Burundi’s crisis: Complacency, inaction or racism – or all of it?

There is no end, it seems, to diplomats and government representatives who “express concern”, appeal, urge the parties to show restraint, warn, condemn etc. All words, no deeds. European leaders reaction is basically silence – while 16 Europeans killed in the office of Charlie Hebdo made them walk arms in arm in Paris. When I think of Burundi today, all these words by Martin Luther … Continue reading Burundi’s crisis: Complacency, inaction or racism – or all of it?

Libya, “migrants” and EU military action

E.U. Seeks U.N. Backing for Military Action to Stop Wave of Migrants Fleeing Horrific Abuse in Libya | Democracy Now!I’ve been around for a long time but I can still get both surprised and angry when I see things like this and try to connect the dots: 1) NATO bombs the hell out of Libya and kills its head of state and many others.2) Predictably … Continue reading Libya, “migrants” and EU military action

Today’s V-Day as a lost opportunity for peace-making

This is TFF PressInfo # 321. It’s about the lack of wisdom and compassion of the Western leaders who are staying away from today’s commemoration/Celebration in Moscow of the victory over Nazi Germany. The different nationalities of the then Soviet Union lost between 20 and 27 million people. Why is it that all European countries remember their own sacrifies but ignore the largest sacrifice of … Continue reading Today’s V-Day as a lost opportunity for peace-making

Militarism, taxpayer money for war planning and lack of democracy

My deeply concerned wake-up call to YOU! Please share and spread further!NATO’s military leader is like a man given a scalpel to perform surgery without ever having opened a book on medicine.Taxpayers pay for getting less and less secure and risking war in Europe. These military elites have no democratic mandate – be it in the West, Russia, China or anywhere.My interview with RT International Continue reading Militarism, taxpayer money for war planning and lack of democracy

Hvad skal Danmark med kampfly?

Der findes bedre argumenter imod end for. De officielle argumenter holder i hvert fald ikke. Og i det hele taget handler en informeret debat i et demokrati absolut ikke bare om hvilket kampfly, vi skal have.“Opinionen. Magasinet med tværkulturel kant” har lavet et længere interview om disse ting og om hvad dansk udenrigspolitik også kunne være – med en lille smule krativitet. God læsning! Continue reading Hvad skal Danmark med kampfly?

Burundi – Early warning and violence prevention

Burundi is a country with very special characteristics. It’s always been in the shadow of Rwanda and relatively neglected by the international community. A very very serious crisis is now unfolding because its president, Pierre Nkurunziza, is willing to risk everything to get elected for a third 5-year time which is very dubious according to the constitution. It’s a country with a GDP per capita … Continue reading Burundi – Early warning and violence prevention

Behind every refugee stands an arms trader

It would be good if we could address the reasons why refugees come from Africa to Europe. It’s difficult to do anything serious about the problems – and avoid terrible human suffering like those we have just witnessed – if nobody bothers to talk about root causes and believe that the solution is just to allocate more money to deal with symptoms and “repair” work. … Continue reading Behind every refugee stands an arms trader

The links between refugees and war

It’s our wars, stupid!A short interview on Russia Today about Europe’s woefully inadequate understanding of why refugees come here.Towards a solution: Deal with conflicts early and by peaceful means, criminalise arms trade and abolish war and you’ve solved most of the world’s refugee problems!Interview on YouTube with RT International (700 million viewers worldwide and to be broadcast repeatedly on April 20, 2015). Continue reading The links between refugees and war

Behind every refugee stands an arms trader

This sunny Sunday morning, we wake up to yet another human catastrophe in the Mediterranean. The earlier ones have not caught much media attention – imagine if these had been luxury cruise ships with white Europeans and Americans. I listened carefully to the presenter at AlJazeera in this report Hundreds feared dead as boat capsizes off Libya coast He says that they come to seek … Continue reading Behind every refugee stands an arms trader

Tænk hvis nogen havde lært noget

Syriens præsident: De farligste IS-ledere i vores region er fra Skandinavien Det er nok en tanke værd dét al-Assad hér siger. I foråret 2013 talte jeg – lige efter daværende udenrigsminister Villy Søvndal – på en konference arrangeret af Udenrigsministeriet og Dansk Institut for Internationale Studier, DIIS. Jeg advarede mod alt hvad der på den tid blev gjort af en gruppe lande, inkl Danmark, der … Continue reading Tænk hvis nogen havde lært noget

