Ledes & Limericks. Saturday February 17 2018

A Turkish court has sentenced six defendants, including three prominent journalists,
to life in prison over allegations of involvement in a 2016 coup attempt, drawing fierce
condemnation from the UN and press freedom advocates.

The convictions followed a months-long trial during which the prosecution
alleged that the journalists sent “subliminal messages” via TV appearances
and newspaper columns urging the overthrow of the government, and that
they maintained contact with members of the Fethullah Gülen network,
a movement widely believed in Turkey to have orchestrated the coup attempt.

From the Guardian

In Turkey reporters are apt

In jail to be readily clapped.

They get to cavort

in kangaroo court,

And have their wrists constantly slapped.

The recent budget deal has handed U.S. defense companies an extra
$75 billion over the next two years as the Pentagon boosts spending on
aircraft, missiles, tanks and maintaining older equipment.  From the Wall Street Journal

If you would make money galore

just open an armaments store.

The market for guns

Runs into the tons --

Without great big bombs, there’s no war!

Wall Street finished its best week in years as stocks staged
a recovery from a tumultuous period that pushed major indexes
into correction territory, a sign that bullish sentiment remained intact.
 From the Wall Street Journal

Old Wall Street is so full of bull

Investors now feel a great pull

To sink their last clam

Into the great scam --

Their eyes have been covered with wool.