Saving Face in Afghanistan

By Ron Paul

We overthrew the Taliban government in 2001 with less than 10,000 American troops. Why does it now seem that the more troops we send, the worse things get? If the Soviets bankrupted themselves in Afghanistan with troop levels of 100,000 and were eventually forced to leave in humiliating defeat, why are we determined to follow their example? Continue

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The Wrong House

Ask Awal Khan About Obama's Prize

By Brendan Cooney

Khan was serving as an artillery commander in the Afghan National Army away from his home in the eastern province of Khost on April 8, when U.S. forces came knocking. In a case of “wrong house,” they killed his 17-year-old daughter, Nadia, and his 15-year-old son, Aimal. They also killed his wife, a schoolteacher who taught villagers for free. They killed his brother and wounded another daughter. Continue

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Obama's War

Video - This program contains graphic language and violent imagery. Viewer discretion is advised.

Tens of thousands of fresh American troops are now on the move in Afghanistan, led by a new commander and armed with a counterinsurgency plan that builds on the lessons of Iraq. But can U.S. forces succeed in a land long known as the "graveyard of empires"? And can the U.S. stop the Taliban in neighboring Pakistan, where U.S. troops are not allowed and the government is weak? Continue

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Public Health Before Wall Street Wealth

By Robert Scheer

If you want to know who actually runs this country, just look at the phone logs, released by court order last week, revealing Geithner’s nearly constant calls to solicit the advice of the fat cats who caused the banking implosion. It’s the same as when he was chair of the Federal Reserve in New York, before Obama appointed him to his current job. Continue

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How the Servant Became a Predator

Finance's Five Fatal Flaws

By William K. Black

Five fatal flaws in the financial sector's current structure have created a monster that drains the real economy, promotes fraud and corruption, threatens democracy, and causes recurrent, intensifying crises. Continue

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Indict Dick Cheney
Keep America Safe

By Scott Horton

If you enjoy fear-mongering, here’s a not-for-profit organization for you: Keep America Safe. William Kristol and Liz Cheney are the dynamic duo behind it. Continue

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Trafigura Drops Bid To Gag Guardian Over MP's Question

Web users publish details of legal issue raised in parliament

By David Leigh

An unprecedented attempt by a British oil trading firm to prevent the Guardian reporting parliamentary proceedings has collapsed following a spontaneous online campaign to spread the information the paper had been barred from publishing. Continue

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45 Taliban, two Afghan soldiers killed in blasts, clashes: Afghan security forces backed by coalition troops killed 30 Taliban and injured 20 others Tuesday in the southern province of Uruzgan's Chora district, the Interior Ministry said.

Afghanistan situation a 'major emergency,' says General Vance: Afghanistan is in a "serious, desperate situation" which constitutes a major emergency, Canada's top commander on the ground said in a frank interview broadcast Wednesday.

UK: Govt to send 500 extra troops to Afghanistan: – Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Wednesday an extra 500 troops for Afghanistan, but pressed NATO allies to do their "fair share" in the increasingly deadly and unpopular mission.

In Kabul, Little Hope That a Runoff Will Be Fair: As experts pore over ballots to determine whether the fraud in this country’s presidential election was so big that a runoff vote was required, many Afghans interviewed here on Tuesday shared the same view: Why bother?

Voting again will risk lives, say Karzai tribal allies: Angered and disillusioned by Afghanistan's election chaos, many tribal leaders who supported President Hamid Karzai say they would not risk their lives again by taking part in a new vote.

Air strike kills 11 "militants" in Pakistan's tribal area: The forces jet fighters targeted suspected hideouts of the militants in Makeen area of South Waziristan killing five "militants", sources said. In another air raid in Brond area six "militants" were killed, the private channel Express reported.

Pakistan bombs villages as people stream out of Waziristan: Over 90,000 people have fled the area for specially set up camps in nearby Dera Ismail Khan and Tank also in the restive NWFP fearing that the offensive may roll any moment, officials were quoted by private TV news channels.

New Taliban Leader Tells Pakistan Military: 'Reject U.S and Attacks Will Stop': The new leader of the Taliban in Pakistan has issued a stark option to the country's military: stop following American orders and we will stop our attacks, according to Sky News.

Musharraf booked for Baloch leader Bugti's murder: A case has been registered against former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf for his alleged role in the 2006 murder of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a lawyer said.

