As a US Citizen, nothing would make me happier than for this to happen. Being the biggest bully on the planet does the average American citizen no good, none whatsoever. Perhaps if this insanity ended, the people of this nation could reap the benefits of not trying to conquer, rule and police the entire world. We all realize that the world would be better off. Imagine what could be done for the people of the USA with the Trillions of taxpayer dollars currently wasted on the Military Spending, Foreign Aid, Covert Activities and the rest of the Bull Shit we are currently paying for. I do not think I am the only American who feels this way.
Yes, Jenny—especially in education. The federal government effectively seized control from the states in the late 1970s, and that’s when the “dumbing down” began. I was educated before that shift. We learned to read, write, do math—and, more importantly, we were taught critical thinking and logic. That’s gone now.
What worries me most is that when things truly fall apart, it’s the younger generation that will suffer the worst. Most of them have no idea how to think independently, how to problem-solve, or even how to function without being told what to do. And the tragedy? They won’t even see it coming. They’ll have no idea what hit them.
Sadly, nothing will change until there’s a great fall—a hard, unavoidable reckoning. Only then might we see anything resembling real change.
I can tell that we were both educated "before that shift". I was lucky enough as a college educator to have the flexibility to be able to draw that experience into my courses, and engage students away from rote bullshit even in large classes; of course, the learners loved it, the lazy ones hated it. But that was also just pre-smartphone mania, You couldn't pay me enough to go back into a classroom today.
True story: A former business acquaintance of mine, an American CEO who flew his own small airplane to meetings, once asked me (this was in the 90's) if Iran had any airports!
I suspect the average American politician is even less informed.
IsRealHell conceived in 1904 with Theodor Herzl and Wilhelm II 1898, planned by the picot-sikes agreement 1916, approved by the Balfour Declaration 1917, with finial implementation with the Nakba 1948….. then there’s the redline agreement of 1928 and the Kirkuk–Haifa oil pipeline 1934 and now the Gaza Marine gas field 1999
Please expound. I currently don’t have the time to explain how the British, and US empires have schemed to control the world’s fossil fuels resources. Sikes-Picot and Balfour are a good start— and unknown to most Americans living today.
Many of the “treaties” to carve up the petroleum reserves were drawn up in secret, and not well-publicized in the USA.
If you have more time, perhaps you can explain about the dissection of the Levant as the spoils of war between the British and Ottoman Empires, and the creation of Saudi Arabia, and the creation of Kuwait upon an oilfield, and the relationships with Dubai and the UAE.
It may not be “ALL” about the oil, but I daresay it’s mostly about the oil, control about access to the oil and control of the fossil fuels prices. Most Americans are unaware because the mass media and public education system has deliberately not informed them.
1] That Iran has actually taken down Israeli/US F35s, as reported by Danny Haiphong.
2]That Iran has buried undamaged hypersonic missile production capability sufficient to pound and ultimately exhaust Israel's missile defenses, such that we can ultimately watch areas of Tel Aviv turned to bloody dust. And listen to VICTIM ISRAEL cry "civilians" after they've embedded military/intelligence sites in the midst of civilian populations.
I sincerely urge Europeans to resist the privatizers, the Black Rockers and other scumbags who think healthcare is a commodity. And I urge this on the basis of my experience as both a patient and biomedical scientist in the USA -- where the system is a disaster of pharmaceutical disease maintenance for maximal profit.
I had this idea that the French were well educated BUT it seems they are not. I do speak to French people daily and I am getting really sick of their comments. However I have GOOD friends here in France.
IF we could get shot of the OLD socialist Melanchon he is useless we may have a way forward.
MY best guess now is to vote Communist in the next elections but it won't happen.
The Russiaphobia here in France is..............deplorable.
I think Iran has just proven for the second time that the Iron Dome is far from impervious.
That Ignatius creep is trying to give Loomer a run for her money on flat-out idiotic bullshit. Who’s in “league” with Al-Qaeda & ISIS? Fairy-tale journalism at its finest, David! At least Loomer brings out her honest side now & again…like when she repeatedly & callously states her indifference to the plight of Palestinians.
