Religion is not a universal and transhistorical phenomenon. What counts as "religious" or "secular" in any context is a function of configurations of power both in the West and lands colonized by the West. The distinctions of "Religious/Secular" and "Religious/Political" are modern Western inventions.
The invention of the concept of "religious violence" helps the West reinforce superiority of Western social orders to "nonsecular" social orders, namely Muslims at the time of publication.
The concept of "religious violence" can be and is used to legitimate violence against non-Western "Others".
Peace depends on a balanced view of violence and recognition that so-called secular ideologies and institutions can be just as prone to absolutism, divisiveness, and irrationality.
William Cavanaugh and others have argued that it is unreasonable to attempt to differentiate "religious violence" and "secular violence" as separate categories.
Religion and art, which should most distinguish us from the beasts, and ought most particularly elevate us, as rational creatures, above brutes, is that wherein men often appear most irrational, and more senseless than beasts.
~ John Locke
CONSPIRACY FACT
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controversial global trade agreement said to make it easier for
corporations to make profits and operate with impunity across borders.
Op-Ed Articles
Russia Plans War Against US Dollar
Putin Advisor Proposes "Anti-Dollar Alliance" To Halt US Aggression Abroad
By Tyler Durden
The war for Ukraine may soon become the war for Europe's independence from the US and a war against the dollar.
The ISIS Fiasco: It's Really an Attack on Iran
By Mike Whitney
There's something that doesn't ring-true about the coverage of crisis in Iraq.
U.S. Again Gunning For "Regime Change" In Iraq
By Moon Of Alabama
The best thing Maliki could now do is to shut down the U.S. embassy and request support from Russia, China and Iran.
How An Arrest In Iraq Revealed Isis's $2bn Jihadist Network
By Martin Chulov in Baghdad
Seizure
of 160 computer flash sticks revealed the inside story of Isis, the
band of militants that came from nowhere with nothing to having Syrian
oil fields and control of Iraq's second city.
The Neocon Surge
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Don't look now, but the latest installment in the decades-old neocon saga is currently taking place.
War, Iraq, Enlightenment
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Breaking this cycle of violence is now within the reach, and the power, of each of us.
War Crime
US Fired Depleted Uranium at Civilian Areas in 2003 Iraq War, Report Finds
By Rob Edwards
The
data shows that many of the DU rounds were fired in or near populated
areas of Iraq, including As Samawah, Nasiriyah and Basrah. At least
1,500 rounds were also aimed at troops, the group says.
What Makes Normal People Commit War Crimes?
By Bettina Chang
"These soldiers are 'normal people' but they have been trained to obey orders with no discussion."
Newly Disclosed Documents Show
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The
classified files, revealed today by the Danish newspaper Dagbladet
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Congress
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U.S. senators had to raise an average of $14,351 a day, every single
day of the week.
To Prison For Poverty
By Sarah Solon
In Alabama, a Poor Teenager is Charged 85 Percent Interest on a $41 Seat Belt Ticket.
Noam Chomsky: The Corporate Elite Are Actively Courting Disaster
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"I will decide if you will go on this plane or not," shouted a US custom official with a stress on "I"
Hard News
23 militants killed in Pakistani operations:
The
Pakistan Army said Thursday that 23 more foreign and local terrorists
were killed in North Waziristan tribal region as the security forces
continued their major offensive.
17 killed in Philippines clash with rebels:
Soldiers
were approaching a known hotbed of the militant Abu Sayyaf group on
the strife-torn island of Jolo when the fighting broke out, military
statements said.
18 militants killed in battles in Iraq's Diyala:
Iraqi
helicopter gunships bombed posts of Sunni militant groups, including
militants linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), an
al-Qaida offshoot, around the city of Udheim which located some 60 km
north of Diyala's provincial capital of Baquba, leaving 15 militants
killed and dozens others wounded
Iraq forces regain control of main refinery: Gov Officials:
Iraqi
government forces regained full control on Thursday of the country's
biggest oil refinery after heavy fighting with Sunni militants
attempting to seize it, officials said.
