Americans took 9/11 calmly  No outbreak of anti-Muslim sentiment according to Paul Krugman in 2020 .... The effect of a twenty year war on terror was devastating across the globe with a hundredfold deaths due to conflicts, proxy wars including under Obama with extension into Libya, North Africa and Syria.

Unbelievable arrogance & selective memory. Yes 9/11 was a tragedy. Bush and co. responded by launching 3 wars; causing over 1.5 million deaths; displacing at least 40 million people; spending over 6 trillion dollars; & directly causing the paranoia that leads to rise of Trump. [_link]

— Dr. Yasir Qadhi (@YasirQadhi) September 11, 2020

Xenophobia and Islamophobia Roots of Today's Triad of Evil

George Bush, Invasion of Iraq in 2003, using city guerrilla warfare adopted from Israel, using torture lessons used on Palestinians for decades. Abu Ghraib and boost in warfare against 1.5 billion followers of Mohammed and Islam.


'Sapere aude'

Even the cold war against Stalinism was defensible, and thanks to the much under-appreciated contribution of Gorbachev, eventually led to a good outcome.

But sometime around the mid 1960's the USA's influence on the world - always open to debate - seemed to me to switch from being predominantly for the good to being predominantly for the ill-being of mankind - the achievements of The Great Society and cultural icons like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen notwithstanding. Perhaps it was the assassinations of of JFK, RFK and MLK that were the pivotal moments, resulting in the escalations of the war in Vietnam and the gradual morphing of a racial struggle into a class struggle in the USA, making it now perhaps more of a class ridden society than the European societies it had so rightly denounced in its fight for independence.

Ironically it was the defeat of communism abroad and the resultant fear of social democracy at home which seemed to free the American elite from any concern for social justice, and allowed them to focus on a totally self-interested and self righteous quest for their own aggrandizement without regard to all others and without fear of political consequences. Perhaps best epitomized by the rise of Reaganism and neo-conservatism, the American elite engaged in a concerted campaign of installing brutal dictatorships abroad in support of their own corporate interests and waging a class war on their own people at home.

Far from the reluctant engagement in world wars of an earlier era, the USA now has military bases installed in over 100 notionally independent states abroad, and is not slow to use their influence in the promotion of their corporate interests. Globalization has essentially meant that the nation states of the post colonial era have been replaced by the mostly US corporate super-states of the new millennium. Citizen's have become employees and markets and it is the $ rather than the electorate which rules.

And so we had the totally bizarre over-reaction to 9/11 which threatened to puncture this dream of complete invincibility and imperiousness to any legitimately different interests abroad. Target governments did the USA's bidding or else had USA rule imposed on them either directly (Afghanistan, Iraq) or indirectly through compliant national elites hooked on US corporate "investment" in their territories. The total destabilization of the post colonial world order this has wrought is most immediately visible in the chaos in the Middle east today, but can also be seen in multiple US arms industry fueled conflicts in the "third world" today.

Meanwhile the planet is gradually getting burned up carrying a human footprint it cannot sustainably handle resulting in rising and acidifying seas, floods, famines, droughts and local resource scarcity conflicts mediated by machine guns rather than traditional authority or democratic institutions. In order to deny this reality the US elite has fostered totally bizarre religious cults denying climate change, evolution, and science in general, whilst promoting alliances between white supremacism, Zionism and millenarian cults which seem to see the destruction of the earth as a good thing - a sign of the second coming - or at the very least an inevitable and unavoidable outcome of the human condition.

Social-Democrats and Leftists Need to Fight Back | Jan. 2, 2020 |

Smearing of progressives has become part of a new doctrine by populist rightwing politicians, media and the twitter rage. As the election results begin to shift due to social media bots and pressure groups, we should not only take notice but fight against the libel campaign. I've written about this phenomena in modern society for many years now. I must conclude that the propaganda has gone mainstream and needs to be halted.

