Obama's "Mission Accomplished"
Troops and Prisons Move, Wars and Torture Never Ends

By Ted Rall

War is an addiction. If we wanted to, we could quit any time. Continue

How Maliki and Iran Outsmarted the U.S. on Troop Withdrawal

By Gareth Porter

The real story behind the U.S. withdrawal is how a clever strategy of deception and diplomacy adopted by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in cooperation with Iran outmaneuvered Bush and the U.S. military leadership. Continue

No, The U.S. Is Not Leaving Iraq

By Justin Elliott

Thousands of armed U.S. private contractors will be based in the country, and the potential for violence is real. Continue

From The Archives
Blair: Iraq Linked To Al-Qaida

By ROBERT BARR

Iraq has links with the al-Qaida terrorist network, but the "exact extent" of their cooperation is unknown, Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday. Continue

From The Archives
US Plans "Shock And Awe" Blitzkrieg In Iraq

By Henry Michaels

The war being prepared by the White House and Pentagon on the people of Iraq will be characterized by barbarism on a scale not seen since the horrors of the 1930s and 1940s. The level of brutality will recall scenes seared into the collective consciousness of previous generations, such as the bombing of Guernica and the Nazi blitzkrieg against Poland. Continue

Engineering Consent For Attack On Iran
US Court Claims Iranian 9/11 Link

By RT

A US court has won a default judgement that Iranian officials, including its supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, provided help to the 9/11 hijackers behind the worst terror attack on American soil. Continue

Noam Chomsky: U.S.-Afghanistan Strategic Partnership Agreement is
‘Part of a Global Program of World Militarization’

By Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers

There is very little doubt that the U.S. government intends to maintain effective military control over Afghanistan by one means or another, either through a client state with military bases, and support for what they’ll call Afghan troops. Continue

Anatomy of a NATO War Crime

By Franklin Lamb

An honorable family, a peaceful and welcoming town, a devastated country, and a shocked and angry international community demand justice. Continue

From The Archive
Howard Zinn: The Myth of American Exceptionalism

Video

Zinn worries about an administration that deploys Christian zealotry to justify a war against terrorism. Continue

The Trial of Bradley Manning
Rule of Law or Rule of Intimidation, Retaliation & Retribution

By Ann Wright

Hundreds of supporters will gather today, Saturday, December 17, for a large rally and march. Continue

Plan B – How to Loot Nations and Their Banks Legally

Must Read - By David Malone

Does anyone think that if our governments fail to keep to their austerity targets and fail to keep bailing out the banking sector, that the banks will just shrug and say, “Well, thanks for trying” and accept their fate? Or do you think the banks might have a Plan B of their own? Continue

20 "militants" killed in Pakistan: At least 20 militants and a security personnel were killed and 25 soldiers wounded on Friday in a clash in Pakistan's northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan

3 Pakistani soldiers killed in explosion: Three Pakistani soldiers were killed Saturday after a bomb planted on a roadside exploded in a northwestern tribal area, security officials said.

US Congress imposes restrictions on "aid" to Pakistan: The legislation freezes aid to Pakistan until the secretary can certify that Islamabad is cooperating on counterterrorism, including taking steps to prevent terrorist groups such as the Haqqani network from operating in the country.

NATO occupation force troops kill woman in raid on Afghan official's house: Coalition force raided the house of a Dr Hafizullah (no first name provided), director of the counternarcotics department of Paktia province Saturday morning, detaining him along with his two sons, a statement of the provincial governor office said.

Afghan Government Agrees to Taliban Office: The Afghan government has agreed to the opening of an office for Taliban negotiations either in Kabul or in another Islamic country.

Afghanistan denies deal with Taliban over schools: The Afghan government on Saturday denied making a deal with the Taliban agreeing a more conservative curriculum and more mullahs as teachers in return for an end to attacks on schools.

Fact or fiction? Rights group says Syria forces kill 16 civilians: The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said six civilians were killed when security forces launched search operations in the southern Daraa province, the cradle of anti-regime protests that began in mid-March.

