Mostly Water — "Canadian" and International alternative news feed

Shortly before 1PM EST, Reuters headlined, "Russia, China veto UN resolution telling Assad to quit," saying: The diplomatic "setback" came the day after "Syrian opposition (elements) accused Assad's forces of killing hundreds of people (in) Homs, the bloodiest night in the 11 months of upheaval in the pivotal Arab country."

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Slowly things are coming to a head. America, Israel, rogue NATO partners, and regional despot allies are itching for a fight with Syria. Russia and China stand firmly opposed.

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By Ali Abunimah - The Electronic Intifada

Comparing Omar Barghouti to Hitler and Jews and others who support human rights for Palestinians to Jewish collaborators at Nazi extermination camps is sickening...It is not only deeply defamatory against its targets but...[is] a form of Holocaust denial. Comparing a student conference at UPenn to a Nazi death camp says effectively that Nazi death camps were nothing more harmful than a student conference.

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By Robert Fisk - February 05, 2012

Nine years after invading Iraq...we plan to clap our hands as Israel bombs Iran because of more unprovable "weapons of mass destruction". Now I don't doubt that within seconds of hearing the news, Barack Obama's grotesque speech-writers will be groveling to find the right words to support such an Israeli attack. If Obama can abandon Palestinian freedom and statehood for his own re-election, he can certainly support Israeli aggression in the hope that this will get him back in the White House.

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Alan Dershowitz is a shameless bigot, a longstanding Islamophobe, a perverter of fundamental US and international law, an advocate of war, torture, targeted assassinations, and collective punishment, as well as a committed Zionist and apologist for Israel's worst crimes.

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By Jorge Rivas - Colorlines

Ramarley Graham, 18, was shot and killed by a NYPD officer in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon after running into his home as undercover officers pursued him. He’s the third person the NYPD have killed in a week. According to the police spokesperson, he was unarmed.

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By Peter Symonds - WSWS

Even as the US and its European allies intensify punitive economic sanctions against Iran, there are growing signs that Israel is threatening military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in the coming months. While the Obama administration has cautioned Israel against military action at this stage, there is no indication that Washington has vetoed such an attack.

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Sunday 5 February - The Guardian

The government's focus on alleged fraud and over-claiming to justify cuts in disability benefits has caused an increase in resentment and abuse directed at disabled people, as they find themselves being labeled as scroungers, six of the country's biggest disability groups have warned...Some of the charities say they are now regularly contacted by people who have been taunted on the street about supposedly faking their disability and are concerned the climate of suspicion could spill over into violence or other hate crimes.

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By Pamela Palmater - rabble.ca

...[T]he way in which the gathering unfolded really showed how little consideration the Conservatives have for First Nations. The whole event was entirely controlled by the Conservatives, in terms of the rushed date, the very restricted agenda, the attendees, location, speakers, and timing. More than that, the entire meeting was steeped in symbolism, none of which reflected our peoples, Nations and histories, but was representative of the dictatorial and confrontational stance of the Conservatives vis-a-vis our Nations.

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By Dave Zirin - February 3, 2012

This Sunday, the greatest multitude in the history of the United States will be tuning into the same television show at the same time...Popularity plus polarization will mean epic ratings. It also means a pox of sponsors branding Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Field within an inch of its life. But while the high rollers will party down and Fortune 500 companies will have an unparalleled audience, the city of Indianapolis will reel under the weight of our national party.

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A powerful anti-war indictment by Wolfgang Borchert: German, author, playwright, poet. His experience under Hitler and Wehrmacht service changed his life. Never a Nazi supporter, he deplored compulsory Hitler Youth time. Finally he got out. In 1940, the Gestapo arrested, then released him. His Wehrmacht conscription suspended his young theatrical career.

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The Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association calls Walid Hanatsheh "a human rights defender who is currently in administrative detention." As Health Work Committees (HWC) Finance and Administration Manager, he helped "provide necessary health-care to over 500,000" Palestinians.

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By HIROAKI SATO - Monday, Jan. 30, 2012

As [former US President George W.] Bush pushed his intent to attack Iraq...some advised that the U.S. assume the role that Britain played from the 19th to the early 20th century. The U.S. is powerful and enlightened enough, the argument went, to relegate those benighted, ne'er-do-well Middle Eastern countries back into colonial status and rule them as lord and master.

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By Keith Jones - 4 February 2012

Caterpillar subsidiary Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD) has announced that it is transforming the lockout at its London, Ontario diesel-locomotive manufacturing facility into a plant closure...Six weeks ago, Caterpillar locked out the 465 production workers at its London plant after they overwhelmingly rejected the company's demands for a 55 percent wage cut, the elimination of their pension plan, and other sweeping concessions.

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By Justin Podur - February 04, 2012

Soldiers and police come from the same society as the crowds. Why do they kill them? Why are elites and authorities able to rest so comfortably in the knowledge that in the final analysis, thousands of armed men will do what they are told? I think this is one of the most important questions we can ask, and not enough of us ask it.

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By Mike Head - WSWS

A 22-person panel appointed by the Gillard [Labor] government released a report last month proposing changes to the Australian constitution that would purportedly give the federal government new powers for the “advancement” of indigenous people. Far from addressing the appalling social conditions of ordinary indigenous Australians, the amendments would authorize the imposition of regressive programs that will only worsen the plight of Aboriginal people.

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By Robert Lipsyte - Znet Commentary

...[Y]ou might think, even in passing, that celebrating the holiest day of violence, consumerism, and class warfare on your couch is a betrayal of your values or a waste of your time. You might even imagine that it would be better to take a hike, read a book, or meditate...Not this Sunday, buster...You need to watch this game to fully understand how jobs, religion, leadership, and health-care dominate every American contest.

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Israel and America deplore peace.

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By Markus Salzmann - 3 February 2012

The wave of cold weather that has swept over large parts of Europe has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people in eastern Europe within the space of a few days...The real death toll is likely to be much higher. Initial statistics concentrate on urban areas and neglect the large proportion of the population, often elderly and poor, living in the countryside.

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Like other major media scoundrels, New York Times writers, op-ed commentators and editorials fail the test. They're biased, shameless and irresponsible, especially on issues of war and peace.

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