My message to those on the National Demonstration for Palestine in London today:

We cannot stand by or stay silent at the continuing denial of rights and justice to the Palestinian people. [_link] #FreePalestine

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) May 11, 2019

A Coordinated Attack On Labour and Corbyn

'Sapere aude'

Damaging M7.8 EQ hit southern Turkey near the Syrian border ~4am local time. PAGER is red for this event; extensive damage is probable. Our hearts go out to those affected. See @Kandilli_info for local info. [_link] [_link] pic.twitter.com/eco071JqVm

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) February 6, 2023

#DEPREM
GOZPINAR-EKINOZU (KAHRAMANMARAS) [_link]
06.02.2023, 13:24:49 TSİ
Büyüklük: 7.5
Derinlik: 16.4 km#Kandilli

— Kandilli Rasathanesi (@Kandilli_info) February 6, 2023

Rough area where villages are located in mountainous making rescue efforts nearly impossible 🙏🏽

'Sapere aude'

LIVE: Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on quakes that struck country's southern provinces [_link]

— TRT World (@trtworld) February 6, 2023

This is the moment a building in Türkiye's Sanliurfa collapsed after a major 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye pic.twitter.com/VF4c1Efu9E

— TRT World (@trtworld) February 6, 2023

The impact of the massive #earthquake in the streets of Gaziantep, southern Turkey.

Update- 1006 Killed & 5590 injured.#deprem #Idlib #Syria #DEPREMOLDU #TurkeyEarthquake #Turkey pic.twitter.com/n4ejuCz28l

— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) February 6, 2023

Just seeing the early & truly devastating imagery of damage from the M7.8 Turkey earthquake, it is clear the impact we be huge & this event will go down in history. One of the largest instrumentally-recorded onshore strike-slip earthquakes to take a direct hit at a populated area

— Stephen Hicks 🇪🇺 (@seismo_steve) February 6, 2023

Syria War Terrorist concentration of Idlib Province also hit. I'm afraid the devastation will result in over 5,000 deaths. A major human tragedy ...

'Sapere aude'

#NATO Allies agree the #NewSTART Treaty contributes to international stability. We note with concern that #Russia has failed to comply with legally-binding obligations, including on inspection, & call on Russia to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty. [_link]

— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) February 3, 2023

Poland 🇵🇱 and Ukraine 🇺🇦 too offer to send rescue teams ... consumer of Bayraktar TB2 drones.

'Sapere aude'

It's difficult to imagine US officers inspecting Russian military facilities with Washington being involved in the conflict in Ukraine, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said: [_link] pic.twitter.com/QTeBfOERVU

— TASS (@tassagency_en) February 6, 2023

Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences on Monday to his Turkish and Syrian counterparts, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Bashar Assad, respectively, in the wake of a massive earthquake that left hundreds dead: [_link] pic.twitter.com/76LTWUOVv8

— TASS (@tassagency_en) February 6, 2023

#Azerbaijan's 🇦🇿 First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva offers condolences to people of #Türkiye 🇹🇷 #PrayForTürkiye pic.twitter.com/YpI9hoeYpC

— News.Az (@news_az) February 6, 2023

Another Aliyeva ... wouldn't be family now would it?

Azerbaijan a key partner for fossil fuel after America blew up Nord Stream 1 & 2

Israel has close military ties with Georgia and Azerbaijan specifically for use of airports to launch terror attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ties with Ukraine is more difficult as the oligarchs are equally divided between the West and Russia.

'Sapere aude'

[_link]

— rascal007 (@rascal007x) December 21, 2017

A New Way Forward for EU-Turkey Relations | Carnegie Europe - Jan. 2022 | ... association application to E.E.C. in 1959 ... 🤣 🇪🇺 🇹🇷

'Sapere aude'

US officials hit back at what they say are inaccurate press reports about #US sanctions impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrians impacted by the devastating earthquake over the weekend.#SyriaEarthquake [_link]

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) February 8, 2023

In most all Western media I crossed "Syria" relief solely in terror city Idlib ... of course media focused solely on "White Helmets".

Turkey, Syria earthquake death toll nears 11,200 as rescuers look for survivors | Al Arabiya |

'Sapere aude'

Unfortunately sanctions also make it hard for donations to reach Syria. The best way to help now is donate to:

Red Cross Syria Appeal: [_link]

SOS Chrétiens d'Orient: [_link]

The UN crisis relief [_link]

— Hadi Nasrallah (@HadiNasrallah) February 6, 2023

• European sanctions: an instrument for fighting repression in Syria | Feb. 2020 |
• Aid to quake-hit Syria slowed by sanctions, war's divisions | AP News - Feb. 8, 2023 |

From the Seychelles to the White House to Cambridge Analytica, Erik Prince and the UAE are key parts of the Trump story

• The Mercer's Relationship between Cambridge Analytica and Emerdata
• Mercer's Cambridge Analytica Files for Bankruptcy  

Ownership Manchester City Football ...

