First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, commentary from the Moscow Times. — MCM

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Ukraine downs Russian hypersonic missile with U.S. Patriot, by David Rising | AP  KYIV — Ukraine’s air force claimed today to have downed a Russian hypersonic missile over Kyiv using newly acquired American Patriot defense systems, the first known time the country has been able to intercept one of Moscow’s most modern missiles. Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk said the Kinzhal-type ballistic missile had been intercepted in an overnight attack on the Ukrainian capital earlier in . . . READ MORE . . .

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No love lost between Russian military and Wagner mercenaries. From AP. A threat Friday by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of private Russian military company Wagner to withdraw his fighters from the battle to seize the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut is another flareup in his dispute with Russia’s regular military over credit and tactics in the war. Here is a look at Wagner’s history and its role in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian ex-deputy defence minister joins Wagner as feud escalates, war bloggers report, by Felix Light | Reuters  Former Russian deputy defence minister Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev has joined the Wagner Group private militia as a deputy commander, Russian pro-war social media channels reported on Thursday. In two videos posted by war correspondent Alexander Simonov on Telegram, Mizintsev – clad in Wagner-branded combat gear – was shown visiting . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Battlegroup West destroys four Ukrainian subversive groups in Kupyansk area. From Tass. MOSCOW — Soldiers from Russia’s Battlegroup West eliminated four groups of Ukrainian saboteurs over the past day, said Battlegroup Spokesman Sergey Zybinsky. “In operational activity in the Kupyansk area, Battlegroup West soldiers uncovered and destroyed . . . READ MORE . . .

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First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, commentary from Indian Punchline. — MCM

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Russia’s Wagner boss threatens Bakhmut pullout in Ukraine, by David Rising | AP  KYIV — The owner of Russia’s Wagner Group military contractor today threatened to pull his troops out of the protracted battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut next week, accusing Russia’s military command of starving his forces of ammunition and causing them heavy losses. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a notorious millionaire with longtime links to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed that Wagner had planned to capture Bakhmut by May 9. That day is a major Russian holiday . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Prigozhin says Wagner fighters will quit Bakhmut to ‘lick our wounds’, by Felix Light and Caleb Davis | Reuters  * Wagner will pull out of Bakhmut on May 10, Prigozhin says * Blames lack of ammunition, says army will have to step in * Video shows Prigozhin with corpses he says are his men — Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of Russia’s Wagner Group mercenary force, said in a sudden and dramatic announcement today that his forces would pull out of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut that they have been trying in vain to capture since last summer. Prigozhin said they would withdraw on May 10 – ending their involvement in the longest and bloodiest battle of the war – because of heavy losses and inadequate ammunition supplies. He asked defence chiefs to insert regular army troops in . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia orders partial evacuation near Ukraine front line. From AFP. Russia today ordered the evacuation of families with children and of the elderly from Russian-held frontline areas in southern Ukraine because of an increase in shelling from the Ukrainian side.  “In the past few days, the enemy has . . . READ MORE . . .

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Beijing ready to settle Ukrainian crisis jointly with Russia, minister tells Lavrov. From Tass. BEIJING — During Thursday’s talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in India, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said the Chinese side was ready to make a practical contribution into the Ukrainian crisis settlement in cooperation with Russia, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said today. “China will persistently assist and promote peace talks. We are ready . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian defense official talks about counteroffensive plans. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Ukraine appears on the verge of launching a counteroffensive, hoping to take back the territory that Russia has occupied. But one Ukrainian official is hoping for more. Click HERE to listen and read.