11 killed in Iraq violence: Eleven people were killed and 60 others wounded in attacks in Baghdad, the northern city of Mosul and the Shiite shrine city of Karbala on Wednesday, police and ministry officials said.

Clinton fails to get Russia’s nod against Iran: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won no clear public pledge from Moscow that it would back tougher steps like sanctions if negotiations failed, something an aid on Monday said she had hoped to achieve.

Lieberman: Diplomacy over Iran nuclear threat must be limited: Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Wednesday said that the international community's diplomatic efforts to curb the Iranian nuclear threat should be limited in time.

Pentagon Cites 'Urgent' Need for Mega-Bomb to Take Out Hidden Bunkers: Pentagon is speeding up delivery of a colossal bomb designed to destroy hidden weapons bunkers buried underground and shielded by 10,000 pounds of reinforced concrete

Israel 'holding hundreds illegally': Israel is violating international law by detaining hundreds of Palestinians, some of them for years without charge or trial, two leading human rights groups in the country have said.

Palestinian official denounces Israel in UN Security Council: Arab and Islamic envoys showed up in force in support of the Palestinians before the 15-nation council in New York in a showdown between them and the council in which the United States can veto all attacks against its ally Israel

Palestinians urge Israeli punishment over Gaza: Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al-Malki and Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev traded accusations about the report at an open meeting Wednesday of the U.N. Security Council.

Haaretz exclusive: Palestinian draft resolution on Goldstone, Gaza and Jerusalem: Haaretz has obtained a copy of the draft resolution that the Palestinian Authority will present to the United Nations, calling for condemnation of Israel over its actions in Jerusalem, the Gaza conflict of last winter and the closure on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

EU demands Guinea leader's trial: "We are facing a real crime against humanity. The principal idea is that everywhere there is crime against humanity, the crime must be punished."

Aid groups protest 1,000 DR Congo deaths: A coalition of 84 humanitarian groups has called for an end to the United Nations-backed military operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, warning of a "disastrous" humanitarian situation in the country.

Thousands rally in S.Yemen for independence: Separatists in south Yemen used the anniversary of an uprising against colonial power Britain to press their claim for independence on Wednesday, while President Ali Abdullah Saleh promised to crush rebels in the north.

Hypocrisy Alert: Clinton challenges Russia on human rights: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up a European tour Wednesday by calling on Russia to uphold human rights and prevent attacks on activists who challenge the Kremlin.

Venezuela is no tyranny: Dictatorship has returned to Latin America in Honduras, not in the genuine, if imperfect, democracy of Venezuela

Wexler Stepping Down To Join Middle East Think Tank: Why Is He Giving Up Seat?: In his official statement, Wexler said that "now is the time for me to engage" on the issues of Israel-Palestine and Iran "on a full time basis."

JPMorgan scores big $3.6 billion in latest quarter: JPMorgan Chase, the first in a series of big banks due to report this week, said it it earned $3.6 billion during the third quarter, or 82 cents a share.

Goldman Sachs average pay and bonus to hit £500,000: The age of the City mega-bonus returned today after investment bank Goldman Sachs unveiled £2?billion profits.

Geithner Aides Reaped Millions Working for Banks, Hedge Funds: Some of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s closest aides, none of whom faced Senate confirmation, earned millions of dollars a year working for Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Citigroup Inc. and other Wall Street firms, according to financial disclosure forms.

Gold Heading to $3000 Unless America Hits the "Reset" Button, Tice Says: Gold will hit at least $3000 per ounce before the current rally ends says Tice, Federated's chief portfolio strategist for bear markets. The forecast falls roughly in between Peter Schiff's $5000 per ounce call and Jimmy Rogers' forecast of $2000.

Obama Dollar Retreats Most Against Commodities in Wealth Shift: President Barack Obama’s effort to lead the world economic recovery by spending the U.S. out of its recession is undermining the dollar, triggering record commodities rallies as investors scour the globe for hard assets.

Bleak U.S. job market boosts military recruitment: Aided by a bleak job market, the U.S. military met all of its recruitment goals in the past year for the first time since it became an all-volunteer force in 1973, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

Record Numbers Of Homeless In NYC: According To Coalition For The Homeless, More Than 16,000 Children Were In Shelters By End Of September