Monday 9 August 2010

News For August 09, 2010

Nuclear Carriers on the Move

By Arno J. Mayer

Given the scale and reach of this projection of raw military power—reminiscent of the comparatively paltry gunboat diplomacy of a not-so-distant past—I was wondering, Mr. President, whether it wouldn't be wise for you to give the American people, the United Nations, and the rest of the world a reasoned statement of the need for such an oceanic display of America’s naval, air, soldierly, and electronic might. Continue

How Many Iraqis Did We "Liberate" From Life on Earth?

By Robert Naiman

Is there a man or woman in America today who is willing to stand at noon in the public square and claim that demands to bomb, invade, and occupy other people's countries have anything to do with human liberation? Continue

The Suffering of Fallujah

By Robert Koehler

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Fallujah . . . . Along with whatever else we did to Fallujah -- we also, apparently, nuked the city, leaving a legacy of cancer, leukemia, infant mortality and genetic abnormality. Continue

Pfc. Manning and the Value of Truth

By Ray McGovern

We are living in a liminal time, that is to say we live on the threshold. So much that we have taken for granted is passing. In times like this we must be careful to keep our bearings, lest we come to love the chaos that passes for reality. Continue

The Tears of Gaza Must Be Our Tears

By Chris Hedges

You may have the bulldozers, planes and helicopters that smash houses to rubble, the commandos who descend from ropes on ships and kill unarmed civilians on the high seas as well as in Gaza, the vast power of the state behind you. We have only our hands and our hearts and our voices. But note this. Note this well. It is you who are afraid of us. Continue

Hurrah for Hugo Chavez

By Mike Whitney


It's no fun being on Washington's enemies list. Just ask Hugo Chavez. Last week, the Venezuelan president had to cancel a trip to Cuba after he was told that a coup was underway and his life was in danger. The information came from an anonymous source who had delivered a similar warning prior to the failed coup in 2002. Continue

The Forgotten Foreclosure Crisis

By Faiz Shakir

As of July 2010, one in seven mortgages is delinquent or in foreclosure. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, one in 10 homeowners missed at least one mortgage payment between January and March, which is an all-time record and a 9.1 percent increase from last year. Continue

The Tears of Gaza Must Be Our Tears

By Chris Hedges

In economics as in all other things, it all depends on how you look at things - and if everyone in the Obama White House is looking at things from the same vantage point, that sucks and is dangerous. Continue

Decline of the Middle Class as Metaphor for the Decline of America

By Raymond J. Learsy

'Disproportionate' is the freighted word that shackles our society. Over the past few years some two-thirds of the gain in national income has gone to the top one percent of Americans. Continue

Stephen Hawking: Mankind Must Move To Outer Space Within A Century

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent

The human race must look to outer space within the next century or it will become extinct, Professor Stephen Hawking has warned. Continue

"Mobile Mullahs"
One More War, Please

By David Bromwich

To maintain the old wars and give us a new, the war party have now to argue, as they did in Iraq, that the only intelligent war is preemptive war, and that nuclear ambitions mark a special case. Besides, they can add, as they did in Iraq, and as they did in Afghanistan until a few weeks ago, an Israeli or American attack will bring the added benefit of improved democracy in Iran. Continue

Ahmadinejad: 9/11 Scenario Dubious

By Press TV

"What was the story behind September 11? In the space of five to six days, and with the aid of the media, they swayed public opinion to the point of considering an attack on Afghanistan and Iraq permissible," " he said in a televised speech. Continue

