News For June 27, 2010

Afghanistan: Worse Than a Nightmare

By BOB HERBERT

We’re like a compulsive gambler plunging ever more deeply into debt in order to wager on a rigged game. There is no victory to be had in Afghanistan, only grief. We’re bulldozing Detroit while at the same time trying to establish model metropolises in Kabul and Kandahar. We’re spending endless billions on this wretched war but can’t extend the unemployment benefits of Americans suffering from the wretched economy here at home. Continue

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How Many US Citizens are Targeted for Assassination?

By Glenn Greenwald

The Washington Times' Eli Lake has an interview with Obama's top Terrorism adviser John Brennan in which Brennan strongly suggests that the number of U.S. citizens targeted for assassination could actually be "dozens" Continue

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Europe's Fiscal Dystopia:
The "New Austerity" Road

By Michael Hudson

Europe is committing fiscal suicide – and will have little trouble finding allies at this weekend’s G-20 meetings in Toronto. Continue

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Taliban commander among eight "militants" killed by U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan: June has become the deadliest month of the occupation for NATO troops with at least 91 killed, 54 of them American. For U.S. troops, the deadliest month was October 2009, with a toll of 59 dead.
Two Canadian soldiers and medics killed in Afghan Occupation: Two Canadian occupation force soldiers and medics were killed in Afghanistan when their armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device
2 US Occupation Force Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan: International forces in Afghanistan say two U.S. service members died Sunday following a gun attack by militants in eastern Afghanistan.
Karzai holds secret talks with Taliban: Afghan president Hamid Karzai has reportedly met with the Taliban's most senior commander Serja-eddin Haggani in Kabul as UK calls for peace with the militants.
Taliban switch to long-range fire in fight against UK troops: "We are all vulnerable to IEDs [improvised explosive devices], but the insurgents are increasingly using long-distance small arms." Major General Gordon Messenger, the Ministry of Defence's chief military spokesman, said Taliban-led insurgents were resorting to what he described as an "increasing use of single shots at range".
CIA: At most, 50-100 Al Qaeda in Afghanistan: “I think the estimate on the number of Al Qaeda is actually relatively small,” Panetta said. “At most, we’re looking at 50 to 100, maybe less. It’s in that vicinity.
US Gen. fired for 'grim' war assessment: US General Stanley McChrystal issued a very critical assessment of the war in Afghanistan just days before he was relieved of his command, a report says.
The Islamic View of McChrystal’s Firing: "History is evident of more powerful and experienced generals than General McChrystal and empires mightier than the United States of America being surrendered and bowed down before the Afghans."
Quagmire? Nine years on, Americans grow weary of war in Afghanistan: A plurality of 48 percent now say ending the war in Afghanistan is a more important goal than winning it.
UK may have to cut 30,000 from armed forces-think tank: Britain may have to reduce its military personnel by 30,000 to achieve estimated defence budget cuts of 15 percent over the next four years, an influential think tank said on Friday.
Pakistan: Eight suspected militants killed in Orakzai: Security forces claim to have killed eight suspected militants during fresh military operations in Orakzai Agency on Sunday.
Five militants killed during Swat operation Five militants were killed in a fresh military operation in Swat on Sunday.
US kills 5 people in Pakistan: Sunday: Noor Ahmed, a senior government official in North Waziristan, says Sunday's attack occurred near Miramshah, the main town in the rugged tribal area. He says tribesmen have recovered five bodies so far.
US kills two in NW Pakistan: Saturday: The drone reportedly targeted on Saturday a house near Miranshah, the main town in the North Waziristan tribal region.
Civilian killed in Baghdad bombings: A civilian was killed and four others injured in three bomb attacks in Baghdad, an Interior Ministry source said on Sunday, Xinhua reported.
Iraqi policeman killed in Mosul bombing: A roadside bomb explosion in Iraq has left at least one police officer dead and five other policemen wounded in the northern city of Mosul, Press TV reported.
Israel "Plots Tehran Raid" Preparations are underway to launch the military attack from Azerbaijan and Georgia, reports our sister paper Akhbar Al Khaleej, quoting military sources.
Manufacturing Consent For Attack On Iran: 'The U.S. will have to confront Iran or give up the Middle East': Amitai Etzioni, professor of International Relations at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., believes the only option available to contain Iran's atomic ambitions is a series of assaults on its non-nuclear facilities.
CIA's Panetta: Iran has enough uranium for 2 bombs: CIA Director Leon Panetta says Iran probably has enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons, but that it likely would take two years to build the bombs.
G-8 'fully believes' Israel will attack Iran, says Italy PM: World leaders "believe absolutely" that Israel may decide to take military action against Iran to prevent the latter from acquiring nuclear weapons, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Saturday.
Sen. Kerry in Israel: Praise for Israel, Worried over Iran: U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem on Sunday and said, “Iran has not left anybody very much choice but to move down the road that we are going.”
G8 leaders welcome Turkish, Brazilian efforts for solution to Iran's nuclear issue: Referring to uranium swap deal Turkey and Brazil signed with Iran, the declaration welcomed all diplomatic efforts to find a solution to Iran's nuclear issue, saying "we also welcome and commend all diplomatic efforts in this regard, including those made recently by Brazil and Turkey on the specific issue of the Tehran Research Reactor."
