THE LATEST NEWS – HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD

Noam Chomsky on Democracy Now – “This is the Most Remarkable Regional Uprising that I can Remember”
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/2/noam_chomsky_this_is_the_most
Obama very carefully didn’t say anything. Mubarak would agree that there should be an orderly transition, but to what? A new cabinet, some minor rearrangement of the constitutional order—it’s empty. So he’s doing what U.S. leaders regularly do. As I said, there is a playbook: whenever a favored dictator is in trouble, try to sustain him, hold on; if at some point it becomes impossible, switch sides. The U.S. has an overwhelmingly powerful role there. Egypt is the second-largest recipient over a long period of U.S. military and economic aid. Israel is first. Obama himself has been highly supportive of Mubarak. It’s worth remembering that on his way to that famous speech in Cairo, which was supposed to be a conciliatory speech towards the Arab world, he was asked by the press—I think it was the BBC—whether he was going to say anything about what they called Mubarak’s authoritarian government. And Obama said, no, he wouldn’t. He said, "I don’t like to use labels for folks. Mubarak is a good man. He has done good things. He has maintained stability. We will continue to support him. He is a friend." And so on. This is one of the most brutal dictators of the region, and how anyone could have taken Obama’s comments about human rights seriously after that is a bit of a mystery. But the support has been very powerful in diplomatic dimensions. Military—the planes flying over Tahrir Square are, of course, U.S. planes. The U.S. is the—has been the strongest, most solid, most important supporter of the regime. It’s not like Tunisia, where the main supporter was France. They’re the primary guilty party there. But in Egypt, it’s clearly the United States, and of course Israel. Israel is—of all the countries in the region, Israel, and I suppose Saudi Arabia, have been the most outspoken and supportive of the Mubarak regime. In fact, Israeli leaders were angry, at least expressed anger, that Obama hadn’t taken a stronger stand in support of their friend Mubarak.

Just Whose Economic Recovery is it, Anyway?
Pearl Korn, Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/pearl-korn/just-whose-economic-recov_b_819517.html
The president offered a glowing report of an economy on the mend, for which he, of course, took credit. Offering up tax cuts for corporations and aid for their research and development programs so even more profits could be realized. I, personally, would have liked to have heard more about who those good souls are who would be on the receiving end of this support, and how giving them more of our blood and treasure will in turn aid the economy. "Competition" was mentioned no less than 9 times and "jobs" 32 times as the president announced our reentry into the global economy full-throttle. With corporate profits at an all time high, it would seem tax increases rather than tax cuts should have been put forth, at least as an option. As for those who can't find work, the conventional thinking in DC appears to be that it is because they lack the necessary educational skills, and so it is their fault. Americans will have to be better educated in order to compete with workers in India, China and South Korea who are paid pennies on the dollar in comparison. Yes, Mr. President, big business shipped all those jobs overseas because we're too stupid.

Damning New Report Shows US Strategy is Blocking Chance for Peace in Afghanistan
Derrick Crowe, Brave New Films
http://www.alternet.org/world/149815/damning_new_report_shows_u.s._strategy_is_blocking_chance_for_peace_in_afghanistan/

Quote of the Day … Think about one person who has changed your life. What if he or she didn't return your call, hire you, love you, teach you, guide you? What if they didn’t open that door for you? Today, open that door for someone else. – Yehuda Berg

On First Day of New Congress, Koch Operatives Met with GOP Chairman Planning to Gut the Clean Air Act
http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/464218/on_first_day_of_new_congress%2C_koch_operatives_met_with_gop_chairman_planning_to_gut_the_clean_air_act/#paragraph2

Vision: Everyday Brits are in Revolt Against Wealthy Tax Cheats – Can We Do That Here?
Johann Hari, The Nation
http://www.alternet.org/story/149806/vision%3A_everyday_brits_are_in_revolt_against_wealthy_tax_cheats_--_can_we_do_that_here
What if the financial crash of 2008 were followed by a Tea Party of a different kind, one that stood up to the wealthy criminals who caused the crisis.

Teaching Democrats ‘How to Fight’ – PCCC’s Adam Green and Stephanie Taylor
Adele M. Stan, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/149790/teaching_democrats_%27how_to_fight%27%3A_pccc%27s_adam_green_%26_stephanie_taylor

10 Things Conservatives Don’t Want You to Know About Reagan
Alex Seitz-Wald, Think Progress
http://www.alternet.org/story/149812/10_things_conservatives_don%27t_want_you_to_know_about_reagan
The image of Reagan as a conservative superhero is a myth, created to unite the various factions of the right behind a common leader.

Why Bradley Manning is a Patriot, Not a Criminal
Chase Madar, Tomdispatch.com
http://www.alternet.org/story/149875/why_bradley_manning_is_a_patriot%2C_not_a_criminal_

10 Historical ‘Facts’ Only a Right-Winger Could Believe
Roy Edroso, AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/story/149871/10_historical_%27facts%27_only_a_right-winger_could_believe

Duchess Note: Many thanks to Judith in sharing some of the above news articles.