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In Ukraine’s forests, fighters race to prepare for next push, by Samya Kullab | AP  SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL UKRAINE — The fighters depart at dawn, single-file, rifles slung, compasses in hand, and disappear like chameleons into the lush greenery of central Ukraine’s dense forests. They’re training . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky regime’s fate is sealed, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | India Punchline  The entire western narrative of a Russian defeat stands exposed as a pack of lies, and alongside, the myth of Kiev’s military prowess to take on the far superior military might of a superpower has evaporated. The Ukrainian military is being ground to . . . READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, via GlobalResearch, an analysis by a Centre for Geostrategic Studies researcher. Finally for today, from Consortium News, a link to an edited print version of a talk in April by a longtime observer of European, Asian and American international policies; it begins with an introduction that includes a link to a Greek economist’s related remarks. — MCM

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Moscow says U.S. behind Kremlin drone attack, Russian forces target Kyiv, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters  * Moscow says U.S., Kyiv can’t ‘disown’ drone attack on Kremlin * Russia has accused Ukraine of trying to assassinate Putin * White House, Kyiv deny Russian accusations of involvement * Russian drones target Kyiv, other cities * Zelenskiy visits The Hague, says Putin must face justice | KYIV — Russia said Thursday that the United States was behind what it says was a drone attack on the Kremlin that aimed to kill President Vladimir Putin, while Moscow’s forces fired more combat drones at Ukrainian cities including the capital . . . READ MORE . . .

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Real or not, reported Kremlin drone attack unsettles Russia, by Jim Heintz | AP  TALLINN — As Russian officials tell it, two Ukrainian drones flew into the very heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness, reaching the Kremlin before they were shot down at the last minute. A cloud of questions hangs over the claim. Why did . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says Ukraine tried to attack the Kremlin in an attempt to assassinate Putin. Reported by A Martínez and Greg Myre | NPR  The Kremlin, the home and office of the Russian leader in the center of Moscow, was hit by a pair of drones. But who did it and how? That’s the subject of a fierce debate between Russia and Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Hungary’s top diplomat urges efforts to prevent direct NATO-Russia confrontation. From Tass. BUDAPEST — Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto today called on NATO to make every effort to stay out of direct involvement in the armed conflict in Ukraine or direct confrontation with Russia. In an interview . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces strike command posts of two Ukrainian army brigades, top brass reports. From Tass. MOSCOW  — Russian forces struck command posts of two Ukrainian army brigades and a special operations center over the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today in a briefing covering . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine ‘realistic’ about not joining NATO during war: Zelensky. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said tday Ukraine was “realistic” that it would not be able to join NATO while still fighting Russia. He added,”But we want a very clear message that we will be in NATO after . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev’s counterattack unlikely to be successful due to big casualties, by Lucas Leiroz | Infobrics / GlobalResearch Ukrainian plans to launch a counteroffensive look rather difficult to implement. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said Tuesday the government estimates that more than 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers were neutralized — killed or seriously wounded — in April. According to Shoigu, . . . READ MORE . . .

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Europe’s fate, by Patrick Lawrence | Consortium News If Emmanuel Macron got one thing done above all others during his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, it was to put the question of Europe’s place in the global order before a lot of people who would rather not think about it. The French president once again questioned Europe’s status in the Atlantic alliance, notably . . . READ MORE . . .

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For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to an essay published Monday by Consortium News. — MCM

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Russia says Putin ‘assassination’ attempt by Ukraine foiled, by David Rising | AP  KYIV — Russia claimed today it foiled a Ukrainian assassination attempt using drones against President Vladimir Putin, denouncing the alleged attack as a ’’terrorist” act and promising retaliation. Putin wasn’t in the Kremlin at the time of the nighttime . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says Ukraine tried to kill Putin with drone attack on Kremlin, by Mark Trevelyan | Reuters  * Russia says it shot down two drones overnight * Ukraine denies responsibility * Russia says it reserves the right to retaliate | Russia accused Ukraine today of attacking the Kremlin with drones overnight in a failed attempt to kill President Vladimir Putin. A senior Ukrainian presidential official said Kyiv had nothing to do with the purported incident, the most dramatic accusation Russia has levelled against Ukraine since invading its neighbour more than 14 months ago. The Kremlin said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Blasts again reported in Ukraine’s capital Kiev, surrounding regions. From Tass. MOSCOW — Another series of blasts, the third one since midnight, was reported in Ukraine’s capital Kiev and the surrounding Kiev region early today, according to the Klimenko Time news portal. Explosions also reportedly resumed in or near the cities of Dnepropetrovsk and Kropivnitsky and the central Ukrainian region of Cherkasy. Currently . . . READ MORE . . .

