Dear Friend,
The prison facility located on the U.S. military base at Guantánamo Bay (Gitmo) is a glaring reminder of the war’s human rights failures and damage to the rule of law. Then-President Bush created the prison in January 2002 to house exclusively Muslim men captured in the “War on Terror.” As with the Afghan war, Biden must ensure that the prison never sees its 20th anniversary.
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Binu Mathew
Editor
Countercurrents.org
Now That Afghan War Is Over, Close Gitmo—Now
by Farrah Hassen
The prison facility located on the U.S. military base at Guantánamo Bay (Gitmo) is a glaring reminder of the war’s human rights failures and damage to the rule of law. Then-President Bush created the prison in January 2002 to house exclusively Muslim men captured in the “War on Terror.” As with the Afghan war, Biden must ensure that the prison never sees its 20th anniversary.
Near-total abortion ban goes into effect in Texas
by Trévon Austin
Legislation banning abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy took effect in Texas at midnight after the US Supreme Court did not act on an emergency appeal by Texas abortion providers Tuesday.
Who Wins Germany’s Election?
by Thomas Klikauer and Meg Young
It has often been said that
predictions are hard to make – particularly when they concern the future. We have seen it many times in recent years and this may just as well apply to the upcoming federal election in Germany scheduled for 26th September 2021.
Rise and rise of Qatar in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
by M K Bhadrakumar
When the US State Department announced that it would host a virtual ministerial meeting on August 30 with “key partners on Afghanistan,” there was an element of surprise in the list of participants. Apart from the US’ NATO and EU allies, there was a solitary non-western partner country — Qatar. What qualified this peninsular Arab country to be invited to join such a privileged circle of America’s Western allies is yet to sink in
On Propaganda and Failed Narratives: New Understanding of Afghanistan is a Must
by Dr Ramzy Baroud
For twenty years, two dominant narratives have shaped our view of the illegal US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, and neither one of these narratives would readily accept the use of such terms as ‘illegal’, ‘invasion’ and ‘occupation.’
Jewish Chronicle’s libel payouts were a small price to pay for smearing Corbyn and the left
by Jonathan Cook
Over the past three years, the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), the misnamed and feeble “press regulator” created by the billionaire-owned corporate media, has found the paper to have breached its code of practice on at least 28 occasions. The weekly has also lost, or been forced to settle, at least four libel cases over the same period.
Enough for Everyone
by Stan Cox
Given the current climate emergency and the broader ecological breakdown that looms, there are few issues more pressing than that expressed by the single word: enough. Yet, it is possible to satisfy humanity’s universal needs fairly—and keep the world livable.
Covid leaves copper utensil artisans of Songir jobless
by Shirish Khare
In Songir, a small town near Dhule in Maharashtra making these embroidered utensils is a fine art, making its products much sought after throughout India. The Covid pandemic has however hit this small, artisanal business hard, with rising raw material costs, disruption of delivery services and falling sales. For the last year and a half work here has been badly affected forcing businesses to close and many workers in the industry seek jobs elsewhere.
Banks’ legal battle for RTI
exemption
by Dr Madabhushi Sridhar
On August 18, the Supreme Court rejected another attempt of the banks to wriggle out of accountability and responsibility under Right to Information Act. Surprisingly the Central Government joins these petitioners. Whom are they facilitating- the scamsters, big loan defaulters etc? Then why dacoits and way side robbers should be jailed?
Jalianwala Bag: Heritage re-made
by Hiren Gohain
I had expected that the entire community of historians, legions of freedom-fighters, and lovers of culture and heritage will erupt into a resounding protest against this sacrilege. But so far only a few political leaders and some respected historians have recorded their sense of loss and outrage. Some people could also have approached the courts to stop this vandalism and restore historical monuments to their dignity. Has
the nation already developed amnesia induced by the drug of constant and widespread divisive, venomous propaganda?
What Made Kerala’s Women Achievers of the Last Century?
by Kandathil Sebastian
Kerala has given birth to many women achievers in the last century. This is a quick analysis based on case studies of three women achievers, from the areas of science, politics, and law. Though these three achievers are selected purposively and there could be some possibility of a selection bias, this analysis offers some key insights.
Tribute to Com. Ramnath
by Harsh Thakor
Com. Ramnath left us a few days ago at the age of 83. He suffered a heart attack and passed away in his sleep early in the morning of August 31st. He was unwell for the last several years but his health had deteriorated severely recently.
