On the 33rd anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on Nov. 9, 1989, we look back on why the wall was built in this essay by the late William Blum, published on July 28, 2011 on Consortium News.
The Other Side of the Berlin Wall
Category: Cold War
November 9 in German History
The Berlin Wall fell 33 years ago today on Nov. 9, a strangely important date in German history, reports Joe Lauria.
Chris Hedges: Stop Worrying & Love the Bomb
The longer the proxy war in Ukraine continues, the closer the U.S. comes to a direct confrontation with Russia. Once that happens, the Dr. Strangeloves running the show will reach for the nukes.
60 Years After the Cuban Missile Crisis
With the conflict in Ukraine putting the world back on the brink, Robert Dodge confronts the false narrative that nuclear weapons make us safe.
Blood in the Archives
Newly declassified files from the National Archives of Australia show how the Department of Foreign Affairs provided PR cover for Indonesia’s genocidal scorched-earth campaign in East Timor, Peter Job reports.
British Intelligence Predicted Ukraine War 30 Years Ago
The U.K. anticipated a “serious confrontation between Russia and Ukraine” as far back as 1992, declassified files show, Phil Miller reports. One senior official even questioned whether Ukraine was “a real country.”
The Pan-African Choice
As Western powers warn of nefarious Chinese and Russian designs, Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram outline how the brutal history of the Western powers in Africa makes the case for non-alignment.
SCOTT RITTER: Reaping the Whirlwind
Putin’s order to begin partial mobilization of Russian military forces continues a confrontation between Russia and a U.S.-led coalition of Western nations that began at the end of the Cold War.
Text of Putin’s Speech on Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a major address on the war in Ukraine, which changes its nature dramatically. As a service, CN provides here the English text of the speech.
War Is No Answer to Insecurity
Old habits continue to dominate in Washington, which has long sought nuclear primacy to negate the theory of détente, writes Vijay Prashad.