Submitted by Daniel Spaulding via 21stCenturyWine.com,
In American politics the nation of Russia, especially as personified in its leader Vladimir Putin, becomes all things to all men.
Every year, Pew Research Center looks back at the most memorable facts that illustrate important trends shaping our world. From faltering faith in government to the decline of Christians in America and from increased racial tensions to the shrinking American middle-class, here are some of our most striking findings of 2015.
Authored by George Gao via Pew Research,
Regular readers are no doubt familiar with The Pentagon’s ill-fated “train and assist” program for properly “vetted” Syrian rebels.
The program was announced to quite a bit of fanfare - and quite a bit of ridicule due to the burgeoning debate over what counts as a “moderate” fighter - back in May and the idea was to field a group of fighters 5,400 strong by the end of the calendar year. In all, the effort was set to cost US taxpayers some $500 million.
Submitted by James H Kunstler via Kunstler.com,
From Editor Robert Parry: Another way to help Consortiumnews reach its end-of-year fundraising goal is to buy one of my books – Fooling America, Lost History, Secrecy & Privilege or America’s Stolen Narrative – through the Web site and we’ll also send you a copy of Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush for…