US: Turkey must show commitment: The United States is warning Turkey that it is alienating US supporters and needs to demonstrate its commitment to partnership with the West.
We will not apologize to Turkey over Gaza flotilla killings: Top official in Foreign Ministry says Turkish demand for an official apology was mainly an excuse to allow Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's to cut diplomatic ties with Israel.
Iranian official denies reports that flotilla postponed: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab Affairs Reza Shibani said Sunday that Iran will send a ship with humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, denying reports that the Iranian flotilla had been canceled, Israel Radio reported.
Iran says Egypt barring Gaza aid ship from Suez Canal : The Iranian Red Crescent said on Sunday that in addition to restrictions imposed by Israel, Egypt had barred a Gaza-bound aid ship from entering the Suez Canal, leading to the trip being postponed.
Ethnic cleansing: Israeli foreign minister wants Palestinians stripped of citizenship and relocated: Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s far-right foreign minister, set out this week what he called a “blueprint for a resolution to the conflict” with the Palestinians that demands most of the country’s large Palestinian minority be stripped of citizenship and relocated outside Israel’s future borders.
Hamas official facing expulsion: I won't leave my ancestral home: Four Hamas politicians facing expulsion from Jerusalem received support last week from an unexpected quarter - PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Beyond depraved : Israel prevents delivery of oxygen to hospitals: Seven oxygen machines donated to the Palestinain Authority by a Norwegian development agency were seized by Israeli officials en route to hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza, the Ramallah-based health ministry said.
American Jews Who Reject Zionism : “We are Americans by nationality and Jews by religion. And while we wish Israel well, we don’t view it as our homeland.”
Venezuela's Chavez meets with Syrian President Bashar Assad: "Arab civilization and our civilization, the Latin American one, are being summoned in this new century to play the fundamental role of liberating the world, saving the world from the imperialism and capitalist hegemony that threaten the human species," Chavez said
Inter-American court faults Colombia in slaying of lawmaker: The verdict this week was a milestone: A distant court affiliated with the Washington-based Organization of American States held the Colombian government responsible for the 1994 assassination of a prominent senator.
Obama Internet kill switch plan approved by US Senate: A US Senate committee has approved a wide-ranging cybersecurity bill that some critics have suggested would give the US president the authority to shut down parts of the Internet during a cyberattack.
Dozens of Americans believed to have joined terrorists: Dozens of Americans have joined terrorist groups and are posing a threat to the United States and its interests abroad, the president's most senior adviser on counterterrorism and homeland security said Thursday.
Parents of young NJ man accused of trying to join terrorists argue he was steered by FBI: Mahmood and Nadia Alessa told The Record newspaper their 20-year-old son, Mohamed, had been monitored by the FBI since age 16 and was encouraged by an undercover agent to act like a terrorist
Playing the racist card: : Most illegal immigrants smuggling drugs: Gov. Jan Brewer said Friday that most illegal immigrants entering Arizona are being used to transport drugs across the border, an assertion that critics painted as exaggerated and racist
Gulf Oil Spill Time-Lapse Video From NASA Satellites Is Haunting
Taylor views oil, calls response ‘an effort in futility’: U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor said, “It’s criminal what’s going on out there. This doesn’t have to happen.”
La. Police Doing BP's Dirty Work: Officer: "Let me explain: BP doesn't want any filming. So all I can really do is strongly suggest that you not film anything right now. If that makes any sense."
The BP Oil Spill Makes Landfall in Florida: The Sunshine State's luck turned to muck this week when a mat of oil, weathered but still thicker than a sheen, began to blanket popular Pensacola Beach, prompting Florida's first spill-related beach closures
Report: Toronto police rough up journalists, arrest peaceful protesters at G20: More than 500 people have been arrested in Toronto after a night of rioting that saw police cars burned in the financial district and storefront windows broken as leaders of the world's largest economies gathered in the city for the G20 summit.
G8-G20 Police Protest Photos
When police stick to phony script: Information warfare. This starts weeks before the event. Protesters are criminalized and dehumanized, and described as dangerous “anarchists” and “terrorists” the city needs to defend against.
G20 summit: Rifts in Toronto as US warns EU of double-dip recession risk: Divisions add to financial market jitters, with David Cameron praised by Canadian counterpart for budget to slash deficit
Greece starts putting island land up for sale to save economy: Desperate attempt to repay debts also driven by inability to find funds to develop infrastructure on islands
400k unemployed in MI to lose benefits: More than 400,000 unemployed Michigan workers will lose their employment benefits by the end of the year as a result of the US Senate's failure Thursday to pass an extension of Federal emergency help, according to Michigan unemployment officials.
Defeat of jobs bill in Senate costly to California: Some 200,000 jobless Californians have already lost their unemployment benefits, and that figure is expected to rise to 1.5 million by the end of the year without an extension from Congress. California's unemployment rate stands at 12.4 percent, among the highest in the nation.