Satellite Photo Shows Smoke Billowing From Contested Iraqi Refinery:
A
satellite photo handed out by the U.S. Geological Survey Thursday
shows a plume of smoke billowing from a large oil refinery in Baiji,
Iraq that provides much of the region's fuel for electricity and
transportation. The image was taken Wednesday.
Obama announces he is sending up to 300 troops back to Iraq as advisers:
He
said that "we've positioned additional U.S. military assets in the
region" and that increased intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance efforts are helping to develop "more information about
potential targets" associated with insurgents of the radical Sunni
Muslim group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Full Transcript: President Obama's June 19 remarks on Iraq:
President
Obama delivered the following remarks on the crisis in Iraq on June 19
at the White House. Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service.
Obama willing to strike ISIS in Iraq and Syria:
US
officials claim Islamist movement could pose threat to the United
States, say potential US action not limited to specific states
US 'urging Maliki to resign' - live updates:
Centralization
of power and authoritarian tendencies coupled with the benefits of a
long incumbency present practical obstacles to Maliki's removal.
Iraq's Maliki: I won't quit as condition of US strikes against Isis militants:
Republican
John McCain called for the use of US air power but also urged Obama to
"make very clear to Maliki that his time is up".
Maliki or ISIS? Neither looks good to Sunni Awakening veterans: Op-Ed:
The
Sunni Arab fighters who stood against jihadis during the US war in
Iraq feel betrayed by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. But they
also fear the advance of ISIS.
More US bombs and drones will only escalate Iraq's horror: Op-Ed:
Seumas
Milne: The Arab world has endured a century of western attempts to
control the region. Only Iraqis can shape their future
7 soldiers killed in Shiite rebels' attack in Yemen:
In the
past two days, the rebels attacked military posts in Bani Maimoon and
al-Mihshash areas in Amran, about 50 km north of the capital Sanaa,
which broke a ceasefire deal mediated by UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal
Benomar, earlier this month between the rebels and the government, said
the officials.
Car bombing kills 6 Syrians in Homs:
Six
Syrian citizens were killed and 40 others injured on Thursday as a
car-bomb exploded near Maysaloun School in Al-Nazha neighborhood in
Homs, local media reported.
Interview with Prince Turki bin Faisal:
'Saudi
Arabia Wants Downfall of Assad': Saudi Arabia has long urged the West
to arm the Syrian rebels as they battle forces loyal to President
Bashar Assad. In an interview with SPIEGEL, he explains why. He also
says Europe should change its strategy in nuclear negotiations with
Iran.
6 killed in Gaza explosion:
Five
members of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades and a Palestinian firefighter died
in an explosion inside a tunnel in the al-Tuffah neighborhood near a
Hamas military site in eastern Gaza City on Thursday
Clashes flare as Israeli soldiers seek missing teens:
Israeli
forces traded gunfire with Palestinians on Thursday, the military
said, in the fiercest street battles in the occupied West Bank since a
search began for three Israeli teenagers missing for a week.
Israel has Egypt over a barrel:
Clayton
Swisher of Al Jazeera's investigative unit has spent five months
delving into the corrupt sale of Egyptian gas to Israel.
Anti-Iran Propaganda -
Canadian officials eyeing Iran over possible terror attacks on Ottawa:
Noting
Iran's rising "anti-Canada rhetoric," intelligence officials have been
monitoring the Islamic republic as a potential terrorist threat to the
Ottawa area, newly declassified documents show.
Mozambique: Six Soldiers Killed, More Wounded in Armed Confrontation:
At
least six members of the security and Defense and Security Forces of
Mozambique (FDS) died and more suffered serious injuries as a result of
an armed confrontation between government forces and alleged Renamo
guerrillas
Boko Haram Threat Spreads Into Cameroon:
Boko Haram are spilling over the border from Nigeria to terrorise villages and grab young boys
Egypt Muslim Brotherhood chief given new death sentence:
An
Egyptian court sentenced Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and 13
others to death Thursday over violence that killed 10 people in Cairo
last summer.
