This Week’s Top News:
Western Diplomats: Iran Talks Made Progress: Iranian officials had expressed similar optimism about the talks, calling them a major turning point and saying that for basically the first time in years of talks Western nations seem interested in serious negotiations and making an actual deal, as opposed to just threatening invasion and railing on about their demands.
AIPAC Lobbyists to Congress: Despite Sequester, Don’t Touch Israel Aid: Up to 13,000 lobbyists from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee will descend upon Capitol Hill this weekend to order members of Congress not to cut $3 billion-plus in aid to Israel, even as automatic budget cuts are set to take place in a matter of days.
Bradley Manning Pleads Guilty to Leaks, Not Guilty to Aiding the Enemy: In a courtroom statement, Manning told military judge Denise Lind that he “believed and still believe these are some of the most important documents of our time,” and that he “only wanted documents I was absolutely sure wouldn’t cause harm to the United States.”
White House Pledges More Aid to Syrian Rebels: Secretary of State John Kerry has been hinting at plans to increase US aid to Syrian rebel factions, but officials insist that reports from last night that this would include armored personnel carriers are not true “for now.”
Hagel: US ‘Can’t Dictate to the World’: In his first speech as Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel told an audience of US troops and defense officials at the Pentagon that the US should engage with the world instead of try to dictate to it.
US-Backed Afghan Police Poison, Massacre 17 of Their Comrades: Afghan officials said the perpetrators were members of the Taliban who had infiltrated the Afghan Local Police (ALP), waiting until after their training by the Americans to massacre their colleagues.
Opinion and Analysis:
- Justin Raimondo wrote about who funds the War Party, the meaning of the Hagel confirmation battle, and the very bad idea of arming the Syrian rebels.
- Kelley B. Vlahos reflected on the growing militarization of academia.
- Ivan Eland reviewed Washington’s abysmal record on interventionism and the folly of meddling in Syria.
- Phil Giraldi wrote about the plight of US soldiers sent to fight in useless wars.
- Nebojsa Malic argued the United States is an overconfident Empire.
Want some savings cut the $3 BILLION in aid to Isreal to zero…put this money to better use, like the US growing debit…