'US training & arming rebels in Syria' : Russia, surprisingly to Western powers, has put forward a UNSC resolution on Syria, calling on the Syrian parties to end violence and start talks. Meanwhile, Syria's vice-president is visiting Moscow to discuss peaceful solutions for the crisis.

NATO / US puppets: Arab League considers taking Syrian peace plan to the UN : “If this matter is not solved in the weeks ahead, or couple of months, it will no longer be in Arab control,” he told journalists after an Arab ministerial committee meeting in Qatar. “That is what we told the Syrians from the beginning”.

9 Killed as violence continues in Cairo streets over military rule: Security forces and protesters clash in running battles in streets around Tahrir Square 24 hours after nine confirmed dead

Three defected officers killed in Yemen: In Yemen, three defected army officers have been gunned down after attending an anti-regime demonstration in the southern city of Taizz, medics and witnesses say.

Fresh clashes erupt in Yemeni capital: The violence on Saturday began when government troops shelled Hasbah. Local residents say the district is a stronghold for opposition figure Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar.

Israel kills Palestinian in Gaza: A Palestinian has been killed and at least two others injured by Israeli gunfire in the Gaza Strip, local hospital officials said.

Fact or fiction? : U.S. Prepares to Strike Deal with Iran: “The U.S. is preparing to conclude a deal with Iran through which it can secure its vital and strategic interests in the region, especially with regard to supplying it with oil by the Iranian side,” a Western envoy told The Daily Star.

Iran arrests (alledged) CIA agent: According to an Iranian Intelligence Ministry statement, the American spy is a CIA analyst who had experience working for the Military Intelligence Division (MID) of the US Army in military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was tasked with carrying out a complex intelligence operation and infiltrating the Iranian intelligence apparatus.

Obama should apologize to Iran: An American drone touched down 140 miles inside Iranian territory, and the White House is refusing to apologize for our aerial invasion.

Large Bloc of Lawmakers Boycotts Iraqi Parliament, Putting Coalition at Risk: One of the largest and most powerful political groups in Iraq began a boycott of Parliament on Saturday, signaling fresh waves of political dysfunction that threaten to unravel Iraq’s year-old governing coalition

The spoils of war: Soviet-armed Iraq switches to US weapons: President Nouri al-Maliki has asked for billions of dollars worth of US weapons to bolster Iraq's armed forces.

US hands over last "detainee" in Iraq: A spokesman for the White House’s national security council, said the Obama administration had "received assurances" from the Iraqi government that Daqduq would be tried.

Hezbollah prisoner who allegedly killed Americans in Iraq faces only minor charge: A(n alledged) Lebanese Hezbollah commander allegedly responsible for killing four U.S. soldiers in Iraq will be prosecuted for a lesser charge of illegal entry with a forged passport, Iraqi officials said Saturday.

War criminal visits crime scene: Leon Panetta becomes first Pentagon chief to visit Libya: U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Tripoli Saturday, taking advantage of the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in an eight-month civil war to become the first Pentagon chief to set foot on Libyan soil.

Second son of Libyan commander wounded by ex-rebels: A prominent Libyan military commander charged on Friday that a powerful ex-rebel group shot and wounded one of his sons, in the second such incident targeting his family.

Cairo erupts in second day of violent clashes: Egypt's army launches assault on Tahrir Square, clearing the area, after anti-military protests continue in the capital.

'Several injured' in Bahrain clashes: Opposition protesters clash with police for a second day outside the capital, Manama.

Medvedev on US: ‘If they continue to push us around, we’ll push back’: President Dmitry Medvedev has spoken out after a telephone conversation with his US counterpart, saying Obama’s comments on Russia’s recent parliamentary elections were “unacceptable”.

UK Troops On The Streets: Snipers, jets and 13,500 troops on Olympics duty... 4,000 more than Afghanistan: Up to 13,500 British troops will protect the London Olympics from a terrorist atrocity, it was revealed today.

'Indefinite detention' bill passed by Senate: US Senate approves controversial defence bill including measures to see terror suspects handed over to US military.

US charges ex-Fannie, Freddie CEOs with fraud: Mudd, 53, and Syron, 68, led the agencies when the housing bubble burst in late 2006 and 2007. The four other top executives also worked for the companies during that time. The case was filed in federal court in New York City.