CounterCurrents: As The Political Charade Ends, The Real Battle Begins

Dear Friend,

The Syria/Iraq/Turkey imbroglio is getting even more murkier with Kurdish militia announcing an attack on the Syrian city of Raqqa, known as the ISIS capital. 

The U.S. political charade is nearing its finale. The elections comes at a time when the world is closer to a nuclear war than ever in history. Michael T Klare writes, "whoever enters the Oval Office, it may be time for the rest of us to take up those antinuclear signs long left to molder in closets and memories, and put some political pressure on leaders globally to avoid strategies and weapons that would make human life on this planet so much more precarious than it already is."

Yesterday I wrote that India is falling into a fascist rabbit hole. Today,  Prof Shah Alam Khan comes up with an article titled "Uncanny Likeness?" drawing between Nazi Germany and the current "Fuhrer of India". Incidentally, 14 years ago, when Countercurrents was in its infancy, I penned an article "The Fuhrer Is Here" http://www.countercurrents.org/mathew161202.htm 

Last Thursday, a US bombing in Afghanistan killed 30 civilians. There is growing call that USA be prosecuted for war crimes. Who'll bell the cat?

And also more stories from around the world. 

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In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org





US-Backed Kurdish Militia Announces Assault On ISIS Capital In Syria
by James Cogan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/us-backed-kurdish-militia-announces-assault-on-isis-capital-in-syria/

On Sunday, just two days before the US presidential election, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-armed faction comprised largely of ethnic Kurdish militia, called a press conference to announce that it had begun “a major battle” to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Raqqa, a city of some 200,000 in central Syria, is often referred to as ISIS’s “capital.”






As The Political Charade Ends, The Real Battle Begins
by Nozomi Hayase

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/as-the-political-charade-ends-the-real-battle-begins/

The U.S. political charade is nearing its finale with the most hated presidential candidates in history rushing to the finish line. At this point, the contest of the greater of two evils has escalated. An allegation of Trump raping a 13-year-old girl has come forward, while the FBI investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of private email servers was reopened, along with the Clinton Foundation scandal of accepting millions of donations from foreign countries.






The Panic Train: Fear Before The Elections In Trump’s America
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/the-panic-train-fear-before-the-elections-in-trumps-america/

The species of panic is one nurtured in the womb of populism.  The product of that populism is often the demagogue whose interest reminds and hectors, a candidate who promises the earth when only meagre soil can be delivered.





Election 2016 And The Growing Global Nuclear Threat 
by Michael T Klare 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/election-2016-and-the-growing-global-nuclear-threat/

Whoever enters the Oval Office, it may be time for the rest of us to take up those antinuclear signs long left to molder in closets and memories, and put some political pressure on leaders globally to avoid strategies and weapons that would make human life on this planet so much more precarious than it already is.






Interviewing Dr. Kenneth Bauzon On The Duterte Presidency Before The 2016 US Elections
by E San Juan Jr 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/interviewing-dr-kenneth-bauzon-on-the-duterte-presidency-before-the-2016-us-elections/

We have posed key questions to political scientist Dr. Kenneth Bauzon of St. Joseph’s College, Brooklyn, NY, to fill the vacuum. A Filipino public intellectual, Dr. Bauzon is an acknowledged expert on international relations. He is the author of the groundbreaking book, "Liberalism and the Quest for Islamic Identity in the Philippines"






Can USA Be Charged For War Crimes After Recent Air Strikes In Afghanistan?
by Dr Vivek Kumar Srivastava

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/can-usa-be-charged-for-war-crimes-after-recent-air-strikes-in-afghanistan/

US air strikes are common in the Afghanistan where these are used to eliminate the suspected Taliban cadres. These are supported by the Afghan government though several politicians including the former President Hamid Karzai opposes such attacks. US in a similar such strikes killed more than 30 civilians on Thursday who were innocents and it is assumed had no relations with the Taliban. The air strikes were made in the in Buz Kandahari, the village outside Kunduz children and young ones have been buried on Friday. After the attack US has been widely criticized for such inhuman activities.






Uncanny Likeness?
by Prof Shah Alam Khan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/uncanny-likeness/

In recent times I have developed keen interest in the history of Nazi Germany. Why? Well, for no particular reason! I hope this will not be a reason to label me seditious? No na? Phew…thanks what a relief! Anyway…. So I share a few facts.






Women Of Fukushima Invite Modi: Come And See The Destruction, Don’t Buy Nukes From Japan!
by Fukushima Women Against Nukes 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/women-of-fukushima-invite-modi-come-and-see-the-destruction-dont-buy-nukes-from-japan/

Indian PM Narendra Modi will visit Japan from 10-12 November, 2016. Civil society organisations of Japan have launched this petition to oppose the India-Japan Nuclear Agreement which the two governments are supposed to finalise during this visit. More than 1900 people have signed it already.





Not Markets Alone But Creativity And Innovation For Development
by Mateo Pimentel 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/not-markets-alone-but-creativity-and-innovation-for-development/

We human beings are more creative and intelligent than this, and at the very least, if we capitalize on anything, we must capitalize on our creative potential to achieve a future in which life is capably sustained—a future in which we might thrive rather than slowly, but inevitably, perish.





Bhopal Encounter Killings And Rule Of Law
by Samar 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/bhopal-encounter-killings-and-rule-of-law/

Is it not high time for the Supreme Court to step in and stop the farce by taking suo moto notice and instituting a probe, monitored under its purview? If it cannot do that, it might consider exempting Madhya Pradesh from the need of enforcing the law of the land, including the rights the Constitution guarantees to the citizenry.






A Taste Of Women Power
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/a-taster-of-women-power/

Today we can see visible gains of that piece of legislation -1.2 million village women are making their entry into public life every five years.  Many of them are unlettered but they use their quotidian wisdom and sharp instincts to steer development in their communities.





Malakangiri Was A Massacre, Finds Fact Finding Team

http://www.countercurrents.org/2016/11/07/malakangiri-was-a-massacre-finds-fact-finding-team/

The Human Rights Forum (HRF) and the Ganatantrik Adhikar Suraksha Sanghatan (GASS) demand that Greyhounds police personnel responsible for the killing of 27 Maoists and at least four civilians on the early morning of October 24, 2016 in the forest abutting Ramaguda village of Andrapalli panchayat in the “cut-off” area of Malkangiri district in Odisha be booked under relevant penal sections of the law including 302 IPC (murder) and the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) and prosecuted. The criminal investigation in the case must be handed over to either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Court monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT).This SIT must consist of officers with impeccable credentials and untainted by earlier “encounter” killings.