News For May 04, 2010

US, Iran Nuclear Punch-up at UN Conference

Video and Transcript:

Ahmadinejad Speech at UN Nuclear Conference. Continue

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Afghans Are Barbarians Who Crawled Out Of The Sewer.
Secret Erik Prince Tape Exposed

By Jeremy Scahill

Prince painted a global picture in which Iran is "at the absolute dead center... of badness." Continue

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U.S. Medic Testifies He Found 15 Year Old Chained To Door

By CAROL ROSENBERG

"Had this been an American soldier in North Korea," said another defense lawyer, Kobie Flowers, "people would be outraged. " Continue

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War Is Necrophilia
War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

By Chris Hedges

"The vanquished know war. They see through the empty jingoism of those who use the abstract words of glory, honor, and patriotism to mask the cries of the wounded, the senseless killing, war profiteering, and chest-pounding grief." Continue

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How the US Helps al-Qaida

By Matthew Harwood

US foreign policy brings terrorism to American shores, costs taxpayers billions of dollars and destroys cherished liberties. Continue

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2001 Anthrax Attack
The CIA, Biowarfare and Terrorism

Must listen interview with Professor Francis Boyle

Was the 2001 anthrax attack an attempt to foment a police state? Continue

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Christian ‘Doctrine’ Fueled Dehumanization

By Valerie Taliman

A groundbreaking report examining the roots of Christian domination over indigenous peoples and their lands was released this week at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Continue

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Bernanke's Biggest Bailout

By Mike Whitney

The right-wing think-tank, the American Enterprise Institute, is helping the Federal Reserve to develop a strategy to transfer $1.25 trillion in toxic mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and non performing loans onto the public's balance sheet. Continue

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Satire
Somali Pirates Say They Are Subsidiary of Goldman Sachs

Fake news by Andy Borowitz

Eleven indicted Somali pirates dropped a bombshell in a U.S. court today, revealing that their entire piracy operation is a subsidiary of banking giant Goldman Sachs. Continue

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Taliban leader among 29 killed in Pakistan: At least 29 militants, including a senior Taliban leader, were killed Monday during clashes with security forces in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan, officials said.

US attack kills 2 in Pakistan’s northwest: A US drone fired four missiles into a vehicle into an Al Qaeda and Taliban stronghold of Pakistan’s northwest tribal belt yesterday, killing two militants, local security officials said.

Three NATO Soldier Die in 24 Hours: A third NATO soldier was killed in 24 hours in southern Afghanistan when a bomb exploded, the military said Tuesday

One killed as CIA Afghan base targeted by suicide bomber: A suicide bomber has struck a CIA base in eastern Afghanistan, the same location where the US intelligence agency suffered the deadliest attack in its history several months ago.

'No Military Push in Kandahar' : The Kandahar push was said to be the second phase of the Marjah operation, and it was about to be launched around the end of Marjah operation.

17 School Girls Poisoned in Kabul : Confirming the incident, Doctors in a private hospital said all the 17 students were unconscious when they were taken to the hospital.

Two killed in separate attacks in Baghdad: Bombs in separate parts of Baghdad Tuesday killed two people including an Iraqi police officer, authorities said.

Iraqis Torturing Iraqis: His psychological wounds matched his physical state: He confided that after repeatedly being sodomized with a stick and a pistol, he frequently wets his bed and has trouble sleeping.

British Army ‘involved in Iraq chemical attack’: The case raises serious questions about the UK's role in the US-led offensive against the City of Fallujah in the autumn of 2004 where hundreds of Iraqis died. After the battle, in which it is alleged that illegal weaponry was used, evidence has emerged of large numbers of children being born with severe birth defects.

Maliki, Chalabi discuss alliance: Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a member of the State of Law slate of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, told the Voices of Iraq news agency that the coalition was teaming with the Iraqi National Alliance.

Guess what? Bin Laden Is Living Comfortably in Iran, Documentary Asserts: Parrot's disclosures add another piece to a jigsaw puzzle that for years has fed suspicion that Bin Laden is living in Iran

Ahmedinejad accuses US, Israel of planning Iran nuclear attack: Mr Ahmedinejad said: “The United States has threatened to use nuclear weapons against other countries, including my country. The Zionist regime, too, continuously threatens other Middle Eastern countries.”

Iran has the right to defend itself? Iran moves to challenge U.S. in Mideast: Gates: "Iran is combining ballistic and cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, mines, and swarming speedboats in order to challenge our naval power in that region," Gates told a conference of U.S. Navy advocates outside Washington.

Iran calls US a nuclear threat: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the opening session of a UN conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York on Monday that the US "has never respected any of its commitments" on nuclear weapons.