U.N. Says 257 Civilians Have Been Killed in East Ukraine:
Refuses to Condemn the Ongoing Bombardment
Ukrainian forces attack eastern cities after giving rebels ultimatum:
Pro-Russia fighters refuse to surrender after 'anti-terrorist operation' gives them three hours to give up arms
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/19/ukrainian-forces-attack-eastern-cities-ultimatum-rebels
Ukraine army and self-defense militia exchange bodies (VIDEO):
In
an unprecedented move, Ukrainian self-defense forces and Kiev's troops
have carried out an exchange of dead bodies near Donetsk. However, a
fragile ceasefire reached for the exchange was interrupted by shooting.
Fact or fiction?
Russian buildup seen as fighting rages in Ukraine:
Russia
is resuming its military buildup along the Ukrainian border in an
apparent attempt to intimidate its neighbor, NATO's chief said Thursday
as Ukrainian government forces unleashed a major offensive against
pro-Moscow insurgents.
Russia positions new fighter jets on Ukrainian border :
Moscow
positioned new fighter jets in southern Russia as a ceasefire
agreement with Ukraine collapses amid accusations Kiev violated it.
Deborah Gembara reports.
Australia Slaps Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine Bloodshed:
Australia
on Thursday announced asset freezes and travel bans against 50 Russian
officials and businessmen and 11 Russian companies that it blames for
the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
US Marines linked to Australian energy security:
The
growing number of U.S. Marines in northern Australia is enhancing the
security of the nation's burgeoning gas industry, which extends across
the remote and sparsely populated northern coast, a senior American
general said on Wednesday.
Would-be bomber who caused Stockholm lock-down gives up to police:
Police
had sealed off large parts of the capital city and evacuated buildings
as they negotiated with the man who said he was carrying explosives
and had barricaded himself inside a building near the headquarters of
the main government party.
WikiLeaks Teases 'Very Important Secret Document' Release:
WikiLeaks
offered little detail on its forthcoming release except to say it
contains information pertaining to around 50 countries
Defend Julian Assange!: Two years of asylum in Ecuadorian embassy:
Today
marks two years since WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was forced to
take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy, having been made the target of
a filthy campaign by the Obama administration to have him extradited
to the US to face espionage and treason charges punishable by life in
prison or even death.
Julian Assange to file fresh challenge in effort to escape two-year legal limbo:
Two years after WikiLeaks founder took refuge in Ecuadorian embassy, lawyers poised to challenge Swedish detention order
The cost of global violence and unrest: US $1,350 per person:
Violent
conflict and unrest cost the world as much as the combined economic
output of Britain, Germany, France and Italy last year, or $1,350 per
person globally, an index measuring the state of world peace found on
Wednesday.
S&P downgrades Argentina's credit rating:
President vows to honour payments to bond holders after government suffers setback in long-running legal battle.
Mexico's Astonishing Costs Of Fighting Drug Cartels Have Not Reduced Violence:
Mexico's
efforts to reduce the alarming levels of violence are having a
significant impact on the country's economy. In 2013, the cost to
Mexico of fighting the powerful drug cartels rose to almost $172.7
billion (more than twice Mexico's foreign debt)
POLL: Public Confidence In Congress 'Has Sunk To A New Low':
"Americans'
current confidence in Congress is not only the lowest on record, but
also the lowest Gallup has recorded for any institution in the 41-year
trend.
Cop shoots unarmed great-grandfather at family picnic, faces no consequences:
"We are left with the belief that police in Homer have a license to kill."
Police Can Just Take Your Money, Car and Other Property - and Good Luck Getting It Back:
Alda
Gentile was driving back home to New York from Florida, after having
viewed condos with her son and grandson ahead of a potential move. She
had $11,000 in cash with her, which she brought in order to make a
deposit on her new place.
