News For July 17, 2010

They're All Grovelling and You Can Guess the Reason

By Robert Fisk

"We in the Middle East are used to this sort of racist intellectual terrorism. American and British citizens who occasionally dare to speak accurately about the Middle East and its people are still learning about the full price of the truth when Israeli interests are in the room." Continue

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Clues Suggest Amiri Defection Was an Iranian Plant

By Gareth Porter

Several features of the story of Amiri’s defection suggest that Amiri may have been acting on Iranian government orders to defect temporarily in order to embarrass the U.S. government. Continue

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The Food Bubble:
How Wall Street Starved Millions and Got Away With It

Democracy Now!

In 2008, there were food riots in more than thirty countries. The global price of food rose over 80 percent. This had an effect not only on wheat, but on corn, on soy, on cooking oil, on rice. Continue

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The U.S. Middle Class Is Being Wiped Out:
Here's the Stats to Prove It

By Michael Snyder

83 percent of all U.S. stocks are in the hands of 1 percent of the people. Continue

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Zahedan bombings victims laid to rest: The bodies of 27 people killed in a terrorist attack in Iran's southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan Province have been laid to rest amid public mourning.

Iran: Rebel Sunni Group Claims Responsibility for Deadly Suicide Bombings: The statement called the suicide attacks a response to the “crimes” of the Iranian government in Baluchistan, who, according to the group, had thought that they could stop the group’s activity by executing its leader.

Larijani blames US for terrorist attack: Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani has blamed the US for the recent terrorist attack that left at least 27 dead in the southeast of the country.

Iran Guards warn U.S. of "fallout" over bomb attack: "Jundollah has been supported by America for its terrorist acts in the past ... America will have to await the fallout of such criminal and savage measures," said Jazayeri, deputy head of the dominant ideological wing of Iran's armed forces.

US, NATO behind Iran bombings: MP: "The US must be held directly responsible for this terrorist act," Mehr News Agency quoted Karami-Rad as saying on Friday.

US told to review terrorist list: THE State Department must review its designation of the People's Mujahedin Organisation of Iran, or PMOI, as a foreign terrorist organisation, a US appeals court ruled on Friday. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said the State Department failed to give the group a fair chance to overturn the listing.

Kidnapped Iranian Scholar Interrogated by Israeli Agents: Shahram Amiri, an Iranian scholar who returned home after being kidnapped by CIA in Saudi Arabia last year, said that Israeli agents interrogated him while he was in the US.

Clues Suggest Amiri Defection Was an Iranian Plant: Several features of the story of Amiri’s defection suggest that Amiri may have been acting on Iranian government orders to defect temporarily in order to embarrass the U.S. government.

Pakistani militants kill 18 civilians: Militants have attacked a civilian convoy of vehicles being escorted by security forces in a Pakistani tribal region on the Afghan border, killing at least 18 people

Extrajudicial Killing: US Kills 10 People In Pakistan: A drone reportedly fired three missiles at a house in the Datakhel area of North Waziristan, which was allegedly used by militants. The house has been completely destroyed, a Press TV correspondent reported. Officials claimed the building was being used by militants, but local sources told Press TV that the house belonged to a tribesman.

10 killed in explosion in NW Pakistan: At least ten people have been killed and 20 others injured in a powerful bomb blast in a weekly bazaar in Pakistan's tribal region of Khyber on the Afghan border

Roadside bombs kill 5 NATO troops in Afghanistan: Roadside bombs killed five NATO troops in Afghanistan, the international force said Saturday, adding to a violent summer as coalition forces step up patrols in the Taliban-dominated south.

Bomb in Afghanistan kills 2 U.S. occupation force soldiers: Two U.S. service members were killed in a roadside bombing in southern Afghanistan, where thousands of American troops have been deployed to regain control of insurgent strongholds.

Afghan soldier claims he killed 3 British troops: During the 10-minute interview with the broadcaster's correspondent in Kabul, The man, who identified himself as 21-year-old Talib Hussain from Ghazni province, said he was angry about the conduct of British troops in Helmand province, accusing them of killing civilians, including children.

