On COI #682, Kyle Anzalone breaks down the latest news from Russia and Israel.
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The Israeli Government Must Be Stopped
The Israeli government has been dragging Western weapons and militaries into wars for far too long, putting all of the world — and its global institutions — at risk. The move into Lebanon, creating more dead, injured, traumatized, and homeless already in huge numbers ought to snap some war supporters out of their trance.
The danger of a catastrophic war on Iran that is joined by the United States and NATO on one side, and additional nations on the other, looms horrifically on the horizon.
Israel Again Accused of Illegally Using White Phosphorus in Lebanon
Israeli forces were accused Tuesday of the war crime of firing white phosphorus artillery munitions over populated areas of southern Lebanon as Israel escalates an assault on its northern neighbor that has killed or wounded thousands of people.
Video footage published on social media and reported by Middle East Eye shows distinctive explosions that appear consistent with the use of white phosphorus rounds over civilian areas of southern Lebanon, including the village of Kfar Kila.
While white phosphorus munitions are not completely prohibited under international law, their use in populated areas is forbidden. White phosphorus round are primarily used to create smokescreens. However, when used as an incendiary weapon, white phosphorus – which ignites on contact with air and burns at nearly 1,500°F (815°C) – can maim and kill by burning flesh straight through to the bone, often causing a slow, agonizing death. Water does not extinguish it.
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Struggling Peace Tree: In Russia and America
As the drumbeats of war are sounding loud and the warmongering rhetoric has gotten shrill, a group of Russian and American activists assembled in downtown Moscow to replant once again the symbolic US-Russia friendship birch tree that was initially planted nine years ago but had to be replaced several times due to their inability to survive. Some say it is due to the severe weather, and some, with a sense of humor, believe it is due to the toxic atmosphere in the relations between the two countries when the tree, as a living organism, feels it.
The first tree was planted on April 24, 2015, on the eve of the 70th Anniversary of the historical “Elbe River” meeting of the American and Soviet military, which became a symbolic event of their joint victory over Nazi Germany. The ceremony took place with the active participation of the US Embassy in Moscow. Then Ambassador John F. Tefft was a diplomat of the old “search for compromise” school, which had since been replaced by “rules-based international order” diplomacy, meaning U.S. world leadership, another word for “hegemony.”
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Conflicts of Interest: Iranian Missiles Penetrate Israel’s Iron Dome
On COI #681. Kyle Anzalone breaks down the Iranian missile attack on Israel.
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Veterans Call for Criminal Indictment of Anthony Blinken
A national veterans’ organization today called for a grand jury to indict Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew, for lying to Congress, violating the Export Control Act, the Genocide Prevention Act and the U.S. War Crimes Act.
In a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice, Veterans For Peace (VFP) cited published reports showing that internal DOS emails and the statements of two senior State Department officials showed Blinken lied when he issued his “Report to Congress” stating, “…we do not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance.” (p. 32)
ProPublica revealed a series of State Department emails, internal memos and meeting notes in which officials agreed Israel was blocking humanitarian aid which should trigger Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act which prohibits weapons shipments to any country the President has been told is blocking humanitarian aid.
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