The UN Yemen mediator resigns – conspicuously

UN Yemen envoy Jamal Benomar resigns amid crisis – Al Jazeera English How conspicuous that Benomar – whom I happen to know a little bit – is choosing this moment to resign. It’s only a two days after the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo on the Houthis but coming out in de facto support of the Saudi-led coalition bombing of Yemen by not … Continue reading The UN Yemen mediator resigns – conspicuously

If so, let the U.S. isolate itself

Iran says nuclear deal depends on lifting of sanctions | Reuters This is a timely reminder to those who believe the Iran nuclear deal can be reduced to and hinges upon the deal between Congress and Obama. Says Iranian President Rouhani: “We are in talks with the major powers and not with the Congress,” Rouhani said. I draw three conclusions: 1. If there will be … Continue reading If so, let the U.S. isolate itself

The alleged Russian sub was a civilian plastic boat. And. . . ?

Swedish Admiral Admits ‘Russian Submarine’ Was Actually Civilian Boat” • The Moscow Times One wonders how many Swedes were seduced to believe that this was a Russian thing? And how many million dollars that search cost – and what effect such a “mistaken” photo had in terms of strengthening the Swedish military, increasing the budget and having the Nordic countries gang up to “deter” Russia. … Continue reading The alleged Russian sub was a civilian plastic boat. And. . . ?

The Nordic defence ministers letter isn’t helpful at all

Stubb and Tuomioja rush to reassure after Russian statement: “Nothing to worry about” | yle.fi To old-fashioned politics, security is still predominantly about weapons, military activities and “signalling”. It’s not about dialogue, human security and quickly opening up areas of co-operation which could help bring about mutual understanding. One way of interpreting this Nordic defence co-operation push is to see it as a way to … Continue reading The Nordic defence ministers letter isn’t helpful at all

Valentina Lisitsa

Valentina Lisitsa – YouTubeThe world class pianist barred from playing with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra because of her tweets about the Ukraine conflict.As if that had anything to do with her art. Shame on Toronto Phony! With suppression of such art by a Western cultural institution we are all doomed! And where are all the phony Paris marchers from Charlie Hebdo today – Netanyahu, Helle … Continue reading Valentina Lisitsa

Comments to Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

Today Charles Krauhammer – a well-known extreme rightist usually advocating war – writes in the Washington Post under the headline “The Iran deal: The anatomy of a disaster”. My comments under the article goes: The day Mr. Krauthammer will write about• sanctions on Israel for its nuclear weapons and international law violations;• anytime/anywhere inspections in all nuclear weapons countries including Israel (does he really believe … Continue reading Comments to Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post

Comment to Israel’s defence minister in Washington Post

Israel’s defence minister Moshe Ya’alon writes in Washington Post under the headline “Current Iran framework will make war more likely”When I wrote my comment there were already more than 1100 comments – so here it is: “Israel’s defence minister is an echo of PM Netanyahu. Nothing new, Israel’s official views are well-known, beamed out a thousand times more effectively than Iran’s to the world, not … Continue reading Comment to Israel’s defence minister in Washington Post

The Zionist lobby does it again – and again

This is the second posting today on this issue…Please support Jake Lynch, a TFF Associate, from being sacked because of his solidarity with Palestine and SIGN this: Open letter to University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor:“Dr Spence, reject calls to punish Palestine-justice supporters”Sydney Staff for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (Sign after the list of signatures and before the comments) Continue reading The Zionist lobby does it again – and again

Yet another attack by Zionists on academic freedom

Medialens tells us that the Zionist lobby does it again! Are we surprised?Oh yes, when was it last all Western leaders praised freedom of expression by walking through Paris? Will even one of them now stand up and demand that this conference be held anyhow? What is it the West’s academic community boats about in comparison with other cultures – isn’t it freedom of our … Continue reading Yet another attack by Zionists on academic freedom

Isn’t it time to boycott pro-Zionist media?

Listen very carefully to the eloquent PM Netanyahu here again giving it full blast thanks to CNN in an interview in which he (again) says nothing new.Why – just why – is his views given coverage again and again and again in Western media? Does the Iranian or other P5+1 get anywhere near the same media coverage (I can’t remember every having seen a Chinese … Continue reading Isn’t it time to boycott pro-Zionist media?

