Friday 30 July 2010

News For July 30, 2010

The Real Aim of Israel’s Bomb Iran Campaign

By Gareth Porter

What is important to understand about this campaign is that the aim of Gerecht and of the right-wing government of Benjamin Netanyahu is to support an attack by Israel so that the United States can be drawn into direct, full-scale war with Iran. Continue

Newt Gingrich Suggests Attacking Rest Of 'Axis Of Evil'

By Jeremy Binckes

Former Speaker of the House twice called on the United States to attack North Korea and Iran because the United States has only attacked "one out of three" of so-called Axis of Evil" members by invading Iraq. He also claimed that Muslims are trying to install Sharia law on America and said that the "War on Terror" should have been a war on "radical Islamists" instead. Continue

Exporting Death And Destruction
Obama Seeks to Expand Arms Exports

By Maggie Bridgeman

The United States is currently the world biggest weapons supplier — holding 30 per cent of the market — but the Obama administration has begun modifying export control regulations in hopes of enlarging the U.S. market share, according to U.S. officials. Continue

"There are alarming links between increased reports of extrajudicial executions of civilians by the Colombian army and units that receive U.S. military financing," The report points out that most military training in Colombia is funded by the U.S. Defence Department. Continue

The New Superclass

By Al Jazeera

Where did this new global aristocracy come from and who is keeping them in check? Continue

Trends to Barbarism and Prospects for Socialism

By James Petras

Western societies and states are moving inexorably toward conditions resembling barbarism; structural changes are reversing decades of social welfare and subjecting labor, natural resources and the wealth of nations to raw exploitation, pillage and plunder, driving living standards downward and provoking unprecedented levels of discontent. Continue

21 killed in Afghanistan: Six NATO-led soldiers were killed in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan, while 15 Afghan civilians died in violence elsewhere in the country, officials said Friday.
Rioting in Kabul after US embassy car kills four civilians: Angry mob torches vehicles, chants slogans and confronts police, sparking fears 2006 city-wide riots will be repeated
July is deadliest month of Afghanistan war and occupation for US: American forces have experienced their deadliest month in the nine-year-old Afghan occupation, with 66 US service members killed in July.
Mystery deepens over why sailors left base: An investigation is under way, but with both sailors dead, U.S. authorities remained at a loss Thursday to explain what two junior enlisted men in noncombat jobs were doing driving alone in Logar province, where much of the countryside is not under government control.
WikiLeaks boss may have 'blood on his hands': "Mr Assange can say whatever he likes about the greater good he thinks he and his source are doing, but the truth is they might already have on their hands the blood of some young soldier or that of an Afghan family," Admiral Mullen said.
Pakistan's U.N. Ambassador: Afghan War Unwinnable: Haroon also said U.S. war strategy needs to change for America to win.
Poll: Nearly 6 in 10 Pakistanis view US as enemy: Nearly two-thirds want U.S. troops out of neighboring Afghanistan.
Pakistan's intelligence officials' UK visit cancelled: Pakistan has cancelled visit of its senior intelligence experts to Britain over remarks of British Prime Minister David Cameron who accused Islamabad of exporting terrorism across the world, reports said Friday.
16 Iraqi security officials killed in daytime raid: Militants flew an al-Qaida flag over a Baghdad neighborhood Thursday after killing 16 security officials and burning some of their bodies in a brazen afternoon attack that served as a grim reminder of continued insurgent strength in Iraq’s capital.
Iraqi insurgents plant Qaeda flag in heart of Baghdad: The attacks suggest an insurgency still very much capable of terrorizing the Iraqi population on a nearly daily basis, despite frequent statements from United States military commanders that the group has been severely impeded.
Roadside bomb north of Baghdad kills 5 members of family, including 4-year-old girl: Police spokesman Maj. Ghalib al-Karkhi says the family was not the intended target of Friday's bombing, which struck their car near the town of Buhriz.
Prescott doubted 'tittle-tattle' in Iraq invasion "intelligence": Joint Intelligence Committee assessments contained conclusions "based too much on too little evidence, that was my impression at the time," he said. There was "a bit of tittle tatttle there, and a bit of judgment here".
Iraqi list keen on forming coalition gov''t -- Allawi: Allawi said that he was ready to "step down" from his position as prime minister for another fellow party member, while stressing that he would always defend his party's right to form the upcoming government after Eid Al-Fitr holiday
Army Suicides Reach One a Day; Epidemic Spreads to National Guard and Reserves: Thirty-two soldiers, including 11 in the Guard and Reserve, killed themselves last month, a rate of suicide not seen since the Vietnam War. Seven of the suicides took place I Iraq or Afghanistan.
U.S. Army Clears War of Wrongdoing: U.S. Army: It’s not war; the “risky behavior” of our troops at home drives them to suicide, not War -
Accused Wikileaks source Manning moved to US for trial: A soldier accused of leaking video of a deadly helicopter attack in Iraq has been transferred to a base in the US.
Iran: Ready for Nuclear Talks With Vienna Group: Iran's nuclear chief says his country is ready to enter negotiations with the United States, Russia and France on a possible nuclear fuel agreement.
China says it disapproves of EU sanctions against Iran: China said Friday it opposed tough new sanctions imposed by the European Union on Iran over its contested nuclear programme, again calling for more talks to resolve the standoff.
Australia approves new Iran sanctions: The new sanctions, announced Thursday by Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, follow similar restrictions issued by the United States, the European Union and Canada.
Manufacturing Consent For Attack On Iran: Israel says Iran sanctions not enough: "They're determined to get nuclear military capability. We see it," Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" program on Friday, AFP reported. "I don't believe that sanctions will work," he told the US-based cable news channel.
Russian oil companies may sell gasoline to Iran: Three Russian state-controlled oil companies, including OAO Rosneft and OAO Gazprom Neft, may begin delivering gasoline to Iran in a month, said the head of the Iran Commission of the Moscow Chamber of Commerce Industry.
Iran stoning sentence woman asks to be reunited with her children: Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani's supporters call for support to free her from prison, after sentence was changed to hanging
Syrian and Saudi leaders call for calm on Beirut visit: The two countries only exchanged embassies for the first time last year, and entente between them is seen as crucial to stability in Lebanon.
Damascus: Syria-Saudi ties are none of U.S.'s business: Saudi King Abdullah visits Syria to hold talks with Assad ahead of joint trip t Lebanon; Syrian Foreign ministry says U.S. 'has no right to define our ties with other countries.'
Palestinians are on the right foot this time around: The Palestinians' starting position is better than ours: They have fulfilled most of their obligations under the road map peace plan, while we have not removed even one of the illegal outposts we were supposed to dismantle.
UN faults Israel's human rights: A UN panel of experts called Friday on Israel to fall in line with international norms on civil rights and to take action against targeted killings, torture and impunity for security forces.
Book condoning murder of non-Jews has another rabbi in hot water: "If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments - because we care about the commandments - there is nothing wrong with the murder."
Many Jews unsettled over Harper holiday greetings: When Michelle Kofman found a Rosh Hashanah greeting card from Prime Minister Stephen Harper in her mailbox last month, she was left with one puzzling question: How does he know I'm Jewish?
32 killed in Somalia; al-Shabab gains ally: At least 13 combatants were killed in an intense insurgent-government battle in the normally stable Puntland region of northern Somalia, authorities said.
Somalia: Al-Shabab threatens AU "peacekeepers": The armed group leading the fight against Somalia's beleagured transitional government has warned that it will turn Mogadishu into a "graveyard" for extra African Union troops sent to the country.
Hundreds of German-financed Somali police officers go missing: Almost 1,000 Somali police have gone missing after their training was financed by the German government. It is feared these officers will now join forces with the Islamist militants Al-Shabaab.
US-China Tensions Flare Over South China Sea Dispute: Tensions are growing between the United States and China after Washington weighed in on territorial disputes between China and Southeast Asian nations in the South China Sea.
'CIA killed Chile army chief': The former head of Chile's secret police has denied involvement in the murder of the country's ex-commander in chief of the army, claiming the Central Intelligence Agency ordered the assassination.
Farc slams Colombian government: The leader of Colombia's largest rebel group has been seen in a new video, criticising the Latin American country's president-elect.
Italy passes austerity measures: The Italian parliament has approved an austerity package worth more than $32bn, aimed at cutting the country's budget deficit and reassuring financial markets.
Japan unemployment rises further: Latest economic figures show persisting weakness in world's second largest economy.
US economy shows signs of slowdown as consumer spending falters: "Normally at this stage of the recovery we see confidence returning, but that just isn't happening at the moment. Instead we see anxiety about the future and the outlook for sub-trend growth," he said.
IMF Says U.S. Financial System May Need $76 Billion in Capital: The U.S. financial system remains fragile and banks subjected to additional economic stress might need as much as $76 billion in capital, according to the results of International Monetary Fund stress tests.
Homes keep falling into foreclosure as programs fail to help: In the first half of 2010, more than 1.6 million U.S. properties were hit with foreclosure filings, which include bank repossessions, default notices and auction sale notices.