U.S., British envoys walk out as Ahmadinejad defends nuclear program: " Ahmadinejad told the opening session of an international arms control conference at the U.N. "In fact, these states seek to exclusively monopolize both nuclear weapons and nuclear energy because by doing so they can impose their will on the international community."

No need to sanction Iran: Prevention of nuclear terrorism ought not to be made an excuse for the creation of a regime of technology denial that would condemn hundreds of millions to even greater suffering. Above all, a new international order should be based on justice and fair play, not on "might being right", which is the basis of the international institutions created after World War II.

US and Russia to propose ban on WMD in Middle East: Tough global talks ahead in review of nuclear treaty as Egypt aims to put pressure on west over Israel

Pentagon reveals U.S. has 5,113 nuclear warheads: The Pentagon figure released Monday includes deployed weapons, which are those more or less ready to launch, and reserve weapons. It does not include thousands of warheads that have been disabled or all but dismantled. Those weapons could, in theory, be reconstituted, or their nuclear material repurposed.

Iran says probe needed to verify US warhead claims: Iran called today for independent verification of US claims it has pared its stockpile of nuclear warheads back to 5,113 and queried whether Washington was justified in holding such a lethal load.

A threat to nuclear disarmament: A nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia may no longer be an option, but Russia says the U.S. national missile defence could become an instrument for political blackmail. As Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin put it recently, the anti-missile umbrella would make the U.S. feel so secure that it could “act with impunity” towards Russia.

Demonizing Syria: Obama renews Syria sanctions: He said that Syria's "continuing support for terrorist organisations and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programmes, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States".

Suspected Jewish terrorist unfit to stand trial: Yaakov (Jack) Teitel was charged last November with the murder of 2 Palestinians, 3 counts of attempted murder.

Israeli bulldozers destroy mosque in southern Gaza: Al-Duhaina mosque was completely destroyed by eight Israeli bulldozers sweeping the eastern side of Rafah, while military aircraft are still firing at Palestinian houses in the area, Palestinian sources said.

Israel's secret police vet candidates for imam: Job interviews for the position of imam at mosques in Israel are conducted not by senior clerics but by the Shin Bet, Israel’s secret police, a labour tribunal has revealed.

U.S. Citizen From Pakistan Due in Court on New York Bomb Plot: Agents from the Department of Homeland Security arrested Shahzad at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport last night as he was attempting to board a flight to Dubai

Up to 8 Reportedly in Custody in Pakistan in Connection With Times Square Bombing Attempt: Between four and eight people have reportedly been taken into custody for questioning in Pakistan in connection with the investigation of the Times Square bombing attempt.

Bomb suspect lost Conn. home to foreclosure: Chase sued him in September after he defaulted on $200,000 loan

Phone-tapping scandal hits Colombia: A phone-tapping scandal has turned Colombian President Alvaro Uribe’s last months in office into a nightmare. His government is being accused of spying on journalists, political opponents and the supreme court.

Cyberattacks: Washington is hyping the threat to justify regulating the Internet: Networks have been under attack -- and successfully handled by operators -- as long as they’ve been around. Be wary of calls for more government supervision of the Internet.

Obama FCC Expected to Abandon Net Neutrality, Universal Internet: FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski is "leaning toward" siding with the most powerful phone and cable lobbyists on a crucial decision: whether the FCC will have any authority to protect an open Internet and make it available to all.

Oil Spill TRIPLED In Size In 3 Days (VIDEO): "I've been in Pensacola and I am very, very concerned about this filth in the Gulf of Mexico," Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said at a fundraiser for his U.S. Senate campaign Sunday night. "It's not a spill, it's a flow. Envision sort of an underground volcano of oil and it keeps spewing over 200,000 gallons every single day, if not more."

BP warned of rig fault ten years ago: In June 2000, the oil giant issued a "notice of default" to Transocean, the operator of the rig that blew up last month. The dispute was over problems with a blowout preventer, a set of iron slabs that should close out-of-control wells. It failed on the Gulf of Mexico rig, triggering the explosion and oil spill.
Oil Spill Liability : Under the law that established the reserve, called the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, the operators of the offshore rig face no more than $75 million in liability for the damages that might be claimed by individuals, companies or the government.
Why Is God Smiting the Deep South?: It’s notable then that with the biggest-ever oil slick bearing down on Gulf Coast beaches and a spate of deadly tornadoes and floods across the South over the past few weeks, interpreters of divine vengeance have been eerily quiet.
Pending Home Sales up 5.3% in March: More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in March, hoping to take advantage of the home buyer credit before it expired.
What? Couple Arrested For Asking For Directions: "In jail for eight hours -- sleeping on a concrete floor next to a toilet," Kelly said.