Iran nuclear deal – a road to peace

Jan Oberg commenting on Iranian President Rouhani: “Tehran abides by commitments, if P5 1 fulfills promises” – YouTube/PressTV http://ow.ly/LbX3d In spite of the deal’s negative sides, Iran has chosen peace to the benefit of the world. In that perspective it is much more than a nuclear deal, it’s – potentially – a road to peace. Continue reading Iran nuclear deal – a road to peace

Russisk og dansk propaganda – statslige og statslige medier…

Deadline – DR om russisk propaganda – og kun dén. Indslaget er et glimrende eksempel på hvor statsmagten og formodede frie medier taler sammen på en helt indforstået måde. Der spørges ikke om hvad propaganda er i ministerens mund; det nævnes ikke at propganda også kan være fortielse. Det er helt indforstået at vi i vest siger sandheden og at vi nu skal bruge endnu … Continue reading Russisk og dansk propaganda – statslige og statslige medier…

16 years since NATO started its war on Yugoslavia – all criminals still at large

Today – 16 years since NATO began to bomb Serbia and did so mercilessly for 78 days to carve out Kosovo as an independent state – still today a failed one.Remember that when you talk about Crimea today.Here is a link to “Yugoslavia – What Should Have Been Done?” – probably the world’s most comprehensive blog about the dissolution of Yugoslavia; it’s written since 1991 … Continue reading 16 years since NATO started its war on Yugoslavia – all criminals still at large

P1 Debats politiske tilrettelæggelse omkring missilforsvaret

De fleste mennesker, der lytter til radio eller ser TV, tænker næppe så meget over hvad der også kunne være foregået og med hvilke deltagere. De ser et færdigt produkt, ikke processen – og de tager, nok så forståeligt, stilling til det de ser og hører snarere end til noget andet, de i en forestillingsverden kunne have set eller hørt.

Med de sociale medier kan man nu formidle informationer i rollen som mediemenneske og fortælle hvordan det også går til sådan bag kulisserne.

Måske lyttede du til P1 Debat på Danmarks Radio nu idag kl 12:15-13:00 om missilskjoldet og den russiske ambassadørs åbne brev? I så fald kan kopien herunder af min korrespondence med P1 Debats redaktør Anne Henderson måske have din interesse.

Den dokumenterer at jeg skriftligt blev inviteret til at deltage per telefon, at jeg sagde ja tak men under forudsætning af visse rammebetingelser kunne opfyldes gennem videre samtale – herunder a) at der blev mulighed for at forklare at missilforsvaret kan ses som en del af en større amerikansk atomkrigs-strategi og b) at der må være fair play med mig siddende udenfor studiet specielt når programmet efter min opfattelse allerede da er planlagt med en holdningsmæssig slagside.

Den viser endvidere at der gik næsten et døgn inden Hendersons svarer og så pludselig mener at det dér med at sidde på en telefon medførte at man har besluttet at jeg alligevel ikke skal deltage. Vel, læs selv nedenfor.

Continue reading “P1 Debats politiske tilrettelæggelse omkring missilforsvaret”

EU agrees on sanctions on Russia – but what about peace?

EU agrees Russia sanctions to stay until Ukraine peace terms met (Reuters). Exactly as expected. If the EU can make a conflict-resolution mistake, rest assured that it will! Minsk is not a peace agreement – but at Reuters they don’t know the difference between a ceasefire and a peace agreement. The looming catastrophe is exactly that there is no follow-up to Minsk II, no process … Continue reading EU agrees on sanctions on Russia – but what about peace?

UN Peacekeepers to be deployed in Eastern Ukraine? Yes, please!

Deployment of UN peacekeepers should be agreed with both sides of Ukrainian conflict, says Lavrov — RT Russian politics.Ukraine has – wisely – suggested that UN Peacekeepers be stationed in Eastern Ukraine. Russia’s foreign minister sounds positive. That is important and good news – the most constructive for a year. To get the UN peacekeepers into the conflict zone has been one of TFF’s proposals since the … Continue reading UN Peacekeepers to be deployed in Eastern Ukraine? Yes, please!

