News For November 06, 2010

What Did WikiLeaks Really Tell Us about Iran?

By Ali Gharib

Use caution in reading the Iraq war logs—and news coverage of them. Continue

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Interrogation Techniques at 'Britain's Abu Ghraib' Revealed

By Ian Cobain
Warning: video contains material that viewers may find disturbing

Video showing brutal mistreatment is submitted during high court proceedings brought by former Iraqi inmates. Continue

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None of Us Were Like This Before:
American Soldiers and Torture

By Joshua Phillips

Joshua Phillips investigates how and why U.S. forces came to use torture. Phillips reveals that the damaging legacy of torture is borne not only by the detainees, but also by American soldiers and the country to which they’ve returned. Continue

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"Make White Folks Angry"
Fall of UK ex-Government Minister Exposes Fascist Election Strategy

By Yvonne Ridley

So, former British Government minister Phil Woolas has finally been rumbled for playing the race and religion cards in a political game which has fuelled Islamaphobia in the UK. Continue

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America Is Now Officially for Sale

By Johann Hari

It's the Tea Party spirit distilled: pose as the champion of Joe America, while actually ripping him off. Continue

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If Olbermann's Donations Are Bad, What About GE's?

By Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting

If supporting politicians with money is a threat to journalistic independence, what are the standards for Olbermann's bosses at NBC, and at NBC's parent company General Electric? Continue

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Finance Has Become a New Form of Warfare

An interview with professor Michael Hudson - By Democracy Now!

"The object of warfare is to take over a country’s land, raw materials and assets, and grab them," Hudson says. "In the past, that used to be done militarily by invading them. But today you can do it financially simply by creating credit, which is what the Federal Reserve has done." Continue

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QE2: Last Rites for the World's "Reserve Currency"

By Mike Whitney

Millions of Americans have no idea what Quantitative Easing is or how it will effect them personally. Continue

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GOP Seeks Cuts to Pay for Renewed Jobless Benefits

By Associated Press

Newly empowered Republicans want spending cuts of $5 billion to $6 billion a month as a condition for extending emergency unemployment benefits that are scheduled to expire next month for millions of Americans. Continue

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In U.S., 14% Rely on Food Stamps

By Sara Murray

Some 42,389,619 Americans received food stamps in August, a 17% rise from the same time a year ago, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That number is up 58.5% from August 2007, before the recession began. Continue

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The TSA:
America’s Real Child Pornography/Molestation Machine

By William L. Anderson

Each day, individuals wearing costumes engage in both child pornography and "bad touches," and do it in full view of others. Where does this happen? At U.S. airports, which feature the infamous backscatter "imaging" machines, along with full "pat-downs" for people who decline to be subjected to a virtual strip search. Continue

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Adam Curtis- The Living Dead
On the Desperate Edge of Now

Video

This documentary examined how the various national memories of the Second World War were effectively rewritten and manipulated in the Cold War period. Continue