Anyway, Israel looks to me to have bit off quite a bit more than it can chew.
Thank you. So good to see the rubble, hear the shock waves in Tel Aviv. And especially that Mike Huckabee had to run his fool ass into a shelter five times.
If the NY Times is showing multiple images of rubble in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, we know that part's true - hypersonic missiles are penetrating Zionazi air defenses. so IF Iran can saturate those defenses, they can inflict serious damage. The F35s?: I've heard from three sources, but awaiting Iran to show wreckage -- that's the ultimate confirmation.
I have my husband who knows about Military aircraft..........NOT brilliant on this BUT I do know from him that the 'aircraft in Israel) with their containerships bringing weapons to USA is almost dead.
The F35 is Shit. All show, no go! As we used to say in my racing days. Simply a way to extract $Billions from the taxpayers. I'm an American and ashamed say so in many ways. We once built great machines, those days are long gone.
Israel has also been ramping up their brutal settler-colonialism in the West Bank. Jane D & ShastaBetty I think you will appreciate this writer’s efforts as well:
Go for it Iran. Don't cower to the bullies . Wish the other adjacent countries would help but alas too cowardly. My thoughts are with you in what I hope will see the end of Israel as a country in the middle east.
A parallel criminal trial track and state of 'suspended animation' awaiting sentencing phases once exited from office to our own President Trump who has been found guilty on 34 counts of criminal fraud and corruption.
"Guilty: Trump becomes first former US president convicted of felony crimes"
" Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former president’s historic hush money trial but the fight over the case is far from over. Now comes the sentencing and the prospect of a prison sentence. The Associated Press’ Michael Sisak explains."
2 of 16 | "Donald Trump has been convicted in his New York hush money trial, a landmark jury verdict making him the first former American president to be found guilty of felony crimes in the nation’s nearly 250-year history."
3 of 16 | "The jury in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. They delivered their verdict late Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberations that spanned 9 1/2 hours."
4 of 16 | "New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg says prosecutors followed facts and law “without fear or favor” after jury finds former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial"
5 of 16 | "After Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said “the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury and the jury has spoken.”
6 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal hush money trial. The judge has set Trump’s sentencing for July 11.
7 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York." (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)
10 of 16 | "A demonstrator reacts to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex." (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
"Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
11 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
12 of 16 | People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
13 of 16 | A supporter of Donald Trump records imagery of his motorcade leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after the guilty verdict announced against the former President, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
14 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside his attorney Todd Blanche after the conclusion of his hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)
15 of 16 | "People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex." (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
16 of 16 | Former President Donald Trump walks outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ, ERIC TUCKER, MICHELLE L. PRICE and JILL COLVIN
Updated 1:40 AM PDT, May 31, 2024
There seems to be no U.S. broadcast or press reporting any follow-up on these judicial proceedings. Our US government system of checks and balances between our Chief Executive, Legislative and Judiciary\Justice departments appear as complicit if not more so than Iran's contradictory system of democratic republic under the absolute rule of its Supreme Shia'a Islamic Leader:
Any thoughts on moral highground on a global stage where judiciary branch of government and justice in general takes such a backseat to higher powers and the Pay2Play imperatives? Just asking..until some accredited U.S. or global beat journalist from our Golden Rolodex of Official Sources is empowered to ask the Supreme Leader(s) of either east or west in front of a live mic and camera.....Or, at least "in-camera"
All Iran needs to do is just wait, the F-35 will take itself out of the battle soon enough. Like many of the US "Wunderwaffe", the F35 does not live up to the hype or the price tag.
Lies, lies and more lies. the climate. weapons of mass destruction. Hamas gangs. our leaders govern for the people. Iran is building nuclear weapons. the United States is a democracy.
and more than that, they lie to us that they are working to do anything to mitigate climate change. They want more pipelines, more wars, more cars, more more more when it needs to be less less less
welcome to the post-truth age. the lies and insanity will never stop.
remember, this is all a byproduct of the west (US + UK) destabilizing the middle east for centuries.
and of course, trumpian pundits are going to spread insane conspiracy theories about iranian “sleeper cells” (ala laura loomer), or just bombard the american public w/ lies and spin..
