‘Techno-Tyranny: How the U.S. National Security State is Using Coronavirus to Fulfill an Orwellian Vision’, Whitney Webb, May 16, 2020, strategic-culture.org.  (CC w/ attribution)  Given that this tome of an exposé (about 5700 words) is CC, and that the puzzle pieces are so inter-related, I’ll post it all, and thank Ms. Webb profusely for it.  I’ve added a few more bolds to hers.  The graphics from the pdf didn’t come through, but Webb’s text explains them.

“Last year, a U.S. government body dedicated to examining how artificial intelligence can “address the national security and defense needs of the United States” discussed in detail the “structural” changes that the American economy and society must undergo in order to ensure a technological advantage over China, according to a recent document acquired through a FOIA request [124 pg. pdf ]. This document suggests that the U.S. follow China’s lead and even surpass them in many aspects related to AI-driven technologies, particularly their use of mass surveillance.

‘Israeli Politics is Being Dragged into the Grubby Realm of Reality TV, As Benjamin Netanyahu demands a televised showdown with his corruption accusers and Roseanne Barr prepares to address the Knesset, the poverty of public discourse has never been more apparent’, Jonathan Cook , January 13th, 2019, dissidentvoice.org

On August 31 Aleksandr Vladimirovich Zakharchenko, Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk Republic was killed by an explosive device in Café Separa in Donestk.  His body guard was also killed, eleven others were injured.

“To be lynched is a crime. To be poor is a crime. To defend the poor is to plot to overthrow the government, the vulnerable are being cordoned off and silenced. The vociferous are being incarcerated.”

This diary’s title is from Roy’srecent statement at a press conference is featured both scroll.in and outlookindia.com (both Aug. 30, although the former is an easier to read format).  The hashtag’s origin:

(Or: how many sadistic sociopaths can dance on the head of a pin?)

From Patrick Martin at wsws.org June 22: ‘US court documents reveal Immigrant children tied down, hooded, beaten, stripped and drugged’

“Court documents made public in Virginia and Texas give a glimpse of the systematic brutality being meted out to immigrant children in both public and private jails. Children are strapped down, hooded and beaten, or drugged by force, as part of the everyday procedure in what can only be called the American Gulag.