Dan Rather | We Must Not Let the Character of Trump Become Acceptable

02 December 18 AM

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Dan Rather | We Must Not Let the Character of Trump Become Acceptable 

Dan Rather, Dan Rather's Facebook Page
Rather writes: "These same charges that cast Nixon into infamy - the obstruction of justice, the witness tampering, the lies - all one really needs for proof is the President's Twitter feed. The truth is hidden (if you want to use that term) in plain sight."
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George H.W. Bush. (image: Natalie Matthews-Ramo/Slate/Thinkstock/reg Gibson/AFP/Getty Images)

George H.W. Bush's "Willie Horton" Ad Will Always Be the Reference Point for Dog Whistle Racism
Rachel Withers, Vox
Withers writes: "George H.W. Bush, the one-term president who died on Friday at age 94, is often overlooked by history, despite having presided over the last truly bipartisan 'grand bargain' and the end of the Cold War. But if there's one context in which his name, along with that of another man, is regularly invoked, it's when political campaigns make coded racist appeals to white voters."
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House Democrats. (photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

House Democrats' First Bill in 2019 Will Address Voting Rights, Ethics, Big Money
David Boddiger, Splinter News
Boddiger writes: "With momentum from historic wins in last month's midterm elections, incoming House Democrats say their first new order of business will be introducing a sweeping reform bill that aims to restore voter rights, remove big money from campaigns, and strengthen ethics oversight in government."
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Seth Frotman left the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: 'There was no desire to help.' (photo: CPFB)

Student Loans Watchdog Who Quit Under Trump Plans Own Initiative
Matt Krupnick, Guardian UK
Krupnick writes: "A former federal student loan watchdog who loudly quit his job this year has announced a new initiative to help solve the $1.5tn student debt crisis."
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Jeff Sessions is expected to announce the suit against California, its governor and its attorney general, on Wednesday. (photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP)

With Trump's Justice Department Retreating, Who Will Now Police the Police?
Christian Sheckler, South Bend Tribune, and Ken Armstrong, ProPublica
Excerpt: "After seeing the videotaped beating, Elkhart's mayor, Tim Neese, asked the Indiana State Police for a 'very thorough and far-reaching' investigation of his Police Department. But the state police turned him down, so he asked the Justice Department for help. His timing could hardly have been worse."
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Andrés Manuel López Obrador. (photo: AP)

The Agenda for Mexico's New Leftist President Is Ambitious. But Is It Doable?
Luke Barnes, ThinkProgress
Barnes writes: "Mexico today will inaugurate its first leftist president since the country transitioned to a full democracy in 2000."
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How South Beach, Miami, could look if temperatures rise by 2C. (image: Nickolay Lamm/Climate Central)

Portrait of a Planet on the Verge of Climate Catastrophe
Robin McKie, Guardian UK
McKie writes: "For 24 years the annual UN climate conference has served up a reliable diet of rhetoric, backroom talks and dramatic last-minute deals aimed at halting global warming. But this year's will be a grimmer affair - by far."
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Nick Turse | US Military Says It Has a "Light Footprint" in Africa. These Documents Show a Vast Network of Bases

01 December 18 It's Live on the HomePage Now: Reader Supported News Nick Turse | US Military Says It Has a "Light Footprint" in Africa. These Documents Show a Vast Network of Bases  Nick Turse, The Intercept Turse writes: "The US military has long insisted that it maintains a 'light footprint' in Africa, and there have been reports of proposed drawdowns in special operations forces and closures of outposts on the continent, due to a 2017 ambush in Niger and an increasing focus on rivals like China and Russia." READ MORE Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman laughs with Vladimir Putin. (photo: Getty) CIA: Saudi Crown Prince Sent 11 Text Messages to Adviser Who Oversaw Khashoggi Killing at Time of His Death Chris Mills Rodrigo, The Hill Rodrigo writes: "Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent at least 11 messages to his adviser, who oversaw the effort to kill Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, around the time of Khashoggi's killing, according to a classified CIA report obtained by The Wall Street Journal." READ MORE Republican Mark Harris. (photo: Nell Redmond/AP) New Election Possible After North Carolina Republican Accused of Stealing Ballots From Elderly Black Voters Jack Crosbie, Splinter News Crosbie writes: "On Thursday, we wrote about the extremely weird goings on in North Carolina's Ninth Congressional District, where Republican Mark Harris beat Democrat Dan McCready by as few as 905 votes, according to unofficial returns." READ MORE 18-year-old Luis Gustavo Lopez was attacked at his father's tire shop in Salt Lake City, Utah. (photo: Veronica Lopez) Man Who Shouted "I'm Here to Kill a Mexican," Then Attacked a Latino Father, Won't Be Charged With Hate Crime Courtney Tanner, The Salt Lake Tribune Tanner writes: "A man accused of beating a Latino father and son outside their Salt Lake City tire shop while yelling about how he wanted to kill a Mexican was charged Friday - but he does not face any enhancements for a hate crime." READ MORE Rep. Steve King (photo: Tom Williams/Roll Call) Steve King Faces Call for Congressional Censure After Latest Racist Remark Luke Barnes, ThinkProgress Barnes writes: "Dozens of civic and civil rights groups have signed a letter demanding that Congress censure Rep. Steve King (R-IA) and deny him any future position in leadership, following remarks this month in which he referred to Mexican immigrants as 'dirt.'" READ MORE Heavy rain and flooding has put additional strain on the nearly 6,000 people living in the camp. (photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters) Heavy Rain Turns Tijuana Asylum Seeker Camp to Mud Nidia Bautista, Al Jazeera Bautista writes: "As heavy downpours Thursday night flooded the already unsanitary encampment in Tijuana's northern side where thousands of Central American asylum seekers are being housed, authorities began moving small groups to a new government-run indoor shelter, 20km east of the US-Mexico border." READ MORE Imja Tso, a glacial lake, did not exist on trekking maps 30 years ago. Today it is 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. (photo: Kunda Dixit/Nepali Times) In Mount Everest Region, World's Highest Glaciers Are Vanishing Kunda Dixit, Nepali Times Dixit writes: "For many tourists trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp, the trip is an adventure of a lifetime. The thin clear air, stark landscape and ice-tipped peaks pierce the inky sky providing Instagram backdrops." READ MORE Contribute to RSN Become a Fan of RSN on Facebook and Twitter Update My Monthly Donation