The absolute foundational root of all of this is our persistent believe we are separate. Until people come to understand and KNOW our inherent, innate and obvious unity, these stupid ideologies will continue to wage wars on each other.
It's why "Israel" is obsessed with making sure no other country around it has nuclear weapons, because then the zionists couldn't harass and bully them anymore.
Very good post, Caitlin, and one I definitely agree with. Is there anything despicable Israhell can do that the U.S. won’t back?! It’s just mind boggling. These same scumbags in our Congress and others who lied about WMDS in Iraq are peddling the same lies about Iran, all so they can get their slimy pockets filled with lobbyists’ money whether it’s the Zionist lobby or the MIC and help the U.S. deplete Iran of its resources and have regime change in Tehran. All while assisting Israel with its GENOCIDE in Gaza. It’s all about not caring about black and brown people in these countries and how it hurts them. Oh yes, the ugly imperialist machine of the West continues to rear its ugly head.😢☮️🇵🇸
Of course we're being lied to -- Israel's lies being regurgitated. The unusual part now is how Trump outs his complicity. Usually presidents carry on with the charade that they had nothing to do with it.
Right on Caitlin. Your writing, as usual, gives us many talking points from which to narrate a factual representation of the debate.
Prof. Avi Shlaim- Israeli-British historian, author, and Prof. Emeritus at Oxford Univ.
Moderator: Does Israel have the right to defend itself? This is what we hear."
Prof. Shlaim: "I served in the IDF in the mid-1960s, and I served loyally and proudly because in my time, the IDF was true to its name. It was the Israel defense force. But after the June 1967 war, everything changed. Israel became a colonial power and the IDF became the brutal police force of a brutal colonial power. But there is absolutely no self defense justification for Israel’s brutal policies in Gaza over the last 11 years. A whole series of war crimes were committed and Israel continued to commit war crimes in Gaza in every successive vicious assault on the people of Gaza. I’m very troubled about the trend in Israeli society. Israel within its original borders is a democracy. It’s a flawed democracy but so are all other democracies, but if you look at Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, Israel most emphatically, most decisively is not a democracy. It’s an ethnocracy. It’s a system in which one ethnic group dominates the others. And there is another word for technocracy, and that is apartheid, and this is what Israel is."
Moderator: "What is the bigger threat in your view, is Iran to Israel today?"
Prof. Shlaim: "Iran is not an existential threat to Israel, but it is a strategic threat.
Now let’s compare the records of these two countries.
Iran has never attacked a neighbor, Israel has repeatedly attacked its neighbors.
Iran signed the nonproliferation treaty, Israel has refused to sign.
Iran submits to inspection, but by the International Nuclear Energy Agency, Israel refuses to submit.
Iran has no nuclear weapons, Israel has between 75 and 400 nuclear weapons.
So Israel poses an existential threat to Iran."
"I have one more point to make. For the last 40 years Israel has conducted a systematic campaign of disinformation about Iran.”
"Why the lies? Why the double standards? Why the hypocricy?"
And mass rapes. And beheaded babies. And no Palestinians are innocent civilians. And the world's most moral army. And the only democracy in the middle East. And,of course, a land with no people for a people with no land. Lead me to the vomitorium, please.
It was interesting to watch Hegseth's appearance before the US Senate and the number of senators who openly denounced him for his incompetence and demanded his resignation. He showed himself to be the vile idiot he is who has zero qualifications for the position he holds. Trump is totally discredited as the incessant liar of convenience having burned his credibility a dozen times over.
The U.S. has been at peace for 17 years since 1776. But everyone else is the problem.
Hey ho, the US is the bloody common denominator. We all know that.
It's due to all those OTHER greedy Countries that want to resource allocate by their rules. What fools.
Fortunately, it's never about money, or power, or greed, or resource exploitation.
Those other Countries are just confused, and need a bit of good ol' USA nudging.
The Entity called "Israel" is a Lie. It and supporters are Terrorist War Criminals. Free the world from them.
