Playing With Fire
Obama’s Risky Oil Threat to China

By Michael T. Klare

When it comes to China policy, is the Obama administration leaping from the frying pan directly into the fire? Continue

In Bed With Lola and Gulnara

By Craig Murray

The Afghanistan conference in Bonn is a farce. There are no representatives of the Afghan resistance to the occupation, so it is not negotiating peace. Karzai’s corrupt and effete presidency, obtained by massive electoral fraud, expires in 2014. Continue

How Iran Acquired A Stealth Drone

By Moon Of Alabama

The Iranians says it did not shoot the drone down but "downed" it with little damage. I think they may have actually landed it. Continue

Israel Stole Uranium from U.S., Report Will Show

By Kristin Dailey

A U.S.-based research institute will soon publish what it says is “indisputable” evidence that Israel stole weapons-grade uranium for its still-undeclared atomic weapons program from a nuclear reprocessing plant in western Pennsylvania. Continue

 So This Is How Liberty Dies

By Washington's Blog

Obama Wants to Veto the Indefinite Detention Bill Because It Would Hold the U.S. to the Geneva Convention. Continue

George W. Bush Fears Arrest - Cancels Visit To Switzerland

By Daily Mail

Mr Bush was due to be the keynote speaker at a Jewish charity gala in Geneva on February 12. Continue

Overcoming Barriers to Killing

By Butler Shaffer

Beginning in early childhood, schools have inculcated young minds in the alleged virtues of obedience to the centralized authority of the state, without whose continuing supervision, we have been told, would render our lives "nasty, brutish, and short. Continue

Where Were You When They Crucified My Lord?

By Chris Hedges

The Occupy movement is the force that will revitalize traditional Christianity in the United States or signal its moral, social and political irrelevance. Continue

U.S. Agents Launder Mexican Profits of Drug Cartels

By GINGER THOMPSON

Undercover American narcotics agents have laundered or smuggled millions of dollars in drug proceeds as part of Washington’s expanding role in Mexico’s fight against drug cartels, according to current and former federal law enforcement officials. Continue

It's Your Choice, Europe:
Rebel Against the Banks or Accept Debt-Serfdom

By Charles Hugh Smith

Renouncing the euro does not mean renouncing the freedoms of the European Union: the two are only bound at the hip in the minds of your enfeebled leadership, who are in thrall to the leveraged-26-to-1 banks that are poised on the edge of insolvency. Continue

58 people killed in Afghan shrine blasts; Taliban condemns attacks as work of ‘enemies’

14 killed in Nato bombing, firing by Afghan forces: Fourteen people, including three children and two women, were reportedly killed and 13 others were injured in Nato bombing and subsequent firing by the Afghan security forces on the villagers, who had gathered to protest the killing of civilians in night bombing at Tagab in Kapisa province of Afghanistan on Sunday.

Afghan policemen killed in fight with Taleban: Afghan police say an unspecified number of policemen have been killed and wounded in a gunbattle with insurgents in the country’s northeast.

German minister urges Afghanistan support until 2025: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle called Monday on the international community to pledge its 'continued practical and financial support' to Afghanistan for 10 years after international troops withdraw in 2014.

U.S.'s Afghan Headache: $400-a-Gallon Gasoline: The Pentagon is stuck with the expense for the foreseeable future, especially given the recent deterioration in U.S.-Pakistani relations.

Pakistan Says They are 'Temporarily' Leaving Liaison Centers in Wake of NATO Attack: The decision highlighted current problems with coordination because U.S. military officials seemed to think it was another retaliatory move by Pakistan for the NATO strikes. The officials feared it would hamper efforts to liaise with Pakistani forces and increase the risk something could go wrong again

Evicted: US evacuating Pakistan air base: Pakistan's top command ordered the US out of Shamsi air base in the wake of the November 26 bombing. US Ambassador to Islamabad Cameron Munter told a Pakistan television channel on Monday: "We are complying with the request."

Assassination attempt kills 21 Shiite pilgrims in Iraq: Twenty-one people were killed and nearly 100 others injured when five bombs struck Shiite pilgrims during an important religious ritual for the Muslim sect.

Six killed in central Syria in fresh violence: - Syrian security forces killed Tuesday at least six people, five from the same family, in the central province of Homs, which has been a flashpoint for anti-government protests since the uprising started in mid-March, activists said.