Thursday 29 July 2010

News For July 29, 2010

'It's Taken a Year to Move 20km'

Video

As the war in Afghanistan enters its final chapter, Sean Smith's brutal, uncompromising film from the Helmand frontline shows the horrific chaos of a stalemate that is taking its toll in blood

-WARNING -
Video depicts the reality and horror of War and should only be watched by a mature audience. Click to view

A Plea for Common Sense
Why NATO Should Withdraw from Afghanistan

By Christoph Schwennicke

It is difficult for politicians to admit they were wrong. But when it comes to Afghanistan, the consequences of not doing so could be high. It is time for the West to cut its losses and withdraw. Continue

"The Real Terrorist Was Me"
Speech By War Vetran

Video & Transcript

Our real enemies are not those living in a distant land whose names or policies we don't understand; The real enemy is a system that wages war when it's profitable, the CEOs who lay us off our jobs when it's profitable, the Insurance Companies who deny us Health care when it's profitable, the Banks who take away our homes when it's profitable. Our enemies are not several hundred thousands away. They are right here in front of us. Continue

American Soldiers Brainwashed with "Positive Thinking"

By Bruce E. Levine

“As far as I can tell this is the largest, deliberate, psychological intervention in human history. . . . We don’t know when the global war on terrorism is going to end so we’re preparing to have to be engaged for a long period of time.” Continue

The End of (Military) History?
The US, Israel, and the Failure of the Western Way of War

By Andrew Bacevich

"In watching the flow of events over the past decade or so, it is hard to avoid the feeling that something very fundamental has happened in world history." Continue

Google, CIA Invest in ‘Future’ of Web Monitoring

By Noah Shachtman

The investment arms of the CIA and Google are both backing a company that monitors the web in real time — and says it uses that information to predict the future. Continue

Orwell Rolls in His Grave

Video

"Could a media system, controlled by a few global corporations with the ability to overwhelm all competing voices, be able to turn lies into truth?..." Continue

Who Is Behind the 25,000 Deaths In Mexico?