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Save us a click please

— I'm Just Jhay (@simplyjhayy) February 7, 2023

Not even mentioned BlackCube and Pegasus spyware scandals

'Sapere aude'

A New Way Forward for EU-Turkey Relations | Carnegie Europe - Jan. 2022 | ... association application to E.E.C. in 1959 ... 🤣 🇪🇺 🇹🇷

'Sapere aude'

George Bush wanted to show US dominance by taking control of all rescue and relief efforts putting international organizations on the back burner ... imperialism of the ugliest kind of American politics.

My diary @dKos as creve coeur ...

DISASTER STRIKES ASIA -  QUAKE 8.9 -  TSUNAMI WAVE | DEC. 26, 2004 |

Long, long time ago ... yet to my surprise all diaries are archived and the best diary got 215 recommends ... different era 😂

'Sapere aude'

Daraa Rebels Surrender Under Russia's Protection | July 8th |

The intervention by Russia in Sept. 2015 to support the regime in Damascus fought to end the jihadists terror of Gulf States, Tunisia and Chechnya. It ended the enduring bloodshed encouraged by Western coalition of NATO led by the U.S.

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (Tahrir al-Sham), formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra (Al-Nusra), is a Sunni opposition group that aims to overthrow the Assad Regime and establish an Islamic Emirate in Syria.

'Sapere aude'

[_link]

— rascal007 (@rascal007x) December 21, 2017

Won't forget what Kyiv Mayor & boxing legend @Vitaliy_Klychko told me: "Understand--we can't lose the war. Russians fight because they were ordered or paid. They don't want to die for Putin or money. We fight for our families & freedom. We'll do whatever it takes to protect them." pic.twitter.com/fClBgbc0X8

— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) October 6, 2022

Palestinian graphic designer Abrar Sabbah redrew satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo's caricature mocking the victims of the deadly #TurkiyeQuakes and shared it online with the caption saying `This strong nation will rise up again!' pic.twitter.com/tBuPzffxr5

— TRT World (@trtworld) February 10, 2023

..."There was a transcurrent movement," [INGV seismologist Alessandro Amato] said, adding that the ground slipped horizontally along the two edges of the fault line with an orientation to the left, in the direction of the Aegean Sea.

Separately, Tina Larsen, a senior researcher with the National Geological Surveys of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), said the tremors from the earthquake were felt in Denmark and Greenland, according to Greenland KNR broadcaster....

U.S. Ambassador Jeff Flake welcomed the teams, which came from Los Angeles[, CA] and Fairfax County[, VA].
[...]
The [DART] team consists of 159 people, 12 rescue dogs and 77,110 kilograms (170,000 pounds) of specialized equipment, the press release said, adding that they will travel to the Adıyaman province in coordination with the Government of Türkiye....

A man named Yusuf, who was trapped under rubble for 89 hours after major #TurkiyeQuakes, has been rescued alive in Kahramanmaras province pic.twitter.com/73LuDDEBSY

— TRT World (@trtworld) February 9, 2023

The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on 10 February issued a temporary waiver for Caesar Act sanctions imposed on Syria to allow earthquake relief funds to reach the country, following days of hindered humanitarian efforts.

...U.S. sanctions programs do not target legitimate humanitarian assistance, including earthquake disaster relief efforts. The U.S. government has long had several general licenses in place under the SySR that permit most activities in support of humanitarian assistance, including in regime-held areas, by the United Nations, the U.S. government, or non[-]governmental organizations (NGOs) engaging in transactions in support of certain not-for-profit activities. This new authorization expands upon these broad humanitarian authorizations already in effect under the SySR for NGOs, international organizations (IOs), and the U.S. government. This GL reflects the United States' commitment to support the people of Syria through their ongoing earthquake crisis. While sanctions relief alone cannot reverse longstanding structural challenges and the brutal tactics of the Assad regime, it can ensure that sanctions do not inhibit the life-saving assistance needed following this disaster....

The Syria General License (GL) 23, issued by OFAC, authorizes earthquake relief transactions - which would typically be restricted under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR) - for a period of 180 days.
[...]
The decision followed a storm of criticism, as many have called out the impact of US sanctions on the humanitarian situation in the country, particularly on relief efforts following the devastating earthquake. Bassam Sabbagh, Syria's permanent UN envoy, said on 8 February that international cargo planes have been 'refusing' to land in Syrian airports due to the threat of sanctions.
[...]

these people are really evil pic.twitter.com/TlhhJQRhsc

— sarah (@sahouraxo) February 10, 2023

I've released an additional $25 million from @UNCERF for aid efforts to respond to the earthquake.