Syria reports gunbattle on Turkish border: Syrian border guards blocked an infiltration attempt from Turkey by about 35 "armed terrorists," the official Syrian news agency SANA said on Tuesday, as Syria forces battle a growing threat from army defectors and rebel fighters.

Syria Offers to Allow Observers, With Strings: Syria said Monday that it would agree to allow an Arab mission of military and civilian observers into the country as part of an Arab League proposal to end months of bloodshed there, but it attached a number of conditions, among them the cancellation of economic sanctions decreed by the league.

Arab League rebuffs Damascus: The Arab League said it won’t lift sanctions imposed on Syria, after President Bashar al-Assad’s government demanded the removal of the league’s punitive measures as a condition for admitting observers.

Clinton sees Syrian opposition, US envoy returns: Clinton told a group of seven Syrian pro-reform activists that she wanted to hear their plans to establish a new democratic government if they are successful in prying President Bashar Assad and his regime from power. Her invitation was a step short of endorsement, but a clear sign the US wants to work closely with those who might assume leadership roles.

Russian Navy Squadron Reportedly En Route To Mediterranean: The officials said the squadron, including the heavy-aircraft-carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov," is to make a call at the Russian base in the Syrian port of Tartus.

Dozens killed in Somalia fighting, Kenyan army says: More than 40 Islamist militants and 11 Somali government troops were killed in fighting over the weekend in the town of Hayo, southern Somalia, a Kenyan military spokesman said on Tuesday.

Two women shot dead in Yemen protest: Forces loyal to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh shot dead two women and wounded six other people when they opened fire on a crowd of protesters in the city of Taez yesterday, medics said.

Drone shot down over Iran belonged to CIA, official reveal: The aircraft, with stealth capabilities, was being used by the spy agency for secret missions in Iran, US officials admitted.

Two Drone Questions: How Did Iran Get It? What Will the Damage Be?:

Iran's Revolutionary Guards prepare for attack by "West": Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have been put on a war footing amid increasing signs that the West is taking direct action to cripple Iran’s nuclear programme.

Engineering Consent For Attack On Iran : Iran becoming a pariah state, says US official: A senior US official on Monday said the situation over Iran's nuclear programme was becoming increasingly worrying and an urgent diplomatic solution needs to be found.

UAE leader: Israel would destroy Iran if attacked: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the absolute monarch of Dubai, said that he does not think Iran would develop a nuclear weapon since it would be of little use to it.

Israel stole uranium from U.S., report will show: A U.S.-based research institute will soon publish what it says is “indisputable” evidence that Israel stole weapons-grade uranium for its still-undeclared atomic weapons program from a nuclear reprocessing plant in western Pennsylvania.

Former top IDF officer: Israel will have to take military action against Gaza "terror": Speaking at Tel Aviv University, Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yoav Galant says Israel neglected to root out terror infrastructure in coastal Strip since it concentrated on West Bank militants.

IOF soldiers storm offices of Hamas MPs: - Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed offices of Hamas MPs in Tulkarem on Tuesday morning and confiscated computers of three of them along with work documents.

Hezbollah chief makes rare public appearance: "I wanted to be with you for a few minutes ... to renew our pledge and for the world to hear us," Nasrallah said. His public appearance, he said, was a message to those who believed they could "threaten us."

Qaeda urges Libyan rebels to keep their weapons: Senior Al Qaeda militant Abu Yahya Al Libi urged Libyans who defeated the regime of Muammar Gaddafi to hold on to their weapons and implement sharia law, in a video released Monday.

Arrests in Moscow after anti-Putin rally: Russian activists detained after protests over results of criticised election which kept Putin's United Russia in power.

Russia warns West against criticism: Medvedev's warning on Tuesday comes after OSCE-led observers said the country's parliamentary election last week were slanted in favor of ruling party United Russia, AFP reported.

Stephen F. Cohen: U.S. Meddles in Russia: Russia historian Stephen F. Cohen says the U.S. assumption of Russia's weakness causes us to attempt to meddle in the country's political life.

A New Arms Race Looms between Russia and US: Dmitry Rogozin, Russia's ambassador to NATO, wanted to push his American negotiating partner into a corner. "If space aliens were to completely disarm Iran," he asked, "would Washington continue with its plans to build a missile defense system in Poland?"