By Charles Bowden and Molly Molloy

Calderón's war, assisted by the United States, terrorizes the Mexican people, generates thousands of documented human rights abuses by the police and Mexican Army and inspires lies told by American politicians that violence is spilling across the border (in fact, it has been declining on the US side of the border for years). Continue

Militants kill 23 security forces across Iraq: The worst attack came in Baghdad's Sunni neighborhood of Azamiyah when 16 Iraqi security troops died in what appeared to have been coordinated killings by militants in a bold, daylight attack in the neighborhood that was once an insurgent stronghold, Iraqi police and army officials said.
Lack of Iraq government 'embarrassing': FM: The lack of a government nearly five months on from parliamentary elections is "embarrassing" and is impeding any long-term decision-making, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told AFP on Thursday.
Rewriting history: Biden: US troops halted 'chaos' and 'destruction' in Iraq: US Vice President Joe Biden declared Wednesday that anti-US forces who wanted to consign Iraq to "chaos and destruction" had failed, as he welcomed home a much decorated military unit.
Pakistan: 13 killed in clash: Three security personnel were killed and 10 others suffered injuries when militants attacked a convoy in the Pash Ziarat area of South Waziristan here on Tuesday evening, intelligence sources said on Wednesday.
Fact or fiction? Nuke-smuggling network in demand: Two U.S. intelligence officials and other U.S. officials with access to intelligence reports said information compiled over the past seven months showed that agents from several foreign governments — including Brazil, Burma, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Sudan and Syria — pursued members of the network named after Abdul Qadeer Khan, the scientist considered to be the father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.
10 killed in Afghan clash: A clash between Taliban militants and guards of a private security company left 10 people dead in Ghazni province. 'The clash occurred in Andar district and as a result seven guards of the company Watan Risk and three Taliban rebels were killed,' provincial police chief Khayalbaz Shirzai told Xinhua.
Fierce fighting in Afghan valley: Video - US and Afghan soldiers have launched a series of raids against the Taliban in the Arghandab Valley in southeastern Afghanistan. With the American soldiers being ill-prepared for the kind of war the Taliban is fighting, attempts to defeat the enemy have not yet been successful.
Former Afghan Taliban group commander assassinated at home by militants: Taliban commander Mullah Abdullah who joined government two months ago was killed at his home in northern Kunduz province, provincial governor Mohammad Omar said Thursday.
Second captured US sailor's body found: "The coalition told our criminal police director of the district that the body belonged to the foreign soldier they were looking for," Mohammad Rahim Amin, a local government chief in the Baraki Barak district in western Logar, said. Newlove and another sailor, Justin McNeley, went missing last week in Logar province. McNeley's body was recovered on Sunday.
'US-led forces hit Afghan civilian bus' killing 25: : The Taliban claim that US-led forces in Afghanistan created the explosion against a civilian bus to blame the group for the killing of innocent people of the country.
Taliban congratulates Dutch on Afghan withdrawal: The Taliban’s spokesman for southern and western Afghanistan, Yusuf Ahmadii, has been interviewed by the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant. He told the paper that the rebels wanted to “offer the people and government of the Netherlands heartfelt congratulations on their courage in making this independent decision”. He hopes other countries will follow suit.
Why NATO Should Withdraw from Afghanistan: It is difficult for politicians to admit they were wrong. But when it comes to Afghanistan, the consequences of not doing so could be high. It is time for the West to cut its losses and withdraw.
Leaks reveal 'friendly fire' deaths: Wikileaks documents suggest that four Canadian soldiers who died in 2006 were actually killed when a US jet dropped a bomb on a building they were occupying.
Graham: Prosecute WikiLeaks: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday called for the criminal prosecution of Wikileaks, the website that published classified military documents this week. “I’m willing to prosecute anybody who led to undermining the war effort,” Graham said during an appearance on Fox News.
FBI chief says agents assisting Pentagon on WikiLeaks investigation: FBI Director Robert Mueller says the bureau is assisting the Defense Department in its criminal investigation into the release of some 91,000 secret U.S. military documents on Afghanistan.
Iran ready to 'rethink' 20% enrichment: Iran's nuclear point man says Tehran is ready to rethink its uranium enrichment to 20 percent if it is guaranteed that it will be supplied with fuel for its Tehran research reactor.
Turkey: Tehran declaration still valid: Under the May 17 deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey, Iran agreed to send 1,200 kg of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for fuel for the medical research reactor in Tehran. The US and its European allies snubbed the declaration and used their influence on the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Iran.
Robert Dreyfuss : United States, Iran to Restart Talks: Talks on Iran's nuclear program will resume in September, and despite the war bluster from neocons and the far right, the Obama administration seems prepared to try once again.
Oil tanker 'attacked' off Oman: A suspected explosion that damaged a Japanese oil tanker in the Straits of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, could have been caused by an "attack", the ship's owners have said.
Yemen rebels free 200 soldiers: Yemeni Shia rebels freed yesterday 200 soldiers they had captured two days earlier and promised to release other prisoners, both civilian and military, a mediator said.
Russian forces foil plane hijack: Russian special forces have foiled the attempted hijacking of an aircraft on a domestic flight from the Caucasus region to Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
Exclusive: Google, CIA Invest in ‘Future’ of Web Monitoring: The investment arms of the CIA and Google are both backing a company that monitors the web in real time — and says it uses that information to predict the future.
White House proposal would ease FBI access to records of Internet activity: The Obama administration is seeking to make it easier for the FBI to compel companies to turn over records of an individual's Internet activity without a court order if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation.
FBI's Robert Mueller supports record-keeping on prepaid cell phones: FBI Director Robert Mueller has endorsed anti-terrorism legislation that would require prepaid cell-phone sellers to keep records of buyers' identities.
FBI defends guidelines for domestic surveillance: Under fire from civil liberties groups, the FBI is defending domestic surveillance guidelines that critics fear could unfairly target innocent Muslims in terrorism and other criminal investigations.
Greek drivers ordered to end strike: The Greek government has ordered fuel-truck drivers who have been on strike for three days to go back to work, with fuel shortages affecting the country. Police used tear gas on Thursday to disperse protesting drivers who had gathered outside the transport ministry after the requisition was issued.
FDIC flashes SOS – 1,000 bank failures before recession is over : By the end of the recession, there will be approximately 1,000 bank failures. Does this sound extreme? It should but the numbers don’t cover the entire story. Since 2008 the number of bank failures has reached 269 and this doesn’t include consolidations done through the FDIC where bigger banks ate up smaller banks before they officially failed.

