There is a good interview at Alternet with Noam Chomsky which is almost a must-read. Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus at MIT and a political thinker who the NYT called “the most important intellectual in America,” is probably the most influential political influence in my own personal development as a politico. I cannot recommend his books enough. In this interview he goes over his own anarcho-syndicalist beliefs, his own theoretical model of “manufacturing consent,” and his advice for college students among other things. If you are smart at all you will read this interview and, immediately afterward, go buy at least 5 of Dr. Chomsky’s books.
Month: May 2013
FBI Nominee Comey Involved in Bush-Era Crimes
Glenn Greenwald at The Guardian is on point, as usual, writing about how Pres. Obama’s nominated FBI head James Comey was involved in Bush administration’s NSA eavesdropping and torture rulings. Yet, it seems as if nobody cares.
Syria Receives Anti-Aircraft Missiles from Russia; Israel Denounces Shipment
The NYT reports that the Syrian government has reported to having procured S-300 anti-aircraft missile system from Russia. This has been a hot topic in the Middle East because Israel says the possession of the missile system is a perceived threat for they may end up in Hezbollah’s hands (Hezbollah receives most of their arms by Syria and through Syria by their main backers, Iran). The story further reports that according to a top Israeli official that the weapons are not just for defensive purposes but may be used to fire into Israel. But it’s this authors opinion that the Israelis are more afraid of threats to their free-reign of airspace across Syria and Lebanon than fired missiles into Israeli controlled territory.
New Cleric Fav Predicted to Win Iranian Presidential Election
A presidential candidate is emerging in Iran that is even more conservative than Ahmadenijad. This article in the NYT reports how Saeed Jalili, with his expressed views very similar to those of head cleric Khamenei, is predicted to obtain 30% of the vote which would lead to a run-off election for president their. What does this mean for the possibility of future talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear ambitions should Jalili wins? And what does this mean for a possible democratic revolution that the Iranian people seemed to be on the verge of following the last presidential election which seemed to be fixed?
Greenwald: “I Don’t Support Terror”
A great op-ed by Glenn Greenwald in The Guardian that is a must read. He defends himself and others against accusations that they are terror apologists and how this point of view is just a ridiculous lack logic and a propagandist’s tactics.
$4 Billion to West Bank for Bridging Peace in Israel/West Bank
A good article in The Post about a proposition from Sec. of State Kerry pledging a $4 billion stimulus package for the depressed West Bank in an effort to restart the peace process in Israel. Also, the article goes into some good issues also at stake in the stalled talks.
Effects of Gitmo Detention
A good article by Letta Tayler at Salon.com based around the story of a Yemeni family whose father is a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The man was determined to be a non-threat to the U.S. in 2006 and yet he sits in his cell only allowed a 30 minute webcam meeting once every 2 months with his family. The article also goes into a good amount of analysis regarding drone strikes and how they kill civilians which serves as a recruitment tool for terrorist groups.
Capitalist Reforms in China
Good article in the NYT about how the Chinese government released a new directive calling for more capitalistic reforms in the Communist nation in an effort to increase innovation and grow the middle class. These are the biggest reforms in a decade for China and we will have to see how the economy will react.
Obama’s New Drone Policy
Yesterday, Pres. Obama outlined a new policy for using drone attacks across the Middle East that will be more transparent, more involved by Congress, and less prolific across the board. Here’s a good article on this topic in the NYT. The article also goes on to outline Obama’s new policies on Gitmo and relieving us from a constant war footing here in the U.S. regarding terror.
Drone Attacks Receive Analysis Today in NYT
A good article in the NYT on various things regarding the drone strike policy. Pres. Obama plans to lay out new architecture of usage in speech today, drone strikes have decreased from 2010 on, and quotes from high-ranking critics are also included in the piece. Must read.
Sparking The Left 