Ron Paul blasts Obama for killing Americans

Source: RT

Presidential hopeful Ron Paul has publically attacked the Obama administration’s abolishment of due process in a new editorial, calling the move a turning point in American history.

Responding to Attorney General Eric Holder’s recent justification for the extrajudicial killings of three American citizens on foreign soil, Republican Party candidate Ron Paul has penned a scathing op-ed condemning the White House for circumventing the US Constitution. Earlier this month Holder spoke at Chicago’s Northwestern Law School to discuss last year’s execution of alleged terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki and two other US-born clerics in Yemen, a decision he says the White House still defends despite criticism from citizens and lawmakers alike. 

Although both US President Barack Obama and the CIA signed off on the airstrike that killed the American citizens, Washington has been relatively quiet on the matter until Holder spoke earlier this month. 

After Attorney General Holder justified the assassination of Americans, a congressional inquiry revealed that Robert Mueller, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, wasn’t certain that the same laws could be applied to killing Americans on US soil. With the FBI and Oval Office both hiding behind vague verbiage to allow the assassination of their own citizens, Ron Paul is critiquing what he calls a complete disregard of the Constitution.

“It is particularly bizarre to hear the logic of the administration claiming the right to target its citizens according to some secret selection process, when we justified our attacks against Iraq and Libya because their leaders supposedly were targeting their own citizens,” writes Rep. Paul. “We also now plan a covert war against Syria for the same reason.”

Damascus Terror Blasts Prove Outside Forces at Work in Syria

Source: Corbett Report

The Syrian opposition leaders are admitting some foreign governments are sending weapons to the rebels. Independent journalist James Corbett believes those outside forces have no thoughts about humanitarian aid and are only concerned with regime change.

Man on Moon and Mars landing: Russia Space Plans Unveiled

Source: RT


Russian probes will visit Mars, Jupiter and Venus, while Russian cosmonauts will set foot on the surface of the Moon -- all by 2030. At least according to the plans of the country's space agency.

Military Attack Against Syria Without Congressional Approval Could Lead To Obama’s Impeachment

Source: RT


‘Impeach Obama’ Bill: Use of military without Congress approval ‘high crime’

An American military attack on Syria could effectively lead to the impeachment of President Barack Obama. Congressmen say that any war without congressional authorization would be “unconstitutional”.

Republican Representative Walter B. Jones Jr. has come up with a resolution demanding Obama’s impeachment in case his administration starts another military action without the approval of Congress. This came as a reaction to the American Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announcing that in order to carry out the offensive, the US military needs permission from the UN and NATO alone. 

Jones’s resolution states that the prime authority to rule on the attack is the US Congress, not international bodies, be it NATO or UN. 

“Expressing the sense of Congress that the use of offensive military force by a president without prior and clear authorization of an Act of Congress constitutes an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor under Article II, Section 4 of the constitution,” Jones’s resolution said. 

In an exchange which occurred at a session of the Senate Armed Services Committee, US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that in case the Obama administration decides to strike Syria, it would merely “inform” Congress after the decision has been made. 

“Our goal would be to seek international permission and we would come to the Congress and inform you and determine how best to approach this,” Panetta said. “Whether or not we would want to get permission from the Congress, I think those are issues I think we would have to discuss as we decide what to do here.”

Responding to Panetta, Republican Senator Jeff Sessions said he was “breathless” to hear the statement.

Eleven Killed as Israel Strikes Gaza Overnight

Source: RT

At least 11 Palestinians, including two militant leaders, have been killed and a dozen wounded in a series of air strikes by the Israeli Air Force on the Gaza Strip. The attacks were launched in response to the shelling of Israeli territory from Gaza.

­A senior Palestinian militant Zuhair al-Qaisi, the secretary-general of the Popular Resistance Committees, was killed in the first strikes by Israeli warplanes, along with another senior member of the PRC, Mahmoud Hannani. The PRC, which has strong ties with Hamas, is known to have carried out rocket attacks against Israel, and the Israelis say al-Qaisi was targeted because he was planning an attack.

In response to the attack that killed al-Qaisi Palestinian militants fired approximately 40 rockets from Gaza into southern Israel on Friday night. Israeli sources say at least eight people suffered injuries in the shelling, one of whom was seriously wounded.

The IAF then performed another series of airstrikes on various targets in the Gaza strip on Friday night in response to these latest attacks. The latest airstrike killed three Palestinians after an Apache-fired rocket hit a house and a car, Al Jazeera reports, citing medical sources.

Three of those killed in the air raids reportedly belonged to a military wing of the Islamic Jihad, the Al-Quds Brigades.

Some of the targets of Israeli war jets included empty military training camps in different parts of Gaza Strip.