Wednesday 28 July 2010

News For July 28, 2010

Who Voted for War With Iran, Mr. Obama?

By Philip Giraldi

House of Representatives resolution 1553, introduced by Congressional Republicans, and currently working its way through the system will endorse an Israeli attack on Iran, which would be going to war by proxy as the US would almost immediately be drawn into the conflict when Tehran retaliates. Continue

Leaked Files Indicate U.S. Pays Afghan Media to run Friendly Stories

By John Cook

Buried among the 92,000 classified documents released Sunday by WikiLeaks is some intriguing evidence that the U.S. military in Afghanistan has adopted a PR strategy that got it into trouble in Iraq: paying local media outlets to run friendly stories. Continue

Government Has Run Amok Since 9/11

By Sheldon Richman

Those who understand the exploitative nature of big government suspected that the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks had little to do with the security of the American people and much to do with power and money. Continue

Time for the Palestinians to Call Israel’s Bluff?

By Alan Hart

“Politically, Israelis now operate strictly on fear and aggression; look at them cross-eyed and they think Hitler’s back and they’re ready to drop the big one. Politically they’re nuts. A danger to others and themselves.” Continue

The Palestinian Authority is Imprisoning Gazans

By Amira Hass


The same government that includes a call to end the blockade on Gaza, in practice aids in imprisoning the Gazans by preventing them from holding valid Palestinian passports. Continue

Wall Street Gets Trillions While Workers Get Bupkis

By Mike Whitney

The bottom line? When Wall Street is hurting, money's never a problem.  But when the states are on the brink of default and 14 million workers are scrimping to feed their families, there's not a dime to spare. Explain that to your kids.
Continue

Iconic Teddy Roosevelt, White Supremacist

By Crawford Kilian

History suggests Roosevelt created the template for American imperialism. Continue

