant. He is also anti-mask and anti-vaccine in this COVID19 pandemic. This is not about the Democrats; this is about our lives.
(2021-08-23). Buffalo's Democratic Establishment Still Trying to Defeat Socialist India Walton. commondreams.org "Once again, Rep. Cuellar has made clear that his priorities are serving his corporate donors—not the people of South Texas," said Jessica Cisneros, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Congress in Texas' 28th district.
(2021-08-23). How California's Top Democrats Paved the Way for a Republican Governor This Fall. indybay.org Looking out for the 1 percent…
(2021-08-23). Justice, Impoverishment and Fear. indybay.org The defense of the welfare state is the defense of democracy… | Democracy is as strong as it is fragile. It is strong when it is defended. It is strong when we do not allow ourselves to be fobbed off with answers that do not tolerate questions. But it disappears immediately when we have become indifferent to it.
(2021-08-23). Will Senate Democrats Stoop to Confirming Rahm Emanuel as Ambassador? commondreams.org While the pricing data is unlikely to lower costs, said one critic, it may help "produce the political will for real reform."
(2021-08-23). 'The Answer Is No': Taliban Reject Idea of US Extending Exit Deadline. commondreams.org "If those in power cannot handle actual democracy they should never have had it," said one critic.
(2021-08-23). Rev. Jesse Jackson And His Wife Are Hospitalized, Under Observation For Covid-19. moguldom.com Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife, Jacqueline, were hospitalized Saturday after testing positive for covid-19, according to a statement. The famous civil rights leader is 79 and his wife is 77. They are being treated at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The two remain hospitalized, but their son, Jonathan Jackson, told ABC7 the couple is responding …
(2021-08-23). Key 'Milestone' in Pandemic Fight as FDA Grants Full Approval to Pfizer's Covid Vaccine. commondreams.org "If you believe Black lives indeed matter, then the Senate must reject his appointment immediately," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib in response to the announcement.
(2021-08-23). Black Man In Tampa: My Child Has Covid Because Of FL Gov. DeSantis Mask Policy, Political Opportunism. moguldom.com Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has sparked a heated debate over mask mandates in school. He's opposed while many parents and educators who put the safety of children first are calling for masks. Last week, three Florida county school boards voted to require nearly all of their students to wear masks at school despite DeSantis's objections. In …
(2021-08-23). Republicans Rush to Squash Local Control in Fight Against COVID. truthout.org 
Not too long ago, there was a time when Republicans insisted that they were against Big Government and wanted to push it down as much as possible to local control. They extolled the virtues of town councils, school boards and community commissions for being close to the people and, therefore, more responsive to the needs of their constituents. Government officials were neighbors and co-workers and friends so they had a better chance of truly understanding the issues people care about. | But it was always…
(2021-08-22). The Endless Shadow of the War on Terror. tomdispatch.com It ended in chaos and disaster. Kabul has fallen and Joe Biden is being blamed (by congressional Republicans in particular) for America's now almost-20-year disaster in Afghanistan. But is the war on terror itself over? Apparently not. It seems like centuries ago, but do you remember when, in May 2003, President George W. Bush declared "Mission accomplished" as he spoke proudly of his invasion of Iraq? Three months later, Attorney General John Ashcroft proclaimed, "We are winning the war on terror." Despite such declarations and the "corners" endlessly turned as America's military commanders announced impending s…
(2021-08-22). US Scrambles To Hit Hard With "Soft" Power. popularresistance.org In keeping with President Joe Biden's pledge to withdraw from America's 20-year war in one of the poorest countries on earth, the U.S. government has yet to present any plan for future relations with Afghanistan, as it is reportedly scrambling to freeze Kabul's wealth for fears of it falling into the hands of the Taliban.
(2021-08-22). US Scrambles To Hit Hard With 'Soft' Power. popularresistance.org Washington — In keeping with President Joe Biden's pledge to withdraw from America's 20-year war in one of the poorest countries on earth, the U.S. government has yet to present any plan for future relations with Afghanistan, as it is reportedly scrambling to freeze Kabul's wealth for fears of it falling into the hands of the Taliban. | In the midst of the sudden collapse of Afghanistan's government and the subsequent return to power of the Taliban this Sunday, the U.S. troop presence at Afghanistan's Kabul Airport has reportedly increased to 4,500 strong, with a further increase planned to 6,000 in coming…
(2021-08-22). 'Paul Wolfowitz' Tells Newsmax The Afghanistan War Wasted Two Trillion Dollars. popularresistance.org NewsmaxTV today allowed a fake Paul Wolfowitz to spend 11 minutes telling its hundreds of thousands of viewers that the $2.1T war in Afghanistan, begun by his administration in 2001, was a complete waste of money. "The next time we have two trillion dollars lying around, let's spend it on something useful like health care or education," said "Wolfowitz" to Tom Basile, live on the air. | Here below is a partial transcript of the interview. For more on the interview and its fallout, visit www.theyesmen.org/newsmax. | Tom, there's been a lot of focus on how Biden ended this war in Afghanistan, and on what we have to…
(2021-08-22). Biden Can Avoid Being Defined by Afghanistan If He Learns the Lessons of History. truthout.org 
Earlier this month, I compared Joe Biden to John F. Kennedy, who salvaged his image after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 by admitting his mistake — and How quickly things change. Thanks to the rap…
(2021-08-22). Nasrallah: Afghanistan is worst debacle in US history, Biden hopes for civil war. southfront.org 
Click to see full-size image | Speech by Hezbollah Secretary General, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, on August 17, 2021, on the occasion of the commemoration of the 9th night of Ashura, two days before the martyrdom of Imam Hussein. | Source: Translation: Transcript: | […] My last point is Afghanistan, which I quickly mentioned before. What is happening in…
(2021-08-22). Ilhan Omar's Genuine Progress Indicator Act: An Important Step for Sustainability. commondreams.org More Afghan-like tragedies will be inevitable until we squeeze the personal profit out of prepping for war.