Free the world of the hegemonic USA
As a US Citizen, nothing would make me happier than for this to happen. Being the biggest bully on the planet does the average American citizen no good, none whatsoever. Perhaps if this insanity ended, the people of this nation could reap the benefits of not trying to conquer, rule and police the entire world. We all realize that the world would be better off. Imagine what could be done for the people of the USA with the Trillions of taxpayer dollars currently wasted on the Military Spending, Foreign Aid, Covert Activities and the rest of the Bull Shit we are currently paying for. I do not think I am the only American who feels this way.
I agree with you Michael and I have very good friends in the US.
It's going to get worse in the USA for everyone BUT the rich..
Unfortunately your propaganda and education has been sadly lacking.
I hope you come through this BUT it is going to be very hard.
Yes, Jenny—especially in education. The federal government effectively seized control from the states in the late 1970s, and that’s when the “dumbing down” began. I was educated before that shift. We learned to read, write, do math—and, more importantly, we were taught critical thinking and logic. That’s gone now.
What worries me most is that when things truly fall apart, it’s the younger generation that will suffer the worst. Most of them have no idea how to think independently, how to problem-solve, or even how to function without being told what to do. And the tragedy? They won’t even see it coming. They’ll have no idea what hit them.
Sadly, nothing will change until there’s a great fall—a hard, unavoidable reckoning. Only then might we see anything resembling real change.
I can tell that we were both educated "before that shift". I was lucky enough as a college educator to have the flexibility to be able to draw that experience into my courses, and engage students away from rote bullshit even in large classes; of course, the learners loved it, the lazy ones hated it. But that was also just pre-smartphone mania, You couldn't pay me enough to go back into a classroom today.
True story: A former business acquaintance of mine, an American CEO who flew his own small airplane to meetings, once asked me (this was in the 90's) if Iran had any airports!
I suspect the average American politician is even less informed.
Very easy for Hasbara to work on mental midgets.
IsRealHell conceived in 1904 with Theodor Herzl and Wilhelm II 1898, planned by the picot-sikes agreement 1916, approved by the Balfour Declaration 1917, with finial implementation with the Nakba 1948….. then there’s the redline agreement of 1928 and the Kirkuk–Haifa oil pipeline 1934 and now the Gaza Marine gas field 1999
Now Imagine Britain as Palestine!
Cui Bono,
Please expound. I currently don’t have the time to explain how the British, and US empires have schemed to control the world’s fossil fuels resources. Sikes-Picot and Balfour are a good start— and unknown to most Americans living today.
Many of the “treaties” to carve up the petroleum reserves were drawn up in secret, and not well-publicized in the USA.
If you have more time, perhaps you can explain about the dissection of the Levant as the spoils of war between the British and Ottoman Empires, and the creation of Saudi Arabia, and the creation of Kuwait upon an oilfield, and the relationships with Dubai and the UAE.
It may not be “ALL” about the oil, but I daresay it’s mostly about the oil, control about access to the oil and control of the fossil fuels prices. Most Americans are unaware because the mass media and public education system has deliberately not informed them.
What on earth do you mean?
I sincerely hope for this reality.
1] That Iran has actually taken down Israeli/US F35s, as reported by Danny Haiphong.
2]That Iran has buried undamaged hypersonic missile production capability sufficient to pound and ultimately exhaust Israel's missile defenses, such that we can ultimately watch areas of Tel Aviv turned to bloody dust. And listen to VICTIM ISRAEL cry "civilians" after they've embedded military/intelligence sites in the midst of civilian populations.
Whilst we listened to endless talk of Hamas using civilians as shields!
BLOW up Israel and the USA
I am so angry that Iran went through these SUPPOSED Peace deals urged on by MR fucking Trump.
NO different in Ukraine and Russia.
USA does not want PEACE. They want to rule the World.
No opposition from me, Jenny. A few of us here worth saving, I think you know that.
OF course I do Vin.
I have many ""left wing" friends in the USA ......many scholars and real people.
Propaganda terrifying the 'sheep people' with regard to Socialism/Communism.
This is why you have NO health system.
I am not deceived by Europe. They want the same as in the USA BUT the Govt. will NOT easily defeat the people with regard to healthcare.