25 killed as Afghan bus hits bomb: A roadside bomb ripped through a crowded Afghan bus on Wednesday, killing up to 25 civilians in a southwestern province on the Iranian border in one of the deadliest such attacks in months.
Two Italian occupation force soldiers killed in Afghanistan: Two Italian soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan on Wednesday moments after successfully dismantling another such makeshift device, the defense ministry said.
Taliban capture a NATO plane in northern Afghan province: An official with NATO-led forces in Kunduz province also confirmed the incident. "A reconnaissance UAD plane made emergency landing in Yangariq area of Qalai Zal district this morning," Lieutenant Colonel Weber told Xinhua.
U.S. Congress Passes $59 Bn Afghan War Funding Bill: The new funding is on top of the $130 billion Congress already approved for Afghanistan and Iraq this year.
Democrats abandon Obama on Afghanistan war: The House's vote yesterday on emergency funding for the Afghanistan war shows a significant eroding of support for President Obama's war policy -- from members of his own Democratic Party.
Kucinich, Paul Force Pakistan Debate: The two congressmen offered a resolution ordering President Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. military personnel from Pakistan, saying their presence violates the War Powers Act since it was not approved by Congress.
Cameron sparks diplomatic row with Pakistan after 'export of terror' remarks: David Cameron today sparked a furious diplomatic row with Islamabad after accusing elements of the Pakistani state of promoting the export of terrorism.
22 killed in Iraq violence : Two attacks Wednesday in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul left at least six people dead, including a young girl, and wounded several others. Earlier, police said rockets launched by militants killed 16 people in the Shia holy city of Karbala, and injured another 22 people
WikiLeaks Iraq Cache More Than Three Times As Big: The cache of classified U.S. military reports on the Iraq War as yet unreleased by WikiLeaks may be more than three times as large as the set of roughly 76,000 similar reports on the war in Afghanistan made public by the whistle-blower Web site earlier this week, Declassified has learned.
17 Civilians killed in Somalia clashes: "The ambulance servicemen collected 10 civilian bodies and 46 others who were injured in the clashes yesterday afternoon," Ali Musa, the head of Mogadishu's ambulance services, said.
France Kills 6 People in North Africa: The attack was the country's first strike against an "al-Qaeda" base, and six "fighters" were reportedly killed.
Iran offers terms to halt 20 percent uranium enrichment: Turkish FM says Iran has given an assurance that it would stop enriching uranium to 20 percent purity if world powers agreed to a proposed nuclear fuel swap.
House Republicans Giving Green Light for Israeli Strike on Iran: Nearly one third of the Republican congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced a resolution that would support Israel's right to use “all means necessary to confront and eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran”, including military force.
'US Gave 1 Billion To Fund Sedition Leaders To Topple Iran'?: "I have acquired documents showing that the Americans paid one billion dollars to leaders of sedition through Saudi individuals who are currently the US agents in regional countries,” ILNA quoted Head of the Guardian Council Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati as saying on Tuesday.
Iran cmdr. guarantees US shame in ME: "Americans can be certain that in the event of a ground, naval or aerial attack against our country, they will be faced with a crushing and decisive response which will be much more fatal and crushing than their initial act [of aggression]," Mehr News Agency quoted the commander as saying.
Explosion rocks Japan oil tanker in PG: Japan's transport ministry has said the incident may have been an attack, noting that one crewmember had seen a flash in the horizon before the explosion.
Israel linked to exiled sheikh's bid for 'coup' in Gulf emirate of RAK: Israel is aiding an exiled Arab sheikh who is vying to seize control of a strategically important Gulf emirate only 40 miles from Iran.
ADL chief: Oliver Stone's apology about remarks on Jews, Holocaust 'insufficient': "While [Stone] now admits that Jews do not control Hollywood, the media and other industries, he ignores his assertion that Jews are “...the most powerful lobby in Washington” and that “Israel has f***** up United States foreign policy.” This is another conspiratorial anti-Semitic canard that Mr. Stone needs to repudiate," Foxman said.
Gilad Atzmon: Oliver Stone apologized for Telling the Truth: Stone’s apology confirms Stone’s argument. We are subject to constant assault by Jewish and Israeli gatekeepers who insist on controlling the political and historical discourse and defy any possible criticism of Jewish national affairs.
Haim Saban to CBS: Cancel Oliver Stone's Showtime Series: The billionaire and outspoken media mogul told TheWrap he had contacted CBS chief Leslie Moonves to urge him to pull the series.
Desmond Tutu backs U.S. food co-op boycott of Israeli products: South African Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu issues statement of support for boycott announced by food co-op in Rachel Corrie's hometown of Olympia, Washington.
Israel's sex slavery trade booming: 3,000 and 5,000 women are smuggled to Israel annually and sold into the prostitution industry, where they are constantly subjected to violence and abuse.
UK: Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu stopped and searched by police EIGHT times: The Archbishop of York yesterday revealed he has been stopped and searched by police eight times, as he warned new anti-terrorist powers are a threat to civil liberties.
Court dilutes Arizona migrant law: The law will still take effect as scheduled on Thursday, but parts of the legislation have been suspended, including a provision that requires police officers to determine the immigration status of people they detain.
Anti-Illegal Immigration Group Calls for 'Safe Passage' of Illegals Out of U.S.: Americans for Legal Immigration PAC (ALIPAC) is urging U.S. citizens to pressure the White House and the Homeland Security Department to establish "safe departure" border checkpoints along the U.S. border for illegal immigrants so they can leave without fear of being detained or prosecuted for immigration crimes.
Senate postpones Lockerbie hearing: The UK government has rejected criticism from the United States of British witnesses who refused to attend a planned Senate hearing into the release of the Lockerbie bomber.
New oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico: The spill in Barataria Bay, which is surrounded by wildlife-rich wetlands, is at least the third leak since in the area since the BP oil catastrophe began on April 10.
U.S. Rescue May Reach $23.7 Trillion, Barofsky Says: - U.S. taxpayers may be on the hook for as much as $23.7 trillion to bolster the economy and bail out financial companies, said Neil Barofsky, special inspector general for the Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Goldman reveals where bailout cash went: Goldman Sachs sent $4.3 billion in federal tax money to 32 entities, including many overseas banks, hedge funds and pensions, according to information made public Friday night.

Saturday 24 July 2010

News For July 24, 2010

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Act Now To Stop
Congress Green-Lighting Israeli Strikes on Iran

By Jamal Abdi

Republicans in the House of Representatives have introduced a measure that would green-light an Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. The resolution, H.Res. 1553 (in full below), provides explicit support for military strikes against Iran, stating that Congress supports Israel's use of "all means necessary" against Iran "including the use of military force". Continue

Repubs Plot Israel-Iran Apocalypse and the Collapse of the US Economy

By Juan Cole

It is not impossible that the people behind this resolution are fervently hoping for the Judgment Day to come more quickly and look forward to a Middle East apocalypse as a step toward the Return of Christ and the end of that pesky but temporarily necessary Judaism. Continue

Unthinkable? Bush Testifies to Chilcot

Editorial

As partners in the coalition of the willing, are we not equally accountable to one another? Surely there is no one in a better position to shed light on our road to war than the people who took the real decisions in Washington. Continue

Cuba's Prisoner Release
Surprise! Mainstream Media Omits Context and Key Facts

By SAUL LANDAU and NELSON P. VALDES

Double standards and irony abound. Spain and the United States lecture Cuba on freedom after holding the island as a formal and informal economic colony respectively for 450 years. Somehow, both seem to claim they have a perennial right to dictate Cuban government behavior. Continue

BP Hires Prison Labor to Clean Up Spill While Coastal Residents Struggle

By Abe Louise Young

Hiring prison labor is more than a way for BP to save money while cleaning up the biggest oil spill in history. By tapping into the inmate workforce, the company and its subcontractors get workers who are not only cheap but easily silenced—and they get lucrative tax write-offs in the process. Continue

No To Oligarchy

By Bernie Sanders

Today, because of stagnating wages and higher costs for basic necessities, the average two-wage-earner family has less disposable income than a one-wage-earner family did a generation ago. The average American today is underpaid, overworked and stressed out as to what the future will bring for his or her children. For many, the American dream has become a nightmare. Continue