Thom interviews Rep. Dennis Kucinich

Source: RT

Thom talks with Rep. Dennis Kucinich following his primary defeat, and with actress Kristin Davis on her role with OXFAM America. In tonight's special Thursday edition of "Conversations with Great Minds" journalist and author Stephanie Cooke discusses the one year anniversary of Japan's Fukushima disaster.

Revolt Injection: 'Cash, Arms and Jihadists Fuel Syria War'

Source: RT

Syrian government forces have regained control of the Baba Amr district in Homs - which has been the main centre of armed resistance for almost a month. Washington says it'll keep up efforts to convince Russia and China to put pressure on President Assad and impose tougher sanctions against the Syrian regime. James Corbett - editor of the Japan-based independent news website the Corbett Report, says it's not developments within Syria, but international politics, that will shape the country's future.

'Total War State': US Introduces New Security Law

Source: RT

The National Defense Authorization Act, which will allow American authorities to detain US citizens indefinitely without trial, comes into effect Thursday. American film director Sean Stone told RT it's a step on the path towards “a total war state.”

­Stone says that instead of addressing domestic economic concerns, Washington is trying “to build a martial state, using Iran as the terrorist enemy or threat.” He adds that America is now “in a state of martial law.”

Stone went on to tell RT that the new legislation was passed in a dangerous time, when “Syria is being destabilized and Iran, on its border, is being threatened by Israel and America.” 

But another war abroad, Stone asserts, will bring tremendous consequences because, “if you attack Iran, Hezbolah and Hamas will unleash on Israel – which will bring America and potentially Russia into the equation.”

Putin Assassination Plan Foiled

Source: RT

Russian and Ukrainian intelligence services have foiled terrorist plans to assassinate Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Russia’s most-wanted terrorist Doku Umarov is thought to be behind the plot.

­The internationally-wanted criminals detained in Ukrainian city of Odessa confessed they had intended to assassinate Putin. The attack was supposed to be carried out in Moscow right after the presidential elections of March 4.

Detention of the alleged terrorists in Ukrainian city of Odessa (image from Channel One footage)

Engdahl: 'Greek Bailout Terms Remind of Hitler Epoch'

Source: RT

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is urging her lawmakers to support the new rescue package for Greece. This despite worries that Athens will need even more cash in the future, and suggestions from Germany's Interior Minister that it's time Greece left the Eurozone altogether. The 130-billion euro bailout was agreed in principle last week after months of tense discussions among the Eurozone leaders. Germany, as Europe's richest economy, has to contribute the majority towards it. But there is a sense of unease in Berlin that it will have to keep coughing up cash to prevent a Greek debt default. It's the second bailout in a little over 18 months would ensure Athens can pay its debtors for the time being. To discuss the possible outcome of this package, RT is joined by political analyst William Engdahl.

Drug War Profiteers Offer To Buy ALL State Owned Prisons In 48 States

Source: RT via MOX News

Michel Chossudovsky: "Al-Qaeda Was Created by the CIA"

Source: RT

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has offered a referendum for a new constitution that will put an end to a 50-year reign of a single party system. For several months the country has been torn apart by the al-Assad government and anti-government rebels and many critics believe al-Assad's referendum is too late. Many believe the people aren't looking for other political parties to vote for, but would like Bashar to be removed from office. According to some reports, the CIA and MI 6 have agents in their provoking conflict. Michel Chossudovsky, director for the Centre for Research on Globalization, joins us for more and gives us his thoughts.

Netanyahu Claims that Iran is 'Undermining' World Stability

Source: RT

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Iran of destabilizing the world alleging Tehran is behind the recent bombings in India and Thailand. But experts say Israel is just trying to manipulate public opinion.

"Iran's terror operations are now exposed for all to see," Netanyahu said on Wednesday. "Iran is undermining the world's stability and harming innocent diplomats. Countries must condemn Iran's terror acts and draw a red line." 

On Monday, a car bomb in an Israeli diplomat’s car in New Delhi injured four people. On the same day Georgian Special Forces defused a bomb targeting the Israeli embassy in Tbilisi. 

On Tuesday a number of blasts shook Bangkok injuring four people.

Israel was quick to blame Iran of the attacks, but Tehran denies any involvement.

Ali Rizk, an expert on Middle East affairs, thinks Israel is “taking advantage of these events whoever might be behind them.”

“What they [Israel’s authorities] are trying to do is to prepare public opinion or gain public support for an air strike,” he explained, adding that “it is very clear that Iran cannot be behind such an attack.”

West May Strike Iran By Summer: Russian Military Chief

Source: RT

Russia’s top military boss says an attack against Iran, which the west suspects of developing nuclear weapons, could begin as early as summer.

Thus far, tensions between Tehran and the west have been confined to the battlefield of heated rhetoric. Russia’s highest ranking military officer, however, predicts it may be just a matter of time before the verbal grenades get real.

