News for August 02, 2010

U.S. Has Plan in Case Attack On Iran Needed, Says Army Chief

By The Associated Press

Both Israel and U.S. keeping military option on table; Iran envoy to UN: We'll set Tel Aviv ablaze if Israel strikes us. Continue

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Two Resolutions, One World War

By Ruqayyah Shamseddine

We are now witnessing the legalization and industrialization of another war, one which will set the entire region ablaze. Continue

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Israel Has Crept Into the EU Without Anyone Noticing

By Robert Fisk

I'm not comparing Israel and Hamas. Israel is the country that justifiably slaughtered more than 1,300 Palestinians in Gaza 19 months ago – more than 300 of them children – while the vicious, blood-sucking and terrorist Hamas killed 13 Israelis (three of them soldiers who actually shot each other by mistake). Continue

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Fury As Israel President Claims English Are 'Anti-semitic'

By David Harrison and Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem

Israel's president has accused the English of being anti-semitic and claimed that MPs pander to Muslim voters. Continue

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Afghanistan: It’s Even Worse Than You Thought

By Haroon Siddiqui

The buckets-full of leaked documents on the war in Afghanistan have elicited three responses, all misguided. Continue

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From Freedom Fighter to Terrorist

By Jacob G. Hornberger

The same Gul who was viewed by U.S. officials as a “pro-Western and moderate” freedom fighter is now viewed by the U.S. government as a “murderous terrorist agent.” Continue

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Hans Blix’s Stalinist Rewriting of History

By Brendan O’Neill

Far from being anti-war heroes, UN weapons inspectors paved the way for the bombing of the ‘bastards’ and ‘moral lepers’ of Iraq. Continue

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A Police State You'd Better Believe In

By Jack Kenny

When our nation is waging "war on" so many things (drugs, crime, poverty, terrorism), it's hard to know where to enlist and when to defect. Or put another way, when should a patriot oppose his government? Continue

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15 "militants" killed in Pakistan : At least 15 militants were killed in airstrikes launched by Pakistani army in the Orakzai tribal region.

6 Afghan Civilians Killed in Roadside Blast in Kandahar: Afghan officials say a roadside bomb killed six civilians and wounded nine others Sunday in southern Kandahar province.

Royal Marine and UK soldier killed in Afghanistan: The latest two casualties take the total number of UK deaths in Afghanistan since 2001 to 327.

Civilian killed by NATO soldiers in southern Afghanistan: An Afghan civilian was killed as he was trying to approach a NATO military base in southern Afghanistan, the alliance said Saturday.

270 civilians killed in July in Afghanistan: 'Two hundred and seventy civilians were killed in different security incidents in July across the country which shows a 29 percent increase in comparison with the previous month,' Xinhua quoted a spokesman for the interior ministry as saying.

US-led occupation force soldier killed in Afghanistan: NATO said in statement that the soldier was killed by small-arms fire on Sunday.

Afghan tribal chief killed, dozens of others threatened: A tribal elder was killed in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, where around 70 other elders have received letters threatening them with death, officials said Saturday.

Extrajudicial Killing:: Targeted Killing Is New U.S. Focus in Afghanistan: Propaganda Alert: Judging that they have gained some leverage over the Taliban, American officials are now debating when to try to bring them to the negotiating table to end the fighting.

Afghanistan shows signs of cracking: In fighting to “win” in Helmand or Kandahar provinces, we are fighting against the Pashtun people. This, in Galbraith’s view, is hopeless, and he is probably right. The same goes for regions bordering Pakistan, such as Paktia and Nangahar.

Dutch troops leave Afghanistan: Dutch troops are leaving Afghanistan after four years on Sunday (local time), handing over control of military operations in central Uruzgan province after a political row at home forced their draw-down.

Frank Rich: Kiss This War Goodbye: We may look back at the war logs as a herald of the end of America’s engagement in Afghanistan just as the Pentagon Papers are now a milestone in our slo-mo exit from Vietnam.

Australian weapons found in hands of Taliban, WikiLeaks reveals: Documents released by the WikiLeaks website show that in the past six years International Security Assistance Force troops have uncovered Australian mortar shells, a hand-grenade and other equipment when defusing roadside bombs and capturing Taliban weapons stores.