(2021-08-22). Two New Turkish Drone Strikes Hit Northeastern Syria, SDF Blames Russia (Videos). southfront.org 
Bayrakdar TB2 UCAV, source: ssb.gov.tr | Turkish combat drone continue to target areas held by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria's northeastern region. | Late on August 21, a drone strike targeted a mini truck as it was passing on a road to the east of the town of Kobane in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo. The mini truck received a direct hit. However, the munition didn't explode, most likely as a result of a technical failure. | The Hawar News Agency claimed that the mini truck is owned…
(2021-08-22). Sports Boycotts & Apartheid. counterpunch.org 
During this summer's Tokyo Olympics, Algerian Fethi Nourine was slated to battle Israeli Tohar Butbul in judo. Before the bout, Nourine withdrew in protest of Israeli policies, expressing support for Palestinians. "We worked a lot to reach the Olympics but the Palestinian cause is bigger than all of this," Days later a…
(2021-08-22). Tragedy in Saigon, Farce in Kabul. orinocotribune.com By Radhika Desai — Aug 14, 2021 | As President Joe Biden scrambles to get U.S. personnel out of Kabul before it falls to the Taliban, the media resound with Saigon analogies. In 1975, the U.S. had to conduct the largest helicopter evacuation to save its personnel from the advancing North Vietnamese. The analogy evokes Karl Marx's words, "Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel remarks somewhere that all great world-historic facts and personages appear, so to speak, twice. He forgot to add: the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce." | The U.S.'s Vietnam tragedy unfolded from the contradictions of a self-delu…
(2021-08-22). America's Merchants of Death Then — and Now. commondreams.org New polling shows strong backing for President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw troops.
(2021-08-22). Elliott Abrams: If Opposition Decides to Reform or Eliminate 'Interim Government,' We Must Support It. orinocotribune.com The alleged "interim government" of Juan Guaidó is becoming more and more lonely in its abstentionist stand. The "special envoy" of the United States for Venezuela during Donald Trump's administration, Elliott Abrams, stressed that the US government should support the Venezuelan opposition if it decides to participate in the regional elections on November 21. | "If the democratic forces in Venezuela decide to participate in the elections, we [the United States] must support them and vigorously organize international pressure to force Maduro to fulfill the promises he has made on electoral conditions," Abrams said…
(2021-08-22). Sanders Traveling to Pitch $3.5 Trillion Spending Plan to Working Americans. zcomm.org "While it will have no Republican support in Washington, Democrats, Independents, and working-class Republicans all over the country support our plan to finally invest in the long-neglected needs of working families"
(2021-08-22). It's Not Just Manchin: Top House Energy Democrat Also Has Fossil Fuel Conflicts. truthout.org 
This article was produced by Amid the mounting climate emergency, the House Democrat who chairs the committee overseeing energy policy benefits from investments in large U.S. greenhouse gas polluters. Environmen…
(2021-08-22). Ethical human rights are a Great Idea whose time has begun. indybay.org Not all countries want democracy. Rather than confrontation between a democratic coalition and totalitarianism it would be better if the superpowers, in particular, adopt ethical human rights.
(2021-08-22). Thursday 8/19: "Is Nancy Pelosi Addicted– to War?" indybay.org Nancy Pelosi's house, 2640 Broadway, in Pacific Heights, San Francisco…
(2021-08-22). If California Governor Is Replaced With Republican, Senate Could Swing to GOP. truthout.org 
There's a good chance that California — a solidly blue state — will get a right-wing Republican governor as a result of the September 14 recall election. If Gov. Gavin Newsom is recalled, the health, civil rights and future of Californians — and people across the country — will be profoundly threatened. It is also possible that Newsom's defeat could change the balance of power in the U.S. Senate, since the next California governor may be in a position to appoint a sena…
(2021-08-22). Sarasota rally for climate, care jobs demands $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. liberationnews.org 
Sarasota activists urge Vern Buchanan to pass the full economic recovery plan that invests in climate justice, new jobs and the care economy.