RSN: William Boardman | Climate Change Response Pits Trump Against US Government

01 December 18

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RSN: William Boardman | Climate Change Response Pits Trump Against US Government 

William Boardman, Reader Supported News
Boardman writes: "'I don't believe it' is not, by definition, a rational argument supported by evidence. It's a statement of faith, not susceptible of proof or rebuttal, and as such is useless to effective governance."
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Frank Rich | Mueller's Steady Stream of Russia Revelations Is Driving Trump Crazy

01 December 18

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Frank Rich | Mueller's Steady Stream of Russia Revelations Is Driving Trump Crazy 

Frank Rich, New York Magazine
Rich writes: "The whole point of the incessant lying by Donald Trump and Manafort - and the apparent lying of Stone and Corsi as well - is to muddy as many waters as possible so any Mueller report will be drowned out by what Kellyanne Conway once labeled 'alternative facts.'"
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RSN's Coverage of The Gathering at the Sanders Institute
Reader Supported News
Excerpt: "Reader Supported News is covering The Gathering at the Sanders Institute Live in Burlington, Vermont. Follow our coverage over the next few days as Bernie meets with progressive leaders and activists."
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Senator Elizabeth Warren. (photo: Aaron P. Bernstein)

Elizabeth Warren Tries to Invent a Foreign-Policy Message for Progressives and the Establishment
Osita Nwanevu, The New Yorker
Nwanevu writes: "When did contemporary American foreign policy first go wrong? In an address at American University's Washington College of Law on Thursday, Senator Elizabeth Warren offered a surprisingly tidy answer."
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Two police stand at their vehicle. (photo: Guardian Liberty Voice)

'It's Still a Blast Beating People': St. Louis Police Indicted in Assault of Undercover Officer Posing as Protester
Tim Elfrink, The Washington Post
Elfrink writes: "When a judge acquitted a white St. Louis police officer in September 2017 for fatally shooting a young black man, the city's police braced for massive protests. But St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Dustin Boone wasn't just prepared for the unrest - he was pumped."
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Donald Trump and Steve Bannon in the Oval Office. (photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Government Watchdog Finds Six Trump Staffers Violated Hatch Act
Morgan Gstalter, The Hill
Gstalter writes: "The U.S. Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) on Friday found that six members of the Trump administration violated the Hatch Act."
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A placard reads 'Not one more death' in a protest against the killing of social activists in Bogota, Colombia. (photo: Reuters)

Jose Antonio Navas: Another Social Leader Killed in Colombia
teleSUR
Excerpt: "The Campesino Association of Catatumbo (Ascamcat) in Colombia denounced Thursday the killing of the social leader Jose Antonio Navas. Like other social leaders and human rights defenders killed in Colombia in 2018, Jose Antonio was murdered by unknown gunmen who shot against him and fled. teleSUR has registered at least 178 murders this year alone."
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The dried lakebed of Lake Mead. (photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Why No US Region Is Safe From Climate Change
Emily Holden, Guardian UK
Holden writes: "Donald Trump doesn't believe his own government's major report on climate change - which the administration tried to bury over the Thanksgiving holiday. It warns that rising temperatures are already harming America and will cause huge damage globally."
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FOCUS: Donald Trump Gave Russia Leverage Over His Presidency

01 December 18

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FOCUS: Donald Trump Gave Russia Leverage Over His Presidency 

Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
Friedersdorf writes: "Shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, he gave a combative press conference at which he was asked by a reporter, 'I was just hoping that we could get a yes or no answer on these questions involving Russia.'"
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US Provides Military Aid To More Than 70 Percent Of World’s Dictatorships

Mint Press News

This is a strange record for a nation that justifies its foreign interventions as aimed at “promoting democracy” and “thwarting evil dictatorships.”