This brings the total emergency fund allocation for the earthquake response in #Türkiye & #Syria to $50 million in just a few days. [_link]

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 10, 2023

What I saw today in #Türkiye was devastating.

What were once homes, filled with families and memories, now lay contorted and tangled.

Our thoughts are with those affected and we will continue to support in any way we can. pic.twitter.com/bhMDR1oEGN

— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) February 11, 2023

🆘 "People have to eat."

WFP and our partners are on the ground in some of the most difficult-to-reach areas, distributing immediate food relief to families impacted by the earthquakes in #Türkiye and #Syria.

⬇️ WFP's Kenn Crossley explains ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/54eQqsfnKR

— World Food Programme (@WFP) February 9, 2023

Turkey-Syria earthquake: Aid gap reveals western double standards

Idlib province, which is under Turkish occupation, and the Syrian government-held provinces of Aleppo, Hama, Homs and Latakia were severely hit by the earthquake. This January, the UN voted to extend the opening of a border crossing to deliver aid to the northern province of Idlib via Turkey, with the agreement of the Damascus government and UN members. But The New York Times reported that the road was now blocked from the Turkish side because of the impact of the earthquake.

Misinformation campaign

"It would be quite ironic, if not even counterproductive, for us to reach out to a [Syrian] government that has brutalised its people over the course of a dozen years now," State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday.

A western diplomat confirmed that "the goal is to get the Syrian people to blame their president for western countries' refusal to provide aid". Again, the US and EU blaming the Syrian government for the lack of humanitarian assistance is a misinformation campaign to cover up European leaders' lack of respect for fundamental values.

Western Media only manage to broadcast footage from Idlib with White Helmets rescuers ... not obvious of obnoxious weaponizing aid in a human catastrophe across Türkiye and Northern Syria.

'Sapere aude'

Chinese aid plane arrives in quake-hit Syria with medical supplies #syriaearthquake pic.twitter.com/bebnFyzJFk

— Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) February 11, 2023

A Russian aid aircraft landed in Khmeimim Air Base a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/99UsUfQCsc

— Within Syria (@WithinSyriaBlog) February 10, 2023

It is now confirmed that some towns in Latakia countryside were wrecked by the earthquake and went unnoticed. The town of Al Amruniyah was reached by first responders only today. There are casualties. pic.twitter.com/8JubRuAoFy

— Within Syria (@WithinSyriaBlog) February 10, 2023

A UAE aid aircraft with 17 tons of supplies landed a short while ago in Damascus Airport. This was the 52nd aid aircraft to arrive in Syria since Feb 6.

Race against time | CBS News |

'Sapere aude'

The US government on Sunday urged the Syrian authorities to help provide humanitarian assistance to all those in need after the devastating earthquake. This was reported by Reuters.

...Washington called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to grant immediate access to humanitarian assistance to all those in need, without exception, and urged him to follow through on a blanket authorization for humanitarian assistance deliveries....

"Authorization must be granted immediately for the movement of all humanitarian assistance through all border points, as well as for its distribution to all affected areas," a spokesman for the White House National Security Council said....

..."I am in contact with the Department of Defense regarding operations in the Great Lakes region. The US military hasdisabled another facility over Lake Huron. I thank our fighter pilots for their decisive action," [Rep. Jack Bergman] said....

Totally despicable and infuriating that GWU even entertaining this smear campaign by Stand With Us against Professor Lara Sheehi. Their attacks indicate deep anti-Arab, anti- Palestinian racism. [_link] #IStandWithLara

— Noura Erakat (@4noura) January 24, 2023

UN announcement has angered #Syria opposition - "they are giving Assad a political boost"; opposition believes world should not have waited for his approval or UN security council resolution to bring in aid using routes other than Bab Al Hawa [_link]

— Zeina Khodr (@ZeinakhodrAljaz) February 14, 2023

Why are the Al-Qaeda affiliated White Helmets making the delivery of aid political?

Shouldn't they be busy rescuing people....

— Paddafi 🟩 (@paddafi) February 14, 2023

• Islamic State Networks in Turkey | FDD - March 2017 |  
• The Islamic State's Two Pronged Attack on Turkey | CTC West Point |