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A top U.S. diplomat is in Brazil as that country seeks recognition as a global player. From NPR. U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas Greenfield is in Brazil to draw attention to the strong ties the two countries share. Brazil has been flaunting its close relationships with Russia and China. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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The coming war — time to speak up, by John Pilger | Consortium News  The rise of fascism in Europe is uncontroversial. Or “neo-Nazism” or “extreme nationalism,” as you prefer. Ukraine as modern Europe’s fascist beehive has seen the re-emergence of the cult of Stepan Bandera. Today, the passionate anti-Semite and mass murderer is hero-worshipped in western Ukraine and scores of statues of him and his fellow-fascists have been paid for by the EU and the U.S., replacing those of Russian cultural giants and others who liberated Ukraine from the original Nazis. In 2014, neo Nazis played . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Tass, the Moscow Times, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, an essay from the Scheer Post by a former war correspondent. — MCM

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U.S. says 20,000 Russians killed in Ukraine war since December, by Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller | AP  WASHINGTON — The White House said Monday it now estimates that just since December Russia has suffered 100,000 casualties, including more than 20,000 killed, as Ukraine has rebuffed a heavy assault by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s attack on Pavlograd deprives Ukrainian brigades of resources for advance. From Tass. MELITOPOL — Three brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces, whose redeployment to the Zaporozhye area completed on April 30, will not be able to shift to active combat actions due to loss of ammunition and fuel stores in Pavlograd as a result of Russia’s attack, chairman of the We Are Together with Russia movement Vladimir Rogov said Monday. READ MORE . . .

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7 known ‘Wagner cemeteries’ in Russia and occupied Ukraine, by Mack Tubridy | The Moscow Times  The discovery of mass burial sites for slain Wagner fighters has shed light on the mounting death toll suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine as the conflict enters its 15th month. While there are no official figures available for Wagner’s war losses, . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian farmer comes up with novel way to demine his fields, by Vitalii Hnidyi | Reuters  HRAKOVE, Ukraine — To remove mines left in his fields after Russia’s invasion, a Ukrainian farmer has kitted out his tractor with protective panels stripped from Russian tanks and operates it by remote control. After Russian forces were driven back from parts of eastern Ukraine by a Ukrainian counteroffensive last year, mines remained in many fields, making . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine war looms over Switzerland U.N. presidency, by Edith M. Lederer | AP  UNITED NATIONS — The Ukraine war will still loom as Switzerland takes over the monthlong U.N. Security Council presidency for the first time since becoming a full member of the United Nations in 2002. Switzerland’s U.N. Ambassador Pascale Baeriswyl said Monday her country’s approach has been to work for unity of the council’s 15 members and to be “a bridge . . . READ MORE . . .

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The enemy from within, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost / Popular Resistance  America is a stratocracy, a form of government dominated by the military. It is axiomatic among the two ruling parties that there must be a constant preparation for war. The war machine’s massive budgets are sacrosanct. Its billions of dollars in waste and fraud are . . . READ MORE . . .

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Two links. The first is to a review of a long essay the reviewer hopes will be turned into a book or part of one by the essay’s author; a version appeared the other day in Consortium News headed “The most powerful demolition of Russiagate yet.” The second is to the essay itself, which first appeared in The Tablet on March 28. — MCM

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Disinformation x 13: You cannot be trusted with your own mind. A review by Patrick Lawrence | patricklawrence.us  Sometime in the mid–Russiagate years, when it became clear that America was on a swoon back into the collective neuroses of the 1950s, I began to think we would have to wait for future historians to retrieve the truth buried alive in the cesspit of lies and cynical propaganda operations the deep state—and I am fine with this term—inflicted upon us in response to . . . READ MORE . . .