U.S. Contractor Deaths Soaring in Afghanistan: U.S. contractors deaths are soaring, from 189 last June 30th since the war began in 2001, to 521 this June 30th – an increase of 175% in just one year.

Obama will pull out of Afghanistan for economic reasons: Gul: The ISI chief from 1987 to 1989, said:"I think by the end of the year Obama will come up with another policy, and they are going to pull out of Afghanistan because it is not sustainable economically, casualty-wise and Taliban are winning on every front."

Six people killed, 16 injured in separate attacks in Iraq: Six people were killed and 16 injured in separate attacks in Iraq on Friday, as the country continues to suffer from post-election political tensions, police sources said

US born cleric al-Awlaki added to terror blacklist: Americans will be forbidden from doing business with him and he is banned from traveling to the United States.

Army suicides hit record number in June: Thirty-two soldiers took their own lives last month, the most Army suicides in a single month since the Vietnam era. Eleven of the soldiers were not on active duty. Of the 21 who were, seven were serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said.

Israel re-arms ready for war with Iran: Israel has successfully re-armed its air force with long-range F-151 and F-161 strike aircraft, supported by an upgraded fleet of tanker aircraft.

Poll: Most Americans would back Israel attack on Iran: 56 percent of Americans support an Israeli strike to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons, according to a poll conducted by a U.S. research firm.

Iran scientist: CIA offered me $50m to lie about nuclear secrets: Shahram Amiri said that he was on the hajj pilgrimage when he was seized at gunpoint in the city of Medina, drugged and taken to the US, where he says Israel was involved in his interrogation. In the US, officials were reported to have admitted that Mr Amiri was paid more than $5m (£3.2m) by the CIA for information about Iran's nuclear ambitions.

We will continue to shield Israel, militarily and diplomatically, U.S. official says: Speaking during a reception for outgoing Israeli UN envoy Shalev, U.S. envoy Susan Rice says that Washington remains fully and firmly committed to Israel's security.
US renews 'full commitment' to Israel: She said the US will continue to strengthen Israel's military while protecting it in the diplomatic arena. This is while as the mediator in the indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the US is expected to be neutral
Obama official guarantees levels of "defense" funding: Andrew Shapiro, the assistant secretary of state for political-military affairs, said in a rare speech on Friday that the Obama administration has since its outset been committed to maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbors.
UN: No evidence to support Israeli claims over Hezbollah arms: U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon said UNIFIL has found no evidence to support Israeli allegations about Hezbollah weapons cache south of Lebanon’s Litani River.
Lebanon nabs 3rd suspected spy: Lebanon has captured a third person on suspicion of spying for Israel after it arrested two others in a telecommunications company.
Medics prevented from treating dying Palestinian mother: A MOTHER of five was killed by Israeli artillery fire when she went to fetch her two-year-old son from outside her village home close to the “buffer zone” created by Israel along its border with Gaza.

EU's FM: Israel must open all Gaza border crossings: "The European Union has been calling for an urgent and fundamental change of policy regarding the closure of Gaza," Ashton said before departing for Israel. .