The "Hadrian's Wall" in the United States-Mexico Border

By Radio Havana

Everybody knows that Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of a protective wall in northern Great Britain between 122 and 132 AD to separate the Roman Empire from the "barbarians" as they called the people who refused to be submitted while preventing their passage into his territory. Continue

50 militants killed in Afghanistan : Fifty Taliban militants were killed in Afghanistan's eastern Nuristan province, the defence ministry said Saturday. "Afghan commandos backed by NATO-led troops raided a Taliban hideout in Barg-e-Matal district Friday night, killing 50 rebels," it said in a statement, Xinhua reported
Five US occupation force soldiers among 8 killed in Afghan blasts: Two Afghan policemen were killed and another two injured by a roadside bomb Friday in Kandahar, capital of the southern province of the same name, the Interior Ministry said.
2 U.S. occupation force soldiers captured in Afghanistan : A Taliban spokesman told Reuters three ISAF servicemen had been captured but one had died. He did not elaborate.
Mosque blast kills Afghan election candidate : A candidate for Afghanistan's September parliamentary elections was killed and 20 others wounded by a bomb planted in a mosque in Khost, officials said on Saturday.
Unconfirmed report: US-led strike kills dozens of civilians: A US-led air strike has reputedly left dozens of civilians dead in Afghanistan, raising concerns about the growing number of civilian casualties in the country.
US Kills 16 People in Pakistan : Local people have started rescue activities following the drone attacks and are engaged in clearing rubble and hurrying wounded men to hospital, said the report. The death toll could further rise as many of the injured people are in critical condition.
Son of Pakistani minister killed in attack, one wounded: The son of a Pakistani provincial minister was gunned down and his friend was seriously wounded in a firing by unknown assailants Saturday evening in northern Pakistan.
PKK bomb kills 4 Turkish soldiers: Four Turkish soldiers have been killed in a roadside bomb explosion in the eastern parts of the country, amid a surge in militant attacks against Turkish military.
Ohio soldier killed in Iraq attack: The Department of Defense says a soldier from Ohio has been killed in Iraq after insurgents attacked his convoy vehicle with an improvised explosive device.
House OK's possible Israeli raid on Iran: Neoconservatives who were instrumental in orchestrating the Iraq War, such as Bill Kristol and Reuel Marc Gerecht, have led the stepped up calls for military action.
Medvedev 'mouthpiece' of Iran enemies: Ahmadinejad: "In a meeting with his ambassadors, he (Medvedev) said we have knowledge that Iran is moving towards the bomb," Ahmadinejad was shown saying in footage broadcast by state television on Saturday.
Iranian President reveals new US scenario against Iran: President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad here Friday unveiled truth about new US-Zionist scenario against Iran, expressing sorrow that Russia, too, is now harmonizing with it.
Iran says it has 100 vessels for each US warship: The former naval chief for Iran's Revolutionary Guard said the country has set aside 100 military vessels to confront each warship from the U.S. or any other foreign power that might pose a threat, an Iranian newspaper reported Saturday.
Iran, Brazil, Turkey foreign ministers to meet in Istanbul: FM: Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki will meet with his Brazilian and Turkish counterparts, Celso Amorim and Ahmet Davutoglu, "in Istanbul tomorrow morning to discuss the Tehran Declaration about the fuel swap", Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by IRNA.
A new party of good tidings: The time has come for an Israeli party, a Jewish-Arab party, that will carry the banner of total commitment to equality, without a trace of discrimination and racism.
Israeli forces crush West Bank demo, injuring three: The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) supports these rallies that are considered as part of the "peaceful resistance."
Jewish squatters seize Palestinian land in W. Bank, turn it to outpost: Three mobile homes were placed by "settlers" over a piece of land belonging to Palestinian citizen Abdulrahaman Sultan, in Bwaida in Al-Khalil. The settlers did this under the supervision of Israeli soldiers, media and public relations department in the local police said.
Hamas slams UN over aid deliveries: Hamas has said the United Nations call for aid groups to send supplies to the Gaza strip over-land rather than by sea amounts to "collaboration with the Israeli occupier".
Israel to UN: North Korea arms proliferation destabilizing the Middle East: Israel expresses concern over North Korea's ballistic missiles, encourages UN Security council to strengthen efforts to respond to these dangers.
North Korea Vows 'Nuclear' Response To U.S. Military Exercises: A massive nuclear-powered U.S. supercarrier readied Saturday for maneuvers with ally South Korea in a potent show of force that North Korea has threatened could lead to "sacred war."
Containing China Is A Fool's Errand. Yet Obama's Deal with Indonesian Thugs Is Aimed at Exactly That: Let’s call it SPITTO! That would be the all-Asia/Pacific military alliance that the United States would dearly love to have to contain China, the way it created NATO to contain the Soviet Union in the post-World War II era.
India unveils prototype of 35 U.S. dollar laptop: India has unveiled a prototype tablet touchscreen laptop, priced at 1,500 rupees (35 U.S. dollars) , which it hopes to roll out in the market commercially next year.
Long-simmering feud behind Venezuela-Colombia split: "For dignity, we do not have another option but to sever diplomatic ties with Colombia," Chavez declared. He said Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was prepared to do anything to launch a conflict with Venezuela. "Uribe is a threat to peace. He is even able to establish a faked camp in our territory and raid it to start a war," Chavez said.
Venezuela Warns Colombia Against Inciting a Conflict: Speaking on state television, Defense Minister Carlos Mata promised “a strong response” if foreign forces crossed into Venezuelan territory.
In Colombia, a mass grave containing 2,000 bodies: The unidentified bodies have been deposited by the Army since 2005
Mass grave uncovered in Mexico: Authorities in Mexico have uncovered the remains of at least 50 people on the outskirts of the country's third largest city in what authorities believe is a gangland body dump.
What a load of bull: Hizbullah Possible Culprit in Juarez Car Bomb: A car bomb that exploded July 15 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, may indicate that Mexican drug cartels are being assisted by Hizbullah terrorists.
Haters Go After the ‘Ground Zero Mosque’: If we follow the "logic" of Newt and his fellow crusaders, then this should be torn down – along with all the other hundreds of mosques in New York City.
Florida church sponsors 'International Burn A Koran Day': The Dove World Outreach Center, a non-denominational church in Gainesville FL, is planning to mark this year's anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a little bonfire of Korans, the holy book of Islam. They even have a Facebook page with a mission statement to justify their actions:
Alaska couple on US terror charge : A National Weather Service employee and his British-born wife have pleaded guilty to domestic terrorism charges of lying to the FBI about a hit list of possible targets who the couple suspected were enemies of Islam.
Scientists: Oil plumes definitely from BP's well: Researchers in Florida say they have the first scientific proof that two plumes of oil beneath the surface of the Gulf of Mexico came from BP's broken well.
BP denies 'buying silence' of oil spill scientists: Oil giant says it is just keeping company data confidential, as it faces 200 federal civil lawsuits over spill
White House Predicts Record $1.47 Trillion Deficit: New estimates from the White House on Friday predict the budget deficit will reach a record $1.47 trillion this year. The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends.
Seven More U.S. Banks Shut by Regulators, Pushing Year's Failures Past 100: Banks with total deposits of about $2 billion were shut down yesterday, according to statements on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. website. The failures cost the FDIC’s deposit- insurance fund $431 million. The U.S. bank-failure count this year rose to 103.
Bankruptcy filings up 25% over last year: Many consumers struggling with job loss.
Magazine exposes 'double life' of Vatican's gay priests: NOT FOR the first time in recent months, an Italian media source yesterday revealed embarrassing details of a flourishing gay “scene” within the Holy See in Rome.