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A guide to understanding the hoax of the century: Thirteen ways of looking at disinformation, by Jacob Siegel | The Tablet  In 1950, Sen. Joseph McCarthy claimed that he had proof of a communist spy ring operating inside the government. Overnight, the explosive accusations blew up in the national press, but the details kept changing. Initially, McCarthy said he had a list with the names of 205 communists in the State Department; the next day he revised it to 57. Since he kept the list a secret, the inconsistencies were beside the point. The point was the power of the accusation, which made . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Consortium News, a link to a report from Common Dreams. — MCM

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Russia missile attack on Ukraine injures 34, damages homes, by David Rising | AP  KYIV — Russia launched its second large salvo of missiles at Ukraine in recent days early today, damaging buildings and wounding at least 34 people in the eastern city of Pavlohrad but failing to hit Kyiv, officials said. Fifteen of the 18 cruise missiles fired  were shot down, said Ukrainian . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian defenders oust Russian forces from some positions in Bakhmut – Ukraine general. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukrainian counterattacks have ousted Russian forces from some positions in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut, but the situation remains “difficult”, a top Ukrainian general said in comments released today. During the past few months the battle for Bakhmut has become . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces delivered massive strike on Ukrainian defense plants last night – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — On Sunday night, Russian forces delivered a massive strike on Ukrainian defense facilities, disrupting the work of plants that manufacture ammunition and hardware for Ukrainian troops, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today. The missile attack was conducted air-and sea-based high-precision . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian freight train derails after hitting ‘explosive device’. From AFP. A Russian freight train derailed today in the western region of Bryansk bordering Ukraine after an “explosive device” detonated on the rail tracks, the local governor said. The apparent attack came a day after a Ukrainian strike killed four people in a Russian village in the Bryansk region and as . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘War is not green’: Climate groups call on  Biden to support peace talks in Ukraine, by Julia Conley | Common Dreams / Consortium News  CodePink led more than 2,300 “people of conscience” and groups including Amazon Watch, 350.org North America and Extinction Rebellion U.S. in a letter to Biden saying that “based on climate justice reasons alone,” the U.S. government must use its power to ensure that peace talks between Russia and Ukraine happen swiftly. The groups detailed . . . READ MORE . . .

Another tribute. For more on the man and his work, click HERE. — MCM

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R.I.P. Graeme MacQueen — a champion for truth. From Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. We here at AE911Truth are saddened to learn of the recent passing of researcher and scholar, Graeme MacQueen on April 25. Graeme’s contribution to the cause of 9/11 Truth was monumental and will continue to be studied and referenced by others who shared in his mission to expose the truth about that tragic day. Graeme was . . . Click HERE to read, listen and watch.

First, a link to a column in this weekend’s Berkshire Eagle by its foreign affairs writer. Then, links to reports from Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

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As peace efforts plod on in background, Ukraine’s front line quickly becoming deadlier, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle In a blog that drew 2.1 million readers, the Russian Engineer Telegram channel claimed that Ukrainian military cutouts cornered the market last winter on cheap, racing drones produced by the world’s largest drone producer, DJI Technology Company. This Shenzhen-based producer sold to Ukrainian front companies kits for up to 100,000 drones, asserts the blog post. Ukrainian technicians routinely outfit civilian drones with explosives. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it controls key supply route into Bakhmut, by Lidia Kelly | Reuters  Ukraine remains in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, a military spokesperson said Saturday, as the head of Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group threatened to withdraw some of his troops from the eastern city if Moscow did not send more ammunition. Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000. Kyiv has pledged to defend Bakhmut, which Russia sees as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Over 480 Ukrainian troops, mercenaries wiped out in Donetsk area – Russian top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Ukraine’s total losses in the Donetsk area reached over 480 troops and mercenaries, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today. “In total, over the past day in this direction [Donetsk – TASS] more than . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian-occupied Ukrainian city under ‘intense’ artillery fire. From AFP. Russian occupational authorities in southern Ukraine said Saturday that Ukrainian forces were subjecting the city of Novaya Kakhovka to “intense artillery fire” that had cut off electricity. The city is in the part of the southern Kherson region that Russia controls. It lies upstream the Dnipro River from Kherson, the regional capital from which Russia withdrew . . . READ MORE . . .