WikiLeaks' Assange given green light to appeal extradition: Julian Assange entered the Royal Court of Justice on Monday morning with the knowledge that within 24 hours he could well have been on a plane to Sweden. However, as he left court he was greeted with cheers from supporters after being granted permission to apply to Britain’s Supreme Court in a bid to stay in the UK.

Cheney Mall Confrontation Over Iraq Draws Top U.S. Court Review: The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from two Secret Service agents being sued by a man they arrested after he berated and touched then-Vice President Dick Cheney in a shopping mall.

Congresswoman accuses Blackwater founder of “intimidation” over Indy article: The good citizens of Baghdad aren’t the only ones who know what it’s like to feel intimidated by representatives of Erik Prince, founder of Blackwater, the trigger-happy private security firm which was recently re-named “Xe Services.”

Latin America integration: The official creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) at the third Latin American and Caribbean Summit on Dec 2 is a landmark event for the region.

S&P to put AAA Eurozone countries on creditwatch negative: The Financial Times reported that the credit rating agency, Standard and Poor's placed the six remaining AAA Eurozone countries on creditwatch negative. Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Luxembourg are the countries put on watch for a possible downgrade.

Hearing On Whether Insider Trading By Congress Should Be Illegal: Only in a banana republic would Congress be "forced" to hold hearings on whether to ban itself from illegal (for everyone else) insider trading.

Over 46 Million Americans On Foodstamps For The First Time Ever: Since the start of the Second Great Depression, food stamp participation has increased by 18.7 million, and is now at an all time higher 46.3 million.
December 05, 2011

ISAF Aggression Against Pakistan

By General Mirza Aslam Beg

In 2001, we joined ISAF, in their war against Afghanistan and committed the greatest sin. Continue

George Orwell on the Evil Iranian Menace

By Glenn Greenwald

All Serious people in the U.S. know that Iran is the Aggressor, the Modern Nazis, a True Menace, while the U.S. and Israel are its innocent peace-loving victims. Continue

Iran is not Iraq

By Yvonne Ridley

Whether we in the West like it or not, the overwhelming majority of Iranians support the Islamic Republic. Continue

From Occupation to “Occupy”
The Israelification of American Domestic Security

By Max Blumenthal

Among the most prominent Israeli government figure to have influenced the practices of American law enforcement officials is Avi Dichter, a former head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service and current member of Knesset. Continue

Are Americans in Line for Gitmo?

By Ray McGovern

Though the 9/11 attacks occurred more than a decade ago, Congress continues to exploit them to pass evermore draconian laws on “terrorism,” with the Senate now empowering the military to arrest people on U.S. soil and hold them without trial, a serious threat to American liberties. Continue

The Obama Regime Has No Constitutional Scruples

By Paul Craig Roberts

The Obama regime’s objection to military detention is not rooted in concern for the constitutional rights of American citizens. Continue

Legal for U.S. Govt to Execute Citizens Abroad?

By Cenk Uygur

Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks discusses a new part of the Defense Authorization Act that makes it legal for the United States government to detain and in fact execute U.S. citizens abroad. Continue

42 "insurgents" killed, 37 arrested in Afghanistan: - Security forces during operations, in different parts of Afghanistan, have killed 42 insurgents and captured 37 more suspects over the past 24 hours, country's Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

4 Afghan children killed by roadside bomb: Four Afghan children and a woman were killed Monday when the vehicle they were travelling in hit a roadside bomb in the country's troubled south, police said.

Pakistan friendly fire deaths were due to "errors" by US officers: American officers gave the wrong coordinates to their Pakistani counterparts as they sought clearance for the air strike that killed 24 friendly troops last weekend, admit officials in both countries.

Obama Offers ‘Condolences’ in Deaths of Pakistani Troops: The president’s comments stopped short of a formal apology or videotaped statement to ease the public anger in Pakistan.

US starts vacating Shamsi airbase in Pakistan: The US on Sunday started pulling out its nationals from Shamsi airbase, reportedly used by CIA- operated drones, on the orders of Pakistan government after a deadly NATO cross-border airsrike killed 24 of its soldiers

Car bomb kills 16, injures 31 in Iraq: A car bombing attack has killed at least 16 Shia pilgrims and wounded 31 others during a religious ceremony in the Iraqi city of Hilla, a police source says.