Like we use Islamism – why not USism

War with Iran is probably our best option – The Washington PostBy Joshua Muravchik – one of the extremist neo-cons influencing U.S. foreign policy. Hardly one argument backed up by facts here. The professor advocates a series of violations of international law. He thinks it is fine to kill people and cause regime change. Two simple points: Why does Washington Post publish such crap? Answer: … Continue reading Like we use Islamism – why not USism

From preventing to making peace in Ukraine

Today published a new TFF PressInfo # 314 with the above headline. I hope you’ll find it more constructive than most of the other things you may see and that you will hsrae it if you do. Also, you can subscribe to TFF PressInfos and get them by e-mail into your in-box – before they are posted on the Net – by writing to pressinfo@transnational.org … Continue reading From preventing to making peace in Ukraine

And who funded Sen Tom Cotton’s and 46 other Senators’ mean, condescending letter?

Senator Cotton – behind the Letter of 47 – has been promoted by pro-Israeli RJC’s Singer and Adelson • LobeLog Instructive reading for anyone who thinks – because they are manipulated by Western mainstream media – that economic corruption in politics and oligarchs are only found in Russia and China and not in the so-called democracy of the United States. It seems that not only … Continue reading And who funded Sen Tom Cotton’s and 46 other Senators’ mean, condescending letter?

The Saudi Arabia – Sweden row

Saudi Arabia recalled envoy to Sweden amid diplomatic row – YouTube video with Iranian PressTV. I comment on the Sweden-Saudi Aabia conflict, points out that it is good that Sweden introduces some ethical consideration but that it lacks a positive vision in Swedish foreign policy. Certainly Saudi Arabia – now the world’s largest arms importer – doesn’t need more weapons. It is wrong to cut … Continue reading The Saudi Arabia – Sweden row

The military game between NATO and Russia – it is dangerous and not in our name!

My interview with RT, Russia Today – This military build up is not in our name !! While we speak there is a huge military exercise in Northern Norway – a NATO member, Joint Viking. There is NATO’s Atlantic Resolve in the Baltic region (see interesting maps on the link). There are smaller ones in Germany and one coming up in the Black Sea. Why … Continue reading The military game between NATO and Russia – it is dangerous and not in our name!

TFF PressInfo # 313: Ignore the 47 irresponsible US Republican senators

By Farhang Jahanpour & Jan Oberg, TFF Board membersRead the whole text “Ignore the 47 irresponsible US Republican senators – here” Now that Iran cannot trust the U.S. – what must be done to secure a nuclear deal? NATO and EU friends of the US as well as the other negotiating powers must come forward. Iran must be assured that a deal is a deal. … Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 313: Ignore the 47 irresponsible US Republican senators

Operation Atlantic Resolve – Europeans wake up!

Operation Atlantic ResolveLook at the map on this link with all NATO’s military “events” around Russia, planned from the Baltic Republics to Georgia – exactly what President Clinton started out on in 1993. Aren’t we grateful for the U.S. commitment to security in Europe? NO! This is uniquely stupid if you believe, really believe, that there is no military solution. You do this and you … Continue reading Operation Atlantic Resolve – Europeans wake up!

If there is no military solution, then why this and no political process?

Over 100 US armored vehicles roll into Latvia, NATO flexes muscles in Europe (VIDEO) — RT News We all know – because it has been said by all Western leaders that there is no military solution to the crisis around Ukraine. So this build-up close to the Russian border must be interpreted as a signal about dearly wishing to start direct talks, build trust, develop … Continue reading If there is no military solution, then why this and no political process?

Politiken publicerer mindre under Udland end jeg gør på Facebook

Politiken har fået en ny online-udgave. På flere ledder en forbedring – måske. Men er det ikke mærkeligt så lidt man kan klare sig med om verden uden for den danske andedam? På Politikens menu “Udland” finder jeg 2 artikler 9/3, 8 8/3, 0 7/3, 3 6/3 og 10 5/3 – 23 artikler over 5 dage. Og mindst 3/4 er telegrammer fra Ritzau. De fleste … Continue reading Politiken publicerer mindre under Udland end jeg gør på Facebook

About the nuclear negotiations with Iran

Iran’s FM Zarif: “Any deal with P5 1 would cover all issues”I agree with the foreign minister and point out how a-symmetric this conflict is. I believe also that historic mistrust should have been dealt with before technicalitites.Then I ask how on earth it could be better for Israel if there is no deal than if there is one – as PM Netanyuahu argues and … Continue reading About the nuclear negotiations with Iran