23 militants killed in Pakistani operations:
The
Pakistan Army said Thursday that 23 more foreign and local terrorists
were killed in North Waziristan tribal region as the security forces
continued their major offensive.
17 killed in Philippines clash with rebels:
Soldiers
were approaching a known hotbed of the militant Abu Sayyaf group on
the strife-torn island of Jolo when the fighting broke out, military
statements said.
18 militants killed in battles in Iraq's Diyala:
Iraqi
helicopter gunships bombed posts of Sunni militant groups, including
militants linked to the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), an
al-Qaida offshoot, around the city of Udheim which located some 60 km
north of Diyala's provincial capital of Baquba, leaving 15 militants
killed and dozens others wounded
Iraq forces regain control of main refinery: Gov Officials:
Iraqi
government forces regained full control on Thursday of the country's
biggest oil refinery after heavy fighting with Sunni militants
attempting to seize it, officials said.
Satellite Photo Shows Smoke Billowing From Contested Iraqi Refinery:
A
satellite photo handed out by the U.S. Geological Survey Thursday
shows a plume of smoke billowing from a large oil refinery in Baiji,
Iraq that provides much of the region's fuel for electricity and
transportation. The image was taken Wednesday.
Obama announces he is sending up to 300 troops back to Iraq as advisers:
He
said that "we've positioned additional U.S. military assets in the
region" and that increased intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance efforts are helping to develop "more information about
potential targets" associated with insurgents of the radical Sunni
Muslim group, Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Full Transcript: President Obama's June 19 remarks on Iraq:
President
Obama delivered the following remarks on the crisis in Iraq on June 19
at the White House. Transcript courtesy of Federal News Service.
Obama willing to strike ISIS in Iraq and Syria:
US
officials claim Islamist movement could pose threat to the United
States, say potential US action not limited to specific states
US 'urging Maliki to resign' - live updates:
Centralization
of power and authoritarian tendencies coupled with the benefits of a
long incumbency present practical obstacles to Maliki's removal.
Iraq's Maliki: I won't quit as condition of US strikes against Isis militants:
Republican
John McCain called for the use of US air power but also urged Obama to
"make very clear to Maliki that his time is up".
Maliki or ISIS? Neither looks good to Sunni Awakening veterans: Op-Ed:
The
Sunni Arab fighters who stood against jihadis during the US war in
Iraq feel betrayed by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. But they
also fear the advance of ISIS.
More US bombs and drones will only escalate Iraq's horror: Op-Ed:
Seumas
Milne: The Arab world has endured a century of western attempts to
control the region. Only Iraqis can shape their future
7 soldiers killed in Shiite rebels' attack in Yemen:
In the
past two days, the rebels attacked military posts in Bani Maimoon and
al-Mihshash areas in Amran, about 50 km north of the capital Sanaa,
which broke a ceasefire deal mediated by UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal
Benomar, earlier this month between the rebels and the government, said
the officials.
Car bombing kills 6 Syrians in Homs:
Six
Syrian citizens were killed and 40 others injured on Thursday as a
car-bomb exploded near Maysaloun School in Al-Nazha neighborhood in
Homs, local media reported.
Interview with Prince Turki bin Faisal:
'Saudi
Arabia Wants Downfall of Assad': Saudi Arabia has long urged the West
to arm the Syrian rebels as they battle forces loyal to President
Bashar Assad. In an interview with SPIEGEL, he explains why. He also
says Europe should change its strategy in nuclear negotiations with
Iran.
6 killed in Gaza explosion:
Five
members of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades and a Palestinian firefighter died
in an explosion inside a tunnel in the al-Tuffah neighborhood near a
Hamas military site in eastern Gaza City on Thursday
Clashes flare as Israeli soldiers seek missing teens:
Israeli
forces traded gunfire with Palestinians on Thursday, the military
said, in the fiercest street battles in the occupied West Bank since a
search began for three Israeli teenagers missing for a week.