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2 Mosque blasts in Pakistan kill over 70: In one attack, a suicide bomber blew himself up as Friday prayers were ending, killing at least 66 people, provincial government officials said. The attack occurred in Darra Adam Khel, a suburb of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province capital Peshawar.
Eight "terrorists" killed in Orakzai airstrikes: Gunship helicopters on Thursday bombed several militant hideouts in restive Orakzai tribal region near the Afghan border, killing eight alledged terrorists, security official said.
2 killed as NATO supply truck attacked in Pakistan: Two people have been killed when gunmen attacked a NATO supply truck in southwestern Pakistan's Balouchistan province near the border with Afghanistan.
Afghan police: Suicide bomber kills 9 in west: A teenage suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded bazaar in western Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least nine people and wounding 30 others, police said.
4 Afghan policemen found slain: Authorities in a troubled province south of the capital said Thursday that four Afghan police officers were killed, apparently while trying to escape Taliban custody, and that they may have been among a group of police who disappeared when their district was overrun by insurgents earlier this week.
3 occupation force soldiers killed in "insurgent" attacks in Afghanistan: NATO: Taliban militants killed one NATO occupation force soldier in eastern Afghanistan. Two other occupation force service members were killed in an "insurgent" attack in southern Afghanistan, NATO said.
3 US troops killed by Afghan soldier: NATO said on Saturday that the Afghan soldier opened fire on the troopers and killed them in the city of Sangin in Helmand province on Friday evening.
Afghan attacks destroys hundreds of houses: rights group: U.S.-led NATO forces have used aerial bombing to strike Taliban strongholds and to set off mines and homemade bombs sometimes hidden as booby traps in private homes, ARM said in a statement.
White Propaganda Alert: 'Most of the stupid Taliban are dead': The Taliban appears to be holding its own against the U.S. surge in Afghanistan, counterterrorism sources told the New York Daily News.
U.S. agencies were forewarned about suspect in 2008 Mumbai bombings: A review being conducted for the director of national intelligence has found at least five cases in which U.S. agencies were warned that David Coleman Headley, who became a central figure in the 2008 attacks on Mumbai, was training or working with Pakistani militants.
Iraq: Three civilians killed, 9 injured in blast in Iraq''s Baquba: A booby-trapped car was detonated near a building of civil defense in Baquba killing three civilians and injuring nine others, including three women,
Iraqis claim abuse by UK soldiers: Group of 142 people say they suffered at the hands of British soldiers in Iraq as hearing opens in London.
None of Us Were Like This Before: American Soldiers and Torture: Reporter Joshua Phillips—with the support of Adam’s mother and the cooperation of his Army buddies—investigated Adam’s death. What Phillips uncovered was a story of American veterans psychologically scarred by the abuse they had meted out to Iraqi prisoners. http://www.wnyc.org/shows/lopate/2010/jun/15/american-soldiers-and-torture/
Berger Group Buys Out Of Fraud Charges: A New Jersey-based engineering consulting firm, was charged with fraudulently overbilling the U.S. by more than $10 million on reconstruction contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. prosecutors agreed to defer prosecution of the case.
Britain urges action over extremist U.S. website: "Jihadist content" on a U.S.-based website calling for action against British lawmakers who backed the Iraq War has been removed after Britain contacted U.S. authorities, police said on Friday.
Manufacturing Consent For Attack On Yemen: Al-Qaida Claims It Caused UPS Plane Crash in Dubai: Yemen group issues statement saying it will continue to strike American and Western interests.
US involvement in Yemen edging toward 'clandestine war': The administration is quietly discussing ramping up covert operations by the Central Intelligence Agency – adding special-operations units and strikes by unmanned drones to what some analysts already call a “clandestine war.”
Dead or Alive: Yemen orders arrest of al-Awlaki: A Yemeni judge has issued an order that the US-born Muslim preacher Anwar al-Awlaki has to be caught dead or alive, for alleged links to al-Qaeda and involvement in the killing of foreigners.
Report: Iran gave Hezbollah UAVs, attack aircraft: Hezbollah has obtained a complete aerial array from Iran, including an attack aircraft and several unmanned aerial vehicles, Channel 10 quoted the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Siyasa on Saturday.
Bush: Olmert asked me to bomb suspected Syria nuclear plant: 'George, I'm asking you to bomb the compound,' Olmert told Bush according to former U.S. president's memoirs; Israel eventually reportedly destroyed the facility.
U.S.: Syria risks IAEA action if access to suspected nuclear site is denied: The United States warned Syria on Friday it may face action by governors of the United Nations nuclear watchdog if Damascus fails to give its inspectors access to the remains of a suspected nuclear site in the desert.
'Palestinians will give U.S. more time to relaunch peace talks': Top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, in Washington, says 'the key is in Netanyahu's hands. The choice is his: settlements or peace.'
War criminals welcome in Britain: UK reassures Israel on arrest fears: Foreign minister says officials need not fear prosecution for alleged war crimes while in Britain.
US criticized for rights violations: The UN Human Rights Council called on the White House to investigate allegations of torture in US detention centers abroad. The ambassadors of 47 member-states urged the swift closure of US detention centers in Guantanamo in Cuba and Bagram airbase in Afghanistan.
US to Step Up Military Presence Across Asia, into Indian Ocean: US Sets Eyes on Southern Defense Outposts
US accused of spying in Denmark: The US Embassy in Copenhagen has allegedly conducted secret surveillance activities in the Danish capital, a media broadcaster in Denmark says.
Ex-Clinton strategist: Obama needs event ‘similar’ to OKC to ‘reconnect’ with voters: Former Hillary Clinton campaign adviser and current public relations executive Mark Penn suggested that President Obama needs a moment "similar" to the tragic terrorist attack on the Oklahoma City federal building, in order to "reconnect" with voters.
UK: Airports cash in on terror checks: £5 charge to jump queues 'they keep long': At least eight have introduced the system and are charging travellers up to £5 to beat the queues.
Oakland residents awaken to broken windows, debris: Residents of an Oakland neighborhood besieged by several hundred protesters following the sentencing of a former transit officer have awoken to broken car windows and debris
More Bankrupt Banks: U.S. regulators close 4 more banks: Federal regulators on Friday closed four banks, bringing the total number of failures this year in the U.S. to 143.
Republicans willing to trade spending cuts for extension of federal unemployment benefit program: The GOP also pledges to block any new taxes and wage a "sustained battle" against federal regulators that seek to limit the private sector.
Economy 101: Unemployment by the Numbers: How different groups and industries fared in the October jobs report
Foreclosure Timelines Continue to Stretch: LPS notes that the average time a loan remains delinquent in judicial states such as New York and Florida now exceeds 500 days. Nationwide, more than 4.3 million loans are currently 90 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure, according to LPS
JPMorgan Chase to Restart Suspended Foreclosures: Bank of America says it has begun resubmission of 102,000 cases affected by procedural errors. GMAC Mortgage has re-filed 9,523 affidavits with the courts, and is in the process of reviewing another 15,500.
40% of Americans cutting Thanksgiving fat: . With the economy still struggling American families are planning to scale back their Thanksgiving celebrations this year