Iran shoots down US drone: Iranian military official quoted as warning of crushing response after unmanned spy plane is shot down
US, Israel covert war against Iran suspected: report: - Many former US intelligence officials and Iran experts believe last month's explosion at a military base near Tehran was part of a covert effort by the US, Israel and other states to disable Iran's nuclear and missile programs
Swiss reporters discredit UK embassy tale: Two Swiss reporters reveal the fabricated nature of remarks made by former British envoy to Iran Dominick Chilcott, who claimed that he and his staff suffered an ordeal when protesters entered the embassy.
Nine killed in new Syrian violence: Syrian security forces on Monday shot dead five civilians in Homs province, a human rights group said.: The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported mutinous soldiers killed four security force members, including an officer, at the southern protest hub of Dael in Daraa province.
Syria Says It Will Allow Arab Observer Mission: Syria said Monday it would allow in an Arab mission of military and civilian observers to oversee the implementation of an Arab League peace plan that Damascus agreed to last month to end nearly nine months of violence there.
Report: Syria carried out large military exercises: The Syrian army has carried out military maneuvers that included test-firing of missiles and operations by its ground and air forces "similar to a real battle," state-run media reported Monday dpa reported
Qatar is Arming, Funding Armed Groups in Syria: Russia Today TV on Monday said that Qatar is providing weapons to the armed groups in Syria and providing financial funding for them, according to intelligence and media reports.
Russia downgrades relations with Qatar over attack on ambassador: Airport security and customs officials beat up Russian Ambassador Vladimir Titorenko and two other Russian diplomats on November 29 in an attempt to seize the diplomatic dispatch the ambassador was carrying on a return trip from Jordan.
Yemeni president hands over power, but little changes: More than a week after President Ali Abdullah Saleh handed over authority to his vice president, the autocrat still exerts enormous presidential power, issuing decrees and engaging with world leaders. His family still controls the security forces, which activists say have continued to kill and arrest protesters. His portrait still hangs ubiquitously around the capital.
Yemenis call for Saleh execution: Thousands of Yemeni anti-regime demonstrators have taken to the streets across the country to call for the execution of dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh, Press TV reports.
Egypt's Islamists 'win 65% of list votes': The moderate Muslim Brotherhood won 36.62 percent of the vote, followed by the hardline Salafist Al-Nur party with 24.36 and the moderate Al-Wasat with 4.27, according to a chart provided by elections committee secretary general Yusri Abdel Karim.
Egypt vote turnout downgraded amid run-off: Election authority cites mistake in first round of counting, lowering figure to 52 per cent, as run-off voting begins.
Egypt Salafis want no pact with Muslim Brotherhood: - Egypt's ultra-conservative Islamist Salafis said they will not water down their views to ally with the more moderate Muslim Brotherhood, after a first-round vote put the two rival groups on track to dominate parliament.
Expert: Muslim Brotherhood will Empty Israeli Peace Deal: "The Muslim Brothers, at least ostensibly, will try to receive international legitimacy for their government, and won't cancel the peace agreements immediately... but, in effect, that's what's going to happen, in the end."
Netanyahu’s history lesson hints at Israeli strike on Iran: Netanyahu's speech draws comparison between Ben-Gurion’s decision to found Israel and the decisions he is facing today to counter the Iranian "nuclear threat."
WikiLeaks suspect wants Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton as witnesses: A defense lawyer for Private Bradley Manning made the request Friday deep in a 20-page list of defense witnesses for a so-called Article 32 hearing scheduled to start Dec. 16 at Fort Meade, Md. The hearing, is to consider whether Manning's case should be referred for a full-scale court martial.
New Latin American body raps Britain, United States: A new Latin American and Caribbean organization backed Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the British-ruled Falkland Islands and slammed U.S. sanctions on Cuba at Saturday's end of a two-day summit.
Italy would collapse without austerity plan: PM Mario MontiE: Italy would have collapsed without the government's tough new austerity package, Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Monday, saying his country ran the risk of a Greek-style emergency.
Guess Which Country Has Debt Of Nearly 1000% Of GDP...: . The UK's staggering debt-to-GDP ratio is largely due to the size of its financial sector.
Pay Gap Between Rich And Poor Growing Faster In UK Than Any Other High-Income Country: The study - Divided We Stand: published by the forum of 34 countries that earn the most, said the annual average income of the top 10% was almost £55,000 in 2008, nearly 12 times higher than that of the bottom 10%, who earned an average of £4,700. This is up from a ratio