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Editoral Policy | Webeditorial
Newswire Archive                   Hidden

Police State

Institutionalizing Indefinite Detention

by Stephen Lendman

Since taking office, Obama authorized numerous police state measures. They follow earlier ones under George Bush.

They're heading America for full-blown tyranny. It's already a hair's breadth away. It could arrive any time full force. It's been wrapped in the American flag all along.

Most people don't know how seriously their rights are compromised. Thousands of political prisoners in America's gulag hell testify about police state harshness. Much worse ahead looms.

On March 7, 2011, Obama's Executive Order 13567 authorized indefinite detentions and military commission trials. Doing so violated America's Fifth Amendment. It states:

Bahrain Cracks Down on Freedom

by Stephen Lendman

The ruling Al Khalifa monarchy is one of the world's most brutal dictatorships. It's also a valued US ally. Bahrain is home to America's Fifth Fleet.

Imperial priorities matter most. Washington backs Bahraini harshness. State terror is policy. Murder, torture, lawless imprisonments, and daily atrocities get tacit support.

Bahrain ruthlessly wages war on freedom. Fundamental human and civil rights are spurned. Activists, protesters, medical professionals treating them when injured, independent journalists, and others supporting right over might are brutalized and imprisoned.

Bradley Manning Seeks Plea Deal

by Stephen Lendman

Plea bargains are sought or accepted for lesser sentences on charges faced. Innocent victims take them if offered. They know potentially what they face against hardball prosecutors wanting blood.

If convicted on all or most serious charges, Manning faces potential life in prison. In America, innocence is no defense. Thousands languish unjustifiably in gulag hell. US prisons are some of the worst.

Manning's lawyer, David Coombs notified the military court that he'll plead guilty to some charges. It's more a partial plea deal than a traditional one. More on that below.

America's Deplorable Human Rights Record

by Stephen Lendman

Far and away, America's human rights record is the world's worst. No other nation approaches its unprincipled history. Earlier crimes against humanity were largely internal and regional.

Twentieth century ones went global. New millennium ones elevated atrocities and other human rights abuses to an unprecedented level. It keeps rising. America is guilty of virtually every crime imaginable and then some.

Former dovish US diplomat, advisor, and father of Soviet containment George Kennan explained what reflects America's post-WW II foreign and domestic policy. His February 1948 "Memo PPS23" said:

Good News and Bad

by Stephen Lendman

A personal note: As a writer and radio host, I'm often asked why I don't discuss good news. My answer is when I find some I will. Today I did, and here it is.

Two previous articles discussed suppressing free expression in Greece. Targeting dissent and media freedom continues.

Journalists revealing information government authorities want suppressed are suspended, fired, and/or arrested and prosecuted.

Costas Vaxevanis and Spiros Karatzaferis were targeted. Karatzaferis remains in custody on libel charges. He claimed to have information on how Greece manipulated its deficit to seek bailout help at the expense of ordinary people.

Julian Assange Declared Enemy of the State

by Stephen Lendman

America is Exhibit A on how democracies aren't supposed to work. Of course, the US isn't one now and never was.

Contrary to popular myth, it wasn't established as one. America's founders had other ideas. From May to September 1787, 55 self-serving wheeler-dealers met in Philadelphia. Today we'd call them a Wall Street crowd. What they designed fell far short of common beliefs.

Duplicitous politicians, bankers, lawyers, and merchants created a document serving them. Its Preamble gave it away, saying: "We the people of the United States….do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."

Judge Stays Terry Williams' Execution

by Stephen Lendman

A previous article discussed Terry's fight for life. He was scheduled to die on October 3. Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina spared him for now. More on her ruling and what's next below.

Terry was raised violently. His mother abused him physically and emotionally. She beat him mercilessly for any reason. She used fists, belts, extension cords, switches, anything she could get her hands on.

His siblings got similar treatment. His clemency petition recounted one incident his half-sister Theresa described:

Terry Williams: A Life in the Balance

by Stephen Lendman

Human life is sacred. Throughout its history, US policy scored it. It shows horrifically in one war after another. It's no different at home at the federal, state, or local levels.

Policy makes human life cheap. Black and Brown people suffer most. Institutionalized racism denigrates them. In capital crime cases, most have virtually no chance, guilty or innocent. Officials don't care if they live or die.

America's death penalty is barbaric. It's the ultimate human rights violation. It's premeditated state-sponsored murder. No true democracy would tolerate it.

US-style justice is rigged to convict. Due process and judicial fairness get short shrift. America's unwanted haven't a chance. Innocent people get executed.

Score One for Hedges v. Obama

by Stephen Lendman

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong called his Apollo 11 landing "one step for man, a giant leap for mankind."

Hedges v. Obama perhaps reflects a baby step, if temporary, for justice.

On September 12, Southern District of New York federal Judge Katherine B. Forrest blocked Obama's indefinite detention law.

In her 112-page ruling, she called it "facially unconstitutional: it impermissibly impinges on guaranteed First Amendment rights and lacks sufficient definitional structure and protections to meet the requirements of due process."

She added that:

Waging War on Leaks

by Stephen Lendman

On July 30, the Washington Post headlined "A bill to stop security leaks puts a plug on democracy," saying:

Journalists and others talk to officials daily. Background briefings are commonplace. Vital information is discussed. Most of it is unclassified.

On May 15, HR 5743: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 was introduced and referred to committee. On May 31, it passed.

On July 30, S. 3454: Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 was introduced and reported to committee. Enactment hasn't occurred. More on it below.