At least 69 killed in weekend bombings, shootings in Iraq: Weekend bombings and shootings in Iraq left at least 69 people dead from the north to the south, intensifying fears of a possible surge of violence coinciding with the drawdown of U.S troops.
Two killed, including police, in Baghdad blast: Two people were killed, including a traffic policeman, in a roadside bomb at a police station in western Baghdad on Monday, an interior ministry official said.
The US tank crew wanted for murder: The Spanish government wants a three-man US army tank crew to stand trial for the death of cameraman Jose Couso in Baghdad in 2003.
Detective who found weapons expert David Kelly's body raises questions over his death: The mystery surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly deepened yesterday after the detective who found his body claimed he didn't see 'much blood'.
Somali Soldiers Kill 15 Militia Members: Over in Somalia a regional government minister said that Somali security forces attacked the base of a militia linked with an extremist group al-Shabab and killed 15 people.
7 Taliban Killed in Assaults on NATO Bastions: At least, 7 insurgents were killed on Monday in attacks on three NATO strongholds in Barmal and Geyani districts of Paktia province
2 American Soldiers 2 Afghan Prisoners Killed in Afghanistan: The incident happened after a prisoner who got a weapon killed two prisoners and tried to run away from a prison in the province's Musa Qala district.
Ex-Pakistan spy chief: Afghanistan war 'lost cause': "Why has not a single individual connected to 9/11 been caught in America so far, and why hasn't Osama bin Laden been charged?" With no evidence anyone in Afghanistan was involved, there is no way to legitimize the U.S. occupation, Gul said.
Pakistan: Taliban commander killed in explosion: A Taliban commander was killed and two of his accomplices were injured when an explosive they were planting by a roadside went off in the Mohmand tribal region in northwest Pakistan.
Iran ready for fuel swap talks: Salehi: He went on to say the meeting with the Vienna group -- the US, Russia, France, and the IAEA -- would likely take place within the next two weeks and could become a “prelude to building mutual trust.”
Iran ready for talks with Washington, says Khamenei aide: "While we do not have any faith in the American government... Iran is ready for talks on its nuclear programme," Ali Akbar Velayati told reporters at a news conference in the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
'US main sponsor of terrorism': Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman. "Examples of US actions show that this country has been the biggest sponsor of terrorism over the past three decades but by leveling baseless accusations against other states it attempts to cover up its own actions.”
George Galloway slams West for ‘double standards’: Galloway said Iran has been loyal to international regulations, while Israel is not a NPT signatory, having hundreds of missiles. He said despite its many violations of international law, Israel is not subject to sanctions. He called the UN Security Council’s sanctions against Iran “unjust and illogical.”
Vanunu upon release from jail: Let me leave this country: Nuclear whistle-blower freed from prison after 11 weeks; accuses media of not protecting his rights
Press Censorship: How the Truth Was Hidden About Nagasaki 65 Years Ago : One of the great mysteries of the nuclear age was solved just five years ago: What was in the censored, and then lost to the ages, newspaper articles filed by the first reporter to reach Nagasaki following the atomic attack on that city on August 9, 1945.
Israel accuses US of bias over State Department caution: Israel has accused the United States of bias and rewarding terrorism after the State Department urged Americans visiting Eilat to exercise caution following a rocket attack on the Red Sea resort.
Report: U.S. downgrades Saudi arms deal over Israeli concerns: Last month, a senior defense source told Haaretz that Israel was trying to prevent the United States from selling new F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in order to upgrade the 150 F-15s already in the Saudi air force.
'Not enough evidence to convict suspected Jewish terrorist Pearlman': Court demands that police conclude in two days investigation of Chaim Pearlman, suspected of having killed four Palestinians.
Chavez agrees to meet Santos: Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, has said he will meet with his Colombian counterpart on Tuesday to try to end a diplomatic rift between the two countries.
Chavez: US diplomat won't be accepted as envoy: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday went through with his threat to reject the diplomat nominated by President Barack Obama to be the U.S. ambassador to Caracas.
US Interference in Venezuela Keeps Growing: Despite President Obama’s promise to President Chavez that his administration wouldn’t interfere in Venezuela’s internal affairs, the US-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) is channeling millions into anti-Chavez groups.
How Facebook Betrayed Users and Undermined Online Privacy: Facebook has collected loads of private information about their users -- information that is being sold to marketers.
Fed set to downgrade outlook for US: The Federal Reserve is set to downgrade its assessment of US economic prospects when it meets on Tuesday to discuss ways to reboot the flagging recovery.
Freddie Mac Q2 loss soars to$6 bn: Bailed out mortgage lender Freddie Mac reported a massive rise in its losses to USD 6 billion in the three months ended June and said it will seek another USD 1.8 billion aid from the American taxpayers.

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