It's already happening in Europe.
I sincerely urge Europeans to resist the privatizers, the Black Rockers and other scumbags who think healthcare is a commodity. And I urge this on the basis of my experience as both a patient and biomedical scientist in the USA -- where the system is a disaster of pharmaceutical disease maintenance for maximal profit.
In France the people are out on the streets
I had this idea that the French were well educated BUT it seems they are not. I do speak to French people daily and I am getting really sick of their comments. However I have GOOD friends here in France.
IF we could get shot of the OLD socialist Melanchon he is useless we may have a way forward.
MY best guess now is to vote Communist in the next elections but it won't happen.
The Russiaphobia here in France is..............deplorable.
England -- at least its government -- also seems heavily Russophobic. It is indeed deplorable. Slavic untermenschen-ism?
That has been the case since WWII, I fear. Their hegemony will not last forever, but it's a question of how much harm they do in the meantime .....
These links convey much of what Iranian officials are saying publicly:
~~~
https://geopolitiq.substack.com/p/operations-true-promise-3-and-rising?publication_id=2232768&utm_campaign=email-post-title&r=56ulq&utm_medium=email
~~~
https://geopolitiq.substack.com/p/operation-true-promise-3-iran-retaliates
~~~
I think Iran has just proven for the second time that the Iron Dome is far from impervious.
That Ignatius creep is trying to give Loomer a run for her money on flat-out idiotic bullshit. Who’s in “league” with Al-Qaeda & ISIS? Fairy-tale journalism at its finest, David! At least Loomer brings out her honest side now & again…like when she repeatedly & callously states her indifference to the plight of Palestinians.
Anyway, Israel looks to me to have bit off quite a bit more than it can chew.
Thank you. So good to see the rubble, hear the shock waves in Tel Aviv. And especially that Mike Huckabee had to run his fool ass into a shelter five times.
Yeah, too bad we don’t have video of Huckabee and his fool ass.
I have absolutely NO idea whether this is true.
I hear that BIBI (master of War) is not there in Israhell.
Is he cowering in Greece?
If the NY Times is showing multiple images of rubble in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, we know that part's true - hypersonic missiles are penetrating Zionazi air defenses. so IF Iran can saturate those defenses, they can inflict serious damage. The F35s?: I've heard from three sources, but awaiting Iran to show wreckage -- that's the ultimate confirmation.
I have my husband who knows about Military aircraft..........NOT brilliant on this BUT I do know from him that the 'aircraft in Israel) with their containerships bringing weapons to USA is almost dead.
The F35 is Shit. All show, no go! As we used to say in my racing days. Simply a way to extract $Billions from the taxpayers. I'm an American and ashamed say so in many ways. We once built great machines, those days are long gone.
Thank you for those informative posts on what the Iranian officials and IAEA, etc are saying. Excellent reading
Israel has also been ramping up their brutal settler-colonialism in the West Bank. Jane D & ShastaBetty I think you will appreciate this writer’s efforts as well:
https://thefloutist.substack.com/p/west-bank-impunities
So grateful to you for pointing us in the direction of GeoPolitiq's substack. What wonderful reporting.
Follow the money!
It isn't about money. It is about control - Bibi's control.
Guest, Thank you for the links.
Go for it Iran. Don't cower to the bullies . Wish the other adjacent countries would help but alas too cowardly. My thoughts are with you in what I hope will see the end of Israel as a country in the middle east.
Bibi Netanyahu has been found corrupt and fraudulent. He has been tried in Israeli court and evidence-based sentencing awaits his exit from office.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/court-says-netanyahu-must-begin-testimony-in-his-corruption-trial-in-december/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trial_of_Benjamin_Netanyahu
A parallel criminal trial track and state of 'suspended animation' awaiting sentencing phases once exited from office to our own President Trump who has been found guilty on 34 counts of criminal fraud and corruption.
https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0
"U.S. News
"Guilty: Trump becomes first former US president convicted of felony crimes"
" Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former president’s historic hush money trial but the fight over the case is far from over. Now comes the sentencing and the prospect of a prison sentence. The Associated Press’ Michael Sisak explains."