Israel has Egypt over a barrel:
Clayton
Swisher of Al Jazeera's investigative unit has spent five months
delving into the corrupt sale of Egyptian gas to Israel.
Anti-Iran Propaganda -
Canadian officials eyeing Iran over possible terror attacks on Ottawa:
Noting
Iran's rising "anti-Canada rhetoric," intelligence officials have been
monitoring the Islamic republic as a potential terrorist threat to the
Ottawa area, newly declassified documents show.
Mozambique: Six Soldiers Killed, More Wounded in Armed Confrontation:
At
least six members of the security and Defense and Security Forces of
Mozambique (FDS) died and more suffered serious injuries as a result of
an armed confrontation between government forces and alleged Renamo
guerrillas
Boko Haram Threat Spreads Into Cameroon:
Boko Haram are spilling over the border from Nigeria to terrorise villages and grab young boys
Egypt Muslim Brotherhood chief given new death sentence:
An
Egyptian court sentenced Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and 13
others to death Thursday over violence that killed 10 people in Cairo
last summer.
U.N. Says 257 Civilians Have Been Killed in East Ukraine:
Refuses to Condemn the Ongoing Bombardment
Ukrainian forces attack eastern cities after giving rebels ultimatum:
Pro-Russia fighters refuse to surrender after 'anti-terrorist operation' gives them three hours to give up arms
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/19/ukrainian-forces-attack-eastern-cities-ultimatum-rebels
Ukraine army and self-defense militia exchange bodies (VIDEO):
In
an unprecedented move, Ukrainian self-defense forces and Kiev's troops
have carried out an exchange of dead bodies near Donetsk. However, a
fragile ceasefire reached for the exchange was interrupted by shooting.
Fact or fiction?
Russian buildup seen as fighting rages in Ukraine:
Russia
is resuming its military buildup along the Ukrainian border in an
apparent attempt to intimidate its neighbor, NATO's chief said Thursday
as Ukrainian government forces unleashed a major offensive against
pro-Moscow insurgents.
Russia positions new fighter jets on Ukrainian border :
Moscow
positioned new fighter jets in southern Russia as a ceasefire
agreement with Ukraine collapses amid accusations Kiev violated it.
Deborah Gembara reports.
Australia Slaps Sanctions on Russia Over Ukraine Bloodshed:
Australia
on Thursday announced asset freezes and travel bans against 50 Russian
officials and businessmen and 11 Russian companies that it blames for
the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
US Marines linked to Australian energy security:
The
growing number of U.S. Marines in northern Australia is enhancing the
security of the nation's burgeoning gas industry, which extends across
the remote and sparsely populated northern coast, a senior American
general said on Wednesday.
Would-be bomber who caused Stockholm lock-down gives up to police:
Police
had sealed off large parts of the capital city and evacuated buildings
as they negotiated with the man who said he was carrying explosives
and had barricaded himself inside a building near the headquarters of
the main government party.
WikiLeaks Teases 'Very Important Secret Document' Release:
WikiLeaks
offered little detail on its forthcoming release except to say it
contains information pertaining to around 50 countries
Defend Julian Assange!: Two years of asylum in Ecuadorian embassy:
Today
marks two years since WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was forced to
take refuge in Ecuador's London embassy, having been made the target of
a filthy campaign by the Obama administration to have him extradited
to the US to face espionage and treason charges punishable by life in
prison or even death.
Julian Assange to file fresh challenge in effort to escape two-year legal limbo:
Two years after WikiLeaks founder took refuge in Ecuadorian embassy, lawyers poised to challenge Swedish detention order
The cost of global violence and unrest: US $1,350 per person:
Violent
conflict and unrest cost the world as much as the combined economic
output of Britain, Germany, France and Italy last year, or $1,350 per
person globally, an index measuring the state of world peace found on
Wednesday.
S&P downgrades Argentina's credit rating:
President vows to honour payments to bond holders after government suffers setback in long-running legal battle.