British Jews Support Israeli War Crimes : At least 77% of British Jews believe that millions of dispossessed Palestinians should continue to dwell in refugee camps and never be allowed to their homes, cities, and villages.
Judge Rules CIA Can Suppress Information About Torture Tapes and Memos: A federal judge today ruled that the government can withhold information from the public about intelligence sources and methods, even if those sources and methods were illegal.
CIA exceeded interrogation limits, former Justice Dept. official says: The former Justice Department official who cowrote the so-called torture memos testified that the department did not sanction some of the harsh methods the CIA used against detainees during the George W. Bush administration, including the repeated waterboarding of two suspected terrorists.
Army 'involved in torture mission with US troops' : Claims that British soldiers used water torture on a badly beaten Iraqi man before unlawfully handing him over to US interrogators are being investigated by the Ministry of Defence
Torture and the UK: 2002-10: As evidence emerges that MI5 was complicit in the torture of some Britons overseas, see their cases and what is known of UK government or intelligence activities at the time
Tony Blair knew of secret policy on terror interrogations: Letter reveals former PM was aware of guidance to UK agents which effectively led to torture.
UK: The torture files: key passages: We highlight the key passages from the classified documents disclosed in high court proceedings - and what they show.
Paper trail points to Blair: Former PM 'sanctioned the abuse of UK citizens'
In case you missed it: Blair's fight to keep his oil cash secret: Former PM's deals are revealed as his earnings since 2007 reach £20million
Mexico blames explosion in border city on car bomb: An explosion that killed at least three people in Ciudad Juarez was a car bomb set off by a cell phone, a Mexican military spokesman said on Friday.
Attack on Mexican Police Trucks Kills 3 : Video report: Authorities said a drug gang rammed police vehicles in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico Thursday, killing three people. It was one of several violence incidents around the country during the week
Venezuela recalls Colombia envoy: Venezuela has recalled its ambassador to Colombia, after Colombian officials accused Venezuela of hosting rebels on its territory.
In spy case, man gets life, wife 81 months: A federal judge on Friday sentenced a former State Department worker who is the great grandson of Alexander Graham Bell to life in prison without possibility of parole for spying for Cuba and sentenced the man's wife to more than 5 years behind bars for helping her husband steal U.S. secrets.
State Department warns employees about new website highlighting Top Secret facilities: The State Department is bracing for a potentially explosive new feature on the Washington Post website that would publish the names and locations of agencies and firms conducting Top Secret work on behalf of the U.S. government, according to the copy of an email obtained by The Cable.
Gulf Oil Spill: BP Says No Sign of Leaks As Capped Well Nears 48 hours: Pressure readings after 41 hours were 6,745 pounds per square inch and rising slowly, Allen said, below the 7,500 psi that would have shown the well was not leaking. He said pressure continued to rise between 2 and 10 psi per hour. A low pressure reading, or a falling one, could mean the oil is escaping.
MSNBC July 15: Matt Simmons still says BP covering up MASSIVE HOLE miles away, cap test is "absurd" Video
Expert suspects BP has ulterior motive behind oil well cap: Cavnar believes that BP's true goal is to make it harder to measure the flow of oil from the damaged well, because under the Clean Water Act, it will be liable for civil penalties of up to $4300 for every barrel spilled.
Fed's volte face sends the dollar tumbling: Rarely before have a few coded words in the minutes of the US Federal Reserve caused such an upheaval in the global currency system, or such a sudden flight from the dollar.
Six bank failures bring 2010 tally to 96: Five more bank failures brought the total tally for the year to 96, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on Friday.
Economic "Recovery" Showing New Signs of Losing Steam: Investors got a strong dose of sobering economic news Thursday as several key manufacturing indexes show that the recovery is losing steam.
Banks repossess homes at record pace: RealtyTrac: Banks took control of 269,962 properties in the second quarter, up 5 percent from the prior quarter and a 38 percent spike from the second quarter of last year.
35 Million May Experience Unemployment This Year: EPI: Labor Department data show that in 2008 (the most recent year for which this info is available), 21.2 million people were out of work at one point or another
The U.S. Economy Is A Dead Horse And The American People Are Starting To Get Really Pissed Off And Frustrated: All our lives we have been taught that America is the richest and most prosperous nation on the planet, and that while there will always be times of "recession", things will always bounce back and be better than ever before. But this time things aren't bouncing back.
How the Sneaky Hands of the Big Banks Are Working Overtime to Rip You off: The most pernicious of these predatory practices is the overdraft fee. In 2009, banks reaped over $38 billion in overdraft fees from their own customers, while posting a total combined profit of just $12.5 billion. Without overdrafts, many banks would have scored massive losses last year, and possibly gone under. Instead, they booked epic bonuses.
JPMorgan profit leaps nearly 80%: US banking giant JPMorgan Chase on Thursday announced a net profit of 4.8 billion dollars in the second quarter, up nearly 80 percent from the same period last year.
Goldman in record $550m SEC settlement: The SEC accused the investment bank of defrauding investors about the make up of the package of subprime mortgage-backed securities. The investment bank had, the US regulator claimed, created and marketed the product without telling investors that a hedge fund helped choose the underlying securities and was betting against them.