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Five Russian villages without power after Ukraine shelling. From AFP. Five Russian villages on the border with Ukraine were without power as a result of Ukrainian shelling, the governor of Russia’s southwestern Belgorod region that borders Ukraine said Saturday. The region has been hit by attacks throughout Moscow’s more than year-long offensive in Ukraine. “The village of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine welcomes EU deal on continued farm exports, by Raf Casert | AP  BRUSSELS — Ukraine on Saturday welcomed the European Union’s hard-fought deal to keep farm exports flowing into and through the bloc to world markets, saying that the Middle East and Africa would specifically stand to benefit from it. Late Friday, the 27-nation EU ended a damaging internal standoff over a destabilizing glutof Ukraine farm imports by granting five eastern member countries the right to temporarily ban the most problematic produce while allowing . . . READ MORE . . .

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What China’s growing role on the world stage means for the U.S. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR talks with analysts Yun Sun and Ryan Hass abouT the implications of China’s growing diplomatic role worldwide. Click HERE to listen and, another day, read.

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Graeme MacQueen died on Tuesday. He was a giant of the international effort exploring the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and the anthrax terror attacks that occurred several days later. Linked below, in the order in which I came across them today, are several items from the Internet related to his life and work. First, a poem. Second, a remembrance by a colleague. Third, a 22-minute video of an interview with him in 2016, and two comments. Fourth, a 90-minute audio recording of an interview with him in 2015. Fifth, a page from the website of his publisher. And sixth, a 2011 Canadian newspaper article, containing text of an interview with him. — MCM

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Graeme MacQueen

On the day of departure, by Edward Curtin | Behind the Curtain  For my dear friend, Graeme MacQueen, the great 9/11 writer, who departed yesterday from life’s mystery to the other. When you are ready / And the day dawns / Remember how love . . . READ MORE . . .

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Remembering Graeme MacQueen, by Kevin Ryan | digwithin.net  In the summer of 2006, at the newly formed Journal of 9/11 Studies, we received a submission from a Canadian professor named Graeme MacQueen. The paper was entitled “118 Witnesses: The Firefighter’s Testimony to Explosions in the Twin Towers.” After peer-review comments were addressed, it was published and has become one of the most important articles in the 9/11 literature. For the next seventeen years . . . READ MORE . . .

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Professor Graeme MacQueen on the 2001 anthrax deception. From the Global Research News Hour.  2016 interview features Graeme MacQueen speaking about a rarely discussed aspect of the 9/11 attacks — the letters sent to U.S. legislators and media people which contained a weaponized form of anthrax, and ended up killing five individuals. MacQueen explains his perspective that . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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Eyewitness evidence of explosions in the Twin Towers.  Julian Charles of The Mind Renewed interviews MacQueen for 2015 audio program, which lasts about 90 minutes. From the conversation: “Many of us are convinced that the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were brought down on September 11, 2001 through controlled demolition. But the question at once arises: if this is what happened, . . . Click HERE to read more and listen.

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A biographical squib. From Clarity Press. Clarity is the publisher of MacQueen’s 2014 book The 2001 Anthrax Deception: The Case for a Domestic Conspiracy, available also as an audiobook. Click HERE for it and a photo of a shelf of Clarity books.

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For truthers, 9/11 was an inside job, by Colin Freeze | The Globe and Mail  A small but vocal and intractable group of dissenters has long believed the 9/11 attacks did not happen as the U.S. government says they did. Truthers, as they are known, suggest the role of al-Qaeda has been overstated or invented. They point fingers at . . . READ MORE . . .