Mexico's Astonishing Costs Of Fighting Drug Cartels Have Not Reduced Violence:
Mexico's
efforts to reduce the alarming levels of violence are having a
significant impact on the country's economy. In 2013, the cost to
Mexico of fighting the powerful drug cartels rose to almost $172.7
billion (more than twice Mexico's foreign debt)
POLL: Public Confidence In Congress 'Has Sunk To A New Low':
"Americans'
current confidence in Congress is not only the lowest on record, but
also the lowest Gallup has recorded for any institution in the 41-year
trend.
Cop shoots unarmed great-grandfather at family picnic, faces no consequences:
"We are left with the belief that police in Homer have a license to kill."
Police Can Just Take Your Money, Car and Other Property - and Good Luck Getting It Back:
Alda
Gentile was driving back home to New York from Florida, after having
viewed condos with her son and grandson ahead of a potential move. She
had $11,000 in cash with her, which she brought in order to make a
deposit on her new place.
Senators to Offer Groundbreaking Medical Marijuana Amendment
The Past and Future of Drones in the U.S. (w/Infographic)
Britain's First Robot Security Guard Unveiled
Gallup Declares 'Death of Public Confidence in Congress' as Trust Falls to Historic Low of 7%
Activist Post
ISIS In Iraq To Be Used To Justify Invasion In Syria
Brandon Turbeville
City Shuts Down Kid's Free Library Lending Box
Heather Callaghan
It’s Time for a Presidential Course Adjustment
Catherine Frompovich
Skyway Robbery and The Dangers of Traveling Through The United States
Jayant Bhandari
Neighbors of Executed Florida MMA Fighter Question FBI Narrative
Julie Wilson
Hillary on 2nd Amendment: the “viewpoint” crime
Jon Rappoport
Monsanto indoctrinating kids at the zoo
Border propaganda emphasizes heroin as reason ‘everyone’s a suspect’
Aaron Dykes
Energy Markets Are On The Brink Of Crisis
Brandon Smith
Another Meaningless Gesture: House Has Enough Votes to Impeach Obama…AND?
Melissa Melton
25 Shocking Facts About The Earth’s Dwindling Water Resources
Michael Snyder
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Hackers reverse-engineer NSA's leaked bugging devices
Poverty hits twice as many British households as 30 years ago
Russia in secret plot against fracking, NATO chief says
Kraft recalls some Velveeta cheese because it's not fake enough
NASA considers sending quadcopter drone to look for life on Titan
Petraeus: U.S. Must Not Become the Shia Militia's Air Force
LOL - ISIS 'seize Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons stockpile'
The open source revolution is coming and it will conquer the 1% - ex CIA spy
Hemp Seeds Seized at US-Canada Border
Obama Tells Congress He Doesn’t Need Permission for New Iraq War
U.S. is now the 101st ‘most peaceful’ nation on earth
3 Master Tips To Combat Stress
Children on a Mediterranean diet are 15 percent less likely to be overweight: Study
Army spied on activists' meetings in their homes, call civil disobedience terrorism
When It Comes to Protein Consumption, Should You Aim for a Number?
The Bride of 9/11 – Scripted and Ready to Roll
Policy News
WikiLeaks publishes Financial Services Annex to 50-nation Trade in Services Agreement
-
FCC looks to collect fine from maker of mobile-throttling hardware
-
Court unanimously approves abstract patent smackdown
-
Report says Surrey Police's SIREN system was 'poorly managed' and 'ambitious'
Security News
Expect a busy DEFCON with lots of new pwnage products
-
Shouldn't it be cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria?
-
US$620,000 snatched by German hacker 'Folio', we're told
-
What they found: devs leave OAuth keys in the code
-
You're sorry GHash? You will be
-
French bank BNP Paribas and Yelp among those interested in Silk Road's stash
Software News
Code changes proclaim death of OS's original code runtime
-
Public roadmap, early release program for cloudy biz service
-
One word? We can think of at least two
-
Hey advertisers: We're still here
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