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MINTPRESSNEWS.COM

US Provides Military Aid To More Than 70 Percent Of World’s Dictatorships

About three-quarters of the world’s dictatorships currently 

receive military assistance from the United States.

EXCERPTS:

About three-quarters of the world’s dictatorships currently receive military assistance from the United States. This is a strange record for a nation that consistently justifies its sweeping foreign interventions as aimed at “promoting democracy” and “thwarting evil dictatorships.”

In the Cold War it was “He may be a son of a bitch, but he’s our son of a bitch.” Current analysis shows the U.S. militarily assisting dictators the world over, calling it “promoting democracy,” and disingenuously wondering why it’s all going so badly.

For much of its history, the United States government has explained or defended its intervention in the affairs of other nations by framing such behavior as necessary to “promote democracy” abroad and to thwart the advance of “evil dictators.” While the use of those phrases has hardly dwindled over the years, establishment figures have been forced to admit in recent years that the U.S.’ democracy promotion efforts haven’t gone quite as planned.

For instance, last year, Foreign Policy published an article headlined “Why is America So Bad at Promoting Democracy in Other Countries?” There, Harvard professor Stephen M. Walt noted that most of the U.S.’ democracy promotion efforts abroad end in failure, with nearly a quarter of the world’s democracies having been degraded in the past 30 years. Though Walt blames the U.S.’ muddled history of military interventions for failing to spread democracy, a new analysis suggests that the reason for this troubling trend is not that democracy wasn’t promoted the “right” way, but rather that democracy was never meant to be promoted at all.

Rich Whitney, an attorney and writer, sought to compare Freedom House’s rating system of political rights for 2015 to the U.S. government’s provision of military assistance – military training, military aid and weapons sales – to foreign nations that same year. Whitney’s stated goal was to determine whether the U.S. government actually opposes dictatorships and champions democracy at a global level, as is often claimed. His independent analysis found that the U.S. has actually manifested the opposite of its stated intention, by providing military assistance to 36 of the world’s 49 dictatorships. In other words, more than 73% of the world’s dictatorships currently receive military assistance from the United States.

For his analysis, Whitney used a commonly accepted definition of dictatorship: “a system of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute state power, thereby directing all national policies and major acts — leaving the people powerless to alter those decisions or replace those in power by any method short of revolution or coup.” He chose Freedom House’s Freedom in the World annual reports, citing it as the best source for a comprehensive list of dictatorships and “free” societies. Whitney, however, noted that the ostensibly independent organization has a “decidedly pro-US-ruling-class bias.”

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Related | US Opens First Military Base In Israel, Adding To Over 800 Worldwide

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Freedom House’s bias makes the results of Whitney’s analysis even more damning. The organization is funded by a combination of Western government and nongovernmental-organization sources, including the George Soros-funded Open Society Foundations. Thus, its categorization of nations as dictatorships or as free societies is largely analogous to how the U.S. State Department classifies such nations — meaning that U.S. monetary support of such dictatorships is a knowing and willful repudiation of democracy promotion abroad.

Furthermore, many of the nations labeled as dictatorships by Freedom House are rivals of the United States, and thus tended to be labeled dictatorships even though they are not. For example, both Iran and Syria were labeled dictatorships even though Iran held democratic elections earlier this year and Syrian president Bashar al-Assad was re-elected in 2014 with 88.7% of the vote. Russia, the eternal rival of the United States, is also considered a dictatorship according to Freedom House despite the fact that elections regularly occur there. If these three nations were removed from list, the U.S. would then support upwards of 78% of the world’s dictatorships.

In addition, other decidedly undemocratic nations that receive large amounts of U.S. military aid were not included as dictatorships in the Freedom House report and thus in Whitney’s analysis. For instance, Israel receives over $10 million in U.S. military aid every day despite the fact that all Palestinians living within its borders are disenfranchised and subject to either concentration-camp conditions or imposed military rule.

 Though this analysis of the government’s own data and data from a pro-Western think tank has revealed the U.S.’ far-reaching support for dictatorships around the world, such a revelation is unlikely to change anything about the U.S.’ long-standing modus operandi. For of course U.S. support for dictators is nothing new: many Cold War-era dictators, particularly in Latin America and Asia, were installed and backed with full U.S. government support despite their despotism, in order to allow the U.S. to “contain” communism and Soviet influence.

Ultimately, “democracy promotion” was never the true intent, but instead the disguise to mask the imperial conquest of nations that refused to acquiesce to U.S. government demands. For that reason, the notable military interventions of recent decades — particularly Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya — were sold to the U.S. public as being born out of the need to “restore” democracy and wrest control from “evil dictators.” That narrative continues to be used to justify pushes for regime change abroad, even though the U.S.’ self-image as the world’s greatest democracy hangs in tatters.

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