Informant says WikiLeaks suspect had civilian help: An Army private charged with leaking classified material to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks had civilian help, a key figure in the case said Saturday.

MIT graduate admits link in leak case: Says he met, exchanged e-mails with private accused of providing records, but denies role

Witness says WikiLeaks investigators sought to limit disclosure: The computer expert also said the Army offered him cash to, in his word, "infiltrate" WikiLeaks. "I turned them down," he said. "I don't want anything to do with this cloak-and-dagger stuff."

Daniel Ellsberg's WikiLeaks wish list: Outlook asked Ellsberg for his wish list of documents to be leaked, declassified or otherwise made public, documents that could fundamentally alter public understanding of key national security issues and foreign policy debates. He outlines his selections and calls for congressional investigations:

Iraq violence 'worst in two years': At least 535 people have been killed in Iraq in the month of July, making it the country's deadliest since May 2008, according to Iraqi government figures.

US has plan to attack Iran if needed, military chief admits: Admiral Mike Mullen says there is a plan to prevent Tehran acquiring nuclear arms, but adds: 'I hope we don't get to that'

MP: Israel to vanish if Iran attacked: A senior Iranian parliamentarian insists if Israel makes any wrong moves against Iran, it will be wiped off the earth by a severe response.

US boosts Israeli missile funding: US House appropriators have pushed funding for Israeli missile defense programs to its highest level ever, with $422.7 million now slated for 2011.

Gaza blast wounds Palestinians: More than two dozen people were injured in Monday's blast which destroyed a Hamas leader's house - A Hamas medical officer told Al Jazeera the explosion was caused by an Israeli rocket, but an Israeli army spokesman denied responsibility.

Israel accuses UK of anti-Semitism: MPs outraged by Peres's tirade against English

Foxman Really Outdoes Himself on Mosque Issue: Whatever diminishing credibility the Anti-Defamation League retains as a fighter against discrimination and bigotry against minority groups was shed today with the ADL’s announcement that it opposes the construction of the proposed Islamic Center two blocks from “Ground Zero” in downtown Manhattan.

Cluster bomb ban comes into effect : The United States, the world's largest producer with the biggest stockpile of 800 million submunitions, has refused to sign the treaty so far, although it says it will ban the weapon from 2018.

Two men held over MI6 and Downing Street parcel bombs: Suspects arrested in north Wales over packages allegedly addressed to MI6 offices and Downing Street

Greece will be a war zone, Sect of Revolutionaries warns tourists: Security forces fear wave of terror as austerity programme provokes strikes, protests, violence – and assassination

Video of forced eviction in Paris suburb prompts shock: French politicians as well as advocates for immigrants and housing rights are reacting strongly to a video shot last week of police forcibly removing women and children of African descent from a makeshift tent housing camp in a poor Paris suburb.

Cuba to relax state control of the economy: Raul Castro has said that his government will scale back controls on small businesses, lay off unnecessary workers and allow more self-employment - significant steps in a country where the state dominates nearly every facet of the economy.

UAE to suspend Blackberry service on security fears: The United Arab Emirate's plan to suspend BlackBerry services in October sparked concern among users in the Gulf Arab state on Sunday over the impact it might have on free speech and on companies which rely on the services.

FBI admits probing ‘radical’ historian Zinn for criticizing bureau: FBI files show bureau may have tried to get Zinn fired from Boston University for his political opinions
Uribe denies war plan on Venezuela: Alvaro Uribe, Colombia's outgoing president, has denied plans to launch a military attack on neighbouring Venezuela and denounced his Venezuelan counterpart for ordering troops to the border.
Mainstream Media Helps BP Pretend There's No Oil: It's BP's job to whitewash this story and make it easier to indulge the desire to forget about the scope of the devastation, guys. Not the media's.
Fox News Receives Front-Row Seat in White House Briefing Room: The Associated Press will take Helen Thomas' old seat, while Fox News will now occupy AP's former seat. NPR and Bloomberg also applied for the position.
Foreclosure activity up across most US metro areas: Households across a majority of large U.S. cities received more foreclosure warnings in the first six months of this year than in the first half of 2009, new data shows.