Friday 23 July 2010

News For July 23, 2010

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N Korea Vows 'Physical Response' to US

By Press TV

"There will be physical response against the steps imposed by the United States, militarily. It is no longer the 19th century which... maintained the gunboat diplomacy," Ri Tong Il, a spokesman for the North Korean delegation at ASEAN Regional Forum in Hanoi, said on Friday. Continue

Blowback
Video of Times Square Bomber With Pakistan Taliban Commander

Video

During the undated video clip, Hakimullah and Shahzad are shown shaking hands and hugging, as Shahzad speaks in an overlaid audio track: Continue

Cancer Rate In Fallujah Worse Than Hiroshima

By Tom Eley

According to the authors of a new study, “Cancer, Infant Mortality and Birth Sex-Ratio in Fallujah, Iraq 2005–2009,” the people of Fallujah are experiencing higher rates of cancer, leukemia, infant mortality, and sexual mutations than those recorded among survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the years after those Japanese cities were incinerated by US atomic bomb strikes in 1945. Continue

Oil, Blood Money, and Blair's Last Scandal

By Johann Hari

Sometimes there is a news story that lays out the priorities that drive our governments once the doors are closed and the cameras are switched off. The story of the attempt to trade the Lockerbie bomber for oil is one of those moments. Continue

Israel Hiding Behind The "Iranian Threat"

By Steven Zhou

This renewed exaggeration of an Iranian threat to Israel comes at a time when Israel is clearly being shown to be a strategic liability to the U.S., a fact the Israel Lobby has so far concealed with great success. Continue

Uncovered: Britain's Secret Rendition Programme

By Robert Verkaik, Home Affairs Editor

Until now, this country has been guilty only by association in the illegal transfer of prisoners. But the covert rendition of a Moroccan man by MI5 agents suggests that the practice was central to Britain's 'war on terror' Continue

Shadow Banking Makes A Comeback

By Mike Whitney

Financial system instability is no accident. It's Central Bank policy.  As financial institutions discover they can no longer count on organic growth in the real economy to increase profits, (because consumers are too strapped to spend freely)  they will rely more heavily on dodgy accounting, bogus ratings, opaque debt-instruments, high-frequency trading and lax lending standards. Continue

Federal Report Faults Banks on Huge Bonuses

By ERIC DASH

With the financial system on the verge of collapse in late 2008, a group of troubled banks doled out more than $2 billion in bonuses and other payments to their highest earners. Now, the federal authority on banker pay says that nearly 80 percent of that sum was unmerited. Continue

