CounterCurrents: Moving In The Right Direction

Dear Friend,

The 'Peace President' is not changing anything. Whoever is in the White House the bombing, droning and destruction of the third world will continue. US Special Forces carried out a raid on a number of homes in Yemen’s central Al Baydah Province on Sunday, killing as many as 57 people, including 16 civilians. One American soldier was reported killed. Ironically Yemen is among the list of countries whose citizens are banned entry in USA by Trump's executive order! We kill people, destroy their homes, displace them but you are not welcome here. You go somewhere else!

It is heartening to see America rise up against the travel ban order of President Trump. While there is massive protest across America against the travel ban, one crucial question that needs to be asked, if American killings abroad figure in the set of demands of protesters? It has to stopped HERE and NOW. And all those who committed these crimes should be made accountable.  One of the reasons why the Occupy Wall Street movement fizzled out was because they couldn't ask the right questions.  

Prof Shah Alam Khan looks at the image of Alan Kurdi. He wore a red t-shirt and deep blue shorts. Blue and red? Yes, blue and red as in the American flag! If blue and red can combine and ask accountability from not just Trump but all those who went before him who created this mess, we may be moving in the right direction. 

And also more stories from around the world. 

If you don't mind, and if you think the content of this news letter is critical for the dignified living and survival of humanity and other species on earth, please forward it to your friends and spread the word. It's time for humanity to come together as one family! You can subscribe to our news letter here  http://www.countercurrents.org/news-letter/. 

In Solidarity

Binu Mathew
Editor
www.countercurrents.org





Dozens Killed In Yemen In First US Special Forces Raid Under Trump
by Niles Niemuth 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/dozens-killed-in-yemen-in-first-us-special-forces-raid-under-trump/

US Special Forces carried out a raid on a number of homes in Yemen’s central Al Baydah Province on Sunday, killing as many as 57 people, including 16 civilians. One American soldier was reported killed.





Trump Defies Mass Protests Against Anti-immigrant Measures
by Eric London 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/trump-defies-mass-protests-against-anti-immigrant-measures/

Protests against the Trump administration’s executive order banning travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries and all refugees spread across the country on Sunday, as the Homeland Security Department and immigration authorities continued to detain men, women and children denied entry to the US on the basis of the illegal executive order issued Friday by the new president.





Chaos At The Airports: Blocking Trump’s Executive Order
by Dr Binoy Kampmark 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/chaos-at-the-airports-blocking-trumps-executive-order/

This round of legal rulings constitute the sharply defiant hor d’oeuvres of what is to come: the main meal will feature feasts of legal rulings that will impair, and cripple, to a large extent, the travel restriction and immigration agenda of the Trump administration.    The brakes on this nascent empire of rage and confusion are already being placed.






President Trump: A Bull In A China Shop?
by K. P. Fabian 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/president-trump-a-bull-in-a-china-shop/

Since only the Congress can give money to build the wall, shouldn’t Trump have asked for money from it rather than sign an executive order? An executive order, his counselors should have told Trump, is meant for emergencies. In any case, apart from the money for construction, as there are serious diplomatic issues with Mexico won’t it have made sense to consult and get the approval of the Congress? Obviously, Trump is innocent of or wants to defy the checks and balances in the U.S.Constitution. For how long can this absurd show go on?





Red & Blue: Let’s Make America Great Again!
by Prof Shah Alam Khan 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/red-blue-lets-make-america-great-again/

And then as the year, heavy with the poisonous smell of dead bodies went by; it took away the last breath of hope from us. It thrust upon us an orange head monster that plans to feed on the likes of Alan. My heart sinks when I grasp that the year to come will be worse than the one, which slipped past our eyes. The kindhearted Mediterranean will expunge out more Alan Kurdis from its deep blue heart, Alans with red shirts and blue shorts, red and blue which will make America great again, which will make America strong again, which will make America wealthy again, which will make America safe again and which will make America proud again!





Divest From War, Invest In People
by Kathy Kelly 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/divest-from-war-invest-in-people/

Trump’s victory hinged on the Democrats’ refusal to offer more than token resistance to militarism and rising inequality. To successfully organize against Trumpism, we must move toward making actual changes in the lives of those who are most vulnerable and unprotected, especially among the poorest people in our societies.






Black Snakes On The Move: Pipeline Expansion Out of Control
by Teressa Rose Ezell 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/black-snakes-on-the-move-pipeline-expansion-out-of-control/

It’s troubling enough that the growing “Black Snake” has branched out at an alarming rate, forming a massive subterranean coast-to-coast web. But to make matters worse, the nefarious reptile seems to suffer from leaky gut syndrome, so that it functions as a toxic underground sprinkler system, spreading gas, oil, and poisonous byproducts everywhere it goes—including into waterways and drinking water sources.





Punjab Elections 2017-Saffron Everywhere-Where Are White And Red Colours?
by Chaman Lal 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/punjab-elections-2017-saffron-everywhere-where-are-white-and-red-colours/

Communist Party of India and its later variants-CPM, CPI-ML or other leftist groups did not wear ‘Red turban or cap’, yet their meetings and processions during elections since 1952 in PEPSU and in Punjab were marked by ‘Red Flags’! 2017 elections seems to have cleared off all colours, but saffron!






The Culture Of Impunity
by Nivedita Dwivedi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/the-culture-of-impunity/

It is unnerving to even think about the culture of impunity that is taking deep roots all around us. It has not happened overnight but has slowly strengthened itself, step by step, one incident after the next, and has gained enough in size to threaten the very essence of a nation priding itself on its distinct cultural identity. What are these incidents that I am referring to here? I will try to list some here, the list of course not being exhaustive.





Beyond The Muslim Veil
by Moin Qazi 

http://www.countercurrents.org/2017/01/30/beyond-the-muslim-veil/

In recent years, due to the global socio-political climate, the phrase “Muslim woman” might conjure an image of a demure un-empowered woman sheltered by her veil Yet this image is not what our history records or what our present reflects.