International

How America together with Norway  took out the Nord Stream Pipelines

by Seymour Hersh,* USA
(21. Februar) (Red.) Probably the world's most renowned contemporary investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, shed light on what was probably the best-kept “open” secret of the past year – the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea. With this attack, the economic upswing of Europe and especially Germany was abruptly slowed down and led into an economic and military forced alliance with the USA and Great Britain against Russia. A harsh appeal and a serious legal review are still pending...

Waiting for Joseph Biden’s definition of victory in Ukraine

by M. K. Bhadrakumar,* India

(21 February 2023) There was an air of magical realism in the daylong visit to Kiev1 last Friday [3 February] by the EU’s policy commissioners comprising the executive branch of the group – the so-called College – led by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

On the way to the Third World War

What can we do against an escalation?

by Robert Seidel

(14 February 2023) The war in Ukraine and its further course could not come as a surprise. Seen from a distance, it represents a logical continuation of the US strategy to maintain global dominance. Washington’s military guidelines and plans are open to public scrutiny.1 Consequences are frightening.

Syria and the earthquake

by Karin Leukefeld,* Syria

(14 February 2023) (Red.) “Swiss Standpoint” asked Karin Leukefeld, a freelance journalist accredited in Syria, for a short statement on the severe earthquake of 6 February 2023. Next week we will publish her detailed report on the consequences of this catastrophe.

Winds of New Cold War Howling in the Arctic Circle

With operations based in Norway, NATO is replacing the Arctic Council as a decision-making authority in the region

by Vijay Prashad,* Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research

(14 February 2023) In 1996, the eight countries on the Arctic rim — Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States — formed the Arctic Council, a journey that began in 1989 when Finland approached the other countries to hold a discussion about the Arctic environment.

Hunger and poverty in Syria – the result of Western blockade policy

by Karin Leukefeld*

(14 February 2023) (Edit.) The tragic and historically outrageous unilateral decision by the Swiss government in February 2022 to endorse EU sanctions against Russia across the board, despite Switzerland’s neutrality, has seriously damaged Switzerland’s role as a neutral mediator. Moreover, it permanently devalued the position of Geneva as a proven venue for negotiations. This is having a noticeable impact already – and, as always with sanctions, primarily on the lower classes and the poor. The following article from Syria by Karin Leukefeld illustrates how this works. (cm)