2 of 16 | "Donald Trump has been convicted in his New York hush money trial, a landmark jury verdict making him the first former American president to be found guilty of felony crimes in the nation’s nearly 250-year history."
3 of 16 | "The jury in Donald Trump’s criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him. They delivered their verdict late Thursday afternoon after two days of deliberations that spanned 9 1/2 hours."
4 of 16 | "New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg says prosecutors followed facts and law “without fear or favor” after jury finds former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial"
5 of 16 | "After Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said “the only voice that matters is the voice of the jury and the jury has spoken.”
6 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal hush money trial. The judge has set Trump’s sentencing for July 11.
7 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York." (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)
10 of 16 | "A demonstrator reacts to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex." (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
"Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
11 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
12 of 16 | People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
13 of 16 | A supporter of Donald Trump records imagery of his motorcade leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after the guilty verdict announced against the former President, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
14 of 16 | "Former President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside his attorney Todd Blanche after the conclusion of his hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024." (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP)
15 of 16 | "People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex." (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
16 of 16 | Former President Donald Trump walks outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JENNIFER PELTZ, ERIC TUCKER, MICHELLE L. PRICE and JILL COLVIN
Updated 1:40 AM PDT, May 31, 2024
There seems to be no U.S. broadcast or press reporting any follow-up on these judicial proceedings. Our US government system of checks and balances between our Chief Executive, Legislative and Judiciary\Justice departments appear as complicit if not more so than Iran's contradictory system of democratic republic under the absolute rule of its Supreme Shia'a Islamic Leader:
https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/iranian-regime-infighting/power-struggles-and-deepening-rifts-in-irans-leadership-amid-domestic-unrest-and-global-pressures/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/supreme-leader-of-Iran
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran
Any thoughts on moral highground on a global stage where judiciary branch of government and justice in general takes such a backseat to higher powers and the Pay2Play imperatives? Just asking..until some accredited U.S. or global beat journalist from our Golden Rolodex of Official Sources is empowered to ask the Supreme Leader(s) of either east or west in front of a live mic and camera.....Or, at least "in-camera"
https://blinksandbuttons.net/what-does-in-camera-mean-in-court/
Tio Mitchito
Mitch Ritter\Paradigm Sifters, Code Shifters, PsalmSong Chasers
Lay-Low Studios, Ore-Wa (Refuge of Atonement Seekers)
Media Discussion List\Looksee
All Iran needs to do is just wait, the F-35 will take itself out of the battle soon enough. Like many of the US "Wunderwaffe", the F35 does not live up to the hype or the price tag.
I feel encouraged. Thank you.
I hope that this true, but I also recall the "Ghost Of Kiev".
Yeah, I agree. My skepticism isn't allayed by any means. I'm investing hope in Iranian determination and previous Russian tech assistance.
Both of you.....me too.
Lies, lies and more lies. the climate. weapons of mass destruction. Hamas gangs. our leaders govern for the people. Iran is building nuclear weapons. the United States is a democracy.
“The climate” ????? not sure that is a lie….!
I meant that they lie to us that climate change is not a problem that is caused by humans.
Got it!
and more than that, they lie to us that they are working to do anything to mitigate climate change. They want more pipelines, more wars, more cars, more more more when it needs to be less less less
welcome to the post-truth age. the lies and insanity will never stop.
remember, this is all a byproduct of the west (US + UK) destabilizing the middle east for centuries.
and of course, trumpian pundits are going to spread insane conspiracy theories about iranian “sleeper cells” (ala laura loomer), or just bombard the american public w/ lies and spin..
What exactly do the US people do?
I have written time and time again: Dismantle the lying Press (owned by multi-corporations).
What is stopping you doing this USA?
Sociopaths care about truth and lies, only to the extent that they can be weaponized.
The reason Israel and diplomacy don't work is simple. Serial killers aren't adept at diplomacy!
"Israhell has to be defeated " Finkelshtein !!!!
The absolute foundational root of all of this is our persistent believe we are separate. Until people come to understand and KNOW our inherent, innate and obvious unity, these stupid ideologies will continue to wage wars on each other.
