The American Media, its Geopolitics, and Erdogan

It is truly amazing to watch the coverage of the fallout from the Turkish coup. It's fairly obvious the US Establishment supported the coup effort as Erdogan is made the arch-villain. There's real anger directed against him. All the focus is on him and his crackdown. What do you expect him to do? Of course he's purging the system. He's trying to avoid a repeat which he knows is coming.

Trump's Dangerous Antics

Trump isn't just anti-Establishment or reformist, he's anti-social, his antics and behaviour run the risk of unraveling society.

Statistics Regarding Police Deaths

Consider what you hear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers_killed_in_the_line_of_duty

Those who are hysterical about the number of police deaths are not telling the whole truth. The current reports about a huge spike are misleading.

The Brexit and the Balkans

This is an important but missed story related to the Brexit and the status of the EU. As Brussels is in a state of semi-turmoil, negotiations surrounding EU membership for Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, Serbia and Macedonia will certainly be delayed if not thrown into question. This is despite public assurances to the contrary.

Faux News Shakeup

Is it a great shock that Roger Ailes has been exposed as a deviant and a lecher? From its inception FOX news has been about appealing to the anger and lust of white American men. The channel has always utilised bimbo-types to appeal to the audience. This is the legacy of Ailes, an old master manipulator-strategist who helped Nixon to get elected. Audiences are ignorant dupes to be manipulated and Ailes was good at it.

Day 3 Drama at the RNC

Though Ted Cruz's speech at the RNC was full of lies, myths and distortions I have to say it took some chutzpah to show up, work the audience into a state of Right-wing ecstasy and then refuse to endorse Trump.

On the Death of Sydney Schanberg

Known for his reporting on the Bangladesh Genocide and War of Independence, but most famous for his reporting on Cambodia's Killing Fields, Schanberg was haunted by firsthand experience of the evils of human nature and the fallout of imperialist policy and wars.

A False Coup Pinned on the Deep State?

In the Byzantine world of Turkish politics this interpretation was inevitable... the suggestion that the coup itself was fake. It was an attempt by Erdogan to consolidate power.

The Dystopian Moment

Newt Gingrich wants to curtail free speech and expand government surveillance. The implications of his statements are staggering. He's advocating religious tests. The government will judge the nuances of your belief system. If the Christian Right and their Right-wing allies every gained absolute power, how long before 'heretics' like me would face their wrath and reading websites like this one would be illegal?

Media Coverage of the Turkish Coup

Tonight while watching the coverage on France24, SkyNews, BBC and elsewhere the anchors continuously speak with Establishment connected analysts, ex-bureaucrat-apparatchiks, and Wall Street and Washington connected think-tank operatives. It's been very frustrating.

Is Erdogan in Control?

Sadly (for me) I wrote this on 7 July 2016 but had not published it...

With regard to Erdogan and the confusion over Turkish policy and tactics I think the question must be asked.... Does Turkish President Erdogan control his military?

Texaco, Fascism and the US Establishment

Adam Hochschild has written a new book about the Spanish Civil War and the role played by Americans in the conflict on both the Left and Right. In particular he provides some very interesting and (for some) enlightening information about Texaco under Chairman Torkild Rieber who sold oil to and supported both Franco and Hitler throughout the 1930's.

Brexit: The End of Atlanticism?

This is precisely what the US did not want to see. While Germany has all but subjugated itself to US domination, and in recent years this has been amplified by the so-called War on Terror and the move toward a police state, Berlin (as well as Paris) long for some independence and ability to call their own shots.

Teary Blair

Tony Blair won't be going to The Hague to face charges at the ICC. He needn't fear that but I thought it interesting that he teared up while interacting with the press.

Is he genuinely remorseful about the Iraq War and the fact that the Chilcot Report has found him at fault in leading the country into a war on false pretenses?

The Truth About the War

As the years pass I am increasingly burdened by the quantity and volume of lies that are perpetrated in the world. Truly it is a world of deception and manipulation. I think the reality and burden of this is something that comes with age as the whole of your knowledge and experience begin to weigh on you.

Or perhaps it is indeed getting worse out there. I'm not sure.

Corbyn Won't Go... No General Election for Now

The Conservative Party (and perhaps the larger Establishment) is trying to avoid a general election. By Cameron stepping down they've created a situation in which a no-confidence vote seems out-of-sync with transpiring events. The No-Confidence vote would force a snap election.

This would allow Corbyn or whoever leads Labour to have a shot at the majority and the position of prime minister. The Right-wing within Labour tried to oust Corbyn but he's being intransigent and refuses to back down.

Good News out of Norway

Once again I must say that I'm not a fan of HSLDA, or a member, but I do receive their emailed newsletters. We homeschool our children and HSLDA is a sometimes helpful, though not always candid, source of information.

There's Something Rotten in Istanbul... and Pennsylvania

Why isn't ISIS claiming responsibility for the Istanbul airport attack?

Perhaps because they're not responsible.

I realise that's not an acceptable position to voice but considering the circumstances one must question the official narrative.

ISIS has not claimed responsibility. Why not? Usually they're quite eager to lay claim to attacks, even if (like in Orlando) they had nothing (operationally) to do with it.

The Death of a Giant, the Passing of a Generation

I often have disagreed with Elie Wiesel but I cannot help but respect him. I cannot fully fathom what he endured and long ago I was moved by his story and his writings. His death is but another reminder of that passing generation that grew up in what must seem to them a different world.

The Trump Express

There have been rumblings for some time but they're starting to grow a little louder.

Is Donald Trump for real?

Personally I don't care but I find it interesting because so many Christians have bought into his vision and have embraced him. Much could be said about that but what if in the end, he's just a fraud?

Well, we know he's a fraud and always has been. But what if his whole candidacy is a fraud?

Tragic Deaths in the Levant: Some Matter and Some Don't

The recent death of an Israeli teenage girl in a West Bank settlement is tragic. It was a dastardly and reprehensible act.

What is more tragic is the way in which Western and particularly Christian media cover the event.