The Russian General Staff is closely watching the situation, and is not ruling out the possibility of a coordinated attack on the Islamic Republic, General Nikolai Makarov, head of the Russian General Staff, told reporters on Tuesday.

Keiser Report: FBI vs Gold Standard 'Extremists'

Source: RT

In this episode, Max Keiser and co-host, Stacy Herbert, discuss the gold standard extremism and how your dollar got to be worth just 3.8 cents. In the second half of the show, Max talks to Francine McKenna of reTheAuditors.com about the crimes and illegitimate activity of the MF Global collapse.

Max Keiser: Financial Holocaust Looms as Germany Storms Greece

Source: RT

Protesters in Athens are clashing with police, some throwing stones and Molotov cocktails. Greece's coalition government managed to agree on a new austerity deal their creditors demanded.

But Eurozone finance ministers say they want to see concrete action before the second bailout worth 130 billion Euros can be handed over. The Greek Parliament is expected to vote on Sunday. But a junior coalition member says he will not back the new plan.

RT talks to Max Keiser, financial analyst and host of the Keiser Report.

SYRIA: PREVENTING WAR: NATO’s Objective is to turn Syria into Another Iraq, a Quagmire of Ethnic and Sectarian Violence

Source: RT

Prof. Igor Panarin

The reported “hundreds of Syrian activists” would have no particular reason or opportunity for being in Libya. Which means that the assault against the Russian diplomatic mission was a special operation pulled off by Western secret services. It is very reminiscent of the “stray” missile that hit the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia in 1999. The assault on the embassy is a blatant offense against Russia’s national security, which must be retaliated for adequately. 

NATO’s ultimate objective is most likely turning Syria into another Iraq: a quagmire of ethnic and sectarian violence, locked in endless terrorist warfare among feuding communities. Similarly to Iraq, Syria is also a patchwork nation with its own Sunni, Shia and Christian communities. The chaos that is very likely to follow an illegitimate deposition of the Assad government may claim hundreds of thousands of civilian lives.

Syria’s population is roughly equal to that of Iraq: 24 million. All these people are now hostages to a military gamble orchestrated by the same powers that have turned Iraq into a perpetual war zone.

In turn, Syria is also Russia’s last stand: the recent assault against the Russian embassy in Tripoli has demonstrated that Russia could also be on NATO's list of potential targets.

The Russo-Chinese veto in the UN Security Council effectively prevented a military operation against Syria. Writer and political scientist Igor Panarin believes France, Britain and the US have increased pressure against Moscow following the vote.

In the article below, professor Igor Panarin explains his view.­­­­

Moscow and Beijing have been absolutely reasonable in their concerns about a possible “Libya scenario” being imposed on Syria. A similar UN Security Council resolution on Libya triggered a NATO military operation in support of an armed coup in that country, which resulted in the toppling of a legitimate government. Notably, even with Muammar Gaddafi deposed and killed, there is still no stability in Libya to this day. Not to mention all the Libyan civilians killed by NATO air strikes – something the leaders in London, Paris and Washington are reluctant to admit.

Congress Opens US Airspace for Drones

Source: RT

The US Congress has just passed the bill that allows private and commercial use of drones. This entails lots of questions as the aircraft that until now have been used solely by the military and intelligence is now available for an average citizen. How this bill's implementation could harm your privacy and safety is one of the main concerns. To talk more about the implications of the bill, Scott Norton of Harper's Magazine joins RT's Liz Wahl.

US Presidential Candidates Owned by Corporations

Source: RT


The United States Supreme court's passing of Citizens United has changed the political game. Citizens United allows corporations to pump endless quantities of money into political campaigns and prohibiting any American from doing so would be an obstruction of the first amendment. Chris Hedges, columnist with Truth Dig, tells us why he thinks voting is a dying practice.

Syria: White House Preaches Peace as Pentagon Prepares for War

Source: RT

The White House is saying “no” to arming opposition and other military involvement in the Syrian conflict – for the moment. Pentagon and US Central Command launched a review of US military capabilities in case that “no” turns a “yes.”

­The backdoor for military action was ajar with State Department, spokesman Victoria Nuland saying that US never takes any option off the table, even though they “don't think more arms into Syria is the answer." It appears the Pentagon has a similar view, as it has reportedly launched a full-scale review of its available military might.

Two senior administration officials told CNN that “options are being prepared in the event President Barack Obama was to call for them.” Support for opposition groups and outright military strikes are among the options being looked at.

This type of planning exercise is typical for the Pentagon, which would not want to be in the position of not having options for the president, if and when they are asked for, both officials told CNN. One of them called the effort a “scoping exercise,” with Pentagon looking into what capabilities are available given other US military commitments in the region.