Also, yes, looking in one’s mirror can reveal a lot…
Isn't the more pressing point that Iran should have nuclear weapons as a deterrence against Western imperialism?
It's why "Israel" is obsessed with making sure no other country around it has nuclear weapons, because then the zionists couldn't harass and bully them anymore.
Very good post, Caitlin, and one I definitely agree with. Is there anything despicable Israhell can do that the U.S. won’t back?! It’s just mind boggling. These same scumbags in our Congress and others who lied about WMDS in Iraq are peddling the same lies about Iran, all so they can get their slimy pockets filled with lobbyists’ money whether it’s the Zionist lobby or the MIC and help the U.S. deplete Iran of its resources and have regime change in Tehran. All while assisting Israel with its GENOCIDE in Gaza. It’s all about not caring about black and brown people in these countries and how it hurts them. Oh yes, the ugly imperialist machine of the West continues to rear its ugly head.😢☮️🇵🇸
"Is there anything despicable Israhell can do that the U.S. won’t back?"
No.
Of course we're being lied to -- Israel's lies being regurgitated. The unusual part now is how Trump outs his complicity. Usually presidents carry on with the charade that they had nothing to do with it.
Yes, here we go again, and again, and again.
Right on Caitlin. Your writing, as usual, gives us many talking points from which to narrate a factual representation of the debate.
Prof. Avi Shlaim- Israeli-British historian, author, and Prof. Emeritus at Oxford Univ.
Moderator: Does Israel have the right to defend itself? This is what we hear."
Prof. Shlaim: "I served in the IDF in the mid-1960s, and I served loyally and proudly because in my time, the IDF was true to its name. It was the Israel defense force. But after the June 1967 war, everything changed. Israel became a colonial power and the IDF became the brutal police force of a brutal colonial power. But there is absolutely no self defense justification for Israel’s brutal policies in Gaza over the last 11 years. A whole series of war crimes were committed and Israel continued to commit war crimes in Gaza in every successive vicious assault on the people of Gaza. I’m very troubled about the trend in Israeli society. Israel within its original borders is a democracy. It’s a flawed democracy but so are all other democracies, but if you look at Israel and the West Bank and Gaza, Israel most emphatically, most decisively is not a democracy. It’s an ethnocracy. It’s a system in which one ethnic group dominates the others. And there is another word for technocracy, and that is apartheid, and this is what Israel is."
Moderator: "What is the bigger threat in your view, is Iran to Israel today?"
Prof. Shlaim: "Iran is not an existential threat to Israel, but it is a strategic threat.
Now let’s compare the records of these two countries.
Iran has never attacked a neighbor, Israel has repeatedly attacked its neighbors.
Iran signed the nonproliferation treaty, Israel has refused to sign.
Iran submits to inspection, but by the International Nuclear Energy Agency, Israel refuses to submit.
Iran has no nuclear weapons, Israel has between 75 and 400 nuclear weapons.
So Israel poses an existential threat to Iran."
"I have one more point to make. For the last 40 years Israel has conducted a systematic campaign of disinformation about Iran.”
"Why the lies? Why the double standards? Why the hypocricy?"
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2814528008751481
And mass rapes. And beheaded babies. And no Palestinians are innocent civilians. And the world's most moral army. And the only democracy in the middle East. And,of course, a land with no people for a people with no land. Lead me to the vomitorium, please.
(This meant as reply to Susan T. comment above.)
It was interesting to watch Hegseth's appearance before the US Senate and the number of senators who openly denounced him for his incompetence and demanded his resignation. He showed himself to be the vile idiot he is who has zero qualifications for the position he holds. Trump is totally discredited as the incessant liar of convenience having burned his credibility a dozen times over.
To be fair, those Senators care only about scoring partisan political points.
So true, its a partisan dog and pony show where nothing much happens--- all bought and paid for.
Israel, founded in 1948 by satan, has to once and for all be eliminated.
Hell. Is there nothing we can do to stop them?
Ahh, maybe plant dirty bombs hidden throughout their cities on remote controls just like Mossad did with sleeper drone cells!!!