Olof Palme – murdered today 29 years

Olof Palme – murdered today 29 years ago • Wikipedia A politician who willed a better society, to whom politics was a calling – working for justice, international law, nuclear disarmament, against big countries bullying small countries, a person who made Sweden stand ut. Then. And it was the Palme Commission on Common Security that broke the ice towards the end of the Cold War … Continue reading Olof Palme – murdered today 29 years

What the War on Terror Has Wrought: More terrorism

What the War on Terror Has Wrought: More TerrorismMy text for TFF PressInfo re-prited in CounterPunch – a “popular political sources in America, with a keen following in Washington” (The Observer). I’m proud to be re-printed there!TFF PressInfos are spread all over the place. You can get them by e-mail: write to PressInfo@transnational.org Continue reading What the War on Terror Has Wrought: More terrorism

TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger picture

TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger pictureWhat is terrorism? Why do we talk much more about that than other types of deaths? Why is the word misused?What has nuclear weapons – that politicians and media hardly ever talk about – got to do with terror?Why should we all be careful not to exaggerate the phenomenon of terror? Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 310: Terrorism – small dot in a larger picture

Political propaganda: Ukraine, media deception and democracy

On political propaganda, media wars and moreJan Oberg interview with RT International – YouTube On political propaganda, counter-propaganda – the case of Ukraine – and how news have become commodities to be sold on a market and undermining democracy and people’s wish to engage in politics. Freedom of expression and freedom of deception hand in hand… Continue reading Political propaganda: Ukraine, media deception and democracy

TFF PressInfo # 309: Learn conflict and peace in 20 minutes

Just out! TFF PressInfo # 309Learn conflict and peace in 20 minutes11.000 people around the world just got it in their mailbox. If you did not, write to press@transnational.org Continue reading TFF PressInfo # 309: Learn conflict and peace in 20 minutes

Who are the barbarians of our time?

When I watch this documentary, Iraq: Shattered Heritage, I cannot but ask myself: Who are the barbarians of our time? What is the mote and what is the beam in this world? Who tells Russia that “big countries shall not bully smaller countries”? Isn’t it time for the Western world to acknowledge its own dark sides and stop projecting them on everybody else? I am … Continue reading Who are the barbarians of our time?

NATO strengthens forces in Eastern Europe

NATO strengthens forces in eastern Europe against Russia risk – Reuters This is indeed worrying and will cause a tough Russian response at some point. However, it is a little less militaristic than I had feared (or the more worrying steps are not made public). NATO talks war preparation while Chancellor Merkel and President Hollande are on diplomatic mission to Kiev and Moscow with a … Continue reading NATO strengthens forces in Eastern Europe

Wisdom of expression

Freedom of expression fundamentalism – or what happened to Charlie?Four main reasons you need to be wise – and not make New Atheism your new creed! This is TFF PressInfo # 304. You can get these fast-growing PressInfos winging into you e-box too. Just write to pressinfo@transnational.org Continue reading Wisdom of expression

The world’s richest 1% will own more than all the rest by 2016!

Richest 1% will own more than all the rest by 2016! – Oxfam report states. The West has had about 300 years to create a more fair world – as it thought of itself as a civilising factor and as the First World, as a model. But it has only made things worse. It has accumulated wealth to itself and elites in allied countries. This … Continue reading The world’s richest 1% will own more than all the rest by 2016!

If one could say so I would: “I’m Pope!”

After Paris attacks, Pope Francis speaks out against insulting religions: “You can’t kill in the name of a religion. That is an aberration.” And “You can’t provoke, you can’t insult the faith of others, you can’t make fun of faith.” Thank God there is such a wise Pope! If it couldn’t be misunderstood I would say “I’m Pope”! Remember also Gandhi: “There can be no … Continue reading If one could say so I would: “I’m Pope!”

Would one European leader say “nonviolence” too?

Text: • Who of them will say: “My belief in my Western identity and our values and culture is strong. Therefore, I am Security, Police and Intelligence – but I am also Nonviolence, Dialogue and Reconciliation. And I feel safe when I take the first step away from the spiral of violence. • Let me repeat for a thousandth time that nonviolence is of the … Continue reading Would one European leader say “nonviolence” too?