21 militants killed in Pakistan: At least 21 militants, including two rebel commanders, were killed Friday in ground and air offensives launched by security forces in northwest Pakistan, Xinhua reported.
Dead man walking: Video shows fugitive Swat leader: Fazlullah, who was thought to have been killed near the Afghan-Pakistan border in May, is shown embracing at least 10 suicide bombers, who were said to be ready to "accomplish their mission".
Minority leaders leaving Karzai's side over leader's overtures to insurgents: The man who served as President Hamid Karzai's top intelligence official for six years has launched an urgent campaign to warn Afghans that their leader has lost conviction in the fight against the Taliban and is recklessly pursuing a political deal with insurgents.
Senate Approves $60B for Afghanistan Surge: In a take-it-or-leave-it gesture, the Senate voted Thursday night to reject more than $20 billion in domestic spending the House had tacked on to its $60 billion bill to fund President Barack Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan.
One killed, 15 injured in Iraq attacks; nine suspects arrested: A policeman was killed and 15 other people injured in two separate attacks in Iraq on Friday, while officers arrested nine suspects in northern Iraq, police sources said.
UK admits using DU ammunition in Iraq: "UK forces used about 1.9 metric tons of depleted uranium ammunition in the Iraq war in 2003," UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox said in a written reply to the House of Commons on Thursday, the Kuwait News Agency reported.
Scientific study shows soaring cancer rates in Fallujah; DU suspected: A new epidemiological study reports that "the people of Fallujah are experiencing higher rates of cancer, leukemia, infant mortality, and sexual mutations than those recorded among survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the years after those Japanese cities were incinerated by U.S. atomic bomb strikes in 1945,"
Mental Illness Increases For U.S. Troops: The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking a toll on minds as well as bodies, statistics released by the U.S. Army indicate. The Army said the number of U.S. soldiers forced to leave the military because of mental disorders increased by 64 percent from 2005 to 2009, USA Today reported Friday.
Two AU peacekeepers killed in Somali violence: Somali Islamist insurgents have killed two African Union peacekeepers in fighting in the country's capital Mogadishu, a spokesman for the AMISOM peacekeeping force said on Friday.
Israeli Forces Kill Unarmed Palestinian: Israeli forces shot to death an unarmed Palestinian man early on Thursday at the edge of a Jewish settlement in the northern West Bank, Israeli military and Palestinian officials said. The Palestinian Authority government condemned the killing, calling it a "breach of the rule of law."
'Arab man attacked for talking to Jewish girl': According to police estimates, the Arab was beaten with a heavy metal object, which the suspect held inside a plastic bag. The victim then lost consciousness and was rushed to the Rambam Medical Center in Haifa.
American Jews don military uniforms for volunteer service: "Nathaniel told me that if he's going to take a bullet, he'd rather take one in Israel, for the country,"
Spanish activists sue Israeli PM: Two Spanish activists have filed a court case against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Beyond belief: UK seeks war crimes law change: If approved, amendment will enable Israeli politicians, IDF officers to travel to Britain without fear of being arrested. Livni: Free world must differentiate between real war criminals, those who fight terrorism
UN rights body names team to probe Gaza flotilla raid: In response to the UN's decision, a foreign ministry official said that the UN Human Rights Council's made its decision in haste, and that it was "part of the Rights Council's obsession against Israel."
Empire: Constantly changing map of the Middle East region: Illustrating how various "empires" have risen and fallen in the past 5000 years.
Israel deploys navy to stop aid ships: Two Lebanese vessels are expected to depart in an attempt to break the Gaza blockade and deliver humanitarian supplies to Gazans by the end of the week.
'Iran to send man to space by 2019': Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the Islamic Republic has plans to launch its first manned shuttle into the space by 2019.
Russia aims to topple the 'last dictator in Europe': Alexander Lukashenko, the moustachioed former collective farm manager often described as "the last dictator in Europe", could be about to see his iron grip on power in Belarus turned to jelly by an intervention from his domineering neighbour and erstwhile ally, Russia.
US-UK rift over Lockerbie release: The Scottish minister who released the Lockerbie bomber has refused to appear before a US senate committee to explain his decision, deepening a transatlantic rift between the US and Britain over the case.
In Case You Missed It: Lockerbie: Megrahi Was Framed: By John Pilger: The hysteria over the release of the so-called Lockerbie bomber reveals much about the political and media class on both sides of the Atlantic, especially Britain
BP accused of 'buying academic silence': The head of the American Association of Professors has accused BP of trying to "buy" the best scientists and academics to help its defence against litigation after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Deepwater Horizon alarms were switched off 'to help workers sleep': Alarms and safety mechanisms on gulf disaster oil rig were disabled, chief technician at Transocean reveals
Strippers, Booze and Race Riots: BP’s Cleanup Workers Run Amok in Grand Isle
China may switch to currency basket for forex rate: A top Chinese central bank official suggested switching away from the U.S. dollar as a benchmark for the yuan's foreign-exchange rate, switching instead to a basket of currencies, according to remarks published Thursday.
Seven banks fail EU 'stress tests': Seven out of 91 European banks have failed so-called "stress tests" designed to assess their ability to survive a future financial crisis, the committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) has said.
UK: Economy set for triple whammy, admits Bank chief: The British economy faces a triple whammy of higher inflation, lower growth and rising unemployment, according to one of the Bank of England's most senior policy makers. Living standards over the next few years will rise only "minimally".
Feinberg: Unfair to Ask Firms to Return Payouts: U.S. "pay czar" Kenneth Feinberg on Friday declined to request 17 financial firms that doled out $1.6 billion in "ill advised" executive compensation to return the excessive payouts, saying to do so would be unfair to the companies and could trigger private lawsuits and additional Congressional investigation.
20% of Americans hit by major economic loss: A new study released Wednesday estimates that 20% of Americans suffered a significant economic loss last year - the highest level in the past 25 years.
TARP watchdogs reiterate criticisms of mortgage modification efforts: The government's three TARP watchdogs testified before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday and continued to criticize the government's much-maligned mortgage modification program.
Obama Signs Bill Extending Jobless Benefits: Move Restores Checks to 2.5 Million People, Ends Hard-Fought Political Battle with Republicans
Ann Curry Focuses On 'Hidden America': The Impoverished (PHOTOS)