Obama Heralds Egypt's Move Toward Democracy

Obama Heralds Egypt's Move Toward Democracy

President Barack Obama heralded Hosni Mubarak's resignation as a step toward democracy in Egypt. AP correspondent Julie Pace reports. (Feb. 11)

Congress leaves unemployed Americans in the cold

Congress leaves unemployed Americans in the cold

Hundreds of thousands of Americans will see their federal unemployment benefits expire this week, and millions more by the end of the year, just in time for the holiday season. Economist Max Fraad Wolff says there is a lot of room to cut the deficit instead of these benefits, starting with military which spends more than half the world's defense budget

US Congress refuses to extend unemployment benefits

US Congress refuses to extend unemployment benefits


Extended unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans begin to run out Wednesday, cutting off a steady stream of income and guaranteeing a dismal holiday season for people already struggling with bills they cannot pay. Daniel Vision from the National Inflation Association says the United States economy will never recover as long as the government continues to distort the economy with economic programs like cash for clunkers.

Cynthia McKinney: US democracy not reflective of the people

Cynthia McKinney: US democracy not reflective of the people


Mumia Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther, was convicted of gunning down a Philadelphia police officer more than 28 years ago. On June 19th, 2009 former US Presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney wrote a letter to US Attorney General Eric Holder to conduct a Civil Rights investigation. Holder never responded and McKinney maintains that there are two sets of justice standards for black and white Americans

Lindorff: Kangaroo court convicted Mumia Abu-Jamal

Lindorff: Kangaroo court convicted Mumia Abu-Jamal

A federal appeals court is hearing arguments concerning the sentence of death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal, a case that has been in court for almost three decades. David Lindorff, the author of Killing Time: An investigation into the death row case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Lindorff went to the protests in Philadelphia and says Mumia Abu-Jamal has used up all his appeals and would have to come up with new evidence to gain a new trial

Mumia Abu-Jamal's lawyer: US death penalty hypocritical

Mumia Abu-Jamal's lawyer: US death penalty hypocritical


Famed political prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal is on death row awaiting another trial that will debate his punishment that was imposed on him so many years ago. Robert R. Bryan has specialized in death-penalty litigation for three decades including a former lead attorney for Mumia Abu-Jamal. He believes the US is hypocritical in its human rights position because of its use of the death penalty

Mumia Abu-Jamal fights for life, justice

Mumia Abu-Jamal fights for life, justice


The world's most famous death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal was arrested almost thirty years ago in Philadelphia over charges of murdering a police officer. Since then he has become a symbol of an unfair and corrupt US justice system. RT's Anastasia Churkina reports from Philadelphia

Mainstream media, US propaganda

Mainstream media, US propaganda


Propaganda is something you might expect from a dictatorship government but what about the United States? In the early 1980's, the US State Department launched a covert propaganda war against its own people. Founder and President of the Institute for Public Accuracy Norman Solomon says that US government propaganda continues today through mainstream media as an extension of the government

US: Crumbling empire

US: Crumbling empire

The US has long prided itself on being an exceptional nation, a City Upon Hill and a beacon of democracy and progress the world over. Yet in education, healthcare and finance, the US is falling behind other developed and developing nations. Last week the US slipped to 49th place in terms of life expectancy, and ranks dead last among developed nations in terms of child well-being. Long dedicated to cultivating an educated, highly skilled workforce, the US is now behind Russia and South Korea in the number of citizens with Bachelor's degrees. So can the empire simply be in the eye of the beholder, or do Americans need to confront the harsh statistics about their lone superpower

French riots in US future

French riots in US future


could be argued that the United States started the new age of the protest during the 1960's, however has the US lost its voice? People in France are taking to the streets rioting in mass protest against the potential new law which would raise the minimum age for retirement. Brian Becker with the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition predicts next year frustrated Americans may take to the streets to reclaim their rights

US protests lack French fire

US protests lack French fire

France is paralyzed by protests around the country due to a proposal to raise the national retirement age. The country is coming to a complete stand still because of rioting citizens, could this ever happen in the United States?

US sanctions fail, hurt civilians

US sanctions fail, hurt civilians


The US economic embargo of Cuba is still in effect 50 years after its inception and appears it is far from ending despite the UN urging to cancel these sanctions. There are estimates that say the sanctions inflicted against Cuba have surpassed 700 billion dollars in losses. Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson former Chief of Staff to Colin Powell says the sanctions against Cuba and other nations are a way for Congress to feel good, they don't work and hurt civilians.

Karzai does not take democracy seriously

Karzai does not take democracy seriously

most elections, the question is about who might win. In the case of Afghanistan, which will elect the lower house of its parliament on September 18, the focus is on whether they can be held in a credible manner across the country. Ann Marlowe, a fellow at the Hudson Institute argued that the high number of candidates and disorganization is leading to much conspiracy. Many of the candidates and observes fear Afghan President Hamid Karzai will again use tactics to pack the Parliament with supporters to try and amend the national constitution to give himself unlimited terms in office.

Afghan elections highlight failure, not progress

Afghan elections highlight failure, not progress

In most elections, the question is about who might win. In the case of Afghanistan, which will elect the lower house of its parliament on September 18, the focus is on whether they can be held in a credible manner across the country. So far a number of election workers and a candidate have already been kidnapped. Journalist Kelley Vlahos said the US has used the elections, both in Iraq and Afghanistan as symbols of freedom and progress; however it is unlikely this election will highlight progress. She said these elections will more likely show the failures of international efforts in Afghanistan and illustrate the corruption in the Afghan government.

Afghan elections free and credible?

Afghan elections free and credible?


most elections, the question is about who might win. In the case of Afghanistan, which will elect the lower house of its parliament on September 18, the focus is on whether they can be held in a credible manner across the country. Malou Innocent, a foreign policy analyst at the Cato Institute said it's hard to even call these elections free and credible given the bribery, voter intimidation, closure of polling places and other problems.