CounterCurrents: Clinton-Bush Hardliner Attacks Congress For Blocking Invasion Of Syria, Nor A Lender Be : Hillary Clinton, Liberal Virtue, And The Cult Of The Microloan

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In Solidarity
Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org


The Union Budget Betrayed Farmers And Other Marginalised Sections
By National Alliance of People’s Movements

http://www.countercurrents.org/napm010316.htm

The majority of population of India expected a required support from this year’s budget; they needed it because of unprecedented consecutive years of drought which accelerated the farmer’s suicide in absence of Govt. immediate support. It was expected because of Prime Minister’s consecutive three farmers’ rallies, announcing big support to them. But the budgetary allocation once again proved all the promises as ‘Jumlas’ (platitudes) only, which the present government keeps spreading time to time for electoral benefits


India's 2016-17 Budget Reflects A Mirage For Universal Health
By Dr Sandeep Pandey & Bobby Ramakant

http://www.countercurrents.org/pandey010316.htm

India's draft National Health Policy 2015 was riddled with privatisation bid and it is no surprise that 2016-2017 budget too takes that agenda forward. Also earlier this month Indian government indicated its intent to exit from hospital 'sector' (along with Air India). The vision of universal healthcare coverage - which leaves no one behind - can only be achieved from robust and well-funded public health system which is not running on cost-to-cost or for-profit motives. This is why privatisation of public health system is not only weakening it but also jeopardizing access to healthcare for most in need


When Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar Broke Down And Wept: An Open Letter
CPI(MR) Press Release

http://www.countercurrents.org/cpmr010316.htm

In this moment of sorrow you are undergoing if you can seriously introspect on the consequences of your own political ideology and activities for the welfare of fellow citizens and the country it will surely make you a better Hindu. More importantly it will also make you a better human being. I sincerely hope you will take this letter in the right spirit and not as another instance of scoring political points as the time for such games well past and without a genuine change of direction we as a nation are surely doomed


Why “FRATRICIDE” Is The Middle Name Of Mining Giants Across The World? 
By Surabhi Singh

http://www.countercurrents.org/singh010316.htm

The hounding and subsequent ouster of lawyers of Jagdalpur Legal Aide, jailing of journalists Santosh Yadav, Somaru Nag, ouster of BBC journalist Alok Putul and Journalist and Human Rights Activist Malini Subramanium. The attack of Soni Sori, right afterwards was just another move in the chessboard. No witnesses, no testimonies and no war crimes. Since then, thirty more Adivasis have surrendered themselves as wanted Maoists, sixteen more have been killed in “encounters with police” and Vedanta has bagged a mining lease for gold in Bagbahara. So, “Fratricide” after all is the middle name for “Mining” in this world. The rest? Well, pick a word from the war dictionary across the world- They are all the same


Iranian Elections Strengthen Rouhani’s Hand 
By Keith Jones

http://www.countercurrents.org/jones010316.htm

The elections held in Iran last Friday have strengthened the faction of the Islamic Republic’s bourgeois ruling elite that favours speedy rapprochement with Washington and has spearheaded the push for neo-liberal restructuring. This faction is led by Iran’s current President Hassan Rouhani, and by his longtime mentor, former two-term President Hashemi Rafsanjani. Making clear where its sympathies lie, the Western media invariably dubs this the “moderate” or “reformist” faction


Nor A Lender Be : Hillary Clinton, Liberal Virtue, And The Cult Of The Microloan 
By Thomas Frank

http://www.countercurrents.org/frank010316.htm

From Thomas Frank’s new book "Listen, Liberal!" published this month by Metropolitan Books


Clinton-Bush Hardliner Attacks Congress For Blocking Invasion Of Syria 
By Eric Zuesse

http://www.countercurrents.org/zuesse010316.htm

In a Huffington Post interview on February 23rd, the Clinton-Bush former head of the NSA and CIA, and defender of their use of waterboarding, and of their violating the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (both of which types of legal violations he says are necessary in order to keep Americans safe), accused Congress of being gutless: “Congress didn't step up and authorize the use of military force” to invade Syria. Michael Hayden said this in a video clip at Huffington Post Live, where the context of what he was saying was left ambiguous, but it concerned only the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, so his comment there was gratuitous


Reality Check: No Matter Who Wins The White House, 
The New Boss Will Be The Same As The Old Boss 
By John W. Whitehead

http://www.countercurrents.org/whitehead010316.htm

If there is to be any hope of restoring our freedoms and reclaiming control over our government, it will rest not with the politicians but with the people themselves. When all is said and done, each American will have to decide for themselves whether they prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery. One thing is for sure: the reassurance ritual of voting is not going to advance freedom one iota


Ambedkar On Bhagatsingh 
By Anand Teltumbde

http://www.countercurrents.org/teltumbde010316.htm

Ambedkar did not write on the revolutionary movement of Bhagat Singh but has written an editorial note titled "Three Victims" when they were hanged. Though it does not speak about their struggle, much less politics, it explains how their execution was influenced by political expediency back home. I provide herewith its translation as it may be of interest to many a student of Ambedkar besides its historical value


When A Protest March Creates Ripple In Northeast India 
By Nava Thakuria

http://www.countercurrents.org/thakuria010316.htm

The Guwahatians devotedly responded to the call of Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) for the protest march condemning the anti-national advocates that emerged from different higher educational institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jadavpur University etc in the recent past


KESARI YA HARA? Let’s Find Out The Color In Which You Shall Bleed.. 
By Suvi Jain

http://www.countercurrents.org/jain010316.htm

To fight for one’s very basic rights, like the right to breathe in a peaceful-space as those in the valley do, or may be to be able to differ from the government and its ideologies, or to protest-for and demand a fresh enactment or a re-check on a case which was wrongly-upheld long-back in a rush, so that the country never faces such an ignorance of justice, might offend somebody’s interest, but it cannot be treated as a misuse of liberty or deviation towards the anti-national side from what is perceived to be the side of the nationals


Lies Never Triumph 
By Imran Khan

http://www.countercurrents.org/khan010316.htm

What can be understood out of JNU controversy and Rohit Vemulla’s suicide is that the situation in India for minority and marginalised is bleak and the space for dissenting voice is fading. What can also be observed is that, different versions of nationalism are being constantly patronised by different political ideologies and each remain busy in imposing it’s version of nationalism on the other. In such a situation, individual liberty, freedom of thought and expression and right to dissent is put to walls. If such a situation is allowed to continue it will lead to extreme polarisation in India