Kit O'Connell

A gonzo journalist from Austin, Texas and Staff Writer for MintPress News, Kit O'Connell's writing has also appeared at Truthout, the Texas Observer, and The Establishment.

How A 100 Year-Old British Colonial Contract Continues To Shape The Middle-East

One Palestinian living in Kuwait suggested the agreement created an atmosphere of defeatism and weakness: ‘Today, the Middle East continues to see itself as the result of Western dominance.’

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
The Ottoman surrender of Jerusalem to the British, December, 1917, One year after the Sykes-Picot agreement was signed.

AUSTIN, Texas --- Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of a decision by French and English diplomats to divide the Middle East into competing empires -- a decision that continues to influence unrest in the region even today. The historic Sykes-Picot agreement, named for its authors, diplomats Mark Sykes of Great Britain and François

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WikiLeaks: Brazil’s Acting President Michel Temer Is US Diplomatic Informant

The Intercept’s Glenn Greenwald noted that Temer will ‘faithfully serve the interests of Brazil’s richest’ along with the interests of Goldman Sachs and the International Monetary Fund.

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
Brazil's acting President Michel Temer arrives to speak, at Planalto presidential palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, May 12, 2016.

SAO PAULO --- Brazil's new acting president is a known U.S. informant who has provided Washington with insider information about the Brazilian government on multiple occasions. Michel Temer's ties to the U.S. government, as revealed by WikiLeaks' Public Library of U.S. Diplomacy, add to the growing body of evidence that the parliamentary

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No Sneakers For Nakba: Reebok Denies Shoe Celebrating Israeli ‘Independence’

A Palestine organizer of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement called the sneaker an ‘unethical, insensitive and irresponsible’ show of support for Israeli apartheid.

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
reebok israel

AUSTIN, Texas --- Under intense pressure from activists, a global manufacturer of athletic footwear and clothing has backed away from plans to honor Israel with a special sneaker. On Monday, Reebok announced a blue and white sneaker with “Israel 68” emblazoned on the heel to mark the 68th anniversary of the signing of the Israeli Declaration of

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Noam Chomsky: Europe Shows ‘Real Cowardice’ In The Face Of US Imperial Power

The renowned linguist, philosopher and scholar declared Europe’s unwillingness to aid Edward Snowden ‘a revelation of real cowardice in the face of a power that the European elites are unwilling to confront.’

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
Feredica Mogherini, the European Union's foreign policy chief, speaks with Secretary of State John Kerry, during the seventh U.S. - E.U. Energy Security Council meeting, during the U.S. Caribbean-Central American Energy Summit at the State Department, Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

MUNICH --- Noam Chomsky, a renowned political philosopher and scholar, accused Europe of exhibiting cowardice in the face of American imperial power. The author of over 100 books on topics ranging from linguistics to anarchy, spoke with Zain Raza, senior editor of independent media outlet acTVism Munich, for an interview published on Monday.

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Maryland’s Green Party Senate Candidate Says It’s Time To ‘Build A Political Alternative’

Inspired by the success of Seattle’s third-party City Council member, Kshama Sawant, Margaret Flowers is using her campaign as an opportunity to ‘build a political alternative that’s the opposite of the two corporate parties.’

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
Margaret Flowers speaks at a Mount Rushmore Earth Day Protest.

BALTIMORE --- A pediatrician and activist from Maryland who’s running for the U.S. Senate says it’s time for Americans to demand a voice in government. “This seems like a really important time to start to build a political alternative that’s the opposite of what the two corporate parties are,” Margaret Flowers told MintPress News. In January,

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Trolling Her Way To The White House?: Clinton-Linked PAC Launches $1M Campaign Against Trump & ‘Bernie Bros’

Even as Clinton calls for campaign finance reform, one activist accused the PAC of ‘exploiting a loophole in campaign finance law’ that permits this kind of aggressive social media campaign.

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
Hillary Clinton's PAC, Correct the Record. announced plans to launch an online offensive against her detractors.

AUSTIN, Texas --- Hillary Clinton is taking her battle for the White House to social media, as a new super PAC linked to her campaign prepares to spend big to participate in online flame wars. Correct the Record will help Clinton’s supporters “push back on online harassment,” according to a statement recently published on the organization’s

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FBI & DOJ Defend Secrecy Of WikiLeaks Investigation In 113-Page Court Filing

The FBI and Justice Department called Chelsea Manning’s Freedom of Information Act request ‘a quintessential example of an improper attempt to use FOIA to force the government to open its investigative files to public inspection.’

Kit O'Connell
By Kit O'Connell
Assange Wikileaks

WASHINGTON --- The FBI and Justice Department filed a massive court document earlier this year that defends their refusal to release files from their WikiLeaks investigations. The 113-page filing, dated March 15, contains dozens of pages of court cases which support their argument that they can’t be forced to release any details about their

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